“What you’re telling me is that you need a little bad boy material in your life. That’s completely understandable. However, you can’t throw all caution to the wind based on a moment of desire.”
“I know. I’m still me.” Still the boring girl with very little excitement in her life.
“Are you serious that he’s living with you?”
“Yes, I’m serious. I don’t know for how long, until he can find a place after he gets his first paycheck. He’s going to work out a trade.”
“A trade. So this man is penniless.”
“I don’t know his full circumstances, Darlene, but instead of worrying about whether he’s a billionaire, he needs a break. We all do from time to time. I have room and guess what, he has contracting skills, which I desperately need. He’d already repaired a few items for me. So it’s a perfect fit.”
Her frown covered her entire face. “If my father pushed him out of the park then that means he was doing something illegal. I’m sure he checked his identification. I could ask him what he learned just to be safe. You’ve heard all the horror stories about women doing this very thing and ending up murdered in their beds.”
“Thank you very much for the graphic imagery.”
“I’m serious,” Darlene huffed. “I think I’ll call my father.”
“Don’t do that. Please. Viper was trying to sleep in his truck. With his dog. Who was dropped on the side of the road completely malnourished. Maybe he doesn’t have much money, but his first thought was ensuring the puppy had food. That’s why he was at the pet store. You know Roxie. She’d been bound and determined to find out everything she could about him.”
Darlene’s stare was still harsh, enough so I glared back before making a funny face. She finally smiled, but this time rolling her eyes. “Viper. You really like this stranger who suddenly appeared in your life.”
“I do. Yes, I am completely aware I need to be careful, but Ellie May adores both him and his pup.”
“Well, then if Ellie May likes him…”
“You know how dogs are. They can sense dangerous people from a mile away.”
She tapped her fingers on the table. “What do you know about him?”
With my wineglass in my hand that I slightly hid behind, I allowed a sweet, hot, and heavy vision to rush through my mind. “What I know about him is that he’s been given a raw deal in his life and is suffering. I don’t know why yet and I’m uncertain if he’ll ever learn to trust me, but I can tell his entire world collapsed on him. He’s starting over and it would seem he has the odds stacked against him.”
The few seconds of silence were almost unnerving. “I was right. You really like this man. I’m not going to try and tell you what to do, but be careful. You just sounded like you were describing yourself and everything you’ve been through.”
“Maybe so, but I have a place to lay my head at night and lock out all the evils of the world. He doesn’t. Or at least that’s what it seems.”
“Then do what you think is right. But… Do so with caution and keep one eye open at night. You might want to purchase a gun.”
“A gun? Are you crazy? I don’t need a weapon.” Although I’d thought about purchasing one weeks before. When I’d sensed someone watching me.
Following me.
I had no intention of telling her I feared someone had been on the property.
“I’m just worried,” she admitted. “But I guess if he’s the real deal, have a little fun.”
“You know what? I will.” A tiny shudder trickled all the way to my toes from a single thought about his hot, muscular body.
“Now that you have me all hot and bothered, confess all your sins. What’s he like?”
Her question was one that I wasn’t certain how to answer. But she’d hound me until I did. “He’s a combination of a bad boy and a hero wrapped up in a rugged, to-die-for body. Tall, broad-shouldered and with thick chestnut hair and sinfully gorgeous whiskey eyes that you could easily drown in.”
She took her time reacting, sitting back against the seat and placing both her hands on the edge of the table, her fingers squeezing until they were white. “How is he in bed?”
Since we were teenagers, we’d always mimicked each other. Since it was my turn, I fanned my face, providing her with a little entertainment via one of our favorite movies.
I closed my eyes, taking several deep, purposeful ragged breaths before running my fingers through my long hair. With a head toss, I stared up at the ceiling while allowing a slow and steady moan to escape. “Mmmm… Yes… Oh…”
She puffed out a swath of air as I continued, even tossing my head from side to side, my moans louder than before.
