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Sizzling heat.
She could almost hear the steam hissing off the Miami tarmac. The plane rolled to a stop at the gate and she waited her turn to exit, staring out the small window while the passengers gathered their luggage. July in Miami: some found it unbearable, but not Lynn Spoffard. She loved the sweltering gusts that blew over the sand and brought with it the salty tang of the ocean.
The rush of heat assaulted her as she stepped out of the airport. She tilted her head into the gentle breeze and wiped away the strands of golden hair that drifted into her face.
The tension of the last few months melted away by the time she slumped in the back of the taxi and gave the driver the address of her parents’ cottage. The lush scenery passed. She shivered at the frigid air circulating in the taxi and rubbed her bump-laden arms.
She paid the cab driver, turned and looking at the white cottage bordering the fine pebbled sand. The black shutters aligned perfectly on the siding. It amazed her that the place never changed. Shaking her head, she entered the spotless abode.
Silence, soothing silence. She inhaled, hauled her suitcases onto the bed, and relished the quiet after so many days and nights of arguments and insults. She knew she was running, avoiding the inevitable confrontation, but she didn’t have a choice, especially after Bryan’s last tirade.
He called her a tease, a frigid bitch, a cunt.
To hell with that bastard.
She picked up the note on her dresser and sighed at her mother’s handwriting. It was as neat as everything else in her life.
Lynn dear,
Enjoy the house. We will see you in September.
Love,
Mom
She carefully folded the letter and placed it in the top drawer of the bureau, opting to enjoy the rest of the day instead of wallowing in the past.
Clad in a slinky pink bikini, she paused at the back slider to scan the crowded beachfront for an open spot. Homing in on a destination, she slid out the back door and trudged onto the beach barefoot, relishing the hot sting.
The heat of the sand soon went from pleasant to scalding and she moved quickly to the spot she spied from the cottage. Shifting from foot to foot, she spread the bamboo mat and her feet sang with relief when she stepped on it. A few yards away, a heated volleyball game caught her attention. She spread her towel, settled on her stomach, and watched the game. The men on her side of the net were mighty fine specimens: rippled muscles outlined in golden tans gleaming under the sheen of sweat; hair darkened and dripping; patches of sand on elbows and stomachs, evidence of falling leaps to keep the ball in play. Your typical beach bum: hot, sweaty, and scrumptious.
She slipped in her earbuds and scrolled to her favorite playlist. The first page of the book didn’t hold her attention and she kept stealing glances at the volleyball players. One glanced in her direction and their eyes met. Instant heat layered on top of the already high temperature that saturated her. She caught her breath in her throat and she dropped her gaze quickly to the book in her hand. But not before she saw the hint of a dimple in his cheek or the playful gleam in his eyes.
She forced a breath and reined in her focus on the book in front of her; the sudden fire in the pit of her stomach diluted to a manageable level.
“You really thought you could run away from me?”
Lynn’s entire body went rigid and she turned her head. He was the one person she didn’t want to see on the Florida beach front. Bryan.
His dark eyes glared at her, his lips pressed in that manner that meant an explosion was only seconds away. His cheeks carried the blotchy red of anger and he squatted. “Get up.”
“Fuck off.” She wanted to dismiss him by turning away and focusing on her book, but a twinge of fear cascaded down her back and locked her in place.
“Do you really want to cause a scene?”
“I told you it’s over.” Her voice lowered into a growl. “Go back to New York and leave me alone.”
He hauled her to her feet. “It isn’t over until I say so.”
A sudden hush overtook the beach with all eyes on them, including Dimples. Mortification encompassed her, and she shot her gaze back to Bryan. “Let go of me.”
“No.”
He yanked her closer and she flinched from the fury in his eyes. Her gaze darted away from the mask of crumbling control in front of her toward the stalled volleyball game.
Oh shit! Dimples headed in their direction and her mouth went dry. The closer he got, the more striking his eyes seemed—brilliant green wrapped with silky black lashes and the initial gleam was now replaced by a hardness she couldn’t read. Heat rushed into her cheeks and she cut eye contact. Her gaze dropped to the sand before turning to Bryan.
“Please, Bryan, you’re causing a scene.”
“I believe the lady said let go.” His voice was laced with an edge despite the smooth, deep, musical quality it carried.
Bryan glared at the stranger. “This doesn’t concern you.”
He turned his emerald eyes to hers. “Is this guy bothering you?” He hooked his thumb at Bryan.
Lynn’s heart pounded in her throat; she swallowed and gave an almost imperceptible nod.
His eyes swiveled back to Bryan’s. “Then this does concern me. I suggest you let go and back away.”
“What are you going to do if I don’t?”
His hands curled into fists at his side and the already defined muscles in his arms flexed, hardening into a work of sculpted art and a clear threat of violence.
“Bryan, just go.” She hated herself for the pitiful whine in her voice.
Bryan brought his fiery glare in her direction. “This isn’t over.”
He shoved her away and trudged in the direction of the houses. Lynn wondered whether he knew which one belonged to her parents. A chill raced through her, and she rubbed the spot where he had gripped her arm. She turned back toward the unmoving shadow standing next to her. “Thank you.”
He nodded and ran his fingers over the hint of a bruise on her arm before returning his concerned gaze to hers. “Are you gonna be all right?”
The physical contact of his fingers against her skin produced an electrical current that encompassed her entire body. Heat rushed to her cheeks and to her crotch with the same bravado; it sucked the air from her lungs and overrode her senses. She fought for a breath, fought for a coherent thought, fought to form a smile of reassurance but she lost the battle. Tremors started in her feet and rocked their way up her legs. She collapsed onto her beach blanket.
The freedom she thought she had—just a sham. And now this. Mr. Perfect crouched next to her gazing at her with his beautiful emerald eyes.
“Ex?”
Lynn nodded. “It didn’t end well.” Her voice cracked.
