Winter's Heart (10 page)

“No but she isn’t opposed to the idea,” Flynn murmured artfully, since she had never discussed the possibility of getting a tattoo with Fallon. “And if she had someone who could recommend a really good tattoo artist, she might be even less opposed.”

A low rumble of a chuckle came from his belly as he handed her back her change. “When is this big shindig?”

“In about six months,” she said vaguely.

“So when would I get to go out with your sister?”

“In about six months,” she teased. At his narrowed-eyed expression, she laughed, “This weekend?”

“You drive a hard bargain, Miss Rogers,” he grinned, looking awfully damned hot. “But I think you’ve got a deal.”

“And I’m sure she won’t regret the date even if my clients decide not to use your delicious services,” she beamed, loving the way his mouth opened in surprise. “Friday work for you?”

“Sure,” he said with a smile as he shook his head. “I’ll pick her up on my Harley.”

“My sister is going to fall madly in love with you,” Flynn teased, even though Harry was beyond anything Fallon had ever known, which Flynn liked to think that was a good thing because nobody could cook food like Harry.

“I don’t do love,” he growled.

“You also don’t cater parties,” she grinned, arching an eyebrow but failing to look even half as intimidating as Harry. “But you’ve been lured to the dark side on that one, too.”

“I didn’t agree to do it.”

“You will,” she smiled, waving goodbye as he reluctantly smiled at her. Walking back to the table and looping her arm through Fallon’s as they headed out
, she couldn’t help but smile.

“What was that all about?” Fallon asked as they slid into the car. “The guy was seriously hot.”

“That’s Harry and you’re going to go out with him on Friday,” Flynn explained, starting the car and slowly pulling out of the small parking lot. “Isn’t that fantastic?”

“Flynn,” Fallon practically growled. “I can get my own dates.”

“I’m sure you can,” Flynn easily agreed. “But have you seen Harry?”

“Yeah, so he’s gorgeous in a tattooed, muscled, bad ass kind of way,”
Fallon reluctantly agreed. “Why aren’t
you
dating him?”

“I’m too sweet,” she scowled at the road in front of her, even though she was not attracted to Harry in that way. “But he tolerates it because I’m not intimidated by his tattoos.”

“Jeeze, Flynn, do you have to make friends with everyone and their cousin?” Fallon asked in exasperation, though she asked with a smile on her lips. “I swear, as soon as you start talking to a guy you become his kid sister. It’s no wonder you don’t have any dates. All of the men you meet want to wrap you up and take care of you and you can’t get busy if you’re swaddled in baby blankets. At this rate, you’re never going to have sex.”

“And I’m strangely okay with that.” At least she had been until she met Winter Mitchell, the one man she shouldn’t be thinking about having sex with because it would be too complicated. And the only man she wanted to have sex with. “Besides, you know that the first time I finally do it, the condom’s going to break and I’m going to end up with AIDS, or something.”

“You’re neurotic,” Fallon told her for the millionth time. “You know that, right?”

At Flynn’s smile, Fallon chuckled, “I think you enjoy being certifiable because it lets you get away with anything.”

“It does not,” Flynn protested feebly because she knew what her sister said was true. It was unfortunate she wasn’t more daring because she probably could get out of whatever trouble she found herself in. At least the first few times.

“God knows mom refused to let me come out here until you agreed to come along. It’s like you’re kryptonite to mom’s worrying. You just nullify it and she is more than happy to let you fly off with me.”

“Yeah,” Flynn agreed with a not-so-innocent smile.

Fallon shook her head, chuckling softly. Leaning back in the seat and putting her feet up on the dashboard, she laughed, “When you fall, it is going to be spectacular, Flynn. Just spectacular.”

Flynn’s stomach tightened with excitement, which was completely out of place and the absolute wrong reaction to be having at such a proclamation. She wasn’t looking forward to falling spectacularly, she
wasn’t
. “You’re a cruel sister.”

