Now that green-eyed gaze focused on her. “I’m glad to see you’re not bruised and/or unconscious. Sorry to ring the doorbell and run, but I’ve got somewhere to be, and trust me, it’s been a long time coming.”
Miranda had never been more confused in her entire life. She watched Dylan hurry off with a spring to his step, then stared at Seth, who seemed to be…swaying?
She narrowed her eyes. “Are you drunk?”
“A little,” he said sheepishly.
“And you decided to come over here because…?” Maybe her tone was sharper than necessary, but this man had dumped her, for Pete’s sake! And now he was at her doorstep, drunk?
“Because Sophie called and said you fell.”
Miranda’s jaw dropped. “What?”
Without waiting for an answer, she hurried inside and yelled for her daughter, who didn’t come running.
Pissed off beyond belief, she marched into the living room, where she found both her kids sitting on the couch, wearing identical sheepish expressions on their faces.
She addressed her daughter first. “You used my cell phone to call Seth?”
Sophie at least had the courtesy to look guilty. “Yes.”
She turned to Jason. “And you were in on this?”
That got her another guilty yes.
“Ah, don’t be mad at them.”
She spun around to see Seth leaning against the doorframe. After a second, he stumbled into the room and collapsed on the armchair as if he could no longer support his own weight.
Lord, how much had he had to drink?
“They were just trying to get us back together.” Seth glanced at the twins. “Weren’t you?”
Sophie nodded.
Miranda released a sigh and joined them on the couch. “It doesn’t matter what your intentions were. You can’t do things like this, guys. You can’t take Mommy’s phone and call someone and tell them there’s been an emergency. Remember that story I told you about the boy who cried wolf? Remember what happened to the boy?” She shook her head. “I’m very disappointed in you two.”
Jason looked stricken. “I’m sorry, Mom. But we did it ’cause you were wrong.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Excuse me?”
“You were wrong,” Sophie piped up.
“Because it’s four,” Jason explained.
Now she was utterly lost. “What are you talking about?”
“The magic number isn’t three. It’s four.” Jason’s expression conveyed impatience. “You and me and Sophie and Sef.”
He pointed at Seth, as if Miranda needed the visual reference.
Her heart jammed in her throat. She drew in a breath, battling the rising wave of sorrow. “Guys, I already told you, Seth is—”
“An idiot,” Seth finished.
Her head swiveled in his direction.
“An idiot,” he repeated. “I should have never walked out on you. I was just so shaken up after what happened at the carnival and—”
Sophie jumped off the couch and threw herself into his lap. “It was my fault! I shouldna run away and now you don’t wanna be with us anymore.”
Seth’s muscular arms wrapped around the distraught girl, and Miranda’s heart cracked in two as she watched him stroke her daughter’s hair.
“You shouldn’t have run away,” he agreed. His gray eyes met Miranda’s over Sophie’s head. “But I shouldn’t have run away either.”
She forced herself to ignore that little pang of hope. It didn’t matter what he said. He’d left. He’d ended it. He’d proven that she couldn’t count on him.
“Guys, would you mind if I spoke to your mother alone?” Seth asked gruffly.
Sophie slid off his lap and hurried over to her brother, practically dragging him away from the couch. “C’mon, Jase.”
Miranda had to smile as she watched them scurry off, but the smile faded when Seth rose from the armchair and advanced on her.
“I screwed up,” he said in a voice thick with remorse. “I let my fears drive me away. But I’m not afraid anymore.”
She refused to meet his eyes. “Really.”
“I spoke to my mom today.”
“Yeah, about what?” She kept her voice casual.
“About Adam.” He shrugged. “And we both realized something.”
Curiosity had her turning her head. She needed to see his expression, and what she found surprised her. He looked…peaceful.
“What did you realize?” she asked softly.