A chuckle erupted and brought the dimples back in full force. “I would have never guessed.”
Lynn felt the first hint of humor’s edge. “I’m sure.”
A crease appeared between his eyebrows. He studied her and then his smile spread. “Lynn—Lynn Spoffard, right?”
She blinked and tilted her head. How does he know my name? “Yes, how—”
“I know your folks.” He took a seat in the sand next to her without any more of an explanation.
“How do you know them?” Caution bells rang in her head.
“I did some repair work on their cottage last summer.”
“Oh.” Her eyes dropped to his smooth hands and back to his candid eyes. “But that still doesn’t explain how you know my name.”
“Your father mentioned your name.”
“Oh.”
“They’ve got quite a few pictures of you hanging around.”
She glanced at the ocean, shying away from his overwhelming presence. “Yeah, too many.”
“They’re certainly proud of you.”
She rolled her eyes. Her accomplishments over the last couple years were tempered by her biggest mistake: Bryan. Neither of her parents approved of him; both said he was volatile and they were afraid he might get violent.
Understatement of the year.
She shifted on the blanket, uncomfortable under his direct stare.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
“Don’t worry about it.” She waved her hand.
“Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?”
Speechless, she could think of a thousand things he could do to make it up, but none of them left her lips. “That’s not necessary.”
“At least let me buy you dinner.”
She raised her eyebrows. “I don’t even know your name.”
“Jim Murray.” He extended his hand. “Pleasure to meet you.”
Lynn stared at his hand and reached out to shake it. His grip was strong and sure, and she wondered why she wasn’t repelled by the slick warmness of his palm; instead, it fanned the flames licking her belly.
“So, how about dinner tonight?”
“Don’t you need to get back to your game?” Lynn glanced in the direction of the volleyball court.
“Not necessarily. They’ve got enough players to cover me. Besides I think my presence here will keep that asshole from returning.”
She glanced back at Jim. Her smile faded at the mention of Bryan.
“So, dinner at six?”
“I don’t know.”
“I promise, I won’t bite.”
His dimples belied his words and she could envision him nipping on her bare skin; she could see his lips, his teeth as they traveled over her and created a fire she was helpless to escape. Her heart throbbed, beating a mating call in her chest, and when she didn’t answer, he raised an eyebrow, silently daring her to say yes.
“Okay, okay, I’ll go to dinner with you tonight.”
He nodded and glanced at her legs. “You’re starting to look a little burnt.”
Lynn inspected the pink tinge on the skin of her thighs. “I think it’s time to get out of the sun. Otherwise I’ll be a lobster tomorrow.” She folded her towel and dropped it, along with both her book and IPod in her beach bag. When her eyes met his, she debated on extending an invitation back to the house.
“Do you want me to make sure the coast is clear?” He waved toward the cottage.
She glanced over her shoulder and back. “I think I’ll be fine.”
“In that case, I’ll pick you up at six.” He headed toward the volleyball clan without so much as a glance back in her direction.
Lynn admired his form while she picked up and rolled the bamboo mat. She navigated the sand with a frantic hopping motion, impressed with the calm, nonchalant way he had walked over the burning hot particles. She slid inside the cottage, closed the door behind her, and wiped her feet on the doormat.
Halfway across the room, she stopped. “Oh shit.” She turned and looked out the glass slider. She had no clue what to wear to dinner and she didn’t see him on the beach anymore. In Miami, it could be anything from casual shorts to formal dress. She chuckled at the thought of her in her best dress and him arriving in board shorts and a t-shirt. She figured she’d play it safe; she pulled out a pink dress that could be construed as either dressy or casual and comfortable sandals to match, and set them on the chair for later.
The sun and the jet lag caught up with her. Lynn slipped a t-shirt over her head and flopped on the bed, setting the alarm for four thirty before she let sleep take her away.
The doorbell interrupted her dream and she panicked; adrenaline rushed through her veins and her eyes darted around frantically before landing on the clock. It was only four and she said a silent prayer before pulling on a bathrobe.
Dread gripped her as she approached the front door.
Damn it, Bryan must have figured out which cottage I’m in.
She glanced through the peephole and relief flooded through her. She rested her forehead on the door and calmed her racing pulse. The delivery woman smiled at her when she opened the door but Lynn just stared at the dozen roses. They were about as welcome as a dozen cottonmouths but she signed the slip and took the flowers anyway. She closed the door and glanced at the unknown handwriting on the envelope. It wasn’t Bryan’s, but this definitely was his MO.
If that bastard thought for one second she’d take him back, he had another think coming.
Without opening the card, she tossed the roses into the garbage under the sink and headed back to her bedroom to clean up for her date.
* * * *
JIM ARRIVED PROMPTLY at six and Lynn swung the door open. His smile widened at the sight of the pretty pink spaghetti strap dress that accented her trim figure.
She wiped away a stray hair and waved him inside.
His gaze traveled around the cottage and then back to her. His smile faded, replaced by a crease between his eyebrows. “The florist never came?”
Lynn felt her eyes widen. “The roses were from you?” Her hand fluttered to her mouth and she rushed into the kitchen to yank the bouquet from the garbage can.
“Who else would they be from?” He stared at her.
She turned toward him, seeing multiple questions in his eyes. Questions like what the hell have I gotten myself into?
“Um, my ex,” she muttered. She turned back to the cabinets looking for a suitable container for the crumpled flowers and found a crystal vase in the cupboard. “I’m sorry.” When she turned, Jim had his hands stuffed into the pockets of his gray trousers and was biting the side of his lip.
Neither of them quite knew what to say.
She filled the vase with water. “Thank you for the roses.” She unwrapped the cellophane and arranged them in the vase. The card lay on the counter, unopened.
“What did he do to you?”
The question caught her off guard and she met his inquisitive gaze. “I, uh, I would rather not talk about it on our first date.” Heat flushed her face and she set her hands down on the counter so he couldn’t see the tremble in them. “If you don’t mind, that is.”
