Red Hot (2 page)

“‘T is more rewarding to run your hands
over a woman's body than something so cold and hard, I would have thought.” The
woman walked over to stand close to him. The fresh smell of flowers and honey
wafted from her long wavy blonde hair, enveloping his space. “I'll never
understand a man's need to own a piece of machinery like this and lavish so
much attention on it.”

“Not all of us are lucky enough to find a
woman who wants our attention.” Red cast a sideways glance at her and willed
his embarrassment not to show on his pale skin. “At least I know I will always
be able to get away on this.”

She laughed at him; a soft, musical sound
that hit him in the gut.

“A man as handsome as yourself should have
no trouble getting the woman of his dreams, surely. Just look at you with your
dark auburn hair and deep green eyes.” She cocked her head to one side and let
her gaze travel over his face. “You can't tell me you would rather spend time
riding this piece of machinery than making love to a flesh and blood female.”

Heat flared in his cheeks and once again
cursed his genetics. It was easy to understand why he had been nicknamed Red in
school. He blushed as easily as a girl and it plagued him every bloody day. It
wasn’t a wonder he couldn’t pluck up the courage to ask a girl on a date,
especially a pretty one. His body betrayed his feelings for all the world to
see.

“Oh I'm sorry. I didn’t mean to be
embarrassing you. My tongue gets away on me. It's my Mam's fault.” A small
throaty laugh came from her seductive red lips. “She was the same you understand,
couldn’t keep her words to herself either. My Da says it's why I'm still not
married, no man wants a wife who speaks before she thinks.” She looked down at
the fawn in her hands and ran a painted fingertip from its nose to the soft
rise of its forehead. She stroked the small animal around the ears and its eyes
closed beneath her touch obviously under her spell. “Can I offer you a cup of
tea to settle your nerves before you ride that big machine again? I would hate
you to be on it feeling anything less than one hundred percent well in case you
come off it again.”

Red looked for any sign of attitude or
condescension and finding only concern on her face, he nodded. “Thanks, I’d
like that.”

“You can leave your bike here if you have a
mind to. It should be safe enough for a while or push it over yonder rise and
onto the driveway if you like.” She turned and led the way with the fawn
clutched to her side. Red kicked the stand up on the Ducati and followed her
pushing the heavy bike.

Tucked into the side of the hill hidden
from the road was a small dip leading to a lush patch of greenery in its own
secluded valley. A small stone cottage stood in the midst of a miniature
forest. It looked as though it had erupted from the earth when Mother Nature
was busy shaping the hills and valleys along the coast. Flowerbeds were strewn
haphazardly on the ground amongst the trees and around the cottage, flooding
the area with a riot of summer color.

Red parked his bike beside a small red
sedan and when he was sure it was no more damaged than he initially thought, he
followed her to the front door.

“All we need are the seven dwarfs and it
would be perfect,” he muttered under his breath looking around him.

“Sorry, did you say something?” She
stopped, and turned to look at him with raised eyebrows.

“No, just thinking it looks like something
out of a fairytale book. Kind of perfect, if you know what I mean.” Red
unzipped his jacket and pulled it off, needing something to do to cover his
embarrassment and occupy his mind for a minute or two. “I wonder if a witch is
going to come out with a black cat and a cauldron looking for children to bake.
Sorry, my warped sense of humor.”

She chuckled and the blood pumped to his
groin at the richness of the sound.

“Forgive me, I haven’t even introduced
myself or asked your name. I'm Rhian, Rhian Gallagher and you are?”

“Red. Red Douglas.” He held out his hand
and his breath hitched when she placed her delicate hand in his palm.
Electricity shot up his arm the instant her fingers touched his skin. She held
onto him, her fingers clutching his tight, her gaze locked onto his.

“Nice to meet you Red, come and sit down.
I'll make tea and we can get better acquainted.” She held his hand firmly in
hers and guided him inside the tiny cottage.

