Search and Seduce Read online

  Mark looked back at Amy. The panic haunted her. He could see it in her eyes. But she was pushing through, picking up the oversize scissors ordered for today. Raising them with a forced smile, Amy cut the wide blue ribbon in one swift motion.

  Men and women rushed forward, threatening to box her in and shower her with congratulations. Mark moved to the side, determined to remain close, prepared to extract her.

  “If you’ll excuse me,” Amy said quickly, stepping away. “I need a minute.”

  Stepping over the ribbon, she opened the door and disappeared inside. Mark followed, determined to search her out. The door slammed behind him.

  “Amy,” he called.

  He scanned the empty hall as he moved farther into the building. He found her standing with her back pressed against the wall, her head back, eyes closed.

  He slowed, moving to her side, fighting the urge to draw her into his arms. “It’s over.”

  “It was a lie.” She turned and headed down the hall, moving farther away from the voices outside. “So many damn lies.”

  Mark followed, stopping beside her when they reached the door to the veterinary room.

  “I lied to you this morning. And last night.” She opened the door, leading the way inside. “I didn’t want just one night. A fantasy,” she said, speaking quickly.

  “Amy.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him “What do you want? Tell me now.”

  She touched his arms, running her hands up to his shoulders, mapping the contours of his neck until she reached his face. “You. I want you for myself.”

  “I’m here for you, Amy. It’s okay to want something for yourself.”

  “Is it?” She stepped closer, pressing her body flush against his.

  “Hell, yes.” As long as that something is me.

  “Please, kiss me, Mark.” Her blue eyes stared up at him, her nails digging into his shoulders. She rose up on her tiptoes, running her fingers through his hair as she drew his mouth down to meet hers. Amy kissed him long and hard. His hands moved to her hips, drawing her against him, letting her feel how much he wanted her.

  But even through the thick cinder-block walls he could hear the hundreds of well-intentioned people gathered to see her. They’d watched her slip inside the building, and most had witnessed Mark chasing after her. If they didn’t come back soon, someone would come looking for them.

  He pulled back. “Amy, I want this, too. But there are two hundred people here. You need to go back.”

  “Not yet.” She guided his jacket off his shoulders and tossed it aside. Her hand moved to his chest, toying with the buttons on his shirt. “I can’t stand to spend another minute up there on that pedestal of perfection. I want to be here with you.”

  He couldn’t say no to her. Not to Amy. If she needed him, if she wanted him here, he’d stay. He pushed aside the voice in the back of his mind that warned she was seeking an escape, nothing more.

  Hell, that should work for him. He didn’t do more. And he knew damn well he wasn’t her future.

  She released the last button, stripping off his dress shirt. Her eyes followed every movement until it fell to the floor. She reached for his undershirt, slowly drawing it up. Having her blindfolded, reliant on touch, had worked for him last night. But the way her eyes widened as she stripped away his clothes, the way she looked at him as if every inch of his bare skin turned her on, that worked for him, too.

  They didn’t have much time, though.

  Taking over, he pulled the shirt over his head. “Take off your jacket,” he said.

  She raised an eyebrow, heat flaring in her eyes, but she obeyed.

  “Your pants,” she demanded.

  He unbuttoned the top of his slacks and paused. “Unzip your dress and I’ll keep going.”

  Their game turned into a race, clothes falling to the floor, followed by Amy’s hairpins, leaving her long locks flowing freely over her shoulders. Stepping out of his underwear, he reached for her, wanting to strip off her bra, stockings and panties. But she evaded him, sinking down to her knees.

  “Amy—”

  “Don’t stop me, Mark. Please.”

  Her hand wrapped around his cock, guiding the head to her parted lips. And he couldn’t find the words. The sound of the crowd, the dogs barking—it all faded into the distance. Her tongue swirled around the tip, teasing him, as her hand stroked up and down.

  Mark closed his eyes, struggling to hold back as she took him into her mouth. And, hell, the way her tongue pressed against him...