“That we’d suffered enough. Adam’s gone. Mistakes were made, by me, by my mom, but there’s really only one person to blame in the end—and that’s the person who took Adam’s life.” Seth swallowed. “But all that isn’t important right now. You’re what’s important. I love you, Miranda, and I’m sorry for freaking out last night.”
“You left, Seth.” She bit the inside of her cheek. “The only thing I’ve ever wanted is someone who will be there for me. Someone I could count on. And you left.”
“I screwed up,” he said again. “But I promise you, I will never leave again. You can count on me to be there for you.”
“Why should I believe you?” she whispered.
“Because you love me. Because you have faith in me. Because you can look in my eyes and see that I mean every word that I’m saying.”
There was no mistaking the sincerity glimmering in those silver-gray depths. She felt her resolve crumbling with his every word, and when he leaned in to brush his lips over hers, she was a goner. Seth’s lips were warm and firm. He tasted like alcohol, but when she pulled back to search his face, he looked stone-cold sober.
“I love you, Miranda.” His husky voice tickled her senses. “Please give us another chance.”
“Okay,” she murmured.
His eyes lit up. “Okay?”
She nodded.
In the blink of an eye, he was kissing her again, so passionately that her lungs screamed for oxygen and her brain became foggier than a mirror in a steam-filled bathroom. By the time his tongue retreated and his lips left hers, she’d forgotten her own name.
“So…” she gulped, “…what now?”
“Now…” he tilted his head thoughtfully, “…now we hang out with the rugrats for a bit, and then we put them to bed.”
“And then what?”
“And then I take you to your bedroom, help you out of those pesky clothes, and…” Seth trailed off suggestively.
“And make sweet, sweet love to me all night long?” she filled in.
“Definitely.” He brought his lips to her ear, his mocking voice sending a shiver through her. “But first I’m going to fuck you.”
Miranda couldn’t have suppressed her laughter even if she’d tried. And here he was, that bad boy she’d tried so desperately not to fall in love with. Rough and crude and dangerous, with a smart tongue and a chip on his shoulder and a whole lot of swagger that he didn’t bother apologizing for.
And what do you know—he was exactly what she’d needed.
About the Author
A RITA-award-nominated author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!
Elle loves to hear from her readers. Visit her website www.ellekennedy.com or send her a note at
[email protected] You can also find her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter (@ElleKennedy).
Look for these titles by Elle Kennedy
Now Available:
Bad Moon Rising
Dance of Seduction
Midnight Encounters
Going for It
Red Hot Summer
Hot Summer Nights
Hidden Desires
Out of Uniform
Heat of the Moment
Heat of Passion
Heat of t
he Storm
Heat It Up
Heat of the Night
The Heat Is On
Hot and Bothered (print anthology)
Feeling Hot
Welcome to Paradise
Welcome to Paradise
Take Me Home Tonight
Born to be Wild
Coming Soon:
Hot and Heavy (print anthology)
Since You’ve Been Gone (Welcome to Paradise #4)
Hotter Than Ever (Out of Uniform #9)
In tight quarters, anything can happen…
Feeling Hot
© 2012 Elle Kennedy
An Out of Uniform Story
It’s been a rough month for Navy SEAL Cash McCoy. Fresh off six months of celibacy during his deployment, he almost got into a hot blonde’s panties before they were interrupted. Since then, he still hasn’t gotten laid. The reason? He lost her number. And no other woman has replaced her face in his fantasies.
Then his CO asks him to keep an eye on his sister for a few weeks. Just until her psycho stalker ex is transferred. Cash’s new houseguest is none other than the same gorgeous, quirky blonde. And just his luck—his orders include an emphatic hands off.
Jen Scott is having none of it. Now that she has a second chance, she’s not letting Cash slip away. Orders be damned, he’s the one man capable of helping her explore her sexuality. She’s even willing to break her own rule—never date military men—to get the gorgeous SEAL into her bed.
Except Cash makes it clear he wants more than she bargained for. Much more. Not just her body, but the one thing she promised herself she’d never give to a man in uniform. Her heart.
