Love & Curses(5)

Over the past year and a half, he’d watched her smile slip and the light burn out. He wanted nothing more than to show her what love could really be. He ached to hold her in his arms at night and be the one she woke up to every morning. But he’d known from the very first day, he wasn’t the kind of man she was looking for.

She liked the bad boys—basically, assholes who held an air of excitement or mystery, or whatever the hell made them attractive, but refused to settle down. So, he’d silently watched her get her heart broken over and over and offered her his shoulder to cry on when one after the other crushed her dreams.

He slicked the soap over his skin, letting his hand rest on the raging hard-on he’d had since he left her the night before.

She wasn’t a stupid girl, far from it. She worked at a local law firm as a paralegal and was taking night classes to become a lawyer. No, she was extremely intelligent—except when it came to men, in his opinion anyway. If the damn woman would just open her eyes, he could guarantee she would never have her heart broken again.

He braced one hand on the shower wall and stroked the rigid length of his erection, Calista the only thing on his mind. He wanted her, with everything in him, he longed for her. Her touch. Her mouth on his. Her body arching beneath him. His grip tightened, his strokes faster, the memory of her bottom firmly seated in his lap. He closed his eyes as he pumped his hand, bringing on a climax that was far from satisfying.

Letting his forehead rest against the tile, he slammed a fist into the wall next to him. Fuck yeah he wanted her, but he wanted all of her, heart and soul, in his life permanently and for more than a damn leaning post. Maybe it was time to show her what was right in front of her.

He left the shower, dried off, and grabbed a pair of jeans and light blue T-shirt—no need to dress in anything more, he didn’t have to be at the restaurant for hours. But Calista would be leaving soon for work, and he wanted to walk with her. Time to start being proactive in his life.

He crossed the walkway to her back porch, arriving just as she locked the door behind her. “Morning.”

At first, she barely met his gaze, but then she straightened a little taller and looked him in the eye. A slight blush covered her light brown cheeks as she limped down the steps.

“Morning. Um…well, I need to thank you for last night. I was a mess.” She glanced down, brushed her hands down her skirt and lifted her gaze to his. ”You always seem to see me at my worst. Sorry.” A small grin appeared on her face. “First thing on my agenda today is waterproof mascara.”

Laughing, he took her elbow. “You’re still limping. Maybe we should go get your ankle checked out by a doctor.”

“It’s a little bruised but no swelling. I’m sure it’ll be fine. No biggie.” She stuck her keys in her purse, and they ambled out to the main sidewalk. “So, why are you up and out so early? I never see you this time of the morning.”

“I had a sudden craving for Café Au Lait and beignets and thought I’d walk you to work on my way.” That was a lie. He didn’t give a rat’s ass about the food. He released her elbow, realizing just touching her soft skin had sent a fresh round of heat to his crotch. Damn, he’d never had such a strong craving for any woman. And lately, it seemed to have intensified.

She paused to dig in her purse. “Where are my…? Here they are.” She pulled out her sunglasses, and a paper fluttered to the sidewalk. “Oh, my shopping list.”

She bent to pick up the folded sheet, and he couldn’t help but check out the sweet curve of her bottom. Damn, at this rate, he wouldn’t be able to walk right either.

As she reached down, a breeze sent her list tumbling across the ground.

Andy frowned. What the…? Narrowing his eyes, he stared. He would’ve sworn a gray mist had brushed over the paper. He blinked, his gaze tracking the list Calista chased. Again, a light gray something swirled over the sheet, knocking it into the road. His neck hairs prickled. What the hell?

A deep rumbling came from behind him, and he peered over his shoulder. A bus sped toward them less than a block away. Looking back to Calista, he spotted her snatching the paper from the middle of the street.

A horn blared. Tires squealed.

Oh, shit! Three leaping strides and he grabbed her shoulders, shoving her from the bus’s path. She let out a yelp as they plunged to the ground, Andy slamming on top of her.

“Oh, my God,” he said breathless and still clutching her. “Are you all right?”

Her face scrunched up, and she moaned.

“Hey! You two okay?”

Releasing her, Andy twisted around toward the bus driver, who leaned out the window and stared down at them. His gaze shifted to the hulking vehicle and the immense tire inches from his shoes. Fear clenched his gut, and he yanked his feet back. Good God, we were nearly….