Welcoming the Bad Boy: A Hero's Welcome Novel (12 page)

When she was done, she got up and headed to make herself a snack. Her mind trailed back to her happenstance meeting with Griffin, and their scheduled date this weekend. Her heart did a silly little somersault in her chest. She opened her kitchen cabinets and started rummaging, then straightened at the knock on her door. She glanced at the digital clock on her countertop. It was six o’clock in the evening. She looked down at her cozy threadbare pants and matching tank top.

Her visitor knocked again.

“Okay. All right.” She hurried over and opened the door with Sweet Cheeks hot on her heels.

“Hey.” Griffin stood on her doorstep.

Everything inside her lit up like a Christmas tree. “Hey,” she said back.

His gaze lowered, taking in her pajamas. Val squirmed, wishing she’d kept on her jeans and T-shirt a little longer. And her bra.

She looked down and saw the outlines of her nipples poking through the thin fabric of her tank top. Sucking in a sharp breath, she crossed her arms at her chest, which did nothing to hide her nipples standing at full attention. “Um. What are you doing here?” she asked, stooping to pick up Sweet Cheeks and positioning the dog in front of her breasts. “Our date isn’t until tomorrow, right?”

“Right…Can I come in?” Griffin asked.

“Sure.” Val stood back and let Griffin enter, then closed the front door behind him. “What’s up?”

“I hear Mom had a good day today,” he said, walking toward the couch and sitting. He leaned over his knees, propping himself up on his elbows.

“She did.” Val sat across from him in a recliner that she’d had since college. “Did you go visit her?”

He nodded, his gaze meeting hers. “But she was tired. She didn’t want visitors. I brought Trooper with me, which got me a couple of minutes with her, but that’s all. She was more interested in my dog than me.”

Val’s heart ached for him. She stood and moved toward him on the couch, sitting beside him. “I’m really sorry, Griffin. She’ll have another good day, and maybe you’ll be there next time.”

“Right,” he said in a barely audible voice.

There was no predicting when the good days would come. No predicting how long Helen would remember anything her brain was holding on to.

“Do you want a cup of hot tea?” Val asked.

Griffin’s mouth curved. “A cup of hot tea?”

Val lifted a shoulder. “My mother always made me hot tea when I was upset.”

“You say that in past tense.” His eyes were heavy on her as she sat only a few inches away. She’d put Sweet Cheeks back down and no longer had a cover for her pesky nipples poking through her tank top. No hiding that she was aroused at just the sight of him, even talking about a subject that tore at her soul a little every time she spoke about it.

“My mother died when I was nine. Cancer,” she told him.

His gaze darkened. “I’m sorry.”

She swallowed, trying to shrug it off. It’d been twenty years, but the loss still felt raw sometimes. “It’s okay. I mean, it’s not okay. Cancer sucks, but it happens.” She brushed her unruly hair out of her face and took a breath. “I could use some hot tea right now myself. You want some? It really does help.”

“Sure.” He followed her into the kitchen and sat on a stool at the counter.

She turned the kettle on and pulled two mugs down from her cabinet along with a box of tea bags. “I’ll be right back,” she said, unable to help herself anymore. She went into her bedroom and traded her PJs for jeans, a T-shirt, and a bra. Reentering the kitchen, she met Griffin’s gaze.

He lifted a brow. “I kind of liked the pajamas,” he said in a low voice, the kind you use in the bedroom, which was where a guy like him belonged. In her fantasies and, maybe for the summer, in her bed.

Val stepped closer. Her agent had never led her wrong. Nikki had told her to find a guy, and Val’s writing had taken off as soon as she’d met Griffin. Taking her clothes off, and getting Griffin to do the same, was seeming like a better and better idea. Locking eyes with him, Val grabbed the hem of her shirt and lifted it overhead, then tossed it to the ground, revealing a red lacy bra. This was definitely not good-girl behavior. This was the behavior that was going to help her finish that book. Behavior that was going to get her laid for the first time in over a year. There was more than that about Griffin motivating her to strip down right now, but she didn’t want to think too much. Otherwise her mind might find a reason for why she needed to pull her shirt right back on.

