All They Ever Wanted (15 page)

“That's more like it,” he said as he rocked back on his heels.

Miles groaned as his fingers spanned her waist and he pulled her body toward him. Lori buried her hands in his thick hair while his lips trailed along the low waistband of her panties. His mouth cruised over her belly button, eliciting a sigh from Lori. She felt him smile against her stomach before his lips moved lower, grazing her skin through the silk of her panties. Lori's breath hitched and she dug her fingers into Miles' skull.

“Is this what you want?” he asked as his tongue flicked between her legs. The sensation of the silky fabric rubbing against her tender skin made her body throb. Miles took a breath, inhaling her scent. “Oh, yeah,” he said. “This is definitely what you want.”

Before she could reply, he was shoving the fabric of her panties aside and burying his tongue inside her. His hands were kneading her bottom as he licked and sucked. It didn't take much before her muscles were convulsing. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying not to scream when the powerful orgasm nearly took her out at the knees.

He smiled against her skin again and Lori didn't have to see it to know it was a smug one. He'd given her satisfaction—intense satisfaction—in under two minutes. Lori wanted to attribute it to the recent drought in her sex life, but she had to concede that Miles had a way with her body. He kissed the inside of her thigh before righting her panties and slowly coming to his feet. His hands skimmed over her bare skin reverently.

“Are you ready for the good stuff?” he breathed into her ear as he pulled her hips against his very aroused body.

“That wasn't the good stuff?”

He let out another one of those toe-curling growls before sweeping her into his arms and carrying her to the bedroom. Lori bounced once when Miles tossed her on the big sleigh bed. “Don't move,” he ordered her.

Through the screen of her eyelashes she watched as he yanked his T-shirt over his head and neatly folded it before placing it on the bench at the foot of the bed. Lori bit back a smile when he shucked off his shorts and folded them up also. Her amusement died, though, when he turned and marched into the bathroom. The sight forced her to catch her breath.
That ass has definitely seen some squats.

Miles returned to the bedroom carrying a handful of foil packets, which he tossed down on the nightstand. Lori propped herself up on her elbows, eyeing the condoms. She arched an eyebrow at Miles.

He crawled up onto the bed. “I believe if you're going to have regrets, it's always better to make them worth it.”

Considering the appetizer he'd just given her, Lori had no doubt tonight would be worth it. She reached behind her back to unclasp her bra, but Miles beat her to it. His warm body brushed against hers as he used his fingers and his mouth to divest her of her meager clothing. He whispered how, for weeks
now, he'd fantasized about unwrapping her layers and exposing her body to him. Then, he told her all the things he'd been dreaming of doing to her—with her. None of it was characteristic of his Dudley Do-Right persona. Lori had never been so turned on. Miles was thorough in his exploration of her body, leaving her flushed and writhing beneath him.

When at long last he covered her body with his, she sighed with relief before nipping him on the shoulder. In response, he slid into her, filling her completely. Lori's breath seized in her lungs at the sensation. His body hovered above hers. He'd left the lights beside the bed on low and she watched as his face relaxed into a satisfied smile. His blue eyes were determined behind his long, inky lashes. She was relieved that she didn't see regret in them.
At least not now anyway
.

Reaching up, she threaded her fingers through his hair, pulling his mouth down to hers for a deep, drugging kiss. Tongues and teeth collided until neither one of them could take it any longer and Miles began to move within her. Lori anchored her feet over Miles' calves as she matched his rhythm. She whispered words of encouragement and sighs of pleasure as he carried her body back to the edge again and again, before finally giving her what she wanted. Arching her neck, she squeezed her eyelids shut as a million lights exploded behind them. Her soft cry of pleasure whispered through the quiet bedroom, making Miles still yet again.

When Lori opened her eyes, he had the familiar deep probing look on his face. She didn't want him thinking about who she was or what she might be. Lori just wanted this night with him, this moment filled with pleasure. Their moment. It would likely be the only one they ever had—especially if he was foolish enough to marry Greer. She clenched her muscles, squeezing around him as she slid her nails up and down his back.

“Don't think, Miles,” she pleaded with him. “That will only lead to regrets.”

Thankfully, he slammed his eyes shut and began to move again. Growling next to her ear, he came in a rush, his body shaking with release. A peaceful bliss settled over Lori as they lay there waiting for their breathing to return to normal.

*   *   *

Miles shifted onto his back so as not to smother Lori, yet not wanting to put too much distance between their bodies, which were still flushed with passion. He'd waited months to get his hands on her, and he still had some exploring left to do. Her soft brown eyes had little flecks of gold, which sparkled when she was aroused. That stubborn chin had a little dent in it. And a small scar, white with age, bisected her left eyebrow. Her sassy mouth was not quite symmetrical, but talented nonetheless. Miles was growing hard again just thinking about where he wanted her to put her lips next.

