You should take that as a you are a bad luck omen. I never had these kinds of problems before. But there was no real ire in her voice, and her eyes had darkened.
Youre debunking all kinds of myths for me. I expected a wedding planner to be more even-tempered.
You seem to bring out the best in me.
Ah, am I tapping into your inner bad girl?
She shook her head, sending her thick fall of hair on that sinuous slide over her shoulders that he found so hot. I dont have an inner bad girl.
He didnt believe it for a minute. How disappointing. The flash of heat in her eyes told a different story. I think youve got plenty of bad girl just waiting to be released.
You are so wrong.
Am I? He abandoned the seat belt and reached up to wrap a thick curl around his finger. Are you sure? There arent any wicked bad-girl thoughts running through your head right now?
Maybe oneor two.
She parted her luscious lips and tilted her chin in a classic invitation to a kiss.
Ah, Natalie has a naughty side
HEAVEN HELP HER but she wanted to kiss Beau Stillwell. Ever since shed walked in and seen him nearly naked, shed wanted this. It was as if he were some dark angel sent to torture her. And if she hadnt wanted him before, his gravel-filled Naughty Natalie did the trick.
Beau released her hair to trace the line of her jaw with one finger. He angled his head and her breath quickened in anticipation. She slid her hand around the back of his neck, her fingers testing his corded muscles.
He brushed his mouth over hers. Sampling. Coaxing. Teasing. Nice. She kissed him back. A civil exchange.
Totally unexpected, he swept his tongue against her lower lip and then dragged it into his mouth between his own lipsa delicious faint scrape of teeth and then a sucking.
You have the most delectable, decadent mouth, he murmured and then proceeded to make delectable, decadent love to her mouth. She strained into him. Restricted by the seat belt, she pulled him closer.
They nipped, licked and then segued into hot, hungry, openmouthed kisses. She moaned in the back of her throat, a wordless entreaty. His big hands found her breasts, and nothing had ever felt as good as his mouth on hers and his hands cupping her through her clothing, his palms rubbing against her erect points. She arched her back, pushing her nipples harder into his hands. Hungry. So hungry.
He released her mouth and unleashed a tormenting torrent of kisses down her neck, his tongue dipping and delving along her collarbone. It wasnt enough. Not nearly enough. She tugged his head further down and then his mouth was on her breast, mouthing her through her cotton spandex T-shirt and her bra. He caught her tip in his teeth, and the light abrasion sent her into the stratosphere. Her eyes fluttered closed when he drew her into his wet mouth, suckling her through the cloth.
Where or when it wouldve ended shed never know, because in the very dim recesses of her still-functioning mind, she registered the sound of an approaching vehicle.
She pushed against his shoulders, her breathing frantic gasps. Someones coming.
A little more time and it couldve been her. What, what, what had she been thinking?
His blue eyes glittered when he raised his head and looked beyond her shoulder through the back window. He shook his head slightly, as if clearing it. Tilson Dobbs. Hes a retired Marine whos handling security for the place. Ill go check in with him. She was still trapped by the seat belt. He glanced down her chest to the wet, puckered material. You might want to button your jacket.
Chapter 5
HE MIGHT JUST HAVE TO kick Tilsons ass. Theyd spent an hour and a half now going over the exterior and the downstairs, listing the necessary repairs and remodel required for the wedding and reception. Natalie actually had a good eye and an equally good grasp of what Caitlyn wanted done. But for the last hour and a friggin half, Tilson had stuck to them like glue.
When Tilson had driven up, Beau had explained he was checking out the house and Tilson had been all set to ride his Mule, the all-terrain vehicle he drove over the property, off into the sunset to secure the perimeter. And then Natalie had emerged from the cab of the truck. Shed resourcefully loosened the seat belt straps by pulling them and then climbed out.
Tilson had taken one look at her tousled hair and kiss-swollen lips and decided the perimeter didnt need securing nearly as much as he needed to check out the new female on the Dahlia horizon. Beau was pretty damn tired of Tilson trotting along with them and he didnt care for the way he kept eyeing Natalie. Sort of like a dog circling a juicy bone.
The guy was a persistent son of a bitch, Beau thought as Tilson followed them out of the house, into the now-dark night. They were finished making their list so Tilson could vamoose. Beau flicked on his flashlight and Natalie pulled out a pink one.
