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~Cora~
THIS WAS GETTING WORSE by the minute, and not just the pain and embarrassment. I shouldn’t go to his place. Really, I shouldn’t. But I wanted to. He held me gently, but firmly. I was safe there: safe from drunks hitting on me, safe from broken heels and twisted ankles. Safe from people trying to run my life. But possibly not safe from the heat I now felt—not imagined—from his hands on my skin.
But his steps continued, around the corner of the bar and up the stairs to the second floor of the building. He didn’t break a sweat, or have to catch his breath. As though he’d been carrying women up flights of stairs his entire life.
“Now, don’t judge me on how it looks. It’s a temporary thing, remember. But I’m sure I’ve got some aspirin and ice for your ankle. We can prop it up on some pillows and rest it a bit before you try putting any weight on it.”
He fumbled for the keys in his pocket—quite the feat while he kept me in his arms. Once he found the right one and got the door open, he clicked on the light.
I wouldn’t judge him, but it was...well, plain would be generous. Beige walls, beige counters, beige appliances, beige couch, beige carpet. As if someone was afraid to put color into their life...or didn’t care about the place.
He set me down on that beige couch. It might look boring as hell, but it was a comfy couch.
“Here, put your foot up on this coffee table. Use one of those pillows on the couch to lift it up some.” He plucked a beige (of course) pillow off the edge of the couch, set it on the coffee table, and moved my leg to get it settled.
That little zip zinged again. Wow.
“Let me get that ice.” He turned to the kitchenette a few steps away to rummage in the freezer for ice. “Ice, ice, baby...where are you, ice?” His mutterings filled the quiet as I took a moment to examine him from behind.
And what a behind it was. The jeans hugged his butt—none of that baggy jean crap where you’d see the guy’s underwear. My gaze wandered up to his broad shoulders and that onyx hair—a slight wave to it, cut short but not a buzz cut—that my fingers itched to run through. He was about six foot, a good five or six inches taller than me. The perfect height to snuggle my head under his chin and breathe in his sandalwood cologne.
Stop. No running fingers, no broad chest to feel, no scent to inhale, no ass to hold as he...NO. Just stop.
He spun around. “Found it! I’ll get a plastic baggie and then a towel to wrap around it. And two aspirin, coming up.”
The smile on his face only grew as my face heated. He’d caught me looking at him.
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~Dixon~
I DIDN’T MEAN TO EMBARRASS her, but damn. That look she was giving me—her gaze traveled up and down my body, and she parted her lips. I wanted to sink into her and never let go. But I sensed a one-night stand wasn’t her style, so I tried casual teasing instead. “Why, Ms. Stetson, were you checking me out? Tsk, tsk. Trying to take advantage of your knight in shining armor?”
“Umm...”
I laughed. “Well, let’s see if I can dig up that aspirin before I call myself a true knight in shining armor.” I headed to the bathroom and rummaged through the medicine cabinet. I figured an hour or so of elevation, ice, and the aspirin would get her on her feet. So I had sixty minutes to find out everything about her, not be a jerk, not throw myself at her, and definitely get her phone number. If my brain would engage before my mouth—or my dick—I’d be all set.
I was doomed.
“Here you go. Dr. Dixon says to take two and call him in the morning.” Yeah, so much for the brain engaging before the mouth did.
“Doctor, huh? You strike me more as a Boy Scout—you know, always prepared.” She took the aspirin from my hand and swallowed them with a gulp of water.
The flash of heat from that simple touch had me flustered. It traveled straight to my dick, getting it to stand to attention. And more of my brain cells fried, I swear. I tried to get back into the conversation at hand.
“Well, I never made it to the Boy Scouts. Got kicked out of Cub Scouts.” I shrugged.
She looked at me, her lips pressing together. “What could you possibly do to get kicked out of Cub Scouts?”
“Well, it used to be you had to pay dues. Each week, my mom’d give me the money and off I’d go to the meeting. I’d spend the money on the way there—you know, gum, candy, video game. Whatever sounded good. I’d tell the den leader that my mom and I were poor and couldn’t afford the dues. After a while, he contacted my mom and told her not to worry about the dues. I was totally busted. She told the guy she’d given me the dues money, and that was the end of that. They kicked me out.”
