Superior Collision Page 18

Occasionally his cell phone got a turn, but he was looking for a missed call or text. Even though that was totally stupid. The volume and vibrate were on high. He couldn’t miss a thing.

  She was driving, so she couldn’t text. The delay made sense, right?

  God, get over yourself.

  Have a seat. Have a beer. Jack off.

  His brain rejected the suggestions as he ticked them off. Shannon’s feet wouldn’t obey, or divert from the path he was wearing in his carpet.

  He could do something productive, like make dinner for her.

  “Yes, I totally should do that.” They hadn’t really discussed the evening meal, but Shannon didn’t want to go out. He wanted to keep Taylor in his house. All to himself.

  Unless she’d already eaten. It was getting late. He hadn’t eaten since lunch, but he was too nervous, and the pacing was taking up his time.

  Why didn’t you ask her about dinner, dumbass?

  His cell phone screamed and he jumped, then cursed himself, because the damn thing was in his hand.

  Shannon glanced at the screen. Not Taylor. He swiped his thumb to answer. “Hey, Mom.”

  “Hey, baby. I need a favor.” Her voice was rushed, like she was in business mode.

  In the background, he heard an announcement for a doctor somebody—that explained his mom’s tone. She was at the hospital, where she’d been an OB nurse in Labor and Delivery since Shannon was a kid.

  “Sure, anything for you.”

  “One of the many reasons I love you.”

  He could hear the smile in her words. Shannon laughed. “Love you, too.”

  “Cailey needs new softball gear and I’m working all weekend.”

  Oh. He’d be busy this weekend, too. With Taylor. “When does she need it by?” It was only Thursday night, and no doubt his niece had school tomorrow. Maybe he could get away Sunday afternoon, but he didn’t want to volunteer that info.

  “You know that kid, everything is immediate. Not sure if she actually has time or not. But I thought you were off weekends this rotation?”

  “Well, I…” He couldn’t exactly tell his mom he was hoping to spend the weekend in bed, wrapped around a sexy little FBI agent. If he could loosen Taylor up, that was.

  “Do you have a date or something?”

  Shannon chuckled. “Should I be insulted you sound so surprised?”

  His mom laughed. “Sorry, son. It’s been a while for you.”

  “Yeah, I know.” It wasn’t like he told her about his few-and-far-between casual sex exploits, either, but the woman who’d raised him was far from stupid.

  “Well, as far as Cailey is concerned, no big deal. We’ll figure it out.”

  “I’ll text her and ask her deadline,” he said.

  “Oh, thanks. When do I get to meet this new woman?”

  “I never actually confirmed or denied…”

  Shannon’s mom laughed again. “It’s that new, huh?”

  He smiled. She knew him too well. “Yeah, it is. Sorta. I mean, we went out a few times when I was in Dallas this last time, but yeah. New.”

  “Well, good luck.”

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  “Anytime. I love you.”

  Her last words resonated even after he’d hung up. He sure needed luck.

  Shannon didn’t want Taylor to think he expected sex. Just seeing her, hanging with her and talking to her would be good enough for him—he’d missed her like hell throughout the days of no contact.

  After their last encounter, his cock got hard at just the thought of her naked breasts and freckled skin.

  Keeping his hands to himself was going to be a challenge, to put it lightly. The way his heart was pattering, there was nothing light about his want for Taylor.

  He needed to reach for his inner gentleman and talk to her. Find out why she’d asked to come see him. Ask why she wasn’t working. Make sure she was really okay. Then, maybe, they could move things to the next level, but experience told him pushing her was bad news—the sure path to slammed doors and Taylor fleeing, which was the last thing he wanted for this weekend.

  The sound of a car pulling into the driveway made him jump again. Shannon forced a deep breath and pocketed his cell phone.

  Should he meet her on the porch or wait for her to knock? He didn’t want her to know how worked up he was.

  Shannon was so indecisive about it, the ding of his doorbell solved the issue.

  His whole body shuddered and he forced one foot in front of the other. Tried not to wrench the door open.