Yall want to grab some dinner now that youve wrapped things up out here? Tilson asked as they covered the distance to the truck.
Beau cut him off at the pass. We ate at Headlights on the way out here.
How about grabbing a cup of coffee and a piece of pie at the Waffle House, then? Tilson didnt even pretend to include Beau in that invite. I can give you a ride to your car afterwards.
Once again, Beau didnt give Natalie a chance to answer. He opened the truck door for her, light from the dome spilling out into the dark, and said to Tilson, Weve got to discuss scheduling on the way back to her car. Got to use that time wisely.
Hell no, he wasnt feeling proprietary at the thought of Tilson nibbling at the fullness of her lower lip or mouthing her tightly budded nipple through her T-shirt the way he himself had earlier. Not a whit, because Beau didnt do proprietary with women. They were fun, a good time was had by all, and he moved on. Nope. It was simply that Natalie taking off with Tilson didnt fit in with his plan. That was all. Nothing more.
Natalie shot Beau a look that promised more to say on the matter later. However, she said to Tilson as she slid into the cab, Thanks, but we do need to wrap up the business.
Beau closed her door. See ya, Tilson, he said as he rounded the truck to his side. Tilson looked decidedly unhappy but that wasnt Beaus problem, now was it?
Natalie sat buckled in the middle. She gestured to the mess next to her. That seat belt is done for. I cant get the buckle loose and the belts wont retract.
He grinned and slid in next to her. Im not complaining. He buckled up and they headed back to the drag strip.
They werent touching but he felt her body heat with mere inches separating her hips, thighs and shoulder from his. He caught an occasional whiff of her perfume, or maybe it was just her shampoo and the smell of her skin, but he liked it. He was more than ready to take up where theyd left off when Tilson had arrived.
Just to set the record straight. Im a big girl and fully capable of answering for myself.
What? Like he was just going to sit back while Tilson moved in and screwed up his plans? Not likely. Plus, she didnt have any business getting involved with the former Marine.
Tilsons wife left him while he was on his last tour of duty in Iraq. He has issues. There. Issues was one of those girly buzzwords he heard his mother and sister and their friends use. Hed give her something to relate to and reveal his softer, feminine side.
So, thats why you acted like such a jerk.
Obviously his softer, feminine side hadnt come through. Dont you think jerks a little harsh?
Harsh? I gave you the benefit of the doubt.
I was being thoughtful. Gallant, even. I only had your best interest at heart.
She snorted. And there I was thinking you were simply being manipulative and high-handed. Regardless, Im fully capable of making my own decisions. And just for the record, Tilsons not my cup of tea.
He knew a moment of smug satisfaction. He nodded. What is your type?
Suit and tie. Professional.
That was no real surprise. Ah, a sissy boy with soft hands. Someone who doesnt break a sweat to do his job.
I prefer to think of it as brains rather than brawn.
Maybe. And she could go on about brains and a suit and tie all day long, but hed bet his racecar her panties had been wet earlier. Id say someone easily managed, who asks how high when you say jump. I think you have control issues.
She sputtered, actually, honest to God sputtered. Iyouyou And then she laughed, more with incredulity than amusement. You think I have control issues? Okay.
He could tell there was so much more she wanted to say, except she was working for his sister. He bit back a chuckle. Hed like to hear what she wasnt saying.
So, do you have one of those sissy boys on a string back in Nashville? Im just asking because Im not so sure hed approve of the way you kissed me earlier.
Wait a minute! Youre seriously confused if you think I kissed you. You kissed me.
He hazarded a glance her way in the dashboard glow. Was that a flash of devilment in her brown eyes?
No confusion here. And I can tell you now, sugar, if you were mine, I wouldnt want you kissing someone else that way.
He sensedno, feltthe shift in her before she ever took action or opened her mouth. Hed pushed her to her limit. Really? And if I were yours, be still my beating heart, how would you want me to kiss someone else?
She released her seat belt. and before he could draw a breath she had twisted and curled one leg beneath her, levering herself up and bracing one hand on his shoulder, her warm breath teasing against his neck. Like this? She nuzzled beneath his ear and then nipped the tip of his lobe.
Holy hell. The sensation shot straight to his dick. She caught the recently nipped spot between her lips and sucked. His balls tightened as surely as if shed cupped them in her hot little hands and gently squeezed.
