Mike's Way Back (Finding Perfect) (9 page)

For a long minute, her gaze took in every detail of his face as if she was gauging his sincerity. Running a finger over the faint scar on his jaw line, she dragged in a deep breath. He watched the surrender fall over her. She relaxed in his hold, and her eyes came to rest on his lips. When she didn’t close the small gap between their mouths, a grin tugged at the corner of his. She was waiting.

Miss Taryn Watts had two very unique and different sides to her. The one sitting on his lap was the girl Mike knew was desperate to quit hiding. She’d been buried beneath a layer of armor to stay protected, but he knew she was there.

Mike ran his palms across her cheeks and cradled her head. Pulling her gently to him, she went willingly, her lips already parted when their mouths finally met. It was him who guided the kiss, but it was her who made the fire roar to life. His tongue danced with hers as he possessed her with a need he’d been trying to keep tamped down. It had been a lost cause since the moment he saw her
though. A soft moan of need came from her.

She threaded her fingers through his hair and tightened the hold she had on him. Running one of his palms down her back, he reached her butt and pulled her closer to him, leaving his hand tightly against her.

Even though his other palm held her head, she eased back gasping for a breath. His own heart pounded in his chest, the echo rushing through his ears. When he thought she would scoot away wanting space, she lowered…placing her head on his shoulder. Mike wrapped both arms around her and held her close to his chest.

“See, Taryn, we’re good together. We have to try. We have to give it a shot, sugar.”

Her chest moved against his as her breathing still raged out of control. She only nodded to answer. That didn’t matter. She’d agreed and that was all he cared about.

Chapter 9

Taryn unboxed the new printer and set it on the desk in her suite. It wasn’t anything big, but it was a necessity she couldn’t do without any longer. The bed and breakfast Mike recommended was everything she could have hoped for. That was a good thing, since it looked as if her stay in Renlend was going to be longer than anticipated.

Plugging everything in, she nodded as Andrew continued to rattle off questions and directions through her phone laying on the desk in speaker mode. “I know. And now that both of these projects have committed, I’ll probably have to come home and grab another suitcase full of clothes.”

“Who knew I’d be losing you for several months.”

“Oh good grief. This has happened before. Sometimes we get lucky and pick up other projects in one place. It’s kind of nice to not move as often.”

“I know, but I prefer to be home.”

“Well…that’s because you have Scott.”

As soon as the words came out of her mouth she knew she’d made a mistake. It didn’t take half a breath for him to start in on her.

“And you have a yummy cop there in Renlend. Is he keeping your bed warm yet? Or maybe you’ve seen his bedroom in that gorgeous Victorian home of his? Huh?”

Scott jumped in. “Spill it, girl, and don’t hold back any spicy details.”

“Good God, not you too Scott. You two get off my ass.” She loved Scott’s laugh, so deep and full of life.

“Oh, sweetie, you know you love us on your ass. You wouldn’t feel loved otherwise. Is the weather changing? You probably need some shorts and stuff?”

“Yeah, I was just telling Andrew that before you joined in.”

“You want us to just send you a box?”

“I’d prefer to not have you going through my panties.”

“Taryn, darling, you really think I get any thrill out of seeing your lace undergarments?”

“Scott, no one under the age of fifty calls underwear that anymore.”

Both men laughed heartily. A pang hit her. She’d never gotten homesick in her life. Not one time during her years in California while away at college did she ever miss her family. But since then when she traveled, it was her two friends on the other end of the phone line who grabbed at her heart.

“Let me get this printer hooked up so I can scan in these drawings I’ve done of the Jacobson project. I told her I’d get her a quote within a week
, and Andrew, I’ll need your help on some of it. I’ll try to decide if it’s easier to come home or not. There may be some files I need, and possibly one of my design books.”

“The binders of your personal drawings and designs?”

“Yeah. I miss having those handy.”

“Taryn, you okay, honey? Your voice sounds like your eyes are getting a little misty?” Andrew asked.

