Sensual Stranger Read online

  “If I did,” she said, “I wouldn’t be here.”

  Not good enough. He wanted a real explanation. What in the fuck could have happened in her life to have brought her to this point? “When was the last time you ate?”

  She tilted her head to one side and regarded him, clearly not expecting his question. “At the shelter last night.”

  “You’re staying there?”

  “Not again. It’s hardly permanent housing. There are a lot of mothers with little kids who need the facilities more than I do.”

  Releasing her wrist, Zach pulled the jacket from her reach, moving it to the adjacent counter.

  Toni’s gaze darted from it to him. “You’re hiring me after all?”

  He cupped her elbow in his palm, his fingers curling over her smooth, hot skin, his thumb stroking it, the movement seemingly independent of his brain and good sense. “I’m buying you breakfast.” It was the least he could do. “Come on.”

  Chapter Three

  Toni swallowed at the slow, sensuous brush of his thumb on her skin, his firm caress and restrained strength. Desire slithered through her, along with an intolerable impulse to edge close.

  She stopped herself before she did. She needed a job, not him to touch her, no matter how pleasant. She required work, not just breakfast, despite how hungry she was. Had he heard her growling belly? Probably.

  Gently, his fingers tightened on her elbow. “Come on,” he repeated, his voice brooking no argument, his manner all business, taking control.

  The gentleness within his directive, his obvious concern, defeated the refusal bubbling up in Toni. She’d been tired and hungry in the past, though nothing like now. Sitting down and eating would be heaven. Having someone take care of her, making her feel wanted and safe, if only for a little while, was more than she could resist.

  “My saddlebag,” she said, holding back as he tried to lead her from the garage.

  Zach looked over, his gaze touching hers, before he glanced at the black leather bag.

  “It’s all I have,” she admitted. “Along with my helmet and jacket.”

  His expression revealed more dismay than surprise. He turned his head to a young man striding into the garage.

  Probably early twenties, the guy had brown hair, cut in a longish crew, the ends sticking straight up with the aid of industrial-strength gel. A dagger-shaped silver earring decorated his left lobe, a small ring curled over his right nostril. Battered jeans and a navy tee hung on his lean, youthful frame that hadn’t yet filled out with the man he would someday be.

  “Mornin’,” he said.

  Zach nodded.

  The guy’s gaze slid to her—or rather all over her—then to Zach’s hand cupping her elbow. His attention perked up at the scene.

  Zach interrupted it, his voice all business. “Put the lady’s jacket, helmet and saddlebag in my office.”

  “No, I’m taking the bag,” Toni said.

  The young man’s faded blue eyes darted back and forth between them, settling on her breasts, remaining there.

  “Fine,” Zach said to her, then spoke to the guy. “Robbie.”

  “Ah, sure.” He gave her a quick, questioning smile. Grabbing her stuff, he headed for the office, glancing back at them as he did.

  “Is he one of your mechanics?” Toni asked, her voice lowered so Robbie couldn’t hear.

  Zach nodded.

  Toni wanted to ask if Robbie was good at his job, but didn’t. It wouldn’t change Zach’s mind about her working here. Besides, she didn’t want to push someone else out to give herself a chance, no matter her desperation.

  With his hand still on her arm, Zach bent over and grabbed the carrying handles of her saddlebag, hauling it up.

  “I’ll take it,” Toni said, wiggling her fingers.

  Easily, Zach held it out of her reach, his head tilting right and left as he studied its bulging contours. “It’s much heavier than I thought it would be. What do you have in here?”

  Her life. “Stuff that belongs to me.”

  He looked at her, seeming to expect more of an answer.

  Toni held his gaze. “I can carry it.”

  “Not while I’m here.” He guided her toward the street.

  Her belly fluttered at the curious mixture of dominance and kindness he displayed that seemed an intrinsic part of him. Was this how he was in bed with a woman he wanted? Demanding, yet giving? Dangerous, yet safe? Playing all sorts of decadent carnal games, like turning her over his knee and punishing her because she hadn’t responded quickly enough to his passion? Then mounting her, his stiff cock plunging into her damp channel with a sweet fury that brought her exquisite relief? And afterward, did he caress her gently, his tender kisses delivering her to sleep?