He acknowledged the contest of wills. No, baby, definitely not like that.
Then what about this? Would this be acceptable? She trailed hot, open mouthed kisses down the column of his neck and he was damn glad to see the drag strip entrance to his left because at this point he was DUIdriving under the influence of her distracting mouth.
He pulled into the spot next to her minivan in the nearly deserted lot and threw his truck into Park. Definitely not acceptable.
He released his seat belt, turned and reached for her. She intercepted him, pushing him until his back was against the door, and leaned up on her knees. Then maybe this? Her mouth skated over his and she delivered light, flirty kisses that had his heart thumping out of control. Her hair tickled against his neck and he spanned her waist with his hands.
Or this, she murmured against his mouth and then moved on to deep, soulful kisses. She captured his tongue and sucked and stroked it with hers. Stroke, suck, stroke, suck. It was a mind-numbing, cock-hardening, ball-tightening rhythm. If she could do that to his tongue hed love to have her work that magic on his cock. He groaned into her mouth.
She pulled back and started to slide across the seat. Did you find that acceptable?
FIRE. She was playing with fire. She was on fire. While it was true that Beau had provoked her, shed wanted to kiss him again. She needed to get out of here while she could still think about something other than how good he felt and tasted and the achy, hot need coiling tighter and tighter inside her.
Before she could move any further, he reached out, wrapped his big hands around her arms and hauled her back to the solid hardness of his body. Im still trying to decide if thats acceptable. I think I need a replay.
Her heart hammered against her ribs and a rush of wet heat surged between her thighs. If she had an ounce of sense, shed skedaddle. Hed sort of manhandled her into his lap but she didnt feel threatened. If she insisted, hed let her go. Deep inside, she knew he was one of the good guys. But apparently her last ounce of sense had abandoned her because she didnt want to leave. Instead, she wanted to flirt and tease and kiss him some more.
You should pay closer attention the first time around, she said. She ended on a tiny gasp as he bent his head and nuzzled at her neck, and then she felt the faint scrape of his teeth followed by the velvet stroke of his tongue. That felt so good. She moaned and closed her eyes.
Maybe I just wanted seconds he said in a husky murmur as he worked his way up her neck, or thirds.
She laughed softly and wound her arms around him. Shed only thought she was on fire before. His mouth found hers and she was drowning in the magic of his kiss. She molded the ridges of his muscular shoulders. He slid his hands beneath the edge of her T-shirt and spanned her waist. He stroked upward until his big hands cupped her breasts. She pushed harder against his fingers and he dipped them into her bra, finding the hardened tip. His fingershis mouthshe pulled away and drew a ragged, gasping breath.
Severe tactical error on her part. She was about one kiss away from being in way over her head.
She tugged her shirt back down and slid across the seat to the passenger side. He let her go, but there was no mistaking the glint in his eyes.
If you were mine, he said, Id have to vote for you not kissing anyone else at all, in any way at all.
She snatched up her purse and opened the passenger door. Then I guess its a good thing Im not yours.
She slammed the door behind her.
MONDAY MORNING, Natalie looked up from her day planner on her Queen Anne desk in the back corner of the bridal shop as the bell jangled over the front door.
Its just me, Cynthia called out.
Natalie was doubly glad to see her assistant. Not only did she genuinely like Cynthia, she was more than ready for a distraction. She desperately needed to think about something, someone other than Beau Stillwell. Living above her shop was convenient on several fronts. She didnt have a commute. She saved on rent.
The downside was shed never really had a space all her own. Growing up, from as early as she could remember, shed shared her room, and clothes and toys with foster siblings. And now she shared her home space with her business. One day, she wanted a house of her own. But, for now, shed take advantage of no commute and always being in the office, ready for the day, by seven-thirty. This morning, however, Natalie had hit the office at six-thirty, ready to lose herself in work, details, planninganything but thinking about Beau.
Although she was tired last night, nothing had satisfied her. Shed run a bubble bath when she got home, dumping a generous portion of lavender bath salts in. Between the warm water and aromatherapy she shouldve been out like a light. Nope. Shed tried reading a book. Not interested. Nothing on television. Shed popped in Pride and PrejudiceA&Es Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy, thank you very muchbut not even P&P struck a chord for her.