Hurricane (8 page)

Julianne kissed it and replied softly. “Okay.”

“Now give me the strawberry.” He opened his mouth.

She fed it to him. Keenan caught her fingers gently with his teeth, nibbling on the pads. He licked along her fingers. Whimpering, Julianne wondered how he could get her from feeling skittish to turned on so fast. He was like lightning—quick, fast, and always leaving her unsettled. She fed him a piece of mango. He sucked it in partially and cupped her cheeks, pulling her close. She opened to him. She ate the mango, and he the other end. Their lips met, and he kissed her hungrily.

Julianne rocked her hips against his erection. She wanted them both naked. His cock would press against her slit. Sliding against the outer lips, her body would be eager for him to enter. She was damp and her wetness would make that glide so easy and sensual. Her pussy clenched as she imagined him moving his hips urgently as she rocked to meet him. Julianne moved against him. Frustration bubbled inside her as she only felt cloth—not the skin she was longing for. She moaned into his mouth. Keenan growled, a hungry sound, as his hands clenched around her hips and cupped her ass, pulling her close to him. Julianne spread her legs wider, moving against his hard member confined in his jeans. Keenan ground against her. Julianne slid her hand down his chest and to the waistband of his jeans.

“Keenan! John said you came in. I bro… Whoops. Sorry,”—a female voice interrupted them.

Julianne yanked away from him. She went to move but Keenan held her in place.

“Ash. It’s fine.” He cleared his throat.

“I bet. I can’t believe Brigid didn’t tell me you were finally dating again,” Ash replied.

Julianne glanced to the side of the truck. Amused dark brown eyes met hers. The woman’s smile widened. Her caramel-coloured face was pretty—broad forehead, full nose, cheeks and rounded chin. From what she could tell, she wore no makeup. The woman’s dark brown hair with golden highlights was in a ribbed-looking clip that held it back from her face. Her hair fell in a ponytail.

“Oh… I brought you some treats.” Ash turned away.

The kinky curls of her hair swished with her. She moved out of view, but was back in moments. She held out a huge bucket of popcorn and Keenan took it.

“Great, thanks. Aren’t you forgetting something?”

“As if I would.” Ash held up the jumbo box of Milk Duds. “I didn’t know you had someone with you. I’ll get you another. Be right back.”

The woman disappeared. Julianne heard a sound. She glanced through the windshield and saw the woman was pushing a cart out of view. Julianne glanced back at Keenan. He kissed the tip of her nose and headed for her lips as her thoughts scattered. She leaned against him and revelled in the kiss.

“This is becoming a habit,” the same voice said.

Keenan withdrew, groaning. “Your timing always did suck.”

“I know. It’s a gift.” Ash laughed melodiously.

Julianne didn’t look at the woman. Once was bad enough, but twice? Keenan had made her forget the woman had said she was coming back.

“I think your woman is embarrassed. There’s no need to be, Miss—?” Ash trailed off cheerfully.

“Really subtle about wanting to know her name, Ash,” Keenan said.

“I’m not the one who is so slow with the introductions,” Ash countered.

“Brat.”

“Asswipe,” Ash said gleefully.

“Popcorn hustler.”

“Fire breather.”

Julianne listened, bemused, as they sniped at each other. It was playful. Like how she acted with her siblings and close friends. She shifted so she could see Ash. Pressing her back against Keenan’s chest, she watched her. They continued to exchange barbs. Ash glanced at her and winked. Julianne laughed.

“So you stopped hiding. I’m Ashley Seaver, by the way. If we wait for him to get around to introducing us, we’ll be in our dotage.” She put out her hand.

“I would have if you were patient.” Keenan sounded long suffering.

“Please. Patience is overrated.” Ash snorted.

Julianne shook her hand. “Julianne Locke.”

“Of Moments?”

“Yes.”

“I went to a wedding there once. Great place you have there,” Ashley said.

“Thanks. Are you the owner of this place?” Julianne asked.

Ashley had the same last name as the drive-in.

“Yep. My sister Kiaya and I run Seaver Drive-in and Bowling.”

“Where is Kiaya?” Keenan asked.

“She’s handling the bowling alley tonight.”