Warning: Sexy SEAL? Check. Sassy heroine determined to seduce him? Check. Scorching hot sex bound to make you blush? Double check. A threesome and some man-on-man action? Triple check. You’ve been warned.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Feeling Hot:
A sharp rap on the window jarred her from her thoughts. She turned to see Carson’s exasperated face peering into the half-open window. “Out of the car, Jenny.”
She opened her mouth, nearly confessing that she already knew Cash. But she stopped herself at the last second. Shit. She couldn’t tell her brother about the night at the Tavern. Not only did it make her look like the slut of the century, but it suddenly occurred to her that if she did tell Carson she knew Cash, he might scrap this whole houseguest plan and act on his threat of involving their parents.
Another knock sounded on the window.
“I’m getting annoyed,” he announced.
Sighing, Jen got out of the car. “I doubt you’re as annoyed as I am.”
Her brother’s blue eyes softened. “I’m just trying to look out for you. Maybe I’m overreacting, seeing a threat where I shouldn’t, but I won’t take chances with your safety. Until Brendan is gone, I refuse to leave you unprotected.”
An arrow of guilt pierced her chest. Carson sounded so genuinely concerned that she felt like an ass for the way she’d bitched at him all morning. “I know. I’m sorry I’m being such a brat.”
“’S’all good. I’m used to your brattiness.”
He reached out and tugged on the end of her ponytail, the way he’d always done when they were kids, and Jen couldn’t help but smile. As infuriating as Carson could be, he was still her big brother and she loved him something fierce. Besides, as much as she didn’t want to admit it, he was right. She didn’t feel safe. She’d been on edge ever since Brendan started playing these sick games with her, and although she wasn’t convinced her ex would actually cross the line from creepy to violent, she’d definitely breathe easier once he left town.
“Come on, let’s go in,” Carson said, linking his arm through hers.
Jen’s anxiety returned once they entered the building. She wondered how Cash would react when he saw her. If he even remembered her. A guy as good looking as him probably hooked up with ten girls a night. What if she’d just been another one of his faceless conquests?
Lugging her bags, Carson crossed the small, clean lobby toward the stairwell door. “Cash and Matt are on the second floor,” he told her. “But Matt’ll be staying with his girlfriend while you’re here.”
When they reached the second floor landing, Carson led her to a door at the very end of the hall. “Oh, and Ryan and Annabelle live upstairs,” he went on. “So if you want to do any girlie things, just call Annabelle. You met her, right?”
Jen nodded. Although she’d yet to meet her brother’s newer teammates, she knew most of the older ones well, along with their wives and girlfriends. Out of all the women, Annabelle Holmes was her favorite. They’d gone out for dinner a few times, and she’d hung out with the sarcastic brunette at Carson’s thirty-fourth birthday party last month, so it was a relief knowing that Annabelle would be nearby.
“By the way, I told Mom and Dad that your apartment is being fumigated,” Carson added. “So if they call, tell them you were overrun with ants.”
“Ants? That’s what you came up with?”
He shrugged. “First thing that popped into my head.”
They reached the door, which Carson opened without bothering to knock first. “McCoy,” he called. “Come say hi to Jenny.”
She cringed. Of course, he just had to refer to her by the name she hadn’t used since grade school.
As Carson dropped her two huge suitcases on the hardwood floor with a thump, Jen examined her surroundings. The apartment looked like a typical bachelor pad—no surprise there. It featured an open-concept layout, with a spacious living room boasting a black leather couch, two big armchairs, a flat screen mounted on the wall, and an entertainment system that screamed man cave. A small kitchen with stainless-steel appliances and an eat-in counter took up the other side of the room, next to a dining area with a big glass table and a shelf lined with an assortment of beer glasses. Her gaze flicked to the corridor in the back, which she deduced led to the bedrooms.