She tried to swallow her laughter. “Did she ground you or anything?”
I smiled. I hadn’t thought about that story in a long time. It was one of the few good memories I had of my mom. Before everything went to shit. Before she was gone. My smile disappeared, and my shoulders sagged as that familiar hollow feeling of despair settled in.
This...this was why I never let anyone in. There was shit I did not want to think about, much less talk about.
“Nope. She was cool about it.” I left out how my stepfather reacted, though. It was the first time he’d lost his temper with me, the first time he’d hit me. Getting grounded was a new thing, too.
Time for a change of subject. “So, tell me, Ms. Stetson like the hat, what do you do? Besides go drinking with your friend and try to finagle your way into a stranger’s apartment?”
Her sultry lips—God, her mouth was just begging to be kissed—turned into a full smile.
“That’s not all I do. In fact, I don’t do that at all.” The smile became a pout.
Still begging to be kissed.
“I...work downtown.”
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~Cora~
HOW PATHETIC WAS THAT answer? Very. But I didn’t know what to say. Certainly not the truth. That would lead to questions, questions I didn’t want to answer. What I wanted was his mouth on my mouth, my hands on his body, his... Shit, this had to stop. I’d never been this disoriented around a guy before. I usually had more control. Well, that’s not true...I never required control until I met Dixon. And that meant more trouble for me, for sure. Something I seriously did not need. Dealing with Mark and my father was more than enough testosterone in my life already.
“Downtown, huh? Like at an accounting firm or a lawyer’s office? Come on, Cora, what do you do?” He stretched his arm out over the back of the couch, his fingers inches away from my shoulder. He turned toward me, a curious look on his face.
“Something like that. Actually, you never answered my question from before. What is it that you do? Why are you living above Jake’s bar?” I hoped redirecting the attention would work, and he’d leave the subject of my career alone.
“What, you don’t believe I rescue ladies in distress?” A grin tugged at his kissable lips. “Like I said, I’m just here temporarily. Jake’s my brother—well, stepbrother—so when I needed a place, he offered this up. I’m working construction with an old high school buddy right now, but that’s probably temporary too. Not sure exactly what I want, but I know it’s more than that or this crash pad over a bar.” He scratched his cheek. “I’ll figure something out soon, I guess. I like being here with Jake, so maybe it’s time to stop wandering around and settle down. Maybe get a real place of my own. Find a direction for my life.”
Well, that explained how he easily carried me across the parking lot and up the stairs. And the broad shoulders. And the muscled arms.
He tapped his fingers on the back of the couch, and all I wanted was them on my arm, smoothing away the day’s cares. Somehow, my body shifted just enough that his fingertips did brush my shoulder. I gulped at the spark the touch elicited and drew a deep breath. “How long have you been here? I mean, living over Jake’s?”
“A few months. Came into Allentown in February to catch up with Jake and see his place. He offered me a job tending bar, but it’s not my thing. I’d be happier drinking than handing out the drinks. Or I’d spend too much time watching the game and not paying attention to the customers. Didn’t think I should abuse Jake’s good nature that way. The apartment is more than enough to ask.”
He leaned over to check my ankle. I still had my shoes on; I wasn’t sure whether it was better to take them off or keep them on. And right now, my head wasn’t interested in figuring out that medical mystery. I had more pressing issues, like how his touch singed my leg as he caressed the ankle. I couldn’t help but jump a bit at the feeling.
“What do you think? Want to watch some of the game while we let this rest some more? I’m not sure that aspirin kicked in yet if it hurts when I just touch it.”
What could I do? Tell him it was his touch that had me so jumpy? That I wanted to grab him and never let him go? That I wanted to experience that tingle all over as his hands wandered my body?
“I should go. You must have had plans before I crashed them.” Getting out of there before I gave in to any temptation would be the smart thing to do.
