Baby: A Linear Tactical Romantic Suspense Standalone Read online

  The thing he’d always loved most about this truck was the wide bench seat. In high school, he’d been able to cram three or four of his friends on it, as long as Sheriff Nelson hadn’t seen. And it was definitely large enough that he could keep her propped against that door, stretching one of her legs back along the seat, keep the other on the floor, and crawl right there in between them. Of course, he’d have to get her safety belt off first.

  There was nothing much more in the world he wanted more then to get this woman’s safety belt off.

  And now another inappropriate hard-on. He should be getting used to them by now. Quinn seemed to cause this reaction no matter what she did. He shifted, trying to adjust himself without making it obvious that was what he was doing.

  Way to make her first ride in a truck memorable, asshole.

  “Thank you for being so nice to me. This has been a great birthday. The best one I can remember for a long time.”

  Aw, hell. He was all for cupcakes and tequila, and he was glad for the dancing, but that shouldn’t make someone’s top ten birthdays list, much less the best in recent memory.

  But he smiled as he put the truck in reverse. “I’m glad.”

  She told him where she was staying.

  “Is that Mrs. Mazille’s place?”

  She nodded. “I’m paying by the week right now.”

  “Do you plan to stay for a while?”

  “Maybe. I don’t really have anywhere else to go.” She tucked her chin deeper into the fist against her cheek.

  He didn’t want her to end her birthday night sad, so he told her the story of some trouble he and Cade O’Conner had gotten into in high school, leaving out his best friend’s name since he was a country music superstar almost anyone would recognize. By the time he got to the part where his mom was chasing both of them around with a stick, Quinn was smiling again.

  “You love it here,” she said.

  He shrugged. “Oak Creek is home.”

  “Have you ever thought of living anywhere else?”

  He turned to take them back toward Oak Creek. “Once. It was for a job that would’ve taken me away for a while, but I knew I would’ve been back.”

  He’d never actually told anybody about that, so he hoped she wouldn’t press for details. No need to point out why the Army hadn’t accepted him.

  He continued before she could say anything else, “Can’t say I can imagine myself living anywhere else.”

  “Are you part of those Linear Tactical guys?”

  “I don’t work for them, but my brother, Finn, is one of the owners, and I train a lot with them.” If his Army plans had turned out the way he had hoped when he was younger, then he would’ve been part of the Linear Tactical team, but he was happy as a mechanic.

  But hell, he might not have that job much longer.

  Tipsy or not, he wasn’t going to tell her the truth about his situation, so he did what he was good at—distraction by entertainment.

  “You know, you haven’t said, ‘Nobody puts Baby in the corner,’ to me yet. I usually get that within the first five minutes of someone finding out my name.”

  She smiled, but he got the uncanny feeling that she was aware that he was redirecting her.

  “I’m surprised they don’t go with a song. Baby, it’s Cold Outside.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Or Ice, Ice Baby.”

  “Baby Got Back.” She put her little hand up to her mouth like she was afraid she’d gone too far.

  He threw his head back and laughed, delighted. “One of my favorites.”

  They shot baby song lyrics and movie quotes back and forth to each other the rest of the way home. He pulled up outside her house, which he truly hoped looked worse in the dark than it did in the light. “Your castle, madam.”

  She was still tucked over in that corner looking very snug, like she wasn’t interested in moving. And now she was studying him the way she’d studied his truck and the drinks.

  He shut the truck off and leaned back against his door so he could study her in return.

  “Would you like to come inside?”

  Cue inappropriate hard-on number three.

  Damn it, Bollinger. If you take advantage of her, you’re going straight to hell.

  He swallowed and looked out the windshield before turning to face her. “How about a raincheck?”

  She unbuckled her seatbelt and smiled. “But it’s my birthday...”

  Oh, sweet Jesus.

  “And I’m doing all sorts of new things on my birthday.”

  Yep, he was going to hell.

  “I think that might be the tequila talking.”

  She paused for a moment and looked thoughtful, though a slight smile graced her lips. “Maybe.” She fiddled with the top button of her blouse before slipping it through the hole. “But maybe I should drink tequila more often.”

  He needed to stop this before it got out of hand. “How about a birthday kiss?”

  Her face lit up. “Yes.”

  He’d keep it light, sweet, and sexy...just like her. But their lips met and there was nothing light and sweet about it.

  Her lips were hot. Demanding. He’d bet anything that wasn’t her normal kissing MO, but it was fucking sexy. Her fingers gripped his hair and pulled him closer as she laid herself back against the door again.

  Yes, he definitely liked his truck’s bench seat.

  It wasn’t long before he was almost stretched out on top of her.

  He nibbled at her full bottom lip, coaxing her mouth open and that tongue—which had been driving him to distraction all night with the frosting—out to play.

  Damn, he could kiss this woman forever.

  It wasn’t long though before he wanted more than her lips. Her head fell back with a low, sexy moan as he began to kiss his way down her jaw and throat. She tangled her fingers in his hair and pulled him closer as he made his way up to her ear.

  “We should stop this, Cupcake. You’ve had too much to drink.”

