Seduced by Sin: Sean (Rugged Riders #3) (3 page)

W
hen I arrived
at the office the next morning, there was a tremendous stack of files and paperwork in the inbox on my desk. I sighed. For this to be a part-time job, my boss was really piling on the work. I glanced through a couple of files while my laptop started up. From the Post-It marked “URGENT” on a couple of folders, I didn’t have to open them to know that the company had obtained new clients. That meant that I would be on the telephone most of the day, verifying information.

As I was opening up my email, I reminisced about the night before. My cell phone had rung not five minutes after I arrived home. Tasha had been on the other end, wondering how the night had gone. She just couldn’t wait to tell me what I had already figured out. Working for the agency ensured easy, fast money. But, of course, I would never be happy doing that type of work all my life.

I had been thinking about Sean since last night, but I still felt hesitant to call him. However, I’d wasted no time Googling him and reading about his high-profile NASCAR career over breakfast this morning. If he were so successful career-wise, why would he have to live a lie, especially where his dating life was concerned?

“Karlina,” Sandra, my work partner called from the doorway of my office. “How’s it going?”

We basically shared the same job, but unlike me, Sandra actually preferred part-time work.

“I’m just fine, Sandra. How was the cruise in the Bahamas?” I asked her as she entered my office. Sandra and her husband had gone on a four-day cruise to the Bahamas for their fifth wedding anniversary. She’d confided in me a month ago that they were trying to have their first child.

“It was so fun! We had a blast and the weather was fantastic,” she exclaimed. She handed me a small glass figurine, shaped like a seashell. “I brought a few souvenirs back for a couple of people in the office. I thought they were cute.”

“Wow!” I said, holding it up to the light. “Thank you. I’ll make space for it over here on my end table. We need some more decor in this place. I’m glad you enjoyed your vacation.”

“If you ever need a good recommendation for a vacation away from this place, let me know; my travel agent made the whole process so smooth and easy. All we did was show up at the airport and board the cruise ship.” She clapped her hands together.

“I’ll let you know,” I told her, knowing full well I didn’t have time or money for extravagant vacations.

“Well, have to get back to work. I see you received a shitload of files as well this morning.”

“Yeah, tell me about it…” I rolled my eyes.

After she’d left, I finally got started on my work.

L
ater that evening
, after my dinner and a long, hot bath, I settled down with my laptop to see what new job postings had popped up. I told myself that I wouldn’t do another search on Sean again, but I was only lying to myself. The man was a legend, and I had gone on just one
pretend
date with him. Plus, he had asked to see me again. What could he possibly want with me?

I picked up Sean’s business card again. It was a plain, beige-colored card with only a name and phone number on it. I suspected the vague information had been done on purpose. I ran my finger across the raised lettering, contemplating what the consequences would be when I actually called him. I was clear in my thinking that I wasn’t looking for a relationship, but there was something about Sean that implied more than just a normal relationship. I dialed.

The phone rang three times before Sean’s voice came on the other end. “Hello?”

“Hi, Sean, it’s Karlina.”

“Of course, it is.”

I imagined his smug smile on the other end.

“How was your day?” he asked.

“Pretty good. It was a busy day at my job.”

“So, you
do
have a job outside of the agency?”

“My arrangement with the agency was just a one-time thing, if you must know. I was surprised they even called me back with your gig. I needed money, so I took the opportunity. ”

There was silence on the other end.

“What are your plans for this weekend?” he asked.

“None, at the moment.”

“I’ll pick you up at six on Saturday night. What’s your address?”

“Um…wait a minute. Did you just ask me on a date? Because that didn’t sound like a question.”

“You said you didn’t date,” he replied.

“I was implying how you just incorrectly propositioned me,” I said.

“I didn’t know you preferred a certain way. How would you like me to position you?”

His dark, sexy tone affected my sanity, even over the phone.

“I said
proposition
,” I repeated.

“I heard you. Let’s make a deal. I’ll take you out—on a date or whatever you want to call it—and I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”

“You want to spill the beans on yourself? What’s the catch?”

“There are two actually. I get to see you again. You ask me what you want.”

“I can’t do six on Saturday. Make it seven.”

“Where should I pick you up?”

I reluctantly gave him the address to my apartment.

I
stepped
out of the shower and immediately checked the time. 5 PM. I had about two hours to get ready before Sean arrived. I was trying hard to call it anything but a date, and I was also doing my best to keep the news from Tasha. There was an unspoken rule in the agency: never date a former client.

