Playing with Temptation (29 page)

Raina exhaled a deep breath, feeling a bit nervous herself as she approached the antsy woman. “Hi, Emily,” she said politely. “What can I do for you?”

“Hi, Raina,” she said with what looked like an I’m-trying-to-be-brave smile. “I…umm, could we go somewhere and talk? There’s a coffee place a few doors down…”

She couldn’t even begin to imagine what they had to discuss, unless… “Did Logan send you?” It was the only thing that made sense, even though he’d promised her he wouldn’t interfere.

“What?” Those guileless eyes widened again as Raina’s question sank in, and Emily quickly shook her head in horror. “No! He doesn’t even know I’m here.”

Raina believed her, and she was relieved. The woman was a hot mess, and now that Raina knew that Logan hadn’t prompted his sister to come here, she was curious to know what was on Emily’s mind.

“Sure, we can talk,” Raina said and smiled, trying to put Emily at ease. “Give me a minute to get my purse and let my manager know where I’ll be.”

Raina quickly did those two things, then met back up with Emily, who’d dared to venture a few more feet into the store and was trying to
casually
check out the front display of women’s small, discreet vibrators.

“I’m ready to go,” Raina said from behind her and almost laughed as Emily jumped, then spun around, her face flushing as if she’d just been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

Emily rushed out the door, and Raina followed her. The walk to the coffee shop was a quiet one, and it wasn’t until they were settled at a table outside and away from the other customers, with their drinks delivered, that Emily looked across the table at Raina and spoke.

“I owe you an apology for the way I acted last Sunday,” she said, her tone laced with genuine regret. “I completely overacted, and I’m so sorry that I treated you so badly, because I really do like you.”

“Thank you.” Raina truly didn’t know what else to say. She definitely appreciated the apology, but she wasn’t sure where that left the two of them or if Emily could really accept what Raina did for a living.

Emily glanced at her iced vanilla latte, her fingers wiping away the condensation gathering on the plastic cup. “After you and Logan left on Sunday, Pete and I had an argument,” she said quietly and met Raina’s gaze again. “He was upset with me because I acted like such…a prude, and I know I embarrassed you, too.”

Raina took a drink of her iced tea and remained quiet. Again, she was at a loss for words, but apparently Emily needed to get this all out, so she was more than willing to listen.

“Anyway, Pete decided he wanted to make a point since I was being so uptight about the whole sex toy thing, and on Tuesday morning, he stopped by your store and picked up a few items.”

Tuesday was the day that she’d arrived at the boutique in the early afternoon, obviously missing Pete’s visit. But Raina was definitely intrigued by Emily’s story and where it was headed.

“That night, when Hannah was asleep for the night and I was changing into my nightgown, Pete came into the our room with a black-handled bag and dumped the contents onto our bed, and boy was I taken aback at what he’d bought.” Emily pressed her hands to her flushed face, as if remembering that exact moment.

Raina bit the inside of her cheek, absolutely dying to know what her husband had purchased.

Emily leaned across the table, her voice dropping to just above a whisper. “He bought some fuzzy handcuffs and a vibrator and this warming massage oil that tasted like cherries and a sexy lace teddy. He said I shouldn’t judge other people unless I’ve tried it…and so we did.”

Go Pete
, Raina thought, delighted by the man’s creativity, as well as the fact that she clearly had an ally.

“Raina…” Emily shook her head, her expression awed despite the blush sweeping across her cheeks. “I swear, it was the best sex we ever had. I can’t help but wonder what I’ve been missing out on all these years.”

Raina laughed. She couldn’t help it. Emily was so bewildered, in a good way, as if she’d just discovered the secret to amazing sex. “I’m glad the two of you had fun. That’s really what it’s about. Having fun with your partner. Enjoying yourself and doing what feels good.”

“It felt really,
really
good,” Emily admitted and laughed, too. Then she reached across the table and clasped Raina’s hand, her expression serious again. “I’m so very sorry that I judged you and made you feel so uncomfortable. I love my brother so much. I want him to be happy, and I can tell that he’s crazy about you. The last thing I want is to have my stupid, narrow-minded actions on Sunday come between any of us.”

Raina squeezed Emily’s hand right back, feeling as though a huge weight had lifted off her chest. She’d decided she wanted things to work with Logan, even knowing his sister had disapproved of her business. But having Emily’s blessing now was unexpected but wonderful, and she had Pete to thank for changing his wife’s way of thinking.

“We’re good, Emily,” Raina said, and meant it.

Relief softened Emily’s features, and then she bit her lower lip, suddenly looking adorably shy. “I was thinking…maybe you could help me pick out a few things at your store that I can surprise Pete with tonight?”

Raina grinned. “Oh, absolutely.”

A
fter nearly five
days in Chicago, Logan was back in San Diego, driving home with his stomach in absolute knots. He hadn’t spoken to Raina on the phone since he’d left, and the only text she’d answered was the one he’d sent earlier during his layover in Phoenix.

He’d texted:
My flight gets in at six tonight. I want to see you.

And she’d responded:
I’m sorry. I won’t be home.

That was it. No other comment. No explanation. Nothing. He couldn’t help but wonder if it was really over between the two of them, if she was going to shut him out in a way he wouldn’t be able to break through. He refused to think of that possibility, refused to believe that the time apart had enabled her to carve him out of her life so easily.

He was tempted to head over to her apartment and wait there until she returned, but she’d made it clear with her text that she didn’t want to see him, and tonight, he’d respect her need for more space.

But it was fucking hard to do when he was the kind of guy who went after what he wanted, no matter what obstacles stood in his way. And despite his take-charge personality, the thing that scared him the most was the knowledge that he couldn’t force Raina to be his. She had to come to him on her terms. With her heart open and willing, and trusting that he’d never, ever hurt her.

