Chapter 14
Cash
“I’ve never been one to play games when it comes to sex, but that mouth of yours is going to get you in trouble.”
“That’s what I’m counting on, Daddy.”
Fuck me . . . I’m sure my gulp can be heard all the way in Brooklyn. I step back, rubbing the back of my neck before I do more than kiss her on these steps. I’m always in control, but she’s got me close to losing my last shred around her. “Yeah, we’re not going to do that.”
She looks me up and down. “You sure about that?”
The woman is a siren, and my dick has answered her call. The timing could be better than a street in the middle of Manhattan. There’s nothing covert about how I shift.
A grin cuts into her expression, and she asks, “You once mentioned your favorite place to eat but never said what it was—”
“Good idea.” We start walking, and I keep my eyes on anything but the beautiful woman beside me.
Shred is putting it kindly. I’m being held together by the thinnest of threads because of her.
Granted, it’s been a while. A self-inflicted exile, but that doesn’t change the fact that I find her so goddamn gorgeous.
I make the mistake of glancing over and catch her eyes already on me. “How hungry are you?”
“Famished.”
“Do you want to catch a car, or are you good with walking?”
“I’m good with walking. It’s something I miss when I’m on the West Coast. Not that I don’t walk.
I do, for exercise, but New York forces you to get dressed and participate in life.
It’s too easy to stay in bed in Vancouver and LA and order in.
” I catch the sight of her tongue dipping out and licking the corner of her mouth before I look away, knowing I made a mistake.
“Are you okay? You seem . . . I don’t know. On edge.”
As much as I enjoy her company, it might be too much.
I stop and step off to the side closer to the building.
“Look . . .” I glance down the street. It’s less busy in this section, and I’m not upset by the reprieve.
“We could cause another catastrophe if we’re spotted together.
It’s not something I considered with my son because I can usually walk around the city freely.
” Swaying two fingers between us, I add, “But we’re a different story. ”
“Maybe I look too different in real life for people to notice.” She laughs. “But I don’t get much attention here either.”
“You don’t see yourself clearly. You don’t see yourself how I do.”
“How do you see me?”
I take a slow and deep breath, believing kissing her will definitely be involved tonight. There’s just no way around it. “It didn’t take candy to get my attention from the other side of the street.”
Softly grinning, she steps a little closer. “No?”
“Nuh-uh. It was you. All you. Your beauty, and the way the last of the sunlight shone in your hair just before disappearing behind a building. Your eyes when you saw me—”
“What about my eyes?”
“The blue burns brighter like where the deep ocean meets the shallow waters when our eyes meet.”
Her breath staggers, and the grin fades as she takes one more step closer, the gap too small to change our minds. Marina looks up at me, sheepishly placing her hands on my chest. “You saw all that from across the street?” she whispers.
“That, and you shoving a piece of chocolate in your mouth.” I don’t whisper.
Kissing her is something I want to do, but I know I shouldn’t, especially in front of a dry cleaner in the West Village.
“Ouch!” I duck out from our proximity in defense mode before she whacks me in the chest again.
Chuckling, I add, “You were hot even with chocolate smeared on the side of your lips. It was tempting to lick it off.”
“You should have,” she smarts, crossing her arms over her chest and walking away from me.
“Challenge accepted.”
“Good,” she says, like it’s a threat.
I can play this game. “Great.” I jog to catch up and see her trying so hard not to give me a smile. Reaching over, I rub her lower back. “If it matters, the only reason I didn’t is because Cullen was there. I’m sure you understand.”
“Of course, I understand. But why do you get me so worked up—angry and . . .?” Her lips purse as frustration anchors her brows downward.
“And?”
As if an epiphany hits her in the head, her hand covers her forehead, and she halts on the sidewalk. Her gaze slides to me when I stop beside her. “I really dislike you sometimes, but I’m so attracted to you at the same time. It’s really annoying, actually.”
“We’re opposites, baby.” I shrug and keep walking.
She’s not quick to catch up to me, though, which has me wondering if she’s going to or if I’m going to eat alone tonight. Hurried footsteps trail me, getting louder and then I’m bumped from behind. “This is what I mean.”
This time, I stop, staring down at her because I guess we’re not through going in circles. “What do you mean?”
“You walk away—”
“You walked away not one block down.” My arm extends in the direction we came from, but I lower it. I’m a big guy. Although she’s not the shortest girl around, I’m quite a bit larger. I save the intimidation tactics for the track and leave them in the paddock for the other guys.
