Tank (Blue-Collar Billionaires 1)

A wide grin stretches across her face. “Clearly you got the best end of this bargain.” She glances over at me. “So what now? I can take you home or you could come over for a while. No one is even home.”

There’s a soft invitation in her eyes. She’s never seemed particularly open to spending this much time with me. Spending time with the cats must have softened her up a bit.

“Sure. I can come over.”

All I know is that I’m not ready to go home yet. Being around Emma brings me the most profound peace. Everything inside me seems to settle down into an uncomplicated stillness. I’m not ready to let go of that just yet.

Emma pulls up to her house and turns off the car, leaving us in silence. Lightning streaks across the sky and she jumps. “Okay, we need to get inside the house.”

“You don’t like storms.”

She shakes her head. “I like them best when I’m safe, warm and dry inside.”

Emma climbs out of the car and then leans into the backseat to grab the cat carrier. She’s talking to the cat, telling her where we are and where we’re going.

I follow her up the walkway and wait while she wrestles with the door. There is a sudden boom of thunder that sounds extremely close. Then the skies open up and the rain falls in heavy sheets, the wind splattering the rain in an angry gush across the porch. Emma curses as we’re both instantly drenched.

“Finally,” Emma announces as the key slides into the lock. We stumble across the threshold in a wet heap. Our legs tangle together and I have to twist myself so that when we fall, I take the brunt of the force.

“I’m really glad I didn’t go to your place first, otherwise I would have been driving home in this!”

She pushes up from my chest but goes still when she ends up half-straddling me. There’s no way she’s missing the unmistakable press of my erection beneath her. Her gaze lifts to mine and her cheeks flush pink. But she doesn’t move.

We stay just like that, lost in each other’s eyes until another boom of thunder rends the air, breaking the spell.

I set her to the side gently and stand up. “Well, I’ve never had to go to such lengths to get a woman on top of me before.” She laughs and takes the hand I extend to her and pulls herself up.

She looks out the open door at the storm. “I thought it wasn’t supposed to rain until later tonight.”

I didn’t either but I can’t say I’m upset about the forecast. I shrug out of my wet jacket and hang it on one of the metal hooks by the door. I toe out of my soggy shoes as well.

“Looks like you’re stuck with me for a while.”

EMMA

Crap, crap, crap. What the hell am I supposed to do with Tank Marshall in my house?

After giving Tank a towel and pointing him in the direction of the bathroom, I change clothes into an ancient pair of jeans and a tank top. He still hasn’t come out yet so I flit around the living room, picking up stray items of clothing and fluffing the pillows on the couch. I glance over my shoulder nervously awaiting the moment he’ll appear.

After depositing my armful of junk in the hall closet, I race back to the kitchen. Poochie is still crouching in her carrier, watching me move around the room with her golden eyes. I unzip the carrier so she can come out when she wants to but she doesn’t seem interested in venturing any further just yet.

When I hear the telltale squeak of the bathroom door opening down the hall, I lean casually against the counter. Tank rounds the corner and I have to struggle to hold in a sigh of appreciation. He’s cuffed his pants and removed his sweater, revealing a simple white shirt. It’s tight enough to show the definition of his arms and shoulders. The muscles hinted at under his leather jacket are on full display now.

I force my eyes away from his chest and focus on the wall behind him. “Do you want some coffee or tea or something? I could put on a pot.”

He runs his hands through his hair, the dark strands standing on end. “A cup of tea is fine. As long as it’s no trouble.”

I take a mug down from the cupboard and fill it with water at the sink. I’m all too aware of Tank watching as I move around the small kitchen. His gaze sears into my back and I have to fight the urge to yank my shirt down to cover my bottom.

Just as I’m about to put the cup in the microwave, the lights flicker. We both look up at the light fixture above us. Please tell me this is not happening.

The lights flicker again and a second later we’re plunged into darkness.

“Emma?” Tank's voice comes from my left.

“I’m here. Don’t worry, this happens during every storm. The lights will come back in a second.” I put a hand out in front of me tentatively, walking forward slowly until I touch a hard surface. The counter. I place the cup of water down carefully.

I tap my foot impatiently, willing the electricity to come back. Usually when the lights go out it’s only for a few minutes. It’s strange standing here in the darkness but I’m not going to complain. The last time the power went out I was in the shower. This is a breeze compared to being in the dark while wet and naked.