The Dom with the Dragon Tattoo(12)
“Didn’t notice? As if.” His friend conspiratorially nudged him with a flex of his shoulder.
Tyler took another slug of beer. He and Rob went way back and they often knew what the other was thinking, but even his friend didn’t know he was heavily into the fetish scene. Some things were best kept secret. “Hey, Rob, I hear the Texans are axing more of the team.”
“Goddamn it. We won’t have a team soon.”
“Yeah, buddy, you and me know that, but the guys in charge know jack shit.”
Sam forced herself between them, her head barely coming to their chests. “I might have known you guys would be talking football. Is that food ready yet, Rob? It looks pretty cremated to me.” She placed her arms around her husband’s waist then stretched on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “I’m starving, hun.”
Rob banged the metal spatula on the grill. “Listen up and gather round, everyone. Dinner is served.”
Elegantly holding a glass of wine, Rebecca sauntered across to Tyler. Jesus, that sexy fucking scent. He breathed in her perfume. It was the same one she’d worn at Club Submission some two months ago. The way she’d looked and danced that night had taken his breath away. Her sexy, provocative performance was indelibly printed on his mind. He remembered it like it was yesterday, yet staring into her gorgeous brown eyes now, she looked like butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. Now that was sexy. Rebecca Miles was a woman of many layers. He desperately wanted to peel each one away, until just the sensual inner core remained.
“I didn’t know you’d been invited, too.” Her husky voice turned him on big-time.
“I’m the boss. Rob wouldn’t dare not invite me.”
She laughed, showing perfect white teeth. “Why didn’t you say you were coming when I mentioned it this morning?”
“I was undecided.”
She moved a little closer and stared directly at him. “So what made you change your mind, Tyler?”
“You.”
Her mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out. Instead, she just smiled and took another sip of wine. The red liquid briefly coated the sexy fullness of her lips, until she swiped the Shiraz away with the tip of her tongue. All the time she remained perfectly composed, and then she said, “Thanks for looking after me this morning.”
“It was my pleasure. Did any particular property stand out?”
“Yes, the one with the extended kitchen and double garage.”
“Good choice. You gonna make an offer for it?”
Before she could answer, a boisterous explosion erupted from the house as Sam and Rob’s seven-year-old twins careened across the grass, giggling and shouting with unfettered, youthful joy. They ran straight to their parents.
“I’m first.” Rob Junior elbowed his twin sister out of the way.
Peyton looked close to tears. “Mom, tell him.”
Samantha stroked a hand through her little girl’s golden curls. “It’s okay, sweetie. Mommy will sort it all out.”
Tyler smiled and turned to Rebecca. “Sam’s such a natural mother. I’ve known her since high school. She never wanted a career. Her goal in life was just to become a mom. She’s a great girl, I’m glad it worked out for her.” He handed her a plate. “Ladies first.”
“Thanks.”
They joined the line for the hot, sizzling food smoking enticingly on the barbecue. Rebecca stood just in front of him, and he couldn’t take his eyes from her gorgeous glossy hair. Fucking hell, how he wanted to thread his fingers through those silky brown strands and bury his face in her perfumed locks.
Rebecca suddenly handed him back her plate. “Excuse me. I need to go to the bathroom.”
Tyler watched her walk toward the house. For some unknown reason she seemed upset, emotional even. Wondering why she’d given up her place in the dinner line, he decided to follow her inside.
The empty house seemed eerily quiet as he placed both plates on the kitchen table. He then searched the whole of the downstairs area. Nothing.
He stood at the bottom of the stairs and called out, “Are you up there? Rebecca, are you okay?” He heard her muffled reply and figured she was in the bathroom.
Not convinced that everything was fine, he climbed the stairs and rapped lightly on the bathroom door. “Are you all right in there, honey? You seem—” Tyler put his ear to the door and listened intently. The sound of running water suddenly stopped, and he heard the lock click open.
Rebecca’s beautiful face appeared around the door. Her cheeks held a pretty pink bloom. “I’m perfectly fine, Tyler, the smoke from that damned barbecue plays hell with my eyes. Sometimes contacts can be a real pain in the ass.”