  Opening his eyes, he stared down at her lips moving over him and groaned.

  “Amy, you have to stop,” he said. “I’m going to come.”

  Mark waited for her to pull back. Instead, she pressed her tongue against him, running it up and down until he couldn’t hold back. His hips bucked, and his head fell back, his eyes shut tight as the orgasm ripped through him.

  When the pleasure subsided, he reached out and ran his hand through her hair before lifting her to her feet.

  She looked up at him, her lips forming a devilish smile, and then moved away as if she thought this was over. Not a chance.

  “We’re not done yet.” He gently turned around and had her place her hands on the metal table.

  Mark moved behind her, running his hand up the back of her thigh. She widened her stance, arching her back, offering him access. His fingers slipped under her lace panties.

  “You’re wet,” he murmured. He glanced at his discarded pants. He needed to get the condom out of his wallet. He’d slipped it in there this morning just in case they ended up naked again. But that could wait. First, he wanted to touch her, taste her...

  He slipped a finger inside as his thumb stroked her. Amy moaned, her hips rocking against his hand. He added a second finger, and her movements turned frantic, hips bucking as she grew closer and closer. Wrapping his hand around her hips, he held her steady.

  “Mark, oh, God, Mark.” Her fingers pressed into the metal surface. She tossed her head back, eyes closed. “Yes, oh...”

  She came hard against his hand, her body trembling. She was far and away the sexiest sight he’d ever witnessed. She took his breath away. She made him want—

  “I’m getting a condom,” he said. “Don’t move.”

  It took him only a moment to cover himself before he returned to her.

  “I want to give you soft and gentle. But...after watching you come, and hearing you scream my name—” he ran one hand up the curve of her back “—I don’t think I can hold back. This may be a little rough.”

  “Yes,” she pleaded.

  He positioned himself and entered her with one thrust. Holding her hips, he pushed deeper, took more, needing to drive them both closer to release—

  “Amy?” Her cousin’s voice drifted through the door followed by a knock. “Are you in there?”

  14

  AMY GLANCED OVER her shoulder at the solid wooden door as need radiated from her core. As much as she wanted to stay here with Mark, to feel him come inside her, she couldn’t. Not anymore.

  “Amy?” Eloise called a second time.

  Mark withdrew from her and stepped away. She instantly missed the contact, the feel of his skin against hers...

  “I’ll be right out,” she replied, her voice shaking despite her efforts to sound calm and collected while naked and bent over a metal table. Maybe Eloise wouldn’t notice.

  “Are you okay?” her cousin asked through the door.

  “I just needed a break,” she called back, standing up and looking at Mark, hoping he would remain silent. It was one thing to be caught hiding from her party alone. But with Mark? She wasn’t ready to tell anyone, not even Eloise.

  They weren’t doing anything wrong. She knew that, but she feared the others wouldn’t see it that way.

  “I’ll be right out,” Amy added as she scrambled to pull on her clothes, wishing she hadn’t tossed them in different directions in her haste to undress.


  Mark put his pants on before silently turning to help zip up her dress. As she slipped into her blazer and heels, he gathered the rest of his clothes and moved to the far wall, out of sight for when she opened the door.

  But he caught her arm as she reached for the handle and leaned close enough to whisper in her ear, “We’re not done here. Not even close. Later, when all this is over, I’m going to make you scream with pleasure. Tell me you want that, too.”

  “Yes.”

  They’d moved beyond fantasies and rules. She was his, at least for now.

  She opened the door and stepped into the corridor. Eloise, wearing a simple black dress that hugged her petite figure, stood with her arms crossed. Her cousin’s eyes narrowed as she studied Amy.

  “I’m fine, really,” Amy said, heading for the whelping room. Eloise might wonder, but maybe the others wouldn’t if she brought a puppy out with her to distract from questions.

  Eloise followed at her side. “Just taking a break and you managed to lose your pantyhose?”

  “They had a run.”