I glanced in the mirror, checking to see if I had been careful enough to not mess up the curlers in my hair. I couldn’t remember the last time that I had made so much fuss over a man. I had just enough time to trim and retouch my manicure with shiny, clear polish. Only, I couldn’t decide what to wear tonight. There was the strapless number that I had worn to a party once, and then there was the little black halter-top dress that was more modest.

After trying on both dresses and prancing around in front of the mirror, I decided to go with the strapless. I wasn’t sure where Sean was taking me, so I decided to mirror the classy, chic look from the other night. After applying my makeup, I pulled out my curlers and waited anxiously downstairs.

W
hen the doorbell rang
, it was about ten minutes before seven. I closed up my laptop, took one last glance in the mirror in my foyer, straightened my dress, and opened the door.

Sean looked very handsome in nice, casual slacks and a collared shirt. All black. His wristwatch was all ice, though, with diamonds that were probably worth more than my car. The sleeves of his shirt were short, just like they had been the day at the coffee shop, showing off most of the tattoos on his arms.

His dark gaze swept across my figure and he grinned. “Beautiful.”

He handed me a half dozen white roses from behind his back.

I stepped back a bit and looked up at him. “What are these for?”

“For you. Can’t I do nice things for you and bring you roses without you being suspicious?”

I smiled and took the roses. “Thank you, you look handsome yourself. Let me put my flowers in some water and get my purse. Would you like to come in?”

“Sure.” He came in and closed the door behind him. “You have a nice place. Smells like you and your perfume. Nice and sweet,” he exclaimed, looking around my living room.

I blushed. “Thanks. I just showered.”

“Too bad I missed that part.”

I gave him a warning look, but by now, I expected comments like that from him.

I walked over to my kitchen area, grabbed a tall vase, and filled it with water. I put the roses into the glass. “There.” I set the vase on my coffee table among some magazines. “I’ll be right back. You can take a seat while I go grab my purse.”

I turned around to go and get my bag from my bedroom. I could feel his eyes on my backside as I walked out of the room. While there, I went back to my vanity to touch up my makeup and do one last check in the mirror.

God…Sean had me running around like a brainless idiot. Why did my appearance suddenly matter so much? Was it because he was
the
Sean Brooks—high-profile, famous racecar driver? Or was it because I was actually attracted to him?

I took a deep breath and hurried back into the living room. “Ready to go?”

He had made himself comfortable on my loveseat.

“I am. But first, we need to decide where to go.”

He had both arms rested on the back of my sofa, and his shirt was pulled taut across his chest. I had the urge to join him and trace every curve and ridge on his body. The front of his slacks bulged where his dick was securely tucked away. I recalled the day he’d slid off his motorcycle and walked right toward me with swagger that commanded attention. All the attention. When I looked up again, he had a wide Cheshire grin on his face as if he knew that I’d been checking out his sizable package.

“There’s a lounge nearby that’s hosting a comedy hour during dinner. They also have a full bar in the lobby,” he said.

I shrugged. “If that’s where you want to go, I’m game.”

I locked up my condo and we headed towards the elevator and down to the parking lot. We walked across the street to where he had parked in the visitor parking area. He placed his hand at the small of my back and led me toward his Range Rover.

“What do you race now?” I asked as we made our way across the lot.

“Cars and bikes. I’ll show you one day…if you want to take a ride with me.”

“Sounds good.” My heart fluttered in my chest. The thought of jumping on a motorcycle with him while he drove at speeds faster than I’d ever gone excited me.

“As for me driving this big truck, I need more space to carry my junk around. I look at a lot of real estate throughout the day. My nighttime hobbies, my street racing, call for something smaller, of course.” He opened the door for me and helped me up into the SUV.

As we drove to the lounge, we talked about our workweeks. He mentioned nothing about NASCAR or underground racing, just his legitimate business. But I wouldn’t let him off the hook completely tonight. He’d told me I could ask anything. Before the end of our date, I wanted to delve deeper into what Sean was really all about.

When we arrived at the lounge, he asked for valet parking before assisting me out of his Range Rover and handing the keys to the guard. When we were in the restaurant, we took booth seats near the back of the lounge. After sharing an appetizer, we enjoyed our main entrees paired with a bottle of wine. It took us about an hour to get through our meals. The whole time, his focus was on me. I almost wondered if his primary goal in taking me out was to just
see
me.