  One look at the way she fidgeted on his porch and avoided looking at him right away made some of Shannon’s anxiety melt off his shoulders.

  She’d told him once that he calmed her, and he wanted to do that for her right now. Seemed like she needed that.

  “Hi,” he said.

  Finally she glanced up. Taylor swallowed and he wanted to kiss her throat.

  She was dressed for work—dark slacks and a matching blazer, with a light-colored shirt under it. A black leather belt cinched her tiny waist. The butt of her Glock was barely visible. No jacket, and it was chilly out.

  “Hi,” Taylor returned. A ghost of a smile played at the corner of her mouth and Shannon wished it was a full one. Her breasts rose and fell, like she’d taken a deep breath.

  “Wanna come in?”

  “Oh, sure.”

  Shannon regretted that she startled, and she didn’t take his hand when he offered it. He pretended his heart didn’t sink a little. “Are you hungry?” He forced polite words out, which felt unnatural.

  “I don’t know.”

  He closed his front door and whirled around. Didn’t miss that she was scanning his small foyer. Like she was cataloging everything. He hoped she wasn’t looking for another exit.

  “You don’t know?” Shannon asked.

  Taylor met his eyes. There was a slight tremor in her shoulders, but he didn’t think she was cold. “Honestly, after the day I’ve had, I don’t know a damn thing.” Her mouth trembled, but then she flattened it, pursing her lips.

  Damn, he wanted to hold her. He slid forward slowly, not wanting to spook her. “Wanna talk about it?” He kept his voice soft.

  She clenched her jaw and shook her head. “No. Rather forget it.”

  “Okay. How about we go in the kitchen and see what I can come up with? I didn’t eat dinner.”

  Finally she smiled, but it was only a tiny one. “Sure.”

  “Do you want a beer?”

  “Yeah, actually that sounds good.”

  “Let’s get some food in you first. I’d hate for you to lose your head.”

  Taylor’s slender shoulders loosened and she blew out a breath then let go of a small laugh that shocked the hell out of him, but pleased him just as much.

  “What’s funny?” Shannon smiled, too.

  “Not sure I believe you have innocent intentions.”

  Isn’t that the truth? God, he wanted to ask her if that was okay with her. Instead, he laughed. “Well, I told you no pressure, and that still stands.” Since you’re not only speaking to me, but you’re here, too.

  She paused. Her eyes went misty, but she averted her gaze, and when she looked back at him, Taylor’s pretty hazel orbs were clear of emotion. “Thanks,” she whispered.

  “Any time.” Should he apologize for their last encounter? He wasn’t sorry for the heated action between them, only for how it’d ended, and sorry he’d pushed her when he’d told her so many times he wouldn’t.

  Her current level of discomfort was reminiscent of the first night he’d shown up on her doorstep with the cheesecake from Mario’s.

  Shannon didn’t like awkward when it came to him and Taylor. Weren’t they were past all that? Then again, she had ditched him when things got too hot for her to handle. So, maybe that was a setback after all.

  Was it something they could come back from? Should he tell her he just wanted to be with her? The rest didn’t matter. They could take this evening sl
owly, then tomorrow…

  Would she really stick around all weekend?

  He led her into his kitchen and sat her at the small breakfast table.

  “Do you need help?” she asked. She shifted on the chair, like she was torn between getting right back up and making herself comfortable.

  “No, ma’am. My mom taught me not to put guests to work.”

  Taylor smiled, fully this time, and it caused his heart to skip. She certainly looked lighter than she had when she’d appeared on his front porch.

  Shannon poured her some iced tea after they’d settled on a frozen pizza. Although she reached for the frosty beer bottle first.

  Eating and talking was natural, and actually had him feeling some sense of normalcy with her. At the very least, back on the path they’d been on before things had ended badly that night. She didn’t tell him much about her crappy day, only that her boss had given her the weekend off.

  He still hadn’t touched her much. A brush of her hand here and there, but nothing like he wanted to. Shannon was on edge…and so was his libido. His dick got interested when she did…well, anything. When she licked her lips while she was eating, the little dart of her tongue made him have to adjust his jeans. When Taylor brought the beer bottle up for a drink, he couldn’t look away from her mouth.

