Cathryn Fox (8 page)

Carter hadn’t heard from Ally since yesterday, since she’d uttered those simple words,
You
haven’t changed at all
. He hadn’t called her and wasn’t about to stop by to talk. Seeing the disappointment on her face would only kill him.

She was never going to forgive him. He’d screwed everything up for their relationship, her career. Blaine was right. Ally really was better off without him.

As he continued to pace, he considered that long and hard. Maybe if he walked out of her life now, and promised to stay out of it, she’d be able to keep her job.

Carter moved to the window and pulled the blinds, but the warm morning sun did little to lighten his dark mood. He stared out but saw nothing as he entertained the idea until he finally let it settle in. It would destroy him, shatter his heart into a million tiny pieces, but deep inside he knew what he had to do.

Just then the doorbell rang. Startled, he twisted around and in three long strides crossed the room. He pulled the door open, and his pulse leapt in his throat as he stood face-to-face with the last person he expected to find on his landing.

“Can I come in?”

Rattled, Carter stepped back and waved his hand. “Yeah. Of course.”

Once inside Allison turned to him. When soulful blue eyes met his, it forced him to draw a breath to center himself.

“I never had the chance to tell you what I was sorry for,” she said.

Longing ripped open Carter’s heart as he swallowed and braced himself. No matter how much he loved her, no matter how much it would tear him up inside to walk away, he knew he had to do it because everything inside him told him she really was better off without him in her life, screwing it up.

He drew a shaky breath. “Look, Ally, I know I fucked up. I’m sorry.” He paused for a brief moment. “Don’t worry. I’ll get out of your life so you can try to get it back on track.”

She gave him an odd look, worry clouding her eyes, and something in her voice hitched when she asked, “Is that what you really want?”

“No. Of course not.” He gave a quick shake of his head and noted the way her face instantly relaxed. “But we both know it’s what’s best for you.”

She pressed her fingers to his lips. “Okay, then let me finish.”

When he nodded, she went on to explain. “What I’m sorry for was the four months we’ve lost together.”

Utterly perplexed, Carter looked at her, not really understanding where she was going with this.

Feeling physically and emotionally drained from lack of sleep, he shook his head to clear it and sagged against the wall. He drove his hands deep into his pockets and waited for her to clarify.

“I thought we had no future. I thought we were different people with different goals.” She went quiet for a moment and then, “I thought wrong.”

His heart thudded as a seed of hope bloomed inside him. Was she saying what he thought she was saying?

“While we might approach things differently, deep down we have the same values and beliefs.”

Getting right to the point, he asked, “What are you trying to say, Ally?”

“I’m saying that it wasn’t you who needed to change, it was me.”

She stepped close, and as the room spun before his eyes, he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“I spent last night doing some very serious soul-searching, and while I don’t like the risks you take, and I don’t like the way you throw yourself into danger, I know you do it for the greater good. I was so proud of you yesterday, Carter. You didn’t fuck up. You did the right thing.”

His chest puffed with pride, but when she lowered her eyes, shivered and hugged herself, he reached for her. “What is it?”

“I hate to think what would have happened if you hadn’t intervened. What you did was heroic.”

“What I did was risky. And I promised you I wouldn’t take risks.”

“When I watched you take that guy down, the way you quickly disarmed him before he could hurt anyone, including himself, I learned a lot about you, and I learned a lot about me.” She got quiet for a moment. The sadness on her face had his heart clenching and revealed a side of her that she’d always kept buried. Tears flooded her eyes. “You were right, Carter. You were right about everything. I didn’t realize it until you brought it to light. But four months ago I pulled back physically and emotionally because I didn’t want anything to happen to you. Losing you would kill me as effectively as a bullet to the heart.”

The love he felt for her washed over him in a whoosh as he brushed her tears away, knowing she’d finally accepted the truth.

“Thank you for not giving up on me. And thank you for helping me understand my own demons.” She forced a laugh. “Now that I know what they are I can work on vanquishing them.”

“
We
can work on vanquishing them,” he said.

