Surrendering To His Mrs. Right (Soul Food Diner) (14 page)

“Don’t you just fuck
‘em and leave ’em?”

Admittedly
, he wasn’t a good example. “I won’t defend what I do. This is who I am.” How could he love any of those women when his heart belonged to her? He was just too afraid of losing her. Everything around him fell to pieces sooner or later.

The rest of the drive to the coast was quiet. Indy stared out the window, a pensive expression on her face. All day she’d been distant.
Even his usual jokes hadn’t pulled her out of it. If anything they’d set her off.

“Are you tired?” The entire evening she’d felt miles away.

“Yeah.” She curled her knees up to her chest.

When he’d tried to kiss her
at midnight, she’d fucking hugged him. They were in trouble and he could only assume Saint Tim had something to do with it. Why not just rip his teeth out one by one? He pulled up to the house. The lights were still on. He’d been hoping Tim was in bed so that things could get a little intense between him and Indy in the kitchen.

Fumbling with the keys
, he dropped them. Much the way he felt things were going with Indy. Had he dropped the ball? Neither of them could be ready for what would happen if things between them changed. It hurt enough to be apart from her now. His body yearned for her and touching her all night had only made it worse.

He had to at
least try to lighten the mood. “What did the lawyer name his daughter?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugged.

“Sue.”

“Liam, you can be such a dork.”

Finally a crack of smile from her. “That’s why you love me.”

She shook her head. Since her time with Tim she wasn’t his same old Indy. Part of her
had closed off to him. He put the key in.

The door opened
and Tim stood there. “Partying until the wee hours of the morning again, I see.” He smiled and his gaze lingered on Indy.

What the hell was going between these two? Tomorrow he needed to have a talk with his brother. And say what? Up until she
’d started hanging out with Tim, Liam hadn’t minded Indy flirting with his friends. Tim was the kind of man woman planned their future with, not one night they wished they could forget. Liam had a girlfriend, for God’s sake, but still his brother’s sudden focus on Indy over the holidays rubbed him in all the wrong ways. Or was it that Indy appeared not to mind Tim’s sudden interest in her? She had always teased, then gone cold, ignoring any poor man seeking her attention. That wasn’t the case with Tim.

She didn’t shy away from
him, even when he ogled her.

“Happy New Year, Tim.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek. “I can’t believe you’re home alone.”

The woman was flirting with Tim. He’d got a kiss. All Liam had scored was a hug. Oh. Fuck. No.

“I don’t mind being alone until my Mrs. Right comes along.” Tim grinned.

She shot up an eyebrow. “You’re too young to think like that. Don’t you ever let loose? What about Miss Right Now or Miss Available?”

Liam laughed. “Tim, let loose? You’re kidding
.” Did he really need to be the one to point this out? Tim was a stick in the mud, she knew that. When Liam had spilled the beans about his father’s affair and their mother had vanished, Tim had stepped into the role of parent. “He’s more responsible than our parents. I think you had one too many Mojitos tonight.” Why the hell had he said that? Okay, so he was jealous, but he hadn’t the right to take it out on Indy.

“One being the operative word, Liam.” Indy glared at him, anger in her eyes. “Your brother is capital H-O-T hot, but he acts like he’s sixty or something. He needs someone to show him how to have fun and enjoy life.” She met Tim’s eyes.

Was she making an offer to Tim? “Like who? You?”

“Doubtful. Tim’s probably into the repressed types.” Indy huffed, her eyes narrowed in Liam’s direction. “Can’t say I’d mind trying, though.” She slanted her lips to one side. It hadn’t gone unnoticed; her
gaze paused at Tim’s groin.

For the first time in Liam’s life, he wanted to punch his brother unconscious. “Wouldn’t you need experience in that department to draw from?” His Indy messing around with Saint Tim would kill him.

“What I lack in experience, I make up for in sheer eagerness.” She smirked and cocked her head.

Knowing his brother, they’d soon marry, settle down, get a dog, and have one-point-five kids. “I have no doubt then, that dead men would come back from the grave for a chance to have you loosen them up.”

“Aww, thanks.” She tapped his shoulder and kissed his cheek.

Finally, he
’d managed to say something right. “Anytime, baby girl.” Flattery always worked better than insults. “You grab a bite to eat.” He pointed at the fridge. “I’m going to grab a shower. Rendezvous in my room.” Liam shot a warning glance at Tim.

Tim listened to Liam’s footsteps move further away from the kitchen. There was distance in the air and he didn’t like the widening space between him and Indy. Three days without seeing her and his brother was all over her. It was
irritating him. Around his brother she seemed different—worried.

“There’s leftover pizza in the fridge if you’re hungry.” Tim gestured. “Nothing fancy but something to soak up the alcohol if you need it.”

“Is that what you had for dinner?” She leaned forward on the counter. Her curls slid against her cheeks, framing her face. Did she feel bad for him?

“No. I made a steak.”

Her pretty brown eyes moved over him with interest. “Can only imagine how delicious it was.” She licked her lips. “You’re a fabulous cook.”

Was
it the meal or him on her mind? So what if he wanted it to be him?

She rose from her seat, headed for the fridge and pulled out a slice of pizza.

There were other talents of his he wanted her to learn about. “Thank you.” He stepped toward her to reach the cabinets behind her. “Would you like a plate for that?” Contact with her warmth sparked hunger lower. What was with him? Three days without touching her? The fear of losing her or having driven her away?

Her body trembled. “There’s no point in dirtying a dish.” She turned toward him and stepped within an inch. “I missed you.” The speed of her breath increased.

Did telling him that make her nervous? “I’m glad to hear you say that because I was worried it was just me.”

