6
FOR A THURSDAY, they’d been positively packed. Realistically, she knew it was the newness of the ribs being available. She couldn’t expect every weeknight to bring in the same crowds. But for now, for this day, she felt positively jubilant.
Colt had left hours earlier, after chatting with his dad. She wanted to tell Hogan what an amazing young man he’d raised, but she was afraid that might also dredge up conversation about his wife, and she didn’t want to go there. Not tonight.
With new eyes and optimism, she looked around the restaurant. She needed to redecorate. Never fancy, but maybe new paint, new curtains and light fixtures. She felt renewed, so why shouldn’t the restaurant, too?
She was standing there staring at a stain on a ceiling tile when she literally felt Hogan behind her. Nerve endings went on alert, her senses popping to attention.
Striving for a placid look of mere curiosity, she glanced over her shoulder. “All done?” He’d removed his apron, and from the looks of the damp hair around his forehead, he’d also washed away the sweat from being outside so long.
“Yes.”
That led to yet another thought. “I’m going to talk to Jason about building some sort of overhang for you. You know, for shade. Or maybe I could just buy a big umbrella table for you—”
“Shh.” Hogan’s finger pressed over her lips. “You’re getting ahead of yourself.”
His finger, firm on her lips, had her stomach doing flip-flops. Insane. She wanted to bite that finger, maybe lick it.
When he lifted his hand, she smiled. Or tried to. She wasn’t sure of her own success. This meant too much to her for her to take it lightly. “We haven’t even discussed things yet. You have to allow me to make a pitch before you reject me.”
“Let’s get the place locked up. Then we can talk in your office.”
Kristy, the only employee left besides her and Hogan, laughed. “I promise to hurry.”
Violet frowned. “We’re talking business.”
“Uh-huh.” Kristy winked. “Don’t mind me.” Less than five minutes later, she was gone.
Hogan hadn’t teased back, hadn’t denied Kristy’s assumptions, hadn’t really done anything other than look thoughtful, and maybe determined, as he helped to secure the doors.
Alone with Hogan, Violet nervously led the way to her office, rehearsing her pitch in her mind before saying, “Before you say no, let me explain all the reasons why this could be a very good thing for both of us. I’ve given it a lot of thought, and I think we’d both benefit—”
She was barely inside the door before Hogan caught her arm, turned her to the wall and smothered her gasp of surprise with a kiss that curled her toes in her sneakers.
Violet meant to protest—she really did. But his mouth was hot and, damn him, skilled. The man knew how to kiss. While his tongue stole her thoughts, he leaned into her, his hard body all along the front of hers, his hands holding her face so gently, the kiss devouring.
Thoughts of business fled, replaced by indescribable hunger. She wound an arm around his neck, her hand in the hair at his nape. Her other hand busily stroked the sleek, lean muscles along his shoulders and back, then down the furrow of his spine.
Tensing, Hogan groaned and leaned his hips in against her.
He was hard, and God, she loved it, especially when he caught her hips in his large hands and slowly rocked her against him. The friction... He was pressing rhythmically against her in just the right way, in just the right place, and—
Suddenly leaving her, Hogan stepped back, his breath labored as he stared down at her.
Wilted against the wall, Violet didn’t know what had happened. She wanted to pull him close again, to pick up where they’d left off. Every part of her felt alive, too sensitive and needy. “Hogan...”
“This,” he said, his voice a growl, “is a problem.”
Finally, she saw the look in his eyes and her stomach cramped. For some insane reason, she wanted to slap him. But that would be grossly unfair considering she’d encouraged him.
And she wanted him to continue.
She drew a breath, but with the vise of humiliation around her throat, it wasn’t easy. Hogan’s expression softened. He even reached out for her cheek—but she quickly ducked away.
Going to the other side of her desk, which she hoped was a safe enough distance, she met his gaze. She tried to sound cold instead of hurt. “So. I presume that was a lesson for me?”
“A lesson? No.” He leaned against the closed door, his expression cautious. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
She laughed. It was a nasty, mean sound. “Well, it doesn’t need explanation, does it?”
“I think it does.”
“No, I—”
“Violet, stop. Let me talk for a minute, okay?”
That almost enraged her. “Now you want to talk?” She put a trembling hand over her chest. “Now that I’m turned on and having trouble breathing and I can barely form a thought? Is that a joke?”
