Off the Grid (19 page)

He tossed the covers back and moved to sit up. It didn’t take much to stop him. A one handed gentle push to the chest and he was flat on his back again. She slid one leg over his thighs, careful to go real slow. “I think you smell pretty good too. And you’re all nice and warm.”

His eyes tracked her movements, his jaw muscle jumping as she settled into place. Once she stilled he held her hips in place. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

She nodded. “Very, very sure.”

“Just checking.” His fingers squeezed her flesh. The gritty tone of his voice was a balm to her hurt. “I’m on board as you can probably tell.”

“I miss my sister. But as complicated as our relationship was, she led me to my calling.” She ran a finger down his chest, through the hair covering his belly button and lower. She skimmed the tip of his erection. “Know what she’d say right now?”

His weight shifted under her and his hands grasped at the covers. “Not without deflating the mood, so to speak.”

She laughed and it felt so good. “She’d say, ‘Geez, just shag the guy already.’”

“It would save me the humiliation of begging.” But he didn’t laugh or look amused when her head dipped toward his chest. His muscles bunched under her curling fingers.

He let her set the pace and it was intoxicating. The power went straight to her head. Okay, it overpowered a couple of other areas too. When he let go of the covers she guided his hands to the headboard. Then she leaned in close to his ear and whispered, “Let’s see if this can compete with sun and sand.”

The heat from his skin released the scent of citrus into the air. She dipped her head. Straight to the part of him pleading for attention. His legs parted to give her access and she stroked and cradled. Her tongue swirled. A low moan poured into the air. She’d never done this before. Ever. Hadn’t wanted to get this close to any man. Underneath her fingers, his muscles tensed, his back bowed. She discovered the power to make him beg and she didn’t hesitate to use it.

She lapped at him. Took more of him in until the tip of his erection touched the back of her throat. His hands gripped her head and guided her. Her tongue, her hands, pulled the groans out of his throat.

Words came out of his mouth, loud enough to get her attention. Commanding enough to make her listen. Explicit enough to excite.

She tightened her grip. Increased the rhythm. Did all the things he demanded.

Then he begged.

For more.

For harder.

And then he begged her to stop.

They met in the middle space between them. Their tongues engaged, happy to explore the warmth and welcome. When the time came he scrambled for his pants and the condoms stashed there. The heat of his hands molded her heavy breasts. She settled over top of his hips and lowered herself down.

“Look at me.” His hands gripped her hips. Momentum built. She was mesmerized by the sight of him. All corded muscle, skin sleek with sweat, eyes open. She rushed toward the edge of the cliff and jumped.

Chapter Eight

Sophie rued the dawning of a new week. They’d spent a quiet Sunday recuperating, watching movies, talking, planning. But Monday came and she was forced to spend the day at her clinic. New Year’s Eve day was always a gong show. Added to this year’s chaos, word of Marnie’s death had spread on the street. Her staff posted arrangement notices, none of which had been finalized, for all the people asking. By 9:30 Sophie’s head was aching.

The morning was business as usual. They tried to accommodate as many people as possible, whether they had an appointment or not. If they were turned away chances were they wouldn’t be back. Part of Sophie’s mandate was to work with the ebb and flow of the area’s transient lifestyle. Her job was to treat people. Not create more problems.

But all of a sudden she couldn’t do it. Couldn’t witness another single second of someone else’s pain. Hers was too overwhelming. The door whispered shut behind her. She pressed her shoulders against the hard wood surface.

Silence.

She inhaled the scent of patchouli she used to combat stress. There was a bookshelf on the left wall with her mp3 docking station. This morning she’d left it on shuffle. Adele was “Rolling In The Deep.” Her shoulders relaxed. Until a soft knock made her sigh. She checked her watch. What had it been? Five seconds?

She pulled open the door to see her receptionist’s worried face. When she didn’t say anything Sophie’s radar went off. She retreated behind her cluttered desk and dropped into her chair. “What’s wrong?”

Peggy peeked back out the door before stepping in and closing it. She regarded Sophie. “Liam’s here.”

Sophie stared at her. “What?”

“He’s insisting on seeing you.” Peggy was very protective. She was also a no-nonsense kind of woman who didn’t take any flak from anyone. To see her flustered shook Sophie out of her shock.

