Tripp in Love (4 page)

“I will,” she told him with a narrowed gaze.

He smiled and took her hand while propping on the end of her desk. While he went over a few additional issues, Toya stopped listening. Some sense told her she was being watched, and she glanced around toward the door. Tripp stood in it, filling the space with his massive shoulders. Several women in the vicinity were already scooting over. Toya wasn’t worried about them, but it was the displeasure in his expression that got to her. His gaze never left her face, except to zip down to the hand Kel still held.

Oh damn, she didn’t know what he was feeling seeing that. He couldn’t know Kel was the touchy type who connected with people by clasping their hand or laying his on their shoulder. Kel wrapped an arm about her waist a hundred times a day, but he had never once come onto her seriously.

On second thought, she did know what Tripp felt. He was jealous and angry. Even if they weren’t committed to anything but a quick fling, he didn’t like what he saw. Coming from his background, she didn’t blame him.

“Got all that, honey?” Kel asked.

“Got it,” she said, with a lot less of her usual teasing. His eyebrows went up, but she didn’t stay by him to explain.

Once she had weaved through the small crowd, she expected Tripp to have turned and left, but he stood just inside the door now talking to a couple of her coworkers. “Hey,” she said. The women looked from her to Trip and sighed before drifting away.

“Hey,” he answered. “Sorry to disturb you. I could wait at the hotel.”

Her eyes widened. “You didn’t check into a hotel, did you?”

“Not yet. I didn’t want to assume.”

She linked her fingers with his and pulled him down the hall toward her office. Once inside, she shut the door and stepped into his arms. His big hands came up to her ass, and he crushed her to him. Toya’s head went back, and she sucked his tongue before he pushed it deeper between her lips.

When they broke apart, Tripp caught her chin and raised it to kiss her once more. “I’ve been thinking of you all week. Are you sure this is what you want?”

“Of course. Oh…” She hesitated, wanting to explain but not wanting to sound like she made excuses. “About Kel, my boss…”

“That’s not my concern,” he affirmed.

“We don’t have anything going on, if you’re wondering.” She studied his face, but he remained calm, his expression appearing open, but she didn’t believe it. Earlier that look from the doorway was anything but accepting of her relationship with her boss. Yet, she had no idea how to explain that it meant nothing without sounding like she was being flippant.

“If you don’t want me to stay at the hotel, then your place?”

She stared at him in silence. “Fine, you don’t want to discuss it. Yes, you can stay at my place. It’s comfortable, and I live alone.”

“But you wouldn’t stay at my place.”

She grinned and shrugged.

He stuffed his hands into his pockets and managed to look hot as hell. So sexy, no wonder the women she worked with had flocked to him like he’d been a specially prepared treat for them. Everything inside her wanted to say “he’s mine!” but she resisted it.

“Did you eat or would you like to grab dinner out?” She busied herself gathering papers on her desk, and stuffing them into her briefcase. If she could wake up early tomorrow, she could get some work done before Trip awakened. That is, if she wasn’t worn out again.

She walked past him with her bag in hand, but he reached out and caught her arm. A twist and a tug, and she was flat against his chest. His baby blues pinned her in place, and she was helpless to do anything other than wait on his desire.

“Dinner and maybe a walk around the Rockefeller Center,” he suggested.

She blinked. “A date?”

“Is that a problem?”

“No, not at all.” The man was more dangerous than she first realized. “How did you know about the Rockefeller Center?”

“I looked it up before I came, on the Internet.”

He released her enough for the two of them to walk toward the elevator, arm in arm. Toya moved ahead to depress the button. So he’d planned this? Even though they had agreed it was just going to be about sex this weekend. She wasn’t disappointed of course. She had liked talking to him in Virginia. Conversation with him was a change of pace from the hectic lifestyle she led. He was calm and therefore made her relax, but how would he fit in here?

They reached his car, and Toya gave him directions to her condo. The parking would be a beast to pay, but she’d take care of it. At home, she kicked her shoes off once again and headed to the bedroom. “Make yourself at home. I’m going to shower and change. Then I’ll call to make reservations at one of the restaurants.”