“I won’t apologize for kissing you.” His eyes narrowed. “I’ve been dying to do it for days.”
“You hid it well!”
Surprise showed in his face, then was carefully masked. He watched her like a big cat watches a mouse. “You’ve been hoping I would—?”
“No!”
His eyes glittered at her. “Fibber,” he said softly, making it sound like a come-on. “You know, the way you’ve been all week, I thought you were giving me payback.”
“Payback?”
“Because I’ve chased you? So you chased me back, knowing I couldn’t do anything about it.”
Like a life raft, she grabbed it. “That’s exactly what I was doing.” His indulgent smile told Violet that he didn’t believe her. So she wasn’t a convincing liar? She wouldn’t be further embarrassed about that.
“Violet.” He said her name like a damned caress. “We’ve been busy, too busy to talk much, definitely too busy for me to get you alone the way I wanted to.”
“Yes, incredibly busy,” she agreed, hoping to change the subject. “That’s what I wanted to talk about. The increased business—”
“But even if I could,” Hogan said, refusing to be sidetracked, “I knew a kiss or two wasn’t going to do it, not for me.”
Her gaze got caught in his. “No?”
“Not even close.” Pushing away from the door, he moved a few steps toward her. “I don’t think it’d do it for you, either, Violet.”
No, definitely not. She stared him in the eyes and said, “Maybe I’m stronger than you.”
He rubbed his chin. “I have no idea what it is about you, but I want you so damned much I can’t think straight. You insult me and I want you.” He took another step closer. “You tease me and it makes me hot.” Closer still. “You boss me around, and it’s all I can do to keep my hands off you.”
Well, that was a bit of a balm to her pride. So maybe he hadn’t been trying to prove anything to her. And he wanted her? Couldn’t be as much as she wanted him, but at least she knew it wasn’t all one-sided on her part.
Hogan now stood on the other side of her desk, very near, and yet with a desk between them.
She sighed. “Today, you didn’t. Keep your hands off me, I mean. You kissed me in front of several people.” Rumors would spread like wildfire. Such was life in Clearbrook.
“You let me. Pretty sure you even participated.”
Probably. “What will everyone think?”
“Nothing new.”
She frowned in confusion.
“It’s not a secret to anyone that we’re attracted. The confusing part is why we haven’t done anything about it yet.”
Violet squared her shoulders. “You are—were—so busy chasing everything in a skirt that I—”
“You think I’ve reformed?”
With no idea what to say to that, she frowned down at a paper on her desk. It was easier than meeting his gaze. “I guess you’re probably too busy now, having two jobs I mean, to fit in...extracurricular activities.” She hoped that was true.
“Honey, no man is ever too busy for that.”
His appalled tone brought her attention up again.
He was smiling.
“I didn’t realize you were back on the prowl,” she almost snarled.
Watching her, he circled the desk and stopped right in front of her. “Since I was prowling you, it’s a wonder you didn’t notice.”
Violet’s heart tried to punch its way out of her chest and she had to fight the urge to grab him. Maybe she just needed to get laid. It didn’t have to be Hogan, right? She could—No, she knew she couldn’t.
Damn it.
“You see,” he said in a rough whisper. “Even now, it’s hard to resist. You need to think about this, Violet. Think about having me around so often.”
“I have.” She’d thought about it far too much and loved the idea.
“We’ll end up in bed. You know that.”
She hoped so. “Yes.”
For a brief moment, Hogan closed his eyes. “Shush a minute and let me finish, okay?”
Wanting him every bit as much as he claimed to want her, Violet nodded.
“I’ve been trying to figure out what it is about you. I think it’s that you’re a mix of sweet and sexy, all wrapped up in a gorgeous package.”
A wonderful compliment. “Thank you.”
“You’re also smart and motivated. Often funny, when you aren’t torturing me. You have great business sense—no, not as good as me, but good. And whatever you lack in business savvy you make up for with hard work.”
Wow. That was an even better compliment since it was on her character, not her looks. She wanted to hug him, but he looked so serious, she held back and joked with him instead. “Are you planning to sleep with me, or saint me?”
“Whether we sleep together or not is up to you. If I work here, for damn sure it’s going to happen.”
