Chapter 5: Stick to the plan

Ewan

              The shop that Taryn works in is not far from my home. I swallow my surprise at the thought that she was always so close, and I didn't have a clue. But I’m here now, and I’m ready to help her.

              It’s past noon, and the parking lot is riddled with vehicles.

              Carrying a small bag around her shoulder, Taryn walks out of the shop a moment later. She’s wearing a short jean skirt that emphasizes her long legs and a midriff Beatles t-shirt that makes her breasts look like firm, bouncy apples. By the jiggle of her breasts, I wonder if she’s wearing a brassiere. She wasn’t wearing one when I kissed her yesterday. I didn’t feel any straps constricting her silken skin. This time she’s wearing flip-flops. Without a word, she slides into the passenger seat and buckles her seat belt.

              “How long have you worked here?” I ask her, making sure that I don’t sound pompous.

              Taryn runs her gaze across the store’s surface then back at me. “I was sixteen when I started working here. So… ten years.”

              I cringe with remorse but quickly hide it. There’s no point in feeling bad about something that I cannot change.

              It takes two minutes to get to my home. Taryn stiffly follows behind me until we reach my front door. “Are you hungry?” I ask as I lead her to my kitchen.

              Taryn shrugs her shoulders. “Are you going to cook for me?”    Giving her a cocky smirk, I slip out of my suit jacket and roll up my sleeves. “Certainly. What would you like?”

              She quirks a cynical brow, which makes the animal in me rise to the challenge. She knows very little about me, and I’m willing to educate her.

              “You cook?” She asks.

              I nod my head. “Of course I do. I’m a single male, which means that I have to cook if I don’t want to starve. Now, what would you like to eat?”

              Taryn approaches the large island, glances down at the gleaming dark surface, and takes a seat on the stool.

              “Surprise me.” She mutters impishly.

              It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that she’s doubtful of my cooking skills. She probably assumes I can only cook basic meals. Oh, how wonderful it will be to show her that I’m skilled in many things─ including cooking.

              I give her a challenging smile before I set out to prepare a meal. Taryn’s eyes follow my every movement, making my body heat with lust.

              Once I’m done, I rest a plate of delicious pasta salad and bread in front of her. Taryn looks down with a pleasant smile. “Pasta salad. I love pasta salad.”

              I rest a pitcher of lemonade on the counter and a plate of cookies, gesturing for her to help herself. Then, I make my own plate and settle across from her. The food is light, fresh, and delicious. Once we’re both done. I wash our dishes and turn back to her.  

              “That was delicious. Thanks. You’re a man of many talents.” She says after she bites down on her cookie and licks her lips.

              “You’re welcome.” I wipe my lips with the linen and ready to talk. “Now, have you thought about my proposition? I know that you’re a proud woman, Taryn. However, I can see that taking care of your father has been a challenging task. Please, let me pay for your father’s health bills.”

              Taryn bites her plump bottom lip thoughtfully, which makes my cock stiffen at the thought of what it would look like if she wrapped those lips around my shaft. I clear my throat as I covertly adjust my slacks. It wouldn’t help me to have her notice my arousal.

              Her fingers drum over the countertop for a moment. “Only the hospital and doctor bills─nothing else. Other than those things, I don’t need your charity.”

              My shoulders drop with relief at her concession. “Very well, send me all of your father’s unpaid hospital bills as soon as you have the time. In turn, I’ll send them to my business manager, and he’ll take care of the payments.”

              Taryn courses her fingers through her long fiery hair and sighs.    “Okay, thanks. I should probably go then.” She says as she rises from her seat and prepares to leave.

              “Wait! Stay!” I mutter hurriedly as I step around the island and place my palms on her shoulders. “Stay a bit longer.” My words come out huskier than I expect them to due to the desire coursing through my veins, but I don’t try to hide it.

              Taryn pushes tendrils of hair behind her ear and looks around the room before she focuses back on me. “I can’t. I have to work.”

              “Take the night off,” I reply quickly.

              I realize at that moment that I made a mistake because her eyes narrow into slits. “Unfortunately, that’s not a luxury I can afford, Ewan. I have to work.”