I wasn’t interested in dessert, so we spent the rest of our time out on the restaurant’s deck, overlooking a large lake.

“It’s so pretty out here,” I said, glancing up at the stars. I leaned on the railing and looked down at the moon’s reflection on the water.

Heat enveloped me from behind, and then firm muscles were pressed against my back.

“Not as pretty as you,” Sean said.

I didn’t turn around or move away. He snaked his arms around my waist, and I let him. My eyes fluttered closed and I breathed in the fresh night air mixed with his cologne.

“I guess I should say thanks,” I said. “I don’t get out very much.”

“Why not? Don’t tell me it’s because of money. Because enjoying yourself has always been free.”

“I’ve only been here a few months, so the city is still new to me. I’m not very trusting of anyone either,” I said.

“I grew up in Virginia. I just made Atlanta my permanent home, as well. Most of my brothers are here. I like it.”

“How many brothers?”

“I have two blood brothers and the rest are my bonded brothers,” he said.

“Bonded brothers? That sounds interesting.”

“I’m pledged to Rugged, a motorcycle club. We’re a very close-knit group of men. We call each other brothers. We’re just as tight and loyal.”

“Rugged?” I turned in his arms. “Is that what one of the R’s stands for on the shirt you were wearing at the coffee shop when we first saw each other?”

He smiled. “You remembered what shirt I was wearing?”

I blushed. “I remember a lot from that day. Thanks for the coffee, by the way.”

His face was really close to mine, but he felt so good in my arms.

“You’re welcome.” He reached up and slid his palm over my hair. “I’d very much like to explore more of the city with you, if you agree to stick with me.”

“Okay.”

His hand moved to the small of my back, and then his fingers traveled upward along my spine.

He moved in closer and pressed his mouth to mine. His lips were incredibly soft—so perfect, so smooth against mine. His tongue found its way between my lips. We shared an intense kissing session under the moonlight, oblivious to any and everything around us.

When he finally pulled away from me, his hand was on my ass. I tugged on the front of his shirt and pulled him back down for another kiss. I took control, threading my fingers at the back of his neck and deepening the kiss.

He pulled away briefly and moved his lips down to my neck. When I felt his soft, warm breath against my skin, I whispered his name. I lifted my chin and closed my eyes as he nibbled and sucked gently on my neck. I moved my hands to his chest and kneaded the muscles there before moving down to the ripples of his abs. I wanted more of him. I wanted him in my bed.

Suddenly, I realized where we were. And his hands had delved up under my dress. I pulled away. “We’re…we’re in public.”

I was still panting lightly. I looked around at the few people nearby on the opposite end of the patio, but it didn’t appear that anyone had seen our intimate moment.

“Yes, I know. I don’t think anyone else is concerned besides you, but I understand.”

“I know. I got a little carried away. We shouldn’t have…I shouldn’t have…” my words trailed off.

“You know, I’m sorry if I moved too fast,” Sean started to apologize. “I’m telling you the honest to God truth when I say that I really couldn’t stop myself. This attraction between us is something I can’t just ignore.”

“Then we’ll work on it,” I said. “I appreciate that you understand.”

“Have you been hurt before, Karlina?” he asked.

I looked up at him. “Can you tell?”

He sighed. “Let’s just say, it takes one to know one.”

I pressed my hand to his chest. “Want to divulge a little more about that?”

His throat seemed to tighten as he swallowed visibly. “No. Not that.”

“Then we’ll leave it behind us and move forward.”

The smile that followed was the highlight of my night.

After another half hour of cuddling on the patio, he drove me home and took me back up to my condo.

“I wish this night would never end,” he said, standing next to my door.

“I had a great night, Sean. I hope we can do this again sometime.”

“Well, why don’t we? My weeks are really busy with my flights in and out of the state, but I promise it won’t be for long.”

I stroked his chin. “I understand.”

“I’ll take you for a ride. What about next Saturday?”

“Sure.”

He took both of my hands in his.

I leaned in to him to initiate the kiss. It was soft and sweet.

“Goodnight,” I whispered, stepping into my condo.

“Goodnight, beautiful.”

He pulled the door closed.

I locked the door and listened until his footsteps subsided. I couldn’t help but realize that I had never felt so anxious about getting to know any man as I felt right now.