  Heat flooded Toni’s throat, her face, having nothing to do with the sun bearing down. She ran her tongue over her lips, moistening them as her mind drifted helplessly to an image of her kneeling in front of Zach, obedient to his command, unbuttoning his jeans, lowering the zipper, the metal rasp so real in her thoughts a shiver of pleasure pulsed through her.

  She pictured her thumbs hooked into his jeans’ denim and soft cotton briefs, pulling the garments down quickly, the movement confirming her lust and exposing the dark tangle of hair on his groin, his thick, meaty rod and plump balls. They’d smell of him and raw male lust.

  Her lids fluttered at the thought of cradling his testicles in her palm, holding them gently as she licked his length, tasting the firm, salty skin, dipping the tip of her tongue into the tiny slit in the head.

  “Toni.”

  With her name, the images fled. She squinted at the sun, then stared at him, marveling at his beautiful eyes and masculine features, wondering what it would be like to run her fingertips down his bristly cheeks and tunnel her hands through his silky hair. She watched the breeze playing with the locks dangling over his forehead. “What?”

  As he studied her, his expression changed. He seemed uncertain suddenly, as though he’d lost his train of thought. Clearing his throat, apparently remembering what he’d meant to say, he asked, “What do you like to eat? There’s a diner to the right with the usual breakfast fare or a pancake house to the left.”

  With each choice he’d offered, the tips of his fingers tightened gently on her elbow.

  All too conscious of his touch, Toni tried to distract herself. She glanced up and down the street at the wooden buildings painted in bright primary colors…firecracker reds, vivid blues, buttercup yellows made the area cheery and welcoming. Most of the architecture sported an Old West look with flat fronts and fancy gold lettering on the windows.

  Her lids finally slid down at the warmth of Zach’s hand and the wind’s brief caress. On the heated, dry air, Toni caught something she hadn’t before…the exquisite aroma of bacon and cinnamon. Inhaling deeply, she just about purred, “Do you smell that? Where’s it coming from?”

  “The diner.”

  “Oh, there. Please.”

  Zach’s voice rumbled with pleasure. “Good choice.”

  Forcing her eyes to open, Toni saw his smile. Not wanting to stare too obviously, she glanced past him at the hard blue sky. There wasn’t a cloud in sight to mar its perfection, only a group of black birds winging their way toward the mountains.

  Hand on her arm, Zach led her up the street to the diner, his stride slow.

  Because of his leg? Toni glanced at it.

  He asked, “How long have you been here?”

  “I don’t know.” She looked up. “Where’s here?”

  He chuckled.

  Her heart made a funny leap at having made him laugh and the sexy crinkles at the corners of his eyes.

  He explained, “You’re in Arizona.”

  “Yeah, I know that. I meant, where’s here?” With her free hand, she pointed down. “This town, city, whatever. I didn’t see any signs coming in.” She’d been too busy searching for a garage and stopped when she found his. “What’s it called?”

&n
bsp; “Indulgence.”

  “Get out.”

  Grinning, he inclined his head toward the other side of the street.

  Toni looked, reading the storefront windows she hadn’t noticed. There was Indulgence Gifts, Indulgence Ice Cream Parlor, Indulgence Western Wear.

  “There has to be a story behind that name,” she said.

  He pulled his gaze from her and regarded the sidewalk ahead. “A few years back the city council consulted with a marketing firm about ways to bring in more tourist dollars. The firm concluded that a good start would be changing the name from Keanyville.” His smile returned as he shook his head. “They said Indulgence sounded like a town in an old Clint Eastwood movie and people would flock here.”

  Toni’s gaze swept the cars on the streets. It wasn’t exactly rush hour in New York, but she noticed the parking spaces filling up and what seemed to be tourists glancing in the shop windows. “Sounds like a plan.” She looked over. “So nothing wild goes on here?”