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~Dixon~
I COULDN’T LET HER go. Plans to watch a game with my buddy or the chance to get to know Cora? No contest—Cora’d win every time. And I couldn’t stop touching her, either. That twisted ankle was a blessing in disguise for me. I’d gotten to feel her calf, touch that silky skin; I’d gotten to carry her in my arms for a good two minutes; I’d gotten to brush her arm on the couch. Mostly little touches, but the rush was incredible. No way I’d want to give that up. Each caress created more compulsion to explore her body, to find those secret places that would have her shuddering in surrender.
“No. Stay. You’ve hardly let that ankle rest. We’ll give it some more time and see how you’re feeling in a bit. Want something to drink or eat? I can offer...let’s see...” My words rushed out as I got up and checked out the cabinet next to the sink. “A bag of Cheez-its that feels like it’s all crushed...some chocolate chip cookies, which may or may not be stale...a chocolate bar...”
“Oh, chocolate cures anything. As long as it’s real chocolate and not that fake stuff.”
I turned back to her and grinned. “Fake chocolate? You think I’d offer a beauty like you fake chocolate? Nothing but the best, m’lady.” I handed over the Cadbury bar. “I’m partial to the Cadbury Eggs, too, but I missed them this year.”
“Ew. The crème eggs? Those are so disgustingly sweet. I’m a Cadbury Mini Eggs fan, myself. Now, that’s some good chocolate. I can’t tell if I’m happy or sad they are only available for Easter.”
I took the few steps back to the couch.
“Oh, that’s much better. I never ate before I met up with Wendy tonight. I was busy—” The smile disappeared from her face, along with whatever she was going to say next, and she bit the inside of her cheek. She fidgeted with the chocolate wrapper.
“Busy? With what?”
“Nothing. Never mind. Thanks for the chocolate. But I really should go.” She lifted her foot off the coffee table and set it on the ground, readying herself to get up.
And leave.
As she put her weight on it, she let out a little gasp, so I reached out to catch her before she fell. She listed over to the side, and I tightened my hold on her waist.
“Whoa there. I think you need a bit more rest before you go running out of here. Or even walking out of here.” I stood there and stared into those green eyes. More of my brain cells fried as her eyes widened in surprise. And then sparked with desire.
I let my hand drift up her side, then along her neck. I traced her jawline with my fingers. Tingles shot through my arm. Everything seemed to come to attention, especially my dick. Just a breath away...just a little farther and our lips would touch. Her breath came in quick spurts, and my heart beat a mile a minute. She clutched my shoulders.
Then she leaned back and sat down. “I guess I should stay a bit longer. It doesn’t feel like I could put too much pressure on it right now.”
Damn. So close. But I wasn’t about to give up.
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~Cora~
DAMN. THAT WAS CLOSE. Too close, in too many ways. I’d almost kissed Dixon...given in to the temptation he was clearly becoming. I’d almost spilled about my day... about myself...and I’d almost spilled over the couch. If he hadn’t been there to catch me... Enough of that line of thought.
I still had that chocolate bar in my hand. I snapped off a piece and let it melt in my mouth. It’d help me keep my mouth shut...stop me from talking about myself and stop me from kissing him. Even if that’s all I wanted to do. Those blue eyes watched me, shimmering with intensity, as if he were trying to see my soul. And damn if I didn’t want to bare it to him.
If I couldn’t leave his couch right this second, I could at least lead the conversation. Or try to.
“I can practically hear you thinking over there. You okay?” He was back in the kitchenette, opening a beer bottle. “Want a beer? It’ll take your mind off the pain.”
I wasn’t sure it was the pain I should forget or the way he looked at me. I probably needed my wits about me to get through this night. “Sure. A beer’d be great. But just one. After all, a chocolate bar dinner isn’t exactly going to balance out more than one beer.” One beer wouldn’t be the end of the world, right?
Our fingers brushed again when he handed me the longneck. And damn if that tingle didn’t run up my arm and down to my girly parts. This was getting unreal. Forget getting...it just was unreal. But I didn’t want it to end. Even though it’d be for the best. I didn’t have time for a relationship—even a fling. I needed to focus on my goals: My bed-and-breakfast. Getting out from under my father’s sphere of influence. Make my own destiny, not follow his.
I took a swallow of the beer and tried to rein in the fluttering in my chest.