The small sitting room was filled to
overflowing with antique furniture. Plump bright cushions were scattered over
the comfortable looking chairs and tiny settee. Books lined the walls with
random objects amongst them and a small grey stone fireplace was tucked into
one corner. A low table held a vase of flowers matching those in the garden and
a bowl of polished stones stood next to them. Somehow it all looked right and
balanced. Through an arched doorway Red could see a kitchen and between the two
rooms a narrow hallway led to the back of the cottage.

Rhian put the baby deer down and walked
into the tiny kitchen. Red followed her, leaned on the archway, and watched her
move around the room. Her hips swayed as she walked to the sink and filled the
kettle. He glanced away as the heat built in his groin and a set of glowing,
green eyes caught his attention. A white cat stretched and then jumped lazily
down from the chair under the table before rubbing itself against his
motorcycle leathers.

Red looked back at Rhian and then dubiously
at the cat. “Animals don’t usually like me. Is this thing likely to bite?”

* * * *

Rhian leaned against the kitchen bench and
watched her familiar laying her scent on the magnificent specimen the Fates had
decided to throw at her feet. “No, Nero is a pretty good judge of character. If
he says you can stay in the house I'll be inclined to listen to him. If he
didn’t like you, he would have met you at the door and shredded your legs
already.”

Without his heavy-duty plain black glasses,
this man exuded pure sex. With them on, the small, lost boy look tugged at her
heart strings. She wanted to wrap her arms around him, pull him close to her
breast, and tell him she would protect him from whatever put the sad look in
his beautiful eyes. Rhian imagined rubbing soothing circles on his back as he
rested his head on her shoulder.

He had an aura of insecurity about him but
that could not be right? Why would a man as beautiful as him not be full of
confidence? He was easily six foot two and well built. Underneath the leather
his thighs were strong and muscular rising up to a tight ass Rhian wanted to
clutch in her hands and explore with her mouth. His rich auburn hair was long
enough to curl around his ears. She longed to reach out and run her fingers
through it and pull his mouth down to hers. The dark emerald eyes completed a
look screaming out sex on a stick but he wasn’t giving off that vibe. She would
have to find out why. Rhian loved a challenge, especially one as hot as this
man promised.

The little deer nudged at her feet and she
reached down and picked it up again. “Hold this little guy while I warm up a
bottle.” She passed the fawn over to Red, thrilled at the prickle of energy
racing under her skin at the contact with his long supple fingers. She smiled
to herself as she envisaged where she wanted them on her body and almost sighed
out loud as warmth raced to her groin.

Settle down Rhian, take your time.

The tiny creature looked lost in his
muscled arms. It snuggled down and ducked its head into the crook of his elbow,
eyes hidden and nuzzling against his skin.

“What are you going to do with it?” he
asked.

“I'll take her back to the clinic and raise
her until she’s ready to be released. Then I’ll bring her back home to let her
go. The herd has lived around here for as long as I can remember, I'm sure
she’ll fit right in with all of my other orphans.”

“Do you make a habit collecting strays
then?” He looked nervous as his gaze met hers.

“Only the ones that appeal to me, you
understand.” She ran the bottle under the hot tap. “There has to be a reason
for us to connect if you know what I'm saying. The Fates would hardly throw a
stray in my path unless there was a plan for us, now would they?” She handed
Red the warmed bottle and pushed him into the living room toward a chair. Her
gaze lingered on the torn leathers and she itched to run her hands over the
tight butt but held herself back. There would be plenty of time for sex and the
timid way this guy acted around her made her cautious. It would be a shame to scare
him off before they got to know each other better.

Red sat down on the sofa and the fawn
nuzzled the bottle before grabbing the teat and sucking noisily. Rhian kept her
eye on Red handling the tiny animal He watched mesmerized as the milk quickly
disappeared and the deer’s little stumpy tail flicked contentedly. A dribble of
milk ran down his chin onto Red’s bare arm. Before he could react, Rhian came
over, sat next to him and held his gaze while she gently wiped a soft cloth
slowly up his arm.

