Page 3 of Unlocked

Marley:This is my friend, Shelby Brooks. Thanks for picking her up for me!Shelby Brooks. Beautiful name for a beautiful woman.

Me:Not a problem. I’m glad to help.

My hand is shaking as I type out my reply.What the fuck is wrong with me?I do not get torn up over a woman, certainly not one I’ve never met before. I huff out a frustrated breath. I need to get my shit together before I pick her up, or I am likely to do something stupid that my brother has warned me not to do. I can’t understand my reaction. Shelby doesn’t look anything like the type woman I’d pick up for a night. I tend to look for vain, shallow, supermodel thin women, who can only serve one purpose: sexual release. Then I’m out the door never to see them again.

Climbing out of my car, I head into the office to download some files to my laptop that I need for work. I’ll look at them while I’m waiting for Marley’s friend. For Shelby. It doesn’t take long to get them downloaded, and I’m back out in the car reversing out of the parking lot to head for Norfolk. I drum my fingers on the steering wheel as I make my way through traffic. The drive to the airport isn’t too long about thirty minutes or so with the heavy traffic.

I wait in the parking lot, reviewing the files I’d downloaded, until I receive a text from Marley letting me know that Shelby’s flight has arrived. I wait another few minutes before pulling into the pick-up lane. I inch my way through the line until at last, I see her. Shelby Brooks is pulling a large pink rolling suitcase behind her. She has a large bag hanging off her right shoulderand a garment bag thrown across her left arm. Her head is down as she scrolls on her phone.

Instantly I’m angry. She isn’t paying attention to anything going on around her. Anyone could attack her, and she would be none the wiser until it is too late. I throw my car in park and thrust my door open. I unfold myself from the driver’s seat and stalk toward the woman who still has no idea anyone else is around. Someone needs to tan her ass and teach her about situational awareness before something awful happens to her.

As I approach, I decide I’m that someone. I’ll teach her personal safety and tan her ass. Just the thoughts of my hand making contact with her large delectable ass cheeks has my dick enlarging in my pants to an uncomfortable level. Without thinking, I reach down to adjust myself. Shelby choses that moment to look up. Her eyes catching my hand on my crotch then rising to meet my gaze. Her pretty blue eyes widen as recognition crosses her face before it blooms with a lovely shade of pink from the little peek of her cleavage at the top of her blouse all the way up to her hairline above her forehead.

Her mouth opens and closes a couple of times like she wants to say something, but is having difficulty getting it out. I know what you mean, sister. I’m struggling to find words myself after being caught in her gaze. One of us needs to say something.

“You should pay more attention to your surroundings,” I counsel as I approach her, reaching out to take her bags from her. Her shocked expression instantly morphs into a frown instantly at my words. She jerks her bag away from my gasp before I can get a good hold on it.

“What?” she questions. “Are you scolding me?” I shrug my shoulders.

“You can take it however you want,” I reply, again reaching for her bag. “But it’s good advice. The world is not a forgiving place. There are evil people in it. Bad things happen to those,especially women, who aren’t paying attention.” Shelby’s face pales. The pretty blush retreating as her fear takes over. She takes a step back still not letting me take her bags.

“Why are you saying these things to me? Are you a psycho?” Shelby’s voice is hesitant and unsure. I can’t help chuckling at her line of questioning. Apparently it sounds creepy, because she is now looking even more concerned.

“No, Shelby, I’m not a psycho.” She shivers when I say her name, which feels like honey on my tongue. I want to say it again just to watch her reaction.

“That’s what a psycho would say,” she accuses. Another chuckle erupts from inside me. I shake my head.

“I’m trying to give you some valuable life advice,” I retort. “Now are you going to let me get your bags? We are holding up the pick line.” She blinks then looks past me to view the long line of cars coming and going as they pick up travelers. She heaves a heavy sigh but relents to hand over her garment bag and the bag on her shoulder. She continues to pull her suitcase behind her as she follows me to my Riptide Blue Stingray corvette. I frown, wondering how in the hell I’m going to get her suitcase in the mostly non-existent trunk. I pause to hit the button that pops the trunk. I place her bags in the back, making sure to leave room to place her suitcase inside.

I turn back to get her suitcase. She’s watching me intently, seemingly fascinated with my every move. I walk toward her standing on the sidewalk. It isn’t necessary to get as close to her as I do to get her suitcase, but something inside me needs to see her reaction. I crowd into her space as I reach down to take the handle from her hand.

Sparks fly when our hands touch. Shelby jerks her hand back as if I shocked her with my touch. A very pleasant tingling sensation runs from my hand, where we touched, up my arm, and into my chest. She sucks in a startled breath, her wide eyestrained on mine. We stare at one another for beat then she begins to giggle.

“You shocked me!” she snickers. I arch a brow.

“Maybe you shocked me?” I counter. She grins at my accusation.

“Yeah, I suppose that’s possible.” She smiles at me shyly. “But I’m pretty sure it was you.” I shake my head, grinning at her. I place her suitcase in the trunk before slamming down the lid. I walk back to her, placing my hand on her lower back, leading her to the passenger side door. I open it and assist her to take her seat. It’s not easy getting in the corvette. It sits so low to the ground. Her face flushes when the hem of her dress rides up giving me a peek at milky white skin on her lower thigh. She jerks the hem down long before I’m ready for her to do so. I only caught a glimpse, but now I’m really wanting to see more. I can’t allow myself to think along those lines. She is my soon-to-be-sister-in-law’s friend. It would not be good to have a fling with her while she’s visiting for the wedding. I don’t do flings. I’m a one and done guy.

“Buckle up!” I command before shutting her door. I have to adjust myself again while I stroll around the front of the car to take the driver’s seat. Once seated, I take a moment to collect myself. I take in a deep, calming breath, though it’s anything, but calming. Her floral scent invades my nose, causing my cock to harden further. I look over at Shelby. She’s stunningly beautiful sitting in my car. Her head is cocked to the side, turned down in my direction. She’s just clicking her seatbelt into place. She raises her head to look up at me questioningly. I suppose I’m being creepy by staring, but she’s taken me by surprise. I’ve never been this attracted to a woman before. I keep staring, trying to figure out what it is about her that’s tilted my world off its axis.

“Um, Bo, right?” Shelby asks. I nod. “I guess you already know, but I’m Shelby.” I again nod, this time, with a grin. “Are we going to Marley’s now?”

“Yes, right,” I say, turning away from her to press the start on the car. Checking my side mirror for traffic, I pull out of the pick-up lane to exit the parking lot. We pass the first few minutes of the drive in a comfortable silence while I navigate the heavy traffic around the airport. My curiosity gets the better of me, though, after a bit. “So, you live in Maryland?” It’s a dumb question, I know, but I feel it’s a safe topic.

“Yes.”

“Did you have a good flight?” I try again.

“Yes.” Hmmm, not the response I was hoping for, perhaps something that can’t be answered with one word.

“What do you do for a living?” There’s one she can’t just one word me, right?

“Finance,” she answers without elaborating. Well fuck! Seriously? What is this woman’s problem?

“Is something wrong, Shelby?” I can’t keep from asking. I hate that I sound a little desperate. I spare a glance in her direction before watching the road again. She turns to me looking slightly confused.

“No, why would you ask?” she queries innocently. I blow out a breath.

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