Moments ago, it had taken every ounce of willpower not to pull her against his aroused body and taste her parted lips. And judging by the desire he’d seen flash across her features, he knew Amara hadn’t been immune to their close proximity, either.
Undoubtedly, Reece was highly attracted to her, but it was more than just her incredible body and their sizzling chemistry that drew him. So much more…
While she was outwardly intelligent, gorgeous, and sweet, there was more to Amara Rafferty than met his trained eye. There was a certain vulnerability he’d glimpsed a time or two.
She was a real sex bomb, but she was very private, very reserved. And there were emotional barriers she erected that gave him the impression she was hiding something deeper than feigned disinterest.
“My game, dude!”
Reece turned around and frowned at his friend Andy, who was grinning triumphantly.
“What?”
“The game’s over, Reece. And I won.”
Andy leaned a hip against the pool table and shook his head.
“Wow, dude… You really do have it bad for her if you can’t concentrate on a game of pool.”
It would be ridiculous to deny the obvious, so Reece didn’t even try. Andy jutted his chin toward the front of the establishment.
“Oh, dear Mother of God… She’s on her way out, Romeo. Here’s your chance to impress her with your chivalrous charm and open the door for her which in turn might open the door for you… if you know what I mean,” Andy added winking at his friend.
Reece certainly did.
“Thank you, Dr. Phil,” he joked, and made his way to the front of the bar, beating Amara to the entrance by three paces.
He opened the door for her, and Amara glanced up at him in startled surprise. She adjusted the strap of her purse on her shoulder and smoothed her hand along the jacket draped over her arm.
“Uhm… Are you leaving, too?”
“I sure am.”
Reece waved his hand for her to precede him, then followed, falling into step beside her on the sidewalk, welcoming the cool evening breeze on his way too-warm skin.
“Actually… leaving the same time as you, Amara, is a shameless ploy to walk you to your car.”
Abruptly, she stopped, a frown marring her eyebrow, though there was no denying the awareness in the depths of her eyes.
“Oh… I see… Well, I can make it to my vehicle on my own just fine, thank you very much. I really don’t need an escort, Reece Harrow.”
“I’m sure you don’t and I didn’t say you did,” Reece replied gently, trying to put her at ease and lighten the moment between them. “This is solely for my pleasure.”
Her tense shoulders loosened up, and the corner of her mouth twitched with a hint of a smile. Still, Amara hesitated, seemingly divided between letting him accompany her or telling him to get lost.
Not wanting to lose the ground he’d just gained, Reece opted for a bit of humor.
“You know, if it makes you feel any better, I don’t usually bite… not unless you ask me to…”
Amara visibly shivered and slipped into her lightweight jacket.
“Oh, really? And, how can I be so certain of that?”
She was eyeing him in a way that was more playful than suspicious, and he took his cue from her.
“Because if I did bite, precious, I would have taken a nibble or two out of you by now.”
Without thinking of the consequences, Reece reached out and lifted her shoulder-length dark hair from under the collar of her jacket. Her breath caught as his fingers delved through the warm, silky mass at the nape of her neck and his thumbs grazed the soft skin beneath her jaw.
Time seemed suspended as their gazes met, hers reflecting a flare of heat that burned through his veins. People walked past them, but he was oblivious to anything but her.
It was the first time he’d touched her in any way, and the connection was inherently intimate and wholly sensual. Amara’s lips were parted, and Reece ached to pull her into his arms, lower his mouth to hers and claim the kiss he’d forfeited earlier in the bar.
As if sensing his intent, she stepped back, and he automatically dropped his hands away and cleared his throat. Before she could flat-out turn him down again, Reece lightly grasped her elbow and ushered her toward the parking lot, which was located across the street from Frank’s ‘Flaming Grill Bar’.
“Come on, I’m walking you to your car, and I’m not taking no for an answer… So, do both of us a huge favor, and don’t waste your breath arguing.”
Amara relaxed and smiled, and they walked by the other storefronts along the street to the intersection.
“You know, we could consider this nice, casual stroll to your car our first date,” Reece suggested, only half joking.
He’d take a date with her any way he could get one. Amara thrust her hands deep into her jacket pockets and slanted him a sly look.
“Oh… So, you do have an ulterior motive other than seeing me safely to my car.”
“A very harmless motive, I swear.”
Reece held up his hands and attempted to look innocent.
“We could head over to a nice coffee shop, get a nice cup of coffee, and just talk about the weather if you’d like…”
An incredulous burst of laughter escaped her.
“Talk about the weather?! Are you being serious right now?”
He shrugged and winked at her.
“I wouldn’t want our first date to be too… personal.”
She chewed on her full bottom lip, looking quite torn.
“Reece, I can’t go on a date with you…” she then said. “I really can’t.”
The light at the intersection was red, and Reece pushed the button to give them the right of way, unwilling to give up on her so easily this time.
“Not even for one little cup of coffee? I promise no hand-holding or kissing…”
That made Amara smile again, but her next words shot down his hopes.
