Smolder: The Wildwood Series (6 page)

“There’s no need for us to beat around the bush,” Delilah said, disturbing his thoughts.

He glanced up to find her watching him as she wiped at the corner of her mouth with a pristine white cloth napkin. Where the hell had she found that anyway? “Beat around what bush?” he asked.

She set the napkin in her lap, her expression serious. “Wren told me what’s going on with your mom.”

“Oh.” His voice sounded hollow, and his gut felt that way too. From the moment Wren had confessed her concerns, he’d become consumed with worry for his mom. Should’ve gone over to the house and checked in on her earlier this afternoon like he’d promised Wren, but he couldn’t. Instead, he’d pulled a classic Gallagher-man move—he’d avoided her. Like a little boy, he was too . . . scared to see her. Afraid of what he might find.

What if his mom looked terrible? What would he do? Why was it his sole responsibility to take care of her anyway? Where was Dad? Why hadn’t he noticed? The old man went about his business and acted like nothing else mattered, including his wife.

It drove Lane—and the rest of his siblings—up the freaking wall.

“I just figured you were tired and worried and so I thought I’d make you dinner and take your mind off your troubles for a while.”

Somehow her hand ended up on top of his, her fingers sliding over his skin, making it tingle. He couldn’t take his eyes off her delicate fingers and the way they hardly covered his thick, blunt ones. Her skin was pale to his dark. Smooth to his rough.

“I know you’ve had something on your mind. So I’m here. If you want someone to talk to that isn’t, you know, a member of your family.”

He glanced up to find Delilah watching him, her big brown eyes full of concern, her fingers still gently skimming his. She offered a tremulous smile, squeezed his hand, and then let it go. The immediate sense of loss nearly took his breath away.

“Thank you, Dee,” he said, his voice scratchy. He cleared his throat, feeling like a fool. “I appreciate it.”

Those big eyes were gobbling him up. He’d like to have something else of hers gobbling him up. Like her sexy mouth.

“Is the chicken okay?”

“Everything’s amazing. You’re a wonderful cook.” His tone was grave. Serious. He didn’t throw out compliments just for the hell of it. He never had. His mother had always teased him when he was young, warning that his blunt honesty would get him in trouble.

A girl likes to hear sweet words even if you don’t always mean them
, she’d told him.
Your friends do too.

Those words had convinced him to withhold his compliments even more. Who wanted to toss sweet-yet-insincere words just for the hell of it? Just to earn someone’s approval? He’d rather get that from being a genuine friend. He’d rather
feel
that from someone who wanted to be his friend, who wanted to be in his presence. Fake friends got a person nowhere.

Dishonesty was even worse. And it made him think of his father.

Lane scowled, banishing the thought.

Delilah blushed, her gaze dropping from his as she carefully picked up a drumstick and nibbled on it, her pinky fingers lifted high, pale pink polish covering her nails. She looked delicate. Beautiful. Downright untouchable. He fought his lust for her every time they were near each other. He wasn’t for her. Too rough around the edges; too rough, period. She deserved a nice guy. One who was interested in culture and the arts and all that other bullshit. She was a breath of fresh air in this town. Always trying to do something different, bring a little more color into everyone’s lives.

He wasn’t a big believer in that sort of thing. It didn’t interest him. Delilah was a rainbow, and he was black and white. Not even any shades of gray. And now he was thinking about that book and the movie he’d watched on HBO—the one that he’d thought was horrible yet fascinated him all the same.

“I shouldn’t even eat this sort of thing,” she mumbled. “So fatty.”

“One meal of fried chicken isn’t going to kill you,” he chided, his voice soft.

Sighing, she dropped the drumstick onto her plate, then reached for her wineglass, leaving smudgy fingerprints on it after she sipped. “Guess I’ll have to work out extra hard tomorrow.”

He could give her a workout, an extra hard one too. In fact, that sounded perfect: a night of blisteringly hot sex with Delilah. Where he could lose himself in her for a few hours. Forget all his troubles. Forget all of his hang-ups when it came to this woman. Focus instead on his pleasure as well as Delilah’s. Strip her naked. Search her skin, examine those long, long legs, feel them wrap around him when he entered her. Her thighs clenched tight around his hips just as she came . . .

“Do you want more? Or maybe something to drink?” She started to get up from her chair, and he reached out, placing his hand over hers to keep her from moving. Always moving, fluttering about like a butterfly.

“Sit down, Dee.” His voice was a quiet command, the tone he usually saved for work, and she immediately sat back down, scooting her chair closer to the table, her expression contrite. She was blushing again. Even her chest bloomed with a faint pink color, and he was curious to know exactly how far down that pretty shade extended. “Just eat your dinner and don’t worry about me.”

