With Me In Seattle: Bundle Two (56 page)

I bite my lip and nod reluctantly. “I made a mess.”

“You can clean it up.”

“You think?” I ask hopefully. “Matt and I haven’t been seeing each other long, so to bring up kids now was relationship suicide.”

Gail laughs and pats my shoulder. “It might have been early, yes, but I don’t think Matt’s thoughts were far from yours. One thing you have to understand about my Matthew: Honesty is paramount to him. Maybe it’s the cop in him, but he will respect you going to him and being honest. Then you two can take it from there.”

“Why did you choose today to come see me?” I ask, curious.

“Because Matt is a grouchy ass, and after two weeks, I figured you needed a nudge.”

I giggle and nod. “I have some thinking to do, but I’ll go talk to him soon.”

“Good. Now, about those cupcakes.”

“Here, let me box some up for you.”

***

“Thank you, dear. Good luck.”

Gail nods and walks down the block, carrying her box of cupcakes.

I take a deep breath and lock the door, then set about cleaning up for the day, letting my mind wander.

She’s right. I don’t have to give birth to children for them to be mine. Why hadn’t I ever thought of it before?

And then I remember.

Because my whole life, it was drilled into me by my parents and doctors: You’ll never have children.

But maybe, just maybe, someday, I might.

I grin and jump when my phone vibrates in my pocket.

“Hello?”

“Hey, gorgeous.”

“Ben!” I grin and climb the stairs to my apartment, happy to hear from my old friend. “How are you?”

“I’m great. I’m in Seattle for the week. Have dinner with me tonight.” His voice is warm and familiar, and I realize I’ve missed him like crazy.

“I would love that. What time?”

“I can head your way now.”

“I’ll be ready.”

Ben was my boyfriend in my early twenties when I still lived back home. I was overweight and not taking care of myself, and the handsome personal trainer had loved me anyway, and helped me get healthy.

Not because he didn’t like me the way I was, but because he wanted me to be healthy and whole, and I’d loved him for that.

Ben was my first love.

And now he’s one of my best friends.

I fix my hair and makeup and change into a lacy pink tank top with a flowy white skirt and sandals, and when I pull the door open for him, he scoops me into his arms and turns a circle in my living room.

“You look wonderful!” I exclaim and kiss his cheek as he sets me back on my feet.

“You look…hungry.” He laughs. “And beautiful, as always.”

“I am hungry. Feed me, please.”

“My pleasure. Mexican?”

“Mmm…yes.” We jog down my steps and walk up the block to one of our favorite Mexican places in Seattle. “What are you in town for?”

“A job interview.”

“You’re moving here?” I ask excitedly.

“Hoping to, yes. I’m never going to do more with my career back home. We both know that.”

“You should have warned me that you were coming.” I smack his arm playfully as the hostess seats us in a booth against the wall. Someone else drops off chips, salsa and water, and I greedily dig in.

“You haven’t lost your appetite,” he observes drily.

“Never,” I agree and grin. “Seriously, why didn’t you give me a heads-up?”

“I thought I’d surprise you.” His hazel eyes are happy as he smiles at me. “How have you been?”

“Meh,” I reply and shrug, feeling much better now that I’ve had the encouraging talk with Gail and am now having dinner with my dear friend.

“Explain the
meh.
”

“Oh, it’s a long, drama-filled story.”

“The best kind.” Ben winks and pops a chip in his mouth.

I tilt my head and watch him. He’s not just handsome, although with his muscles for days, light hazel eyes and square jaw, he’s certainly one hot number. Ben is a beautiful man, inside and out.

“You’re a good person, Benjamin.”

“Uh, don’t say that, Nic. That only leads to ‘but,’ and we broke up a long time ago.”

I toss my head back and laugh hard, then throw a chip at him. “Don’t be a douche. I was paying you a compliment.”

“I see that you’ve kept up with your workouts. You look great.” He tilts his head, watching me closely. “But I know you, and you have circles under your eyes, so spill it.”

I sigh and lean my chin in my hand. “I’m an idiot.”

“Agreed.”

“You’re a jerk.”

“Typically, yes.”

I laugh again and shake my head. “Stop it. You are not. There is a guy.”

