by Elle Kennedy
“I get that. I really do.” Her voice softened. “What I can’t fathom is how you could go to bed with me without telling me the truth.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “My desire for you may have clouded my judgment.”
“So you figured getting laid was more important than being honest with a friend?” She scowled in disgust. “These past two days, I thought maybe you were capable of caring about someone other than yourself. Obviously I was wrong.”
“That’s not fair.” He moved closer and touched her cheek. She tried to shrug his hand away, but he kept it there, tracing the seams of her lips with his thumb. “I am capable of caring for someone other than myself. I care about you.”
“You sure have an interesting way of showing it.”
“I was a jerk. I should have talked to you about my plans, okay?” He became frazzled. “You’re right, I was only thinking of myself at the time. But I realize what a mistake that was. These past two days have made me realize just how much you mean to me, Sam.”
Again she attempted to push his hand away, but he simply replaced it with his mouth. She gasped, trying to back away, but he kept her prisoner with his kiss. A feeling of pure rightness slithered through his body. He knew she felt it too, how perfectly their lips molded to each other, how hot the fire burned between them. With a strangled groan, she pushed his chest and broke the kiss.
“I shouldn’t have asked you to sleep with me,” she murmured, taking a shaky step back.
Panic skittered up his spine. Her words sounded too final, too determined. “Don’t say that.”
“Why not? It’s true. Sleeping with you was a mistake.”
“We both know you don’t mean that.”
He reached out, but she sidestepped his attempt to take her hand. “I do mean it.” She blew out a breath. “We had some incredible sex, but it’s over now. I hope you enjoy running the Diamond as much as I did.”
She brushed past him and flew into the bedroom. He wanted to follow her, but instead he stood rooted in place, trying to find the words to make this all better. He had to tell her that he loved her. Had to make one last attempt at making her see he’d never regretted anything more than what he had done to her.
She returned to the living room, her purse in hand, and headed for the front door. Her back was turned to him.
When she didn’t turn around, he cleared his throat, knowing he couldn’t let her go before he told the truth—something he should’ve done all along. “I love you, Sam,” he said softly.
She faltered. Just for a moment. He saw her shoulders sag a little, heard her soft intake of breath. Hope bloomed inside his chest. Please, please, don’t let her leave. He waited, prayed that she’d turn around, say the words back, hurl herself into his arms.
But she didn’t.
Her shoulders stiffened, her back straightened. Without answering, she slung her purse strap over her shoulder and took a step to the door. “No need to lock up before you leave. You own this place now, remember?”
Chapter Six
Three weeks later, Riley glanced around the empty bar and released a slow breath. The construction crew was gone for the night and they’d left the place a mess. The walls had been completely gutted, the counter and booths gone, the floor covered with sawdust and grime. The renovations were tedious, but he knew they needed to be done. He planned on turning the Diamond into the most frequented sports bar in the city, and was even eliminating the upstairs apartment so it could be used as the billiards room.
Breaking down the walls in the apartment had been tough, to say the least. He couldn’t even go in there without thinking about Sam. Without remembering the two nights they’d spent tangled up on that mattress on the floor, kissing, touching, making love.
Being downstairs wasn’t too pleasant either. Everywhere he looked, he saw Sam. Her presence was imprinted in every inch of the room, in the walls, on the floor, everywhere. He remembered the first time he’d walked in here and laid eyes on the gorgeous blonde. She’d been chatting with one of her waitresses, but glanced over when he entered. The appreciation in her eyes had been unmistakable.
He remembered he’d left the bar that night with another woman. What a mistake that had been. He wondered if things would’ve turned out differently if he’d just admitted his attraction to Sam two years ago, instead of fighting it. Instead of hopping into bed with her at the last possible second while keeping the truth from her.
She’d been gone for almost a month now, and it troubled him just how much he missed her. For two years she’d been the only steady female in his life, and now that she wasn’t here, he realized just how important her friendship had been to him.
Fuck, he really was an idiot, wasn’t he?
“Mr. Scott?”
The male voice jolted him from his thoughts and put a halt to his self-pity session. He glanced up and saw Brad, the foreman of the crew, emerging from the back hallway that led up to the second-floor apartment.
“What’s up?” Riley asked the older man.
Brad reached into the back pocket of his paint-spattered jeans. “One of my guys found this in the upstairs bedroom earlier today.” He held up a familiar silver necklace.
Pain sliced into him. He stared at the dangly silver “B”. Bethany. Sam’s mother. He remembered she’d been wearing the necklace the night before she’d walked out on him, and in her haste to flee from his vicinity, she must have left it behind.
His chest tightened at the memory of Sam disappearing through that door. The way she hadn’t even turned around when he’d told her he loved her.
But he didn’t blame her. He’d lied to her about buying the bar—why would she believe his declaration of love? Hell, he didn’t quite believe it either. He’d lived the casual life for so long that he hadn’t thought it possible to want to settle down. Relationships had never interested him. Being with one woman for the rest of his life? The notion used to be as appealing as having his back waxed.
Now it was all he thought about.