She did as he requested, quiet at first. The clank of silverware against the plates was the only sound in the otherwise hushed silence of the room. He tried his best to keep his gaze focused on the meal before him, but it kept straying to the woman at his right. Who ate calmly and flashed him an unsure smile every time their gazes caught, just before she looked away.

He liked this. The silence. The company. The fact that it was Delilah who’d snuck into his house—it was crazy, but he could forgive her—and wanted to take care of him. No one ever wanted to take care of him. He was the oldest. The one everyone else turned to for advice, help, assistance, money, approval. When the shit got rough, his siblings turned to him, with the exception of West. He’d just turned tail and took off.

But now he was back. Every Gallagher sibling was in Wildwood like they were supposed to be and everyone was happy. Content. For the most part. Wren seemed restless. Holden was coddled and that was a recipe for disaster if anyone asked Lane. West was in love—ridiculously so. And Lane . . .

Lane was stuck between a rock and a hard place. He wanted what he couldn’t have. He lusted after a woman who deserved more. He was consumed with work, worried about his mom, worried about an anonymous arsonist, worried about his town, worried about Delilah and what she might think of him if he did ever make a move on her . . .

Determination filled him. He needed a plan. He needed to get his town back under control and reassure them that they weren’t in danger. If he hoped to be sheriff one day—and he did—he needed to do right by his small town and the entire county. Keep everyone safe. Convince the residents that he was the man for the job. He could do that. He knew he could.

But could he devote the proper amount of time to his job with Delilah around? He couldn’t afford any distractions. Most women didn’t understand his job or that he didn’t work normal hours. Delilah might . . .

But he didn’t know if he could count on that. Count on her.

He could count only on himself.

So he’d eat his dinner, thank her profusely because she at least deserved that, and then send her on her way. He needed to keep it friendly. No crossing the line, no matter how tempting.

And Delilah was temptation personified.

Chapter Six

D
ELILAH DIDN
’
T THINK
dinner had gone particularly well, considering how quiet Lane had become beyond the occasional grunt of approval when he tore into another piece of chicken. She’d watched him in fascination, taking in every little detail. He ate like a real man, not like the men she’d dated in the past. If that was even a thing, eating like a
real
man. But to her, it was true. The way he tore into his food, chasing it down with a sip of water or multiple swallows of wine. He’d given up on the wine after polishing off his first glass, going to the kitchen to grab a beer instead.

She’d watched not so discreetly every time he brought that brown bottle to his lips, his fingers curved around the long neck. Admiring how he tilted his head back, she had dropped her gaze to the strong column of his neck, how his Adam’s apple had bobbed with every swallow. Her skin grew warmer with every single swallow. Her head had spun dizzily. All from watching Lane drink.

Clearly, she had major issues.

Once dinner was finished she’d corralled him into the kitchen, asking for his help with the sweetest tone she could muster. He’d protested at first, saying he could clean up, but she insisted until he reluctantly agreed, mumbling something about needing her to leave as soon as they were done so he could get some rest. She’d ignored the additional mumbling about him being exhausted, until he’d mumbled something about talking to his mom in the morning and how he wasn’t looking forward to it.

That got her attention, filling her with immediate sympathy.

“Cleaning up will help take your mind off your troubles, don’t you think?” She smiled brightly and nodded toward the full sink. She’d made a mess of his kitchen and really, the man shouldn’t have to pick up after her, but she wasn’t about to let him usher her out of his house yet either. She knew how he operated. First chance he got, he was shoving her out the front door, without even a swat on the ass to give her a temporary thrill. Any other guy would smack her butt. She had a good butt. A
fantastic
butt that was toned and firm and gave her something to show off since she was pretty flat-chested. And she should have a good butt, what with all the hours she danced and danced and danced . . .

“Dee.” Lane snapped his fingers in front of her face, making her blink. “You want to clear the table, or should I?” He said it like a man who’d asked the question multiple times.

His tone of voice made her stand at attention and practically bristle with good intentions. She needed to focus, not get lost in a haze that took over every time she was in his presence. “If you could, that would be great,” she said. “I’ll start cleaning up in here.” The kitchen was definitely the harder job.

So they went to work, Lane bringing in dirty dishes and the half-empty platter of chicken. They worked well together, with a quiet efficiency that she could appreciate and he probably didn’t even notice. Clueless was Lane Gallagher’s middle name. And, if it wasn’t, it should’ve been because the man had no clue. None. He couldn’t pick up on a hint, no matter how hard she tried.

Well, maybe you should smack him over the head with it. Make your feelings for him so obvious he can’t escape them.

She scraped off plates over the garbage can, then stacked the remaining dishes in the sink. Hadn’t she just told him the ball was in his court? Wasn’t he the one who needed to make the next move? Yet here she was making him dinner because she felt sorry for him and was worried about his mom, about his entire family. But more than anything, she was worried about him. About Lane.