“I’m really sorry, but I’ve got a big test on Monday and I really need to study.”
“We could have a study date,” Reece suggested. “There are a few things I’m really good at teaching.”
“Oh… I’m not going to touch that one,” she murmured huskily.
Hearing someone approach from behind, Amara glanced over her shoulder briefly, then back at Reece.
“You don’t give up, do you, Reece Harrow?”
Something in her expression had changed in those few seconds, and there was now a troubled glint in her eyes that snagged his attention, but Reece didn’t understand its source.
Wanting desperately to soothe her sudden anxiety, he picked up her hand and drew a lazy pattern on her palm with his index finger.
“I’d give up if you told me to get lost and really, really, totally meant it.”
Amara stared at him, then shook her head, sending her soft dark waves brushing across her shoulders.
“You’re way too…”
“Irresistible? Fun? Handsome? Perfect?”
He graced her with one of his enticing grins that never failed to score him extra points with the opposite sex. The light changed to green, the cars on the street stopped, and they stepped off the curb to cross, severing the contact of their joined hands.
“I was thinking more along the lines of persistent… kind of annoyingly arrogant…”
Reece laughed.
“Hey, I do have a few faults.”
She seemed distracted enough not to hear or appreciate his attempt at humor. The footsteps behind them sounded closer, and this time when she looked behind them, Reece saw her stiffen, then she hastened her steps.
He lengthened his stride to keep up. She’d piqued not only his concern but his P.I. instincts, and he glanced back, too, and saw a man about ten yards away, wearing a sweatshirt, jeans, and a baseball cap.
The lighting in the area was acceptable, but the bill of the cap cast a shadow over half his face. The hairs on the back of Reece’s neck prickled with awareness, and every investigative intuition he possessed came to full alert.
By the time they reached the other side of the street, Amara was nearly jogging, trying to escape a danger he didn’t understand. His only thought was to grab her to keep her close and make sure she felt safe with him.
Whatever had set her off, there was no way he’d let anything or anyone harm her…
Latching onto her upper arm, Reece forced her to stop. The street lamp overhead illuminated the sheer panic etched on her face, and he felt her tremble in fear. His gut tightened in unease.
“Amara… Precious, what’s wrong?”
Her gaze shifted over his shoulder to whoever was approaching them, and her complexion paled.
“Oh, dear God… no!” she said on a helpless moan and tried to tug her arm free from his grasp so she could bolt.
He refused to release her, knowing in her near-hysterical state she wasn’t thinking straight and could hurt herself. He wanted to shake her out of her stupor but didn’t want to scare her even more. He decided on verbal force.
“Dammit, baby, talk to me!” he growled in a low tone.
“Reece… It’s him!” she said in a soft, keening cry, her eyes wide and filled with alarm. “He found me…”
She wasn’t making any coherent sense, nor was she giving him any information he could act upon.
“It’s who? Baby, who found you?”
Amara shook her head frantically and gripping his shirt in her hands, she pulled him into a small alcove built into the back doorway of a shop. Stunned and confused by her abrupt action, Reece braced his hands on the door behind her to catch himself before his body slammed into hers.
“What the hell is going on, Amara?”
He turned his head to get a better look at the person who’d sent her into such a tailspin, but Amara wrapped her arms around his neck and fisted her fingers tight in his hair, which kept him in place. Her eyes pleaded with him to help her, to do as she requested.
“Just kiss me, Reece… Kiss me like I’m your woman…” she demanded in a hoarse voice.
Before he could say another word, she crushed her soft lips to his.
