Chapter Two

Dabbing at her eyes with some tissue papers, Mary shook her head. “I can’t believe I fell apart like that in front of Ron.” It had just hit her all at once, everything she’d gone through in the past few days. And all it took, apparently, was someone asking her if she was all right to break the dam holding back her tears.

He’d grown up oh-so nice. A ginger. She loved them. And Ron was built, fit and so easy on the eyes. She wiped her tears again and rested her chin on her knees. With her feet propped on the cushion with her, she had her lids shut when she felt someone else in the room with her.

Ever so slowly, she cracked her eyes open, and stared up at Ron. He stood there holding out a mug. Putting her feet on the floor, she reached for it, grateful for the heat that met her as she took the porcelain.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

He sat beside her, angled his body to hers and stared. “Do you want me to call someone for you?”

“God no. They have enough to worry about without the baby of the family being unable to handle it all.” She curled her other hand around the mug and inhaled the rich fragrance. Cinnamon apple tea. One of her favorites. Mary took a few quick sips and moaned her appreciation.

“I’m sure they don’t think that way.”

“You know, minutes before I got the call about my dad, I’d just walked in my apartment to find my boyfriend—who didn’t live there—fucking some whore in my bed. I picked up a baseball bat and chased them out, naked. Then I get this call and have to come home. Don’t get me wrong, I want to be home with them, but I’m still treated like the baby here. It’s like I don’t live on my own or have a job. Nothing’s changed since I was a kid.” A sob caught in her throat but then it escaped. Followed by five more.

The tears began again.

“I can’t speak for your family but I’m sure they don’t mean to treat you that way. And as for the dumbass ex, that’s his loss. I don’t know why any man would cheat on you.”

He took the tea from her and pulled her tight to his chest. Lord, he smelled delicious. She accepted the silent support and comfort. Christ, how much time had passed since she’d been held like this? Far longer than she could recall.

“Is there anything I can do?”

His words were murmured against her ear, bringing with another reminder of something that had been long neglected. Her.

A self-deprecating laugh escaped and she shook her head. “I don’t think you’d be interested in truly doing that. This has been more than I could have hoped for, so thank you for that.”

She pushed the heels of her hands against her eyes, willing the damn tears to cease. Ron gripped her wrists and pulled them away, showing her his deep amber eyes that she swore were filled with desire.

“Name it, Mary.”

The devil on her shoulder wasn’t giving her any leeway and it stabbed her numerous times with the pitchfork, but she ignored it. Swallowing back the words, she shook her head once more.

He settled his hand along her cheek and skimmed his thumb along the seam of her mouth. His gaze dropped to her lips before he sighed and pulled it back up to her eyes. The action happened twice more before he leaned closer and used his firm mouth on hers.

Warmth shot out from where they touched and spiraled to all the parts of her she’d long since believed dead. It was more than basic pleasure and need that hit her. This was raw, decadent craving for the man touching her.

She dug her nails into her palms in a desperate attempt to keep them to herself instead of flattening her hands against his rock-hard torso. He didn’t force himself into her mouth. He teased her and moved his featherlight touch back and forth across her lips.

Mary opened and welcomed his tongue as it slipped along hers to delve deep. Drugging, sensuous strokes pushed wave after wave of electrical fire through her veins. A feeling she didn’t want to lose. This was one emotion she enjoyed instead of the deadness that had been inside her since the call.

She leaned closer to him, wrapping her arms around his neck, skimming her nails along the nape of his neck before threading her fingers into his hair. A low rumble left him and vibrated its way through her body. Her pussy clenched and she shifted on the seat, desperate to be closer to him.

Ron picked her up and placed her on his lap as he rested back against the sofa. She ground against the hard length in his jeans as she got as close as she could. He pushed his hands up beneath her shirt, skimming along the planes of her back. His work-roughened skin only added to her need.

Her belly was in knots as she rocked against him. Body primed and ready, her pussy was wet she knew it wouldn’t take much to push her over the edge. Ron squeezed her ass as he thrust his hips up, bringing an even tighter connection between them.

“Mary,” he rasped, dragging his mouth off hers and shoving a hand deep into her hair, grasping a fistful.

“This, please.”

His amber stare held hers before he kissed her again. “Yes,” he promised.

Mary closed her eyes as he lifted off her shirt. This, this was what she needed.

 

* * * *

 

Ron rolled over and fell. “Shit!” He braced for impact and found he was in the back office of the shop. Naked.

In a flash, memories slammed into him and he remembered Mary and all her beauty back here with him. He’d made long slow love to her until her tears no longer fell and all he saw in her eyes was hunger for him.

But where was she now? One lamp burned but she wasn’t anywhere to be seen. He dressed with speed and as he shoved into his boots, he made up the couch so it didn’t look like two horny teens had used it for a secret rendezvous.

He smiled. I’m past being a horny teen but I’m thinking this was a rendezvous.

Lord help him, but she had been incredible. Passionate and demanding with what she wanted. Nothing at all like the quiet girl he recalled from school. Honestly, what he remembered of her was that she was feisty when she was pushed, but otherwise she held quiet and stayed in the background, often overshadowed by her siblings.