“What are you doing?” Griffin asked, his dark eyes growing darker.

“Taking your mind off your day.”

“I don’t need you to—”

She reached behind her and unfastened her bra, and he stopped talking. He stopped looking into her eyes, too. Instead, he looked at her body as she stood before him, no longer hiding. She suddenly ached for him to touch her.
Why
wasn’t he touching her?

“Val,” he started, “I’ve read that romance book and what you’re suggesting does not come first.”

She reached for his hand and brought it to her, cupping it over one breast. She took a step closer to him as his fingers curved over her, squeezing. A low groan came from his throat, then he wrapped his other arm around her waist and pulled her to him, caging her between his legs as he sat on the stool. He covered her mouth with his and kissed her like his life depended on it. She melted against him as he kissed her harder, squeezed her harder. Pulling back, he lowered his mouth to her neck, running his tongue over her sensitive skin, and then dropped his mouth to one breast.

She moaned happily. Yeah, this was better. This was exactly what she needed right now. “Let’s go to the bedroom,” she suggested, feeling rushed and needy.

He pulled back and looked at her. “We have a date tomorrow night.”

Which she never should’ve insisted upon. Sex was better. More inspiring. “So?”

“So, the date comes first. That’s the order of things,” he said, still kissing her. His fingers played with her nipple now, molding it and pulling at the tip, driving her crazy.

“Whoever wrote that book was wrong,” Val breathed. “This is the order of things.”

He grinned wickedly and shook his head. “We keep things in here tonight. I’m following the rules. You started this, remember?”

She tried to look at him, but
oh,
the things he was doing to her made it difficult to open her eyes. Then he started unbuttoning her jeans. He tugged them down just enough for his hand to disappear inside and do more magical things. He slipped his finger inside her panties, making her completely melt against him. This was what she needed. With his mouth on her breasts and a hand in her pants, he brought her to the edge as she rocked against him. Then she cried out, clutching him hard to keep from collapsing onto the ground. He held her up, smiling as she came back to earth.

“That was better than tea,” he said, watching her.

“Much better.” She ran a hand through her hair, breathlessly. “Your turn,” she said, reaching for him. He stopped her.

“That was for me, trust me. That will fuel my fantasies for a while.”

She smiled. It would fuel her writing for a while, too. But she wanted more. Needed more.

Griffin stood. “I better get home to Trooper and get some sleep. I have a date tomorrow night.” He winked at her, heading for the door.

“Oh. Okay.” She followed behind him, unsteady on her legs. Didn’t he know that a date wasn’t needed? Because if he wanted to he could totally get into her bed right now. Skip the flowers and the wine and jump straight to the main course. Why the hell had she schooled him on the proper order of things the other night?

“Bye,” she said, watching him go, feeling a little flutter of excitement about what they’d do tomorrow.

Griffin’s work day had flown by. He and Jaws had gone on a couple of calls with no noteworthy events. Jaws might be able to control himself and remain a K-9 dog, after all.

Griffin stooped and petted the top of Jaws’s head, to which his partner wagged briefly. Maybe Jaws’s former behavior had just been a rebellious streak. Everyone had them. Hell, Griffin had had a rebellious streak that adults had seen coming a mile off when he was younger. He walked Jaws back to his kennel. Jaws went straight in, turned around, and lay down, meeting him with large, clear eyes.

Yeah, this relationship was going to work out just fine. Jaws was a good dog.

Whistling as he left the kennel house, he headed toward his bike.

A catcall whistle answered his upbeat one.

Griffin turned, already knowing who it was. “Hey, Troy. What’s up, man?”

“Not much. It was a boring day for me. Not even a speeding ticket.”

Griffin shook his head. “Were you asleep behind the wheel? There’s always someone laying heavy on the gas.”

Troy shrugged. “Not on my watch. Not today, at least. I’m heading over to Heroes tonight to see if I can add a little excitement to my life. You in?”

