Page 27 of High Seduction
“You could invite Tim to come along,” Alisha offered relentlessly. “If you want a safe place to spend some time with him.”
“You’re being annoying.” Erin glared at the other woman. “I don’t like you enough to put up with annoying.”
Alisha laughed. “Now I know you’ve got something on your mind, because you like me plenty.”
There was no avoiding Alisha’s glaring positive energy. “You take perky pills this morning or something?” Erin snarked.
“It’s all the regular sex. You should try it.” Another noise of amusement escaped Alisha. “And you should see your face right now.”
Erin could imagine it. “Somewhere between envy and exasperation?”
A small shrug of Alisha’s shoulders. “You know how to solve the envy bit. I’m pretty sure I’ll continue to be exasperating, so you’re stuck with that one.”
She winked, then turned to answer Devon, who had laid a hand on her arm on her other side.
Loud laughter rang out from another part of the pub, and Erin let her gaze drift over the entire group, not only Tim. She’d worked with most of them for years now, and it had taken time for her to settle into actually liking them outside rescue situations.
Of all the people she’d become friends with over the years, Alisha was a complete surprise. The relationship was real, though, and Erin gave it a deeper examination.
It was about choices. About trust. She’d found the unexpected in Alisha—something beyond the innocent façade that the blonde projected. The naïve woman had turned out to have nerves of steel, not only on the job but when facing down family.
She’d taken control of her life and grabbed the things she wanted, one of whom was Devon.
Erin did envy her a bit, but that envy was not going to be a wasted emotion. It was going to encourage her to move forward and take hold of her own happiness.
She glanced across the table at Tim. His dark hair framed a laughing expression as he bantered with the team. He held a glass of beer in one hand, his tanned fingers wrapped easily around the stein. She wanted to have those talented hands on her body. Teasing her and bringing her pleasure.
He’d been so... proper the entire day. Had kept things light. Casual. He didn’t give her any extra attention while the team visited, just easy smiles and glances that were no more intimate than the ones he shared with Alisha or Devon.
Out here in the real world she still wasn’t sure what she wanted, but in private, she was ready for the next step. Tim had said the timing was her choice to make, and she was making it.
The conversation died around ten. Tripp was the first to rise to his feet. “Jonah will be home by now, and I should be getting back.”
Alisha yawned. “I need to call it a night as well.”
“Which means I’m done.” Devon lifted Alisha’s knuckles to his mouth and kissed them lightly. “Come, my lady. Your chariot awaits.”
Farewells echoed, coats were gathered. Erin eyed Tim carefully, but he remained a complete gentleman. All the way up to the moment she slipped beside him and rested her hand on his back.
He stiffened for a moment, then shifted position slightly to allow her to touch him more easily.
“Training tomorrow,” Anders reminded them. “Unless we get a call-out. Check in at nine.”
“See you then,” Tim answered, not even twitching as Erin traced a figure eight with her fingertip. He waited until they were nearly alone, a single busboy clearing the table behind them, before turning slowly to face her.
Her fingers lingered on his side before resting on his hip.
“Do you need a ride home?” he offered, the words coming out soft and husky.
His tone triggered an instant response as a shiver raced up her spine. She shook her head. “I have my car. But if you’d like, I’d love to stop in for a nightcap.”
Blue eyes flashed with wildfire before he pulled his response back to casual. Nonchalant. “Of course. I’ll meet you at the apartment doors.”
Anticipation made her clumsy as she hauled her keys from the ignition. She tucked them safely in her pocket, smoothing the front of her coat. Distracting herself from the torrent of ideas pouring through her brain.
Excitement bubbled through her veins as she stepped through the fresh-fallen snow toward Tim’s apartment. She left footprints behind her, the temperatures low enough to let the thin layer of powder settle on the walk. Small puffs of light flakes shot upward as she walked, and she smiled at the winter wonderland around her, her breath a puff of white.
He was waiting for her. A tall, lean shadow standing to one side of the main doors. Tim smiled as he let her in, turning her toward the elevators and leaving his hand behind briefly.