“I should be keeping an eye on the hallway.” Her voice sounded sated and she made no effort to move any part of her body. “Is it wrong that part of me hopes it's not Cassidy, but another part of me wants it to be her so I can get my ring back?”

Something fluttered in Miles' belly at the mention of her ring. He felt absurdly guilty that he was glad the missing ring was keeping her in Chances Inlet. Miles told himself it was because he needed her help at the inn, but one part of his body was calling him out as a liar: the part that wanted to be back inside Lori again. If she found her ring, she'd be gone tomorrow. He was sure of it.

“I don't like the idea of Cassidy taking anything from anyone. Especially since I had to pull a shitload of strings to keep her out of foster care when Mona went to jail.”

Lori rolled over onto his chest. “It would break your mother's heart.”

Given the tears he'd seen in Lori's eyes earlier, it would break her heart, too, even if she did manage to get her ring back. He nodded, distracted by her long hair brushing against his chest. Its dull black color was obviously a part of her disguise given that other parts of her body were covered with rich, russet hair. He brushed a silky strand of it off her face. She flattened her hands on his chest and laid her chin on top of them, releasing a contented sigh.

“I've checked her room multiple times. She doesn't have much and she's pretty much an open book about what she
does have.” She gnawed on her bottom lip, the sight making Miles hard and tight.

He groaned. “I checked the Patty Wagon yesterday. Nothing.”

Her eyes grew wide. “I never thought to check there. And if she was going to steal, wouldn't she just take the cash from the register?”

“Yep. But I've gone through the books. Everything adds up.”

She sighed again. “I may never find my ring.”

He dragged his fingers through her hair. “We'll find it.” Miles had no idea what possessed him to say the words. Well, aside from the fact that Lori was sexy and naked in his bed and he'd do and say just about anything to keep her there.

Her eyes grew wide and the corners of her lopsided mouth turned up. “You'll help me?”

Finding who took her ring meant that Lori would be leaving sooner rather than later. Miles wasn't sure how he felt about that right now. But he didn't want anything else to go missing from his mother's inn, either. “Sure.”

Her eyes were damp as she crawled up his body. “Thank you, Miles,” she said before kissing him softly on the corner of his lips. She kissed the other side. “I know you've got a lot on your plate right now.”

Miles didn't want to think about what was
on his plate
right now. He didn't want to think about the campaign, Faye Rich, Greer, the governor, Cassidy, his mother, or anyone else. That was for tomorrow. Tonight was for escaping into the soft confines of a sexy body and he was done wasting time talking. He nipped at Lori's lips before taking her mouth in a greedy kiss. She responded by straddling his body and giving him the ride of his life.

W
hen Miles' alarm rousted him awake the next morning, Lori was already gone. He rolled over and buried his nose in the pillow. It smelled of her minty shampoo and sex, the scent making Miles instantly hard enough to pound nails. He jumped out of bed, yanking the sheets off as he did so. Tossing them in the hamper, he made his way to the bathroom, where he spied a piece of paper tucked beneath his tube of toothpaste. He snatched it up.

No regrets.

Miles smiled at the elegant handwriting on the paper. Glancing in the mirror, he realized that his only regret was that the night was over. Lori had been everything he had expected her to be. And the sex? That had been even better. As much as Miles hated to admit it, his brother Gavin had been right about him needing to get laid. Despite the meager amount of sleep he'd gotten, Miles felt more relaxed and ready to face the agonizing decisions that loomed before him. He had Lori to thank for that. Miles grinned just thinking about the ways he wanted to repay her for the favor.

Just as quickly, his grin faded. She wasn't sticking around.
Hell, she might already be gone. His pulse sped up at the thought. He shoved the note into the top drawer of the dresser and began furiously brushing his teeth. Miles knew the reality of the situation. Theirs was a one-night stand months in the making. Their relationship could never be anything more. Still, he wasn't ready for Lori to take her secrets and vanish into thin air.

And those secrets bothered him. There was no way she was some nefarious criminal. Not judging by the way she cared for Cassidy, his mother, and this B and B. Clearly she was running from someone and that thought stirred up Miles' ire even more. He spit into the sink, swearing as he did. He knew people. People who could help. Just look what he was able to do for Cassidy. Miles could protect Lori, too. If she'd only let him in on her secret.