Griffin shook his head. “Can’t.” And he didn’t feel inclined to give a reason why.

“Hot date?” Troy asked.

“Nope.” Which was only a little white lie, but Griffin wasn’t into sharing the personal details of his life.

“Really? Because I hear you’ve been spending a lot of time with a certain brunette in town lately.” Troy waggled his eyebrows as Griffin glanced over.

“You stalking me? I thought the position of town stalker was already taken by Melanie Harris.” Griffin stopped beside his bike and grabbed his helmet. Troy had better talk fast if he had something to say, because Griffin had been waiting all day to leave this job behind and take Val on a real date. And yeah, sex or no sex, it would be hot.

“Not stalking you. Just being an observant friend.”

“I’m helping Valerie Hunt train a dog she’s caring for,” Griffin said. “That’s all.” Another white lie.

“Training dogs,” Troy repeated, placing his words in air quotes. “Is that what they’re calling it nowadays?”

Griffin rolled his eyes, but his lips curled and a small laugh escaped. “You’d know if you did a little more dating yourself, bro.”

Troy grinned, but didn’t retort. Which meant Griffin had won this friendly sparring session between them.

Griffin shook his head and pulled on his motorcycle helmet. “Go to Heroes and see if you can’t find a nice girl to train dogs with.” Griffin used air quotes the same way Troy had a minute earlier. Then he straddled his bike and cranked the engine. “Later, man.”

Troy waved an affectionate middle finger in the air and headed to his own truck as Griffin tore out of the parking lot.

Fifteen minutes later, he parked in his driveway. He pulled his cellphone from his pocket; seeing the missed call from the nursing home, it shot through him like a bullet. Seaside Harbor called from time to time for various needs. It wasn’t a huge deal. Usually. In the back of his mind, though, he knew it could be huge. His mother, the strongest woman he’d ever known, was now fragile.

He dialed his voicemail and held the phone to his ear. The call had come in at 3:20
P.M
. Ten minutes ago. He held his breath as he listened to the message.

“This is Seaside Harbor nursing home,” Louise said. “Griffin, you need to come down as soon as possible. It’s important.”

The wind knocked out of him. Cranking his bike back up, he tore out of his driveway and sped toward Seaside Harbor.

Val took a seat in the community room at Seaside Harbor. Her heart was beating too fast. She’d only been trying to help Helen, and instead she’d hurt her.

The crack of bone still resonated in Val’s memory.
Oh, God, please help her.
She’d broken Griffin’s mom. Forget continuing their summer fling, Griffin was going to hate her from this point on. She’d be lucky if he didn’t run her over with his motorcycle the next time he saw her in the parking lot.

Sirens wailed in the distance and Val leaned over her knees and burst into tears. She’d never been a girl who cried easily, but seeing Helen fall out of her bed just now, watching her hit the floor and her wrist bend back at an unnatural angle, had been overwhelming. Her chest shuddered with emotion.

“She’ll be all right.”

Val turned toward Louise’s voice. She straightened, wishing she’d gone to her car before having an emotional meltdown. Louise handed her a box of Kleenex. “Residents here fall out of bed all the time. Sometimes they break bones. It’s part of the drill.”

Val shook her head, feeling another wave of tears rise up in her throat. “It’s my fault. I was pushing her to remember and she got upset.”

Louise frowned. “She has Alzheimer’s, honey. You know that’s permanent, right?”

Val shrugged a shoulder. Permanent according to man. But she’d grown up in church hearing that all things were possible. She’d been taught to have hope beyond hope. To never give up. And she believed in miracles. “She has moments of clarity,” Val said as another tear slipped down her cheek. She pulled a Kleenex from the box in her lap and swiped it under her nose, sniffling softly.

“It wasn’t your fault. I’ve been thinking Helen needs some bedrails up. She’s not safe without them anymore.”

Val leaned over her knees, feeling sick to her stomach.

“You go on home. I’ll talk to Griffin when he arrives.”

