A knock on the door jolted Eric out of his funk. Frowning, he checked his watch. Almost nine thirty. He set the glass down on the end table and opened the front door to his small house, situated a few miles out of town. Who would come way out here at this hour? His heart locked up.
The haunted, beautiful image of Shelby emerged from the darkness. Her wide eyes darted glances behind her.
“Are you okay?” he said, blinking hard to clear his brain. What the hell was she doing on the front stoop? Thank God he’d only made it one finger into his first glass of whiskey tonight. At least he could still focus.
“Yes, for the most part. Mind if I come in?”
“Hell, no, I don’t mind. Please.” He stood to the side and swept his arm in front of her.
Sudden panic gripped him. Had he cleaned within the past decade? How about dirty laundry? Actually, he’d picked up last night, for all the good that had done. A quick glance told him he was in the clear.
Shit, this was the closest Shelby had ever been to his bed. A wave of desire blinded him for a moment, until he tamped it down, hard. Wouldn’t do to freak her out. But she was here. A good place to start. Now, if he could remember how to talk.
“Want something to drink?” he managed.
“Yeah. That would be great.” She hung her jacket on the hook near the door then slouched down into the couch cushion, draping her arm over the side. Staring at the rug on the laminate floor she exclaimed, “Oh, damn it. I’m so sorry!”
She scrambled back toward the front door, but not before dropping more clods of mud onto the carpeting.
“Don’t worry about it. I do it all the time,” he murmured.
While she untied her boots, he enjoyed the view of her lean thighs and derriere wiggling in the air. She had no idea how sexy she was. He wet his lips.
No. Control the emotion so she doesn’t know, or she’ll think you’re going to maul her.
In wool socks, she walked back over to the couch and slumped once more. When she propped her feet on the coffee table, in exactly the position as he’d been sitting a minute earlier, he smiled. At least she was comfortable here. This was how he’d want to see her on his couch.
Actually, he had other ways he’d like to see her on his couch, and none of them involved clothing. But for now, her relaxing here would do fine.
He handed her a glass of whiskey. “Hope you like whiskey with water, on the rocks. House rules and all.”
“After the last few days, anything that burns the memories away will do.” She sighed and sipped, the ice clunking against the glass.
“Did something happen tonight?” He settled next to her on the couch and dropped an arm along the back of the furniture.
“It’s Wyatt Brand. He’s a moron.”
“That’s not news.” He sat up straight. “Did he do something new?”
“Cornered me in the grocery store and spouted weirdo stuff about ‘righting wrongs’ and ‘Great One rising’ and other bizarre stuff.”
Eric scanned her face and frame. “Did he hurt you?” Because he would gladly put his fist through Wyatt’s face.
“Dude.” She smirked and motioned to herself. “As if.”
Eric chuckled at her attitude then got serious, fast. Wyatt was made of solid, nasty muscle. She might believe she could take him, but if that snarling man ever got his hands on Shelby, the guy would hurt her.
Fighting to stay calm, he said, “How’d you get away from him?”
“Castrated him with my shopping cart.” Her grin lit up her face.
He choked on whiskey, and damn, it hurt like hell going down the wrong pipe. It took him a full minute to recover. “Seems to be a theme with you and Wyatt.”
She lifted her tumbler in a mock toast and took a sip. “Yes, it is.”
“Good job, by the way. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. Did you get your groceries?”
“No. I bailed. Then I stopped at the Grab ‘n’ Go for a few items.”
“Do you need to bring them in?” Like, did she want to stay for a prolonged period of time?
She tilted the ice against the glass. “It’s just milk and eggs, and it’s cold in the car.”
“I don’t like that he threatened you.” The fire in his belly had nothing to do with the whiskey and everything to do with the fact that Wyatt would try to intimidate Shelby or put her in danger.
“Me neither, but the world contains jerks. It so happens Copper River has a higher per capita rate, thanks to the Brands.” She sighed. “At least we got that nurse in to help Dad.”
