AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No,” I whined. “Don’t go. Stay.” My arms tightened around him.
He kissed my forehead. “I can’t. I wish I could. I’d give anything to stay, but I can’t tonight. I’ve got to get to work. But before I leave, look at something for me.”
I sat back with a resigned sigh. “If it’s a picture of your cock, I’d rather see the real deal.”
He chuckled. “Oh, honey. You’ll be seeing that up close and personal real soon.” He nudged me with his rigid dick. “Scoot. I need to stand up.”
“So, what you’re saying is if I don’t move, you can’t leave and you’ll have to stay here with me? You give me no incentive to move.”
He grinned and kissed me. “I’ve missed that mouth of yours. Now, scoot.”
“See? Bossy, just like I said.”
He chuckled and kissed me again, which led to another round of deep kisses, until he gently pushed me away and gave me a warm smile. “Keep that up, and I’ll be late.”
“Fine,” I said and moved in, but he just laughed as he picked me up and moved me to the foot of the lounger
He slipped from the chair and grabbed his coat from the back of the other chair. From an inside pocket, he pulled a photograph and handed it to her. “Look familiar?”
I studied it. “Randall Branson. Mug shot?”
He nodded. “Lillian’s grandson has a long and not-so-glamorous criminal history. Burglaries, theft by receiving, public intoxication, vandalism, and one count of DUI. He’s got a juvie record, too, but it’s sealed and not really important. I don’t like him around here, especially not around you or Lillian. See if you can get her to tell you more about the night she fell.” His mouth tightened in anger. “That little cocksucker went to bed and left his grandmother on the kitchen floor. Even if that isn’t illegal, it’s despicable.”
“Agreed.” I stood and wrapped my arms around his waist. “I enjoyed tonight.”
His eyes warmed as he gazed down at me. “Me, too. The first of many, I hope.”
That look. It’d slayed me years ago, and I felt its pull deep inside. I felt the heat of my cheeks as a blush climbed my neck. “Yeah. The first of many. Be safe tonight.”
He kissed the tip of my nose. “Nothing dangerous going on tonight.”
“Are you always on nights?”
“Naw. I’m on a special project. A big bad deal is going down. Not sure when. Not sure how. Not sure who. We just know it’s coming, so I spend my nights in bars you’ve never heard of, and have never gone in…nor will you, if I have my say.”
“I might have been inside a rough bar before. Try me. Give me some names.”
“No way. Knowing you and your sisters, you three would go to one or two just to see how bad it can be. I can see the three of you getting yourselves into a heap of trouble.”
“You do know me too well.”
He gave me a quick kiss. “I really have to run. Baxter,” he called.
The tiny pup ran from inside the house with a yip. He caught the dog and swung him into his arms. “Now, you keep this lady safe, you hear?”
Baxter licked Zack’s nose.
“Good. We have a deal.”
I watched Zack with the dog. Every nook and cranny inside me exploded with joy and happiness. I’d never felt anything like this before. Pieces of a life that had felt scattered fell into place. Contentment draped over me like a warm blanket.
Was what I felt because of the dog or the man?
Nine
I’d been hunched over my desk working since six a.m., trying to get some projects off to Robin. When my phone rang, the startling old-timey ring I set as my ringtone broke the quiet I’d been enjoying. Apparently, the sound disturbed Baxer, too, since he leapt up and barked at the noise. I picked up my phone to read the caller ID. As soon as I did, I wished I hadn’t. RICHARD LONG flashed on the screen. I blew out a long breath. I knew I had to deal with the situation. It wasn’t fair to him, or Zack, for that matter. He’d laid his heart on the line for me last night. It was time for me to do what I’d been thinking about for a while.
“Hello, Richard.”