Crossing her arms over her chest again, she raises her chin. “That’s different.”
“How so?”
Her head jerks back as if the question is an affront to her character. I scoff, staring into the distance, trying to figure her the fuck out.
“It just is. I was teasing you.”
When I look back, I say, “You argue with me just to argue and to get a rise out of me. You get what you want, and then you don’t want it. Make it make sense, Marina.”
“Well . . .” She looks as confused as I am. When she doesn’t come up with anything, she throws her arms up. “I have no idea.”
“Is this how you flirt or a character flaw—”
Her fisted hands fly to her hips. “Wow, now I have flaws? Low blow, Ryatt.”
“Interesting how you suddenly know my name.”
“Your name doesn’t matter.” She moves to the other side of me, flouncing her hot self around. “I have your number.”
“Phone number? I know since you don’t stop calling me.”
Fuck. Too far.
I cringe, closing my eyes and rubbing my temple.
When I open my eyes again, the hurt I’ve caused her permeates her pretty features. “I didn’t mean it.”
This time, she walks away without saying a word.
There’s no rush to her pace, so I walk behind her, giving her a bit of space before invading it again.
“Your calls are one of the best parts of my day.” She stops with her back to me.
“An hour before, I’m finding a fucking snack and placing my water on the nightstand so I’m ready when you call. ”
Turning around slowly, she asks, “You do?”
“I do. We talk about everything and nothing, and I look forward to it all day.” Her smile blooms again, and I say, “And for the record, the arguing is the only flaw I’ve discovered.”
She seems less than impressed and sighs heavily. “You were doing so good, too.” She’s about to leave but then pokes me in the chest. “Then you had to open your mouth.”
“We all have flaws. If you think I’m Mr. Perfect, you’ll be sorely disappointed.”
“Mr. Perfect?” She rapidly blinks at me. “I’m full of flaws, and you’re Mr. Perfect?” She rolls her eyes and pulls her phone from the small bag anchored on her hip. “I think I’ll call it a night.”
“No, you’re not.”
If looks could kill, I’d be in a body bag. “I’m not?”
“Nice phone, by the way, but no, you’re not. I’m not letting you walk away from this conversation because it needs to be had.”
“Why? Why does it matter?”
“Listen to me, Marina. You can twist this however you want, but it doesn’t make it the truth. You won’t meet anyone else with more flaws than me. Trust me, sweetheart. Take it as a warning. Save yourself the trouble. But one thing I do know is that I’m trying to be better. I’m trying with you.”
As if she’s lost the energy for this talk, she says, “You shouldn’t have to try. If it’s meant to be, it should come easy.”
“Bullshit. That’s fairy-tale stuff. That’s the movies. That’s rose-colored glasses. None of it’s real. We are flawed and human and not perfect in the least, but if it’s worth the effort, it’s worth the work.”
The silence is shattered when she looks away from me again and says, “My brothers all fought for their wives. For them. Not against them.”
“I wouldn’t be standing here if I didn’t think you were worth the fight.”
“You barely know me, Cash.”
“Yet I’m still here, making the effort.”
There’s an ease in her shoulders, a breath released, and the swords in her eyes have disappeared.
She seems deep in thought, staring at me as if I have the answer we’re searching for.
She licks her lips, then bites the lower one, but then says, “I was having a good time. I don’t even know why we’re fighting. ”
“Because you’re not in your comfort zone. You’re unsure. So am I.”
“Unsure about what?”
“What this is between us. It’s new territory.” I catch her hand just as it swings out. Palm to palm, our fingers fold together. “You don’t dislike me, babe. It’s just something you tell yourself to stifle the attraction.”
Even though I’m served an epic eye roll, she never releases my hand. “Okay, I don’t dislike you. Happy?”
“Yes.”
“I also find you attractive.” A shrug and a smile come into play. “So what? A little charming and kind of funny.”
“Little and kind of?” My expression sours, but it’s all in good fun now that we seem to be heading in the right direction again.
“A lot charming and funny. That’s all I’m giving tonight.”
“I’m good with that.” I move our hands down to our sides and pull her close with the other, rubbing her ass because I may not get another chance. “You’re prickly when you want to be but so fucking sexy that I haven’t stopped thinking about kissing you since I saw you across the street.”