  Zach paused at a street corner. A dark blue Chrysler Sebring moved past the stop sign slower than a sloth. The elderly driver had a face mapped with wrinkles that deepened as she squinted at Toni. Clearly not liking what she saw, she settled her displeased frown on Zach.

  With an easy smile, he dipped his head in greeting.

  The woman kept glancing over her shoulder at them as her vehicle rolled across the street.

  Zach led Toni to the other side. Curiosity rang in his voice. “Define wild.”

  Toni swung her head to him. He kept his gaze straight ahead, leading her up the block.

  Define wild, he’d said.

  Her thoughts turned inward to the men she’d known, all of them out for a good time—gambling, boozing, fucking—each unconcerned with the future. As far as Toni was concerned, that made them more stupid than anything, afraid to grow up.

  Wild was a man risking his heart, falling so hard there’d be no chance of him recovering, holding her close every night, loving her to distraction…standing at her side, giving her a family and home.

  Struggling to keep yearning from her voice, she said, “You tell me.”

  Zach’s steps slowed to a stop. A series of cars came down the street. Bells tinkled on doors as shop owners swung them open. Voices lifted in greeting.

  Toni looked at Zach.

  His full attention was already on her, his gaze dipping to her mouth, his expression growing increasingly distracted, the same as his voice. “Whatever you want.”

  Toni didn’t understand. For one crazy moment, she wondered if he’d read her thoughts. “What do you mean?”

  He met her eyes. “I said I’m buying.”

  She glanced past his shoulder at the storefront, seeing they’d reached the Last Chance Diner that the deejay had talked about.

  “So you are.” Pushing embarrassment aside at her foolish musings, she cocked her head and arched one brow. “Tell you what, hire me and I’ll buy you breakfast.”

  He regarded her without comment, then unexpectedly slid his hand to her wrist, folding Toni’s arm behind her back, pulling her into him.

  Her head snapped down at their thighs and bellies touching. Too much warmth flushed her skin.

  Eyes darting to the right, she saw a group of middle-aged tourists barreling past, interrupting each other as they discussed today’s plans, not watching where they were going.

  Even with Zach pulling her out of their way, one of the men managed to elbow her arm.

  Toni barely noticed the jab. Her limbs grew heavy at the scent of Zach’s clean skin, the power of his body against hers, the promise of his thickened cock. She stared at his Adam’s apple bouncing with his swallow, the short, dark hairs on his throat.

  “We better go inside,” he said, his voice deepened and rough.

  Eyes lifting to his, she didn’t move. Neither did he.

  What in the fuck are you doing?

  Zach had no idea how to answer himself. He had no strength to resist the moment.

  He looked down at Toni, held captive by her eyes and expression. So opened to him, it seemed he could reach whatever was in her soul when what he wanted to do was crawl all over her.

  There it was—the unvarnished truth. He wanted to fuck her like he hadn’t needed to fuck a woman in nearly two years. Zach knew it should have bothered him, shamed him somehow or brought a measure of guilt because of Meg.

  For the moment, it did not. Animal instinct and raw male need erased everything else. Not only because of the powerful sensuality Toni exuded, but because Zach sensed how alone she was…as alone as him.

  Yesterday his solitude had hurt, though time had taken away a bit of the pain. Today, the isolation seemed unbearable, urging him to move on, to live, to take whatever he could—whatever she offered.

  He couldn’t. Not here. Certainly not with a woman who was a stranger and would soon be on her way.

  With great effort, he released her wrist and moved back to open the diner door. Its bell tinkled. The aroma of strong coffee, sugar-cured bacon and rich baked goods poured from inside, along with an old Kenny Rogers tune and customers’ voices.

  At the sounds or the scents, Toni glanced up.

  Fevered and restless, Zach stared at her throat. His gaze travelled her milky skin to the edge of her tank top. Blood rushed to his groin, pooling in his cock at the sight of her tightened nipples pushing against the stretchy fabric.

  Her stomach growled, loud and long.

  They both glanced down at it. Inclining his head toward the door, he spoke first, his tone sharper than he’d intended. “Go on. Get inside.”

  Her eyes shifted to him. “Are you always this bossy?”