“Hey, that’s great. Takes a load off. Is she nice?”
“More, um, no-nonsense and professional. But, yes she seems like a kind person. I think she can help Dad.”
“Good.”
He put his glass down next to him and studied Shelby’s profile. The orange curls floated around her shoulders. Her hair, shorter now after that damned fire, took on a life of its own. And he loved that wildness about her.
“What?” she asked, pinning him with those gold and brown eyes.
His mouth went dry. “Why are you here, Shelby?”
“I don’t understand.”
“Why are you here? In this house and not your own? I presume you were heading back to the ranch.” He had no energy for games with her. Not anymore.
“Tough questions. Okay.” Her shoulders rose and fell. “I’m here because I need someone to talk with and I didn’t want to burden Garrison or Kerr.”
“They wouldn’t mind if you talked with them. Besides, they need to know. Try again.” His heart thudded. Was he calling her bluff or driving her out the door?
Her flame-tipped eyelashes stroked her cheek as she studied the glass in her hand. “I’m here because I needed to feel safe.”
“Safe?” He barked what passed for a laugh. “That’s how you see me?”
Her cheeks turned pink. “Well. Yes and no.” She waved a hand. “Never mind. Forget I mentioned it. It was a mistake coming here.”
When she took her feet off the table and scooted forward, he slid over and turned, putting one leg out in front of hers. Now his face was mere inches away. Fresh air and sugared apples wafted over him, and he inhaled, her scent more intoxicating than the alcohol.
“Still feel safe?” he murmured.
Her neck muscle moved as she gulped. “Sort of.”
Why that response thrilled him, he wouldn’t dare investigate.
“Why else are you here?” No more hiding. He was going to push until she admitted her feelings or ran away. Geezus, he hoped it wouldn’t be the latter, or his life would be shit.
She bit her lower lip, and his gaze locked onto the shiny moisture.
The wind gusted outside of the house.
She looked up at him from under her eyelashes. Fear, heat, and hope swirled there. The words came out staccato. “I want . . . what we talked about before. You. Me. Together.”
He needed more from her. She was holding back, even now. He needed Shelby to be completely open with him. “Can you be more specific?”
“Now you’re making fun of me.” When she put a hand down to push off the couch, he encircled her wrist with his fingers.
“Please don’t stop. I have to hear you say it, Shel. After all this time. After . . . wanting you, I need to know without a doubt that we’re on the same page.”
When she swallowed again, he kept his eyes on the line of her throat. Down lower, near her collarbone, a pulse jumped. Good. At least he wasn’t the only one whose heart was beating a million miles an hour.
She met his gaze. “I want to try to make this work. I want you, Eric. Any way you’ll have me. I want to try and drop my walls for once. Let it be just you and me.”
He slid his hand around her neck and pulled her to him, pressing his mouth against hers. The soft seam opened beneath his tongue, and the taste of whiskey and scent of apple pie blended in a way that was deliciously Shelby.
Pulling back, he took in her parted lips and dilated pupils. Her chest rose and fell, but not nearly as fast or as harshly as he wanted. Before this night ended, he would make her desperate for him, calling out his name, desiring for him to take care of her needs. Only he could give her pleasure she deserved. He wanted all of this so badly, he couldn’t see straight.
“I’ve seen you hide inside that shell for years. It’s killed me to sit back and watch while you put yourself in harm’s way. But here are my rules tonight. No hiding. You have to drop your barriers. And I get to be in control. Complete control.” His ragged whisper snagged the air around them. “Do you understand?”
She nodded.
He leaned a few inches forward and traced the outline of her lips with his tongue until she gasped. “That’s not to say you won’t like my rules.” A nip at her lower lip drew a small noise from her. The sound set off a chain reaction in his body, ending at his tightening groin.
Standing, he held out his hand.
She took it and allowed him to pull her up.