Fallon chuckled again. “I know.”

“Oh!’ Flynn cried out suddenly, remembering her earlier conversation with Winter. “If I win a bet with Winter, you’ll get a small part in his next movie.”

Fallon sat up abruptly and looked at her sister, unconcerned that they were in a car. “What’s the
bet?”

“A motorcycle ride,” Flynn ground out, the thought of getting on a motorcycle making her stomach turn itself inside out. “If I love it, I owe him something yet to be determined but if I hate it he gives you a part. Cool, huh?”

“Okay, if you’re going to fall spectacularly, please, please, please don’t do it with Winter Mitchell,” Fallon groaned, covering her eyes with her hand as she sank back against the car seat and ignored the possibility of being in one of Winter’s films.

“Why would you even think that was possible?”

“Because you haven’t changed your status back to single,” Fallon said simply.

“When has there been time?” Flynn forced a light laugh since there
had
been time but she hadn’t wanted to change it because it made her laugh. And, if she were brutally honest, a small part of her liked the idea of being Winter Mitchell’s alter ego’s pretend girlfriend. It was a sickness. “If you want, you can dig out my tablet and do it now.”

Eying her sister warily, Fallon grabbed the tablet and Flynn had to clutch the steering wheel tighter to keep from stealing the tablet away from her sister. Curving her lips into a tight smile, she continued, “Just swipe your finger across the screen.”

“That’s not much protection,” Fallon grimaced, following Flynn’s instructions.

“It’s in case I ever need to access it in a hurry,” Flynn explained, her heart pounding furiously in her chest as Fallon logged onto her account and went to settings, clicking ‘single’ and it was done.

“It’s too bad Winter is engaged,” Fallon said casually, too casually, as she watched Flynn with too much curiosity. “I bet he would be the perfect man to teach you a thing or two.”

Swallowing the air that was going to hit her full stomach like a ton of bricks, Flynn cleared her throat, “As you said, he’s engaged and I don’t chase after other women’s men.”

“But it’s Winter Mitchell,” Fallon said on a dreamy sigh. Because Fallon also suffered a little crush on the gorgeous actor, Flynn wasn’t sure whether her sister was serious or trying to pry into her deepest, darkest thoughts. “I’d take everything he has to offer, even if he is engaged.”

“And you’ll end up like Murphy,” Flynn reminded her, arching an eyebrow to make her point. “No, you’d end up worse because the scandal would be splashed all over the world. At least Murphy gets to live with her mistakes in relative obscurity.”

“Until I have Winter’s love child and the entire family gets dragged through the mud,” Fallon teased, her eyes sparkling with mischievous laughter. “I can see the headlines now: ‘The infamous Rogers girls, having the love children of married men.’”

“Mom would have a heart attack,” Flynn chastened, trying not to giggle at Fallon’s silliness.

“Ooh!” Fallon cried out, waving her hands in the air at her inspiration. “An even better headline would be ‘Winter falls twice as he knocks up a pair of gorgeous sisters.’”

“Yeah, not going to happen,” Flynn groaned. “Besides, I’ve already told him he can’t go there so don’t get your hopes up that he’ll sleep with both of us.”

“Not at the same time, you perv,” Fallon continued teasing. At least, Flynn hoped she was teasing. Leaning forward, Fallon grew concerned, “Come on, Flynnie. You used to play the scandalous Rogers sisters game with me all of the time. What’s wrong?”

“I’ve met him,” she said slowly, avoiding her sister’s too perceptive gaze and keeping her eyes on the road. “He’s more than just a pretty face, Fallon. He’s… he’s really wonderful and it doesn’t feel right joking about him like this.”

Fallon was quiet for a long moment, studying Flynn until she felt the need to squirm. She hadn’t realized how difficult it would be to talk with Fallon, especially since she signed the NDA, because there was so much that she couldn’t talk about, so much she couldn’t explain. In a soft, sympathetic voice, Fallon murmured, “You like him, don’t you?”