His protective instincts kicked into high gear, fueled by his need for intimate contact. He pulled her tight into his arms. When she smiled at him, a kaleidoscope of feelings stole through him.

“You’re a good cop, Carter, and we both care about the same things.” Her hands snaked around him, and she rested her face on his chest. “And I thought it would make you happy to know that I’ve taken measures to get that girl counseling.”

He briefly closed his eyes then blew out a long, slow breath. When he opened them again, he said, “Thank you.”

“The streets would be lost without you.” She looked up, her gaze searching his face. “And Carter.”

“Yeah?”

She crinkled her nose and gave a slight shrug of one shoulder. “I know you broke protocol, and I realize that going into a dangerous situation unarmed is considered
bad
, but maybe sometimes bad
is
good.”

“Maybe?” When he saw love shining in her eyes, his knees nearly gave way. In an attempt to lighten the mood, he teased, “If you’re not totally convinced, I’d be happy to take you back to the bluff and
pound
home that point.”

Heat colored her cheeks, and as warm intimacy full of love and acceptance passed between them, Carter knew they were going to be okay. Today. Tomorrow. Forever.

“Let’s just put it this way, Carter. You might make me crazy at times…” she stopped to roll her eyes heavenward, “…but so help me I can’t live without you. Instead of spending my time worrying about your safety, I’d rather spend it loving you.”

Emotions pressed against his heart as he drew her in for a deep, soul-reaching kiss, and in that moment he could have sobbed from happiness. “I love you, Ally Cat.”

Her eyes blazed with desire, and she kissed him back, a soft, sensuous melding of mouths that had him aching to be back inside her. “And I love you.”

He broke the kiss and warned, “The road ahead might be a little rocky, and I suspect we’ll hit a few bumps.”

“Just a few?”

“Okay, a lot,” he said, laughing. “But if you want me to be more than your
friend
,” he added giving her a wry grin, “then I have a condition.”

She planted one hand on her hip. “Oh, more conditions.”

He pitched his voice low. “Yeah, no matter how much we fight, no matter how many bumps we hit, we always ride them out together and make up in the bedroom.”

She chuckled, and he heard the invitation in her voice when she said, “I think that can be arranged.”

As he thought about what the future held, it brought his mind back around to her job, and how he had undoubtedly fucked up her new lead position.

He inched back. “What about your job?”

“That was one of the other things I considered last night, and I’ve decided I’m going to quit.”

He stared at her, incredulous. “You’re going to do what?”

“Since your face is splattered all over today’s newspaper, upper management wants a meeting with me.”

“Allison, you didn’t do anything wrong.”

“And in my eyes neither did you. But that article dredges up your history and past incidents.

Management isn’t going to like the negative publicity.”

“Then management can kiss my—”

Allison grinned and pressed her fingers to his lips. “I’ve decided that I’ve been their pawn long enough, and I’m not going to give them a chance to fire me.”

Carter fisted his hands, guilt eating at him. “Jesus Christ, Ally. This is my fault.”

“I don’t want to work for someone who is always going to judge me and those I associate with,”

she said, addressing his worries. “I don’t care what anyone says, you did the right thing yesterday.”

“But, Ally.”

“I’ve been saving, and this has given me the perfect opportunity to do what I’ve always wanted.”

“You’re going to start your own firm?” He hugged her tight and spun her around.

She laughed out loud, a new excitement in her eyes.

“You know I’m here to help,” he rushed out. “Anything you need.” He tossed her a sheepish look. “And I’ll really, really try my best to be
good
.”

“Yeah, right.” She gave a low, throaty chuckle. “Like I said before, Carter, you’re bad to the bone.”

He pushed against her, and as he breathed a kiss over her mouth his blood pounded hot and heavy. “Speaking of bones…”

Ally shook her head, everything about her a sultry seduction. “What am I going to do with you?”

Hungering for her with an intensity that made his hands shake, he gestured toward the hallway leading to his bedroom. “Maybe we should go in there and try to figure it out.”

“Maybe?” she asked, the gleam in her eyes turning wicked. “Well if you’re not totally sure—”

Before she could finish her sentence, Carter scooped her up, packing her tight in his arms. She gave a little yelp but he silenced her with a kiss.