She shook her head.

“Something to drink?” he asked.

“That would be great.”

“Cola?”

“Yes, please, Tim.”

His thoughts wandered off to her saying that in a completely different context. Over and over again. He got a glass, opened the fridge, and filled it up. The bottle was empty so he put it into the recycling.

She
blocked his path.

He stepped to the side and she countered. “Indy.”

“Yes, Tim.” Her gaze locked to his. She stepped even closer.

“What are you doing?” Please let her be putting the moves on him. What if he lost control? He felt intense and edgy.

She brushed against him. Every inch of him responded to the feel of her curves. An ache plagued him. He could just reach out for her and pull her to him but instead he let out a pent up breath.

Continuing past him she slid back
onto the stool at the counter. “I meant what I said about loosening you up, if you are interested.” She cocked an eyebrow.

If only she
would make moves on him when she hadn’t been drinking, he’d be more confident in her interest. But he could smell the rum and mint on her breath. Was she talking, or the buzz? Sex seemed to be a preoccupation for her.

He frowned. “Indy
—”

“Never mind.” She rolled her eyes.

For the moment, he let it go. At some point over the next day he’d pull her aside and figure out what was going on. Was she confused about her feelings for him? Was she playing games with him? He walked over to the cupboard and pulled out ibuprofen. “Here you go.”

“Thanks. You always take good care of me. Like I’m a naughty little girl.”

“I see an attractive woman.” He smiled. “And I enjoy fussing over people I care about.” He watched her mouth, thinking about her lips on his and then his…Shake it off.

“I know you do and I appreciate it.” She put her hand
on his. “My head is all fuzzy.”

“No worries. We all have days.” Her smooth fingers were so soft as she stroked his hand. “Will you give me the keys to your motorcycle?”

“Sure.” She reached into her purse and put them on the counter.

Tim picked up her keys and placed them in the dish on the other counter with all the house vehicles ones.

“I’m not drunk.”

“I’d just feel better putting them there.” Reluctantly
, Tim headed to the stairs. With each step away from her, the urge to go back and kiss her grew. What would she make of him if he did that? “Goodnight, Indy,” he said, to force himself away from her.

“Goodnight.” She didn’t turn toward him,
but her shoulders slumped.

He stepped onto the first stair. The thought of her going up
and climbing into Liam’s bed scared him. Though he knew it was irrational. The two had slept in the same bed countless times, and she was still a virgin so they weren’t having sex. There was no reason for him to be panicked. What if she didn’t know Tim was interested and decided to… Liam had a girlfriend. His brother was a lot of things but he wasn’t a cheater. The steps creaked beneath him.

At the top of the stairs the space was dark. He stood motionless. Option A, he turned right,
went to his room and slept. If that was even possible. Option B, he turned left, waited for her and stopped wasting time. If she was receptive then… He didn’t know what happened after the initial contact.

Footsteps drew near. He went left and turned toward the stairs. Each step she took up the stairs
made him move back farther into the darkness. Would she want him? It was the risk he had to take. His heart pounded in his chest. He stopped next to the hall bathroom door. The shower in Liam’s room turned off. His breath thundered in the space. In mere seconds she would reach the top of the stairs.

Indy reached the top of the stairs. All the lights were off. She fumbled, looking for the switch but found none. The hall was dark. She placed her hand on the wall to steady herself, still a tiny bit tipsy from her one Mojito. Disappointed by Tim’s chivalry or lack of interest. Whichever. Liam
, on the other hand, seemed to be waiting for a green light from her. It was what she said she’d always wanted but if she and Liam had sex, she would never be able to hook up with Tim later and she knew damn well she had feelings for him. All these years Liam hadn’t shown an ounce of real interest in her. Maybe it was all just to ensure Tim couldn’t have her. If only Liam knew he’d been right all along and Tim didn’t want her. Would Liam waste his time on her then?

Trailing
her fingers along the wall, she used them to guide her. She bumped into a tall frame. Deep breathes echoed in the hall as the chest rose and fell. Feeling forward, she met crisp fabric beneath which was a muscular build. She trailed her hand down past the outline of his erection.

In the dark, she didn’t move. Thrilled, yet hesitant.

He gripped her waist with his big hands and pulled her against him. She didn’t speak, not wanting to ruin this with words. Heat came to her mouth, crushing her lips, kissing her hard. The fresh scent of him filled her breath. She pressed her passion harder to his lips. Wanting to be bruised by the need. He moved his hand from her waist, up her back, to the nape of her neck. Liquid collected in her panties. He buried his fingers in her curls and pulled her hair, wrenching her from his embrace. He assaulted her newly-exposed neck with his mouth. Liam.

She moaned. The ground vanished beneath her feet
and her legs buckled. He picked her up and whisked her into the washroom a few feet away. As he closed the door and locked it, the momentary disconnection of his hands on her body chilled her to the bone.

The bathroom was pitch-black. He hoisted her onto the counter and covered her lips with his hot hungry mouth
again. Tim’s face flashed in her mind then Liam’s. He raised her skirt then descended. Oh. My. God.

Pushing her thong aside with his fingers, he pressed his lips to
her slick labia. He licked her clit.

She gasped.

He slid further down, licking between her inner folds. As he gripped her legs, tugging her forward, he rested them on his shoulders. She helped hold herself up on the counter. He breathed deep, his tongue working her wet pussy. Nothing had ever felt so delicious. She spread her thighs wider, offering all of herself to him.

“Indy?” Liam’s voice came from the hall.

She froze. This couldn’t be. If Liam was in the hall, who the hell was between her legs… The lack of smell. He wasn’t wet.