  His smile happened before he could stop it. “You have no idea how bossy I can be, Toni.”

  She murmured, “Hire me, Zach, and I will.”

  His smile died. “I can’t.”

  “You won’t,” she corrected.

  Her voice affirmed quiet resignation, not anger, which would have been easier for Zach to take.

  Moving past him, she entered the diner.

  Its beige-and-brown décor, along with wagon wheel light fixtures, fit the town’s Old West theme. Even the souvenirs matched, with Betty Boop and other cartoon characters dressed in a marketer’s version of western wear.

  Men of varying ages sat shoulder to shoulder on the few stools at the counter, their battered jeans, dusty cowboy boots and Fruit of the Loom tees identifying them as locals. The tourists, dressed in more colorful garb, chattered at their Formica-and-chrome tables.

  “Well, hey there,” a female voice called out over the rising din.

  Glancing past a table of elderly men from the retirement village, Zach saw Emma Torres. A hefty woman of thirty-five, Em liked her jeans tight, her checkered blouse snug, her brown hair worn short and her pretty face absent of makeup. Right hand lifted above her head, she waved at him wildly.

  He smiled in greeting. With her husband, Hector, Em owned and ran this place.

  As she worked her way past tables, she patted several of the women’s shoulders, smiled at the men and winked at the kids.

  Reaching Zach, Em pushed to her toes and pecked his stubbled cheek before giving a warm smile to Toni. “Be with you in a sec, hon, soon as I seat him.”

  “We’re together,” Zach said.

  Em’s skinny brows jumped up. “Table for two?”

  He nodded, thinking her surprise wasn’t any greater than his own.

  This time, Em allowed herself a really good look at Toni, lingering on her leather pants and biker boots before glancing at the fringed saddlebag he carried.

  With a loaded expression, Em said, “This way.” She directed them to a booth at the far end of the diner, away from the rest of the crowd. “Best seat in the house,” she announced.

  It was certainly the most secluded. What did she think they planned to do back here? Hold hands? Whisper sweet nothings? Neck?

  Zach’s head snapped to Toni as she ran her fingers ove
r his. He fought a pleasurable shiver at her featherlight touch, noticing finally that she wanted to take her saddlebag. Without too much of a delay, he gave it up.

  Her gaze moved from him to Em. “Where’s the ladies’ room?”

  “Back there.” She pointed. “Take an immediate left by the cash register and the souvenir stand.”

  “Thanks.” Without a backward glance, Toni headed in its direction.

  Zach stared at the leather hugging her plush ass. With each step she took, her rounded cheeks bounced, begging for a man’s hands to hold them. To separate her succulent flesh, then run his fingers down the moist furrow to the tight pink ring of her anus and lower, her damp cunt.

  With a hard swallow, he wiped his sweaty palm against his jeans, watching Toni pass the table of elderly men. Several of the old guys swung their heads, following her with their eyes.

  Once she’d disappeared around the corner, Zach gritted his teeth at the expected pain in his leg, slid into his side of the booth and let out a sigh, trying to relax.

  Em wasn’t about to allow it. She plopped onto the padded seat across from him, clasped her hands on top of the table and leaned forward. “Who is that?” She’d lowered her voice to a conspiratorial murmur. “Is she a tourist? Did you fix her car? Are you two going to be seeing each other?”

  With his elbow on the table, Zach propped his head in his palm and sighed. “No, no and no.”

  Em’s frown intensified the deep grooves above her nose. “What’s that supposed to mean? You don’t want to talk about it?”

  Exactly. “There’s nothing to talk about,” Zach said as nicely as he could. “I’m just answering your questions—no, no and no.”

  “Wait a sec—what did I ask? Now quit it,” she scolded, unclasping her hands so she could slap his arm.

  It didn’t stop Zach’s laughter.

  “Who is she?” Em asked again.

  “A mechanic.”

  Em’s laughter rang louder than his. “On what planet?”

  Exactly. “She does seem to know about engines.” She’d surprised the hell out of him by picking the right tool and knowing a car actually had plugs.