He shrugged, curiosity still ingrained in his features, but to his credit, he didn’t push the issue. “Okay.” He pointed to the card. “You don’t have to read that; it just says what you should wear.”
She reached for the card.
“Seriously, what you’re wearing is perfect.”
Her hand hovered over the card and she pulled it away. She walked out of the kitchen to join him in the living room. “You ready then?”
He gave a quick nod and a glance in the direction of the flowers before he escorted her out of the house and waited while she locked the door. “I figured you’d appreciate knowing what to wear.”
Lynn smiled. “That was nice of you and the roses are lovely.” She turned her attention toward the car in the driveway: a 1959 powder blue convertible Corvette. “Wow, nice wheels.”
“Thanks.” Jim opened the passenger door for her.
“So what do you do?” she asked as they pulled out.
“Not a whole hell of a lot right at the moment. I’m taking the summer off before I start med school in the fall. You?”
“Same.”
“You’re a med student?” He raised his eyebrows and glanced in her direction.
She laughed. “No, I’m taking the summer off. I’ve got a job starting in September back home.”
“Where’s home?” He pulled into a charming restaurant on the fringe of town and shut off the engine.
A bass beat overtook the parking lot and Lynn turned toward the noise. A crowded dance club lined the opposite side of the street. “New York.” She turned her attention back to him.
“Ah.” He put his hand on the small of her back and led her into the restaurant.
The gesture—the contact of his hand on her body—sparked an unfamiliar heat between her legs, and she had to concentrate on what he was saying instead of just melting into the hot tar at his feet.
Both the dinner and the wine were superb, his sense of humor sharp as a scalpel, his laughter musical, and the conversation flowed much easier than with anyone else. This date had all the trappings of something she could get used to.
“Would you like to go dancing?” He waved toward the club. “Or walk on the beach?”
The thought of being embraced in those strong arms clinched the decision. “I’d love to go dancing.” He took her hand and they crossed the street after a quick glance in both directions.
Jim guided her onto the dance floor; a slow song drifted on the steamy air and cleared most of the patrons away. He wrapped his arms around her and led her gracefully around the floor. His breath tickled her ear as he sang the words to “We’ve Got Tonight.” His voice, like the wine, warmed her soul and she closed her eyes, letting herself get lost in his sound and musky scent.
They danced until well past midnight, breaking out of the dance club to a clear, star-filled sky. His hand clasped hers and they crossed the road to his car; they drove in a comfortable silence back to her cottage.
“Thank you for tonight,” Lynn said as they climbed the steps to her porch.
“Can I come in?”
She hesitated. “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.” She looked up into his green eyes.
Doubt shimmered on his face and pulled the corners of his smile down. “Okay.” He shifted his weight. “Can I see you again?”
“I’d like that.”
His eyes sparkled with the smile that formed and he leaned in. He pressed his lips gently to hers and drew back a fraction to read her eyes. “You sure I can’t come in?”
Lynn pulled away, not knowing how to answer him. She wasn’t ready for a one-night stand. “I’m, um...” She tried to ignore the fire building inside her. “I really don’t think that’s a good idea.” Her life was already complicated enough.
“Is it me?”
“I don’t do one-night stands.”
“Are you so sure it would be?” This time when he kissed her, he pulled her close and let the kiss deepen into a smoldering passion that left them breathless.
The moment his lips touched hers, she wanted to take back the answer and let him come inside. To hell with the complications, to hell with her moral compass. She wanted Jim Murray. She burned for him. Her heart hammered crave-fueled blood to every pore of her body where it boiled to hot lava that pulsed its way over her skin.
He broke the kiss and stepped back, flushed and smiling. “Good night, Lynn.” His voice dripped with wanting, husky from resisting his desire. His eyes scanned her once before locking with hers again.
“Good night, Jim,” she forced herself to reply. She slipped the keys into the lock and slid into the cottage before she could extend the invitation locked within her lips. She leaned her back against the hard wood and listened for his footfalls. He shuffled on the porch and then walked down the steps and onto the gravel path to the driveway. He must have hesitated because a few seconds went by before she heard the car door open and close and the engine start. Lynn exhaled slowly, fanning herself with her hand. His tongue had done magical things in her mouth and she imagined what kind of magic it could do to her body. A sweet wetness dampened her panties and she let out a small laugh.
The light next to the couch switched on and all the heat in her veins turned to arctic ice.
Bryan crossed the distance while she fumbled with the doorknob. His hand slammed the opening door closed. “Slut,” he growled and backhanded her.
Lynn stumbled and lost her balance, sitting hard on the floor as he towered over her. She scrambled to her feet, shrinking away from him before pointing a shaky finger toward the door. “Get out!”
“Did you sleep with him?” He blocked any escape path by planting his arms on either side of her.
“No! Now get the hell out of my house!”
He slammed her back to the wall. “I don’t believe you.”
“I don’t care what you believe. I broke up with you, remember?” Her voice carried the hysteria thrumming through her. She hadn’t gotten out of his apartment unscathed that day, either. No, Bryan dragged her kicking and screaming into his bedroom and took what he thought he was entitled to. He had the same level of fury in his eyes now and she felt her bladder tighten.
The wood around the doorknob splintered and the front door flew open. Jim stormed inside. The fury in his eyes matched Bryan’s and before he could react, Jim crossed the distance, yanked him off her and tossed him across the room. The lamp and pictures on the side table scattered, knocked over by Bryan’s flailing arm. Shattered glass spilled across the floor.
“She told you to leave her alone.” Jim positioned himself in front of her.
Lynn folded her arms over her chest and shrunk into the wall. Fear and embarrassment fought for dominance: one icing her blood, the other heating her cheeks.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” Bryan got to his feet.