She agreed. And since she wanted it to happen, she didn’t see the problem.
“What I won’t do,” he whispered, “is marry you.”
That statement hit like a bucket of ice water. She drew back, stung, startled, speechless.
Hogan never blinked. “That was blunt, I know. The problem is that you’re the type of woman most men would beg to marry. I’m just not one of them. I’ve been down that road and, for me, it...didn’t end well.”
Still, she stayed silent, caught between a terrible hurt and a spark of anger, between wanting him and being furious.
They stared at each other until she couldn’t take it anymore. She had to be rational, had to think about the big picture.
If that reasoning allowed her to indulge her lust, well, it didn’t detract from the good business sense.
“I never asked you to marry me, Hogan. I asked you to pump up to forty hours. Oh, and to share the recipe for your ribs, especially the sauce.” She paced out from behind her desk, set on how to handle things. “I’ve been giving this a lot of thought, going over everything I want.”
He crossed his arms. “Enlighten me.”
“Okay, well, first, I want to remodel a bit. Nothing big and expensive, but the dining room could use some sprucing up. The picnic areas, too. We have plenty of warm weather left. I want to put in some flowers, maybe a fountain, you know, to make the area more pleasing now that it’s getting used so much more. Inside I want to paint and change the lights and curtains. Possibly re-cover the chairs and booth seats.”
Hogan’s eyes narrowed. “The menus could use an overhaul.”
She flashed him a smile. “See, you like the idea of change, too. It’s thanks to you that I have so much new revenue coming in. I can hire at least one more person, maybe two, so taking breaks is easier.”
“With more waiters, you can serve more guests. Cutting back on wait time should naturally help get more dessert orders.”
“I was thinking that, too.”
“Now that Colt has half the high school hanging around—”
“The female half!”
He gave one nod. “Which in turn, could be a reason for more of the boys to hang around, I think we need to consider some stylized promo for that age group. Maybe a discount for honors, celebration days when the sports teams win, that sort of thing.”
“I was thinking the same things!” Never before had Violet had anyone to share her ideas with. It was fun. “We could play off some of the dances, too, by offering a special menu.”
“Get the community and the kids involved,” Hogan said, his arms now down to his sides as he, too, paced while considering various angles. “Maybe we should do a printed poll asking different age groups what they like best for dessert, drinks, sides, main meals—”
“Ha, ribs,” she said.
“And given the popularity of that stupid little paper that circulates—”
“The Clearbrook Trickle?”
“—I was thinking it might be nice for you to honor whoever receives the citizenship award, or whatever it is the Trickle calls it, with a free meal or something.”
“That’s genius!” Excitement all but made her forget about his ridiculous announcement and innate insult. “Even better, we could name something after the recipient and run it as a special. Like for Charlotte Gains, who was in the Trickle a few weeks ago for all her volunteer work at the animal shelter, we could do a Charlotte Burger...” Saying it aloud, it sounded silly.
But Hogan agreed. “I like it. How about a Charlotte Sunshine Burger? We could make up some different combo for it, so it’s unique, like maybe add a fried egg, and use a different cheese, or something.”
“The Charlotte Sunshine Burger.” So happy she wanted to shout, Violet said, “I love that! It’s perfect.”
They smiled at each other, their combined enthusiasm ripe, until Hogan’s eyes darkened and his gaze slipped down to her mouth.
His new awareness sparked her own. Violet knew he was remembering, and she knew he was right. Always, that chemistry would be there, so close to the surface, ready to interrupt.
Her smile wavered, but she didn’t give up. “Plotting and planning like this is just one of the benefits for us working together. Will you please admit that you enjoy it?”
Rough, whisper soft, Hogan said, “I enjoy it.”
Violet shivered. Could a man be any sexier? Nope. She couldn’t quite look at him as she spoke again. “If you insist that sex is another benefit, well, I can handle it if you can.”
For the longest time, Hogan was quiet. “Is that so?”
“You don’t have to worry about me, Hogan. I’m not weak. You said so yourself. I have a lot on my plate, more than enough to worry about without throwing any sort of commitment into the mix. I want to watch the diner grow. I want to make it the very best that it can be. That’s my priority, and I know you can help make it happen.” Baring her soul was an uncomfortable thing. It’d be easier to keep things superficial. “Plus, like anyone else, I like the occasional distraction.”
