Brianna's Navy SEAL (12 page)

"No, maybe not."

"So, Addison, you planning on running for town council?” The former Mayor Kleinfelter, who'd held the post so long everyone still called him Mayor, clapped Cable on the shoulder, pulling their attention from Darcy.

"No, sir, at least not for a few years."

"What about you, Ms. Macgregor?"

"Me?” Brie didn't know what surprised her more, that old-school Kleinfelter actually looked serious when he asked her that, or that he called her Ms. “I hadn't thought about it, sir."

"You'd be an asset, an asset. Both of you consider it. We can always use rational minds in local government.” He excused himself and moved off to jaw with a golf buddy as a bell rang near the small stage, and everyone turned to see Darcy at the podium.

"I'd like to welcome everyone to the Annual Benefit Ball. If you would be seated, dinner is about to be served."

Cable and Brie found Kira and Jake, Sophie and Parker, and the sisters’ parents, Elyse and Duncan, and commandeered a table.

"What happened to the ball organizer?” Kira murmured to Brianna, who shrugged.

"Darcy seems to have some kind of evil plan going this evening,” she muttered back. “But I have no idea what it is.” She lifted her chin toward the main table, where Ken held Darcy's chair as she gracefully sat.

Kira looked back at Brie with wide eyes. “What the hell?"

"Don't ask me."

"Jake, I'm so sorry your parents couldn't make it this year,” Elyse said. “I've grown used to having them back."

"Me, too, but they've missed their friends in France. They'll be home tomorrow, in time for all the Christmas traditions."

Brianna realized she hadn't talked to Cable about those traditions. Things had been going so well, she just kind of assumed he'd be joining them. And that was rude, as well as a setup for disappointment if he had other plans. She knew he wasn't going anywhere until the weekend before New Year's, but still. He might be making similar and opposing assumptions.

When they got on the dance floor a short time later, she asked.

"Whatever you want, baby.” He rested his forehead on hers. “I got the impression you expected me at your parents', but if you don't, that's fine."

"No, I do, but I was afraid I was taking you for granted."

"Nope.” He raised his head enough to replace his forehead with his lips, and they swayed on the dance floor for a few minutes. Brianna closed her eyes, soaking in the sweet music, the contentment of having her family around her at the holidays, the growing tension between her and Cable that promised her the night she'd been anticipating.

Kira and Jake danced closer, and Kira leaned close to her sister. “The office is available,” she murmured. Brie looked at her, not getting it at first. Then Kira winked, and Brie realized she was flushed.

"You didn't!"

"We did."

"Well, then, we for sure aren't.” She grimaced. Kira laughed.

"That's not the only place to be alone around here, you know.” She winked again and they moved off.

Brie shook her head and looked up at Cable, who didn't look as amused as she did. In fact, he looked hungry. She shivered.

"Yeah?"

"Ohhh, yeah.” He wrapped his arms around her back and tucked her against his chest. His lips brushed her ear, then down her neck. “Isn't there a broom closet somewhere?"

"Not ... not a broom closet. There's, ooohhhhh.” He bit down on her earlobe. “There's a private meeting room. Behind the kitchen. Go down ... down that hall. It has a small black sign on it that sayssssss ... Meeting."

"You go ahead. I'll meet you there."

Brie forced her eyes open. “Really?"

Cable nodded.

"Okay.” She grinned. “Five minutes."

"Five minutes."

Her body felt charged as she walked off the dance floor and started down the hall. She paused at the corner and looked back over her shoulder. Cable was talking to a fifth-grade teacher, looking completely nonchalant with his hands in his pockets. She stifled a grin, but as she started to turn, Darcy caught her eye. The other woman was standing alone near the podium, glaring at her. There was a whole ballroom and a couple hundred people between them, but Brie felt singed.

Putting it out of her mind, she continued down the hall and around the corner of the kitchen until she saw the meeting room door. She checked up and down the brightly lit corridor before turning the doorknob and slipping inside.