“A friend of the family.” Jim shifted. His stance was deceptively calm—his arms hung loose by his side but his hands...his hands clenched and unclenched, giving away the storm that brewed inside. “I suggest you leave before you get hurt.”
Bryan laughed. His high pitched cackle produced goose bumps all over Lynn’s already shaking form. She couldn’t see him, but she could imagine his predatory gait as he approached Jim.
A metallic click filled the room.
“You really don’t want to try that,” Jim said.
The edge to his voice made Lynn peek around him. Bryan held a long, sharp switchblade in his hand and his eyes screamed murder.
She screamed, “Bryan don’t!” at the same moment he lunged.
Jim parried, twisted Bryan’s wrist and knocked the blade out of his hand. He jabbed the heel of his palm into Bryan’s forearm and a snap followed by his shriek of pain echoed in the small cottage. Jim swung him around and pinned him to the wall. “I’m going to step back and you’re going to hightail it out of this house. If you don’t, I’m going to break something else. Understand?”
Bryan nodded and held his broken arm to his chest. His breath was harsh hisses of pain.
Jim stepped back and Bryan glanced in the direction of the discarded knife before he brought his gaze to Lynn. He pressed his lips together and his eyes narrowed. The promise of finishing what he started reflected in his irises.
Jim cleared his throat and Bryan scurried out of the cottage. He closed the broken door and turned his attention to Lynn. “You might want to call the police.”
Her chin started to tremble, and she clamped her teeth together against the flood of tears and tremors itching to surface. Instead, she nodded and stepped around the glass to reach for the phone. “How’d you know he was here?”
“I saw him turn the light on when I was pulling out of the driveway.”
Her hand shot to her mouth, covering the sob.
He wrapped his arms around her and planted a kiss on the top of her head. “You’re safe now.”
“He’s gonna come back.”
“You won’t be here.”
She pulled away and looked up into his bright green eyes, questioning him silently.
“Call the police.”
Dialing 911, she relayed the last few minutes to the dispatcher and hung up. “They’ll be here in a few minutes and they said not to touch anything.”
He nodded and moved her toward the kitchen, away from the living room and any evidence that Bryan may have left.
“What’d you mean I won’t be here?”
“As soon as you give a statement, I’m taking you to my place.”
Lynn raised her eyebrows.
“I think you’re right. He’s gonna come back and I’d just as soon you not be here when that happens.”
As soon as the police left, she packed her suitcase and glanced around the little cottage. “My parents are going to be pissed.” She waved at the empty table, the lamp, and picture frames already thrown in the garbage. All traces of broken glass had been swept away.
“Lamps and frames can be replaced. You can’t be.”
She offered a hint of a smile and set her suitcase on the floor. The locksmith already came and went, repairing the front door and giving her a new key.
Jim picked up her suitcase, led her out the front door and waited while she locked up. He nodded at the plainclothes cop parked across the street and dropped the suitcase in the trunk before sliding behind the wheel.
Silence blanketed the car while he drove to the other side of town, where his cabana lined one of the inlets. He pulled into the garage and turned off the ignition before turning in her direction.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
She laughed. The honest concern in his eyes brought back the emotions she felt on the front porch before this nightmare took hold. “Yeah, I’m sure. What about you? You’re the one he wanted to shish-kabob.”
Dimples appeared in his cheeks. “That was nothing.” He grabbed her bag and held the door open for her.
The warmth of the small one-room cottage surprised her. It wasn’t your usual bachelor pad, although the big screen television contrasted with the tastefully decorated apartment. She glanced around at the tiny efficiency kitchen, the small living room and the bed—the large round bed in the far corner next to a door she guessed led to the bathroom. Soft Southwestern colors painted the walls and the fabrics, giving a cool contrast to the high-tech entertainment center. The entire apartment would fit into her parents’ living room.
“It isn’t much, but it’s home.” He set her bag down next to the bathroom door and turned to her.
“A round bed?” She raised an eyebrow.
His cheeks turned crimson and he shrugged. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“Sure. What do you have?” Lynn took a seat on the couch.
“Beer, Mike’s, or orange juice,” he answered with the barren refrigerator open.
“Mike’s, please.” She knew she shouldn’t drink, but after the day she had, she was entitled.
He settled into the couch next to her, twisted the cap off and handed her a Mike’s Hard Lemonade. “So are you going to tell me what the deal is with that psycho?”
Lynn sucked down half the bottle before she met his inquisitive stare. “I met him at school close to a year and a half ago. In the beginning, he was fine—normal, you know.” She took another sip. “But then about six months into the relationship, he started getting possessive and jealous of everything. My friends, my family, even my co-workers. It was weird, and every time I got close to saying to hell with it, he’d snap out of it and be himself again. Or so I thought. My friends started pulling away and begging off on anything that involved him. My parents never liked him, so my relationship with them kind of went south.”
She picked at the corner of the label, and her hair blocked his view of her face. “I was pretty much isolated. My only real social interaction beyond classes and work was with him. Luckily, during Christmas break I ran into one of my best friends at the mall and found out exactly how sick the bastard was. She told me he threatened her, told her to stay away from me; otherwise, she’d get hurt.” She shivered and rubbed her arms. “I went straight to his place and found him screwing another girl and I told him he could go to hell.” Tears blurred her vision and she downed the rest of the drink. “He didn’t like that. He didn’t like that at all.”
Jim cradled her chin in his palm and turned her so he could see her eyes. “What did he do to you?”
“He hit me.” Her eyes lowered. She didn’t want to discuss her misadventures in the bedroom with this man. What she wanted was to erase those vile memories with something sweet and pure and carnal and all-consuming.
His jaw tightened, and he inhaled. “Is that all he did?”
She shook her head, unable to meet his fiery gaze. “No.”
He plucked the empty cooler from her hand and walked to the sink, dropping the glass in the recycle bin underneath. He bent his head and leaned against the counter. “What else?”
