Taming Her Past - Protecting Her Future: BBW Erotic Romance (Hearts of Heroes Book 2) (6 page)

See, Sofie has it wrong. He doesn’t like me. He hates me.

With my anger rising, I clear my throat. His eyes snap to mine, as does everyone else’s.

“I’m standing right here,
Detective
, no need to ask around me.” There, I hope I sounded bitchy enough. If I am enough of a bitch, no one will know how much I’m hurting. I was lured here for a purpose, now everyone is going to witness how off-scale that purpose really was.

Chin up, Harm.

“What are you doing here,
Miss Saint-Marks
?”

Oh how I hate it when he says my name like that. Like it’s a joke.

“Well,
Detective Ariea,
I was invited. So unwind your panties and get over it. I’m leaving anyways.”

Three steps my way and we’re in the same bubble.

“Running away? That’s not like you,” he sneers.

Asshat.

“I’m not running. I’ll be walking. Maybe even sashaying. I won’t stay here with you.”

He steps in closer, his voice almost a whisper, “Just earlier today it seemed you couldn’t get close enough to me, baby.”

I gasp at his words as the same heat from before engulfs my body.

“How dare you say that here. And if I’m not mistaken, you were participating. Your cock was so hard you were aching to get inside of me,” I whisper back. Looking down his front, my checks grow pink despite my demeanor. “Looks like you are once again in that state.” With my last parting shot, I brush past him and walk to the gate. It’s time for me to leave.

“Wait!” Sofie hollers after me. Against my good judgment I stop.

“Come on. Come inside with me for a bit. How about some wine or a beer. I want you to have a good time here and not leave just because of a party pooper.”

I look at her raising my eyebrows.

“I thought he was your friend.”

“He is, but I think of you as my friend too.”

“You just met me.”

“I’m a good judge of character,” she says, winking at me.

With my upper arm in her grasp I follow, bewildered. Once in the kitchen, I sip on the beer she gave me and recap what just happened. I can’t believe he brought up the closet in public! He has no shame. Well, I did bring it right back.

Why can’t I have a simple conversation with that man without fighting? Oh he was hard again though. His tight jeans not hiding a thing. Mmmm…the feel of it pushing and rubbing against the most intimate part of me.

The sound of the sliding glass door pulls me out of my dirty mind. It’s Luc. I gulp down a drink of my beer. We’re alone.

Harmony…

“I’m sorry.”

The wind I was sucking in for a fight instantly huffs out.

“What?”

“Can we just talk?” he asks, waving a hand over to the living room.

“Um, okay.” I wasn’t expecting this approach from him at all. Without the anger, I’m out of my element. I have nothing to hide behind.

I sit on the comfortable couch and I am shocked when he sits on the other end, not opting to go to the chair. I turn my body facing his and sit on my leg. Might as well get somewhat comfortable.

“I’m not sure talking is going to resolve anything between us, Luc,” I say, wanting to be completely honest with him.

“Is what’s inside your head so insurmountable we can’t get passed it at all? Not even willing to try?” His serious demeanor shocks me. What does he want from me?

“What do you mean, Mr. Ariea?”

“See. Right there. Not too long ago I was Luc to you, now you’re hiding behind a wall you won’t let me by. I want by, Harmony.” Luc shifts just barely an inch closer but I feel his heat radiate toward me, seeping into me. He’s right though. When I feel like I’m getting too close, I slam up walls. I need to protect myself. Especially from him.

“I want a chance, Harmony. Can you just think on that for a little bit?”

“I—”

“Luc, sorry to interrupt but Will is here.” Sofie’s head pops through the revolving door and ends our conversation. His warm chocolate eyes bore into mine, not wavering.

“Thanks, Sofe,” he answers and finally breaks contact as he rises from the couch. He stops at the door Sofie has fully disappeared from and turns back to me.

“Balls in your court, baby,” he says softly before disappearing himself.

