In Your Arms

Chapter 2-1

Chapter Two

Emma’s night had taken a turn for the better. The bar Sean had chosen wasn’t one she’d go to by herself, but it wasn’t crowded, even for a Friday night. It reminded her a little too much of the places her mom had always worked. Looking around at the clientele, she had flashbacks to some skeevy customers.

Sean’s company more than made up for it, though. He was funny and charming. And sexier than she wanted to admit. Of course, part of that was the alcohol talking. Sean was everything she’d sworn off. From the four-leaf clover with O’Malley on his bicep to the wicked glint in his eye, Sean should be off-limits. For a while, she’d thought she was judging a book by its cover because he’d been cool to her. Then he’d brought her to a bar where they’d run into one of his exes, someone who clearly thought they might not be over. None of that screamed responsible adult.

But she’d had a bad day. And it was the weekend. The last real weekend of the summer. The last before she had to go back to work full-time, being responsible and professional, assuming she’d still have her job in a month. What could be the harm in playing for the weekend?

Emma knew she’d had enough to drink when she was convincing herself to sleep with a guy she knew was bad for her. But as she tossed back another shot, she didn’t care.

She was at thirty-three points to Sean’s fifty-two. He didn’t seem to be bothered by losing to her, but they were both growing bored with the game. “Watch my bag. I’m going to put some music on.”

He nodded as he lined up his next shot. The jukebox was old. Like from-the-eighties old. Emma wasn’t sure what kind of music selection it would have, but she hoped for something she could dance to. Not that the place struck her as a club.

As soon as she stepped up to the machine, a man appeared at her side. “Can I buy you a drink?”

“No thanks,” she said with a smile. She smelled the beer from a foot away. She knew the type. He’d probably been drinking since early afternoon. Her mom liked this type of customer. They tended to tip well. At least when they could stay upright long enough to remember to tip.

“C’mon, baby. One drink.” He stepped closer as Emma slid her money into the jukebox.

She shrugged and slid a little more to the side. “I’m here with someone.”

He huffed but backed away. Emma focused on the music. Like the box itself, the music was all old, mostly classic rock. She chose some Doors and Janis Joplin. “Me and Bobby McGee” popped up first, and Emma danced her way back to Sean, whose eyes were steady on her. She wondered if he’d witnessed the drunk hitting on her. That summed up how the rest of her summer had gone. Another reason to let loose for one weekend with a sexy guy.

“Cute dance. I’ll let you enjoy it a minute before you see the board.”

She shoved at his shoulder and peered at the board. He’d hit a bull’s eye. She squinted at him. “Did you cheat?”

“No. I’m just that good.” He smirked and she couldn’t decide if she should believe him. “But to show you I’m a gracious winner, I’ll buy you another drink.”

“I shouldn’t.”

He pointed to a table. “You just put music on, so you should stay to enjoy it. I’m done drinking since I’m driving.”

She was already feeling buzzed, and going home didn’t sound good. “Okay. No shot, though. Just a beer.”

While she waited for Sean to return with her drink, she closed her eyes and let the music play around her, relaxing her. It felt so good to let go of everything.

“Not falling asleep on me, I hope.”

She popped her eyes open. “Enjoying the music.” Hopping off her stool, she grabbed her beer and added, “Dance with me.”

“I don’t dance.”

She wiggled her hips as she backed away from the table. “You don’t need to do much. Stand there and look pretty.”

He stepped close and wrapped an arm around her waist. “I’m not pretty.”

She settled into his embrace. “Your eyes are. Pretty and flirtatious and wicked sexy.”

He chuckled, sending a vibration through his chest. They moved much slower than the beat of the music, but she didn’t care. He was strong and solid against her, and for the moment, that was enough.

They swayed and Sean pressed her close. He smelled good even though she could sniff a hint of oil from work, and he felt even better. Emma knew she’d go home with him if he asked. And at this point, they both knew it. She pulled away a bit and looked up into those amazing eyes. “Want to get out of here?”

“If that’s what you want.”

“Yeah.”

He released her. “You finish your beer while I go to the bathroom.”

She slung her bag across her chest and chugged her beer. When a hand landed on her hip, she assumed Sean had pissed fast. She turned to find the drunk guy behind her. Stepping back, she said, “Excuse me.”

“You’re alone.”

“No, I’m not. My date went to the bathroom.”

“C’mon, sweetheart.” He reached for her again.

Emma stepped back and bumped the table, sending her empty bottle rolling off. “Back off,” she said as sharply as she could muster.

He put his hands on the table behind her, boxing her in. She couldn’t breathe without getting a lungful of his nastiness. Watery blue eyes stared at her mouth. Wide shoulders blocked her view of the bathrooms, which she prayed Sean would be out of soon. She could strike out and hit this guy, hurt him enough to get away, but she didn’t want to cause a scene. Adults didn’t get into bar fights. She was past all that. Sean’s appearance would make the guy leave her alone.

His hands edged closer to her waist, and he lowered his head. Emma bent backward as she pushed her palms against his shoulders.

Then suddenly the weight and stench were gone. Smelly dude jerked back. Sean. She stepped forward and realized Sean wasn’t just pulling him off, he was swinging on him.