She stared at his tense form and when he turned, she recoiled further into the couch at the anger present in his features. His green eyes were hard with fury, and his fists clenched in tight balls by his side. Doubt crept under her skin and she licked her lips. Her eyes darted from him to the door; she mapped her escape route and her chances. Her heart banged in her chest, each beat pressed on her eyes and sent white flares in the corner of her vision.
He blinked, relaxed his fists and rested his hip against the counter. “Lynn, I’d never do anything like that to you. But I’ll tell you right now, if I run into him again, he won’t get off so easy.” His chest rose with the infusion of air and he crossed to the couch to take the spot next to her.
Instinctively, she moved away, almost flinching, and he leaned into the back of the couch, not attempting to bridge the distance between them.
“Not all guys are like that.”
“I know.” She reached for him and threaded her fingers through his. “I know.” This time she met his gaze and offered a smile.
He unlaced his hand from hers. “I think I’ll sleep on the couch tonight.”
Her smile faded and she turned her eyes to her knees. The heat rose in her cheeks and tears formed, this time brimming. Bryan had ruined this too. Jim didn’t want damaged goods and really, she couldn’t blame him.
“Hey.” He moved closer and pushed her hair out of the way. His thumbs stroked the tears from her cheeks. “What’s wrong?”
“I get it.” She pulled her face out of his tender grip. “You don’t want damaged goods.”
He knelt and waited until she met his gaze. “Is that what you think? That I don’t want you?”
“I don’t blame you.”
“Ah baby, that’s the furthest thing from the truth.” His hand caressed her cheek, clouding her mind.
“Then why the couch comment?” She sniffled and wiped her face with her hands.
“After what you’ve been through, I didn’t want to make any assumptions.”
“I haven’t wanted anyone to touch me since...” Lynn blew a breath to steady her nerves. “Then you kissed me tonight and made me forget about everything.” She met his gaze. “But I’m not experienced, Jim.”
His eyebrows scrunched together. “What do you mean?”
“Before...before he...well, I hadn’t agreed to much.” She shifted on the couch.
“Are you trying to tell me you’re a virgin?”
She shook her head. “Not with what he did.”
He sat back on his haunches. “You’ve never?” He waved toward the bed.
“Not willingly. And up until I told him to fuck off, he was patient.” She laughed and studied her cuticles. “Now I know why. He was screwing just about anything that crossed his path.”
“So just how far have you gone?”
She raised her eyes to his and the hot rush of color tinged her cheeks.
“Let me rephrase that. How far would you like me to go tonight?”
Her mind reeled at the question, the possibilities endless, and the thought of his hands and mouth on her body stunted any logical thought. She leaned forward, kissed his waiting lips and fell into his arms. He picked her up, carried her across to the bed and laid her out under him, his mouth already satiating her with his sensual tongue dance.
His hands explored her chest, gentle and teasing. His fingers rolled her hard nipples through them before he broke the kiss and worked his way down her neck. He peeled the shoulder straps of her dress off and unhooked the front clasp on her bra. The question in his eyes was clear and she nodded, reveling in the smile that formed on his lips before they trailed down her chest. He took each breast in his mouth and rolled his tongue around each nipple.
His lips left trails of heat in their path, cooling to the point she shivered. Wetness lined her thighs and he peeled the dress off, leaving only her thong on. His fingers teased her lightly through the fabric and an impish grin formed—the challenge, the dare present in his eyes tempered by the question underneath.
The slow crawl of his fingers under the hemline of her underwear created a burning desire that conflicted with her discomfort, the worry that he wouldn’t stop, that he would go too far.
He arched an eyebrow. “May I?”
“Yes.” The word whispered from her lips.
He leaned forward and kissed her belly button. His tongue rolled in the crevice and created a delicious tingle through her abdomen.
“Have you ever been licked?”
A nervous laugh escaped her lips and she shook her head. No, she never had a man’s mouth buried in her pussy, and the thought of Jim’s tongue exploring her curves sent a rush of wetness, of anticipation. His hand traced through her underwear; the light touch created a throb, a need to wrap around his fingers and she trembled under the desire.
He pressed his mouth to her underwear to suck her clit through the thin fabric and she moaned. She ran her hand over the curve of his back. He turned toward her. “Is that what you want?” The mischievous light in his eyes was diluted by the question and when she nodded, he stripped her underwear. He licked, teased, plunged his tongue inside her wetness, bringing her to the brink.
The sweet pleasure he created warmed her at first and then the heat took hold, saturating her body— building, cresting, overflowing.
“Oh my God!” She arched into her first orgasm—she came for him, came in his mouth—and he sucked the juices from her. His tongue lapped her wet pussy and created tingling aftershocks before his fingers explored her with their gentle rhythm.
Kisses lined her abdomen, her breasts, her neck and finally her mouth, while his hand continued the gentle and insistent penetration.
Disappointment washed through Lynn like a tidal wave when he pulled his hand away and rolled onto his back, his chest rising and falling in quick bursts.
She sat up, taking a moment to scan his half-naked form. Her eyes lingered on the hard shaft pressing against the fabric of his shorts before they returned to his face. “What’s wrong?”
“If I don’t stop now...” He let the rest of the thought go unsaid and turned his desire-filled gaze in her direction.
She stared at him. The internal debate raged, caught between wanting this man every way possible and the fear that Bryan instilled in her.
“I don’t want to do something you’re not ready for.”
She nodded, unable to speak because speaking would release the sob that suddenly welled up in her chest. The tears already blurred her vision and she shook to contain the torrent.
His jaw tightened and he pressed his lips tight. “I swear if I ever get my hands on that son of a bitch, he’s a dead man.” The promise of violence in his eyes was enough to quell her shakes and she allowed him to pull her into his arms. Snuggling, he stroked her hair, setting butterfly kisses on her bare shoulder until the darkness overtook her.
