I nod. “Sounds good. May as well get comfortable. It’s just you, me, and this teeny-tiny room for the next two nights.”
She freezes in her tracks, her face blanching. “Oh God, Shawn, what have we gotten ourselves into?” She shakes her hands in front of her for a second before letting out a huff and turning back to her bag to finish unpacking. Uh-oh. I guess I shouldn’t have joked about it. But—what else can we do?
“Just laugh. We’re fine. Seriously.” I pick up my bag and dump the entirety of its contents—a couple of T-shirts, some underwear, and socks—into a drawer, slam it shut, and hold my hand out to her. “Ready?”
It’s not until I catch the funny look on her face that I realize her hands are still full of clothing—a couple of sets of lacy bras and panties, to be exact. I see the moment awareness hits her that I’ve seen them. She clutches them to her chest, a fresh wash of color starting at her neck. It’s almost as if I can see it travel from there, past her jawline, and over her cheekbones. My eyes widen, and I point at her lingerie. “Oh,” I rasp. “You aren’t quite done yet, huh?”
“Sorry, I’ve always been a little meticulous with packing and unpacking. I see you aren’t.” She stifles a laugh as she looks to the drawer I’d just put my things in. The material of one of my boxer briefs sticks out at the top.
I run my hands through my hair, pulling on it, gripping it hard. “I’ll just—” I turn a circle in the small room, looking for somewhere to go, but there’s really nowhere but the bed. “I’ll just sit, uh, over here and wait for you.” I ease myself down onto the bed and brace my forearms on my thighs, my stare aimed between my feet. Smooth. Totally smooth, Shawn.
In my peripheral vision, I see her turn to the set of drawers again and slide her pretty little underthings inside. Fuck me. I can’t unsee those. Now I have the mental imagery of what she’d look like wearing those dancing around in my lust-fogged head and I’m not sure there is any way to erase it or stop the sweet torment.
My mind had instantly brimmed with indecent thoughts the moment my eyes landed on the lingerie. She’d held a light-pink lace bra and lacy black panties with a cute little pink bow that matched the bra in one hand, as well as a lacy red-and-hot-pink set with flowers on it in the other. I don’t want to know what she was thinking in that moment because I’m fairly certain I looked like one of those cartoon characters with their eyes bugging out, drool dribbling down my chin.
I blow a weighted sigh from my mouth. When I dare glance Madison’s way again, she’s standing there staring at me with those bold-green eyes. Staggered by her beauty, I look away before want of her cuts off the flow of oxygen to my brain. “Ready?”
“Yep.”
We maneuver through the lobby area of the bed-and-breakfast, successfully dodging all other wedding guests in our escape. I flip on the heater as I accelerate down the road toward the steakhouse we’d passed on our way in. It’s the only other option besides eating at the bed-and-breakfast itself, and I didn’t think it’d be wise to stick around there if we didn’t have to. We’ll have a full day tomorrow of the fake boyfriend/girlfriend thing, and I’d say that’s going to be plenty, based on Madison’s furrowed brow.
Fifteen minutes later, I usher her into the quaint family-run restaurant. There are only a dozen tables, and the place is empty except for an elderly couple who appear to be enjoying their desserts immensely. They wave at us as we come in, which amuses me, but definitely gives me a good vibe, so I wave back. There are several reasons why I like small-town living, and the friendliness of people is high on my list.
The hostess smiles as she watches me help Madison with her coat, and then shrug out of mine. “A table for two, please?”
“Of course.” She gathers menus and cutlery rolled in cloth napkins. She points behind us. “There’s a coat rack, if you’d like. You can follow me when you’re ready.” We shuffle our coats onto the rack and as we turn to follow her, Madison’s hand slides into mine.
When my eyes meet hers, a ghost of a smile passes over her lips, and she murmurs, “Practicing.”
I nod without saying anything. The feel of her small hand in my larger one sends sparks of yearning rushing through me.
A while later, our meals are delivered—a steak and potato for me, chicken fingers and french fries for Madison. This girl cracks me up. “You can have anything on the menu and you get chicken fingers like a little kid. Talk to me about that.”