“Sean, it’s okay.”

He glanced at her and she saw another look in his eyes, one that said no way in hell was it okay. The guy rushed at him, but Sean sidestepped and then punched him in the ribs. The guy doubled over, but it wasn’t enough for Sean. He hit him two more times until the guy sprawled on the floor.

Emma stood, staring. She hadn’t wanted a scene. She should be offended at the act of violence, but she wasn’t. In fact, she was a little turned on by it. Another reason why Sean was bad for her. He was like every guy she’d ever fallen for. Charming and quick to brawl, making her feel like a swoony teenager instead of a professional adult.

But she’d never had someone come to her defense like that before. In that respect, he was different. Then Sean filled her field of vision.

“Are you okay?”

She nodded, not trusting her voice.

“You sure?”

“Yeah,” she whispered.

He grabbed her hand. “Then we better get out of here before the cops show.”

That snapped her attention and she let him pull her out of the bar. Sean was on the motorcycle and revving the engine as she pulled on the helmet. She scooted close and held tight. He tore away from the bar, and she shut her eyes against the onslaught of movement. The alcohol still buzzed through her system. The speed and the vibrations overwhelmed her. Just as she was about to tap Sean to have him stop, he pulled over.

She sat, still curved around him feeding off the energy pulsing from him through her hands splayed on his torso. His heart raced beneath her palm. It wasn’t until he took one of her hands and peeled it away that she realized what she was doing. He looked at her over his shoulder.

“You okay?”

She nodded, the helmet wobbling a little. Her nerves quivered, and she was sure her body would start to tremble. She itched to move, so she dismounted. Sean climbed off and faced her. He unclasped the helmet and pulled it off. After setting it on his seat, he lowered his face to stare directly into her eyes.

“You’re really tense right now. You were gripping so hard, I was sure something was wrong. I didn’t mean to scare you back there. You’re safe.”

“I’m not afraid of you.” Although a small voice in her head argued that was dumb. She didn’t know him. After that display of anger, she should be afraid, but she wasn’t. “That guy . . . he scared me. I just . . .” She shook out her arms to rid herself of the tingling.

Sean reached out tentatively like he might spook her. His hand on hers calmed her nerves. She stepped closer. “I think I’m buzzed.”

“I think you might be drunk.”

She shook her head, which made her dizzy. Maybe she was. But she could no longer tell where the alcohol left off and the adrenaline started. “We were getting out of there anyway. Where were you taking me?” She looked around. They were in a convenience store parking lot. “I don’t think you live here.”

“No. I think I should take you home.”

“I think you’re right. How far to your place?” At least if they were at his place, if she’d misread him, she could leave. Plus, it made her escape easier. She couldn’t leave her own apartment and had no way of forcing a guy out.

“I’m going to call my brother Tommy to bring me a car. I don’t think you’re sober enough for the back of the bike.”

“Bullshit.” The accusation ticked her off. Admittedly, she was buzzed, but she could handle her liquor. It was one of the few talents her mother had passed on to her. “I’m fine on the bike.” She stepped closer still, as close as they had been when they had danced. “I like the way it feels to be wrapped around you.”

She tipped her chin slightly and brushed her lips against his. That was all the urging he needed. His arms slid around her and pressed her body to his. He took over the kiss and she opened to him, knowing a guy like him wanted to be in charge. All bad boys did.

He wrapped his hand in her hair and tugged tight enough to hold her where he wanted. The slight shock of pain sent a thrill through her. This. This was what she’d been missing. What she needed to take the edge off.

She returned the favor by biting his lip. He hissed and pulled back. When he looked at her, she said, “Take me to your place.”

This time, he didn’t argue. They climbed back on the motorcycle and left the parking lot. Sean drove them into a quiet residential neighborhood of single-family homes. Not an apartment in sight. Her radar immediately pinged. This was not a guy who had his s**t together enough to own a house.

She could write a book on how to pick up the man-boy. Sean parked and she shoved the thought away. This was about the weekend. About her getting what she wanted—no, needed—for the moment. Then she’d go back to her real life and look for what she should have. What she really wanted. At least find a guy who was adult enough to not live at home with mom.

Sean held her hand and pulled her to the back of the building. When he moved toward basement steps, she pulled from his grasp. “Where are we going?”

“My place.” He hitched his chin in the direction of the door. “My room’s in the basement.”

“What are you? Twelve?”

“My brother Tommy and I have it set up as our own place.”

She sighed. “Do you at least have your own bedroom? Or am I supposed to screw you with an audience?”

He laughed and reached for her hip. His voice dropped into the sexy range. “While I share a lot of things with my brother, a woman isn’t one.”

Then he turned and pushed her toward the steps leading upstairs. “We can have a drink upstairs first so you can see I’m not a crazy guy looking to lock you in my basement.”

She laughed a little at that. For a bad boy, Sean was pretty adept at reading things. He opened the back door and flicked on the light, flooding the kitchen. As he locked up, she saw how beat up his hand was. His knuckles were red and swollen.

She winced. “You should ice your hand.”