“Just any steak and ale place will do,” he said.

She chuckled. “Any one, huh?”

He gave her a curious look, and she grinned on the way to her room. Toya left the door open and stripped before stepping into a warm shower. The stresses of the day melted away. As she washed her body, she kept thinking Tripp would come bursting in. She half hoped he would, but he never came. The sharp disappointment had her wondering if he hid anger at how she’d interacted with Kel. Perhaps she should have pushed to make him talk about it.

After she did her makeup and hair, she slipped into an off the shoulder sweater dress and pulled on grey high heeled boots. Tripp whistled seeing her stroll into the living room.

“Thanks.” She smiled. “Do you need to freshen up?”

“Please.”

He passed her with his overnight bag and swatted her on the ass. Toya couldn’t shake the chill of delight at having a man in her place again, a man who would be spending the night. Damn, letting him stay was a bad idea. She should have stuck with the hotel.

“Won’t be long,” he called.

She yanked the door closed with a bit too much force.

Later at dinner, he searched the restaurant she’d chosen with a slight frown on his face. “I think I might be underdressed,” he said. “Every other man seems to be wearing a tie.”

She looked around. “No, it’s fine. The dress code here isn’t that strict. I think everybody might be just coming in from work. That seems to be par for the course here.”

He tugged at his shirt collar anyway. The man couldn’t know how good he looked with hair curling at his nape in a way that made her want to run her fingers through it.

“This is what you like?” he asked.

“You don’t? I’m sorry. Would you prefer to go somewhere else?” She could kick herself for not listening to what he said earlier. They were so different. “You wanted to keep things casual. I’m so used to doing it up. We should go.” She stood.

He caught her hand and gently pulled her back into her seat. “No, it’s fine. How about ice skating after we eat?”

She tossed him a look of doubt, and he laughed.

“I can skate. I grew up near a pond that was excellent for ice skating in the winter.”

Toya leaned her chin on one hand and sighed. “Wow, that seems so…I don’t know, small-town homey and warm.”

He leaned forward and touched the outside of her knee, which was visible beneath the table since she’d turned slightly sideways in her chair. “Are you making fun of me?”

“No, of course not. I think it’s cool, a huge difference from what I’m used to.” She lowered her eyes a second and then looked back at him. “
You’re
different from what I’m used to.”

His gentle caress became a suggestive squeeze, and she pressed her legs together.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Do.”

Their dinner arrived, and they ate over companionable conversation. Toya laughed at his more bizarre arrest stories. “So you’re telling me this fool hid in the crawlspace in the attack and got stuck to avoid going to jail?”

Tripp held up two fingers as if doing the scouts swear. “He was a big guy.”

She stuck her foot out under the table and ran it along his leg. “But I bet you took him down with no problem.”

“Naturally.” Tripp caught her foot and caressed the outside of her boot and then higher to her thigh. Her breath caught in her throat. Good thing she had eaten all she was going to. His attention reminded her of what a bad idea it had been to wear heels tonight.

She frowned. “I’m not sure about ice skating. I’ve been on my feet all day, and they’re achy. I shouldn’t have worn these boots, especially when you suggested walking. Real smart, Toya.”

Concern replaced the smile on Tripp’s face. “Your feet hurt? Why didn’t you tell me?” Without a second thought, he scooted to the side of the table and began lowering the zipper on her boot.

Toya scanned the area around them. “What are you doing?”

He worked her foot free and began rubbing it. “You said you’re in pain.”

“But…here?” she squeaked, and then moaned. “That feels amazing. Wait, no, Tripp, people will see.”

“Let them look.” The man had no shame, and she had to admit she loved his expertise in the way he worked out every kink. His deft movements were sensual, making her whole body relax.

Toya closed her eyes before she remembered where she was. Another look around brought the couple at the next table to her attention. She caught the older woman of maybe late fifties nudging her partner with an annoyed expression. Toya was about to make Tripp stop when she picked up the woman’s words. “Why have you never done anything like that to me while we’re in public?”

Toya stifled a laugh. She didn’t catch the man’s grumbled response, but from the argument that ensued, she guessed it wasn’t a good answer.