“Do I want to know this?” His handsome face cringes. “I mean, I know we’re just good friends, but I don’t think you’re supposed to know who your ex-girlfriend is sleeping with. It’s weird.”

“How do you know I’m sleeping with him?”

“Are you?”

“Yeah.”

“Now I know.”

“Jealous?” I ask with a raised brow.

He sits back and actually thinks about it, surprising me. I expected a witty comeback, but instead he just answers honestly.

“Not jealous in the way I would have been five years ago, but worried because you mean a lot to me and I don’t want to have to kill him for hurting you.”

“I hurt him, Ben.” I sigh and push my fingers through my short hair.

“I like the haircut, by the way.”

“Oh, thanks. It was time for a change.” I take another bite of chip. “Anyway, I fell hard and fast for him. He’s a great guy. A cop.” I tell him all about Matt and his family, how we met,
everything.
And it feels good because I haven’t been able to tell anyone everything about my relationship with Matt, and I know that Ben won’t judge me.

“So, aside from the kinky sex, which sounds like a lot of fun to me, but makes me very uncomfortable in relation to
you
”—he cringes again—“he sounds like a solid guy.”

“He is.”

“So what’s the issue?”

“I broke up with him.”

“Why?”

I bite my lip and stare at the half-eaten basket of chips.

“Nicole…” Ben lowers his head to catch my gaze. “Why?”

“I thought he deserved better than me,” I whisper. “With my medical stuff and everything.”

Ben’s brow creases in surprise. “Nic, I’ve been around the block a time or two, and I’m telling you right now, there are few better than you.”

My jaw drops in surprise. “If you propose right now, I’m going to throw this margarita in your face.”

He laughs and shakes his head. “My girlfriend might have an issue with that.”

“Girlfriend!” I squeak. “You haven’t told me about a girlfriend! Is she here or in Wyoming?”

“She’s in Wyoming, but if I get the job here, I’m hoping she’ll move out here with me.”

“Who is she? Do I know her?”

“We’ll get to her later.” He waves it aside and reaches across the table to take my hand in his large one. “Do you love him?”

“Yeah. But to be honest, his family, although they’re great, they are damn intimidating. Half of them are celebrities, Ben. There’s money, and they’re all beautiful and just…I
read
about these kinds of people.”

“Are they assholes?”

“No.” I shake my head emphatically. “They’re really nice. I mean, they’re protective of each other, and there were some curious looks and questions, but they were great about making me feel welcome.”

“Good.” He nods. “Not all families are like yours.”

“My family isn’t that bad,” I reply softly. “They just don’t pay much attention to each other.”

“So being around a family that
does
pay attention is new.” Ben chuckles and shakes his head. “I always wondered why you weren’t one of those girls who calls or texts all the time, always in my way. For a while, I thought you just weren’t interested.”

“No, I guess it’s just not in my nature to have to always be in someone’s back pocket.” I smile and squeeze his hand. “You know I was interested.”

“Yeah, and then you decided to go to culinary school and break my heart.”

“I’m sorry,” I murmur. “I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“We got over it,” Ben replies with a shrug. “So you know you’re going to have to apologize to the guy for being a dumb-ass.”

“Yeah.” I laugh. “There will most likely be groveling involved.”

“Nah, don’t stoop to groveling, babe.” He winks and takes a sip of water. “So what are you going to do about it?”

“I’m going to talk to him. Probably tomorrow.”

Ben nods and then looks up at someone who’s approached the table.

I glance up, expecting to see the waiter, but instead, my eyes collide with a very angry blue gaze.

“Matt.” Holy shit. I pull my hand out of Ben’s, but Matt’s gaze follows my hand, not missing it.

Not missing a thing, I’m sure.

“Nicole,” he returns, coldly but softly. “I’d like to have a word with you privately, please.” He glances down at Ben, who grins and offers his right hand to shake.

“Hi, I’m Ben.”

He doesn’t clarify exactly
who
he is, which exasperates me and seems to amuse the hell out of Ben.

“I’m Matt.” He shakes Ben’s hand, out of manners hammered home by Gail more than anything, I’m sure, and pins me in his hard stare.

“Now.”

Chapter Nineteen

Matt leads me behind him, through the restaurant and down a short hallway to the restrooms. He opens the men’s room door and when he sees that no one is inside, he pulls me in with him and flips the deadbolt.

