More Than Protect You: A More Than Words Novella Page 14

  “Damn good. I don’t expect you to take my word for it, but—”

  “My brother likes you. That counts a lot with me. And Amanda trusts you. I see it on her face. That’s a feat. Based on what my wife has told me, the last couple of years Amanda cut nearly everyone out of her life—not just friends, but most of her family, too. She just doesn’t let anyone close. Stephen has had to fight just to get her to take his calls.”

  “Granted, I don’t know him, but the phone conversation we had? He behaved like an asswipe.”

  Noah laughs. “Do you have any siblings?”

  “No,” I admit.

  “When you’re the oldest, you feel as if it’s your role to protect the younger ones, especially your sister. My sister Samaria had a couple of bullies back in grade school, who I realize now probably had crushes on her. But boy was I pissed that anyone was messing with my sister, and I would have totally punched their lights out if anyone had let me.”

  Protecting a kid, sure, but… “Stephen should be more mature than a grade-schooler.”

  “He is. Reserve judgment until you actually meet him. He’s been concerned about Amanda. I think he was totally blindsided to find out that her boss, who was old enough to be her dad, had taken advantage of his position of power, coaxed her into bed, and gotten her pregnant.”

  I’m not telling Noah that wasn’t the case since it’s Mandy’s secret. But if that’s what Stephen believes, I can see how he might be worried I’ll use our isolation and my close proximity to seduce her into another mistake. “Thanks for the info.”

  Noah smiles. “You still think he’s an ass.”

  “He was that day. But I’ll take a wait-and-see approach.”

  “Thanks. Since Amanda trusts you after everything she’s been through, I’m guessing I can, too.” He cocks his head. “If she’s going to stay on the island, has she said anything about work? What kind is she looking for?”

  That’s a more difficult question. “I know she tried to find a job in LA, but after Barclay’s arrest…”

  Noah grimaces. “Listing her position as a felonious thief’s executive assistant probably didn’t look good on her resumé.”

  “Nope. And will it be any better on Maui?” I’m guessing not.

  “Do you know if she’s looking for another assistant job?”

  I shake my head. “We haven’t talked about it. Everything has happened so fast. We spent a lot of yesterday moving her to Masey’s vacation rental. Then she and Oliver tried to recover from being awake half the night.”

  “I’m sure. The thing is, Harlow has been running our non-profit, the Weston Foundation, dedicated to helping athletes of all ages, from all over the country, who have suffered long-term injury as a result of concussions and other head trauma to get the resources they need. She’s worked relentlessly to help everyone from children to pros get the right doctors, therapists, and facilities—not to mention the money—to rehabilitate.”

  “That sounds like a great cause.”

  “It is. We got to know each other because I suffered speech deficits after multiple concussions on the field, and she’s a trained speech therapist. She helped me tremendously, but I know too many people don’t know where to find the necessary resources and can’t afford them if they do. Harlow has been the heart and soul of this organization from day one. Her last secretary got married and moved to Florida two weeks ago. My wife has been tearing her hair out since. Think Amanda might be interested?”

  Would Harlow really want to hire the childhood friend who had an affair with her father? “I can’t speak for Mandy, but I don’t know of a reason she’d say no…except child care. Oliver—”

  “Would be welcome to come with her every day. We’ve hired a nanny for Nolan, who starts next week. If Amanda would be willing to pay her some, too, I don’t see why it wouldn’t work.”

  It sounds pretty perfect. “Run it by your wife. If she’s amenable, have her call Mandy and ask. Honestly, I think she’d be thrilled.”

  And in the space of ten minutes, a guy I just met but always admired on the field helped us both find income streams to get on our feet financially. And once my Colorado house sells, if Mandy will move in with me…we can start our future together.

  If she’s willing to spend the rest of her life with me. Right now, that’s the big if.

  A minute later, the women come down the stairs. After a little conversation, Mandy thanks Harlow and Noah profusely for agreeing to keep Oliver.

  Once she gives Harlow the diaper bag and kisses the boy’s head, I take her hand and lead her to the door. “Thanks. We’ll be back once we’ve managed more target practice. A couple of hours at most.”

  “Don’t hurry,” Noah assures. “Why don’t you come back around six? We can all have dinner then.”

  I turn to Mandy, but she’s already smiling. “That would be great. Thank you both.”

  Then we’re gone, heading back to the indoor range we visited yesterday.

  “That went well,” I say.

  A happy smile flits across her face. “Yeah. Harlow has always been the sister I didn’t have, and it hurt me so much to think she might never speak to me again because of my stupid choices.”

  “According to Noah, she’s missed you, too.”

  “She told me.” Mandy’s smile widens. “It was great to see her again. It felt like we had never been apart.”

  I don’t mention the jobs Noah and I discussed. If Harlow is willing to hire Mandy, that should come from her.

  At the range, I rent Mandy two different guns and let her fire mine. She’s much less hesitant and a lot more confident than yesterday. I don’t even have to instruct her; she simply loads both the new revolver and the semiautomatic’s magazine. With ammo in place on each, she fires away at the targets, hitting her paper intruder a lot more, some shots even dead center.