The lights were off, and she paused with her hand on the switch, wanting to make sure no one else was using the room before she flipped them on. There was silence except for the music, faint this far away.

When she clicked the switch, two table lamps came on, as well as an upward-facing floor lamp in one corner. The warm light gleamed on the paneled walls and leather armchairs. Between the chairs was a newer, trendier, microfiber couch. One of those cushy ones with the stain protection.

Brie smiled and turned to check the door. There was a solid latch above the knob. She tested the lock, and the door didn't even wiggle in its frame. Excellent. She unlocked it, turned off one of the table lamps, and arranged herself on the couch, her body revving in anticipation.

This was going to be perfect.

Cable excused himself from the group of teachers that had gathered and pretended to go off in search of the bathroom. He wondered what Brie had in mind in that “meeting” room. A quickie on the table? Something more leisurely on the floor behind the chairs—or balanced across them? Maybe something rougher, up against the wall. Yeah, that would be good. She'd arch her back so her breasts were high, wrap her legs around his waist, and work him good while that filmy dress cascaded around them. He could see the passion on her face, the redness of her wet, swollen mouth, the flush across her chest when he pulled the neck of her dress down to suck her nipple. His cock throbbed and he picked up his pace when he reached the hall.

Only to slam on the brakes as Darcy materialized in front of him.

"Cable, I've been wanting to thank you."

Not now
. He looked past her and thought he saw someone disappear around the corner. “For what, Darcy?"

"For all your work on the committee. I understand the decorations would have been a disaster without you."

He tried not to look disgusted. “It was Brianna, actually, who saved the day when you were out of touch.” He barely looked at her. “But I was glad to do my part. Excuse me, but—"

She had the nerve to grab his lapel when he started to pass her, spinning him so he was back to facing the ballroom and she was somehow standing an inch away from his erection.

Not that it lasted once he saw the look in her eyes. This was a woman in full seduction mode. She relaxed her hand on his jacket and smoothed it across his chest, her hips shifting even nearer. Her mouth parted, the dark lipstick on her lips gleaming.

"I thought we should dance,” she murmured. Her head tilted a little. She licked her lips.

And Cable remained unmoved. He saw a few people watching them and checked his impulse to toss her away.

"I don't have time to dance right now, Darcy. I need to find the restroom."

Excitement flared in her eyes. “I'll join you."

Ew
. He felt his forehead tightening at the variety of images that offer generated. One of the men watching them nudged the guy next to him. Cable tried to look disinterested instead of disgusted.

"I don't think that's a good idea,” he told her.

"I can wait while you do what you need to do.” She brushed her thigh against his and drew her shoulders back, trying to draw his attention to her rather spectacular chest.

"Still not a good idea.” He lifted his hand to hers and tried to pull it away. She evaded him and placed it on the back of his neck.

"I can do things to you in there. Things no one coming in would know about, as long as you kept quiet.” She got close to his ear. “You'd have to be very, very quiet. But I think you have that strength. Even with my hot, wet mouth sucking your—"

Her foot was going numb.

Brianna had tucked her feet up to one side, letting her dress fall so her legs were exposed all the way to the garters holding her stockings on. But the tucking was cutting off her circulation. It also turned out the arm of the sofa wasn't nearly as comfortable as it looked.

Where the hell was Cable? It was well past the five minutes he'd given her. Maybe he'd had trouble getting away from the teachers. Teachers loved to talk, especially to other teachers. She should have given him more incentive to hurry. But he'd been the one doing the seducing, and she had thought he was at least as turned on as she was.

She shifted so her feet were out in front of her and she rested against the back of the couch. That was more comfortable. She could lift her skirt up past her thighs, let him see she wasn't wearing underwear.

No, that looked sleazy. She stood, thinking maybe she'd try draping herself over the back of the couch, when she heard a noise at the door.

The doorknob started to turn, and her heartbeat leaped to a higher gear. He was here. They could—

"Ken!"

The accountant, peering around the edge of the door, smiled nervously.

"Hello, Brianna.” He edged into the room, letting the door open only a few inches before closing it behind him.