She rearranged papers on her desk, bought herself some time. What the hell was he doing here? Why now? Why today? She wanted to refuse to see him but it was a childish thought. It implied she still cared. It wasn’t the case. Not anymore. And there was the little matter of finding out what he knew of Jason Drummond’s plans. “Show him in.”

Peggy crossed her arms. “Not exactly the solution I had in mind.”

“Me, either. But I actually need to talk to him.”

Peggy pursed her lips in disapproval.

Sophie sighed. “Give us five minutes. If he’s still here, then we’ll throw him out.”

Peggy gave her a gleeful thumbs up and slipped out. Sophie collapsed back into her chair and prepared to deal with the guy who’d taken another woman with him on their honeymoon. The door opened once again and Peggy ushered Liam in with a scowl. She made a point of leaving the door wide open.

With his hair cut close to his head, his tall lean runner’s body tense, Liam Gallagher crossed her threshold. “Sophie. It’s good to see you.”

Sophie ignored his greeting. “You have five minutes. Make the most of them.”

Instead Liam chose to arrange his long frame into the chair across from her. He tucked his jacket around him, crossed a leg over a knee. His smile was blinding and nervous. Everything about him matched from his tie to his socks. Sophie raised a brow before giving her watch an exaggerated glance.

He had the grace to tone down the smile. “I heard about Marnie. I’m sorry.”

The word bullshit came to mind. He didn’t look the least bit sorry. “How sweet of you. I know how much you cared for her.”

“I’m here because I care about you.”

It was rude and snarky but it made her day to laugh straight at him, to mock his fake sympathy. “Why don’t you get to the part where you give me Drummond’s message?”

“He didn’t send me.”

“Really?”

“I volunteered to come.”

“Ah.”

He leaned forward, all pretense gone. “You need to back off.”

“Goodbye, Liam.” She picked up a patient folder and rose to her feet.

He did the same. “I’m serious. He’s pumping me for information about you. For details. He’s fishing for anything he can get on you.”

She put her hand over her heart. “And being the upstanding citizen you are, and seeing how you care for me, I’m sure you’ve explained how I’m none of his fucking business.”

Deep lines appeared around his mouth. He no longer smiled or worked to cajole. “Whatever you’re doing to antagonize him, you need to drop it.”

“I have no intention of giving him that kind of satisfaction.” Which sounded both pissy and prissy, but she couldn’t and wouldn’t help it.

He threw up his hands. “How could I forget? You don’t take advice. Especially if it interferes with your plans for saving the world.”

“I get we don’t have the same agenda. And I’m done apologizing to you for focusing on the things that matter to me.” She stabbed a finger into her chest.

He invaded her space. She resisted the urge to back up. “He’s collecting all the information he can about you. How you practice. Your philosophies. Your finances. Your associates. What you do outside of work. You name it he’s asking it.”

She laid a hand against his chest and pushed him back. “I don’t keep secrets. He can ask whatever he likes.”

Liam sneered. “How about Caleb Quinn? Is his life an open book too? Are you sure there are no skeletons in his closet?”

She shut her mouth and left it closed. She didn’t know and she sure as hell wasn’t going there with him.

“How much does he matter to you?” Liam grabbed her hand and tugged her closer. “I don’t know what Marnie did to screw things up this time, but you need to let whatever it is go. The Drummonds aren’t people you want to piss off. Jason’s doing his best to discredit Quinn any and everywhere. You don’t need him coming after you too.”

Her heart stuttered over his mention of Caleb. “What do you mean he’s trying to discredit Caleb?”

“If that’s the part that worries you, you’re not listening. You’re going to go down with him if you don’t distance yourself.”

She yanked her hand free. “As usual, you’re timing leaves a lot to be desired. He’s already busy doing the most damage he can. So, too little; too late.”

He blocked her path when she went to shove past. “What’s that supposed mean?”

Why the hell shouldn’t she tell him? “This building. My clinic? He bought it and he’s evicting us.”

“What?”

“You heard me. Now get out. I don’t want or need your belated advice.”

He grabbed for her arms. “All the more reason to listen to what I have to say. He’s not going to stop there. Not if you keep poking at him.”

“Or maybe I’ll just get a bigger stick.”

He gave her a shake. “For once in your life. Back. Down.”

She pushed away from him. “I can’t.”