Frustration squeezed his chest, and he gripped the steering wheel tighter as he turned down his street. Then his heart slammed into his throat when he caught sight of a familiar vehicle parked out by the curb of his house. He turned his Camaro into the driveway, and when he saw Raina sitting on one of the steps leading up to his front porch, he didn’t bother pulling the car into the garage.

Hope clashed with a surprising anxiety as he got out, grabbed his duffle, then swung the bag over his shoulder as he headed toward Raina. Considering her earlier text, he had no idea why she was here and prayed to God it wasn’t to truly end their relationship.

As he neared, she stood up, her hands smoothing down the flowing material of her gauzy skirt, seemingly just as nervous to see him. She looked so beautiful his heart ached, and she looked so damn perfect standing in front of his house, exactly where she belonged. Her hands twisted together in front of her, and her blue eyes shone with a trepidation that felt like a sucker punch to his stomach.

With a casualness he didn’t feel, he stopped a few feet from her. “I thought you had plans tonight.”

She swallowed hard, and a tentative smile lifted the corner of her mouth. “I do. Hopefully with you.”

He had no idea what that meant, and he wasn’t about to assume anything when there was so much tension between them. “Come on in.”

He walked past her—so damn hard when he wanted to pull her into his arms and never let her go—and unlocked the front door. He let Raina enter first, then followed her into the living room. He dropped his bag on the floor and turned around to face her, bracing himself for the worst.

“So, I’ve had a lot of time to think since you’ve been gone,” she said, her voice wavering ever-so-slightly as she dampened her bottom lip with her tongue. “I’ve been alone for so long, doing everything on my own, and the last thing I was looking for or wanted in my life was a man. And then you happened.”

He arched a brow. “I can’t tell if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.”

“It’s a very good thing. It just took me a bit longer than you to realize that I want you in my life. That I
need
you in my life, Logan Cruz,” she said, her voice gaining strength and confidence. “I’m so tired of being scared and lonely, so wrapped up in my past and fears, and the thought of losing you frightens me even more. You make me believe that you’re my future, my forever,” she said, repeating the words he’d said to her their last morning together.

He took a step closer to her, his body shuddering with relief. “I am your future, your forever,” he said gruffly.

A glimmer of tears sparkled in her eyes as she took her own step toward him, closing the distance between them. “I deserve you.”

“Damn right you do,” he said and finally pulled her into his arms, holding her tight against his chest, certain she could hear the wild beating of his heart. “Don’t you
ever
doubt that again.”

“I won’t.” She wrapped her arms around his waist, holding him just as securely, her face buried against his throat. “Most importantly, I trust you with my heart.”

He groaned, her words humbling him, leaving no doubt what this incredible woman meant to him. Threading his fingers through her hair, he gently pulled her head back so that she was looking up at him, their eyes locked with all the emotion flowing between them. “I love you, Raina Beck.”

She smiled, even as a happy tear rolled down her cheek. “I love you, too.” She touched her fingertips to his jaw, her gaze filled with wonder and awe. “I’ve never had a man fight for me like you have.”

“Sugar, you’re worth fighting for,” he drawled huskily as he wiped away the moisture on her cheek with his thumb. “I’d slay dragons for you if I had to.”

That made her laugh, the sound so incredibly sweet to his ears and one he wanted to hear for the rest of his life.

She released a heartfelt sigh and slid her hand around to the nape of his neck. “It’s not easy letting a man take care of me, but I’m willing to try and get used to it.”

“I protect what’s mine,” he said, more fiercely than he’d intended. “Always.”

“I want to sleep in your arms at night and wake up curled next to you every single morning,” she said, her tone taking a sensual turn. “Is that going to be okay?”

He exhaled a deep breath. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. You belong
here
, with me.” Remembering the gift he’d bought for her in Chicago, he let her go for a moment. “I have something for you.”

He unzipped his duffle bag and retrieved a small square box in a distinctive blue color. The present was monogrammed with the name of a high-end jeweler and wrapped with a white bow.

Her eyes grew wide as he gave her the gift. “What is this?”

“It’s for you,” he said with a smile, even as nerves tightened in his belly. “To remind you that you’re mine forever. Open it.”

She looked like a delighted child as she tugged on the bow and unraveled it, leading him to believe that spontaneous gifts were a rare thing for her. It was something he intended to change.

She lifted the lid and gasped, her jaw dropping open. “Logan, this is too much.”

No, it hadn’t been cheap, but she was worth every penny he’d spent on the platinum and diamond bracelet. “Do you know what that symbol is?” he asked of the design that looked like a figure eight, which was encrusted with glittering diamonds.

She nodded, still stunned by the gift. “It’s the sign of infinity.”

“Which is exactly how long I will love you.” Taking the bracelet from the box, he secured it around her wrist, then looked into her eyes again. “And when you’re ready, I’m going to put a ring on your finger and make you my wife.”

Another surge of tears filled her eyes, and she bit on her bottom lip to hold back the well of emotion.

“That’s a good thing, sugar,” he said, hoping he wasn’t moving way too fast for her.

“I know,” she whispered, her throat tight. “I just feel like the luckiest girl in the world right now.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, slow and deep. Their tongues tangled. She tasted like heaven, and her sweet, feminine scent engulfed him. His pulse sped up, and his thickening cock desperately needed to be deep inside of her.

He lifted his mouth from hers and stared down at her flushed face. “Goddamn, I missed you,” he growled, then swooped her up into his arms and carried her to his bedroom, his intentions clear.

He gently tossed her onto his bed, and she landed with a soft squeak of surprise. Before he could join her and strip her naked, she put up a hand to hold him off.