Off the Record (17 page)

“Not after what?” she asks.

“Not after ‘none of your damn business’.  Let’s just say she has no reason to believe I would bring another woman here while she’s staying in my home.”

Renner shrugs her shoulders. “If you say so, but I know what I saw. She’s probably in her room right now, writing some really bad shit about you banging some flight attendant.”

“You’re full of crap, Ren. Besides, it’s not true and she knows better than to write something about me without checking her facts.”

Renner gives me a sympathetic smile and pats my hand. “You’re a moron, Linc. Just thought you should know.”

Renner and I finished our meal and she helped me clean the kitchen. We finished off the bottle of wine while we continued to talk, mostly about her troubles with the pilot. She sure knew how to pick the bad ones.

I gave Renner my bedroom and I’m snuggled on the couch, watching ESPN. I wonder about Ever. I haven’t heard a peep out of her since she went to her room a few hours ago. Did she really think I had brought home a woman? That I would do that after what we shared in Oklahoma? I thought I had made myself clear...that the timing wasn’t right between us that night. But I thought my implication was that it would be right at some point. So how could she think I would screw that up by fucking around with another woman? Right in front of her?

I sigh. I don’t understand the minds of women. That’s probably why I never had a serious relationship. That, and with my schedule throughout the year, it’s hard to develop any serious feelings toward someone.

And why am I even thinking about the word “relationship”?  Do I see Ever as being something more than a fuck? I must...otherwise I would have taken advantage of what she had been offering me right after I got her off twice.

I remember, a long time ago, my dad had told me that anything that was worth doing, was worth doing right. I thought that was great advice and I applied that to my career. It’s why I work so hard, why I train so hard. And perhaps some of that advice is actually bleeding through into my actions with Ever. Maybe that is why I am taking my time with her.

I mean, fuck. It’s not like I envisioned us going out to romantic dinners or engaging in philosophical discussions to get to know each other. I’ve learned plenty since we’ve been living together these past few weeks.

I’ve learned that I like Ever. A lot. And I suppose my actions are telling me that I want more than a one night stand. Besides, given the fact that Ever would be staying with me for several more weeks, there would be no “one night” about it.

I know without a doubt that once I taste the sweetness she has to offer me, one time will not be enough.

Oh, that son of a bitch!

I can’t believe he’d have the gall to bring home a woman. I slam the filter in the coffee pot and punch the “on” button. I’ll need more than one cup before we go running this morning, because I got jack for sleep last night.

And when I woke up to go to the bathroom this morning, I ran straight into Renner coming out of Linc’s bedroom. She had apparently been up early, probably for a flight she had to catch. She came out wearing a fresh uniform, with her hair and makeup all expertly done. She was perfectly put together and I felt like a troll next to her.

She even had the perky balls to say, “Good morning, Ever.”

I did nothing but grunt at her and hurry into the bathroom. By the time I got out, she was gone. Linc was apparently still asleep, probably worn out after an evening of hot sex.

Gah. What the hell is wrong with me? Why should I be mad? Why should I even expect different of him?

I’m so confused. I’ve been plagued with insecurity and doubt since that night in Oklahoma. He acted like he wanted me, but then he walked away. The way he looks at me sometimes, I can see desire and yearning. But then I came in last night, and he was holding that woman’s hand. He had a warm, soft look in his eyes. I had seen that same look, just before he went down on me. And he was telling her how beautiful and sexy she was.

What a fucking jerk!

When the coffee is finally done, I pour myself a cup. I’m still so angry, I manage to slosh a good bit over the counter, which I wipe up in between curses. I finally raise the cup to my lips, hoping that first jolt of caffeine will help to put me in a better mood.

“Good morning, Sunshine.”

Fuck! I spill coffee all done the front of my t-shirt.

“Jesus, Linc. Don’t sneak up on people...it’s rude.”

He just laughs.

Asshole!

“Who peed in your Wheaties?” he has the nerve to ask.

“No one. I just didn’t get any sleep last night.” My voice sounds grouchy and I hate myself for showing any feelings about the matter.

“Neither did I.”

I turn to look at him and my jaw hangs open. I can’t believe he’d throw that in my face. Does he seriously think I want to hear about his sexual escapades keeping him up all night.

Asshole, asshole, asshole!

Linc side steps me and heads to the coffee pot. He pours himself a cup and looks at me. “I wish you would have joined us for dinner last night. You missed some great salmon.”