Pulling in a deep breath, she steeled herself. “I’m fine guys. Just busy.” Sitting back in the desk chair, she loaded the CD into her laptop so she could install the drivers.

“The game is on here in a little bit, are you going to watch it?”

“Scott…do you really have to ask that?”

“Well, sweetie, I wasn’t sure if they would air it in that little town of yours. So listen, I have a case wrapping up in the next couple of days. How about Andrew and I pack a couple of suitcases of stuff, your books, and anything else you need, and we’ll come visit you. Besides, I am dying to meet Mr. Sterling. From what Andrew has told me, you’ve hit the jackpot there my darling.”

“You two are worse than a couple of sisters. And yes, I do mean sisters. Where my brothers would circle around pissing on their territory, you two are ready for make-over central. I swear.”

“And that is exactly why you love us more than those insensitive beasts you call brothers.”

Smiling, Taryn shook her head, “Yes, you’re absolutely right. That’s fine. I’ll be between here and the cooking school for the most part. I’ve gotten all I need from the other two buildings.”

“Or maybe we’ll find your pretty little ass at someone else’s house?”

“Goodbye, boys.”

“Love you.” They chimed together.

“I love you both too. Be good and I’ll see you soon.” Taryn shook her head and ended the call. Rolling her eyes, she clicked on a box on her screen as her cell rang again. “Damn it, Andrew. I told you—I’m not sleeping with him.”

“Yet. That’s something I’d like to change.”

It was Saturday late afternoon, and the professional attitude she kept in place twenty-four-seven slipped. Heat radiated off her cheeks and she slumped back against the desk chair. She breathed out her words, “Oh. My. God.” Closing her eyes, she rested her forehead in her palm while praying the earth would open up and swallow her whole.

“Sugar
, it’s really all right, there’s no need to be embarrassed.”

“That’s easy for you to say, Mike.” Tipping her head up to the ceiling, she sighed. “I can’t believe I did that. I’ve never done that before. Hell, if you had been a client—I…God I don’t know what I’d have done.”

“It’s okay, Taryn. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

“I don’t know what it is about you. Geez, Mike. I swear it’s like everything I’ve worked so hard to put in place just falls away.”

“Maybe that is because you know you can be yourself with me. You don’t have to try to be someone you’re not.”

Taryn ground her teeth. He’d hit the nail on the head and if she argued with him, not only would he still be right in the end, she’d be the one
who came out sounding like nothing more than a bitch. Bending her knee, she rested her foot on the chair and toyed with the hole in the knee of her jeans. She didn’t wear them often, but they were her most comfortable pair.

“So. I won’t ask if you’re busy—you always work too hard. But I was going to see if you wanted to take a break and come have dinner with me at Jenny’s. Please don’t say no. Between our two schedules it’s been four days since I’ve been able to see you.” He paused before he added, “…or kiss you.”

There was no denying the effect hearing from him had on her body, not only his voice, but knowing he was thinking of her—missing her. While winding the string at her knee around her finger, she bit her lower lip. Her sketch pad still had hours’ worth of work demanding her attention, and she still needed to finish installing the printer to get what she could to Andrew before tomorrow afternoon. That didn’t stop her heart from pounding.

“You don’t want me at Jenny’s—trust me.”

“Yes, I do. Hey, Jeff, she’s on her way. See, now you have to come, Jeff’s already started on a plate of nachos, and he’s entering the order for your burger as we speak. It will throw his whole computer system off if you cancel. Do you want me to come grab you?”

“You’re a big brat, Michael Sterling.”

“And you love it, Taryn Watts. Do you want me to head your way?”

Rolling her eyes, she peeled herself out of the chair and padded across the room to the armoire. Taking out her running shoes, Taryn tried to feign frustration, but it seemed he saw through her. “No. I can drive myself, thank you.”

“Ah, I knew you missed me. I’ll see you in five minutes. Bye, sugar.”

“K, see you in a minute.”