"What are you doing here?"

"Darcy wanted me to give you a message.” He sounded nervous.

"What message?” Dammit, how had Darcy known where she'd gone?

Ken didn't look at her. He adjusted his tie, then felt the button covers on his shirt, and barely stopped himself from hitching his pants. He seemed uncomfortable, but she didn't know if it was the situation or the formalwear.

She decided to put him a bit at ease. “You look good in a tux, Ken."

His head jerked up, his expression hopeful. “I do?"

"Of course. All men do.” She cursed herself for giving him any encouragement. “What message did Darcy send you with?” she asked again, hoping Cable didn't come in while Ken was still there. That would really kill the mood.

"Just a thank you, for saving the day like you did."

Brie snorted. “Yeah, sure she sent you with that message. She has no clue the day even needed saving."

Ken shrugged and moved closer. Now there was nothing between them, and Brianna felt vulnerable in a way she really didn't like feeling with Ken.

"Ken, look. I feel really terrible, but I think things have changed too much.” She hadn't planned to do this, had barely thought about it, but she didn't need the extra money enough to deal with this awkwardness every time they saw each other. “I can't do bookkeeping for you anymore."

Instead of looking upset, Ken started to ... smolder?

"That's okay, Brianna. I figured that out a while ago. It's the best thing. For both of us."

Perplexed, she said, “Okay.” He said the right things, but she had a feeling he didn't mean them the way she took them. “Did you need me for something?"

She had never seen Ken move so fast or so decisively. Or accurately. He crossed the five feet between them in one leap. His right arm went around her waist, his left gripped the back of her neck, and his mouth landed directly on hers. His momentum carried them both down onto the couch. They bounced slightly, and Brianna's left leg got caught between Ken's side and the back of the couch. Her heel caught in his pants, trapping her leg around his.

And that was exactly how they were when Cable walked in.

Cable stopped being polite. He grabbed Darcy's arm, yanked it down, and pushed her several feet away before she could finish her sentence.

"I don't know how many ways to tell you I'm not interested, Darcy.” He thought about stating flatly that he was involved with Brianna, but he suspected that would just cause problems. Lots of problems.

Darcy pouted, but he shook his head. That was when he saw the Darcy Langlais Brianna had described to him.

Her eyes went diamond-hard, and hatred etched itself in her face despite the fact that she barely changed expression. “You want to be very sure about this."

"Darcy, if you're trying to threaten me into whatever it is you want from me, it's going to have the opposite effect."

The hatred faded, replaced by calculation. “Okay. I can accept rejection. God knows I've taken it from better than you."

Cable wasn't insulted by the implication that Jake was a better man than he was. He didn't disagree.

"But you might want to consider your own feelings on the matter."

"No one's rejecting me."

"Not outright. But there are all kinds of rejection.” She made walking motions with her fingers. “Better go find your little tart. She may not be how you expect her to be.” She sashayed off, her shoulders back, her hips working hard.

Cable shook his head and turned to follow Brie down the hall. He wasn't worried. Rejection wasn't impossible, especially since she'd already tried it, but she would never go behind his back. She was a very up-front person and didn't hide what she was thinking or feeling. It was one of the things he loved about her.

He found the meeting room and started to enter, frowning when he heard voices. Did he have the wrong room? He glanced at the door again. Small black sign saying “meeting.” He looked around. He was behind the kitchen, and nothing else nearby looked right. He shrugged and pushed open the door.

Brianna lay on the couch halfway across the room, with a man on top of her.

At first, Cable froze. He told himself it wasn't Brianna, but the hair and dress were definitely hers. As was the gold shoe pulling the man's thigh closer.

He surged forward, certain she was being assaulted. But she had her arms wrapped around the guy. They were kissing fervently. Her hand was fisted in his hair, and that leg made her look like she wanted him inside her
now
.

The door started to sigh closed behind him, and he battled a pain he never would have thought himself capable of. How could she do this to him? After everything she'd said that night after the break-in. After all he'd done to convince her how much he wanted this to work.