She stood and left him on the sofa, smiling
to herself at the bemused look on his face. The kettle whistled and she made a
pot of tea and carried it back to the living room. After placing a steaming mug
of tea on the table beside him, she tucked her skirt under her legs and curled
into the seat opposite, letting her gaze linger on the man in front of her.

“It would be a shame to move it now the
baby has a belly full of milk and is so content in your arms.” She sat back,
took a sip of tea, and smiled at the picture he made. The antiques, feminine
decorations, delicate lace cushions were at odds with his raw masculinity,
despite the baby deer in his arms.

“So Red, tell me what it is you do.”

“I'm a research scientist. I study things
most people find boring and mundane.” He looked at her daring her to disagree.

So, the man has flashes of defiance as
well as insecurities, I'll have to watch that, I will.

“How fascinating, I'm afraid I'm not that
studious. I usually skipped school and spent my days in the headmaster's office.”
She giggled and smoothed her hands over her skirt, glancing back his way. “My
Mam and my Da almost gave up hope I would ever amount to anything and then my
Gram discovered I had an affinity for animals. She encouraged me, much to dear
Da’s horror. Can you imagine all the animals and creatures I brought home?” She
laughed out loud, at the disbelief on his face. “Gram made me study hard to get
into vet school. I hated being inside with the books, mind you.” She looked
over the top of her mug and smiled at him “I was happier just hanging outside
with the sick wee ones, you understand. I can heal with the gifts the Good
Mother gave me but try telling that to the general public. They needed to see I
had passed the examinations and had the certificate on display to prove it.
Gram was a wise woman, there is no doubt of that. I know I would never have
come to much if it weren’t for her guidance.”

Warmth shot through her as he frowned and
she smiled to herself at her body’s response. So he was a dyed in the wool
scientist who had no time for Mother Nature and her flock? That was obvious
without him uttering a word. She would show him. The Fates had dropped him at
her doorstep just when she needed him most, that was for certain. Rhian knew
she would have to convince him she was perfect for him. She wanted that body in
her bed any way she could get him and from the male scent rolling off his skin,
he was not immune to her either.

She bit her lip to stop the moan pushing up
from her chest. The pheromones wafting over to her sensitive nostrils were
sending a moist heat between her legs and she squeezed her knees together.
Rhian wanted to lift her skirts and spread her legs, inviting him to taste and
tease her until she screamed his name. She might be open to exploring the
pleasures of her body but she doubted her timid scientist would feel the same.
Even though he was aware of her as a woman and his body was reacting, the doubt
was still there in his eyes.

Game on Mother, blessed be those who
fought for what they wanted and won. Let the contest begin. I will not lose
this one.

“So, Red. I love your name. It suits you,
you understand,” Rhian remarked coyly, her Irish lilt strong and she hoped,
sensuous. She clamped her thighs even more tightly together as she plotted in her
mind. “Where do you live then, in the city or out in the suburbs? And is your
work close by?”

“I live down by the bay overlooking the
wharf. Most of my work is done at the research facility over in the industrial
area.” He looked uncomfortable being quizzed about himself but she pushed aside
her guilt and kept talking.

“And your family, are they in the Bay
Area?” She drew her finger down her cheek, tapping her chin with a bright red
fingernail as she looked at him. She imagined what she could do with it if he
had no shirt on and resisted the urge to lean over and rip it from his body.

* * * *

Red swallowed and looked down at the small
sleeping creature in his lap. He shifted his butt slightly, refusing to meet
her gaze. He was sure Rhian was baiting him and the discomfort was building in
him, both in his heart and in his pants. Used to being teased by members of the
opposite sex, he was good at hiding his feelings. Why this woman would tease
him after being so helpful was a mystery, one that he didn’t know if he wanted
to explore.