She stares at me in mock-offense. “Um, excuse me, but chicken fingers are delicious. And even better with a good, sweet, honey mustard and a side of crispy fries.” She takes a big bite, chewing slowly as she gazes at me. She moans softly deep in her throat … and then winks as she slides her tongue over her lower lip to catch some sauce.
Well, damn. A flicker of flames race down my spine. I never knew chicken fingers could be sexy. I shake my head, smiling to myself as I take a bite of my steak. One minute she’s an anxiety-ridden mess, the next she’s actually flirting with me. ‘Practice,’ she’d said. Apparently, my dick didn’t get that last part of the memo because I’m rock hard and suddenly very glad for the tablecloth hiding the bulge in my jeans.
I concentrate on eating for a minute while I try to think of something else to talk about that we hadn’t covered on our earlier road trip.
“So, Chase. Do you still talk to him?”
The color drains from her face, all traces of the pretty pink brought on by her flirting completely gone.
I seriously want to kick myself right in the ass, and I would if I thought I could manage it.
“Um, no. Not since I ended things with him. There’s not really a reason for us to talk. I don’t need to be anywhere near someone who would do something like that to me.” She sucks her lower lip into her mouth, and her gaze casts down to the food remaining on her plate, but she doesn’t make any move to eat it.
I reach across the table to where her hand rests next to her plate, covering it with mine. “I’m sorry I brought him up. I’ve made you uncomfortable.”
Her head jerks up. “I’m fine.” She pulls her hand from under mine.
“You’re not.”
She won’t even look at me. Man, oh man, that was a screw up. Yes, I brought up Chase. I’m an idiot. But now I really need to know what else he’d done, because I know what he’d done to me. “Madison. Why’d you break up?”
Her nose is red, and when she glances back up, I see the distress all over her face. “He cheated on me with our neighbor.”
“Oh. You’re sure?” It doesn’t seem like an odd question until I see the look on her face.
She huffs, “Yes, I’m sure.” Her gaze meets mine and it’s wounded, so terribly full of hurt. “I caught them in bed together.”
“Like, literally caught them?” I sit up straight in my chair, hands clenching in my lap.
“Yes, my boyfriend was in the bed we shared buck naked with the girl who lived next door.” Angry, wet eyes flicker at me. “He barely stopped fucking her when I walked in, and I swear they finished after I walked out.” She swallows. “It was the most painful, humiliating thing I’ve ever experienced.”
Fucking Chase. Asshole. Idiot. So incredibly stupid. The devastation on her face has me wanting to pummel his. The adrenaline storms through my veins. I have the urge to go back in time.
Demolish anyone who would hurt her.
Defend her against the man who didn’t deserve her.
Protect her tender heart.
How he could do that to Madison when she is easily the brightest, sweetest, most beautiful woman I’ve ever known, I don’t know. I don’t understand it at all.
Chapter 9
Madison
My eyes flick to his, assuming he’ll show some sort of embarrassment about cheating on his own girlfriend, but I see absolutely nothing in his expression except concern for me.
In fact, he looks angry. Real, intense waves of frustration and outrage flood the space between us. “Forget him. Just fucking forget h
im, Madison. He’s not worth it. Not another minute of your time.” His voice—a low growl—hits me in the gut, spreads through me in heated waves, and leaves me breathless.
This is the weirdest turn of events ever. He’s not defending his friend at all. If I were a betting woman, I’d put all my money on Shawn tracking Chase down later tonight and knocking him out. He’s pissed.
I shift uncomfortably in my chair as I look at his anger-ridden face. “Are you not friends anymore?” When he doesn’t answer, I try again. “Shawn, did something happen between the two of you? Because it sounds like you want nothing to do with him, and maybe it has to do with more than just me.”
I watch his throat work a hard swallow. His gaze meets mine across the table. “We grew apart.” Shawn gets quiet. “Even when you all started dating, I was beginning to realize he wasn’t the same guy I knew before he went off to college. He’s different now. Let’s just leave it at that.”
