8. Sarah
What just happened? I am not that sort of girl. Am I?
Thank goodness for his brothers breaking us up. I need to think about this. It wasn’t supposed to be real.
Sarah felt a little ashamed that she escaped out the back door as Kane was talking to his brothers. But hell, things got a little bit too real too fast. Sarah met Olivia at the office to see how many people they could move the following week into the hotel.
That’s why I’m doing it. The hotel. This is for work. This is to finally make a difference.
Olivia and Sarah decided to keep their office and make the space at the hotel as a drop-in center and for classes, such as self-defense as discussed. Sarah and Olivia were discussing when Luke walked in. For such a large man, Sarah wondered how he could get around so quickly and quietly.
“Luke you are stealth like,” Sarah joked as he nodded a greeting at them.
“I thought I’d come by and see if you need a hand. The hotel will be ready the day after tomorrow.”
Olivia shook her head, “nope. We are all good here. Just going through some notes to see who we can move in first.”
Luke grunted and turned to go. “But while you are here, maybe we can talk about the days you are free to do the self-defense classes?” Olivia asked.
“You just tell me what days and I’ll be there. Some of the brothers will come also to help.”
“Now why exactly do you call yourselves brothers?” Olivia asked, putting her hands on her hips. Standing upright, she was almost as tall as Luke. “You’re not related. Is it a man thing?”
“It’s a military thing,” Luke said, his voice deep. “Spend enough time with the same people and they become family. That’s what they are to me.”
Sarah turned to Olivia. “Like you and the girls are to me.” She smiled.
Luke grunted. “I’ll wait in the waiting room. I’m here in case you need anything.” He said as he turned and left as quietly as he came in.
“Wow.” Olivia laughed. “He’s not much of a conversationalist is he?”
“Who cares? They are doing us a huge advantage. A hotel Olivia. This is beyond our dreams.”
Olivia nodded but looked thoughtful. “True, but at what cost. Are you sure you are okay being a fake fiancé?”
Sarah sighed and sat down between all the files. “Okay. I’m going to tell you something now and then I never want to talk about it again.”
Olivia’s eyes lit up as she looked at her friend.
Sarah continued. “Kane and I had a moment.”
“Moment?” Olivia said, her eyebrow cocked.
“A sexy moment. A really hot, sexy moment.” Sarah put her head in her hands. “A moment that I didn’t want to end.” She looked up at her friend. “My god Olivia. That man is like fire. His hands engulf me. I just want to climb him and not let go.”
Olivia laughed, “So climb that damn man. What’s stopping you?”
“Pride. Not wanting to get hurt. And it’s all fake. He was just doing it to set a scene.”
“Oh, was someone around? Was the reporter still there?”
“Umm. No. She had left. I sort of, well, let’s just say I kissed him in front of the reporter and returned to it when she left. He set my panties on fire when he kissed me back, pushing me against a wall, kissing me, running his hands up and down my body. He told me I was beautiful. Beautiful Olivia!” Sarah stopped and took a breath. “And then we were interrupted by his brothers.” Sarah could feel her face burn as she retold the story.
“Wait!” Olivia said as she stood up. “Are you telling me that man jumped you, and you wanted to climb him like a tree, and probably would have dropped your panties in a heartbeat, if they hadn’t already melted away, but you were interrupted. All while you were alone? No one was there except you two?”
Sarah nodded.
Olivia cackled. “Girl, you are a goner. And why not. That man is sex on a stick. Let’s face it, they all are. The twins especially,” she said fanning herself, grinning. “Even Alex. Yes, you know I have a thing for glasses on a man. And those tattoos” Olivia said as she fanned her face.
“So, what do I do now?” Sarah groaned. “I can’t go back there. It’s too embarrassing.”
A voice called out from the waiting room. “Just so you know I can hear you. Just a heads up though. All my brothers will be here soon anyway. Alex as well.”
Sarah stiffened. “Luke? Why didn’t you tell us you could hear us.”
Luke wandered in, a small grin playing on his features. “It was too much fun listening in.”
Olivia walked up to Luke and wagged a finger at him. “Now listen big man. We have girl code here. Nothing gets outside these doors got it. You are a vault with what you have heard.”
Luke pretended to zip his mouth and his eyes crinkled from laughter. “Just so you know though. I think Kane feels the same way.”
“You are just a big old softie in a beast of a body, aren’t you Luke?” Sarah called out after him, hearing him laugh as he left the room again.
***
The next few days were busy and Sarah and Kane didn’t get another minute alone as they moved ten different people into the completed hotel rooms. The rooms were large and open, and the best thing was the security for peace of mind for each new tenant. They could recover in peace and safety while they repaired their lives.
The classes were due to start the next night, and Sarah already had seven people signed up, ready to go. Luke had promised he would be there as well as Kane and Alex. Olivia was bringing her twins and Sarah was also looking forward to learning some moves.
Sarah had her picture in the news a few times, linked with Kane’s, but it was all positive and the best thing was it was bringing the shelter into the spotlight and more donations were coming their way.
The worst was Sarah couldn’t sleep. Every time she shut her eyes, all she could see and feel was Kane’s hands on her, his kisses, his mouth. She desperately wanted to finish what they had started and she was determined to corner Kane soon and do just that. She no longer cared if it was fake, for her it was the most real thing she had felt in a long time, if ever, and she wanted more of it.
She had made up her mind she was going to pursue Kane and being a fake fiancé only made it easier to do that. Luke eavesdropping that day had made it easier as well, as she had recruited him to help her. She was surprised to learn that he was a big romance novel reader, and he promised he would get them together at some stage so they could talk. Now it’s just waiting for the right time.