My jaw drops further. I had been prepared to ignore this subject today but he keeps rubbing my nose in it. Acid drips from my voice, “I’m sorry...I’m not one to crash in on dates. Three’s a crowd and all that.”

“Date?”

“Yeah...you, that red-head...romantic dinner with wine. The deep look you were giving her as I walked in.”

Linc’s lips curve up in a smirk. “All be damned. Renner was right about you.”

Rage causes my blood to boil. I practically screech at him, “You two talked about me?”

The look on Linc’s face becomes wary. “Yes. We talked about you. I normally talk to my friends about what is going on in my life.”

I snort. “Oh, is that what you’re calling the women you bang these days? Friends? I suppose we’re friends, but we haven’t gotten around to the banging part.” I cannot help the flurry of words that are pouring out of me. I can’t stand the nonchalance with which he is treating this situation.

“Ever...last night—”

“Don’t, Linc. Don’t you dare try to explain it away. You know...I had come to accept the way you are with women. Hell, I was willing to throw myself in the long line of women waiting to get a piece of you. But I wasn’t good enough for you the other night. And it didn’t take you long to find someone else. Someone better, apparently. I’m sorry I don’t meet up to your standards—”

My words are cut off as Linc stalks over to me and grabs my face with his hands. I have no time to brace for the assault he places upon my lips. His mouth covers mine in a blazing hot kiss. His tongue is in my mouth and he’s backing me right up into the kitchen counter. My coffee cup falls to the floor, splattering both of our legs with coffee before shattering. But I could care less.

Linc has his entire body pressed into mine and he has taken absolute possession of my mouth. All of the thoughts and anger fly out of my head, and my hands grab onto his shirt to desperately keep him in place.

I’ve never been kissed like this before. It is hard, possessive and as our teeth knock together, I realize somewhat brutal. Just before he ends the kiss, Linc grabs hold of my bottom lip with his teeth, biting a groan out of me. Then he softly sucks on it before pulling away.

My chest is heaving with the effort to breathe, and although Linc has pulled his lips from mine, his erection is still pressed into my belly. I itch to move my hand down and take hold of it.

“Ever,” Linc begins, looking straight into my eyes. “Renner was not a date. She’s my cousin. One of my best friends. We grew up together and she’s like a sister to me. In fact, she’s the one that threw the shoe that split my chin open.”

“She clocked you with her shoe?” Images of her launching a stiletto at him fill my mind, and I have to wonder what Linc did to make a grown woman do that.

He chuckles. “Yes. I believe she was seven years old when she threw one of her Mary Jane’s at me in a fit of temper. Lesson learned...never piss off a red head.”

I can’t even respond. Humiliation runs through every vein in my body and I groan. I try to pull out of his arms so I can run to my bedroom and hide from the shame of my rant, but he holds me tight. So I do the next best thing and I bury my face in his chest. I’m sure the heat from my cheeks is burning a hole through his t-shirt. I’m not so far gone in my mortification though that I fail to notice the hard muscles of his chest under my hot cheek.

I can feel him give me a kiss on top of my head, then he steps back. He’s holding on to my upper arms, otherwise I would have bolted.

“That was quite a display of jealousy you gave me there, Miss Montgomery.”

My head snaps up and I glare at him. “I was not jealous!”

He merely raises an eyebrow at me and I clamp my mouth shut. Oh, God I was so jealous! I give him a sheepish grin and he chuckles at me.

Then he leans in and captures my lips again. Except this time...it’s soft. Sweet. Full of promise of something more to come.

To my dismay, it’s also way too short.

When he pulls back, he’s looking at me solemnly. “Ever...don’t let there be any doubt that I want you. Only you. You’re all I fucking think about.”

Oh my. My toes practically curl in my running shoes with the want and frustration in his voice. All of the doubts that I had have fled. He truly does want me. And God help me, but I want him too.

Badly.

I take a shaky breath in and let it out. “But...we’re going to wait?”

“Yes,” he says as he gives me one more soft kiss. “We’re going to wait. I have something special planned.”

I let out a sigh as he grins at me. I’ll have to be satisfied with holding on to the anticipation of the day that Linc decides the time is right. “So be it. Let’s go run off this sexual frustration then.”

When we come back from our run, I head toward the bathroom to take a shower. Linc surprises me by grabbing my hand.