With widening eyes, she catches her breath, and asks, “Really?”
“Really.”
Her free hand runs along my ribs, then lower to grab my ass. Guess she’s taking advantage of the opportunity as well. “Why don’t you?”
“Because I don’t want witnesses—”
“Like a murder?”
I laugh. “Yes, like an annihilation of your mouth.”
Her lips split into a striking smile, stealing that last shred of my willpower. She says, “Why does that sound so abhorrently sexy?”
Chuckling harder, I caress her cheek. “How is everything that comes out of your mouth a curveball?”
“That’s a nice way of telling me I say crazy things. Hey, can I ask you something?”
Something is so insanely attractive about a woman who knows who she is through and through, her confidence shining through her good-girl exterior. I bet she’s great in bed—a little wild, a little proper, and unpredictable.
“If I can ask you something in return.” We start walking again, the pace slow as if we have forever ahead of us.
“Deal. Why didn’t you tell me you had a son?”
“Um. Not sure how we jumped from me being sexy to being a father . . . ” The question comes from left field, but I don’t skip a beat to answer it.
“I didn’t hide that information. He’s a part of my identity.
I’m Cullen’s dad. I thought you knew. Guess not.
Surprise, I’m a father to a five-year-old. ”
“First of all, I called the annihilation of my mouth sexy, though, now with more time to imagine that scenario, it’s not so much.
” She tucks her hair behind her ear again, and says, “I want you to tell me the important stuff. I don’t want to learn about it online.
” Shaking her head, she looks up at me. “Every part of my ex’s life is online.
I’m starting to think I was just bait for the paparazzi for his next storyline.
I don’t want to share the important stuff of my life with the world. Talk to me, okay?”
Those words alone make us a match made in heaven. “I agree.”
With a hop to her step, she turns to face me. “Your turn. What did you want to ask me?”
I love seeing her carefree side. I have a feeling it’s not a side she gets to share often. “Why were you buying candy?”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t remember the last time I bought candy, other than for Cullen, but there you are, buying and eating it like it’s an everyday occurrence.”
“It’s not for you?” The bewilderment heard in her tone has me questioning why I don’t. Other than the small fact that I must maintain a certain weight range in racing.
“Come on. We have some blocks to cover if we want to eat before it gets too crowded.”
Seventeen blocks, to be precise . . . “Pizza?” She balks. “You dragged me a billion blocks for New York-style pizza in New York City? We could have gotten this ten times over on the way here.”
“You don’t like pizza?”
She scans the menu. “I love pizza. Just surprised since it’s sooo . . .”
“Basic?”
Her sideways grin has me smiling as well. “Normal,” she replies.
“What kind of impression do you have of me if you don’t think I like normal foods?”
“I don’t know. You might be a steak-and-potatoes-every-night kind of guy or as much as you can eat sushi or even a secret lover of fried chicken, but you don’t want to admit it.”
Rubbing my stomach, I reply, “I love fried chicken. Fried chicken does not love me.”
“How often do you deviate into the good foods? And by good, I mean the bad and delicious foods?” Tapping #18 on the menu, she adds, “This one.”
“Not often. I’m not twenty-five anymore.”
Bumping into my arm, she says, “Are we doing the age thing again?”
“No.”
“Wise choice.” She steps up to the counter and orders a large pie to go. She’s not shy when it comes to food, and I can get behind that. I pay the total, and we step to the side to wait. Groups gather in a line to score a table inside, and I’m noticing eyes on us.
I turn my back, shielding her on the other side of me. I don’t think she catches on at first, but then she looks me up and down. “Okay, Everest, you’re blocking the view.”
“Yeah. There are spies among us.”
Her back stiffens, her posture now board straight. “Should I leave and meet you around the corner?”
Selfishly, I don’t want her to go, even if I get to see her in a few minutes. Protectively, I say, “I think it’s safer if we stick together.” I glance out the window of the pizzeria. “Hopefully, it won’t be long.”
It’s a bummer that the tone has changed, that we’re both on guard more, and all conversation has ceased to exist. If there are eyes, ears are listening in as well.
The pizza finally comes out the window, and we hustle away from the crowded pizzeria and down a block before we stop. She looks across the street and then at me. “Your place or mine?”
When our eyes connect again, I think we both know that question is loaded with more than dinner plans. But she doesn’t hesitate. “Yours.”