Chapter Ten
It was Friday night, and Julie had spent all her spare time with Sam. They’d gone to the movies, to dinner, even bowling, and they’d made love more times than she could count. Now, as Julie looked around the room, she realized how similar the scene was to Thanksgiving. She was right back where she started, sitting at Wanda’s large oak table with every eye on her. She knew now what the fireflies must feel like in the glass jar. The one exception was the man sitting to her right. Sam was staring at her as if she hung the moon, and with his support, she knew she could do anything.
“So, you’ve agreed to this, Julie?” Wanda asked, the first to speak.
Julie tamped down on her mounting nervousness and said, “Yes. I know I haven’t graduated yet, but I think I would do a good job as manager. If you’ll have me, of course.”
Wanda nodded. “I’d be crazy not to hire you as the manager.” She looked around the room. “And all you boys think that turning the diner into a bar and grill is the best solution?”
Several of them nodded, except River. Wanda frowned. “River?”
“The diner is yours, Mom, always has been. I want whatever makes you happy.”
Wanda smiled as she reached across the table and patted River’s hand. “The diner is ours, son. And it pleases me no end to see all of you taking such an interest.” She looked down at the table and said, “But I do have an apology to make.” When her head came back up, her eyes looked troubled. “To all of you.”
“Mom?” Sam asked, concern etched into the hard lines of his face.
“It’s my fault it’s come to this.” Several disagreements filled the air, but Wanda merely held up a hand, effectively halting the stream of remarks. “I’ve never been good with money. That was your dad’s thing, and I’m afraid I was too proud to ask you boys for help. If I had, then you wouldn’t all be forced to take time out of your lives to fix this mess.”
“Wrong,” Sam shot right back.
“What?” Wanda said, surprise in her expression.
“You said yourself the diner is ours,” Sam explained.
Wanda nodded. “It is. Your father and I both wanted it that way.”
“Then we’re the ones who should be apologizing for not stepping in to do our part.”
Vance spoke up, adding his two cents. “We left it all on you, and we should’ve known better. It’s too much for one person to handle.”
“Not that it matters now,” Reilly inserted. “Sammy has come up with a way to make things right.”
“It’ll be a lot of work,” Brodix said as he flipped open a pad of paper that looked as if it had numbers scrawled on it. “I’ve been running some numbers, and we’ll all need to pitch in, but Sam’s plan can work.”
“Mom, is this what you want?” River asked, still looking worried.
Wanda grinned. “I can’t think of anything I’d want more.”
Sam smiled. “The Blackwater Bar and Grill it is, then.”
A fresh start, Julie thought, and she was a part of it all. She couldn’t stop the joy from spreading through her chest as she looked at the Jennings bunch and realized she was fast becoming a part of them as well. They were loud and unorganized, even a little dented in spots, but she adored them. They spent the rest of the afternoon making plans. Several times Sam had turned to Julie and asked for her opinion, and she’d fallen for him a little more each time. When they got ready to leave, Sam wrapped his hand around her nape and kissed her, right there in front of everyone. She heard a few wolf whistles, but for the most part, all she heard was the sound of her own heart beating out of control.
Sam tended to have that effect on her.
When they got in his SUV, he turned to her. “You’ve started to slip inside my heart, Julie Rose.” And before she could get her mind wrapped around what he’d declared and possibly respond, his mouth was on hers in a bruising kiss, and Julie didn’t have it in her to resist. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in as close as the middle console would allow and let him feel every ounce of what she felt for him. He angled his head and sucked her lower lip into his mouth, then bit down lightly. Julie inhaled the clean, masculine scent of him. When he lifted his head, they were both breathing hard. “Sweet and tangy, that’s what you are. I’m f*cking addicted to you, sweetheart.”
She cupped his cheek in her palm. “Sam?”
He absently fingered the top button on her blouse and murmured, “Yeah?”
“You already know that I’m falling for you, but I need to take this one step at a time, okay?”
His gaze came back to hers and stayed there. “As long as we’re in the same ballpark here, then we’ll go at a snail’s pace if you want,” he confirmed before descending on her once again. It was several seconds before they parted, her body on fire with liquid need.