“Matt…”

“Two weeks.” He cages me in, my back against the door and his hands planted on either side of my head. “We haven’t spoken in two weeks, and now you’re out with some new guy?”

“It’s not what it looks like…”

“What it looks like”—he lowers his face closer to mine. His eyes are feral, angrier than I’ve ever seen them, and he’s panting—“is the love of my life allowing another man to hold her hand over dinner and flirt with her. What the fucking hell, Nic?”

“He’s just a friend,” I insist and glare at him, but my stomach quivers at the feel of him so close to me. “He’s a very good friend.”

He growls and plants his mouth on mine, not gently, not carefully, but with hunger and lust, as though he’s been without water for days and I’m a mirage in the desert. He cups my face in his hands and plunders my mouth, his tongue seeking my own. He bites my lower lip and then plunders again as his hands glide down my sides to my hips and thighs, where he gathers the soft material in his fists, yanking it up around my waist before ripping my panties in two, throwing them over his shoulder.

“You are
mine.
I stayed away like I promised I would, but I’m done, Nic.” His voice has softened, but it’s still intense. His hand glides up the inside of my thigh as he leans his forehead on my own, his eyes clenched closed. His hand drifts higher until his fingers graze my lips and circle my clit gently.

“I can feel how fucking wet you are, little one, but apparently I need to remind you who you belong to.”

He boosts me up against the wall and presses his denim-covered cock against my core, rocking against me, making me gasp and groan. Hell yes, I’m his! And suddenly, he can’t get inside me fast enough. I don’t care that we’re in the restroom of a restaurant. I need him. Now.

He leans back to unfasten his jeans, unleashes his cock and very gently rubs the head of his hard dick over my clit and through my folds, until he slips inside me, burying himself as deep as he can go. He pulls both my hands over my head and pins them with one of his hands, supports my ass with the other and proceeds to fuck me hard and fast, panting and growling. He bites my neck, leaving a mark, I’m sure, then kisses me again, until we both have to break away to breathe.

“I told you before, I’ll never share you, sweetheart, and I meant it.” He releases my hands to cup my face in his palm, brushing the apple of my cheek with his thumb.

God, he’s consuming me. I can feel the frustration rolling off him in waves, and while his movements are urgent, he’s still gentle, careful not to hurt me.

He’d never hurt me.

He leans his forehead against mine and in a low voice commands, “Come.”

And I can’t help it, I do. Having him touch me, inside me, is my undoing, and I come hard, bucking my hips and clenching around him.

“There is nothing sexier than watching you come,” he groans and explodes inside me.

We’re both panting, and I’m quivering from the aftershocks of both of our orgasms. Before pulling out of me or even setting me back on the floor, he grips my chin in his hand and keeps my gaze pinned to his.

“You have five minutes to get rid of the asshole and get in my car. You are already spending the night tied to my bed, but you take even a second longer and you’ll be blindfolded as well.”

I gape at him as he pulls out of me, tucks himself away and sets his watch. He turns to the sink, wets a paper towel and returns to me, kneeling at my feet, cleaning the insides of my thighs where his semen has streamed out of me. He straightens my skirt, tosses the towel away, stands and kisses me thoroughly and completely, then takes my hand in his and leads me out of the bathroom back to my table.

When we arrive, Ben is grinning wider than I’ve ever seen him.

Matt leans in and kisses my cheek, then whispers in my ear, “The clock is ticking. I’ll see you outside,” and then he’s gone.

“So, are things resolved?” Ben asks, watching Matt walk away.

“Uh, I think the groveling is about to come sooner than I expected,” I reply in embarrassment. “I’m sorry, Ben, but…”

“No, don’t be sorry. I’ll be here all week. We’ll catch up another day.”

I lean in and kiss his cheek. “Thank you.”

I grab my purse and hurry out of the restaurant to find Matt parked in front of the entrance, the engine running, and waiting for me.

I climb into the passenger seat and watch him warily. “I’m here.”

“That’s a good start,” he replies and pulls away from the restaurant toward his own apartment.

“Where are we going?”

“Home.”

“Why?”

The look he sends me is hurt and angry, making me sink back into the seat. “You and I have some things to work out. The first of which being you don’t go out on dates with anyone but me.”