              I take a calming breath, trying to think of a way to diffuse her anger. I’ve chipped her pride, and I didn’t mean to. “You can halt your fiery temper, Candy Cane. I’m not looking for a quarrel. I just wanted to make up for ruining your birthday the other day. I was an utter git.”

              Taryn tilts her head thoughtfully as if gauging my intent. Then, to my surprise, she says, “Okay. I’ll stay. But if I do, you have to let me swim in your pool and use that gorgeous grill on your patio to make something delicious for me to eat for dinner.”

              I smile smugly. She likes my cooking. It’s a start. “Alright.”

              Taryn rests her bag on the comfortable seat near the patio and makes a quick call.

              I watch as she cryptically communicates with the person on the other end of the line before disconnecting the call. “Okay, I called in. Now, show me your pool.”

              I look down at my clothing then back at her. “I have to change first, and so do you.”

              She nods her head. “Thankfully, I have a bikini in my bag.”

              Once we’ve both changed into our swimwear, we step out onto the pool. Taryn walks quietly behind me, her gaze roaming across the empty patio. Her long hair flutters in the wind as she marches across the tiled floor. “Come on!” She takes my hand and leads me to the edge of the pool.

              I tighten my hand around hers as we sift through the water until we're in the middle of the pool. Taryn dives into the water and swims circles around me, her crimson tresses sticking to her body like rivulets of blood.

              “You look like a mermaid,” I tell her as I watch her bob, jump, and splash water everywhere. She smiles widely and throws her head back in abandon. Her beautiful breasts straining against the linen material of her swimsuit. After a moment, she slows down and settles her hands on my bare shoulders.

              “What’s wrong? Don’t you like to swim?” She asks, her eyes glinting with delight.

              Shrugging my shoulders, I settle my hands on her waist and pull her close to my aroused body. “I prefer to watch you take your enjoyment.”

              I hope that my double entendre does not escape her notice. Stifling a groan at the feel of her body moving in cadence with the swirling water, I pull her closer.

              To my delight, Taryn wraps her arms around my neck and wraps her legs around my waist. My cock stiffens to an almost unbearable level when her hot core touches my abs. We don’t kiss. We just simply float in place, engrossed with each other.

              Sliding my hands up her spine, I stroke every ridge until I reach her neck. Taryn sighs contentedly and closes her eyes when I place a gentle kiss on her temple and whisper. “You’re so beautiful.”

              Her head rests on my shoulder with a deep sigh. “Why are you doing this, Ewan?”

              She sounds sad and confused, which is not how I want her to feel.

              Leaning down, I rest a kiss on her smooth shoulder and neck with a husky whisper. “Let me kiss you.”

              She doesn’t argue. Instead, she slowly pulls away and gestures for me to follow her. I follow as she swims to the edge of the pool and settles on top of it. Now I know how those sailors felt when they were lured to their deaths by the beautiful sirens. I swim up until I’m standing directly in front of her and wrap her legs around me again.

               Her lips meet mine with so much passion that it’s nearly staggering. My hands slide up and down her back and stomach, savoring the feel of her curves as my tongue takes ownership of hers. Our breaths mingle, and our sighs break through the lapping waves. Wanting more, I untie the string of her top and push it aside until my hands are molding against the firm mounds of her breasts.

              Taryn arches her back, mewling against my lips when I tweak her nipple and pinch it between my fingers. Kissing my way down, I suck on the swells of her breasts and swirl my tongue around her throbbing peaks. “Oh, god.” Taryn cries out and slides her fingers through my hair to pull me closer to her breasts. I bite down gently on one, then make my way to the other one and do the same. Taryn’s sharp little nails claw pleasurably down my neck and chest as I continue to suckle her tight buds.

              “You taste so good, Candy Cane,” I mutter against the hollow of her cleavage. Her golden body glows like honey against the water’s surface, and her hair is a fiery blaze.

              I’m about to unravel the string of her bottoms when an alarming niggle of warning surges through my mind. Stiffening in place, I pull Taryn back into the water and turn to face our unwanted visitor. To my relief and frustration, Logan is standing by the patio doors. His shoulder is resting on the door frame, and his brows are quirked with humor.