She’d not been quiet with him. Nor shy. He rolled his shoulders and smirked as the sting from her nails reminded him she’d torn into him when she had come hard. Multiple times.

Walking through the store, he made sure that everything was okay, locked it all then headed for his vehicle. The oil pump no longer sat where he’d put it, so he figured she had taken it with her. He lived where he’d grown up, his parents having passed and left it to him. He hadn’t felt the urge to leave the town not even when he lost them. This was his home.

He waved at Davis who rolled by in his patrol car. The man returned the gesture with a smile. Ron checked his watch and found it was nearing midnight.

When did she leave? Why didn’t she wake me and why didn’t I hear her?

Hopping in his truck, he thought about his minx in bed before he turned over the engine. It didn’t take him to long to get home and he parked in the driveway. Once inside, he headed straight for a shower and the waiting mattress. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.

He was at the bakery when it opened, needing to get a box of donuts for the store. As he waited for his order to be filled, he stood by the large picture window and stared out over the quiet street of The Edge. His skin prickled and he turned in time to see Mary walk in, followed by her brother, Patrick.

Yep, it wasn’t a one-time thing for him. He wanted her again.

They spoke amongst themselves in hushed voices.

“Good morning, Patrick and Mary.” Mrs. Millie handed him his box.

“Thank you, Millie,” he said.

“You’re welcome.”

Their time for good mornings came and he turned to look at both of them. She held his gaze without any hint of shyness or embarrassment for what they’d done last night. Okay, so he wasn’t upset about that, but she could at least appear happy to see him.

“Morning, Ron,” Patrick said.

“Patrick. Mary.”

She gave him a small nod but didn’t seem able to speak. That bothered him. While Patrick went to put in their order, he sidled up to the woman who’d spent a portion of the night with him.

She turned those Meyers eyes on him and his heart tripped over a few more times in his chest.

“You doing any better this morning?” he asked, making sure to keep his voice down so her brother didn’t overhear.

“I’m fine, thank you.” She glanced away, something else capturing her interest.

Ron frowned. This wasn’t like him. He didn’t vie for a woman’s attention. Either they wanted to speak to him or they didn’t. For all intents and purposes, she didn’t.

“Good.”

He forced himself to walk away and let it go. He wasn’t about to have it all over The Edge he was after a girl who wanted nothing to do with him. After all, he had some pride. At the door, he struggled with the need to glance back over his shoulder, another urge he ignored.

The day was long and hard so when it ended he was more than ready to head home. He showered and had just taken the pizza out of the oven when a knock came on his door. Davis stood there.

“Hey, man, what’s up?”

“I was heading out to Perimeter and wanted to know if you’d like to come along for a drink?”

Perimeter was one of the three bars within The Edge. Clean, good beer, and an eclectic presentation of music played throughout the night.

“Sure thing, hang on. Come on in.”

He put his pizza on top of the table, made sure the oven was off and shoved into some tennis shoes. They headed out and he followed Davis’ vehicle. When they pulled in, it was already almost all full.

He and Davis entered and headed for the bar. Marsha, one of the bartenders there, smiled and took their order. While he and Davis chatted about work, he scanned the area time after time, unsure as to what he was looking for.

Ron spied Jenn Meyers talking with the owner of Perimeter, Tony. Whatever their conversation was, it wasn’t a good one. Jenn looked less than pleased. He almost went over to see if she was okay when he spied her. Mary.

She stood there behind her sister, impatience written all over her face until she said something. Whatever it was, Jenn wasn’t happy and snapped at her. Mary retorted then wheeled around and headed to a different part of the bar.

He noticed a few of the local boys staring at her. “Excuse me, Davis,” he muttered while the man flirted with Sara.

Eyes locked on Mary, he wove through the patrons until she was right in front of him. “Mary.”

She turned, and ran her gaze up and down him before giving him a smile. Not a true one. He knew it was forced because it didn’t reach her eyes.

“Ron.”

“You drinking?”

She swiped her tongue over her lips and nodded, seconds before she took his beer from him and indulged in a large swig. “I am now.”

He glanced over to Davis, who was watching them with a smile on his face. The man gave him a small nod, so Ron took it and ran. Hand on the small of her back, he guided her to an empty table in the rear of the bar and sat across from her.

“Another rough day?”

“You could say that.” She waved for a drink and drummed her fingers on the table while she waited.

“How’s your father doing?”

“No change today, so I guess he’s hanging in there.”

Her responses were monotone and he wanted to pull her close and coax moans and small adorable pants from her that would erupt into a scream of his name as her pussy choked his cock.

“Want to talk about it?”

She took her drink with a smile and passed over a bill, waving off change. “Looking for more sex?”

“I wouldn’t turn it down, not from you, but I was being sincere about that. I’m here if you need to talk or vent. I don’t judge.”

“Not about me, not tonight. Tell me how things are going in your world.”

Ron shook his head as he finished this beer. “Okay, I’ll talk tonight, but next time the spotlight is on you.”

This time her smile was real. Those beautiful blue eyes sparkled. “It’s a date.”

He couldn’t wait.