Page 36 of Shadow's Surrender
Chapter Seven
Scarlett stood atthe corner of the window in the second-floor study, watching Shadow as he lifted the sledgehammer over his shoulders and then slammed it onto a wooden post. The defined muscles that ran between his shoulder blades and down his arms flexed and bunched, their contours glistening with sweat in the bright sunlight. He was magnificent … hypnotic.
The now familiar clench between her legs made her shift in place as she continued to watch him and remember their stolen times together. For the past week or so, her whole focus had been on Shadow, and it frightened and excited her at the same time. Scarlett knew she should give him up, but she craved the rush she got from him. She’d been hooked from the start, and she laughed dryly at her foolishness in thinking that just one quick hookup with him would ever be enough. She was just like an addict now, jittery and unfocused until the next fix.
Scarlett pressed her forehead against the glass pane and wondered how she would ever get off the carousel. Shadow did things to her no man had ever done, and she felt free and alive when she was wrapped in his arms or moving in sync with his powerful body as he thrust inside her. The crazy thing was, she knew very little about him besides what a wonderfully delicious lover he was, and she wanted toknowhim outside of their sexual encounters.
As if he sensed her, Shadow looked up at the window and she turned away quickly. Scarlett hated that he’d caught her spying on him, especially since he’d been keeping his distance from her for the past few days. Her rational mind told her it was for the best, but her body wildly yearned for him: his touch, his lips, his taste. She never imagined herself capable of such ferocious passion, such desire to open herself up wholly to a man to do with her as he liked.
Scarlett balled her hand into a fist and pounded it lightly on the wall. He was so damn good that she was sure he ruined her for all other men. “Damn you,” she mumbled under her breath. Against her better judgment, she peeked out the window again and saw him disappear behind the wall that the men were building. Why was he pushing her away? Was he already tired of her?
“Damn you,” she said again, only this time louder.
The sound of her phone ringing pulled her away from the window, and she hustled over to the end table and picked it up.
“Whatcha up to?” Kiara asked.
“Nothing much,” Scarlett replied as she sank down on the leather wingback chair. “How about you?”
“Waiting for my lunch break. Do you want to come over and we can go to the French Bistro. I’m craving paté for some reason.” A small chuckle came through the phone.
“I can meet you there. It’ll give me an excuse to get out of the house. I’ve been going crazy with this upcoming fundraiser.”
“Is that why you’ve been so distracted for the past week or so?”
Scarlett stiffened. “Yeah. So what time is good to meet?”
“One. I like taking lunch after the crowd goes back to work. I guess that’s one of the perks of working for my dad.”
“I can’t even imagine working for mine—it’d be a disaster. I’ll meet you at the bistro at one.”
Scarlett gripped the phone and glanced over at the window. As tempting as it was to stand there and watch Shadow all day, she had to stop acting like a pathetic girl with a crush. The whole thing was ridiculous anyway and totally unsustainable.I guess Shadow figured that out too.An empty feeling wrapped around the thought, but she quickly pushed it away, stood up, and made her way to her bedroom to change her clothes.
When Scarlett walked into the dining room, she was surprised to see her father sitting at the head of the table and eating a sandwich while reading a document. He glanced up and a small smile skipped across his lips.
“Hi, Dad,” she said as she crossed the room to retrieve the briefcase she’d left in the corner the night before. After lunch, she’d planned to stop by the Palace Hotel to talk to the chef about the food for the gala.
“How are you?” His gaze skimmed over her face as if he were trying to discern something in her features.
“Fine. What are you doing home for lunch?” Her father rarely came home during the work day.
“I was in the area, so I thought I’d grab some peace and quiet while I went over this contract.” He pointed to the document on the table. “Your mother’s worried about you.” His eyes kept her gaze.
Scarlett shrugged. “I don’t know why—I’m fine.”
“She thinks you’ve got something on your mind that’s keeping you from committing to Warren.”
Here we go. Shit.“I don’t. I’m meeting Kiara for lunch, so I have to run.”
“You stay right where you are. How long have you and Warren been dating?”
“I don’t know.”
“A year,” he said.
“Why did you ask if you already knew?” She sighed and looked down at her phone. “I really do have to go.”
“A year is long enough to get to know someone. I expected a ring on your finger by now. What’s the problem?”