“I’m desperate for you, sweets, and your place is too damn far away.”
She laughed, knowing full well that he was hinting they should go to his place. He still wanted that weekend with her. “You just had me this morning, remember?”
“I remember, but I’m a greedy son of a bitch. I’m going to want you several times a day. In and out of bed. Be warned.”
“Bossy,” she whispered before kissing him sweetly on the mouth. Then he took control, and the sweet caress of lips turned into hot searing desire. She was thrown off balance completely. She should be used to that by now, she thought wryly. This time when they broke apart, Julie said, “You win.”
He quirked a brow at her. “I do?”
“Yes,” she moaned. “I’ll spend the weekend with you.”
“Thank God,” he exclaimed. He flicked the top button of her blouse open and bent his head to her neck, feasting on her as if she were his last meal.
She tried to stop him by leaning as far back in her seat as she could. He stopped and frowned at her. “What?”
Julie pointed a finger at him. “Stop that, we’re in public, and there are laws.”
He winked. “Just a taste, I promise.” He wrapped his hand around the back of her head and nudged her forward. “Come here,” he growled.
Julie relaxed and let him drag her closer. “Resisting is apparently futile,” she mumbled, and he rewarded her with a soft, gentle kiss. She melted under the onslaught.
Sam licked the seam of her lips, then delved inside. Julie reached out and gripped his shoulders, then lower to his strong biceps and forearms. Sam had the most delicious arms, so firm and sculpted. She couldn’t prevent a moan of pleasure from escaping as his tongue skated inside her mouth and played with hers. Sam’s mouth slowly left hers and made a trail downward. His lips teased her chin and cheek; then her neck received a little suckle. Her breasts swelled, and her nipples hardened, as if desperate for his touch. When his lips found the opening of her blouse, he placed a loving kiss to the cleavage there and pulled back.
“I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed kissing a woman as much as I do you. Your mouth is made for mine. So sweet and soft.” He bobbed his eyebrows. “It reminds me of something else I’ve had my mouth on recently.”
At the reminder of their early morning lovemaking, Julie’s cheeks heated. “You’re very bad.”
“Ah, there it is, that pretty blush.” He stroked one too-warm cheek with his calloused thumb.
Sam started to say something when someone banged on the driver’s side window. She looked over his shoulder and saw Brodix standing on the other side. She quickly did up her top button as her blush turned into a full-on fire.
Sam cursed and rolled down the window. “What?”
Brodix laughed. “Am I interrupting?”
“Yes,” Sam bit out, “now go away.”
Brodix leaned closer and in a quieter voice said, “Just thought you might like to know that Edna has been watching you two for the last five minutes or so.”
Sam looked out her side window and frowned. “That woman is a nuisance.”
Curious, Julie asked, “Who is Edna?”
“Mom’s neighbor. Always sticking her nose in other people’s business. Drives everyone on the street batty.”
Sam’s gaze went back to Brodix. “Thanks, man.”
Brodix gave him a nod. “No problem. You kids be good now,” he said as he headed toward his car.
After Sam rolled up the window, his attention came back to her. His grin was pure sin when he tapped her nose. “The entire weekend, sweetheart. Hmm, what to do…”
“We could always play Monopoly,” she offered with a grin.
Sam started the engine and put the truck in gear. “If it’s strip Monopoly, then you’ve got a deal.”
“Like, you land on one of my hotels and you have to take off an item of clothing and vice versa?”
“Yep,” he answered.
Julie crossed her arms over her chest. “I have to warn you, I always win.”
He entwined their fingers and brought her hand to his mouth for a kiss. “It’ll be my pleasure to lose to you, sweet rose,” he murmured against her skin.
“This is bound to be some weekend,” she replied as butterflies took flight in her stomach.
He chuckled. “Damn straight.”
As he took off down the street, Julie sat back in her seat, content to enjoy the ride with the sexy man who’d so sweetly stolen her heart.
About the Author
Anne grew up in a small town in central Ohio the only girl with three rowdy, older brothers. When she wasn't playing tackle football with them she could be found tucked away in her mother's book room getting lost in mysterious worlds created by authors such as Martha Grimes and Andrew M. Greeley. She's had a variety of odd jobs including Chiropractic Assistant, Frame Stylist, Restaurant Hostess, and Nail Technician.