  “I’ve had the perfect amount to drink.” She shifted so she was more completely under him, then reached to loosen another button on her blouse, revealing the functional white cotton bra underneath.

  He couldn’t stop staring at the pale swells in the moonlight. At this point, all he could do was hope that he wouldn’t drool on her.

  “It’s my birthday,” she whispered.

  “So it is.”

  He didn’t really know her. Didn’t know why she was here in Oak Creek. Had no idea what all the cupcake and tequila stuff was all about.

  But he knew she’d been celebrating her birthday alone, and he knew they wanted each other, even when alcohol wasn’t involved. He also knew she was grinding her sweet hips against him in a way that was driving him crazy.

  He kissed down her neck again. Open-mouthed kisses that allowed him to trace his tongue along her soft flesh. Then he nipped at it with just enough force to pull a gasp, then a moan out of her.

  No, he wasn’t going to have sex with her, not tonight. Not when he wasn’t one hundred percent certain she’d be happy with her decision in the morning. That was a matter of honor, and it was a code he would not break.

  But like she’d said...it was her birthday. And he’d be happy to help make it a memorable one if he could.

  He finished the rest of the buttons on her blouse, sliding it open so he could kiss his way down her chest. He slid his fingers along the edge of her breast before cupping it, relishing the feel of her tight little nipple against his palm.

  He slid down the fabric of her bra until it rested under her breasts, making a nice little shelf for the two points peeking directly out at him. He nipped and sucked on one as his hand moved to the other and did the same.

  When he had nibbled, sucked, and bitten until both peaks were standing straight up and she was breathing like she was running a sprint, he tilted his head up and did what he’d been longing to do since almost the first moment he’d seen her.

  He reached into
the bun at the back of her head and let it loose.

  He knew he’d be finding bobby pins in his truck for weeks to come, but it was worth it to see her dark hair fall around her shoulders.

  She looked at him, flushed and bared to his eyes, not nearly as proper as everything about her suggested. Seeing her this way fed something primal inside him.

  This was how the woman belonged.

  “So damned beautiful.” His voice was deep, guttural.

  “Baby...”

  Those hips were still rocking up against his, trying to get relief from the ache he had started.

  One he had every intention of easing.

  “Lie back, Cupcake. It’s your birthday.”

  For a second, it looked like she might debate, but when he gently pinched her nipple while looking at her with one eyebrow raised, she fell back mostly against the door, her hands coming to clutch at his head once again.

  He kissed his way back down her throat, pausing at those plump breasts before moving lower toward her soft stomach.

  This time, he kept going, easing a hand down her leg until he reached her sensible heels and slid one off and then the other. He made quick work of the snap and zipper of her black trousers, kissing back up her belly, stopping at the underside of her breasts, which were still held captive by her rolled down bra. He slid the soft material of her pants down her legs past the knees. He freed one leg entirely from them, pulling it up and onto the seat so she was laying out. The other leg, pants still attached, fell to the floor.

  He wasn’t surprised to find matching plain white panties. It was still damned sexy.

  He cupped her through the cloth, loving the sound of her moans. His eyes remained locked on hers as he teased along the edge of the material, not quite touching where she wanted, even as her hips chased the trail of his hand.

  “Baby. Please.”

  She arched as he ran his thumb over her slit through the cloth of those plain panties, now damp with her arousal. He rubbed at her clit with gentle, steady pressure, watching her as her eyes fell closed and her breathing became labored.

  His own breath was coming faster as he reached to slide the innocent white cotton over her hips and down her legs, baring her to him. She stiffened slightly and her legs moved together a fraction of an inch.

  “Still okay?” he asked.

  She nodded, those big brown eyes locked on his.

  Sliding his hands up her thighs, he gently shifted her leg up along the seat. He broke eye contact to kiss along her breasts again then down her belly to her core.

  “So damned beautiful.” It was nothing but the truth.

  He feasted. There wasn’t really any other word for it. One taste of her and he couldn’t get enough. No finesse, just hunger. Every sweet moan that fell from her lips made him want more.

  No cupcake could possibly be as delicious as Quinn.

  He gripped her hips as he teased her with his mouth more before adding his finger, moving inside her, finding what she liked, pushing her higher. Her breathing became harsher, her reaction dragging a groan out of him.

  He didn’t stop until her body shook and her hands gripped his hair so tight it was almost painful. Didn’t stop until she called his name and jerked against him.

  Didn’t stop until he was sure this would be her most memorable birthday ever.

  Chapter Seven

  He was here again. Quinn wasn’t going to act like that fact didn’t give her a thrill. Baby was sitting over in what she’d come to think of as his booth, since he’d been there pretty much every day she’d worked this week.

  He always looked so damned sexy in that plain, white T-shirt. She’d never dreamed something so common, so basic, could be so mouthwatering.

  How did he keep it so clean? There had to be grease and oil and other mechanic stuff that should get him dirty in the garage, right?

  Just one of the many things she found herself thinking about while trying to keep from stammering like an idiot whenever those green eyes locked on hers.

  His eyes were hungry.

