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Darlin’, you haven’t seen anything yet. Back in the bar parking lot, she’d tipped her hand and now he knew the rampant attraction wasn’t one-sided. The girl had dropped her guard and given him a weapon. He might have been shocked to realize that weapon was him, but he wouldn’t hesitate to use it. Hyperaware of her lingering attention, Beck took hold of his T-shirt and whipped it over his head, tossing it toward her pile of clothes where they lay in a heap on the tile. He unbuckled his belt, sliding it through the loops, before going to work on his zipper. Their eyes locked, and he noted hers had turned a darker shade of green, a perfect complement to the pink traveling over her cheeks.
The hot tub’s hum failed to mask her sharp intake of breath when Beck’s jeans landed at his feet, allowing his dick to bob against his stomach.
“Okay.” Ke
Chapter Nine
Ke
She’d known he was capable of it, so why had she brought him here? Agreed to spend time with him? Because he’d looked so lost at Bombs Away. As if the world had shaken under his feet and he couldn’t find balance. Remembering the expression that had rooted her in place when she should have been ru
“What happened back at Bombs Away?” His head came up, but he stayed silent. Ke
“How did you know she was my sister?”
Ke
When she demonstrated the move, his lips twitched. “You’ve been watching me almost as closely as I’ve been watching you, Ke
“I’m sorry.” The steam rose around them, partially obscuring him from sight. “I won’t try and convince you it wasn’t your fault, even though it wasn’t. You’re the type to shoulder the world, no matter the cause, but I’m so sorry you lost your friend.”
She could see he wanted to believe her—wanted to let her absolve him—but wasn’t quite ready. “Is this why you left with me tonight? Were you feeling bad for me?”
Why would that upset him? “That was part of it.”
Beck looked away. “The first time you came to me, you felt bad because I had no one to welcome me home. After di
“I don’t understand where this is going.”
He moved. Before she could blink, Beck was right in front of her, water lapping against his shoulders. Ke
Ke
He shook his head, dragging his lips across hers. “I call it like I see it. You might have done a damn fine job hiding it, but I see right through you.”
“I’m here because I feel better when you’re close,” she blurted in a furious whisper, scared that if he continued his thought, she’d have to acknowledge the truth behind his words.
Her rushed admission drew different reactions from each of them. Beck looked relieved while Ke
“Let’s hear the rest, Ke
Mist from the hot water bathed her lips and she licked it off, giving herself time to calm her out-of-control heartbeat. It didn’t work. She pressed her forehead to his shoulder. “I’m here because I want your dick.”
Beck growled, his tongue traced a path over her ear. “You’re going to get it soon enough.”
She had no time to brace herself before he sank back into the water, putting space between them once again. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
The obvious misery on Beck’s face made her feel only marginally better. “Why did I get the feeling you weren’t welcome in your father’s house?” A muscle in his cheek ticked. “I didn’t like it.”
The change of topic had her head spi
He nodded once. “Among other things.”
She wanted to blow off the line of questioning, but a glance toward the pool had her remembering all the times she’d woken up at the crack of dawn to drive her father to physical therapy. Half the time, she’d passed out on one of the leather benches until he’d finished swimming and wanted to leave, but it had made her feel useful. Like she’d made a difference in his recovery. “I’m welcome there. I just…” I’ve served my purpose. “You don’t know what I was like before. It’s a wonder they’ll bring me around polite company at all.” When Beck only watched her with quiet patience, she sliced a hand through the water. “Aren’t you going to ask me what I was like before?”
“I don’t care about before. I care about now.”
Ke
“No.” His harsh tone brought to mind the metal she worked with. “I don’t believe that.”
“You probably believe there’s good in everyone,” she continued as if he hadn’t spoken. “That’s you. Discarding people is a foreign idea when you’re a big, fat war hero.”
“I’m no hero, Ke
She scoffed. “I’ve been here a long time. I can separate out the good men, and you’re one of them. It’s why you can’t just let me go.”
He didn’t look happy. At all. “Explain that statement.”
Fear dripped slowly into her chest. Fear that once she outlined the reality for him, he’d see the truth in her explanation and bail. “My mother trapped my father into marriage by getting pregnant. She worked herself to the bone trying to earn his love and it never happened. Never. He doesn’t have it in him to love someone. His relationship with Tina is all about convenience.” She sucked in a breath. “I represent failure to both of them. My mom thought I could fix what was broken in my father, and I couldn’t. My father sees me as a product of his one and only fuck-up. Now he only makes room for me in his life when it’s convenient.” Her laughter held no trace of humor. “And yet, here I am. Living within walking distance of them both, wondering when I’ll see them next, like some masochist. The truth is, they found something better.”