“Of course I do,” Flynn answered honestly. “But not in the way that you mean. I mean, he’s practically engaged to the most beautiful woman in the world, whom I’ve also met. It makes things… interesting.”

“You poor thing,” Fallon murmured, ignoring Flynn’s words. That was the problem with having a sister who knew you so well, you couldn’t hide anything. Luckily, her sister also knew when to let the matter drop. Stowing the tablet back in the bag, she leaned back and asked, “So, are we going to be spending the money at actual stores or at vintage, second-hand shops?”

“Must you ask?” Flynn asked, pulling into the small parking lot that held her favorite consignment shop,
Past Lives
. The owner was a New Age, self-professed psychic who probably smoked too much weed but it didn’t matter because she also had the best clothes for the best prices. Now that Flynn had some money to spend, she’d be able to go nuts.

“We should probably hit a real store, too,” Fallon said, sliding out of the car. “Diane might get a little pissed if you go completely vintage.”

Flynn sat at her temporary desk, working furiously on Storm’s birthday. Poring through the books of invitations, she found a few that were close but not quite perfect and her tablet was filling up with ideas and questions. Because she was working a party, no one had brought in donuts and coffee and by the time lunch rolled around, her stomach was trying to eat itself.

Pressing a hand against her rabid belly, she stood up and slid the tablet into her oversized purse before hooking the strap over her arm. Speaking to no one in particular, she said, “I’m heading out for lunch. Do any of you want me to bring something back?”

Three of the coordinators stared at her as if she were speaking in gibberish while the other girls shook their heads no and declined. Gwyn sneered, “Surely you don’t need food.”

“Surely I do,” Flynn countered, patting her stomach. “If I don’t eat, I become a royal bitch.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” the blond asked with dangerously narrowed eyes.

It wasn’t that Flynn meant anything by her words other than what she said: she was a bear if she didn’t get food in her system. But that would explain so much. Maybe if Gwyn ate something she’d be a happier person. “Nothing. I’m just going to go now.”

She escaped before she got into another fight with the deceptively strong Gwyn. As soon as she stepped outside, she heard the roar of an engine and her entire body stilled because she knew who was there. Lifting her head, she had to battle the urge to turn around and flee at the sight of Winter sitting on his massive motorcycle. He was wearing leather pants and a shit-eating grin while holding out a helmet.

“I was hoping you were joking,” she grumbled, stepping forward and automatically taking the helmet from his outstretched hand. In return, she handed him her purse and tried to figure out how to put the helmet on without looking too foolish.

“I never joke about my bike or about bets,” he said, stashing her belongings. Sliding off the intimidating beast of a machine, he took the helmet from her hands and pushed it onto her head. As she stood there, he buckled it up and then grabbed the sides, rocking it from side to side before rapping the top of it with his knuckles, “Perfect fit.”

“It makes my head feel like it weighs a ton,” she grumbled, her stomach no longer growling in hunger but trying to crawl deeper into her body in fear. Why wasn’t she running as fast and as far away as possible? Why was she letting him help her onto the bike and sighing in pleasure as he put on his helmet and climbed on in front of her? Automatically, her arms wrapped around his waist and she had to bite back the groan of having her arms around him. “This good?”

“Oh, yeah,” he said, his voice echoing in her ear through the mike in the helmet. “But you don’t have to hold on so tight. I won’t fly away.”

“I can’t hold on any less tight,” she admitted. “I think my body froze when it realized I actually meant to go through with this.”

“It’s all right,” he assured her. “I’m sure the feeling will return to my legs eventually.”

She tried to un-pry her arms but she couldn’t and in a voice that held too much fruitless hope, she said, “We can do this another day.”

“I’m pretty sure I’ll never catch you this off guard again,” he returned with a chuckle. “Where do you want to go?”

Her lips quirked up in a smile, “Half a block?”