* * * *
TWO WEEKS.
Lynn stood in the cottage for the first time in two weeks.
Two weeks of suspended reality, of sensual nights that ended before they went too far, mimicking that of the first night.
Two weeks and the police never found Bryan. They assumed he packed up and left, but she knew better. She had seen murder in his eyes and he didn’t back down from a fight. Not Bryan. He’d rather see her dead than with anyone else.
Jim promised he’d be back in an hour and she anxiously waited for him to return, watching the beach, watching for any sign of danger.
The thought of Bryan enacting his revenge pressed on her chest and restricted her breathing. The buzzer interrupted her mounting panic and she looked through the peep hole before opening the door.
“Pack a bag. I’m taking you to Key Largo for the weekend.” Jim twirled his keys on his finger.
“Are you serious?”
“Do I look serious?”
All tension evaporated and she laughed. She stood on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on his lips. As always, the kiss lingered, turning into something that made her knees weak and her panties damp. She pulled away and disappeared into the bedroom. “What should I bring?” she called over her shoulder.
He stepped into the doorway and leaned on the jam. “At least one dress for dinner at a nice restaurant. The cabana I rented is on a private beach, so it’s your call on whether you want to pack a bathing suit or not.” A devilish grin formed on his lips. “As for the rest of the time? Anything goes.”
Lynn threw a couple of sundresses in, including the one she wore on her first date, along with her bathing suit and a couple pair of shorts and shirts. She closed the suitcase and he took it from her and deposited it in the trunk of his car.
They arrived shortly before five. He kissed her and playfully ran his hand over her back as they walked to their rented cabana that bordered a small lagoon. Private, secluded, and romantic with candles lit throughout the cottage.
Rose petals floated in the sink and bathtub, and soft music flowed through the air.
Lynn turned to him and cocked her head.
“All the rooms are decked out like this.”
“And you know this how?”
A sheepish grin formed. “I’ve been here before.”
“Oh really?” She crossed her arms.
“My uncle owns the place.”
She raised her eyebrows and wiggled her index finger at him. “And here you had me thinking you brought all your girls here. You are bad!”
He chuckled and dropped the suitcases on the racks at the side of the bedroom.
“I think I’m gonna clean up before dinner.” She closed the bathroom door on his laughing eyes. Shaking her head, she sighed. It sure was romantic here. And that, coupled with the fact she wasn’t anywhere near her parents’ house, sent a thrill through her. She stripped her clothes and stepped into the warm shower.
The shower curtain slid back; Jim smiled deviously at her and stepped over the threshold of the tub into the spray.
“Jim, what in the...” Lynn turned toward him and his magnificent birthday suit. He put his finger on her lips, silencing her.
No words were spoken. His arms pulled her against his chiseled chest; his lips crushed hers, crushed any protest that may lie behind them. The water evaporated on contact, the heat between the two steaming up the entire room. She moaned under his lips, under his touch; his hands wandered expertly over her body. They caressed, teased and created an inferno that begged to flash.
He moved his lips down the line of her neck: nipping, licking, loving her flesh with each stroke of his mouth. He lingered on her breasts and paused to suck each nipple. His hands cupped her and then slid down her slick stomach. His kisses followed their path; he dropped to his knees and pushed her against the wall. He parted her first with his fingers, and then with his tongue. Each stroke on her clit sent spirals of heat through her body.
She buried her hands in his wet hair and tilted her hips into his mouth. She relished the buildup, relished his perfect mouth and penetrating fingers, relished this slow, lazy seduction that brought her closer to the crest. “Oh God!”
It sizzled through her and rippled every muscle. She clenched with the strength of the orgasm. “Oh my God!”
He wrapped one of her legs over his shoulder and licked the liquid lining her pussy. Aftershocks shot through her with every stroke. His fingers were not enough to satiate the need pounding through her and she panted. The next orgasm built with the insistent flick of his tongue and she kept one hand entwined in his hair. The other pressed against the cool tile and searched for the hand rail to steady herself as she prepared for the next wave.
She almost collapsed at the power of it. The hot rush masked her muscles seizing and the moan of ecstasy escaped her lips.
He worked his way to her mouth and buried his fingers inside her, his movement controlled despite his heaving chest. “I want to make love to you,” his hoarse voice proclaimed. His eyes were delirious, begging without words.
“Yes, oh God yes.” And suddenly his hand was no longer between her legs and an instant of disappointment filled her. She didn’t want this pleasure to end, this heaven he created. An instant later, she was in his arms and he carried her to the bed.
“Are you sure?” he asked before he settled on top of her.
His hard cock teased her, pressing against her wet pussy but not penetrating, not until she said yes. And oh, how she wanted him inside her! Breathless, she forced the yes from her chest and pulled him to her lips. Jim plunged deep into her, the first thrust bringing a flash of pleasure-tainted pain as he hit her g-spot and she moaned with the instant orgasm. The pain faded, replaced by a burning need, a need so strong she arched into his every thrust with the same bravado, the same urgency. He slowed down, took a deep breath and smiled at her.
“You are so damn sweet.” He brought his cock out and she protested with a small noise that grew to a moan when he slammed his full length inside her. She came again, grabbing the sheets in her fists and writhing under him.
“So sweet.” His emerald eyes were unable to look away from hers. He watched her, fascination mixing with passion. He repeated the slow, controlled grind until she arched, her head tilted back and her body strained to hold on, to ride the wave in fully.
He wrapped his arms around her and rolled; he gave her control to set the pace. She took it with an abandon that surprised her. Alternating between riding him hard and fast, arching into every thrust of her hips while his hands or lips fondled her breasts and slowing down, drawing hip circles that elicited a groan underneath her kiss, their tongues danced in concert with their hearts.
“Oh God, Jim!” She bent almost backwards and shuddered through the next orgasm until her muscles relaxed and she quickened her pace.