In the bathroom, Taryn smirked at her ensemble, then gave up and giggled. Served him right. Swiping a thin layer of gloss across her lips, she let out a breath and tried to calm the excited jitters that took over her stomach when she heard from him. Turning out all the lights behind her as she went, Taryn practically skipped down the wooden staircase of the bed and breakfast. The look on Mike’s face was going to be priceless.

~~~

It was a little rude of him to end the call so quickly. However, Mike didn’t want to give Taryn a chance to change her mind. Plus the longer they talked, the longer he had to wait to see her again.

Mike stood at the bar half listening to the story Jeff was telling, half watching for the wooden door to open. When it did, all he could do was bite the inside of his cheek and shake his head.

“I told you. So don’t you dare say I didn’t warn you.” She jerked her chin up and waited.

It was a battle of the wills to see who cracked first. He knew she was stubborn, but as they’d discussed the other day in his kitchen—so was he. “Come here, sugar.”

Taryn stood at the entry of Jenny’s and shook her head. She was right to be nervous. But she was losing, if the twitch at the corner of her mouth was anything to go by. Mike motioned his pointer finger for her to come to him. Again, she shook her head no, but bit her lip. She was going down all right.

The door opened behind her, and Taryn scooted to the side as Gabby came through the door. “Oh my God. You…wore
that
…in
here
? With Jeff and Mike? I’ve never had a best friend before…mainly because people are a pain in the ass, but damn girl. I could grow to put up with you.”

Seeing the shoulder nudge that Gabby gave her new friend in a moment of obvious support made Mike want to laugh out loud. The owner of the bookstore spoke the truth. Gabby could easily turn out to be the old spinster small children were afraid of, but perhaps Taryn would change that. Kelly pushed through the swinging kitchen door and Mike rolled his eyes as he glanced to the bartender.

“Shit! Oh my God, Taryn. You rock, girlfriend.” Kelly said loudly \

quickly
crossing the floor to give her a high-five. “Hey, Jeff…Mike—what do you boys think of Taryn’s outfit, huh?”

Mike pinned her with his gaze. “Get back to work, Kel. I’ll deal with her.”

His good friend reached over the bar and punched him in the biceps. “For what it’s worth, Sterling…those jeans are fucking hot on her.”

“Shut up, Jeff. Trust me. This one needs no ammunition. She’s a handful all on her very own.”

“Excuse me?”

The hand on her hip was a nice touch.

“Hey, sugar…you’re the one who came in here wearing that.” Mike winked as he made quick work of closing the gap between them.

“I can leave.”

He caught her as she started to spin and pulled her to his chest. Laying a kiss on her lips, he grinned. “I can’t let you do that. It’s not safe for you out there. Not wearing that…that
Sox
crap.”

“Sox
crap
? Did you just call my most prized jersey—crap?”

Mike nodded. “And the hat too. I’d tell you that you look amazing in a ball cap—if it only had a different logo”—he tapped the front of it—“right here. Like maybe a
NY
. Just saying.”

“I’ll have you know, Sterling, the Red Sox are a hell of
a baseball team. Especially compared to your so-called Yanks.” She narrowed her eyes. “And besides, look around, Michael—there isn’t another damn Yankee’s shirt in this bar. So why don’t you just put your money where your mouth is?”

“A wager,
Watts?” This was turning out to be an interesting evening, and Mike was just getting started. “I’m in. Whatcha got, sweetheart?”

“Well—
sweetheart
. Fifty bucks. My Sox against your Yanks.”

“Care to make it interesting?”

“I have two older brothers, remember my friend? I can hang with the big boys.”

“Okay, then I call your fifty bucks and raise you.” With his palm on her lower back, he pulled her against his hard-on at the same time he laid his mouth against hers for a kiss. “You lose—you come home with me tonight.”

“And when my Sox win—and they will win—what do I get when you lose?”

“I’ll go to your room at the B and B.” Mike held in his laughter as her eyebrow did that little slow rise thing that got to him every time.

“I don’t know, Sterling. This sounds rigged to me.”

He wiggled his own eyebrows back at her. “Totally,
Watts…totally.”