“Via the freeway?”

“Or just half a block.”

“I’m taking you for a ride, Flynn,” he laughed. “Where to?”

Considering her options, she asked, “How much say do you have for the food for the party?”

“Why?” Starting the engine, he turned his head but didn’t look at her as he asked, “Do you have something in mind?”

So she told him about Harry and then squeezed her eyes shut as he took off. If she squeezed any tighter, she was fairly certain she would squeeze right through the layers of his clothes and the flesh of his body, until she was holding herself. The wind whipped past her and she felt as if she’d be thrown at any moment and when he went around the corner she felt as if they were falling.

“Turn with me!” he called out. “Let your body move with mine!”

Making her eyelids peel away from her eyes, she peeked at the road that flew beneath them and almost screamed. Her fingers fluttered as her hands found their way beneath his clothes to the warm skin beneath, which she found oddly comforting. Being able to feel him also helped her move with his body and the next time they turned the corner, she was able to flow with him. The feeling of falling was gone, to be replaced with one of flying.

It was exhilarating and she hated to admit she was going to owe him a boon and she was going to have to think of another way to get Fallon a part in his next movie. Holding on, loving the rumble of the engine beneath her bottom, the feel of Winter between her thighs, and the feel of his skin beneath her palms, she let out a laugh of delight.

“You love it!” he crowed, revving the engine as he sped up the on ramp to the freeway.

“I don’t want this feeling to ever end!” she cried back, not too proud to admit when she was wrong. If it had been anyone other than Winter giving her the ride, she’d probably still be terrified, begging to be let off. It should bother her how comfortable she was with the man, especially since he was publically off limits, but it didn’t. She could spend the rest of the afternoon with him on his death machine.

♥~♥~♥

Sitting in the booth in the small, out-of-the-way diner, Winter could still feel Flynn’s hands against his stomach. Her cheeks were still stained with heightened color and if she smiled any wider, her face was going to crack. She was the most beautiful thing he had seen in a long, long while. With his baseball hat pulled low over his face, he was still fairly conspicuous in the tiny diner but he figured that had more to do with the fact that there were only the two of them and the waitress. Fortunately, the waitress looked like she didn’t give a damn who came into the diner as long as they ate the food and didn’t complain.

Reaching across the table and twining his fingers with hers, he asked, “So, what do you want to do for the rest of the afternoon?”

“I have to get back to work eventually,” she said, obviously as unhappy about it as he was. “But since this can be considered business, I have a little extra time before I have to return.”

“Excellent,” he grinned, reluctant to have their time cut short for any reason. He knew he should be making her burn so she’d submit to his charms sooner rather than later but he found himself telling her all sorts of things that he probably shouldn’t be telling her. Hell, he should be keeping his distance and not pursuing her until this thing with Missy was officially over and done with but damned if he could leave her alone.

“I should probably let Diane know,” she said, worry making her smile dim a little. Grabbing her cell phone, she punched in a quick text before setting it on the table and flashing him an impish grin. “If I call, she might make me come back to fill out some paperwork, or something. Anyway, since this is a ploy to get you to hire Harry, this’ll be my treat.”

“You don’t have to do that.” It was odd that she was offering to buy lunch when he had enough money to buy the diner a thousand times over and he doubted she had enough to even pay for the meals.

“Like I said,” she grinned, reaching across and putting her hand over his. “I really like the food here and if I can share this
slice of paradise with the world, the pleasure will be all mine.”

“But if this place becomes as popular as all that you’ll never get to eat here again.”

“I’ll find a way,” she twinkled at him. “Nothing will keep me away from Harry’s food.”

After eating perhaps the most delicious food this side of heaven, Winter knew that it was time to have
The Talk
with Flynn. Clearing his throat, he put his hands over hers, not knowing how to start the conversation they needed to have. Figuring he’d just jump right in, he said, “Which brings me to why I tracked you down this afternoon.” She looked at him with a completely open expression, making him feel like shit for having to have this talk to begin with. Rubbing his thumbs over her hands, he cleared his throat and began, “It’s about our relationship.”