His phone beeped with a text message. That would be Will alerting him that he was beginning his run. He'd be on the stretch of beach in front of the B and B to meet up with Miles in ten minutes. He pulled on his running clothes, eager to get down to the kitchen before he had to meet Will.

The smell of bacon greeted him at the threshold of the room. He blew out a relieved breath when he spied Lori, standing at the counter with her back to him, filling a chafing dish with grits. She was dressed in her usual garb of baggy cargo pants and a long T-shirt. He'd known for months that she was hiding a hot figure beneath her clothes, but now that he'd touched—and tasted—that body, Miles appreciated the drab outfits she used to blend in. They kept other men from fantasizing about the secrets she kept concealed beneath them.

Coming up behind her, he pressed his lips to the freckle he'd discovered on her neck the night before. Lori jumped away from him, nearly spilling the contents of the tray.

“Miles!” she hissed as she quickly glanced around the empty room. “You can't do that.”

The muscles clenched in his jaw. He wanted to kiss her and do a hell of a lot more, but she was right.
Damn it.
The last thing he needed was his mother, Cassidy, or—God forbid—Bernice walking in on them. He didn't know how to explain what was going on with Lori to himself, much less to anybody else.

Placing a hand on her lower back, he guided her into the laundry room, out of the line of sight of anyone who might happen into the kitchen.

“The breakfast room opens in ten minutes, Miles.” Lori licked her lips and her gaze roamed his face, an uncertain look in her eyes.

“This will only take five,” he said before he sealed his lips over hers. Thankfully, she didn't resist. Instead, she rocked her hips into his as she wrapped her arms around his neck. That was all the encouragement Miles needed. He plundered her mouth, kissing her like some greedy frat boy who was totally out of control. She tasted like strawberries and cinnamon. Miles' body grew hard and his head grew light with every little breathy sound she made.

Lori's common sense was obviously working more effectively than his because she pulled out of the kiss before either of them did something stupid. Miles leaned his forehead against hers, waiting for their breathing to return to normal.

“I just came down to tell you, no regrets.”

She pulled back and a look of faint wonderment spread over her face followed by an effervescent smile. Those golden flecks sparkled in her caramel eyes again, and Miles swore she seemed brighter.

“I'm glad,” she whispered. “So very glad.”

Miles slid his hands up and down her back, continuing to study her. She was definitely not a hardened criminal. Not with lips and eyes like that.

“Let me help you,” he whispered.

“There are only six people in for breakfast,” she said, misunderstanding his intent. “I think I can manage.”

“That's not—”

The screen door slammed, followed by the sound of scratching on the kitchen floor before his brother's damn dog appeared complete with a piece of driftwood in his mouth. The dog got hung up as it tried to ram the oversized stick into the doorframe in an effort to greet Miles and Lori.

“Careful, Midas,” Lori said with a laugh as she stepped out of the laundry room. She stopped a few steps into the
kitchen at the sight of Will Connelly. Will eyed both her and Miles shrewdly before pilfering a piece of bacon out of the warmer.

“I'll call the help line about the dryer later today. I'm sure it's an easy fix,” Miles lied, saying the first thing that came to mind. He knew that look on Will. Despite the lie, there would still be questions. In many ways, his friend would be harder to fool than Bernice. The only thing Miles had going for him was the fact that the big man looked exhausted. Hopefully, he was easily diverted.

Lori nodded before picking up a chafing dish and disappearing into the breakfast room.

“How'd you end up with Midas?” Miles asked as he grabbed a bottle of water out of the cooler. “You've already got your hands full with a new baby in the house.”

Will reached in behind him and pulled out a bottle of his own. “Gavin headed back to New York for the rest of the week. I told him I'd run the mutt every morning to wear him out. Ginger is teaching a dance summer camp so she won't have much time to keep Midas entertained.” He shrugged. “It gives me an excuse to escape the house and get my run in.”

They headed toward the beach, the dog frolicking at their heels. Gavin had probably told him all this the night before, but Miles had been distracted by the governor's ultimatum—among other things. He needed to get his head back into the campaign and regain control of his life.

The two ran in companionable silence for the first mile while the dog bolted in and out of the surf, zigzagging between both men.

Miles decided to leap right in with both feet. “Can I ask you a personal question?”

“As long as I get to ask what was going on in the laundry room this morning,” Will answered.

“Nothing was going on in the laundry room. Just a problem with the washer.”

“Funny, you said it was the dryer before.”

Miles cursed the Ivy League–educated jock.

Will just laughed. “Don't worry. I'm not going to tell
anyone you're fooling around with the maid. There's no crime in that. As long as you're both willing and single.”