Who took care of Lane anyway? He was so busy taking care of his brothers and sister, his parents . . . Hell, the entire damn town depended on Lane to take care of them. He watched over them, making sure they were all safe and sound.

But who made sure Lane was safe and sound? He had needs too. And she wasn’t just talking sexually, though she could satisfy those if he’d just let her.

Her thoughts drifted to earlier, when he’d barged into the kitchen with his gun drawn wearing just his boxer briefs. The gun had terrified her, she couldn’t lie, but she’d been more distracted by the mostly naked Lane. He was built perfectly. She could imagine winding herself around him, her fingers clutched in his hair, his hands on her waist, sliding down, down, down . . .

“Are you trying to scrape the color off that plate too?” Lane’s amused voice brought her back and she glanced down, surprised to find herself still scraping a fork across a now-bare plate.

Clearing her throat, she set the plate and fork into the sink and then turned on the water so she could start rinsing everything off. “You cleared the entire table already?” she asked when she realized that pretty much everything was now either lined up on the counter or filling the sink.

“Yep.” He opened the fridge and set the salad dressing bottle in the side door shelf. “What else do you need done?”

They loaded the dishwasher together before she filled the sink with hot soapy water and stuck in the pan she’d used to fry the chicken so it could soak. Then she sent Lane back into the dining room to wipe down the table while she wiped the kitchen counters clean with a damp rag. By the time she was finished, the kitchen shone, and she plunged her hands into the hot water, scrubbing the pan furiously to get the remaining chicken bits and grease off.

What would it be like, if she and Lane were in a real relationship? Would they be completely domesticated, sharing moments like this every evening? Sometimes she worked late and Lane seemed to work all hours of the day and night, so maybe it wouldn’t be quite like this but it was close enough. She could fix him meals and he could help her clean the kitchen. Then they could go settle in on the couch and watch TV. Play wandering hands for a bit before they became too overcome and started to kiss. Then she’d make him pick her up—because she would bet a million dollars he could lift her, no problem—and carry her into the bedroom. Where he’d strip her naked and proceed to take her straight to heaven.

The wistful sigh that escaped her was loud. So loud that Lane heard it.

“You all right?”

Whoops.

He stopped just behind her, so close she could feel the heat emanating from him. Goose bumps rose on her skin from his proximity, and she sunk her teeth into her bottom lip to keep in the shuddery breath that wanted to fall from her lips.

“I’m fine.” She shook her head, going completely still when his large hand settled on her shoulder. Oh, God, he was touching her. She wanted to melt. Or faint. Or turn around and throw herself at him. Whatever reaction took over first.

“Water too hot?” His voice was a low, rumbly murmur. “You can just let that pan soak if you want. I’ll take care of it in the morning.”

“No, no. I’ll wash it.” She sounded high-pitched, like Minnie Mouse after sucking on a balloon full of helium. His nearness made her nervous. Worse, she was afraid he’d let go of her and step away and she’d miss her opportunity. Opportunity for what, she wasn’t sure.

“You don’t have to—”

She cut him off. “I made the mess, so I’ll clean up after myself. I don’t mind.”

He was silent for a moment, though his hand didn’t move. Shockingly enough, he stepped closer, so close his body brushed hers, and she braced her hand on the bottom of the sink so she wouldn’t lean back into him. She was sorely tempted to do exactly that.

But she remained upright with his hand on her shoulder, his breath stirring the wild hairs near her ear as he murmured, “Thank you for dinner, Dee. It means a lot to me that you did this.”

She left her hands submerged in the water. It was either that or end up groping him. “I figured you were feeling stressed.”

“I’m still feeling stressed.” He hesitated, then squeezed her shoulder gently. “But this helped. You’re a good friend, Delilah.”

His words were like a cold dose of reality. A reality she didn’t want to face. A reality she didn’t have to face if the ignorant man would just give in to the attraction that had been simmering between them for weeks, months, freaking
years.

Removing her hands from the water, she turned to face him. His hand dropped away from her shoulder, his expression one of open shock. She went on pure instinct, grabbing hold of the front of his shirt, her wet fingers curling into the thin cotton, drenching it completely.

“I’m more than a friend and you know it.” Her voice was surprisingly firm.

He said nothing, his gaze dropping to her mouth, lingering there. She parted her lips, a shocked noise escaping her when he bent his head and his mouth hovered above hers for the briefest, most tantalizing second of her entire life.

“You’d like it if I kissed you, wouldn’t you?” His voice was a harsh whisper, his lips nearly moving against hers as he spoke.