  “You did great,” I say as we head back to the Mustang.

  “It feels good. I’m actually believing that I could defend Oliver and myself if I had to. Hopefully, I won’t.” Once we slide into the car, Mandy reaches for my hand. “Thank you for this morning. For listening and not judging me too harshly. I’m not convinced my family would be half so understanding.”

  “But they don’t know the truth?”

  She shakes her head. “They don’t.”

  I scowl as I stop at a red light. “Why not tell them?”

  “Honestly? I don’t think I could stand the disappointment on my dad’s face. I always wanted to be a daddy’s girl…and he wasn’t interested.”

  With one sentence, the pieces of the puzzle come together. “You gravitated to Barclay because you could feel both like a daddy’s girl and a woman.”

  She winces. “That sounds really messed up, doesn’t it?”

  “It sounds human, baby. No one is perfect, and anyone who you tells you differently is selling something.”

  “Probably.”

  “I think you should level with your family. You’re hiding here and—”

  “I don’t want to move back to New York.”

  “Fair enough. But they’re still your family. They might understand a lot more than you think.”

  She’s quiet for a long minute. “I’ll think about it. Where are you taking me?”

  “Lunch?”

  “Please. I’m starved.”

  We find our way to a little café known for its homemade soups and breads and munch on a quick bite. Mandy isn’t saying much, but the way she keeps looking at me grips me by the throat. She’s got something on her mind, and I have a suspicion it’s big.

  “Out with it,” I demand. “What are you thinking?”

  “Why do you assume I’m thinking anything?” But her secretive half smile reaffirms that she is.

  I raise a brow. If she wants to play that game, fine. I’ll play along…for now. “Anywhere else you want to go? We don’t have to be back to Noah and Harlow’s for about five hours.”

  “To the villa?”

&
nbsp; I’m not sure what she’s up to, but I shrug. “If you want.”

  The ride there is quiet, but I sense her thoughts still churning. It’s fucking with my head.

  By the time I pull into the garage, close the massive door behind us, and climb out of the car, the air between us pings with tension.

  Inside, she pulls her phone from her purse, checks it, then sets it aside. “I should do laundry.”

  “Or we could brush up on your self-defense.”

  “We could, but…” She draws in a deep breath. “Tanner, I told you I’d give us some thought, and I have. You’ve protected me even when you knew I couldn’t pay you right away. You listened to me. You didn’t judge me. You’ve supported me. You’ve been everything I wanted Barclay to be, only better. While we should maybe see to other responsibilities, and we can if that’s what you want, but I’d rather you kiss me again…and maybe not stop this time.”

  Chapter Nine

  My heart starts revving instantly. I swallow back my excitement enough to ask the right questions. “You have no idea how much I want to, baby. Are you sure?”

  She crosses her arms over her chest. Through the nearby window, the sun slants in, lighting her blond hair with a halo and illuminating her skin with a glow. But she’s more than beautiful to me. It’s somehow sexy that, despite not having known her long, I know her truth—and the real her—probably better than anyone else.

  “Are you worried I’m repeating my history or making the same mistake again?”

  I don’t think so, but I want to make sure I understand. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, here I am again, throwing myself at an older man who—”

  “Stop there. First of all, you’re not throwing yourself at me; we’re talking together about the possibility of taking a forward step in our relationship, like adults. And that’s the second distinction. You’re an adult now. You understand what sex is and the ramifications of it. So to answer your question, no, I don’t think you’re making the same mistake again. I’m older than you, sure. But not old enough to be your father. And I’d never want to replace him in any way.”

  “I wouldn’t want you to. My dad and I have always had a complicated relationship, and we have to work that out. But my brother telling you I need a ‘daddy’ is his oversimplification of my desire to have the kind of man in my life who will protect me.”

  “I’ll do more than protect you, baby. Give me a little time, and I’m convinced that nothing will stop me from falling in love with you.”

  She sends me a tremulous smile as tears tremble on her lashes. “Give me time, and I don’t think I’ll be able to stop myself from falling in love with you, either.”

  Once I hear that, I can’t keep my hands off her anymore, so I wrap one palm around her nape. The other hand filters through the silken strands of her hair. “Does that mean you’ve thought more about us?”

  She lays her hands on my shoulders and sways closer, nodding. “That’s why I told you to kiss me.”

  “You also said not to stop. So that’s a yes?” I fuse my gaze to hers. “I want to be very clear.”

  “I know, and that’s another reason I don’t think I can stop myself from falling in love. You’re honest and honorable. And you’re ridiculously hot.” She laughs at herself. “Even if we’re crazy for thinking we can build a future together after knowing each other for a couple of days, I don’t care. It feels right.”

  “It does to me, too. So…we’re doing this?”

  “This?” She raises a brow. “If you mean sex, hopefully that’s a given.”

  I chuckle. “It is. But I meant life.”

  “Let’s try. I just don’t know how good I’ll be at it. I’ve never tried to spend my life with anyone.”

  “Hey, I have, and it didn’t end well.” I shrug. “Maybe I’ll suck at it again.”

  “Or we’ll learn together.” She presses closer. “You always try to make me feel better. I can’t tell you how much that means to me.”