“I assume you know who owns this,” Brad said, passing the necklace over.
Riley curled his fingers over the delicate chain. “Yeah, I know the owner.”
Amusement danced in the other man’s eyes. “Girlfriend?”
He swallowed hard. “Something like that.”
“Well, make sure the little lady gets it. You know how women are about their jewelry.” Smiling, Brad headed for the door, stepping over a pile of two-by-fours on the way. “See you tomorrow, boss.”
After the foreman left, Riley stared down at the necklace again. Make sure the little lady gets it. Yeah, he really should return this to Sam. It was her mother’s, and she would definitely want it back.
For a moment, he contemplated calling Jane or Callie, and giving the necklace to one of them. Or he could get the address of Sam’s sister and ship it to New York. Or…
Or he could do what he should have done three weeks ago and hop on the first flight to New York to make things right with Sam.
He looked at the chain again then glanced around the messy, half-renovated bar.
And just like that, he knew exactly what he needed to do.
After three weeks of sleeping on her older sister’s couch and pounding the pavement looking for work, Sam decided life would probably be a hell of a lot easier if she could simply get Riley Scott out of her mind, but so far she hadn’t quite figured out how to exorcise him from her heart.
Since she’d been gone, she hadn’t heard a word from him. Jane had told her the Diamond was undergoing some massive renovations and that she’d seen Riley at the site a couple of times. Apparently he’d asked about her. He’d just never called her.
Well, that’s what happened when you fucked male sluts.
Standing by the living room window of her sister’s walk-up apartment, Sam sipped her coffee and stared at the lights in the distance. It was nearly nine o’clock on a Wednesday, but the city seemed completely alive to he
r. The sound of car horns filled the air and the street below was littered with people rushing by. Sighing, she drifted into her sister’s tiny kitchen and rinsed out her mug under the sink faucet. At the sound of the telephone ring, she quickly dried her hands on a dishrag and grabbed the cordless phone on the narrow counter.
“Hello?”
“Hey, it’s me.”
Her eyes widened. “Riley?”
“You still recognize my voice. That’s a good sign.” There was a pause. “So are you going to buzz me up or what?”
“Huh? Where are you?”
“Walk over to the window.”
Intrigued, she kept the phone to her ear and drifted back into the living room. She stuck her head out the open window and saw Riley on the sidewalk in front of her building, leaning against a street lamp, a cell phone at his ear. Her heart melted, not from the muggy night air, but from the sight of his sexy face. She knew she was supposed to be furious with him, but the second their gazes collided, all the anger of the last month seemed to dissolve.
“You came all the way to New York to see me?” she said, her entire body growing warm.
“Yeah. And I have something to give you.”
She raised her eyebrows. “A gift?”
“Come down here and find out.”
Even from four stories below, she could see the amusement dancing in his blue eyes.
She was tempted to hang up the phone and run downstairs, but she wasn’t giving in that easily. The fact was he’d still lied to her. Slept with her all the while holding on to the knowledge that he’d bought the Diamond.
“Tell me what it is and I’ll decide whether I want to come down or not.”
“I figured you’d be difficult.”
As she watched, he reached into the inner pocket of his jacket. A second later, he was holding up the necklace she’d forgotten back in Chicago. She’d realized her mistake the second she’d gotten on the train to New York, but the thought of going back and seeing Riley again had been too painful. She’d planned on asking Jane to retrieve the necklace, but apparently Riley had other ideas.
“You traveled this far to return my necklace?” she called back, unable to stop the happiness from swelling inside her.
“It’s important to you,” he said simply.
Tears stung her eyelids. Blinking them back, she cleared her suddenly froggy throat and said, “Okay, you can come up now.”
“Wait, there’s more,” he said, reaching for his pocket again. This time he pulled out what looked like a folded manila folder. He held it up for her to see.
“What exactly am I looking at?” she asked warily.
“It’s the deed to the Diamond. In your name.”
Shock filled her body. “What?”
“I’m giving you the bar back, sweetheart. Free and clear.”
Her fingers trembled over the phone. For a moment, she wondered if this was another game, another underhanded maneuver she didn’t quite understand.
“Why?” she finally asked.
“Because I don’t want it.”
“Since when?” Suspicion lined her tone as she added, “Last I heard, owning the Diamond was so important you were willing to screw over someone you supposedly care about.”
“Not supposedly,” he said softly. “And definitely not care.”
Insult prickled her skin. “Pardon me?”
“I don’t just care about you, Sam. I love you. I meant it when I said it the day you left, and I mean it now.”
The words stole the breath right out of her lungs. Yet she still couldn’t bring herself to trust him completely. She hadn’t believed him the first time he’d said it. The words had seemed too desperate, too convenient, as if he’d say anything to make her forgive him. But now, staring down at him, she wondered if he did mean it. “You really love me?” she asked.
He tilted his head up and shot her a grin. “Since the moment I met you.” He hesitated. “I know I acted like a jerk. I didn’t tell you about my plans for the Diamond and I’m sorry. But you need to know that I’d rather have you in my life than a silly bar. The Diamond is meaningless without you in it.”