  Hungry in a way that only someone young, confident, and ...Baby could pull off.

  Hungry in a way that said he remembered exactly what she’d looked like, smelled like, tasted like from the night of her birthday. And that he wanted more.

  Everything about his look thrilled her. Made her heart gallop in her chest. Made her aware that no number of academic degrees could ever equip her to handle him.

  A gorgeous redhead Quinn recognized as Violet, the Fancy Pants Bakery owner, was currently sharing his booth, talking with him. That had been happening all week. Not only was Baby a much beloved member of the Oak Creek community, but word had gotten out about his near-death experience at the Wild Wyoming Adventure Race.

  Riley’s, too.

  Damn it. Quinn knew she needed to talk to her brother about everything. But now wasn’t the time. Riley was busy with his own problems—a killer stalking him and the love of his life being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He had enough on his plate.

  Right. That was why she wasn’t telling him. It had nothing to do with the fact she was broke, blacklisted from academia, and currently here in Wyoming rather than back in Cambridge.

  It could wait a few more days.

  She made it through the rest of another shift. It was a busy shift, good for money, and not so harrowing since she was finally getting the hang of waitressing. But she’d barely had a chance to talk to Baby.

  Not that she’d be able to with his adoring fans hovering, all wanting to make sure he was okay after the WAR ordeal.

  Quinn wasn’t upset, she really wasn’t. Despite his hungry look and what had happened on her birthday, she had no ties to him. The guy was still in his twenties—gorgeous, charming, and probably not the type to settle down with anyone—especially not Ms. Doesn’t-Quite-Fit-In-Anywhere. Not to mention she was twelve years his senior. Why would he want to saddle himself with a divorcée, pushing forty, softer around the middle than any of these twenty-somethings, no matter how much powerwalking she did?

  She’d found two more gray hairs this morning as she was straightening her hair to pull it back in the bun. She’d plucked them immediately. But they’d be back.

  She shouldn’t expect Baby to make too much time for conversation with her.

  Which was why, when she dragged the trash out the back kitchen door into the alley and heard Baby’s voice, she let out a small screech.

  “Need some help with that?”

  She muttered a curse as she spun around, sending the stack of cardboard boxes she was carrying toppling to the ground around them. She picked one up and took the one he had reached down and grabbed, then spun toward the recycling bin near the street. “I’ve got this. Thanks.”

  She heard his footsteps behind her. “I can’t stop thinking about you, you know.”

  “Is that so?” She turned back around toward him, eyebrow raised. Realizing she was way too close to shrew-level, she toned it down a bit.

  Maybe she was more upset by his adoring fans than she’d thought.

  She forced herself to take a calming breath. Yes, nearly every female in town—and half the men—had come to talk to him during lunch over the past few days. That wasn’t really her business.

  “Look, I know we made out the other night, and it was great, but I know that doesn’t mean—”

  “I want you to go out with me, Quinn.”

  Holding a giant cardboard box to her chest, she gripped the edges as she stared at him. That charming smile made her toes curl inside the cheap, non-slip, well-padded shoes she had bought after her first day.

  This man—this gorgeous, friendly, charming man—was dangerous in ways that she’d never thought possible. Not for someone like her. Not at this stage of her life.

  Unsure what to say, she spun around toward the short alley.

  When she saw Riley walking down the street, she promptly dropped all the boxes again.

  Oh crap. She could not fac
e her brother like this, not in front of Baby while carrying trash. She couldn’t have the long conversation about her failures right in front of the gorgeous man who’d just asked her out. Without a second thought, she kicked a box aside and did the only thing she could think of...

  She pushed Baby against the wall and kissed the hell out of him.

  The thought that she might be making things worse if Baby pushed her away crossed her mind. But he didn’t.

  She’d caught him off guard, but it didn’t take him long to recover. He pulled her up against him and kissed her back, his strong arms wrapping around her waist.

  It had started out as subterfuge, but it didn’t stay that way. It wasn’t long before all she could do was cling to him. All she could feel were those lips on hers. She forgot about the cardboard boxes around them, her brother, and all the reasons it was a bad idea for her to get involved with Baby. Forgot that her life was completely falling apart and that she wasn’t sure it was ever going to come back together.

  All she felt was him.

  When he finally pulled back, she found herself staring up at him.

  His green eyes bore into hers, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “Something you need to tell me about you and Phoenix?” he finally asked, one eyebrow raised. “Did you guys used to date? Is that why you’re hiding from him?”

  She closed her eyes. She should’ve known Baby would figure out she was up to something with this stunt.

  “No. He’s my brother.”

  His hands squeezed her waist gently. “Ah. He mentioned you to me while we were on the race. But he said you were a professor at Harvard.”

  She didn’t want to go into this. Didn’t want to announce her failures right here.

  “Is there reason you’re hiding from him? A reason he thinks you’re at Harvard when you’re actually here in Oak Creek?”

  She stepped back, rubbing her brow with her fingers. “I... needed a break from Harvard.” An extended break. “I’m not hiding from Riley, per se. Honestly, I thought he was going to be in Asia for a while, and figured I’d tell him when he got back into town.”