Val shook her head. “No. I was the one with her. I should tell Griffin.”

“Tell me what?” Griffin stepped into the doorway. He looked from Louise to Val and concern darkened his face. “You’re crying. What’s wrong?”

Val shook her head. “Griffin.”

“I just passed an ambulance on the road. Was that Mom?” he asked.

Louise looked at Val.

“Griffin,” Val said again. “It was an accident,” she managed, choking back her tears.

He looked between them. “What happened?”

“I had a late lunch with your mom. Then we were visiting in her room and she threw the memory book. I went to get it and she tried to get out of bed. Then—” Val sucked in a breath.

Griffin’s entire posture had grown rigid. “Is she okay?”

“She fell. I think she broke her wrist,” Val said, praying Griffin wouldn’t be angry with her. Praying for a miracle.

He nodded, his face expressionless. Then he turned and headed down the hall, taking long strides. Val walked to the window and watched him get on his motorcycle. The engine roared to life, the sound muffled through the walls. Then he was gone.

“He just needs to see that his mama is fine. And she is.”

Val turned back to Louise. “I hope you’re right.”

“I am. I’ve been working here a long time.” She smiled. “And you and your man will be back between the sheets in no time.”

Val’s mouth fell open. “We’re not…He isn’t my, um, man.”

Louise tsked. “You might be able to fool others, but you can’t fool me. You’re like a child at the candy store when he walks in the room. And I’ve known you a long time. I know when you’re crushing on someone. Not that I blame you. He’s hot.”

Val laughed. “He’s tall, dark, and gorgeous. He has tattoos, rides a motorcycle, and I doubt he goes to church. My father would flip.”

“All the more reason to date him if you ask me,” Louise said with a chuckle.

Val nodded. “That was me during my teenage years. I’m surprised Dad still has any hair. But no, Griffin is just helping me train Sweet Cheeks for Alma. And I’m helping with his mother. Or I was trying to help, but that turned out to be a disaster.”

“Some disasters are blessings in disguise. Isn’t that what your father would say?”

Val frowned. “Not this one. I’ll see you later, Louise.”

“Going to the hospital?” Louise asked.

Val shook her head. No way did she want to run into Griffin right now. “No, I’m going home.” She was supposed to have a date in three hours. Maybe that was her blessing in disguise because Louise was right about one thing. Griffin was her idea of a candy store and her father definitely wouldn’t approve. She was a grown woman and that shouldn’t matter. But it did. Her father’s elusive approval had always mattered to her.

She drove home and, even though it was still early, changed into flannel pajama pants and a tank top. She put on her fuzzy comfort socks and pulled her hair back in a ponytail. Then she set to work writing her book. She’d made a lot of progress, but she was still far from writing “The End.” Hopefully her short stint with Griffin was enough to inspire her to that point. The things he’d done last night in this very kitchen would feed her for a good while. Too bad they hadn’t made it to the bedroom. She’d been hoping that would happen tonight after their romantic date, which would never happen now.

Val sighed as Sweet Cheeks pawed at her feet. Lifting the dog into her lap, she hugged her close. “Alma will be coming home next week and you’ll leave me, too. I’ll be lonely without you here.”

Sweet Cheeks craned her neck and lapped a sandpaper tongue across her cheek.

“Aww. I love you, too.” Surprisingly. Maybe once she’d met her deadline, she would get a dog of her own. That might be enough for her. But it certainly wouldn’t give her romantic inspiration. Maybe she’d switch to writing women’s fiction or books about dogs instead. “Let’s go.” She carried Sweet Cheeks to her bedroom, where her laptop was set up. Then she got to work, staring at the screen, and doing her best not to think about Griffin.

Griffin kissed his mother’s cheek. She was sedated right now. Her right arm was casted below the elbow to contain her fractured radial bone. She’d be moved back to the nursing home in the morning and he’d go see her again there. Right now he was on his way to see Val.