Anne now lives with her fabulous husband, two gorgeous teenage daughters, two ornery dogs, three snooty cats, a tree frog named Gus, and a snake named Salizar. When Anne's not dressing, feeding, cleaning or spending time with them, she can be found at the computer writing stories hot enough to make your toes curl!
Anne loves to hear from her readers. You can find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Anne-Rainey-Fan-Page/121274891238824 or email her directly at [email protected]. Join her newsletter for updates on new releases, signings and contests for a chance to win books. The link to join is on the front of her webpage at www.annerainey.com.
Look for these titles by Anne Rainey
Now Available:
Haley’s Cabin
Seduce Me
Burn
Turbulent Passions
Dare Me
A Little Bit Naughty
The Vaughn
Touching Lace
Tasting Candy
Taking Chloe
Tempting Grace
Cape May
What She Wants
What She Craves
What She Needs
Taking turns was never their strong suit…
What She Needs
? 2011 Anne Rainey
Cape May, Book 3
Devon Mason and Con Walker are sexy, honorable, loving, and completely devoted. In other words, everything Tory looks for in a relationship. But what’s she supposed to buy her two lovers on V Day? Chocolate? How average is that? Their little love triangle is anything but average!
When Con surprises her with a weekend in Cancun, just the three of them, Tory is all over it—until she realizes Con forgot to include Devon in the package. Now their little love triangle is suffering, thanks to a couple of hard-headed men who both want to be numero uno.
Con was content to let Devon take control at Christmas, but now it’s his turn. A weekend in Cancun seems the perfect place for a romantic getaway—then Devon says he’s planning to surprise Tory with a trip to Aruba, and Con’s possessive instincts kick in. He’d always been happy to share Tory with the guy he cares for like a brother. But the deeper Con falls in love, the harder it is to keep from ripping Tory away from Devon.
Sooner or later something—or someone—is going to give.
Warning: This title contains lots of steamy, explicit sex. Hot, jealous men in need of a strong, intelligent woman. And a warm, loving ménage a trois relationship.
Enjoy the following excerpt for What She Needs:
“What the hell is wrong with you?”
Con looked up from his desk to see Devon striding into the room. By the looks of him, he was good and pissed. Damn. Con had known this was coming and he’d dreaded it. “If you’re here to bitch at me, then get to it. I’m busy.”
Devon crossed the room until he stood on the other side of the desk, fists clenched at his sides. “Bitch at you? You upset Tory, Con. You booked Cancun without talking to me. And unless I’m mistaken, you looked ready to land a fist in my face this morning when you came out of the bathroom. So, I repeat, what the hell is wrong?”
Con scrubbed his hands over his face. He was frustrated with Devon and pissed at himself for being a complete ass. The hell of it was, Devon had it right. “I don’t know what to tell you, Dev.”
“Don’t give me the same bullshit you fed Tory this morning. I know you. You were jealous when you saw the two of us together on the bed. What I want to know is, why?”
Con stared back at his friend, his best friend. They’d been through some serious shit together. They’d both grown up on the wrong side of the tracks, but they’d worked their asses off and it’d paid off. They were successful and in love. What could be better? To have Tory all for myself. No, that wasn’t right. What Devon and Con had with Tory was good. It was whole. Wasn’t it?
Shoving that nagging question aside, Con said, “You’re right. I was jealous. I’ll deal with it.”
Devon frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. “Will you? Because from where I’m standing, it looks as if you’d be as happy as a f*cking clam if I were out of the picture.” Devon planted his hands on the desk and leaned close. “I love Tory as much as you. I’m not letting her go.”
For a moment, Con was too shocked to speak. He could count on one hand the amount of times Devon had gotten up in his face about something. Hell, the man was always so friggin’ calm it bordered on annoying. “Christ, relax, will you? I never asked you to do anything. It was just a momentary lapse. I’m over it.”
Devon pushed away from the desk and took two steps backward. “You’re over it, huh? Then you won’t mind if I surprise Tory with a trip to Aruba for Valentine’s Day?”