  He had a damn good imagination, and a perfect memory. A bad combination.

  Fantasies ran through his mind, and he needed to calm the hell down. Now.

  Shannon jumped up to discard the round cardboard remnants of the pizza box and the paper plates they’d eaten on. “I’ll just take care of these.”

  “Sure.” Her cheeks were flushed pink from the alcohol, but Taylor had told him she didn’t have much tolerance.

  Her shoulders were loose, but she still looked prim and proper in her work clothing, and her hair was up, with only one or two wavy flyaways. He wanted to tug it out of its restraints and run his fingers through it.

  She seemed as if she’d been able to relax. Too bad that as she’d wound down, he’d wound up.

  Shannon rinsed his cup out, watching the dark remainder of iced tea wash away. He needed his mind on something other than dragging her to his bedroom, stripping her down and showing her how much he’d missed her. He glanced at the clock on the microwave. It was almost nine already. After putting his glass in the dishwasher, he rinsed their plates and did the same, then wiped his hands. His gut tightened when he whirled to face her.

  Taylor’s gaze found his and she smiled.

  His heart skipped. “Uh, want to watch a movie or something?” Geeze. What am I, seventeen?

  “What about a tour of your house? This place is big. And nice. I love the décor.” She gestured to his large kitchen, with its new appliances and dark granite countertops.

  “The kitchen is new.” The house had the feel of a mountain lodge that Shannon liked. “My mom helped. The house is old, built in the sixties. Little by little I’ve fixed it up. Hardwood in the foyer, new carpet in living room. New doors. It’s kinda my weekend project.”

  “Ah, well you’ve done a good job.”

  “Thanks.” He breathed a tad easier and pushed off the counter behind him. Talking about home improvement made him focus and think about something other than sex. “C’mon, let me show you around. Sorry you had to ask.”

  He started pointing out updates, showing her everything as they walked. She didn’t say much, just looked around, assessing, as if his house was a crime scene, which was so Taylor. She commented from time to time, but when she smiled, his heart sped up and Shannon’s thoughts dipped back to the forbidden.

  “Is this your niece?” She pointed to several framed pictures of Cailey in the hallway, at various ages.

  “Yeah, that one’s the new one.” He indicated her latest school picture. “Eighth grade. I can’t believe it.”

  “She’s beautiful. Except for that blonde hair, she looks like you. It’s those eyes.”

  Shannon chuckled. “Yeah. My mom has them too. Family trait, I guess.”

  “Gorgeous.”

  Their gazes collided.

  He sucked in a breath because he wanted to hold her, touch her. Kiss her. Couldn’t even dig up a tease because she’d said he had gorgeous eyes.

  Taylor broke the spell by looking away, but he didn’t miss the rise and fall of her chest. It was faster than it had been. She felt what he did, even if she didn’t want to admit it.

  Shannon cleared his throat and reached for her hand. A jolt of energy shot up his arm and he entwined their fingers, trying not to pant. He resisted the urge to yank her to him and crush his mouth over hers. He wanted to relive her taste.

  She didn’t pull away, and his belly flipped.

  “Let me show you the rest of the house.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “This is the master… My bedroom.”

  She looked away as he gestured around the room and all Taylor could focus on was the king-sized bed that dominated the back wall. The room was spartan and masculine. The bed had four dark pillars fit for a king. There was a rifle rack on one wall, and a huge gun safe in the opposite corner of the room.

  The dressers were mahogany and oversized, in line with the lodgy-feel of his living room and kitchen. There wasn’t a feminine touch in sight, but the place was to Taylor’s taste. It had a homey, welcoming feel that appealed—probably too much so. Like coming in out of the cold.

  Shannon had made this room the last stop on the tour of his four-bedroom home, as if it was some kind of test.

  Why did I come here?

  What did she want from him?

  Taylor had made reservations at the hotel in town, an upscale four-story building called The Covington. She’d stayed there before, and the place was nice.

