Chapter Three
Tara stared at the side of her car in horror. Who the hell would do something like this? Her leftover Danish fell from her numb fingers and a sick feeling lodged in her throat.
Damn. On top of her current problems, some dumbshit had chosen her little Honda Civic to key. The scratch went all the way through the paint and traveled from one bumper to the other. It would probably cost her a fortune to repair. Money she didn’t have.
Tara turned around in the parking lot. She was alone. A shiver rent her body beneath her down parka that had nothing to do with the freezing temperatures. She felt like she was being watched.
She shook the feeling off and looked at the ugly line marring her once pretty blue car. Tara slapped her hand on the roof. What could she do? Call the cops and have them tell her there was nothing they could do. Call her insurance, which she could do from the apartment. Tell Scott what had happened.
As owner of To Bean, he’d want to know. She didn’t want this to happen to anyone else either. At least he’d be able to get someone to keep an eye on things in the parking lot. The thought of seeing him again made her knees weak. The man was more than potent.
She trudged back through the slush left over from last week’s snowstorm and ripped the door open, snarling when the bell tinkled overhead. Her Christmas cheer had flown the coop.
Tara stomped her booted feet on the welcome rug thingy and searched the café for Scott’s familiar dirty blond head.
“Are you looking for someone?”
Tara turned at the employee’s pleasant question and nodded.
“Scott Wyatt.”
The girl’s lip curled on one corner for a split second before she offered a semi-polite smile.
“I’m sorry,” she said in the most dramatic way possible, her smile growing. “He’s in a meeting, you’ll have to come back later.”
Tara shifted her weight onto one foot, barely refrained from tapping her toe in agitation and crossed her arms over her chest. She looked closely at the girl’s nametag.
“That’s interesting, Melody, since I just left him not five minutes ago and he never mentioned having a meeting to attend.”
Melody’s smile faltered, her eyes narrowed ever so slightly and when she spoke, it was through gritted teeth.
“He’s in his office and asked not to be interrupted.”
Okay. She could buy that, but not why the girl so obviously didn’t want her to see Scott. Or why someone her age and apparent status in the company would be privy to what the owner wanted or didn’t want.
She cocked her head. “Perhaps you could just tell him I’m here. I know he’ll want to see me.” At least, she prayed he did, just to tick little Miss Hot-For-the-Boss off.
Melody huffed and pursed her lips. She threw her rag down in the plastic bin filled with dirty dishes and marched over to a door behind the counter.
Whoa. Can you say attitude? She better hope she never did this shit with a real customer or she’d find herself out of work.
Tara followed. When Melody stopped suddenly, Tara ran into her. Melody turned. Her nostrils flared.
“You’ll have to wait out here,” she said in agitation.
Tara leaned in and gave a two-fingered salute. “No problem.”
Smoothing her Christmas green apron, Melody faced the door. Without knocking, she opened it and stuck her head in.
Some meeting.
“Mr. Wyatt, this woman insists on seeing you.”
Good Lord. Tara dropped her chin to her chest and counted. To two. Then she pushed her way past Melody, ignoring her spluttering.
“Scott, it’s me.”
Scott stood so quickly his chair tipped over.
“Tara? What’s wrong?” Hand trailing the edge of the desk, he rounded it and came toward her.
His furniture was arranged in such a fashion that he had a clear path to the door. He crossed it faster than a sighted man would.
Tara stopped him with a hand on his arm. “I needed to talk to you and Melody here was gracious enough to show me in.”
Scott turned to Melody. How he knew exactly where she was, Tara couldn’t fathom. The things he could do, the things normal people took for granted, were nothing short of miraculous.
“Thank you, Melody. Can you shut the door on your way out?”
Tara resisted the urge to smirk. Dashing whatever crush Melody had on her boss wouldn’t accomplish anything.
Melody threw a glare over her shoulder and left the room.
“I thought you’d left, Tara.”
“I did.” Seriously, the man was beautiful. “But I had a little problem with my car.”
He reached in his pocket for his cell phone. “Did you need me to call a tow?”
“I wish,” she muttered. “No, actually someone keyed it.”
“What?”
“Yep. I wanted you to know so you could maybe have someone keep an eye on the parking lot in case the person does it again.”
“Shit. Yeah. God, I’m sorry. Whatever it costs, I’ll pay for it.”
Take off the sunglasses. “That’s not why I’m here, Scott.”
He ran a hand through his hair, hardly mussing the short strands. She fisted her hands against wanting to touch it herself.
“No, I know, I just… Damn.” He unerringly found her hands and held them.
The touch electrified her, tingling every nerve in her body.
He stepped closer and her breath caught.
A knock sounded at the door.
Before they could break apart, the door opened and Melody reappeared. Her quick intake of breath and wide eyes told Tara how surprised Melody was to find her holding hands with Scott. Then those pert lips of hers curved upward.
She looked straight at Tara. “This man is looking for you, I believe,” Melody smirked before turning and closing the door with an unmistakable click.
“Tara,” Eric whined.
How in the hell…
“I’ve been waiting for you, baby.” Eric stomped in like he owned the place and jerked to a stop. “Who’s this, Tara?” he snarled.