Julianne glanced towards the building that took up part of the huge corner lot. For the drive-in, a customer would enter on Buchanan Avenue, whereas the entrance for the bowling alley was on Walter Avenue. There was a ticket booth at the back door that gave someone access to and from the bowling alley to the drive-in.

“Well, it was nice meeting you, Julianne. See you, Keenan.”

“Wait. Guess who I saw recently?” Keenan sounded very happy.

Julianne glanced at him. A wide smile was on his face.

“Uh-oh. I don’t like that look. Julianne, whenever he has that look, run. He’s about to do something that amuses him, but probably not you,” Ashley said.

Julianne glanced at Ashley. She was moving away.

“Harmon,” Keenan said smugly.

Ashley stopped and turned back to them. “Harmon?”

“Yep. He has one of the businesses in the same area as Moments. I can’t believe you didn’t know that. You’re slipping, Ash.” Keenan laughed.

Ashley frowned. “See what I mean, Julianne? Mean bastard. First and last time I’ll ever go out of my way to bring you any treats.”

“I mentioned that you and Kiaya had taken over the family business. He might come by.”

“Fuck you, Keenan,” she snapped.

Ashley stomped off, muttering. Keenan laughed even more.

“Why is she so pissed?” Julianne asked, looking at him.

She stifled a chuckle as Ash aimed a particularly loud and inventive curse at Keenan.

“She and Harmon have a volatile history. Besides, her cursing me about it will keep her off the phone to my sister.”

“Okay,” she said, confused.

“Ash and my sister are best friends. Both together are trouble. Usually for me, the kind big brother.” Keenan smiled innocently.

“I’m oldest, too, so I know what you mean. Younger siblings are a pain.”

“Yeah. They try to get us in trouble,” Keenan said.

“But we get our own revenge.” She smiled wickedly.

“Yep. There was this time…”

They swapped stories about outsmarting their younger siblings, then about other topics and themselves. The ease in which they could share was still unnerving to Julianne, but she went with it. When the sound started for the movie, she resettled against his chest.

“Ohh…
Ladyhawke
. I love this movie,” she said.

“Me too.” He murmured against her temple.

She watched the story of the lovers who could not touch because of a curse to keep them apart. Keenan stroked along her side. Julianne tried to focus on the movie. He made a soft sound that made her shift against his chest.

“How am I supposed to focus on the movie with you touching me?” Julianne cried.

“Control, Julianne. Anticipation heightens the experience.” Keenan chuckled.

“You’re going to kill me with this anticipation. Hope it’s worth it.” Julianne blew out a breath.

“It will be,” he whispered against the side of her face.

Moaning, Julianne watched the movie as he stoked the anticipation.

When we get to my place, he is so mine.

Julianne stabbed a piece of asparagus with her fork. She ate it and chewed. Glancing up, she studied the aggravating man. Keenan was eating his lunch silently. She focused back on her own lunch of roasted chicken with asparagus. It was filling her, yet the one hunger she wanted to be quenched was going unfed.

They had been going out for almost four weeks. After the movie and all the anticipation they had built up, she had been primed to take it to the end. Keenan had walked her to her door, then kissed her and left. It had stunned her, but she had figured he wanted to be a gentleman. They hadn’t seen each other for a few days, since she and Rissa—just the two of them with no other family members or friends—had taken a trip to the Locke family summer house to fish and just relax. On her return she and Keenan had gone on their next date, to the museum and he had driven her daft with his random touches and handholding. When he’d taken her home, he had kissed her senseless then left. It had been the same after each of their dates, whether it was horseback riding, taking in a concert at the park, watching a play, or rollerblading. They had spent so much time together and had such fun.

Not the fun I want to be having.
Julianne stabbed another piece of asparagus. She wanted him. But he wasn’t giving any indication he wanted her. She’d already thrown herself at him with the kiss at the drive-in movie. No way was she going to jump him. Well…not until he
at least
made the first move.

In the weeks she had come to know Keenan, she’d realised that affable smile was a ruse. The smile disarmed you into believing he would be agreeable to anything and would go along with the flow. The truth was, Keenan only went along if it was something he wanted to do. When he didn’t, he found a way to either not do a thing or convince you to go along with his way of thinking.