Miles stumbled before catching himself. Will wouldn't be so flippant if he knew Miles was considering ending his single status. “About that . . .”

His friend eyed him with that astute look again before pulling up to a walk. “She's not single?”

“No!” Miles paced the shoreline. “I mean yes. But I'm not talking about Lori. I'm talking about me.”

Will took a long pull from the bottle of water. “You're not single?” he asked sarcastically after he'd swallowed.

“Can I just get to my damn question?”

“Sure.” Will tossed a stick out into the ocean and Midas scampered after it. “Ask away.”

“It's about your marriage.”

His friend shot him one of those icy looks that had the rest of the NFL nicknaming him William the Conqueror. “There's personal and there's none-of-your-damn-business, Miles. What goes on with my marriage falls into the second category.”

This was going to be more difficult than Miles thought. He needed to talk to someone about the governor's proposal. Miles didn't feel comfortable talking to anyone in his family about it. With his luck, the governor had already informed Coy of his proposition and Bernice would have all of Chances Inlet making wedding plans before noon. Miles cringed, picturing his mother's reaction. She would be disappointed and his siblings would no doubt accuse him of being overly ambitious yet again. But Will had originally married Julianne for convenience, as a way to share custody of the son he hadn't known about. At least he'd understand Miles' dilemma.

“I'm not interested in the intimate details,” Miles said. “I want to know about your first marriage. When you married Julianne as a formality. You didn't love her, but you married her anyway.”

Will stared at him in silence. Miles knew he wasn't making any sense. Frustrated, he yanked off his T-shirt and swiped at his sweaty face. Better just to spit it out, he figured.

“The governor is worried about my campaign. All this
bullshit about my father is making my approval ratings tank. Faye is a happily married woman with a family. Apparently, voters like settled.” He pushed out an aggravated sigh. “The governor thinks it would be best if I got married.”

“What?” Will looked as if Miles had just told him they were going to run to New York and back. “That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. People just don't get married to improve their image.”

“You did,” Miles fired back at him.

“That was different and you know it. I married Julianne to protect my
son's
image. I didn't want him growing up labeled a bastard like I did.” Midas dropped the stick at Will's feet. Will angrily chucked it past the waves. They both stood there silently, watching the dog leap through the water before Will spoke again. “You're not actually considering it, are you?”

“I might not have a choice. The party will make the campaign negative if I don't.”

Will snorted. “You have more integrity than that, Miles. Besides, you aren't even dating anyone. Unless you're planning on marrying whoever tattooed your back with their fingernails?”

Miles swore as he pulled the T-shirt over his head.

“Washer and dryer my ass,” Will mumbled.

“The governor wants me to marry his daughter.”

Will whistled. “The plot thickens. At least she's gorgeous. And smart. There's also that whole politically well-connected part. At the risk of sounding like a dumbass, what's there to be conflicted about here?” he asked condescendingly.

His friend clearly didn't understand. Miles kicked off his shoes and waded out into the surf. The dog barked excitedly, weaving between Miles' legs. How had everything gotten so complicated? His life plan had never included Justine and his father's deaths and his mother's subsequent financial woes. Or an arranged marriage. Not to mention a distracting stranger who made him want to abandon his squeaky clean image for a night. Or two.

Will waded in to stand beside him. “What's really going on here, Miles? I know you and Greer are friends and you respect
her, but you're the most honest guy I know. The lie of the relationship would eat at you.” Will rolled his shoulders. “If you're asking me whether or not you'd learn to love Greer, I have no idea what to tell you. I blackmailed Julianne into marrying me the first time because I didn't want her taking Owen away. But in truth, I wanted her, too. We started with a pretty potent chemistry. Love became a part of the game plan later.”

Miles sighed. “That's not the case here. I think of Greer like I do my two sisters. And you know I'm not planning on falling in love again.”

Will mumbled something that sounded a lot like
dumb ass
. “And this thing with Lori? What's that about?”

“Lori has one foot out the door. We were just scratching an itch.” Miles hated how the words sounded as they left his lips. Yet he didn't want to analyze why last night felt like something more than a one-night stand. “Would it make me an ass if I said despite what happened between her and me last night, I'm still considering marrying Greer? It seems the lesser of two evils.”

“Is what they have on Faye that bad?”

The governor claimed to have evidence that Faye Rich had had an abortion when she was seventeen. According to his source, the baby's father was one of the mechanics at her father's car dealership. The man was also fifteen years her senior and married. Miles cringed just thinking about it. True or not, he was in no position to judge Faye for a youthful indiscretion. The woman had made a huge success of her life and her business. It had no bearing on whether or not she should serve in Congress.