I try to uncurl my tight fingers from themselves as I breathe slowly. He wants a chance with me? Why? I mean yes, I’m not the body type I thought someone like him would ever really look at, let alone be interested in.

My head shakes those thoughts away. What a shallow way to think. I don’t have a problem with the way I look. My plumpy thighs and curvy hips have always been a part of me, never has a man made me overthink that. It’s not even an issue with him anyway, so why go there? And back to the original question…why does he want a chance with me? I’ve never been anything more than a bitch to him. Could I do what he asks, drop my smoke screen, and show him who I really am? Would my heart survive if it goes bad?

Gah! He says he’s not through my walls. If that were true, then he wouldn’t consume most of my thoughts! I am so happy I will be seeing Bronnie tomorrow. I need to talk to her. I always figure out things better when talking them through with her.

Noises from outside pull me out of my inner dialogue. I can’t hide in here. Standing up, I straighten my clothing and push Luc from my mind, well as best as I can, and make my way back outside.

The sunlight from the evening sun shines down on my shoulders lending me its warmth. I tell myself not to look for him, but I can’t stop. Luc and his partner, William Harris, laugh before the nicely tailored blond man leaves to join up with a redheaded man looking like he’s trying to hide in the shadows cast by the trees. I’ve met him before, what’s his name? Oh yeah, Carl. My eyes bounce away back to Luc shaking his head, grinning at the pair.

“Mind if I join you?” Pulling my eyes away from Luc’s strong profile, I find Cait standing in front of me. The expectant look on her face has me quickly nod and answer.

“Yes of course.”

“Here, I brought you a beer, looks like you might need one.” She reaches out her arm with an already opened bottle, amusement dancing in her eyes and a cute little crooked smile, like what she said was funnier than it was.

“Thank you,” I mummer, inwardly trying to figure her out.

Sipping the cold brew, my body heat cools and I stop trying to unravel Cait.

What is wrong with me?
Come on, girl, get it together. This quiet game is not you
.

“Okay, enough of this bullshit.” Sofie stops at Cait’s shoulder giving me an up and down look. “Come on, out with the real you.”

“Excuse me?” What, is she in my head or something?

“This quiet, meek thing you’re doing right now wouldn’t hold Luc’s attention for five minutes. I know there is a fire in you, I was a firsthand witness not too long ago. So out with her so you can be you and we can be us and have a fabulous time!”

Laughter erupts from me. I like her.

“Not sure Luc likes the fire as you put it, it’s more bitch than anything else. But alright, you win. I’ll be me. Just a fair warning though, the inner bitch is on a hair trigger and she will probably get us kicked out of here. I’m loud, noisy, and bitch is my rally cry.”

Laughter follows my announcement and Cait looks slyly between Sofie and I.

“So what you’re saying is you’re another Sofie? Damn!” Cait says in mock horror. “How unlucky could I get!?”

I roll my eyes at her and give an unladylike snort for good measure.

“Yeah. You’re the unlucky one. Married and knocked up by not one but two extremely handsome firemen who probably give you everything you want, need, crave, and desire every morning, noon, and night.”

“Don’t forget all the times in between,” Sofie chimes in. I point over to her and raise both my eyebrows at Cait in a ‘see what I mean’ gesture.

“See! Even then too. So you’re going to have to forgive me for calling bullshit on you being unlucky regardless of who you choose as your best friend.”

Cait is laughing so hard her arms hold her large stomach from moving too much.

“Caitriona Kavanah, calm yourself. That basketball under your shirt is going to bounce out. Don’t you dare go into labor on my back lawn!” Sofie chastises with a sparkle in her eye.

Suddenly Cait’s eyes widen and her arms wrap fully around her pregnant belly with a look of pain on her pretty face.

“Oh my God, Cait!” Sofie shrieks.

“Just kidding!” Cait laughs. Smirking, she stands fully upright again with no signs of discomfort.