  She should thank him for dinner and make her way there. Get some sleep and… Then what?

  Taylor had had a nice time with him so far, just like in Dallas. Had barely even thought about her stupid boss and her case.

  Holman had promised to get in touch with her if something happened with Eddie and his idiot CI, even though that was against Baker’s orders, showing he was loyal to her. Her partner had told her to take the weekend to breathe, relax, and she hadn’t been able to muster a growl at him when they’d parted ways.

  Maybe she did need this weekend.

  Need Shannon?

  “Are you okay?” His whisper yanked her from her thoughts. Shannon swallowed, and his Adam’s apple bobbed.

  They stared at each other for several breaths, then she forced a nod.

  He opened his arms and, instead of running the other way—like she should, Taylor entered his embrace.

  She sighed and rested her forehead against his hard chest. Following him into this room—his bedroom—had been a bad idea, house tour or not. Definitely against her better judgment, but she couldn’t seem to find her voice to protest.

  Perhaps, being pulled into his arms had been inevitable. Still, she didn’t move away.

  She couldn’t.

  Shannon said nothing, just rubbed her back. Long, soothing strokes that made her want more.

  Taylor didn’t do comfort. Didn’t need comfort, but God that felt good. Almost as good as his lips moving over hers.

  He hadn’t kissed her today either, yet her body was loosening by the second. Thrumming for him. Needing. Wanting a hell of a lot more than just his large palm running over fabric.

  A tremor slid down her spine and spread down her arms and legs. Warmth settled low in her belly, and an empty ache formed between her legs.

  John.

  No.

  Taylor wasn’t going there.

  Not today. Not tomorrow, either.

  He isn’t here. He’ll never be here again.

  She needed to move on. Taylor had been with Shannon enough in Dallas to realize that, right? She’d already dealt with the guilt of kissing him, touching him, wanting him… Hadn’t she?

  Shannon had told her he wanted her. Had begg
ed her to stop thinking and just be with him. Could she do that?

  Tell him she was…ready for that?

  Am I?

  Her chest burned, but she fought it. Pushed away the hurt and loss.

  Emotion was weak.

  Coming here, to Antioch, had been foolish. Maybe she’d known in the back of her mind that they’d end up here.

  Swallowing hard, she crushed her eyes shut and squeezed Shannon’s waist, tightening her grip until he felt more real. More with her.

  His ministrations paused and she sensed his lips on the top of her head. “Taylor?” His whisper was warm against the waves of her hair.

  She couldn’t look up at him. Not when she felt so unstable. Taylor cleared her throat. “If I look at you, I’m going to kiss you.”

  Shannon laughed, a deep rumble she felt as well as heard. “And that’s a bad thing?”

  “I shouldn’t…” want to. She couldn’t tell him that. It wasn’t fair to him. Not this time. And besides, he’d already kissed her until her toes had curled.

  “You shouldn’t?” The confusion in his voice made Taylor lift her head.

  Shannon’s unusual whiskey-colored eyes darkened. The desire she read there made her heart quicken.

  “Kiss me if you want.” He smirked, a sexy little dare she couldn’t resist.

  Taylor pushed to her toes and pressed her mouth to his. She snaked her arms around his neck and tugged, needing to get closer.

  He devoured her, sliding his tongue against hers, plastering her to his chest when he probed deeper, held her tighter, kissed her harder. Tingles shot up and down her body and heat enveloped her.

  “God, I want you,” Shannon panted between licks, nips and kisses.

  Taylor moaned and snuggled into him. She crushed her lips to his again, answering him with her body, since—like in Dallas—she didn’t have the guts to voice her desire.

  Shannon gripped her waist then slipped his hands to her bottom. He squeezed and kneaded, rocking into her as his tongue dueled with hers. His erection rubbed her stomach with every forward motion and her sex pulsed in answer.

  When he pushed her blazer off her shoulders, she let him, even straightened her arms so it could fall to the floor. He tugged her shirt from her pants, and Taylor let him do that, too.