Catching my lower lip between my teeth, I consider what he’s said and decide to not push him further tonight. This time it’s me who reaches across the table and takes his hand. I skim my thumb over the back of it just like he’d done to mine earlier. His gaze is glued to our connected hands, and he presses his firm lips together for several seconds before he looks up and into my eyes.
“We don’t have to talk about it anymore right now. For both our sakes.” I squeeze his hand, tentatively at first, and then he squeezes mine. Softly I say, “Forget it. Forget him.” My knee nudges his under the table, and he nudges mine right back. “Tell me what you think about your brother’s upcoming wedding to Sophia?”
He chuckles, a smile finally hitting his lips and reaching his eyes. He bobs his head up and down. “Well, this question would put me in the danger zone if I didn’t like her and didn’t think they were right for each other, but luckily, I dig Sophia. Always have. She’s an amazing woman.”
“She is for sure. I thought it was safe to ask just based on watching you guys talk last night. I mean, I only just met her at the beginning of the school year, but we’ve become fast friends. She and Quinn are kind of like my moms at school. They’re good people.”
His lips twitch. “I could have guessed that. Sophia has always been a caretaker. Anyway, Heath and Sophia—well, they should have always been together. If our family hadn’t moved here in the middle of high school, I’m pretty sure they’d never have broken up in the first place.”
“Oh, wow. I didn’t know they’d been that serious back then. I sure heard how quickly they got back together when she moved up here, though. Do you think he wishes things had been different?” I’m glad I’ve hit on a topic that seems to make Shawn more comfortable. Of course, it wasn’t me who’d brought up Chase in the first place, but it’s obvious he hadn’t expected me to tell him what a disgusting, rutting bastard his former best friend had been.
Just then, the waitress comes over with a dessert menu. I quickly put my hands up, palms out. “Oh no, I’m stuffed. Besides, I have to get into a dress tomorrow.”
Shawn snorts, his brows drawing together sharply. “Right. Because a blackberry crumble tonight is going to make you not fit into your dress.” He glances at the waitress, who smiles at his confusion. “I’ll take your blackberry crumble, please.” He raises his brows at me. “You sure you don’t want anything?”
I shake my head with a last wistful look at the menu. “No, I’m good. Could I just get some coffee, please?”
“Sure thing, honey.” She winks back at Shawn, and heads back to the kitchen with our order.
My eyes widen comically. “Do you ever not get flirted with?”
“Nope. I can’t help it. Must be my charm and sparkling wit.” He barks out his laughter.
“Oh my God, stop. Okay, back to my question. Do you think Heath would rather he and Sophia had never split up?”
“Oh, hell no. Things had to happen the way they did, or he wouldn’t have Ava—they wouldn’t have Ava.”
“Good point. Sophia is a sucker for that kid, too. Don’t think I haven’t noticed.” I smile with a sigh. “I think it’s so sweet the way she calls her ‘Fia.’ Little kids say the cutest things.”
“They do. Before Heath had Ava, I never wanted to be around little kids at all, but I’ll be damned if having a niece hasn’t cracked open the hard shell around my heart. She’s a handful, but she’s ours.”
The waitress returns to our table, setting my coffee in front of me, and Shawn’s dessert in front of him. “I put two spoons there, just in case you want to share.” She lays the check on the table. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
My hand darts out to take the check, but Shawn is faster. “Uh-uh. This is on me.” He shifts to the side, pulls his wallet out of his pocket, and sets a card down on top.
I open my mouth, but shut it immediately at the look on his face. “Okay. Thank you.” I put sweetener and cream in my coffee and give it a good stir while I watch Shawn take a spoonful of the blackberry crumble. He makes sure to scoop up some of the vanilla ice cream, too. My gaze follows that damn spoon right through those masculine lips and into his waiting mouth.
“Mm. So good. Too bad you didn’t want any.” He gives me a little grin and takes another bite. His knee nudges mine under the table again.