For as many times as Reece had fantasized about this moment with Amara, he'd never once imagined he'd be kissing her during a moment of crisis such as this. Neither had he expected her to be the originator of the kiss. No, he'd always envisioned their first kiss as a slow, sensual, erotic exploration. Him coaxing her passion to the surface at a leisurely pace, and her gradually surrendering. This reckless embrace went beyond a sweet, lingering kiss and went straight for fast, deep, and blistering hot, as well as wild and consuming. Amara clung to him as if she wanted to crawl into his skin and be a part of him, plastering her soft, lush curves along the length of his body in a way his long-denied libido couldn't ignore. The fingers she'd thrust through his hair flexed for a better hold and Amara angled his mouth for greater pressure, sealing their lips so tightly he was certain he'd bruise her. She didn't seem to care… Desper
Reece paced restlessly in the hospital waiting room, surrounded by Bryce, his brother, Claire, his future sister-in-law, and Andy, a police detective, and his best friend. It had been three hours since Amara had been admitted, and other than a few vague updates that didn't satisfy Reece, they still didn't know her final prognosis. The wait was excruciating, and Reece was eternally grateful that he had the support of his friend and family to keep him company. Because, otherwise, this waiting would’ve been pure torture. Scrubbing a hand along his tense jaw, Reece exhaled in frustration. The last time he, Bryce, and Claire had been in a hospital had been five months ago when their sister, Daphne, had gone into labor. Back then, their presence in a medical facility had been a happy, joyful event as they'd welcomed an eight-pound, three-ounce baby girl Daphne and Sean had named Deidre Marie. But today, the mood was somber and grim as the fou
A soft, snoring sound pulled her from her disturbing thoughts. With a frown, Amara turned her head, glanced down, and found a man slumped forward in an armchair at the side of her bed, his dark head and brawny arms resting on the mattress near her hip. Another snuffling sound escaped him, and she smiled, recognizing that tousled dark hair and the strong, gorgeous profile as Reece's. It appeared he'd fallen asleep while watching over her, and the caring gesture warmed her deep inside. A brief recollection flashed inside her head, of Reece's lips on hers and a wild, deep kiss, unlike anything she'd ever indulged in. She knew Reece, and along with that certainty came the knowledge that he made her feel safe, secure, and desired. But she had no idea what was his role in her life. Was this man her boyfriend? Lover? Friend? Judging by the awareness and intimate longing swirling within her, Amara was guess
Reece washed his hands, then splashed cool water on his face, trying like hell to push away the guilt eating at his conscience. He dried the dampness from his skin with a paper towel and shoved his fingers through his hair in a paltry attempt to tame his unruly morning hair. Amara believed he was her fiancé. When the nurse had made that announcement, he'd witnessed Amara's surprised expression and had held his breath, waiting for her to ask him if it was true. Much to his relief, she didn't question it, which saved him from outright lying to Amara's face. For now… Bracing his hands on the edge of the sink, Reece stared at his reflection in the restroom mirror, noting the lines of exhaustion at the corners of his eyes. Undoubtedly, he was lying by omission, because he planned to use the ‘fiancé’ pretense to his advantage, to remain as close to her as possible so he could protect her until he nailed the source of her fears the
"I'm going to leave, but I'll be back in a little while," he said straightening. Dread flared to life in Amara’s eyes."Where are you going?" Her panic-stricken expression clutched at him, and he instantly tried to soothe her anxiety."Precious, I need a shower, shave, and a change of clothes. And you need to rest. Are you afraid to stay alone?" Reece asked gently."Just a little nervous," she admitted. "I feel so… disoriented, and you're the only person I recall.""Tell you what, baby… Here's the buzzer for the nurse, and if you need me for anything at all, here is my cellphone number." Reece wrote it down and set it by her phone.“Call me no matter what… even if it's just to hear my voice." Amara inhaled deeply as if inflating her courage."You must think I'm a complete basket case." No, he didn't think that at all. Her nerves and fears were legitimately based, but she didn't need any more stress to deal with at the moment."I'm not
Sitting across from Reece at the small, cozy kitchen table, Amara reached for her second slice of ‘Quattro Stagioni’ pizza, still absorbing the fact that she and Reece lived together in his two-story house. So far, she'd only seen the lower level of the structure, and she had to admit not only to herself but to Reece as well, that nothing looked familiar. She'd racked her brain for a niggle of recognition, but Reece had gathered her in his strong arms and told her to be patient and give it time. His closeness, warmth, and arousing male scene was all it took to soothe her frazzled nerves. She'd clung to him because he made her feel safe and secure, and as though she belonged in his embrace. In his life… From there, she'd relaxed and told herself to enjoy the man so willing to cater to her every whim and desire. A man who inspired decadent fantasies and a hunger that had nothing to do with the food she was feasting on. Amara to
Reece yanked off his clothes, flung them onto the small leather couch in his downstairs office, and pulled on his cotton sweatpants, forgoing a shirt as he always did at night. Sitting behind his desk, he picked up the piece of paper with the florist's name and phone number he'd written down at the hospital earlier, intent on focusing his restless energy on business. Instead, sinful, brazen thoughts ruthlessly intruded his brain... Thoughts of Amara upstairs in the bathtub, naked and wet, her skin soft, sleek, and fragrant.“Damn…” Reece whispered. The vivid mental image of touching all that feminine flesh with his hands and tasting it with slow, leisurely licks of his tongue gave him a thick, rampant hard-on, which was becoming a too frequent occurrence when it came to her. One that was getting more and more difficult to control. He shifted in his seat, which did nothing to help ease his throbbing discomfort. Reece groaned a
Satisfied that he'd return later, Amara snuggled deeper beneath the blankets, sighed, and let her lashes drift shut. Unplugging the phone in the room so Andy's call wouldn't disturb her, Reece went back to his office, knowing it would be hours until he joined Amara in his bed. He wanted her deep asleep and unaware of him before he dared to slip under the covers with her. Ten minutes later Andy called back with the information Reece was waiting for."‘This guy isn't stupid, Reece,’" Andy said, a thread of disgust in his voice. "‘He paid cash for the flowers and gave the cashier what I highly suspect is a bogus name and an address that isn't his.’" Reece shook his head in disbelief."You ran a check already?""‘Yep, and you're not going to like what I'm about to tell you.’" Feeling distinctly uneasy, Reece stabbed his fingers through his already mussed hair."Give it to me straight, Lewis." The request was unnecessary. Andy wasn't one to