Read Online Secret Obsession (romantic suspense) (Red Stone Security Series Book 12) by Katie Reus - Free Book Online
Authors: Katie Reus
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accepted.”
“Damn it, Ruby.” Expression pained, he stepped closer, until only a foot separated them.
She could see the tension in every line of his incredible body. She knew he ran every day. Some mornings when she opened up the shop she’d see him jogging in the area, as if demons were chasing him. For all she knew, maybe they were. He worked, spent time with his family, and worked out. As far as she knew that was pretty much all he’d done the past couple years since getting out of the Marines.
But she’d seen the way he looked at her and had kept waiting for him to make a move. After she’d almost been hit by that car and avoided what could have been a much worse fate from a lunatic, she’d thought he’d finally make a move. She was an old-fashioned kind of girl and she’d wanted him to. But when it was clear he wouldn’t, enough was enough. She’d decided to go for it. After last night, however, she just wanted to smack him. “I said, apology accepted.”
His jaw tightened, pulling his scars tighter. “You’re pissed at me.”
“Of course I’m pissed!” She winced, glanced over her shoulder. The storeroom door was still closed and they didn’t have any customers, but still, this was where she worked and she didn’t want Julieta overhearing any of this. She turned back to face him. “You talked to me like I was a whore,” she said quietly, rage surging through her. Last night she’d been too shocked to respond other than to tell him to leave. But now that he was standing in front of her she couldn’t hold back.
He moved lightning fast until he was right in front of her. He reached out, grabbed one of her hips with his hand.
She blinked at the possessive grip, but also didn’t step back. She hated that she liked the feel of him holding her.
“You’re not a whore,” he bit out, looking as pissed as she felt. “I was crude because I was… It doesn’t matter. Fuck. I was wrong and I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to talk to you like that or make you feel like that. Let me make it up to you, please.”
“There’s nothing you can do. I want more than sex, more than fucking.” She whispered the last part, still angry at the way he’d spoken to her. “I won’t settle for something less than I deserve, even if I am into you. I thought you were different, but last night—”
His fingers tightened. “Ruby—”
“No. You’re just another asshole.” She pushed at his chest as she heard the storeroom door opening. Almost at the same time the front door to the store opened and two women, sisters if she had to guess, came in laughing to each other.
Perfect timing.
Completely ignoring Montez, she sidestepped him and went to greet the customers. She hoped he’d leave because she had nothing left to say to him. Work was exactly what she needed when all she wanted to do was cry.
* * *
“What’s that look?” Raegan asked, her beach bag hooked on her shoulder as Ford pulled out a towel and beach umbrella from the back seat of his truck. He was glad she’d asked him to come with her.
Ford’s lips curved up at her question. His aviators hid his eyes but apparently she was learning to read him. Which was…interesting. She was more perceptive than some cops. “Nothing. Just thinking that it’s been a long time since I’ve done this.”
“Done what?”
“Gone to the beach.”
She pushed her own sunglasses down, gave him a pointed look as he shut the door. “You live in Miami. That’s wrong on so many levels.”
He just snorted as they headed for the boardwalk. “Sand just reminds me of the desert.” And he hadn’t had a lot of fun there. Not to mention he always felt like a sitting duck on the beach. Which he knew was ridiculous. But there was literally no cover from an attack. Not that he expected to be attacked on South Beach, but some things had been ingrained in him long ago.
“Oh, right. Grant mentioned you were in the Marines too.” She glanced at him. “Was it
“Damn it, Ruby.” Expression pained, he stepped closer, until only a foot separated them.
She could see the tension in every line of his incredible body. She knew he ran every day. Some mornings when she opened up the shop she’d see him jogging in the area, as if demons were chasing him. For all she knew, maybe they were. He worked, spent time with his family, and worked out. As far as she knew that was pretty much all he’d done the past couple years since getting out of the Marines.
But she’d seen the way he looked at her and had kept waiting for him to make a move. After she’d almost been hit by that car and avoided what could have been a much worse fate from a lunatic, she’d thought he’d finally make a move. She was an old-fashioned kind of girl and she’d wanted him to. But when it was clear he wouldn’t, enough was enough. She’d decided to go for it. After last night, however, she just wanted to smack him. “I said, apology accepted.”
His jaw tightened, pulling his scars tighter. “You’re pissed at me.”
“Of course I’m pissed!” She winced, glanced over her shoulder. The storeroom door was still closed and they didn’t have any customers, but still, this was where she worked and she didn’t want Julieta overhearing any of this. She turned back to face him. “You talked to me like I was a whore,” she said quietly, rage surging through her. Last night she’d been too shocked to respond other than to tell him to leave. But now that he was standing in front of her she couldn’t hold back.
He moved lightning fast until he was right in front of her. He reached out, grabbed one of her hips with his hand.
She blinked at the possessive grip, but also didn’t step back. She hated that she liked the feel of him holding her.
“You’re not a whore,” he bit out, looking as pissed as she felt. “I was crude because I was… It doesn’t matter. Fuck. I was wrong and I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to talk to you like that or make you feel like that. Let me make it up to you, please.”
“There’s nothing you can do. I want more than sex, more than fucking.” She whispered the last part, still angry at the way he’d spoken to her. “I won’t settle for something less than I deserve, even if I am into you. I thought you were different, but last night—”
His fingers tightened. “Ruby—”
“No. You’re just another asshole.” She pushed at his chest as she heard the storeroom door opening. Almost at the same time the front door to the store opened and two women, sisters if she had to guess, came in laughing to each other.
Perfect timing.
Completely ignoring Montez, she sidestepped him and went to greet the customers. She hoped he’d leave because she had nothing left to say to him. Work was exactly what she needed when all she wanted to do was cry.
* * *
“What’s that look?” Raegan asked, her beach bag hooked on her shoulder as Ford pulled out a towel and beach umbrella from the back seat of his truck. He was glad she’d asked him to come with her.
Ford’s lips curved up at her question. His aviators hid his eyes but apparently she was learning to read him. Which was…interesting. She was more perceptive than some cops. “Nothing. Just thinking that it’s been a long time since I’ve done this.”
“Done what?”
“Gone to the beach.”
She pushed her own sunglasses down, gave him a pointed look as he shut the door. “You live in Miami. That’s wrong on so many levels.”
He just snorted as they headed for the boardwalk. “Sand just reminds me of the desert.” And he hadn’t had a lot of fun there. Not to mention he always felt like a sitting duck on the beach. Which he knew was ridiculous. But there was literally no cover from an attack. Not that he expected to be attacked on South Beach, but some things had been ingrained in him long ago.
“Oh, right. Grant mentioned you were in the Marines too.” She glanced at him. “Was it
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