Mike's Way Back (Finding Perfect) (10 page)

Chapter 10

“Hey, Jeff.”

“Yeah, Taryn. What can I get you, hon?”

“Real quick, can you tell your buddy here what the score is? You know…just in case he can’t see it from where we’re sitting. I’d appreciate it.”

Mike glanced over his shoulder at his good friend. Jeff’s shit-eating grin appeared no matter how hard he tried to focus on wiping down a pretend spot on the bar, before Mike turned back to the honey-blonde. Her proud smirk was his undoing. She stood and he tucked his finger in the front pocket of her jeans and urged her toward him. “Where you going?”

“Well, judging by the fact that my team is destroying yours…I feel I’m safe to go to the restroom without worrying that you’ll put some hoax on them or something.”

“You’re cute.”

“I told you weeks ago you were cheering for the wrong team. It’s not my fault you didn’t listen.” Grabbing a gentle fistful of her jersey, Mike pulled her down, lining her up for a kiss. “Aren’t you, as an upstanding officer of this fine town, supposed to keep the PDA to a minimum?”

“I’m going to show you PDA on top of that bar over there, here in about five minutes, sugar.” He winked, dragging in a long breath through his nose as her eyes flared wide in surprise.

“You wouldn’t?”

“Try me.”

Her eyes went wider and she swallowed hard. The hollow at her neck exposed her rapid pulse and when her lips parted, he could smell just a hint of the beer she’d been nursing. She stood and he released the hold he had on her shirt. Taryn blinked at him, and then as she turned, he gave her a light tap on the ass. She squeaked and spun back. Mike jerked his chin at her and grinned. When she was out of his reach, she put both hands on her hips and of all things—stuck her tongue out at him. Unable to hold his surprise in any longer, Mike laughed like he hadn’t in years.

Two fresh beers clinked on the scratched wooden table. Jeff sat in her empty seat, but Mike knew he would only be there for a minute. They were great friends but when they were in Jenny’s their conversations usually consisted of stuff they could shout at each other loudly from across the room. Things that should not be public information, they discussed in more private settings.

“Damn,
Sterling. I have to hand it to you. She’s firecracker.”

“A damn good looking one, too.”

“I won’t keep you, I know she’ll be right back. I just had to say something though. Whatever the two of you have got going on, it looks good on you. You’re certainly happier than when you were with the ice bitch. No offense, man.”

“None taken
, I know. It’s funny. Most days, you’d see Taryn and picture her as cold as my ex. But she’s not. Not at all. The only problem is the perpetual hard-on I’m sporting. I swear, the woman is going to kill me. Or at the very least—break me.”

“Hey, there are worse problems to have, bud.”

“Don’t stop talking about me, boys, just because I’m here. Carry on.”

Mike took advantage of the situation and pulled Taryn onto his lap before Jeff could stand. He knew his buddy would help him out as long as he could by keeping her chair good and warm, preventing Taryn from vacating her new seat. Her cell vibrated from the table. To Mike’s surprise, she punched the speaker phone to answer.

“Are you watching the game?”

“Seriously, Taryn? Are you new?”

“Andrew…just because you’re gay isn’t an excuse. I know lots of gay men who love baseball.”

“Honey…not everyone has your sick obsession with the Red Sox.”

“Everyone in Boston does. Trust me.”

“So you always tell me. So listen, Scott and I will be there this Thursday. Where are you by the way?”

“Watching my Sox wipe the floor with the Yankees.”

“So how is that hot cop of yours doing? Is he as good in bed as I picture him being?”

“Well…right now his cheeks are turning a particularly entertaining shade of red. I do say, I think you’ve been quite successful in embarrassing the shit out of him, A.”

Mike still had her planted firmly on his lap and he retaliated. Taryn wiggled and squealed loudly as he continued to tickle her while he multi-tasked. “Hey, Andrew. How’s it going, bud?”

“Hmm. It sounds like you’re taking good care of our girl for us.”

In comparison to Andrew, Mike would consider himself as rugged and manly as they came. The few times they’d spoken, her friend’s demeanor came across so feminine that there was not even a jealous spark that lit within Mike. She lived with not one, but two men and he was the opposite of jealous. The closer he got to her, the more grateful he was she had someone looking out for her.

“Oh, I’m trying. She’s making it hard to do, daring to wear this so-called, jersey around here.”

“Yeah, but I’m betting she’s got those fabulous jeans on she’s had since college, and they’re all faded and ripped now, doesn’t she?”

“How’d you guess, man?”

“Those are her go-to staple. If she’s not in slacks or a pencil skirt—then it’s those sexy babies. Aren’t they just to die for?”

“You have no idea, Andrew.”

“Trust me, detective. I can hear the effect those jeans and the skin peeking out of them here and there are having on you. I’ll let you guys go so you can finish watching the damn game. Hey, Taryn darling, call me tonight or in the morning. Let me know which books you want us to bring for sure.”

“Oh, thank you so much. I will. Have fun tonight with Scott.”

“Darling…you know it. Ciao.”

“I didn’t get to be around him much before…but damn,” Jeff said.

“Andrew’s the best. Plus I never have to shop. I hand him my credit card and poof…it all magically appears without me ever having to leave the comforts of home.”

“Fuck you,
Sterling. Hot and she doesn’t like to shop.” He rose. “You can just go to hell, man.” Jeff chuckled and gave him a hard pat to the back as he passed on his return trip to his post behind the bar.

Mike grinned. “Been there once, man. Don’t recommend it.” The sparkle twinkled in Taryn’s eyes.

“Your ex?”

“Yeah, or as Jeff commonly refers to her, the ‘ice bitch’. She was a real piece.”

She slipped from his lap, but took his hand in hers and studied him. “How did such a nice guy like you end up with someone like that?”