He frowned, even while smiling. It was an odd expression that made him look dangerous. “So sex with me would be a distraction?”
“At the very least. That is, I assume it would be.” She tilted her head, doing a mock perusal of his very fine physique. “You any good?”
“Like you and your business savvy, what I lack in raw skill I make up for with enthusiasm.”
She couldn’t help but grin. “Yeah? I like the sound of that.”
“It’d be good,” he said, his voice rough again, “and you know it.”
Given the awkwardness of their conversation, he took it well, even added in some humor—and still managed to make her knees tremble. “So...what do you say?”
“Casual sex is a big enticement. But I still need time to think it over. I haven’t been at the accounting firm all that long. It’s a solid job—”
“And this isn’t?”
“Violet,” he said softly, “I’d be a glorified short-order cook and you know it.”
“You cook on those blasted ribs all day.”
Shaking his head, he ignored that. “Give me a week, okay?”
A week without sex, now that he’d teased her with it? How could he claim to want her but then just walk away?
Obviously they weren’t on even playing fields, and that infuriated her, making her mostly mad at herself. She knew his reputation, knew he’d taken up casual sex as a full-time hobby, that sex meant next to nothing to him, and still she’d let herself get hooked.
Stupid.
She was usually a very even-tempered woman. Usually.
Clearly, that wasn’t the case today.
“Tell you what, Hogan. Take two weeks. Take a damned month! I don’t care.” Rigid, her neck stiff, she stalked past him, ready to make her big exit scene.
The second her fingers closed around the doorknob, his hand flattened hard on the door over her head.
The door didn’t budge. “Let go.” She was the boss, and she fully expected him to retreat.
Instead, his body pressed hers, his warm breath touching her ear. “Don’t think this is easy for me, Violet. It’s not.”
Bitterness burned her throat. She wouldn’t have been able to deny him, yet that’s just what he’d done to her. “I’m leaving.”
Neither of them moved.
His lips skimmed her ear. “Not yet, okay?”
Something in the sound of his rough, low voice melted her anger. Her eyes half closed. How did he do this to her? She wasn’t some young, inexperienced virgin. She wasn’t one of those lonely women who had a desperate need for a man in her life.
She wasn’t in love with him.
She wasn’t. She wouldn’t let herself—
“Will you trust me?” His fingertips trailed down her arm, leaving tingles behind.
Violet snorted, but then, her body taut, she whispered, “To do what?”
Nestling a solid erection against her behind, he asked, “How about I just show you?”
Breathing became more difficult, especially when his hands moved from her arms to her waist, around to her ribs and slowly upward.
* * *
Hogan was so turned on, he literally hurt. Not that it mattered, not when all his focus was on Violet. He’d seen her trembling, the flush in her cheeks, and knew she was in as bad shape as he was. He couldn’t bear the thought of walking away from her, leaving her like that.
He’d rather suffer alone than have to live with knowing she suffered, too. Especially when he could do something about it. Not what he wanted to do, but he’d make it be enough.
For her.
Going slow in case she objected—after all, she was equal parts pissed at him and pleased with his interest in the diner—Hogan brought his hands up under her breasts. Beneath his palm, her heart galloped. He smiled against her neck. “You’re wondering what I’m going to do, aren’t you?”
She rested her head back against his shoulder. “Yes.”
He liked the already-breathy, strained sound of her voice. “How about we start with this?” He cupped her breasts, and even through her T-shirt and bra, she felt so damn nice, firm and soft, full and warm.
She inhaled deeply. “As long as it’s only a starting point.”
He liked the way her voice shook. Opening his mouth on her neck, he gently sucked, teased with his tongue...and caressed her breasts.
“Hogan...”
Knowing what she wanted, but also knowing it wasn’t easy to give a woman a climax while standing in a small office, both of them fully dressed, he decided a lot of buildup would be best. More torture for him, but with hopefully a nice payoff.
He said, “Hmm?” and moved his erection against her.
Her breath hitched.
Inhaling her scent, loving the taste of her skin, he kissed a slow, damp path from her neck to her shoulder. “You smell so sweet, Violet.”
“I’ve been working all day.”
