Three Times a Lady Read online

“I’m not glass, Haile, kiss me and mean it,” Mari answered.

  The groan that escaped him was almost a sound of agony but became a sigh of contentment when his lips met hers. Mari knew exactly what he was experiencing because it was a kiss that felt so right, it was perfect. His lips were firm against her as he languidly tasted her lips, and then he pulled her closer. Haile took it deeper, and she whimpered when he slipped his tongue between her lips. He molded her body against his, and Mari loved the feeling. This was passion, not fear. She didn’t feel obligated to fulfill his needs. Yet the dark thoughts that flooded her mind made her press against his chest lightly. Haile sensed the change and stepped back. His green eyes were almost emerald in color with desire.

  “I could get used to kissing you,” Haile said bluntly.

  “It was tantalizing, but I need to move slow. The last two times weren’t the greatest choices,” Mari admitted.

  Haile cupped her cheek and said simply, “I’m not them.”

  “I know.” Mari still stepped back.

  “How about this: I take you up to the coast for a sunset picnic?” Haile said. “Call it our first relaxed outing. There’s supposed to be a meteor shower we can see from the beach.”

  “A date,” she surmised.

  “You gave it a name, not me,” Haile teased. “I hope you understand, I don’t give up my sweet buns on the first date.”

  Mari laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind. Yes, I’d like that. A drive and a picnic plus I get to see more than this part of Northumberland.”

  “Good, how about meeting me out front at five thirty?”

  Mari smiled. “Luckily I am off from work tomorrow so that works perfectly.”

  “May I kiss you again before I leave?” Haile asked formally.

  “Yes, you can.”

  It was a brief yet delicious taste of him before he stepped away and with a small wave jogged back down the stairs. Mari closed the door and went back to the bedroom with a smile. Thank god she never slept with Jeffery. There was an angel looking out for her that night because she found out the truth before anything could happen. Haile was different from any man she’d ever met. He didn’t need to boast or use his strength to hurt. He was the strong, silent type, but he had his own demons to face. Zeva’s words filtered through her memory, and she would trust her instincts. Maybe fate had set her on the path to the wrong man so she could find the right one. Only time would tell.

  Chapter Five

  How was one supposed to have a picnic on the coast when it was frigid out? You improvise, that’s how. Haile grinned. Being from Alnmouth and the descendant of a family of fisherman, he knew exactly what to do. In that town, when people heard his name, they knew exactly who his family was. So when he asked for a dome tent, a heater, and all the other supplies he needed, they were glad to help. He called Mari from the Land Rover around five in the evening, and she came out the side door of the pub bundled up in a thick blue coat with a hood. Haile appreciated the curves of her hips in the pair of thick tights she wore and the fuzzy boots that finished off her outfit.

  “Hello there,” Haile said as she climbed into the passenger seat. He handed her a lidded cup of hot chocolate.

  “Oh bless you,” she said gratefully and took the cup. “Good evening, and holy shit it’s cold! You can freeze the tits off a tick in this weather.”

  “Do ticks have tits?” Haile wondered aloud.

  “Hell if I know.” Mari took a sip and moaned. “Oh, this is so good.”

  “Wish I was the cup,” he murmured to himself.

  “What?” she asked.

  “Nothing, just commenting on the empty roads,” Haile replied.

  “Are you sure we should be doing this, a picnic on the beach? I mean, the wind coming off the ocean will freeze us to death.”

  He glanced at her and gave her a quick grin. “Trust the son of a fisherman, I have this covered.”

  Mari smiled and settled back in the warm seats. “Okay, let’s go on an adventure.”

  Haile started the car and pulled away from the curb. “And away we go.”

  From the center of the city to the coast took around an hour drive and then another ten minutes to the spot he had picked out along the beach. It was already dark, but you could make out the high cliff, that was the back drop of the cove he picked out. There was also a large outcropping on the side that would keep most of the salty sea air from chilling them to the core. He loved the Land Rover because it drove easily on the coarse sand, and he parked a short distance away.

  “You don’t have a basket or anything, what kind of picnic is this?” Mari asked.

  Haile stopped and turned her head to the left and pointed. “There.”

  “Oh,” she gasped when she caught sight of the tent.

  “Come on, let’s go see what’s inside,” Haile encouraged and took her hand.