His hands dropped to her waist and the sweat glistened on his forehead. His concentration, his power to keep from exploding waned and he drove deeper and harder, taking over despite her dominant position.
Lynn met each of his thrusts with carnal desire, the moan increasing with each deep plunge. He groaned, squeezing his eyes shut and sliding his full length inside. His explosion caused another blessed orgasm and she trembled from the force of it. She flopped on his chest once the tremors subsided. “My God,” she whispered and his arms wrapped around her.
“I love you.” He kissed her wet shoulder.
Lynn propped herself up on his chest and gazed into his eyes.
“Really?”
Jim nodded. “What’d you think all this was for?”
“I thought you were just trying to get me into bed.” She batted her eyes in jest.
He burst out laughing. “That’s just a bonus.”
She smiled and placed her ear to his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart and the rhythm of his breathing.
“I’m not sure your parents are gonna be happy with me, though.”
She lifted her head. “My parents?”
His smile faded; he took a deep breath and nodded.
“What about my parents?”
He closed his eyes and exhaled. “They hired me to look after you this summer.”
She jerked away from him but he was faster. He clamped his arms around her and held her in place.
“Let go of me!” Lynn struggled in his grasp.
“No, Lynn, listen. They were worried about your ex. They knew something happened, and they were right about him coming after you.”
She pushed against his chiseled chest to break his grasp. “All this is a lie!”
“The hell it is!”
The aggravation in his voice snapped in the air, and she stared into his fiery green eyes.
“When I took the job, I never thought I’d fall in love with you, but I did.”
“Are you even going to med school in the fall?”
He nodded. “And I did do work on your parents’ cottage. That’s how they knew I sometimes moonlight as a bodyguard.”
She slapped his chest. “You bastard, let me go.”
His arms slipped off her. She gathered her clothing and threw a dress on inside out without thought of what she was doing. She was too preoccupied, too pissed at him, livid enough to feel the throb of anger in her temple.
“I never lied to you.” He slipped on his shorts and crossed the room to tower over her.
She stared up at him. “But you didn’t tell me the truth either.”
“If I had, would you have gone to dinner with me?”
Lynn took a step back and raised her eyebrows. “Wasn’t that the deal? Wine and dine me for the summer, keep my mind off Bryan?”
“No. I wasn’t supposed to make contact. I was just supposed to make sure he didn’t show up and do more damage than he already did.” He reached out to touch her face and she slapped his hand away. He gritted his teeth and closed his eyes, gaining control over a temper on edge. “When I first saw you on the beach...I don’t know, it sounds trite, but I felt a connection.” He walked to the sliders that led to the private lagoon. “I mean, I had seen your pictures at the cottage and the one your folks sent but it didn’t prepare me for...it didn’t prepare me for the real thing.” He glanced over his shoulder at her and offered a shrug before swinging his gaze back to the cove. “And then he showed up, and everything changed.”
He let the silence overtake the room.
Lynn stared at the tense muscles in his back and the same heat she felt the first time she saw him took hold. The overwhelming bond, the electrifying attraction, and she knew what he meant; she hadn’t been prepared for it either.
“I was hired to protect you, not...not this.” He propped his hands on his waist and hung his head, audibly exhaling. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
“Is there anything else you haven’t told me?”
He turned at her accusatory tone and shook his head. Resignation reflected in his eyes along with a guarded look, as if he were emotionally building walls. She could almost see the progression of bricks rising in front of him. Her heart fluttered with panic.
“Don’t shut me out.” The words tumbled out, a knee-jerk reaction to the distance he attempted to put between them.
His eyebrows rose and he crossed to her. “Why not?”
“Because that’s not what I want.”
This time when he reached out, she didn’t stop his hand and the gentle graze of his fingertips on her cheek lit the fire again.
He traced her face with his fingers to memorize every line. “I’m gonna miss you when you go back to New York.”
Before she could speak, his lips crushed any response. He led her back to the bed and stripped the sundress off without protest.
Tender and sweet, he made love to her, slowly bringing her close to climax and then stopping; he waited until her body dialed back a notch before he continued. His green eyes glimmered and kept eye contact, silently relaying the depth of adoration, the depth of his love, and leaving her breathless.
On the brink of orgasm, he stopped again; her body ached and she cried, “Don’t stop! Oh God, please don’t stop!”
Jim smiled and quickened his pace. She didn’t just jump the hurdle; she catapulted over it—screamed his name, arched, trembled, panted until there was nothing left.
They lay in each other’s arms, drenched in sweat and satisfaction, not daring to let go for fear they would never find their way back to this place, this intimacy.
“You really love me?”
“Yes, and I want you to stay,” he said softly in her ear.
“I can’t stay.” As much as she wanted to, she couldn’t. The job, the obligations in New York all rolled into this impossible relationship.
Jim nodded and rolled away; the connection broke and left a chasm between them. He sat on the edge of the bed, his head hung low and his feet planted firmly on the floor. “I don’t want you to go.” He headed into the bathroom and the long-forgotten shower.
* * * *
THE EXPANSIVE GLASS of the dining room overlooked the long sandy beach across the street. They quietly ate and enjoyed the change from ambient twilight to darkness. Their conversation was easy but the tension persisted.
“You could transfer to NYU’s med school.” She broke a lull of silence.
He stared out the window and sipped his wine before returning his attention to her. “I’ve got a scholarship to Johns Hopkins.” He set his glass on the table. “You could always see what’s available in DC.” An eyebrow rose along with the hope in his voice.
She tilted her head. “Yeah, well, DC isn’t New York.”
He nodded with a sigh and signaled the waiter.
The serious set of his mouth, the melancholy hue to his eyes and the tension in his shoulders spoke to her, telling her this was real and he didn’t want it to end.