True, she was warm and earthy and musky sweet—more arousing than any perfume could be. “That’s why you smell like you, instead of scented soap.” With a low growl, he lightly grazed his teeth over the tripping pulse in her throat. “It’s a turn-on.”
She flattened her hands against the front of his thighs and arched her back a little so that her breasts more firmly filled his hands.
Ever so slowly, he grazed his thumbs over her puckered nipples and felt her immediate reaction. Damn, he wanted to taste her. After toying with her until they were both nuts, he slipped one hand under her T-shirt to stroke the warm, silky skin of her midriff. Reaching up, he dipped his right hand into her left bra cup, and that, skin on skin, her nipple tight against his palm, had them both groaning.
“A front closure,” he murmured, feeling the clasp of her bra. “Did you plan that for me?”
“Yes.”
Surprised, he looked down at her. With her head resting back against him, her breasts pushed forward, he wished like hell she were naked. She kept her eyes closed, her lips slightly parted as she breathed fast.
Hogan tugged the T-shirt up to her chin and flicked open the bra. The cups parted over her swollen breasts. Her nipples were flushed a dark pink. He filled his hands with her, caressing, enjoying her. The shorts were low on her hips and he could see her from her breasts to her hip bones. She had a beautiful body.
Tugging gently at her nipples, he teased her. “You like that, don’t you?” Not waiting for an answer, he said, “I don’t want to let go of you.”
She made a small, desperate sound of need. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Open your shorts for me, Violet.”
She went still, then bit her bottom lip.
“Violet,” he repeated, “open your shorts. It’ll make it easier for me to get my fingers in there. I want to do this—” he carefully worked one nipple, rolling gently, tugging lightly “—to you in other places.”
The moan turned into a broken groan. Her nails bit into his thighs.
Hogan didn’t let up. He teased and toyed with her until finally, tentatively, her hands went to the snap of her jean shorts.
“Good,” he whispered. “Now unzip them, too.”
She did, her hands shaking.
It was a heady thing, having bossy, independent Violet Shaw follow his carnal orders. “Push them down a little for me, then open your legs.”
“God,” she breathed, but did as he told her.
“I love your matching underwear.” Tonight she wore pale green with little pink flowers. It was both cute and excruciatingly sexy. “Will you be wet for me, Violet?”
She swallowed, then whispered, “Yes.”
Hogan had to lock his knees. He should have known she wouldn’t be reserved. Not Violet. “I only have two hands.” He took her left hand and brought it up to her right breast, then gave her a kiss on her cheek. He still held her other breast, and now his right hand was free to help her along.
At first, he just traced the tiny crotch of her barely there panties with a forefinger. He could feel the heat of her, the building moisture. Seeing her hand, completely still but against her breast, made him burn. The feel of her soft flesh, her tight nipple and now this...
When he pressed his fingers against her, she gave a sharp cry. Looking at her through heated eyes, Hogan realized she was already so close.
Jason gave this up.
No. Hell no. He wouldn’t think about that.
Instead, he put his hand into her panties, all while teasing one nipple and kissing her throat and pushing his cock against her backside.
The second he touched her, he felt the wet heat, the slick excitement, and it almost pushed him over the edge.
Knowing he had to end this before he lost control, Hogan stroked over her, opening her, then worked one finger into her.
Violet opened her legs wider, moving sensuously against his hand. It was so damned erotic, so natural, he got lost in her responses, the heat of her and the scent of her arousal.
“Damn, you feel good.” He worked in another finger and she groaned, twisting against him. In and out, deeper each time, he stroked her, occasionally pressing the heel of his hand against her.
“Hogan...” she whispered, her voice broken. “No...no more teasing.”
She was on the very edge and he loved it. Without meaning to, he thought briefly of Meg, how warm and caring she’d been during sex, but she’d never burned this hot. And the women who had come after her—some of them incredibly bold, some reserved, and the sex had been terrific.
Or so he’d thought.
But this was different. Like a personal fantasy come to life. Violet made him feel things he hadn’t before connected to sex, odd things, powerful things.
His fingers inside her were wet from her excitement, her inner muscles squeezing him tight. He pressed higher, heard her long ragged groan and smiled.
“All right.” With a deliberate lack of haste, he brought his fingers up to her clitoris and lightly teased over it. Her body jerked and she gave him another deep groan. Against her smooth jaw, he murmured, “Tell me what you like.”
