Page 71 of Almost Priest

She rung the bell and waited. Her heart raced as she heard someone coming. She knew exactly what she was going to say and if everything went as planned she would be a very happy woman come morning.

The door opened and she tried not to look too anxious at the sight of Tristan barefoot in jeans with nothing else. The jeans were zippered, but not snapped and they hung low on his tapered hips. His sculpted abdomen was ridged and his chest was smooth and hard. He had a silver hoop running through one flat nipple and a leather necklace with one lone shell around his neck.

His jaw was strong and shadowed as if he hadn’t shaved in days, but Sheilagh knew he probably had that morning. His hair was mussed and badly in need of a cut. He looked as if he’d been lying around in bed all day.

“Sheilagh?” The Texan lilt that made him extend theshof her name always made her melt. She loved the sound of her name on his tongue.

“Hey, Tristan.”

She gave him that coy gaze that was ridiculously girlie, even for her, and something only he could get her to do.

“What are you doing here? Is everything all right?”

“Everything’s fine. I just figured with Pat and the others gone you were probably lonely and I wanted to stop by to see if you needed some company.”

He gave her that look he always did when she flirted with him. It was as though her father were standing behind her with a shotgun aimed at his balls. She knew it was her age that freaked him out, but she was an adult now and he would have to get over it.

“Uh, now isn’t really a good time.”

She took a deep breath and smiled. It was now or never, right?

“Look Tristan, I know you think I’m just Ryan’s little old cousin who doesn’t know what’s good for her, but I’m here to tell you you’re wrong. I have feelings, Tristan, and I know you feel them too.”

The drizzle was now soaking her shoulders through. She caught him taking notice of what the weather was doing to her breasts below her thin t-shirt and hid a smile.

“Why don’t you invite me in and we can talk like two adults?”

He swallowed slowly and cursed under his breath. Good. She was getting to him. She took a slow step closer to him and he cleared his throat.

“Look Shei, you’re an awesome girl. You're fun and beautiful and someday you’re gonna give some lucky guy a run for his money, but I’m afraid that guy ain’t me.”

She didn’t let his rejection deter her. She’d heard all his flimsy excuses before. If he really wanted her to believe he wasn’t interested he would have to give a damn better reason than the ones he had come up with in the past.

“Can we just talk for a minute? You don’t need to invite me in, but…” She pouted and gave him the most cajoling look she could muster. “I’m getting wet.”

“Fuck. Here.” He stepped back so she could get out of the rain, but still managed to block her way into the house. She didn’t mind. His insistence that she stay out allowed her to creep closer to him in order to avoid the rain. He smelled divine, like cut wood and pine.

“Look,” she said, risking a touch to his arm. He looked at her hand resting on his forearm. She loved his muscled skin under her fingertips.

“Don’t pretend that the two of us haven’t been dancing around this for the past several months. I know you think I’m attractive and I know you’re aware of what I think of you.”

“Sheilagh—”

She stepped closer until her rain dampened breasts and tummy pressed against his hard, bare chest. She looped her arms loosely around his neck and whispered, “Don’t tell me you never thought of just letting it all go, Tristan, and taking what we both know you want.”

When she pressed her lips to his she felt him relax for a brief second before he tensed again. He grasped her arms in his hands and removed them from his shoulders, stepping back farther into the house.

“I can’t do this, Sheilagh.”

“Why?” She didn’t want to sound like the petulant child she knew she sounded like, but why? Why couldn’t they?

“Because I’m seeing someone.”

Her posture faltered. She had to have misunderstood him. One of his excuses not to date her was that he didn’t have any interest in dating anyone.

“Who?” Her voice was suddenly strained and raspy.

Tristan’s eyes showed his displeasure in hurting her, but she needed to know.

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