Julianne frowned. This week he had started bringing her lunch. It had begun innocently enough when he’d called on Monday to say he was free for lunch and to ask if she was. She had been. Keenan had said he would buy it and bring it to her, and that they could eat at Moments. He’d asked her what she wanted from Braxton’s, a restaurant that was in-between their jobs. They had found out they both regularly ate from there when they were working. She’d given him her order. It wasn’t until she had that she’d realised what she’d agreed to. Yes, they were dating, but so far she hadn’t really formally introduced him to anyone. Keenan had asked questions about Moments and even mentioned coming by sometime for a tour. She hadn’t said anything either way. A moment of panic over what to call him had filled her.

By the time he had arrived, she was in control. They had shared a wonderful lunch in the sunroom just off her office. It was the usual place she ate and her sanctuary on especially hectic days. Each of the partner’s offices had a sunroom. They also used the sunrooms for their weekly meetings. The meeting rotated between Regina’s and Julianne’s.

When they were done, Keenan had said he was leaving, but instead she found herself giving him a tour of Moments and introducing him to everyone. Julianne still had no clue why she had taken him around to meet everyone. Thankfully, and surprisingly, no one had said anything about it.

It’s his damn affable grin.
She chewed fiercely. When he flashed the smile at her, it was as if all sense fled from her mind. After Monday, he’d called everyday just before lunch to ask if she was free. And each day she had been. There was no way she would have admitted to him that she made sure her schedule was clear to see him. To compound the situation, by Wednesday she had even started taking over ordering their lunch, and he only had to pick it up to come see her. It saved time, and she could see him longer. The lunch hour went so fast. Now it was Friday, and it had already become a familiar habit that she didn’t want to change.

“I’m splitting.”

Stripping? Did he say he’s stripping? Come to mama.
Eagerly, she raised her head.

“I know you have a meeting with your partners. You feel like going out tonight?” Keenan was putting his empty plate in the bag.

Julianne scowled, realising what he’d said. He was leaving. Returning her gaze to her food, she closed the lid on her lunch. She wasn’t hungry for food right now. She passed him her container, which he put in the bag with his. Keenan stood and she joined him, tilting her head back. His hand slid automatically around her waist. Keenan kissed her softly, then withdrew.

“How does bowling sound? You can bring Rissa,” Keenan said.

“Bowling sounds fine. Seven o’clock?”

He nodded, then kissed her thoroughly. Julianne gasped and held on to him. Keenan drew away, releasing her waist. He ran his finger down her nose, then strode towards the side door. She followed him, watching his ass flex in his jeans. Licking her lips, she moaned, raising her head. Keenan glanced at her and flashed that affable grin.

“Seven o’clock,” he said.

He opened the glass door leading to the terrace and went out. Julianne moved to the bay window and watched as he strode across the area to the stairs. Keenan glanced back. He blew her a kiss, as he usually did. Julianne chuckled. In the one-way glass, there was no way he could see her standing there.

“You both are so cute together.”

Julianne jumped at the sound of the voice by her ear. She turned and swatted Regina.

“You scared me.”

“I did call out before entering…just in case. He must have you so scattered that you didn’t hear me.” Regina pushed back her kinky hair from her face.

I wish
. Julianne passed her, picking up the files she’d set on the table earlier.

Turning back to face her friend, Julianne teased, “Admit it. You want to be a voyeur.”

Regina snorted. “As if. I might not be getting any, but I have better things to do than spy.”

Julianne closed the distance between them, touching her arm. “Things still no better with you and Spencer?”

“No. When he moved out a year ago, I thought his reasoning of needing space away from each other made sense. The silence between us had become like we were screaming at each other. That I would have preferred,” she said softly.

“How’s the marriage counselling going?” Julianne asked.

“It’s not. He won’t come anymore. Said if, after a year, it wasn’t working, it was a waste of money.”

“I’m surprised he even agreed to go. Spencer is so private,” Julianne said.

“Exactly the reason it isn’t working. He just sits there, saying nothing. The silence is so profound, I don’t know what to say to break it.” Regina’s voice was shaky.

Julianne hugged her. “You’ll work it out. Spencer loves you.”