Scandalous Heroes Box Set (24 page)

“Shut up, Godric. I don’t have the
hots
for her. I just am intrigued by her.”

Godric snorted his disbelief. “Whatever. Just be nice to her when she’s here. I don’t want to have to pay her more just because you want to be an ass.”

“Don’t you pay the company she works for?”

“She’s freelance. Damn good at her job and well worth what I will be paying.” He cocked an eyebrow at his brother. “Assuming
you
don’t cost me more.”

“Freelance, huh?”
Okay, Affrica O’Shea, I’ll be ready for you next time.

Chapter Two

Click. Click. Click
.

Affrica snapped shot after shot of the young businessman, Godric Leighton. She moved around him, getting all angles from the pose behind his desk.

“Good,” she said as she lowered her camera. “I think we need to get some of you doing something aside from being inside the clubhouse or your office. Maybe out playing golf, smiling, I don’t know, something that looks less stuffy.”

Godric grinned. “Less stuffy? Okay, let’s go grab a cart and see where it takes us, Ms. O’Shea.” His eyes twinkled with humor.

“Please call me Affrica.” She shouldered her case and smiled. “I hope you know how to drive one.”

“Well, well, well, isn’t this cozy?” Reeve’s voice reached them.

“Hello, Reeve,” Godric said, rolling his eyes.

“Godric,” he answered. “Ms. O’Shea, it is a pleasure to see you again.”

Affrica swallowed. The man was downright gorgeous. Today, his stylish mirrored sunglasses hid those incredible brown eyes. His hair looked so soft she wanted to touch it. He wore dark blue slacks and a white polo shirt. Both hands were in his pockets, and she could see the muscles in his arms. She ran her tongue over her teeth as she fought to control her reaction to him.

“Morning,” she said, the words accented with her lilt. Her eyes barely held his. “Ready then?” Affrica asked Godric.

“Where are you two off to in such high spirits?” Reeve walked over and stood right in front of Affrica as if he dared her to try and ignore him. “And can anyone come along, or is it a private party?”

“Affrica?” Godric asked.

Damn these good-looking brothers.
Shrugging, she looked at Godric and said, “We can always take some with the two of you, and if he is pleasant enough, I guess it would be good to have family in the picture as well.”

Godric smirked.

“Pleasant enough!” Reeve stepped even closer. “I’ll have you know, I’m very pleasant company.”

“Humph, perhaps. But I’m not drunk nor am I a hooker, so I don’t have anything other than our past meetings to base it on. I don’t care if you come, just don’t ruin the shots.” Affrica stepped around him and walked away without waiting for an answer.

“And you wanted me to be nice to her,” Reeve snapped.

“Still do, Reeve,” Godric said before walking up the hall after Affrica. Reeve followed.

Smiling at their interaction, Affrica walked outside without turning around. Reeve Leighton was just too handsome for his own good. Today, he smelled like sandalwood and something else she couldn’t place.

“Affrica." Godric’s voice filtered over to her. “Hang on a second.”

She paused, still facing forward. Honestly, she had been shocked when the phone call from Godric Leighton came.

What she had heard about this country club didn’t tell her that she seemed to be the type he would want working for him. When he’d explained that his eldest brother and her brother worked together and had recommended her, she’d agreed. Affrica was in the area anyway. Now, she felt bad for having thought what she had about Godric and his business. He was truly a remarkable man.

Godric paused beside her. “We don’t have to bring him, if you don’t want to.”

Affrica smiled. “No worries; family is good to have in some pictures, so it’ll be fine.”

Reeve drove up to them in a cart and stopped. He turned his head toward her, and she felt his eyes looking at her even though they remained hidden. “Someone call for a ride?” he asked.

She exchanged amused grins with Godric before shaking her head. Reeve Leighton was an enigma. Devilishly charming one second and downright rude the next.

Grabbing her bag, Affrica set it in the back of the cart and climbed in, leaving the seat beside the handsome Reeve open for his brother to occupy. The rear seat of this one faced back so she stared at where they had been, not at the two men in the front.

“Why are you sitting back there?” Reeve questioned. “You should be up front.”

And sit beside you? No way. You are too tempting for
my
own good.
“I’m fine back here. So long as you can drive a cart safely.”