“Sophie.” He pulled her back in, stepped closer until they were nose to nose. His hands moved to frame her face. “I care about you. I’m sorry I hurt you, more sorry than I can say. Don’t let our past be the reason you ignore what I’m saying.”

“I’m not. I don’t expect you to understand why this is so important to me.” Not the way Caleb did. She put her hands over his. She no longer cared what his agenda was in coming to see her. What he stood to gain. It didn’t matter to her anymore. “Goodbye, Liam.”

Someone cleared their throat and she looked past Liam expecting to see Peggy. Caleb stood in the doorway with her. Peggy planted her hands on her hips. “Sorry to interrupt. But it’s been five minutes.”

“No, it’s all right.” Sophie stepped back from Liam. A blush of heat crept up her throat. “Liam was leaving.”

Peggy shook her head and walked away. The two men rooted their feet to the floor. Even though they were roughly the same height, same weight, and had the same objective, Liam was outmatched. And outclassed.

“Caleb this is Liam Gallagher. Liam. Caleb Quinn.” Introductions done she retreated to the space behind her desk.

The two men made no effort to shake hands. Caleb stepped into her office and the space shrunk.

Sophie motioned at Liam. “Thanks for stopping by and offering your condolences.”

Liam ignored her, instead he glared at Caleb. “You’d better have one hell of an ace up your sleeve.”

“I can handle Drummond.”

“I could care less what happens to you, Quinn. My concern is Sophie.”

Caleb’s face gave nothing away. The heat was in the clenching and unclenching of his hands. The stiffening of his shoulders. “A little late for concern, don’t you think?”

Seriously?

Her head ached. Her heart hurt. She was embarrassed for no good reason. She gripped the back of her chair and shoved it toward her desk. “Okay, you know what? I’m not up for a pissing contest today.”

Caleb’s hot gaze turned on her but he spoke to Liam. “I have it under control.”

“Are you sure?” Liam demanded.

“Meaning?” countered Caleb.

Liam addressed his answer to Sophie. “He found out about your deal with Forrester Pharmaceuticals.”

Sophie frowned. “So?”

“Are you so blinded by the cause you don’t see how it might look to the general public?” Liam’s tone softened, turned pleading. “This battle isn’t worth the cost to your reputation.”

Sophie narrowed her eyes. “How did he find out?”

Liam looked away. Ran a hand over his mouth. Shook his head. “He’s not going to stop. He’s crazy over this situation. You need to back down.”

She slapped her hands down on her desk. “How did he find out, Liam?”

“I can’t afford not to do business with him, Sophie.”

Caleb turned away in disgust. Sophie kept her face neutral. Now she knew what was in it for him. Liam headed for the door. He stopped in the doorway. “This project has been in the works for months. Luck put me in his path. But he still knew to come to me, to make use of our connection. He’s done his homework. Under the money and the gloss, he’s one scary son of a bitch. You need to remember that.”

The rest of his warning fell short. Scary was for movies and haunted houses. Her sister was dead because of Jason Drummond. A man who made his own rules, one who figured he was above it all, a human bulldozer. Scary? He was a whole other breed of monster.

****

Everything in Caleb seethed. She’d all but kissed the selfish son of a bitch. Deal? What kind of deal were they talking about? The futility of their situation fueled his burning need to walk away. To call retreat. Raise the white flag.

He needed space. And a reality check. He shoved his fists into his pants pocket. “Do I even want to know what deal he’s talking about?”

“It’s nothing out of the ordinary.” She kept busy straightening objects and papers on her desk. Classic evasion tactics and it frustrated the hell out of him.

He didn’t say a word. He let the silence settle in around them.

She sighed. “I’m consulting on market research regarding an experimental therapy for addiction to a very specific type of narcotic. Nothing unethical.”

“Experimental.”

“Yes.”

“For which you receive a fee.”

“And that’s public knowledge.” She dropped the gathered papers down on her desk.

“Expect the public doesn’t generally go asking.”

She leveled a look at him. “Your point?”

“You know the point. What happens when it becomes public knowledge? When John Doe and Jane Smith start trading gossip over the hedge in suburbia and the main topic of conversation is you and your
experimental therapies
? When they’re fed the story you’re getting paid to add more controversy to an already volatile situation? Think about your reputation.”