Every muscle in Con’s body tensed. “What did you say?”
“The three of us in Aruba. I’m thinking of booking the trip today. In fact, maybe you should go ahead and cancel the trip to Cancun. Or go alone. Take your pick.”
Con shot to his feet and moved around the desk, a red haze of anger flooding his brain. “I already told you and Tory this morning. The flight is booked. The room is reserved. We’re going to Cancun.”
“And I told you it wasn’t your call alone to make. Tory isn’t yours. She’s ours. Get that through your thick skull.”
“So, what, now we’re going to make her choose between your trip and mine? That’s juvenile, damn it!”
“All I know is that I’m damn tired of seeing that look on your face when it comes to her.”
Con threw up his hands and shouted, “What look?”
“You want her for yourself. It’s so obvious it’s not even funny.”
Jesus, he really was transparent. “I never said that,” he hedged.
Devon pointed a finger at him. “You want me away from her,” he ground out. “Admit it, God damn you!”
Fury had Con speaking without thinking. “Fine! I want her for myself! I see you with her and my blood boils. I see her touching you and it makes me want to hit something. Are you happy? Is that what you want to hear?”
Devon shook his head. “No, Con, I’m not happy.”
Con cursed. He’d seen that look on his friend’s face only once before. They’d been nineteen, working dead-end jobs and trying to make ends meet. Con had come home to their shit apartment in a bad mood one night. Hell, he couldn’t even remember what had set it off. He’d taken it out on Devon, though. The final straw had been when Con had punched him in the face. He’d broken Devon’s nose. Devon had looked hurt—and not just physically.
“Look, man, I’m sorry,” Con muttered. “I’ll get my shit together, I promise.”
Devon didn’t look convinced. “You know this can’t work if we’re not both in it one hundred percent, right?”
Con shoved his hands into his pockets, feeling like the biggest jerk in the world. He was wrecking everything. Con Walker, always the screw-up. “I know, I know.”
“So, maybe we should do like we did at Christmas.”
Con stiffened. “What do you mean?”
“We leave the decision to Tory.”
“You really want her to choose between us? That’s not fair to Tory, and you know it.”
Devon shook his head and looked down at the floor. Con found himself holding his breath. When Devon’s gaze came back up to meet his, he could swear his eyes were a little too bright, a little too watery. “I’m not trying to get all sappy here.”
“But?”
“I care about you. Like a brother. That will never change.”
“Same here, Dev.” Con stepped forward, a sense of foreboding skating down his spine. Devon put up a hand in warning, effectively stopping Con in his tracks.
“I know you, Con. You aren’t going to get over this.” Con started to argue, but Devon rode right over him. “You want Tory and you want me gone. I can’t walk away. I can’t give her up—not unless it’s what she wants.”
How had things gone from great to shit so damn fast? This was a new record for him. “I wouldn’t expect you to.”
“Then we need to figure out a way to make this work. For all of us.”
Con had racked his brain trying to think of some way to get over his growing possessiveness toward Tory—and he’d come up blank. “Got any suggestions? Because I’m fresh out of ideas here.”
Devon quirked a brow. “Actually, I do have a suggestion.”
For the first time in weeks, Con felt a spark of hope. “I’m all ears. Spill.”
“Not yet.”
“What the hell do you mean, not yet?” Con cursed under his breath. “My life is spinning out of control and you want to play twenty questions?”
“I’ll tell you and Tory at the same time. She should be kept in the loop here. We can’t make decisions like this without her.”
“Christ. Just give me a clue here. I’m drowning.”
“No, you can wait and hear my idea when Tory gets home. But, I can tell you that I’m not going to book the trip to Aruba.”
When Devon turned to leave, Con had the sinking feeling he’d lost something. Something he might never get back. “Devon,” Con called out.
Without turning around, Devon asked, “Yeah?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Me too,” Devon mumbled. Without another word, he left.
Con wasn’t sure how long he stood in the middle of the room, staring at the empty doorway. When he heard the front door open and close, it pulled him out of his misery. He crossed the room and sat in the brown leather couch adjacent to the desk. Was he really going to have to choose between the woman he loved and his best friend? No. Devon had figured something out. Whatever it was it would be a solution that would benefit all three of them. Devon was good at fixing things. Con was good at f*cking up.