“What’s funny?” Tripp asked, curiosity on his handsome face.

She grinned. “Oh nothing.”

He switched from one foot to the other, and when he was done, he settled the check. They stood to leave, and back outside, Toya gave him a kiss of gratitude. She encircled his waist and pushed her tongue into his mouth. Tripp drew her closer, crushing her length to his, but when his hand wandered lower to her ass, she caught it and broke their connection with a laugh.

“I feel revitalized. Come on, let’s go skating.”

She took his hand, and they hurried to the stairs leading down to the rink. Tripp, an obvious tourist, looked up, taking in the sights. The tall buildings so close together, the flags lining the rink and flapping in the winter breeze, and the colored lights in the fountain next to the rink seemed to fascinate him. Skaters from professional level to beginner all shared the rectangle of ice. Some were bundled up with coats, gloves and scarves, while others braved it in just thick sweaters. Mothers held their little ones’ hands as they stumbled along on tiny feet. Lovers held each other and glided along. She liked seeing it all as if for the first time through Tripp’s eyes.

“Is it what you expected?” she asked.

His blue eyes turned from the scene before him to focus on her, and she was arrested by a whole different kind of amazement in his expression.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say his feelings go deeper than a sometimes lover. But I can’t let myself think that.

“It’s much more than I expected, but that’s a discussion for another time.” He stroked her cheek as he had a habit of doing. “Come on. Let’s get some skates.”

When they were ready, Toya stood up from the bench on unsteady feet and tugged at her dress. Sure she wore tights, but would her thighs freeze like popsicles flying around the rink? She must be insane.

Tripp grabbed her hand, but she pulled back. “Hang on. Let me take it a bit slower. I didn’t grow up doing this. I skated every once in a while, and it’s been a long time. You go ahead. I’ll get there.”

He waited as she clunked over to the ice, but then he stepped out there, and like he was born with the grace of a skater, he glided along the side, swung around with control, and zipped to her. His bulky muscle didn’t hinder the man a bit, and she was jealous.

“Dang, now I feel like I’ll be holding you back. You look like one of those professional figure skaters.”

“I am not a figure skater!”

She burst out laughing at the clear offense in his tone. “Sorry. I’m just sayin’.”

“Come here.” He held out his hands. “For that you get a spanking.”

“Promise?” She stumbled into his arms, and the warm embrace he tucked her into ensured she wouldn’t freeze to death.

Tripp whirled her around and skated behind her. He held her close and brought his face in next to her ear. “Enjoying yourself?”

She nuzzled his cheek since her ear had already begun to get cold. “Of course. How could I not with a sexy cop taking care of me.”

“Mm,” he rumbled against her neck and took a small nip of her skin. All of a sudden, the cold wasn’t even a factor.

“So do you like being a policeman?”

He nodded. “I do.”

“Because you get to keep people in line?”

“Because I like to keep the peace. Before my brother settled down to be responsible, he used to get into all kinds of scrapes. I was the one to talk him and whoever he was up against into settling things between them. After a while, I guess it was like my calling was clear.”

She skated out from him, grew unsteady, and came back to his arms. “That’s awesome that you’re doing what you enjoy. I love it when I see people living that way.”

“Are you doing what you love?”

“Of course.” She sucked her teeth and then laughed. “I’ve been drawing since I could hold a pencil. I couldn’t live without it by the time I hit puberty. Hell, by then, I was a frisky thing and loved to be cute. First time I saw sexy lingerie on an adult toy site, the ideas started flying. I haven’t looked at anything since. But I think I will try my hand at clothes eventually.”

When he didn’t say a word, she looked up from watching her feet on the ice. He stared at her with a thoughtful expression on his face.

“What?”

“Adult toys, huh?”

She swatted his chest. “You would fixate on that. Men!”

They skated on, and several times, Toya tried it on her own. She was getting the hang of it, less shaky and more daring. With her hand on the rail, she tried going backward. Tripp frowned. “Be careful, Toya. Not too far so I can catch you if you fall.”

She blew him a kiss and went out farther. “You don’t know me very well, do you?”