“Trust me, sweetcheeks, you’ll never be in more capable hands.”

Affrica rolled her eyes as she heard Godric groan and mutter something under his breath. She desperately wanted to know what he said when Reeve chuckled.

His deep, rumbling laughter did something to her insides. There was a twinge of longing that settled over her. Her skin prickled, and it was almost as if she was taking photos in a dangerous place, as opposed to sitting in the back of a golf cart at a country club.

Reeve Leighton was a dangerous man. He wielded some kind of power over her, and she knew better than to try and figure it out. His kind was not good for her.

“Stop here,” Godric ordered.

Reeve did as he commanded. Affrica took in the sight before her. Her breath left her in a slow sigh. She had never had a use for golf courses, but she had to admit, this was gorgeous.

Reeve had stopped them along a stunning lake. The intense blue against the vibrant green of the grass created a beautiful image. Rolling hills, perfectly manicured, it really was breathtaking, in a non-natural, man-made kind of way.

Grabbing her bag, Affrica stepped off the cart and looked at the two men standing there. Godric was handsome but he didn’t do anything in the way of riling up her senses. He wasn’t as dark as his brother Reeve, nor was he blondish like Scott.

His hair was just a normal brown, and his eyes were a nice shade of blue, but again, his appearance did nothing to or for her. He was attractive but she was not in any danger of tripping up over her words around him.

However, if she cut her eyes to the left just a bit. That man…he did everything Godric couldn’t do for her. The hair, eyes she knew were deep, rich chocolaty brown made her insides quiver, the overconfident tilt of his head and the smirk on his face—all of it—just screamed sexy, hot, overbearing, and Affrica couldn’t believe how much this man turned her on.

As if he knew what she was thinking, Reeve tipped his head down so their gazes could meet and winked at her before pushing his sunglasses back up over his eyes. She shivered despite the warmth of the day.
Damn him.

She knelt down by her bag and opened it, taking out her camera. “Let’s get started.”

Reeve was glad he wore sunglasses. That way he could stare unabashed at Affrica O’Shea. She was so elegant, her moves effortless.

He sat on the cart and watched her interact with his youngest brother. Each time she sent Godric a smile, Reeve ground his back teeth together. He didn’t want her to like his brother. He wanted her to like him.

But he couldn’t make it so he didn’t insult her when he opened his mouth. It was like he tried to speak and turned stupid. Everything he said seemed to come out all wrong, an act that only succeeded in getting her dander up.

Not that I don’t admire that spark about her, but I want her to look at me as something other than the enemy.

“Get over here, Reeve,” Godric shouted.

Reeve did and was soon in the pictures as well. It didn’t take long, and he found himself relaxing and having a really good time as Affrica continued to snap away.

When they got back in the cart, he sat, in the back this time, and listened to the lighthearted banter going on between Godric and Affrica. Her voice, with her lilt, made him smile. Closing his eyes, he wondered what she would sound like in the throes of pleasure. How his name would sound coming off her lips. He groaned as his cock hardened at the image of him and her in bed together.

Affrica was entirely intoxicating. He really didn’t know how else to explain it. If how he felt was how Scott had felt when he met Alexis, then Reeve understood why his brother had acted like an idiot. Shifting his butt on the seat, he tried to will his erection to subside. It didn’t work. The wind blew the scent of Affrica’s shampoo to his nose. Or her lotion, he wasn’t sure. It smelled faintly like coconuts.

With a glance over his shoulder, he frowned as he saw her place her hand on Godric’s arm. That was not an acceptable move on her part. He bit back his initial response and closed his eyes again. Somehow, he knew saying even more stupid things wasn’t the way to impress the saucy vixen.

They stopped again, and Reeve remained in the cart and watched as she snapped more photos of Godric interacting with some of the patronage. A grin crossed his face as Reeve relaxed and chatted with a staff member who brought over some bottled water.

“You joining us, Reeve?” Godric broke into his conversation.

“Where to?” he asked, even though he knew he was going wherever she would be.

“Lunch. But only if you promise to behave yourself.” Godric’s blue eyes narrowed at him.

“I’ll be on my best behavior. Scout’s honor.” He held up three fingers by his shoulder.