“I could kill you,” Sofie growls at her.

“Okay, let me pee first,” says Cait unconcerned before walking toward the house, leaving Sofie and me alone together—me chuckling and her glaring in Cait’s direction.

“You think murder’s the best option?” I ask once the chuckles subside. “Because she seems the type who would haunt your ass for eternity.”

A thoughtful look crosses her face before letting out a loud, almost miserable sigh.

“You’re right. She would haunt me. I guess that option’s off the table. It’s not like I wouldn’t have joined her quickly into the afterlife. You think those boys would allow anyone to breathe if they did something to their girl? Not. A. Chance. I’d be dead before she got cold. Ah love, tis grand,” she says whimsically.

“Let’s eat.”

Whoa. Quick subject change there. I need to watch out for whiplash around her.

“Shouldn’t we wait for Cait to come back?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “Naw, look.” I follow her hand wave to the food table. Cait’s men have a plate in each hand. One plate for them, two for Cait.

“That’s sweet,” I say. Well, it is. What would it be like to be cherished and taken care of like that? Simple sweet gestures that say ‘I love you’. Maybe one day I will find out how that feels. My eyes seek out Luc’s tall frame and find him watching me. My thighs quiver as I remember his earlier words. Could I have that with him? My panties dampen at thoughts of him in my bed whenever I felt the need for him. My heart beats double fast at thoughts of eating dinner with him, strolling down a sidewalk holding hands, snuggled under his arm, and cuddling after making love, all warm and cozy. Should I listen and give a relationship with him a try regardless of what everyone will think? With no regard to my father? But if it went bad I could mess up his career and my father could lose a great officer.

Ah! This is why I have tried to stay away from him! Now he’s dangling something I am not sure I can say no to much longer…him, all mine.

“I think I’m going to pass on the offer of food, sorry,” I tell Sofie. My appetite’s gone. A swirling mass of knots has taken over its place.

“Come on, Harm. Once you taste my man’s cookin’, you’ll forget all about the big, bad, mean, gorgeous detective. Promise.”

“Doubt it,” I mumble.

Grabbing my hand in a tight grasp, she gives me no choice in the matter as she drags me over to the grill and the hulking giant that is apparently Sofie’s ‘man’.

*****

Too much. How many beers? Wait…no. Not beers, ahh. I moan silently. It was the margaritas Sofie mixed up. Damn, how many of those lethal things did I have?

After Cait was loaded up with care into a big truck and whisked away, Sofie started to whine about not having a drinking buddy and a whole batch of drinks made up. I took up the challenge thinking it wasn’t going to be a big deal. Someone as tiny as her should not be able to drink as much as she could! I don’t even think she’s buzzed.

Stupid me. I’m going to be waiting it out for hours before I’m able to go home.

“You’re running low. Want another?” Sofie asks.

I giggle loudly shaking my head. “No, no, no. Limit reached. How yous not drunk?”

“Rob taught me how to drink smarter not quicker.”

“Good thing for him,” I say. “Oh I don’t want to pass out on your couch. What’s the time?”

She laughs and checks her wristwatch. “Late. If you don’t want to crash here, ask Luc to take you home. I’m sure he would.”

“He’s still here?” I ask, trying to sound innocent. Of course I know he’s still here. I can’t keep my eyes off him.

Relaxed and lounging on some lawn furniture on the patio, I watch Luc in a gaggle of guys by the back fence. They gravitated to the coolers full of beer.

“Honey, I’ve sat here and watched your eyes dress and undress that man a hundred times. I know you know he is very much still here. And if I know him, he won’t leave until he knows you’re safely home.”

I blush at being caught. My eyes are naughty. The rest of me wants to be naughty too.

“Go ask him for a ride,” Sofie nudges.

I narrow my eyes at her and my brow raises.

“I know what you’re doing,” I warn her.

“So? Whatcha’ going to do about it?”

This time I groan aloud and Sofie laughs at my pain.