Tara tried to let go of Scott’s hand. No sense bringing him into Eric’s warped world. Scott held tighter, squeezing her fingers. In fact, he tugged, knocking her off balance so she fell into him, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
Eric growled. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
“Hugging my girlfriend. Can I help you?”
Oh. My. God. Tara’s cheeks flamed.
“Yeah, you can get your hands off her. Tara belongs to me.”
Tara literally felt steam come out of her ears. “Belongs to you? Are you crazy, Eric? I’m a person, nobody owns me.”
Scott held tight to her when she tried to move away. She welcomed his calming effect since her senses were reeling.
“We belong together, Tara. That’s all I meant, baby,” he cajoled, his cheeks red as if he’d seen the error in his words.
Eric was more delusional than she originally thought.
Tara took a deep breath, glad Scott was close by. “I’ve told you we’re through, Eric. It’s time for you to move out of the apartment and on with your life. Find a woman you’re better suited to.”
Eric’s eyes narrowed and a muscle jumped in his jaw. Tara found herself reaching across Scott’s body and taking hold of his other hand.
“You don’t mean that, baby.”
“I do, Eric. Every word, every time I’ve said it.” Here goes nothing. “I have a new boyfriend now.” She patted Scott’s chest and prayed he didn’t give her away.
Eric’s hands fisted at his sides and he took a tentative step forward.
Kissy-Face whined from his position near the desk and got up, ready to defend his owner.
“So what, you think you can just dump me and go off to fuck another guy? Do you know what that makes you?”
Total shock slammed into her, leaving her with the sensation she’d been slapped across the face. Her face drained of blood. Scott shoved her behind his back.
“I wouldn’t go any further if I were you,” he said in a deadly quiet tone.
“Or you’ll what? Hit me with your cane? Not much a gimp can do.”
Oh my God. Eric couldn’t see that Scott was blind. He thought Scott walked with a cane. If Eric came after him, Scott wouldn’t see it coming. How would he defend himself?
Scott stepped forward, halting Eric’s attempt to do so too. Her ex stiffened and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. Tara wanted to pump her fist in the air.
How Scott acted like any other sighted man she didn’t know. It was another one of those uncanny abilities she’d seen in him.
“This isn’t over, Tara. You’ll see. In a few days you’ll see how much you miss me and come crying back into my arms.” Eric waggled a finger at her.
Please. How had she missed this pissy side of him?
“No, Eric, I won’t. Move out of the apartment.”
“No. My name is on the lease. You think you can dump me like this, you move out.”
Damn it. She squeezed the back of Scott’s shirt in agitation. Good thing she’d accepted Brianna and Scott’s offer of a room. She could start apartment hunting as soon as she got settled there. The added commission from this party would go a long way in securing rent somewhere at least.
“Fine,” she grumbled, stepping around Scott. She loved that apartment. “I’ll be by to pick up my stuff tomorrow.”
Eric’s face held a mixture of disgust and…excitement? What the fuck would he be excited about?
“Don’t be there,” she said flatly.
Eric didn’t answer. He turned on his heel and marched out of Scott’s office, slamming the door behind him.
Tara let out the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding and slumped her shoulders. She hated that Scott had to be here for Eric’s little display. Talk about embarrassing.
“I’m so sor…”
Scott’s hand moved in a slow arc toward her face. She froze and wondered what he was doing. His wrist grazed her ear and pulled back until his palm cradled her cheek.
Her heart thudded. She rubbed her cheek on his hand.
“May I see what you look like?” he asked, throwing her for a loop.
She’d seen this done before on TV. A blind person’s way of “seeing” was by touch. How could she not grant him this?
Tara nodded. Scott brought his other hand up. His thumbs and fingers wandered ever so gently over her forehead, her eyes and nose, her cheeks, her lips, and curved around her chin. It was the most exquisite and erotic thing she’d ever experienced.
The room was so silent she could hear both of their harsh breaths. Her belly somersaulted with tender emotion. She wanted more.
“You’re beautiful, Tara,” he rasped.
Her eyes welled up. God. In all the time she’d spent with Eric, he’d never said anything as profound as those three little words to her.
She sniffed and dropped her chin to her chest. Scott lifted it back up and wiped an escaping tear from her cheek as if he’d seen it there.
“I have to kiss you.”
“Yes.”
Why deny how she felt?
He leaned into her, his thumbs at the corners of her mouth, and melded his lips to hers.
The world shifted. She felt her arms slide around his waist and tilted her head to provide better access.
There was nothing tentative from that point on. He took control of her mouth, coaxing her to open and slipping his tongue inside. The sexual dance continued for several long moments. Scott shuffled closer, insinuating his thigh between her legs, and pressed against her mound.
She moaned. Tingles erupted in her clit. It wasn’t enough. She rubbed herself on his leg.
One hand left her cheek and settled on a breast, the thumb flicking at her distended nipple. She squirmed in his hold, raking his back with her fingernails. His cock ground into her tummy.
And then he was gone. Releasing her and stepping back, leaving both of them fighting for air. Tara shook in the aftermath, both saddened it was over and angered that she wanted more. Now.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for it to go—”
Tara pounced on his apology and covered his red, swollen lips with two fingers. “Shush. That was the most incredible kiss. Thank you.”
He kissed her fingers, sending a shiver down her spine. Damn the man was potent.
And she was falling for him. Hard.