  “The person you spend your life with should.” I caress her cheek, my work-roughened palm skimming her skin. “But I have to be honest, Mandy. Life with me won’t be luxurious. I know you’re used to—”

  “I’m used to everyone in my life with money assuming they can use it to bend me to their will, and I’m sick and tired of it. Whatever we have, we’ll earn together. That will mean far more to me than gold bathroom fixtures and trips to Paris.”

  I love her outlook. “Are you saying the French are overrated?”

  She grimaces. “Actually, Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and I’ll miss it. But I don’t need it the way I need you.”

  “Oh, baby, I need you, too.” I step closer again—and drop one hand to the strap of her summery dress. “I need to see you, feel you, sink into you.”

  She closes her eyes. “Yes.”

  “I need to feel like you’re mine.”

  “I want that.”

  I slide my fingers under her strap and slowly lift it off her shoulder. When I drop it, the thin strip of fabric hangs halfway down her arm. “Your first time was hurried.” Not to mention painful. “I want ours to be different, and we have all afternoon.”

  Mandy’s cheeks bloom with color. “I’d love that.”

  “Come with me.” I hold out my hand.

  She takes it without hesitation. I lead her to the big master bedroom overlooking the ocean and the mostly private beach. Even here the sun shines on her like she’s an angel. I feel so lucky that I’ll have her in my arms.

  “This is going to be intense, isn’t it?”

  With chemistry like ours? “Yeah.”

  I’ve intentionally blocked as many sexual thoughts of Mandy as I could. But now that she’s removed my mental barrier, a million lascivious thoughts flood my brain. But first, she asked me to kiss her.

  When I bend to her, she’s already waiting for me, eyes closed trustingly, lips soft and waiting. My blood surges, and I eliminate the distance between us until I lay my mouth over hers. She opens to me. Her sugary lips meld against mine as she moans. She’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted.

  My fingers tighten around her nape as I nudge her open wider and kiss her deeper. Then I use my other hand to lower the remaining strap from her other shoulder. I’m reluctant to break the kiss and leave her mouth, but I need to look into her eyes, study her…peer into her soul. Is she really ready for what’s next?

  Her baby blues have gone darker. They’re full of invitation.

  Yes, she’s ready.

  And her damn cotton dress is barely clinging to the swells of her breasts. One deep breath, and I’ll be able to see everything it’s concealing.

  I swallow. “Mandy…”

  “Don’t stop there.” Her breaths sound rougher. “I need your hands on me, Tanner.”

  Oh, I’ll be putting my mouth everywhere, too. “Nice and slow, baby. I want to give you the first time you should have had.”

  Something more than acceptance crosses her face. It looks like need. And gratitude. That’s what I’m seeing. Her expression is so soft and angelic…but I see the hint of something devilish there, too.

  My heart thumps as I lift my hand to the fabric straining between her breasts—then give it a tug.

  The cotton slides down, exposing a strapless something lacy that’s not quite a bra. It adheres to her curves, but I can see straight through it. Her taut pink nipples nearly make me swallow my tongue.

  Somehow, I manage to tear my stare away and back to her face. “Oh, baby…”

  “I’ll get rid of this.” She reaches behind her back to unclasp the transparent scrap of undergarment.

  Gently, I grab her wrists. “Let me.”

  With a nod, she releases the band, then slides her palms up my arms to my shoulders, closing her eyes, giving herself over. That’s even sexier, the trust she’s placing in me. I’m so damn hard that my first impulse is to toss her on the bed, cover her body with mine, and shove my way i
nside her. But there will be time for that later. Now is about her. It’s about building us.

  I bend and brush my lips up her neck as I work the clasps open at the small of her back. It falls away as I lift her chin to me and seize her lips. Mandy is soft and open again, this time welcoming me with passion, too. My other hand glides down her body, pausing to cradle her breast and thumb her taut nipple. As she gasps and clings tighter, I skim down to her hip, settling my hand under her dress, then begin to peel it away until it falls to her ankles.

  I’m so damn torn. I want to keep kissing her sweet mouth, dive even deeper into it while reveling in every catch of her breath, at the same time I want to relish every inch of her smooth, pearly skin I just revealed.

  Mandy makes the decision for me when she eases away from our kiss with heavy-lidded eyes and kicks off her shoes. Then she stands before me, and I can hardly breathe. She’s not perfect, but she’s so damn female and lush. And she’s nearly heart-poundingly bare. Visually, I follow the lean line of her naked torso from the hint of her ribs, swoop into the soft curve of her waist, then out again to the jut of her hips where her small white lace panties cling. The neat little bow in the middle of the band, flirting so deliciously close to her pussy, nearly makes me lose my mind.

  “You’re staring. I know I’ve still got an extra ten pounds I can’t seem to lose after Oliver.”

  I lay a finger over her lips. “You don’t need to. You’re beautiful. I love that you have breasts just the right size to nestle into my palms.” As I cup them both, I drop a kiss to her shoulder. “And I love that you have hips and thighs I’ll be able to wrap my hands around.”

  “And I have plenty of ass,” she quips.