“Oh, believe me, I’m sure, baby. And I have a set of handcuffs to show you just how sure I am.”

About the Author

A multi-published author in the romance genre, Cathryn Fox is a wife, mom, sister, daughter, and friend. She loves dogs, sunny weather, anything chocolate (she never says no to a brownie), pizza and red wine. She has two teenagers who keep her busy with their never-ending activities, and a husband who is convinced he can turn her into a mixed-martial-arts fan. Cathryn can never find balance in her life, is always trying to find time to go to the gym, can never keep up with emails, Facebook or Twitter, and tries to write page-turning books that her readers will love.

A Maritimer and former financial officer, Cathryn has lived all over Canada but has finally settled down in her childhood hometown with her family.

To learn more about Cathryn please visit www.cathrynfox.com.

You can find her on Facebook. www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=692401057&ref=tn_tnmn Twitter @writercatfox

Or come chat with her at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wicked_writers/

Look for these titles by Cathryn Fox

Now Available:

Blood Ties

One on One

Dance of the Dragon

Pleasure Inn

All Tied Up

All Worked Up

All Lit Up

Coming Soon:

Boys of Beachville

A Lick of Flame

Bad Girl Therapy

Need the job done right? Get a handyman with the right…tools.

All Tied Up

© 2009 Cathryn Fox

Pleasure Inn, Book 1

Interior decorator Lindsay Bell jumped at the chance to help restore the old inn at Mason Creek.

What could be more fun than letting her imagination run wild on an unlimited budget? Eagerly she plans to turn her assigned room into a fantasy BDSM playground.

All she expected from her newly hired handyman was to help her tear down a support wall. She certainly didn’t expect Brad Caldwell to be so drop-dead gorgeous in a tool belt. When he proves to be a steady, hardworking, stand-up guy—unlike the men she’s dated—Lindsay has a new and wicked idea.

To take her new creation on a test drive down the road of their deepest, darkest, most delicious desires—and seduce her way into his heart.

Warning: Smokin’ hot sex with creative use of toys, and a dash of magic.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
All Tied Up: He shut the door. Lindsay’s eyes widened at the sound of the lock clicking in place. He could almost see her body stir to life. Almost hear her mind reeling with possibilities.

“What—”

In two long strides he closed the distance between them and pressed his fingers to her lips.

“Shh.”

He watched her throat work as she swallowed and knew, by the heated look in her eyes, her untamed passion and desires matched his. She wanted this as much as he did. No questions about it.

He gripped her slim waist and packaged her soft body against his. Christ, she felt so incredible in his arms, he could only imagine how wonderful she’d feel trapped between his legs. Nudging her feet with his, he backed her up until the rear of her knees hit the padded table. Eyes wide, questioning, her chest rose and fell with her erratic breathing.

He tugged her T-shirt out from her tight jeans. When his fingers connected with her soft skin, his brain nearly shut down. “I’m going to give you what you want, Lindsay.”

Her voice hitched, color bloomed high on her cheeks. “How do you know what I want?” He heard the intrigue in her voice and felt her hips push against him. It was a slight movement but hadn’t gone unnoticed.

He offered her a slow smile. “You’re going to have to trust me on that one.”

“I can’t possibly see—”

He pitched his voice low and demanded in a deep tone. “Take off your clothes. Nice and slow.”

He touched her arm and felt her body shake with excitement.

“You’ve got to be kidding me?” Her voice betrayed her emotions. He could see the passion, the invitation building in her eyes.

He shook his head. “Not even for a minute.”

“Brad—”

“Take them off, Lindsay. Now. Nice and slow like I told you. If you don’t follow the rules, I’m afraid you’ll be punished.”

He slid his hand between her legs and cupped her sex, just to prove just how serious he was.

An edgy laugh morphed into a heated moan. He noted the way her legs wobbled. “
Sweet mother
of God
,” she whispered under her breath. Then she starched her spine and met his glace. “What if I don’t want to?” Her voice lacked conviction. They both knew it.