“You,” she gasped. “I like you.”
Almost in pain, Hogan smiled. “I like you, too, Violet. I especially like the way you let go.” She wasn’t shy or overly modest. God knew, as a natural beauty with a slim but shapely figure, she had no reason to be. Maybe it was her naturalness that affected him.
Gauging her every reaction, he found a rhythm that made her cry out, and as he felt her tightening, he tightened, too. She wanted to come, needed it badly; he sensed her straining toward release. When it didn’t happen, her frustration grew.
“Shh,” he told her. “Take it easy.”
Pulling his hand away, Hogan turned her to the wall and kissed her hard. She looked dazed, confused, even desperate—until he went to his knees.
Her panties were around her thighs, her shorts dropped down to her ankles, her T-shirt rolled up under her arms and her bra cups open.
Looking at her gave him a lot of pleasure. “You are the hottest fucking thing I’ve ever seen.”
She stared down at him, her breath ragged.
After kissing her smooth belly, the top of each slim thigh, he cupped her ass in his hands and drew her forward to his mouth.
“Hogan...”
“Shush.” At the first stroke of his tongue, her fingers tunneled into his hair, holding tight enough to sting. But her small cries, the scent of her, made everything inconsequential except for her release.
Hogan licked over her, in her, tasted her, nuzzled against her, teasing more until her desperation grew—then he drew her in for a soft, devastating suck.
Less than a minute later, she stiffened, her thighs shaking, her hips riding with the rhythm of his tongue, every breath a sharpening gasp. As she came, she groaned long and deep.
Hogan groaned with her.
Slowly, very slowly, her pleasure subsided and she sank back against the wall, using his shoulders to hold herself up.
A little devastated, Hogan looked up the length of her small, mostly bare body. How she got more beautiful every damn day, he didn’t know. Feeling ridiculously proud—and remarkably tender—he eased her panties back up, then her shorts.
Cheeks damp, her eyes closed, she continued to struggle for breath.
Standing, he smoothed back her hair, smiled and lightly kissed her parted lips. “Damn, Violet, that was nice.”
She didn’t open her eyes but she did hum some vague reply.
It wasn’t until he fastened her bra and tucked away her breasts that she cracked open one eye. “Hogan?”
“Hmm.” He straightened her T-shirt.
“What the hell are you doing?”
Lassitude kept her voice light, husky. He fought off a triumphant smile. “Don’t get mad or offended, but I need a couple of weeks to think about your job offer.”
“Weeks?” she repeated.
She seemed to be struggling, Hogan thought, and he wanted to hug her. “We can start working on all the things we discussed, but I need time to think about making any switch.” Employed full-time at a restaurant? He didn’t even know if he could make that work financially.
“So,” she said, visibly sorting her thoughts, “you did this to me, but you’re taking that—” she pointed at the very visible erection in his jeans “—home alone?” Her gaze searched his. “It will be alone, right?”
“The only woman I want right now is you, so yes, definitely alone.” When he pulled her to him, she put her arms around him and rested against him, limp. Hogan smiled now that she couldn’t see him. Damn, he felt good.
“That hardly seems fair,” she murmured.
He shrugged. “I’ll take care of me when I get home.”
Leaning back, she gaped at him. “You’ll take care of...?”
“Don’t act surprised, Violet. We’re both single. We’ve both—”
Eyes wide and her cheeks now red, she smashed a hand over his mouth.
His smile broke into a grin. “At least one of us will sleep soundly tonight.”
She tucked her face against him, hiding.
Pleased with her, Hogan brushed his mouth over her temple. “You’re okay?”
“Mmm. If I wasn’t so completely sated, if my body wasn’t still throbbing in a very nice way, I’d probably want to smack you. But after that, after what you did, I suppose I should try to be understanding.” She tipped her face up to see him. “You’re waiting for me, right? Because you want me to have all my options?”
Glad that she’d figured it out on her own, that she hadn’t jumped to condemning conclusions, he touched her cheek. “You should know the...circumstances of our relationship, personal and in business, before you make any decisions.”
“You’re a pretty good guy, Hogan Guthrie, you know that?”
He hoped that was true. He wanted it to be true.
Now if one very sexy little redhead would stop defining temptation, he just might make it so.