“Let’s take a walk,” Jim said after he paid for dinner. He took her by the hand and led her across the road to the stretch of soft sand and ocean beyond. They listened to the wush of the ocean lapping the shore and strolled casually hand in hand. Jim was the first to break the comfortable silence. “We still have six weeks.”
“I know.” She couldn’t see how this would work beyond that. Long-distance relationships were impossible, unsustainable. Hollow panic grabbed her, tore at her stomach; tears burned her eyes before brimming and slicing hot paths along her cheeks. A lump of despair crawled into her throat and she turned to face him under the moonlight.
“Ah, babe.” His hand brushed the tears from her cheeks and she nestled against his palm. “I promise, we will see each other again. There are plenty of shuttles from LaGuardia to Washington.” He kissed her and allowed the kiss to linger for a moment before pulling away. “Close your eyes.”
Lynn cocked her head to the side for a moment.
“I’ve got a surprise for you. Now close your eyes.”
Lynn obeyed; she closed her eyes and listened to the shuffle. He picked up her left hand and slid something on her ring finger. Her heart rate tripled, sending tingling tendrils through her flesh.
Oh my God, he’s proposing! Her eyes flew open and she stared at the dark stone flanked by brilliant diamonds. Even under the moonlight, she caught the green tint of the emerald. Uncertainty overtook her and she glanced down at him on one knee before her. “It’s beautiful, just like your eyes.”
“It’s not exactly a traditional engagement ring...”
Her eyes dropped to the ring and then flew back to his. “Are you asking me to marry you?”
Even in the darkness, the blush in his cheeks stood out.
“I guess in my roundabout way I am.”
“Wow.”
He wasn’t kidding when he said he loved me.
Speechless, she studied the ring and his sincere gaze as he waited for an answer. A million excuses flew through her mind, compounded by the repeating phrase two weeks, but none of them passed her lips, not when her heart sang in joyous revelation.
“I’d want to wait till I’m out of med school.” He stood, shoved his hands in his pocket and shuffled from foot to foot. Her lack of an answer obviously spun his nerves into a frenzy.
“After this afternoon, I guess I’d understand if you said no, but I had to ask.”
In that instant, she knew he was the one, the man who she wanted to spend the rest of her days and nights with, share her every fear, every desire, every dream. Their life stretched before her—the joys, the celebrations, the love—and she smiled.
“Okay.” Just as easy as that, she accepted his promise, his faith that distance wouldn’t harm the relationship.
The slow grin that found his lips and made his eyes sparkle sent a delicious chill through her. He swept her off her feet and twirled her in a small circle; he planted his lips firmly on hers. The kiss broke and he planted her back in the sand, dimples still embedded in his cheeks.
“I love you.” She clasped his hand and pulled him toward their secluded hideaway.
The click of metal stopped them in their tracks.
Bryan stepped out of the shadows, the Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum trained on them.
Lynn’s breath caught in her chest and fear squeezed a dribble of piss from her bladder. The gun swung from Jim’s chest to hers.
“Cheating slut.” His growl preceded the deafening roar of the gun.
At the same time, Jim moved. He blocked the path of the bullet; the impact slammed him backwards into her and knocked both of them to the ground. A sharp pain ripped through her shoulder and her scream filled the night.
Both the report of the gun and her shriek brought people running. Bryan leveled the gun once more, aiming at her.
“Hey you!”
The cry grabbed his attention and the gun wavered; the second round missed its target, but ripped through Jim’s chest and sliced a superficial path in her side.
Bryan disappeared into the darkness.
She shifted under Jim’s weight, his breathing labored and spotty and his shirt covered in a spreading red stain. Awareness slammed into her as hard as a bullet ripping through her heart. It knocked the wind out of her and sent a cold terror through her bones, filtering outward until the entire surface of her skin screamed with it. A wail, like that of a lost child, shattered the unearthly silence. “No!”
She maneuvered into a sitting position, cradling him in her lap. Sobs took hold and she stroked his face, aware of the gathering crowd and the distant sirens. “Jim, wake up! Please, God! Please wake up!”
Jim’s eyes fluttered open. “Lynn.” His voice was full of the pain wracking his body and he coughed, sending tendrils of blood from his mouth.
“Jim, you’ll be okay. Really you will. You have to be. We’re going to get married when you get out of med school.” She stumbled over the rush of words, all the while praying the sirens in the distance would get here before she lost him. “Please don’t die on me, please, not now.”
“Sorry.” A tear slipped out of the corner of his eye before they glazed over and her name came with his last gurgling breath.
The pungent odor of urine filled her nostrils, mixed with the smell of blood and death radiating from his body. She shook him. “No! Don’t you die on me!” Sobs overtook her until all that came out was one continuous groan and she rocked with him in her lap.
It took three paramedics to pry his dead body from her grasp. She sat in the ambulance, dazed and inconsolable as they assessed her shattered shoulder.
“Miss Spoffard?”
Lynn’s eyes rose to the young cop. “Did you catch the bastard?” she asked in a scream-hoarse voice.
“Yes. Can we get a statement?”
* * * *
CLOSE TO FIVE YEARS passed since her last trip to Florida. She sighed and looked out into the night at the passing clouds. The empty pit in her stomach grew vast at the memory; she swallowed the burning tears that laced the lining of her throat and blinked back the mist forming over her eyes. She could almost feel his touch—his fingers tracing the lines of her face: soft, sensual, loving.
She never anticipated setting foot in Miami again, not after the best thing she ever found was ripped from her, shot, left for dead on the beachfront. But Bryan’s execution was scheduled for the end of the week and she wanted to see that bastard die.
The emerald shimmered and caught her attention. She studied the ring and allowed a small smile to form. That night was the worst night of her life, but it also was the best memory she had of Jim and the gifts he gave her.
“Mommy, are you okay?”
Lynn looked at her four-year-old son and wiped the blonde bangs from his emerald eyes.
“Yes, honey. I just miss your daddy.”
The End