  “Uh-huh. I always abandon my ruined stockings on the exam room floor, too. What happened to your hairpins? Wait, let me guess, they fell out.”

  Amy stopped in front of the whelping room and turned to her cousin. “Not another word, Eloise. Please. Not to anyone. If any of the brothers find out...”

  “They won’t from me.” Eloise wrapped her arms around Amy, hugging her tight. “If he’s what you want, I’m happy for you.”

  Amy closed her eyes. “It’s just a fling.”

  But now that someone else knew, it felt like more.

  “Just be careful, Amy. I don’t want to see you hurt again.”

  “Me neither,” she said softly.

  “And whatever you do, don’t fall in love with him.” Eloise released her. “That’s the first rule. Trust me.”

  “Said the woman torn apart by Gabe’s departure.”

  “I’ll be fine by tomorrow.”

  Amy squared her shoulders and reached for the doorknob. “Me, too.”

  * * *

  “YOU’RE GOING TO HATE ME,” Amy said, plopping down on the couch beside Mark, kicking off her heels. She should go upstairs and change. Mark had already swapped his dress clothes for jeans and a long-sleeved blue T-shirt.

  Mark raised an eyebrow. “I doubt it. But try me.”

  “I’m too tired,” she continued. “I know it’s only our second night, and we were interrupted earlier, but I don’t think I have an ounce of energy left.”

  “Don’t be sorry. You had a long, rough day.” Mark scooted farther down the couch, away from her, and patted his thigh. “How about a foot rub instead?”

  Her eyes widened, and for a moment Amy thought she might cry. “Seriously?”

  “Seems only fair since I had the pleasure of watching you walk around in those heels all day.”

  Amy laughed, shifting on the couch until her bare feet rested on Mark’s lap. His large, strong hands went to work kneading her sore muscles.

  “I didn’t think I’d be in them for so long. But the last dozen or so people simply refused to leave. They wanted tours and to meet the dogs, play with the puppies.”

  “Can you blame them?” He punctuated the question by running his thumb down the center of her foot, sending a pulse of desire through her tired body. She shifted on the couch as he returned to a deep, intense massage.

  “No, I can’t. And the Hardwicks offered to adopt Rosie.” His hands stilled, but just for a second.

  “She isn’t cut out for military life,” Amy added. “Even home security is questionable. That little girl just loves everybody.”

  “She raced after the ball alongside her brothers and sisters today,” Mark said, and she heard the defensive note in his voice.

  “Because she has a crush on you. She wants to be yours.” And after the way Mark had helped her through the opening reception, the way he’d made her feel in the vet room, Amy wanted to be his, too.

  He pressed his thumb into the sweet spot on her foot again, and this time a moan escaped her lips. Oh, God, his foot massage skills were a bonus.

  Rule number three. No one in the military...

  No exceptions. Maybe for the puppy, but not for her—at least not in the long-term.

  “I can’t have a dog,” he said. “Where would she live?”

  “It wouldn’t be fair to take the antithesis of a war dog with you when you deploy,” she agreed, only half listening. What he was doing to her feet redefined “foot massage” in her mind. Every touch drew her closer to needing things from him that had nothing to do with caring for sore muscles.

  “No,” he said, increasing the pressure. “I think the air force frowns on airmen smuggling pets into war zones.”

  “And you can’t just leave her at your home here,” she murmured.

  His hand stilled. “I don’t have a home here. Not anymore. Just a storage unit outside of town for my mom’s things, most of which I should probably give away or trash someday soon.”

  Amy leaned her head back against the couch as his hands started kneading her feet again. He had no reason to come back to Heart’s Landing again. Was it intentional on his part? she wondered. Did he want to deploy without a single lasting tie? The thought of him flying out on his missions believing there was no reason to come back made her stomach turn.

  A low rumble filled the silence. Or maybe it was hunger pains that had her belly doing somersaults.

  Mark’s eyes narrowed. “You never ate.”

  “One broken plate of cookies was enough. Eloise told me they were too good to waste. And there wasn’t much left when I came back out.”