A light sprinkle of rain fell as he rode his bike down the streets of Seaside. He’d always enjoyed riding in the rain. Not heavy downpours, but when the rain was scant like this, the air smelled crisper. He was like a dog with his head hanging out the window, loving the feel and the smell, the taste of the air.

He pulled into Val’s driveway and parked, securing his helmet on the seat. He really needed to go check on Trooper, but this came first. Val needed to know his mother’s fall wasn’t her fault. He rang the doorbell and waited. Val had looked heartbroken when he’d seen her at the nursing home. Poor thing thought she was responsible. Falls were common for dementia patients, though. His mother’s doctor had told him that.

He rang the doorbell again. Val’s car was home and the lights were on, so she had to be here. There was a scurry of movement behind the door.

“Hold on. Coming,” she said.

The dead bolt clicked. The door opened.

Val’s eyes widened at the sight of him and her lips parted.

He let his gaze run down the length of her, remembering how her body had responded to his touch last night. “You don’t look like you’re ready to go on our date,” he said, meeting her eyes again.

“Date? But your mom…Is she okay?” she asked.

Griffin nodded. “She’s fine. Resting comfortably. So I came to take you out, although my original plans are shot. The ferry is done for the night. And the rain nixes the picnic idea.” He glanced at the gathering clouds, then back to her. “Get dressed. Jeans and long sleeves.”

Her brow pinched. “It’s summer.”

“I want to take you for a ride.” He liked the way her eyes widened again, and imagined what kind of wicked thoughts ran rampant in her mind. “I’d rather you have clothes covering you for safety.”

“But I don’t have a helmet,” she said.

“You can wear mine. Ride with me, Val. I need to check on Trooper. Then I’ll take you to dinner.”

She hesitated. “You’re not mad at me?” she asked.

“For caring for my mom? No.”

She nodded, seeming to take this in. “Okay. Give me just a second.”

Griffin walked into her living room as she disappeared down the hall. Sweet Cheeks pounced on his leg and gave an eardrum-busting yap. He’d never been a fan of little dogs, but this one was growing on him.

So was the woman who was now coming down the hall toward him, wearing tight jeans and a long-sleeved shirt that hugged her chest just right. He’d seen that chest up close and personal last night. And if he didn’t put Val on his bike right now, he was going to pull her on his lap and get reacquainted.

“Ready to go?” he asked.

She shifted her mouth to one side. “I’ve never been on the back of a motorcycle. My father would have a heart attack if he saw me on one.”

“How old are you?” he asked.

She met his gaze and he regretted his comment, seeing the slight lift of her chin and darkening of her eyes. He’d pressed one of her buttons unintentionally. “You should never ask a woman her age,” she responded, laying a hand on her hip.

He nodded. “Noted. Sorry. Do you foresee running into your father between here and my place?”

Val shook her head. “No.”

“And I promise to take good care of you,” he said. “You just wrap your arms around me and enjoy the ride.”

“That sounds dirty,” she said with a smile.

“I know.” He winked and headed out into the rain. When he got to his bike, she was beside him. He handed her his helmet. “Put this on.”

“But what about you?”

“I’ve ridden this thing many times without a helmet in my stupid years. I’ll be fine.”

She hesitated, then placed his helmet over her head. He helped her adjust the strap and nodded. Then he straddled his bike. Her body slid behind his, spooning him. She wrapped her arms around his torso, clutching him tight, and he took off down the road. The rain beat against his skin, attempting to cleanse him, but there was no wiping away the dirty thoughts going through his mind. He took the long way back to his place to feel her against him longer, and to try to wrangle his desire so he wouldn’t be tempted to take her straight to bed when they arrived.

He slowed to a stop behind a stop sign and glanced over his shoulder to look at her. Her hand slid down from his waist and into the front of his jeans.
Fuck
. He’d heard preachers’ daughters were wild, but he’d thought it was a myth. With her hand snug against him he turned left and pressed the gas, heading home. Trooper was waiting. And he needed to get his mouth on this woman, to kiss her stupid and hope her hands continued exploring.