Twist of Fate (Taking Chances #2) - Tia Louise Page 0,73
as I step closer to the edge to try and peer down.
My breath softly gasps when I recognize Ms. Alice’s red step-side pickup. Dropping to my knees, I press my face against the banister rungs to see better, and my heart jumps when the light reflects off his hair. What is Scout doing here?
Jumping up, I decide I’m going to find out.
Scampering through my apartment, I pause at the bedroom door and peek at our baby. She’s lying on her back with both arms over her head. Her little lips are parted, and it sounds like she’s on the verge of baby-girl snores. When I come back, I’ll move her around. As it is, I don’t want to risk waking her.
Taking the keys, I run down the stairs through my store, to the back door, and I’m outside just as fast, locking the door behind me. When I get to the truck, I hesitate. The windows are down, but the cab seems empty.
I’m so confused. He was just here. Looking to the right and left, the sidewalks are deserted. It’s dark, and no one is out here. He couldn’t have gone anywhere that fast. My shoulders drop, and I’m about to return to my apartment when I hear a rustling noise and a groan.
It comes from inside the truck, and I tiptoe to the passenger’s side and peek in the open window. He’s lying there on his back with a pillow against the driver’s door. He’s wearing a thin, white T-shirt and cotton shorts, and the lone streetlight deepens every line of muscle in his legs, his arms… My eyes slowly rise up his neck, to his square jaw, to his eyes, which blink open and land on mine.
“Holy fuck!” He sits up so fast, I squeal and fall back.
“Oh my God! I’m sorry!” My heart is flying in my chest.
“Daisy?” His face appears in the open window. “You scared the shit out of me.”
“You scared the shit out of me.” I’m breathless and trembling. “What are you doing here?”
“I couldn’t stop thinking about Betty Pepper saying Travis was lurking around…” He hesitates, almost apologetically. “I figured I’d sleep out here in case you needed me.”
He’s protecting us.
My nipples tighten to little points against the thin fabric of my tank. My body flares with need, and I realize I’m standing beside his truck in the small alley behind my store in only a thin tank and underwear. His eyes slide down my body, and the muscle in his jaw moves.
“You’d better climb in here before somebody sees you.”
The prickly heat is under my skin again. My voice drops to a whisper. “Maybe I should go inside and go to bed?”
His voice is quiet as well, and his eyes are fixed on my breasts. “That might be the safest thing to do.”
My insides pull, and I’m convinced I will die if I do the safe thing. Reaching out with trembling fingers, I lift the lever to open the door. He sits straighter, lowering his feet to the floorboard as I climb inside and shut the door.
“You drove here to be sure we were safe?” I’m on my knees, crawling across the bench seat. He nods, watching me get closer. “You were going to sleep out here all night?”
“Most of the night.” His voice is rough.
Reaching out, I trace the back of my fingers along his square jaw. “Because you’re the brave knight?”
“I’m here to protect you.”
Without hesitation, I straddle his lap, feeling the hardness of his cock through his thin shorts. His blue eyes darken, and large hands cup my ass, threading fingers under the sides of my panties. “I have to be sure my girls are safe.”
Reaching down, I catch the edge of his shirt, carefully lifting it over his head. Ridges of muscle appear deeper in the shadows, and heat floods my veins like burning gasoline.
My arms go around his neck, and I press my breasts against his firm chest, only a thin piece of fabric between us. “How can I ever show my gratitude?”
“I’m sure we can think of something.” His hands move from my ass under my tank, rising higher as I lean into his lips.
Our mouths collide, and he strokes my tongue with his. I rise on my knees to deepen the kiss, pushing his lips open and curling my tongue. He groans as his hands find my breasts, lifting and squeezing them, tweaking my nipples with his fingers.