“No bullets.”
“I thought you were going to have a shooting range.”
“Okay, some bullets.”
She beamed. “See. I can be helpful.”
It was a beautiful spring afternoon, with sunlight spilling in through the freshly washed windows. Crisp curtains fluttered in the breeze or would if the windows were open. Right now they were closed and the front door was locked. Patience had learned if she didn’t keep the place locked, people tended to wander in and ask when she would open. While she appreciated the interest, every conversation took time, which meant she was always running behind on her work schedule.
She looked at the tables and chairs, the humming cold case and the shiny floor. There was coffee for sale on the shelves, along with various coffee supplies. The last delivery of mugs, glasses and plates had come in. She’d hired some help, been instructed on using all the equipment and once the dishwasher made its debut, she would be ready to open the doors to her new business.
“I can’t believe it,” she admitted. “This is really happening. Did you see the sign?”
“I saw the sign.”
She clasped her hands together in front of her waist. “I love it so much.”
The logo she and her mother had chosen was a yellow oval with a red coffee cup in the middle. Adorable hearts graced the cup. “We’re going to have T-shirts and aprons with the design,” she added.
“You mentioned that.”
She looked at him. “Is that your polite way of saying I’m getting boring?”
“You could never be boring.”
She frowned. There was something about the way he was looking at her. An intensity. She couldn’t figure out what he was thinking, but something was wrong.
She crossed to him. “Justice, what is it?”
“Nothing. We should start unpacking your mugs.”
She put her hand on his chest, as much to feel the rock-hard muscles as to hold him in place. “Am I keeping you from something?”
He took a step back and shoved his hands in his pockets. “No. But you’re on a schedule.”
He wasn’t making sense. “I don’t understand. What’s going on?”
His expression sharpened. He looked away, then back at her. He muttered something under his breath, then moved so quickly he was a blur. One second he was putting distance between them; the next he was hauling her against him and pressing his mouth to hers.
The kiss shocked her, but only for a second. Then she leaned into him, wanting to take all he offered. He moved his tongue against hers, igniting sparks and inspiring need. His hands moved from her waist to her back, then lower, cupping her rear. She grabbed hold of his shoulders, feeling the power in his arms. From there it was an easy journey to his chiseled chest.
“Patience,” he breathed against her mouth before kissing his way along her jawline to that sensitive spot below her ear. He nipped on the lobe before drifting lower.
His tongue teased even as he grated lightly with his teeth. Shivers rippled through her. He went down and down, across her collarbone to the neckline of her T-shirt. After dipping his tongue into the valley between her breasts, he made the return journey up the other side.
With each brush, each nibble, she found it difficult to breathe. Her skin was sensitized, her body exquisitely poised for the next erotic assault. Her breasts ached and she knew her nipples had tightened into anxious points. Between her thighs she was already wet.
Her head dropped back, giving him more access. When he shifted his hands to her breasts, she closed her eyes to avoid the distraction of looking instead of feeling.
As his thumbs and forefingers closed over her nipples, his mouth settled on hers. He pushed his tongue inside and stroked her in rhythm with the magic he worked on her breasts. The combination had her straining toward him. Liquid heat pooled in her center and she knew she was seconds away from begging him to never stop.
He dropped his hands to her waist and drew her against him. She went willingly, needing the contact. His erection was hard against her belly and she pressed into him, happy to know she wasn’t the only one enjoying their game.
Only Justice wasn’t playing. He cupped her face in his hands and stared into her eyes.
“I want you,” he breathed.
Words designed to thrill, she thought, as a shiver raced through her.
“I want you, too,” she murmured before she could think if that was wise or not. And then more truth tumbled out. “But I’m not on any birth control, and it’s not like I came prepared.”
She hated to be practical. In a perfect world they would both suddenly be naked, maybe on a private beach somewhere or on a bed in the forest. They would make love with no awkward bits or consequences. Only life wasn’t that tidy.
He held her gaze for a handful of heartbeats, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a condom.
“Oh.” She blinked. “Either you’re a careful planner or we have to talk about your lifestyle.” Because being with a man who always hoped to get lucky wasn’t her idea of a good time.
“I’ve been a careful planner since my second week in town. And only around you,” he added. “It wasn’t an assumption. It was wishful thinking.” He touched her cheek. “About you, Patience. No one else.”
She felt any stern resolve melt away. “You mean you don’t have a thing for Mayor Marsha?”
“Sorry, no.”
“I’m not sure that’s something you need to apologize for,” she said, leaning into him.
He pulled her against him and lowered his head. Their mouths brushed once, twice, before he settled in for a good long kiss. She wrapped her arms around him and gave herself over to the sensation of being seduced by him.
His mouth was gentle yet determined. He claimed her with an intensity that left her breathless. Just when she was wishing he would start touching her in other places, he began easing her backward, toward the storeroom.
Not a bad idea, she thought, realizing the main part of the store had windows that faced one of Fool’s Gold’s primary streets. Perhaps getting naked in front of traffic and pedestrians wasn’t the best plan.
She pulled back as she realized doing “it” surrounded by boxes and packing crates wasn’t, either.
“There’s no real place,” she began as she stepped away from him and moved toward the doorway. “It’s not like I keep a pile of blankets around or a cot. We don’t even have stairs. I’ve seen people have sex on stairs in the movies. It looks really uncomfortable. Besides, I’m not very bendy and I haven’t done it in a while...”
Her voice trailed off as she realized he was simply watching her.
She swallowed. “I’m just saying it’s been a long time and I might not be very good.”
The last confession was delivered in a whisper.
“About done?” he asked.
She nodded.
“Have you changed your mind or are you nervous?”
She licked her lips. “You know. That second one.”
Something flashed in his blue eyes; then he crossed to her and pulled off her T-shirt. Just like that. Without asking. There they were in a small back room with shelves and boxes and a big hole where the dishwasher was going to go, and he was taking off her clothes.
“I