A squeak wheezed out of her, and she tried to suck in a mouthful of air but it was no use. He’d claimed all the oxygen with his nearness, with his words, with the tease of his mouth so damn close to hers. She tightened her hold on his shirt, tugging on him, frustration rendering her mute.

“You know how long I’ve thought about this?” He slipped an arm around her waist, hauling her into him, and she swore he groaned low in his throat when their bodies made full contact. “Dreamed about it? Every time we’re together, it’s all I can think about. Kissing you. Touching you.”

Oh. My.
She couldn’t believe what he was saying. Was it the beer? He’d had two plus the glass of wine. Well, tipsy Lane or sober Lane, whoever he was, as long as he was touching her, she wasn’t protesting.

“I shouldn’t do this,” he muttered, his arm loosening around her waist as he started to pull away from her. She reached for the back of his neck, her fingers curling in the hair at his nape, trapping him. He struggled but not too hard and his eyes blazed as he stared down at her. “You don’t want to start with me.”

“Why?” The word rasped from her throat, her voice full of all the bewilderment and confusion coursing through her veins. “Aren’t you tired of fighting it? We’ve been working toward this moment for a long time.”

“I’m not the right man for you,” he said through tight lips.

She barely restrained the urge to roll her eyes at his statement. How many times had she heard a similar response from him? Always protesting, always claiming he wasn’t good enough, wasn’t right for her, that the two of them together would cause each other nothing but heartache and trouble.

“Let me be the judge of that,” she said as she pressed on the back of his neck, her nails lightly scraping his warm, smooth skin. He drew closer, as if he couldn’t help himself, and triumph rang through her, setting off a vibration deep in her bones. “I’m a big girl, Lane,” she whispered as his mouth once again hovered above hers. “I’m not scared of you.”

“You should be,” he muttered.

Just before he kissed her.

S
HE WAS WARM
. And soft. Oh, and wet.

Her hands, at least. Yeah, they’d soaked the front of his T-shirt and there were trickles of water running down his back when she gripped his nape.

He’d tried to fight it, tried to resist because damn it, he shouldn’t kiss her. He absolutely should not kiss her, not even once, just to try her out, but . . .

He did. Ah, Christ, he fucking did, and her lips were so plump and damp and soft, and she tasted so incredibly good. He let her take over the kiss, curious to see how far she would take it, and so far she’d kept it simple. Too simple. No tongue, just deliciously slow kisses where their mouths clung and their breaths mingled and their answering sighs were barely audible.

Delilah was kissing him. He couldn’t believe it.
Delilah.
The woman of his dreams. The woman who’d haunted him for years. Who’d teased him and tortured him and drove him out of his fucking mind with lust. Kissing him like she was a young innocent girl embarking on her first real encounter with the opposite sex, full of hesitation and seemingly unsure.

He clenched his hands into fists, preventing him from doing what he really wanted: gathering her skirt in his fingers so he could pull it up, exposing her ass and giving himself a chance to check out what color panties she might be wearing. And the style. A thong maybe? He would be so lucky to catch a glimpse of her perfect little ass naked, with a thin gossamer string between her cheeks . . .

His cock twitched at the thought, and he groaned against her lips, his mouth opening wider as he encouraged her to do the same. She gave in easily. Beautifully. She parted her lips on an inhalation, and he took advantage, thrusting his tongue inside, searching her mouth, curling it around hers. It was her turn to moan, and the sound was like a jolt of electricity sparkling through his veins. He gave in to his urges and unclenched his fingers, gathering up that wispy thin skirt, lifting it high, higher, the fabric crumpling in his fingers until he heard her gasp when he knew the cool air had hit her backside.

Oh, he was treading on dangerous territory here, but fuck it. He could claim he was buzzed. Shove her away, tell her it was a mistake so she’d leave his house in a huff, hurt and upset. That was how they usually operated, so it wouldn’t seem out of character for him to do something like that.

But . . . he couldn’t make himself do it. Now that he’d had a taste, he wanted another. He wanted more. He wanted to touch and feel and explore and kiss and undress and all those other bad, dangerous things he shouldn’t want. Not with Delilah.

“Lane.” She whispered his name when he broke the kiss to slide his lips along the length of her neck. She smelled damn good. Sweet and floral with a hint of spice. Her hair was incredibly soft and brushed against his face when he kissed her ear, nibbled on the lobe, murmuring her name and making her shiver. “Don’t stop.”

Why’d she have to go and say that? He lifted his head and stared down at her pretty upturned face, her lids at half-mast, her lips damp and swollen from their shared kisses. He should stop. He knew he should stop. Once he reached the point of no return all hell would break loose and he might scare Delilah. That was the last thing he wanted to do. She was a good girl. She deserved a man who would respect her and treat her like a princess. Lane respected the hell out of her, always had, but could he treat her like a princess?