  At the entrance of the large dome tent, a bonfire was set, ready to be lit. He untied the flaps and ushered her inside. There was a large, thick cover on the sand, and in the center was a picnic basket. The heaters hummed gently in the background, and the warmth cocooned them completely. There was even a bouquet of fresh flowers next to the blanket and a bowl with fresh fruit. Well thank you Cousin Drew, Haile thought and knew he’d have to send the man a few bottles of good whiskey for this favor.

  “Oh wow, this is amazing and warm,” Mari said amazed. “How did you do all of this?”

  “Family,” he replied. “Look up.”

  “The top is clear and you can see the sky,” she marveled.

  “For when the meteors start, if it’s too cold and we are sitting inside,” he said. “I’m going to light the bonfire and see what’s in the basket so we can eat.”

  “Sure,” Mari laughed. “I’ve never done anything like this in Texas.”

  Haile looked at her while he tied the flaps to the tent back. “I’m glad I can provide a new experience for you.”

  She sat cross-legged at the basket and opened it. “Okay, we have French dip sandwiches, and the au jus sauce is still warm.”

  “That’s nice.” Haile started the kindling in the bonfire and waited for the fire to spread to the larger logs.

  “There’s also a thermos and a bottle of wine,” Mari added.

  “The makings of a good drink.” The fire was roaring now, and it lit up the darkness around their tent site.

  “What’s in the thermos?” she asked curiously.

  “Hot chocolate, but don’t think the one you get from coffee shops.” Haile took the container and opened it. “This is made with real shaved chocolate and cream then we added the red wine.”

  “No way, you mix them together?” she said, amazed.

  “It’s a local drink in this area.” Haile was busy mixing the concoction in two mugs, and then he passed one to her. “Try it for yourself.”

  Mari sniffed the mix before she took a hesitant sip. Haile grinned as she took a bigger mouthful. No one could resist the chocolate wine created in Alnmouth. She licked her lips, and Haile almost moaned. That one action settled an ache between his legs and made his cock thicken in response.

  “This is really good.” She looked over and smiled at him. “Who knew this was a thing.”

  “Let’s grab some food and eat while we watch the stars,” Haile said quickly trying to do anything to keep him from thinking about kissing her. It wasn’t working.

  She wanted to take it slow, and he would respect that. It had been over a month since she arrived in Northumberland, and each day he found himself more and more caught in her web. Haile doubted she even knew she’d spun one around him. She was that type of girl, so innocent to what she could do to a man, and it made her all the more appealing. They moved the blanket closer to the entrance of the tent, and from there they could feel the bonfire while they ate, and the heaters in the tent kept their backs pleasantly warm. They ate and talked about a little of everything from books to television, and when the first shooting star streaked through the night s
ky, silence reigned. Together they watched the universe showcasing its beauty while they sipped chocolate wine.

  “My sister would love this,” Haile said suddenly, and his heart hurt in his chest just thinking of her.

  “She liked the stars?” Mari’s voice was gentle.

  Haile smiled up at the sky. “Her room was midnight blue while we were growing up. She painted stars on it and put those little glow in the dark stickers all over the wall. Much to my mother’s horror, but it was Angela, no one ever told her no.”

  “Why?”

  He didn’t know why he was talking about his sister. It was just happening, and somehow it didn’t feel wrong that Mari was listening.

  “Angela was a miracle baby. My mom had her at forty-five after the doctors told her she would not have any more.” Haile laughed softly. “I was ten, and this little bit of a thing used to scream the house down. How I loved her. She looked like an angel, she grew up, and there was laughter everywhere she went. She danced with ribbons in the yard, and she was a beauty, with red hair that caught the sun. The only times she cried was when others were hurting. Dad died, and then I left for my missions overseas thinking she was safe. She was our angel... I guess she really is one now.”

  Mari covered his hand with hers. “There’s always hope.”

  He shook his head sadly. “No, I feel it. She’s gone. We were that close. I was in a Fob with Americans sleeping after we got a convoy through an enemy line. I just sat up, opened my eyes, and knew something was wrong. I called home, and Ma answered the phone crying—she hadn’t seen Angela in two days. She never slept away from home, always checked in with Ma, and would be there anytime I could make contact. I knew it then as sure as my next breath she was dead.”

  “I am so sorry,” Mari whispered.