She swallowed. Hard. Silent, she ran his words over and over again in her head, studying the earnest expression in those smoky blue eyes of his. She was slightly taken aback by it all. Gone was the arrogance and ego, replaced by the kind, tender Riley she’d always known lingered under the surface.
She gulped again then released a slow breath. “I won’t take the Diamond back.”
“You won’t?”
“Nope. Not unless your name is next to mine on that paper. Not unless you’re by my side running it.”
She heard his sharp intake of breath on the other end. “You mean that?”
“Yes.”
“You…forgive me?”
“Yes.”
“And you love me?”
She smiled. “Of course.”
She saw him smile back. Then he hung up the phone, cupped his hands over his mouth and called, “Then get your sweet ass down here already!”
With a grin, she walked out of the apartment, down the stairs and straight into Riley’s arms.
About the Author
To learn more about Elle, please visit www.ellekennedy.com. Send an email to Elle at [email protected] or visit her blog, the Sizzling Pens, at http://sizzlingpens.blogspot.com.
Look for these titles by Elle Kennedy
Now Available:
Hot Summer Nights
Bad Moon Rising
Red Hot Summer
Heat of the Moment
Dance of Seduction
Midnight Encounters
It’s “Look, but don’t touch.” Until the object of Hailey’s fantasies catches her looking and demands she touch him. Everywhere.
Enjoying the Show
© 2008 Marie Harte
Hailey Jennison is smart, funny and, unfortunately, stacked like a blonde brick house. She’s well aware the impact her looks have on the male gender, and she hates it. Socially awkward, she keeps to a safe, boring routine, meeting friends once a week for dinner, some laughs, and entertainment.
Entertainment comes in the form of a little harmless voyeurism, watching the living, breathing sex god across the quad parade around his apartment half-naked. Hailey watches and yearns, indulging in this weekly fantasy that almost—but not quite—satisfies her every desire.
When Gage catches Hailey in the act of ogling him, he gives her a choice—go out with him, or he’ll call the cops. But he has no intention of calling the law down on every man’s wet dream. For he’s been watching her, as well. And he has plans to fulfill her naughty fantasies.
Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic language, and a man named “Mr. Tool”.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Enjoying the Show:
“Cold?” he asked quietly, his eyes burning.
“A little,” she lied, embarrassed to be so reactive to his presence. Good lord, but he made her as jumpy as a cat.
“Then I guess hot fudge sundaes are out of the question.” He looked disappointed, like a small boy told he couldn’t have a favorite treat, and she smiled.
“Well, I guess I could make an exception for chocolate and ice cream. I’m not a monster, you know.”
“I know,” he murmured, staring at her. He shook his head and turned into the kitchen. “Sit at the counter and prepare to be amazed.”
Unable to eat more than half her bowl, Hailey sighed and leaned back, staring woefully at her uneaten chocolate sundae.
“That’s a waste.” Gage echoed her feelings, his bowl licked clean.
“Sorry. But I honestly don’t know where you put it all.” She couldn’t help staring at his lean torso, still in awe of his perfect body. He was all tendon and muscle, whereas she still had an extra five pounds spread between her ample thighs. And she didn’t want to think about her butt.
“I could say the same about you,” he murmured
, his gaze riveted to her face, wandering from her eyes to her lips.
Her nerves tingled and she felt her nipples bead into stiff points of arousal. Damn. And she’d been doing so well. She’d spent a good twenty minutes with him without thinking about sex…much.
“Hailey, about the other day,” he began, and she immediately pictured him in nothing more than boxer-briefs.
Her heart thumped wildly. Hailey had never wanted anyone so much, and it scared her to feel so intensely about a man she barely knew. She quickly stood and placed some distance between them. “Look Gage, this was fun. But I need to head back.”
“Hailey, what’s wrong?” he asked quietly. He traced her face with his eyes, and his gaze roamed further down, resting over her taut breasts with what looked like satisfaction. Then he glanced at her face again and frowned in thought.
His quiet did little to ease her tension, and in fact irritated her that he felt so damned calm around her.
“Look. We had our dinner and our dessert. It’s been fun, but I have to go.” Before I jump you, acting like one of the desperate sleazebags I work with. He leaned closer and she took another whiff of his cologne. Angered at her faltering control, she snapped. “This is really your fault anyway.”
“Oh?” he asked coolly, his eyes flashing. Good. Not so calm now, are you? “How so?”
“If you didn’t want to be watched, you really should have closed your curtains,” she said primly, aware she was acting like a complete idiot. But how was she supposed to act when her blood wouldn’t stop rushing to her breasts, to her loins? She throbbed as she watched him, wondering how to handle her reactions, let alone this man. “Just like a man to blame a woman for something that’s his fault.” Come on, Gage, get angry. Tell me to leave before I jump you like a starving woman.
She took a hasty step back when he pushed off the kitchen stool and approached her slowly, carefully, like a predator stalking prey.
“Now, honey, who said I didn’t want to be watched?”