When they’d hatched their little plan to finally make Tory their own, it’d seemed so perfect. They’d both wanted her. Both knew, even then, that they were in love with her. At first it’d been bliss. Making love to her, sharing their nights wrapped around her. Waking up with her nestled between them. Even her snoring made him smile. There had been a few bumps in the road, but nothing big, nothing life-altering.
He wasn’t even sure when the first spark of jealousy had appeared. Not that it mattered, because it was a full-on blaze now. The only question left unanswered: Could he really choose between the love of his life and his best friend?
One spark could burn her world down.
Keeping Pace
? 2011 Dee Carney
Six years after her husband’s death, Regina Pace is still just going through the motions, her only pleasure a nightly glass (or three) of wine to dull the ache. Tonight is no exception—until a sensual outdoor encounter with her neighbor’s son, freshly home from college. He’s older, wiser, more devastatingly handsome than she remembered. He’s also fifteen years her junior.
Despite her misgivings, it isn’t long before her nightly ritual includes a long, deep drink of Josh Smith. Ogling leads to touching, then the sparks flare into an erotic encounter that feels wickedly right—and deliciously forbidden.
Yet the intense heat can’t burn away the doubt pestering the back of her mind. That the gap between their ages is too large, even for the most determined leap of faith…
Warning: Features a boy-next-door who won’t take no for an answer, more than one sexual fantasy (including some outdoor self-loving!), and a burning romance that proves age is just a number.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Keeping Pace:
Josh took the corkscrew from me gently. “There is definitely an art in handling this task.” Fascinated, I watched him slice the foil around the cork and then dig the metal screw into the spongy plug. After a few quick twists, he pulled upward with ease, dislodging the cork.
The amazement must have shown on my face. Wine sommeliers and connoisseurs tended to be the only people I knew of who moved with such deft confidence. “I waited tables as an undergrad,” he said with a wink. “If a table ordered wine, they tended to tip bigger. I learned how to pour a bottle properly in a hurry.”
“I take it you’re no longer in school?” His confirmation would help me feel a little better. Despite the casual atmosphere we’d generated between us, his youth still taunted me.
“Grad school. Almost done.”
“That’s amazing.” And I meant it. My education didn’t go further than undergraduate schooling, despite my constantly telling myself I should return for a higher degree.
“Oh. I’m sorry… I should have asked…”
His sudden change of topic and subsequent confusion baffled me until I followed his line of sight. In my excitement, I’d forgotten the glass of wine sitting next to the telephone. Not far beyond it, the open bottle of wine I’d set there earlier told a story of its own. Now there were two bottles open. “Don’t worry. Good wine never goes to waste.”
“It looks like you were going to order dinner too, though.” Joshua looked chagrined. “I can’t seem to do any of this right.”
“Any of what?”
“It’s just me over there, and I was kind of wondering if maybe you’d care for some company.” He dropped his gaze, something on the parquet flooring suddenly needing his immediate scrutiny. “I mean, if you weren’t busy.”
My pulse began to race. I tried to put him at ease because I was touched by his boyish charm. “I’d love to, and since you brought the wine, dinner is on me. Take your pick from the menu, and we’ll place an order.”
Conversation flowed easily as we waited, which seemed odd to me. I thought there would be lots of stops and starts, all awkward.
By the time the food came, the bottle Joshua brought was empty. I can’t say who had most of it, but I couldn’t recall my glass ever being empty. Making my way to the door to pay the deliveryman took a slight bit of concentration on my part. I didn’t want to appear buzzed in front of Joshua, despite the very same being true. His gaze rarely left me, to the point I felt its heated caress as I walked away from him.
He made himself at home, opening the containers and sorting through my kitchen drawers after I placed the bags on the table. My mouth watered as we were assaulted by the scents of meat swimming in rich sauces and smoky char-grilled vegetables.
“So wait, you did all the work and they gave your project to someone else? What a slap in the face,” he said, continuing the conversation we’d had before we’d been interrupted by the doorbell.