I sip my coffee and try to ignore him so I can control the frantic rate of my heart beating in my chest. Every bite he takes is like a little show just for me. And, oh God, I’m watching. The way his mouth moves, his tongue swirling and licking that ice cream, the sounds he’s making deep in his chest, it’s like a shot straight to my core causing my panties to dampen as he seduces me with his freaking dessert.
And here’s the thing—I’m pretty sure he’s doing it on purpose. Almost like he’s hoping I’ll respond to him by jumping over the table and landing right in his lap.
I blink and realize he’s smiling at me, a spoon held in my direction full of blackberries and ice cream. “Want a bite?”
From the amusement in his eyes, I just know he’s following every path my thoughts have taken. Oh, hell. I bite down on my lip to try to stop the furious rush of blood from infusing my cheeks with color again. No such luck. The heat hits my face, my skin so hot I feel like I have a raging sunburn. Shawn’s grin grows broader as he studies my face. Wiggling the spoon back and forth a little bit, he extends his arm further in my direction.
And then, my mouth drops open.
Slowly.
Reluctantly.
Desperately.
My fingers grip the edge of my seat like a lifeline as I lean forward, and Shawn places the first taste of his blackberry crumble into my mouth. I relish the juxtaposition of the warm crumble and the cold ice cream and close my eyes to savor the sweet burst of berries and the smooth vanilla. My poor mouth thinks it’s died and gone to heaven.
“More?”
Upon hearing his question, my eyes pop back open, and I nibble on my lip, not ready to give in yet.
He eats more of the dessert while he waits for me to answer. That spoon in his mouth … was in my mouth … and has just been back in his again. Do I want more? Do I notice that the other spoon just sits there on the table, completely unused? Do I ever.
“Yes.” My answer comes out part sigh, part whimper. A smirk ticks up at the side of his mouth, and he holds the dessert-laden spoon out to me again. At this point, I have no idea whether I want the tasty crumble or just the spoon that was in his mouth. A heady feeling rolls through me, and my mind turns as mushy as the blackberries on the spoon.
“Shawn?”
“Hmm?”
“Are we practicing?”
“You’d better believe it, pretty girl.” His tongue darts out to wet his lips, and my eyes are drawn to every move he makes. My heart ricochets through my body and lands with a thud back in my chest, pounding wildly.
The waitress returns to the table, having already run the card. I have no idea when she’d even picked it up in the first place—that’s how thrown I
am right now. I feel all out of sorts—hot, bothered, and all those other fun adjectives that describe a person when their needs, wants, and desires dangle right in front of them, just slightly out of reach.
I want Shawn. I don’t care about what I know he’s done. I just want him. Right now. This minute.
Mine.
Chapter 10
Madison
Back at the bed-and-breakfast, we dash to the door, the night icy cold. Upon entering, a few pairs of eyes land on us. Oh, no. Cousins. Old friends. My family.
Out of nowhere, Shawn’s strong arm wraps around me, and his fingers find my waist through my coat, gripping tightly, and he tugs me into his side. “Sure is cold out there,” he announces to the room before leaning in and brushing his lips over my temple.
My chest jerks, breath hitching. I’m on the verge of panic when Shawn’s fingers squeeze my side, and finally I smile and wave at everyone, albeit awkwardly. “Hi, everyone. We just got back from dinner. It’s freezing out there.”
Most people nod politely, wave, or smile and go back to whatever they were doing when we blew in. Of course, I knew my parents wouldn’t do the same. They both edge closer to us, with my brother, James, right behind them.
“Shawn, this is my family. Mom, Dad, James, meet Shawn.” My dad extends a hand and Shawn shakes it, then does the same with my brother.
“Very nice to meet you all.” He nods at my mom with a grin. “Ma’am. I see where Madison gets her beautiful hair from.”
Mom thaws toward Shawn pretty quickly, if I do say so myself, as she giggles a bit. “Oh, you’re too kind.”
He winks with a grin. “I just call them like I see them.”
“Madison, we didn’t know you were bringing anyone until Chuck mentioned it when we got here.” Mom’s question is directed at me, but she hasn’t taken her eyes off of Shawn.
Lost in You (Flirting with Forever Book 1) Page 6