“Our fake relationship,” she teased though her eyes remained thoughtful.

“Right.” He tried not to grimace but he was pretty sure his lips curled into a slight sneer. “Anyway, we can go out in public but we have to be careful.”

“Of course,” she readily agreed. “We don’t want to give anyone the wrong idea….”

“Which would be the right idea but one that would unravel everything,” he corrected, hating the idea of keeping Flynn like a dirty, little secret. “Anyway, when we go out and I’m not in disguise, there’s a strong possibility that we will be photographed.”

“What kind of disguise?” she asked with a little too much enthusiasm. Leaning forward, she lowered her voice, “Like a tacky beard? Or fake eyebrows and a handlebar mustache? No, you’re a traditionalist who prefers baseball caps and sunglasses, aren’t you?”

He actually did prefer baseball caps and sunglasses, which were surprisingly effective when paired with old sweats and a grungy, loose-fitting t-shirt. “It’s irrelevant. I just wanted to warn you: if you see a photographer, don’t react because that’s the surest way to draw attention to us. Ignore them, act like they don’t exist, and they won’t give a damn that we’re walking down the street.”

“But I won’t be able to hold your hand.” At his confirmation, she sighed dramatically even as her eyes danced. “That bites but I’m sure I can hold off, at least in public.”

“I also have to warn you that you are going to read things, things about Melissa and me, in the magazines and online.” This part made him the most uncomfortable, knowing what was going to be said and not being able to do anything about it for six months. At her nod, he explained, “We have a certain image to maintain and that requires… certain performances. But they’re not real. None of it is real. And you can’t tell anyone.”

“Like anyone would believe you’d choose me over Melissa Irish,” she huffed in awe, apparently having a difficult time believing it herself. He’d have to work on that with her. Lowering her voice, she leaned closer and whispered, “Don’t worry, Winter. Your secrets are safe with me.”

Her eyes twinkled with laughter and he realized she was laughing at him, despite taking his warning seriously. Sitting back, she grinned at him, “Now that we have that settled, if you’ll excuse me, I have to wash my hands before we leave. I don’t want to stain your shirt when I’m holding on for dear life.”

He choked back a laugh as she slid from the booth and floated to the back of the small restaurant. Spying the phone, a wicked idea flashed in his head so he slipped the phone into his pocket and headed to the men’s room. Smiling at the waitress who watched him with hard, wary eyes, he murmured, “If you could pack up our leftovers I’d greatly appreciate it. There will be a huge tip when we leave.”

She rolled her eyes and grabbed a few Styrofoam containers as he disappeared into the bathroom.

♥~♥~♥

After an utterly satisfying lunch that lasted two hours, Flynn sat down at her desk and booted up her computer to add a few notes to her plans. Of course, Winter loved the food and promised to talk Melissa into having an alternative menu for those with less discriminating tastes. He’d also promised to hire Harry, who had been floored by the amount of money Winter offered. Hell, she had been floored, too. For that sum, Harry would be able to open another, much larger restaurant and feed tons more people.

Because she was the one who had brought him the business, Harry
comped the lunch, which she appreciated since she really hadn’t had the money to pay. Her phone rang, reminding her she hadn’t turned it to vibrate in the office. Her cheeks went up in flames as she finally heard the words,
‘I wanna have sex with you, baby. I wanna do dirty things to you. I wanna make you scream, baby. I wanna make you cream, baby.’

Fumbling with the phone, her cheeks flamed even higher as she saw Winter’s alter ego’s name and the image he chose. Answering, she put it up to her ear and growled in a hushed voice, “Why is there an image of a penis on my
phone?”

His warm laughter washed over her and she didn’t care why there was an image of a large, erect penis on her phone or how it got there. “Do you like what you saw?”