“Exactly!” I don’t recall when I’d started telling him about Beth. Maybe sometime around when he’d asked what I did for a living. Tongue loosened with alcohol, I’d easily dished every bit of the office rivalry with him. I don’t know if I would have been so bold under other circumstances, but his attention made talking to him about it too easy.
“So what are you going to do about it?” He dished out the food onto plates, and settled into his chair.
I bit into an asparagus spear. “That’s the problem, I don’t really know. The PC thing to do would be congratulate her and take a back seat.”
We ate in silence for a few minutes, taking sips of wine between bites. Finally he said, “But you’ve worked hard on a project you’re passionate about.”
“And that’s why I’m tempted to assist.” I gave an exaggerated shudder as I said the last word.
Joshua laughed, then turned serious. “It wouldn’t make you less of a person to help the project succeed. It’s about the kids. Not about what’s going on between you and Beth.”
Of course he was right, but to hear him say it made something inside me melt. At once he didn’t seem as young as I’d thought only yesterday, but on par with any of my peers. Sure, some wrinkles around the eyes or a few strands of gray hair would have helped, but my uneasiness seemed to have vanished. “You think and act very much like an old soul. Has anyone ever told you that?”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“Not at all,” I murmured.
My lids were heavy from our libation, and I chalked up Joshua’s even more vibrant appeal to having consumed more wine than I should have. I saw from the corner of my eye three empty bottles, which tattled on just how heavily we’d been drinking tonight. All of it caught up to me, and my head swam with luxuriant intensity. Unfortunately, that was also my signal. Once I started feeling this way, my inhabitations would soon fall by the wayside.
With both our plates cleared of food and the wineglasses truly empty, I pulled the uneaten containers closer. “It’s getting late, Joshua—”
“Josh. Please.”
“Josh.” I smiled. It felt lopsided. “I need to put these things away and get ready to face Beth in the morning.”
“Sure, I understand.” He put his knife and fork on the plate next to him. “But I hope we can do this again. You’re great company.”
“I’d like that.” And I meant it. It dawned on me that we’d spent most of the night talking about me, and I knew very little about him still.
I rose on unsteady legs, unprepared for when they refused to support me. Josh jumped to his feet, obviously in a much better state than I, and wrapped his arm around my waist. Without his support, I would have hit the floor hard. “Whoa. Steady there.”
My breasts pressed against his chest, our faces only inches apart. I smelled the remnants of the gourmet delivery surrounded by subtle hints of alcohol. Desire swelled within me, and I weakly fought it into submission, though it would not die without a struggle. I saw a hint of lust reflecting in his eyes and prayed I didn’t imagine it.
Josh’s gaze dropped to my lips before travelling to meet my eyes again.
No. Not imagined at all.
“You’re so young,” I said softly.
“Twenty-six. Not that young.”
Fifteen years my junior. A full generation between us. The realization didn’t stop me from wanting him to lower his face to mine and devour my mouth in a kiss.
He brought his mouth to mine, brushing it with the gentlest caress that sent a shiver rippling through me instead. I ached for more and released a soft whimper of protest when he didn’t give in to my wants. Intense green eyes searched mine before he said, “Not like this, Regina.”
The use of my first name brought the reality of this evening crashing into me. He didn’t understand. This was exactly how I needed it. How I wanted it. With this lonely life, I’d earned the right to throw responsibility out the window and let my id run rampant. I’d promised Patrick I would live. And I wanted to do so now.
I threaded my fingers into Josh’s short brown hair and brought his lips to mine. I opened my mouth against his, the urgency of connecting to him on a physical level driving me until I knew nothing else. It crossed my mind only seconds after our tongues connected that he might reject me. When he breathed into me, tasted me, that thought shattered.
Finding his unoccupied hand, I brought it to my breast, offering more than just a kiss to him.
“You’re tempting,” Josh muttered after breaking away. “So very tempting…but you’ve also been drinking.”
I licked his bottom lip. “I’m fully aware of what I’m doing.”
“I need you to be able to say that in the morning.” He kissed me again. “I won’t be satisfied with just one night.”
Guiding his hand beneath my shirt, I let him touch my bare skin. “But what an amazing one night it could be.”