  Mark picked up her feet, set them on the ground and stood. “Put on your shoes. I’m taking you out to dinner.”

  Amy slipped her tired feet into her heels. “Where are we going?”

  “The Last Stop,” he said, holding out his hand to pull her up off the couch. “I owe Blanche another visit, and you need a deluxe burger with fries. Maybe a milk shake. Sound good?”

  Her stomach answered for her with a second low rumble. “I should change first.”

  “You look great, Amy.” Mark plucked the key to her truck from the table by the door.

  “Let’s go.”

  * * *

  TEN MINUTES LATER, Mark parked her truck in front of The Last Stop Diner and came around to open her door. Holding his hand, she followed him inside. Blanche beamed at them. Amy knew the diner’s owner and bumped into her in town now and then, but it had been a while. Blanche looked better than she had in years.

  “Wow,” Amy said. “I think she is the only part of this place that has changed.”

  Mark nodded. “Zumba.”

  Amy stifled a laugh as they approached the counter, claiming two empty stools beside the register.

  “Evening,” Mark said. “Amy, what would you like?”

  “A burger, medium, and fries, please.”

  “Blanche, add a milk shake. My treat, Amy.”

  Blanche nodded, scribbling the order on her notepad. “What flavor shake, darling?”

  “I really don’t need—”

  “Chocolate,” Mark said. “And I’ll have my usual. But hold the salad this time.”

  “Coming right up.” The newly slimmed Blanche marched over to the kitchen window and placed their order.

  “Your usual comes with a salad?”

  “Blanche’s misguided attempts to look out for my health.”

  The Last Stop’s owner returned with two glasses of water. “I heard about your big party. Mrs. Hardwick said it went well. They stopped by on their way home.”

  “It did,” Amy acknowledged, allowing herself to feel relief for the first time. It was over. No more pretending. She could put the lies and hidden truths behind her—at least some of them. “I think the puppies stole the show.”

  Blanche shook her head. “I told Mark the other night, I think you’re crazy to live out there by yourse
lf with a bunch of attack dogs.”

  Amy picked up her water glass, raising it to her lips. She’d received countless pats on the back for a job well-done. But no one had called her crazy.

  “But I’m glad to see a young woman starting her own business,” Blanche continued. “You should join the Heart’s Landing Chamber of Commerce.”

  Amy slowly set her glass back on the counter before she accidentally dumped it in her lap. Her business. Of all the people to recognize that she hadn’t founded a charity to worship her husband’s memory. She looked at Mark out of the corner of her eye. She suspected he’d brought her here for more than the food.

  “It took me a while to join,” Blanche said. “After I lost my Henry. We’d always run the diner together, but he belonged to the local business associations. They were all a bunch of old boys’ clubs back then. Not so much now. They’d welcome you with open arms.”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  “You do that.” A bell rang in the window separating the kitchen from the rest of the diner. Blanche turned. “I’ll get your food.”

  Amy ate half her burger and most of the fries before asking for a to-go bag. Without the bun, the burger would be a nice treat for Jango.

  Blanche cleared their plates and returned, her eyes sparkling. “Now, how about some chocolate cake?”

  Amy glanced at the glass display case. One frosted triple layer cake sat on the shelf, and there were only two slices left. Not that it mattered. She couldn’t eat another bite.

  “A slice for Amy,” Mark said. “I’m good.”

  Before she could object, Mark stood. “Excuse me for a moment, ladies.”

  When he was out of earshot, Amy leaned forward. “Blanche, I can’t eat another bite.”

  The older woman ignored her, opening the display case and placing the larger of the two slices on a plate.

  “That boy.” The older woman shook her head as she set the dessert and two forks in front of Amy. “He’s been refusing cake since he was little. Always telling me to give it to one of my paying customers. He’d do his schoolwork, never speaking unless spoken to, never asking for anything and refusing half of what I tried to feed him as if there was always someone more deserving.”