Page 5 of Provoke You

2

The Walk of Shame

Matt

When I first saw Ela LeBlanc’s picture in her personal file, of course I thought she was pretty. Smoking hot, if I had to be honest. Despite her looks and antics, I knew I could handle her and do my job well. One, she wasn’t the first beautiful woman I’d ever seen, and two, our paths had no reason to ever cross. For the most part, she stayed away from the family business.

But last night, when I met her in person, her bigger-than-life personality ignited something inside me, something I hadn’t felt in a long while. I wanted to feel happy again, and for a moment, I didn’t care if I deserved it or not. I didn’t need to be a genius to know that a hookup with Ela would be a mistake of epic proportions. I’d lose the head of security job at LB Industries. A job I didn’t have yet. I’d have to move again, and I didn’t want that. New Orleans had already grown on me. I wanted a life here, a home.

According to the headhunter who brokered the interview with LB, I was one of their top candidates. Getting involved with the stepdaughter of my potential employer would kill all my chances. I knew that much. What I still couldn’t figure out was why I’d decided to go see her in person last night. My research of her family didn’t need to go that far. I had enough information to nail the interview this afternoon. Shit. The interview. How had I forgotten about that? I glanced at my watch. I still had time to take care of her and make my appointment with the chief of staff.

“I’m sorry, Ela, but we need to sort this out with the police.”

She sniffled and wiped her hand across her eyes. “Marines and their Semper fuck-off. Can’t you just let me go?”

I rubbed my jaw to hide my smile. Nine hours, and Ela LeBlanc had already managed to get under my skin. “What are you talking about?”

She pointed a graceful finger at my heart, and my pulse picked up the pace. “The dog tag. Aren’t you a marine?”

“I’m a civilian now.” The less we knew about each other, the better. I never should’ve gotten this close to her.

Earlier today, she couldn’t or wouldn’t tell me where she lived, but if I hadn’t had my cock doing most of the thinking, I would have thought to call one of her dad’s hotels and ask for the address to the LeBlanc’s home. Hell, I could have taken her to any of their hotels and left her there. Ela had trouble written all over that tight body of hers.

Why did I bring her to my apartment? Oh right, the kiss. The one she seemed to have forgotten already. When I first saw her at the Carousel bar, her laughter and free spirit drew me in like a moth to a flame. With her shapely legs draped over the barstool, long brown hair, and pouty lips, she’d looked like an angel, an angel sent to shine a bit of light on everyone around her. And dammit if I didn’t need light in my life right now.

But I already had a plan to get my life back on track, let go of the past, and have a purpose again. Fun, beautiful Ela could not only lose me this job but she could also break my heart. I couldn’t afford that. Dad used to say a mended heart is a strong heart, but I never believed that. I shoved my free hand in the pocket of my jeans. I had to make myself forget our kiss, forget last night, as she had. I had to make myself forget all of her — the sway of her top, her walk, her hands and mouth all over me.

She dropped to her knees and stuck her head under the bed, that cute ass of hers up in the air, taunting me again. Jesus Christ. Did she think I was a saint? Because I wasn’t. Far from it.

“Fine. No police, but you need to go home. Right now. I’m sure your dad will have someone handle the police matter for you.” I clenched my jaw and balled my chained hand into a fist when she shimmied up a few steps and pulled me closer to her.

“We can’t call Dad. Have you not been listening?” She threw one long curl over her shoulder to look at me, still on all fours.

Yeah, my mind, my cock immediately went there — images flitted through my head with all the things we could be doing right now. With all the things I spent an entire night thinking about. Blue balls didn’t begin to describe my current state.

She waved a hand in front of me. “I need my shoes. Jennifer will know what to do. We have to find her, but first I need fresh clothes.”

I let out a breath, looking upward. “If the cops are looking for you—”

She stood, swayed back and forth, then fell back on the bed, holding on to her high heels as if her life depended on it. “I told you. If my dad finds out, he’s going to kill me. Just take me home. Please.” Tears pooled in her eyes as she rubbed her temple. The hangover had to be killing her, and all she cared about was what her family would think?

“Okay,” I said. The defeat felt familiar. Like every time I’d found Mom passed out on the bathroom floor, and she would promise she’d never drink again. Was that why I bent to Ela’s will so easily?

She blew out a breath, and a fire sparked in her eyes again, smile full on. The Ela I’d come to know was back by the time she rose to her feet and met my gaze. The urge to wrap my arms around her and kiss her again came rushing back. I would deliver her home and be done with it. I could accomplish this task in one hour, tops. One more hour.

“I could kiss you right now.” She bounced on her toes, and her silky top did that swaying thing again. When I shuffled back, her smile faded from her lips. “Jeez. Relax. It’s just an expression.”

“I know that.”

“First things first. We have to keep the walk of shame to a minimum. This look I got going on will not help either one of us.” Her hands gestured toward her legs and hair, and again, the images flashed in front of me before I could stop them—her thighs pressed tight around my waist, my hands in her hair, her tongue coaxing mine.

Of all the stupid things I’d done in my life... “How do we do that?”

She walked past me. “I need a shower.”

Not helping.

I let her pull me toward the bathroom in the hallway. “How are you going to manage that with these on?” I showed her the handcuffs.

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