When footsteps thudded from the vicinity of that corridor, her pulse kicked up a notch, then took off in a mad sprint at Cash’s appearance.
Oh boy. He was as gorgeous as she remembered. Actually, even more gorgeous, because instead of a leather jacket, today he wore a black T-shirt that clung to his massive chest and revealed his bulging biceps. Jeez, he had great arms. Tanned, sinewy, roped with muscle. The kind of arms you wanted pinning you down while those trim hips pumped into you.
The rest of him was equally appealing. Long legs encased in camo pants, strong jaw dusted with stubble, black-brown hair cut in a short military style. Her nipples tightened involuntarily, her core clenching at the sight of all that manly goodness. Lord, the man was sexy as hell.
And shocked as hell, judging by the way those piercing blue eyes widened when he spotted her. Recognition splashed across his face, and his voice came out in a startled rasp. “Oh. Hi.”
She met his gaze, her mouth drier than a desert. “Hi.”
Carson swung his head from her to Cash. “Do you two know each other?”
After a moment of hesitation, during which Jen transmitted a silent warning with her eyes, Cash visibly swallowed and turned to her brother. “No. I was just…I, ah…” He stuck out a hand in her direction. “It’s nice to meet you, Jenny.”
“Jen,” she corrected, moving forward to shake his hand.
The second their palms touched, heat seared into her like a bolt of lightning, spreading through her body and warming every inch of her skin. Their gazes locked again, and the fire inside her burned hotter. Desire pulsed in her veins, making her dizzy and breathless. Holy mother of God. She craved this man on a basic, carnal level she hadn’t known existed.
Sucking in a breath, she jerked her hand back. Touching him was too big a temptation. It only intensified the crazy urge to strip him naked.
“So we’re all cool with this, right?” Carson spoke, oblivious to the tension hanging in the room. “Jenny will stay here until Psycho McGee leaves town?”
Cash’s blu
e eyes rested on her before turning to Carson. “Yeah, it’s cool. Matt’s room is all ready.”
“Good.” Carson focused on her. “Jenny?”
She sighed. “It’s fine. But only until Brendan is gone.”
Carson nodded in agreement, then picked up her suitcases. “I’ll put these in Matt’s room.”
The second her brother disappeared, Jen cast a slightly embarrassed look in Cash’s direction. “I had no idea you were the one I was coming to stay with.”
“I figured,” he said wryly.
An awkward silence settled between them, bringing a jolt of annoyance. She hadn’t expected him to greet her with a passionate kiss or anything, but did he have to look so unhappy? As he fidgeted with his hands, his chiseled features creasing with discomfort, her self-esteem took a couple of hits. Couldn’t he at least pretend to be pleased to see her?
“Jen—” he started, only to be interrupted by Carson, who sauntered back into the living room as if he had no care in the world.
Well, of course he didn’t. He wasn’t the one who had to spend the next three weeks with someone who wanted nothing to do with him. Oh no. Carson just got to drop her off, leave her in the clutches of the man she’d almost fucked, and be on his merry way.
“You’re all set,” Carson said. “I guess I’ll head out now.”
Panic flitted through her. “Now?”
“Don’t worry. McCoy will take good care of you.” He frowned as he turned to his teammate. “Remember what I said—she doesn’t leave the house unless someone is with her. You, preferably, but any of the other guys are acceptable alternatives. Annabelle and Holly, too, since they’ve taken self-defense classes. But not Savannah—I don’t want her corrupting my little sister.”
Jen waved her hand around. “Hello? I’m right here, you know. Quit talking about me like I’m a five-year-old.”
As usual, Carson ignored her. “And make sure she stays away from her usual haunts. Psycho McGee might be lurking around, waiting for her to show up.”
“Got it,” Cash said with a nod.
“Good. Okay, I’m out.” Her brother didn’t rumple her hair again, probably because he could see the murder in her eyes, but he did lean in and plant a loud smack of a kiss on her cheek. “Don’t give Cash any trouble.”