              “What the bloody hell are you doing here, Logan? Aren’t you supposed to be in New York?”

              My brother straightens from his perch and runs his gaze appraisingly over Taryn. “I apologize for interrupting, little brother, but Bella and I got home a little over an hour ago, and I wanted to talk to you. I would have waited until tomorrow, but what I have to tell you is time-sensitive. Truthfully, I wouldn’t have bothered you if I had known that you were entertaining a beautiful redhead.”

              I roll my eyes at his words because I know he’s not sorry at all. In fact, I’m sure he’s dying of curiosity.

              Logan gives Taryn a roguish grin and approaches carefully. Like me, my brother is an attractive man with dark hair and eyes. He’s also tall and muscular, which is mostly due to our trade. In our business, we need to be in tip-top shape.

              Taryn smiles back and waves her hand, maintaining her body hidden behind me. “Hi, Logan.”

              Logan’s brow furrows with consternation. “Do I know you?”

              Rolling my shoulders, I clear my throat and mutter. “Logan, this is Taryn.”

              My brother freezes in place as recognition sets in. “Taryn? As in Alan, our former driver’s youngest daughter?”

              Taryn smiles before she reaches for my discarded t-shirt and slips it over her head.  “Yeah, it’s nice to see you again, Logan.”

              I can almost see the wheels turning in my brother’s head at that moment. He’s wondering why I’m here with Taryn when not long ago I claimed to still be in love with Tamsyn. At the thought, my ardor instantly cools. Bollocks, what the bloody hell am I thinking?

              “How’s your father?” Logan asks, unaware of my tumultuous feelings.

              Taryn shifts in place and gives him the same ambiguous answer she gave me. “He’s…surviving. How are you? Ewan told me that you’re married now.”

              A soft chuckle escapes Logan’s lips. “Yeah, I’m happily married to Mati’s granddaughter, Bella.”

              “Is there something you need, brother?” I try to mask my frustration, but now my mind is whirling. I wish I could rewind back to earlier when Taryn and I were kissing. Because now that my thoughts are clear of lust, I’m left questioning what I just did.

              “Like I said, I have something to discuss with you─ in private.” He coughs into his fist and nudges his chin towards the door in emphasis.

              I look at Taryn, who seems bothered by our cryptic behavior. “I apologize, Taryn, but we’ll have to cut our time short.”

              Her lips tighten with confusion, but I don’t have the time to appease her. “I’m going to take Taryn home. We can meet back at your house to discuss this further.”

              Logan nods. “Alright, but don’t take too long. This is important.”

              I nod my head and extend my hand toward Taryn, but she surpasses my gesture and slips by me without a word. At her seething gesture, my body instantly reignites with desire. What is it about this woman?

              She vibrates with anger throughout the drive. I know she’s angry because I asked her to stay with me, and now I’m booting her out of my home. It’s unfair to do this after kissing her so passionately, but I have no choice.

              To my surprise, she reaches for her mobile and makes a call. “Hey, Leland, it looks like I’m going to be able to make it tonight. Put me on the roster.”

              “I’m sorry, Taryn,” I murmur lamely.

              But Taryn is not in the mood to hear my apology. Fuming at my words, she gives me a sardonic shake and slumps back in her seat. “That’s not why I’m angry, Ewan. I’m angry because, as soon as you saw your brother, mentioned my father, you grew cold and distant. Your regret was palpable.”

              I remain quiet because I’m not sure how to respond.

              “I’m no one’s second choice, Ewan.”

              “I know,” I reply ruefully. “And I didn’t mean for you to feel that way. I’m just… confused.”

              Taryn scoffs. “Then maybe you should stay the hell away from me.”

              That’s the last thing she says before she opens the passenger door and slams it hard, making the frame rattle. I know I should have said something, but I’m at a loss. What was I thinking? I should have never kissed or tasted her. Especially considering my feelings for Tamsyn. I try not to analyze the fact that the sound of Tamsyn’s name doesn’t make my heart hurt or my body quake any longer. I also try not to think about how right it felt to kiss Taryn.

              What a sodding mess I am!