“I didn’t know you were a Girl Scout, Reeve.” Affrica’s lilting voice wound around him and sparked his desire.

He snapped his gaze over to her. “If I spent time with Girl Scouts, it wasn’t because I was one.” He leered. “Why would you say that?”

She shook her head. “You’re giving their salute.”

“How would you know? Were you a scout?” He grinned, took off his sunglasses and winked at her. “I bet you would make that look hot.”

She stuck her tongue out at him, and his heart felt lighter than he could recall it being in a long, long time.

“I was ne’er a scout. I’ve just taken lots of pictures of them.”

He smiled. “Can I see those pictures?”

Godric interrupted, “Let’s go eat.”

Reeve didn’t like the way Affrica turned her gaze to his brother. She sent Godric a smile that only solidified the hardness in Reeve’s slacks.

He sat there and watched as they walked off together toward the main building. His eyes situated themselves upon her swaying ass as it moved in her black cargo pants.

The increasing pressure in his own alerted him to the idea he should not do that. Shoving back his lust, Reeve got out and jogged over to them, positioning himself next to Affrica as they entered the dining area.

She stiffened beside him, but she never said a word to him about how he crowded her. In fact, she never even spared him a glance, just walked silently and proudly between him and his brother.

“So how long have you been in photography?” Reeve asked as they waited for the server.

“Since fore’er, it seems,” she said, taking a sip of her ice tea with lemon. “I dunno, really. I just know that me da gave me a camera one year, and I loved it. And so made a career out of it. Seemed the logical thing to do.”

“And they’re okay with you going into those dangerous areas to get those shots?” Godric asked.

Affrica smiled, and Reeve’s heart skipped a beat.
Why couldn’t she be smiling like that for me?

“Well, not always. But I do my best to be careful. I just remind them that their son does much more dangerous things than I do on a regular basis.”

“That doesn’t matter,” Godric said.

She frowned. “Why not?”

“Because, you are their daughter,” Reeve answered. “And should be protected and safe at all times.”

“I’m sorry, but I dinna believe my life is worth more to my parents than my brother’s.” She moved her drink when the server came with her lime-grilled shrimp salad on spinach. “
Go raibh maith agat
.”

“What did you say?” Reeve questioned.

She blinked a few times. “Thank you. I’m sorry. I don’t always remember people don’t necessarily speak Gaeilge. My apologies.”

How would it sound to have her whispering in that language in my ear as we made love?
Reeve shifted on his chair and tried to focus on his steak. Unfortunately, for him, the image of her full lips closing around her fork wouldn’t give him any respite.

A sharp kick in his shin snapped his attention over to his brother who glowered at him. The message on Godric’s face was clear; it told him to stop staring at her. With a sigh, Reeve tried to focus back on the conversation. She was telling of some past trips she’d done.

Reeve noticed she was much more open and relaxed with Godric. She didn’t ignore
his
questions, but there was a definite terseness about her when she answered Reeve. He also knew Godric had noticed but thankfully was being silent about it and not bringing attention to that fact.

They ate some dessert, and again, Reeve found himself wishing he was the utensil she used. His cock throbbed painfully in his slacks, and he was glad he was at the table.
Liar, you wish you were somewhere alone with that delectable looking woman,
his brain taunted.

“Thank you, Affrica,” Godric said as he stood, “for doing this for me.”

“You’re most welcome. I’ll send the photos to you in a few days, and then you can okay the ones I think would be best for the article.” She also got to her feet, and Reeve swallowed then took another drink of his ice water.

“It’s been a pleasure getting to know you,” his brother told her.

“It has been a pleasure. You have my card, so if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to give me a call.”

She turned her gaze to Reeve, and he held her stare, loving the almost patchwork of different browns her eyes held. He never let his gaze leave hers as he, too, vacated his seat.

“I’ll walk you out,” he announced.

“Not necessary,” Affrica told him.

“Oh, I think it is. Godric, thanks for lunch; we’ll be leaving now.” Reeve bent down and picked up her bag, amazed at how heavy it really was. “Let’s go.” He gestured toward the door and gloated inside as she didn’t offer up any more argument and just did as he had told her.