The ornery, playfulness of a moment ago had been replaced with a sweet sincerity. With his free hand he tugged on the bill of her ball cap. “I was naïve. I should have seen the writing on the wall from our very first date. I couldn’t provide the lifestyle she wanted. It was more than money. I had that. It was the entertainment and the city pace she wanted. That’s not me.  You’ve been to the house, so you’ve probably figured that out by now.”

“She sounds like Philip.”

“It’s easy to go along with what you know instead of breaking away, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.” She hesitated, and finally she dragged her gaze back to meet his. “But…I’m happier. Now, I mean.”

“Are you?” He smiled and tugged on her arm until he forced her back to his lap.

“Yeah.”

Taryn laid back against his chest as the next-to-last batter stepped up to the box.

Mike wrapped his arms around her and breathed in her soft perfume. Curving around, he dropped a peck on her cheek. “Me too.”

~~~

Technically she’d won the bet…by several runs. However, they both knew what the evening had in store, and the woman in her wanted to primp. So to compromise, she agreed to meet him at his house instead. He’d only given her an hour, at which time if she hadn’t arrived, Mike told her in no uncertain terms, he would come retrieve her. Taryn bit her lips as his words, and the tone they were laced with, replayed through her mind.

She was at the mercy of her suitcase and the meager selection of things she’d brought to town with her. Hearing that Andrew and Scott would be replenishing her wardrobe soon was a huge relief,
but that didn’t help tonight. So much for sexy lingerie.

One thing she was certain of was her hidden weakness for matching bras and panties would at least see her through. Picking a lacy, bright floral set she quickly donned each piece and turned to the armoire. Grabbing a black silk button down, she slipped it on and then grinned. A black silk shirt and black heels went very well with a great skirt. Tonight though, she was returning to the scene of the crime. One leg at a time, she pulled her faded jeans back on.

Mike may think he was pretty smart, but two could play this game.

In the bathroom, Taryn touched up her hair and makeup. Letting out a deep breath, she scanned the items on the bathroom vanity. She hated to assume, but all her life she’d been taught to be prepared. Opening her purse, she threw in her toothbrush and deodorant. Hurrying across the room, she pulled out a clean pair of panties. Again, just on the off-chance he asked her to spend the night. Before she could change her mind, she dropped them in her purse and zipped it shut.

Her cheeks puffed up, and she slowly let out a big breath as she turned her car off. She hadn’t had sex in months, at least not with a man. Battery operated items didn’t count in her book. But now her nerves were ramping up. Staring at the dashboard of her rental, scenarios ran through her head. They’d eaten dinner while watching the game, and it was already dark out, so, were they just going to hop in bed? Were they supposed to watch television for a little while first or sit around and talk, and then slowly make their way to his bedroom? Or would he just clear off his kitchen table with one arm and take her the minute she knocked on his backdoor? She swallowed hard as her eyes adjusted to the dark and she focused on the speedometer needle. It was still at zero, and she still hadn’t moved.

Taryn had really grown to like Mike, a lot. He was funny, friendly, and welcoming to Andrew, which meant the world to her.
He’d also dragged her buried secret out of her. He’d been showing her how with him, she could feel treasured and protected instead. She bit her lip. There was always the last point in his favor. He was built, strong and hot as freaking hell.

She’d never given a second look at rugged men like him before—assuming strength meant control freak. She swore she’d never allow
that to happen again. She had always directed her attention toward pretty men, but in reality, they did nothing for her. They were just safe.

Mike was the opposite of safe, yet she felt safe with him. She instinctively knew he’d never hurt her. Just thinking of him made her pulse spike. Being around him gave her the jitters, and butterflies took over her stomach. There was something different about him. Taryn was attracted and drawn to him, but there was an underlying layer of steel to Mike that excited her
in ways she’d never felt before. Ever.

There was a tap on her driver’s side window and she screamed so loud in the confines of the small rental car the noise bounced off the windows.

~~~

He didn’t mean to scare the hell out of her, but there she sat with her palm covering her heart and breathing like she’d just finished running a marathon. Mike had been sitting at the patio table for the last half hour drinking a glass of wine while he waited for her. Ten minutes ago, she’d parked behind his truck, but hadn’t exited the car. A smile tipped his mouth as he watched her. In truth, he was as nervous as she appeared to be.

His feelings for Taryn were different than anything he’d felt for the few women before her. Since the ‘ice bitch’, there’d been a few short flings, but nothing compared to the woman still in shock as he opened her door and peeled her out of the car.

“Hi, sugar. I’m so sorry. I really didn’t mean to startle you like that.”

“It’s okay. It’s just…well…”

“One step at a time, Taryn. I promise. All you have to do is relax. Nothing is going to happen that you don’t want to happen. All right?” He folded her into his space. She ran her palms up his chest. Her eyes followed her hands until she finally met his gaze. Mike watched and almost fell to his knees when he saw it physically happen in his hold. Her shoulders relaxed and it was as if her fear and bottled up nerves were released on one breath. He saw her almost melt in his arms. A grin tugged at her mouth and she looked at him so intently he knew, in that moment, she was the one. It was as if she completely trusted him with everything. Mike pulled her close and tightened his arms around her. The sweetness of her shampoo and perfume encircled him, and he drank in the moment. Tonight was going to be so much more than just sex, and he knew with that look
she just gave him, he wasn’t the only one who felt that way.

Now if he could just keep himself calm enough to offer her a glass of wine and some conversation first, he’d be golden.

That wasn’t his biggest concern though.

That
was the garage behind them.

He wanted nothing more than to wake up with her in his arms tomorrow morning
, but how? There wasn’t any way to explain his late night workout routine without sounding like a true mental case. If he did try to lay it all out and explain what he hid away from the rest of the world—she’d run.