Free Sean's Sweetheart by Allie Kincheloe Page B

she bumped into the counter. Tilting forward and placing his hands on the granite next to her hips, he surrounded Talia with his arms. He whispered low in her ear, "Anyone ever told you how stunning you are when you are mad? Your eyes are sparkling and so damn expressive. Sweetheart, you're really making me forget that we need to be just friends."
    He nuzzled her throat, inhaling her sweet scent. Her hands reached up to fiddle with the button placket on his shirt. When she leaned toward him, he knew she'd forgiven him. She shuddered and he pulled back to look at her. When she licked her lips, he couldn't take it anymore. Fuck being friends. He needed to taste her again. Groaning, he bent his head toward hers. A mere second before his lips touched hers Zane kicked the door open and walked in with another box.
    Biggest cock-block ever.
    Cursing under his breath, Sean jerked away from Talia.
    Zane walked over hissing, "Did you just kiss my sister? Dad will flip his lid if he sees that, man. You better watch it."
    "I didn't kiss her," he replied in all seriousness.
    "Well, whether you did or not, it sure as heck looked that way. You jumped away and her hands dropped down from your chest. Definitely looked like a kiss, or at least an almost-kiss to me."
    He grinned over at Talia before putting her brother in a headlock. He dragged Zane out of the apartment without another word. Sometimes the easiest way to shut someone up was a physical distraction.

 
     
    Chapter Nineteen
     
     
    Talia watched as her dad came back in lugging a heavy box labeled "kitchen." Stepping aside, he watched the two younger men roughhouse their way out of the apartment. He sat his box on the counter and turned a questioning gaze toward her.
    "You okay?" His gruff voice was filled with concern. He really did love her.
    "Yeah, I'm fine, Daddy." She smiled at him and wrapped her arms around him for a big hug.
    Shaking his head, her dad said, "I can't believe the big man managed to slither out of that fight. You are so much like your mother; I expected one heck of an explosion."
    She had been pissed, but when Sean got so close she couldn't stay mad. She couldn't do anything but pray he'd kiss her. "It was a misunderstanding. He didn't mean it the way I took it. We're good now."
    "Well, he sure figured out how to diffuse that temper faster than I did," the older man told her with a snort. "Took me damn near a year to figure it out with your mother. Why's he here anyway? I told you I didn't want him around."
    "Maybe I'm like Mom in more than one way. She went for an older man too." Talia nudged her dad with her shoulder.
    "Hmmph. There're only five years between your mother and I. Not nine."
    She scoffed. Right, four more years is the end of the world, isn't it?
    "We're just friends, Dad. I was teasing you. Geez, lighten up!" Talia had to take a deep breath. She tried to keep the frustration out of her voice. While not friendly with Sean, her dad had remained calm today and they had to start somewhere. She didn't want to mess that up by pissing him off. Her dad hadn't warmed to Sean yet, but she hoped he would in time.
    Their conversation trailed off when Zane and Sean came back. The two men were deep in conversation as they trekked back up the stairs with the last few boxes.
    "I can only spare a couple hours. I need to be at Garden by about four."
    "Yeah, well, maybe you should lay off the booze a bit. I mean, you do spend most of your time in a bar."
    "Got bills to pay."
    "Which would be easier if you didn't spend all your money on alcohol."
    Sean just shook his head. But he was smiling, so he clearly didn't mind the teasing.
    Talia couldn't keep the smile off her face, seeing Sean and Zane goof around. Her brother had never liked Caleb—was barely even polite to Caleb. But he got along great with Sean. Talia considered that a good sign. If only her dad would come around.
    "Yeah, man, it would be great if you could help us get the bed and some of the other