  He shook his head. “It wasn’t your fault. We know who did it. There isn’t proof, and Joslyn Moermond threw every block in our path she could. Even though she knew her husband and how he lured my sister into thinking he loved her. Angela was so innocent, and now they live like she never existed, and all I want to do is bury my sister. My ma died of a broken heart, literally. This killed her, and I promised her I would find Angela. I’m going to one day, it will happen.”

  “The universe has a way of working things out, helping us see the truth, get closer and heal. I think it’s working overtime on this for you.” Mari scooted closer and leaned her head against his shoulder. “I don’t see a meteor shower now, I see your sister telling you she’s okay and raining stars down to earth just for you.”

  Haile cleared his throat, hoping that the emotion from her words would be hidden in his voice. “Thank you, that thought makes this all the more special.”

  “Can we sit inside for a bit? Even with the bonfire the wind is starting to get chilly,” Mari said.

  “Sure we can. I’ll pull the flaps down so the air will be warmer.” Haile moved to do just that while she crawled inside. He watched as she lay flat on her back and looked up at the sky through the clear material.

  “You can see just as clearly this way too,” she pointed out. “They are slowing down though, only one or two every few minutes now.”

  Haile lay on the opposite side of her. “You’re right. Do you want to go?”

  She turned her head to look at him. “Not yet, I like this.”

  He reached down and laced his fingers with hers. “We can stay as long as you want.”

  “I ran away because my ex was abusing me,” Mari said. “I figured you should know that, since we are on a date and all.”

  “I figured that out from your reaction to the fight,” Haile said. He wouldn’t push; if that was all she said so be it. Mac had already filled him in extensively but it was her life and story to tell.

  “We weren’t even together anymore. He just basically held me hostage in the town I lived in.” Mari’s fingers tightened around his. “His dad is the Sheriff, and he can get drunk, fight, do drugs, whatever, and anytime he’s arrested, they just put him right back out. When I begged them to help me, they said it was my fault, and if I stopped antagonizing him he wouldn’t hit me. I guess just breathing or going to work pissed him off because I’d get hit for no reason.”

  “I’ll give him someone his own size to pick on if you want,” Haile said. His anger burned at her terror, and to think the authorities wouldn’t help made him fume.

  “It’s not worth it, he’s far away now.” Mari took a deep breath. “He made me give him a key to my apartment. He would come in, and I’d have to do what he wanted.”

  Haile turned on his side. “Do you mean...?”

  She closed her eyes, and tears leaked out from beneath the closed lids. “I never said no, I did it because I was so... so scared, and it was easier than getting hit. I’m so broken, Haile, I’m the last person you want to be around.”

  He pulled her into his arms. “This wasn’t on you, this is a sick fucking bastard who put you in fear for your life. You are not broken. You are a warrior for surviving all of this. You escaped, and by God, he should be happy that he’s in Texas and not here.” Haile amended his words from what he was thinking. He didn’t want to scare her with his rage at what she had gone through. “I would protect you, I promise you that.”

  She wiped away the tears. “I do, I wanted you to have the truth before this goes any further. I didn’t sleep with Jeffery, we never even sexted. Video chats were normal, and I was dressed. Even though he wanted to, I am not that person, and after Marcus I am extremely careful.”

  “Honey, I didn’t need that information, but I believe you.” He raised her hand he was holding and kissed it. “Jeffery is a worm, and I want you to be careful. If you see him, go the other direction.”

  “He approached me in the market last week,” Mari admitted. “I shut him down cold, and he tried to say he would use our texts and conversations against me. I told him go ahead. I lived with fear and blackmail for years, I’m not doing it here.”

  He was amazed she told him what he already knew, but that just reaffirmed that she could be trusted. There were so many times she could have lied to him, to get what she wanted. But everything matched up to what Mac told him, and she worked hard and never asked for more than her paycheck.

  “You did the right thing, and thank you for telling me,” Haile said gently. “If he ever bothers you again, tell me. I won’t hurt him but I can ask Jasper for help in keeping him away from you.”

  “I’ll do that,” Mari promised, and she pointed up suddenly. “Look, there’s another one.”

  “That one was bright,” Haile said. “I think that is the grand finale.”

  “No this is,” she said and rolled on top of him.

  “What are you doing?” The desire he felt for her kicked into high gear immediately.

  “Why, I am going to kiss you, Lord Buchannan.” She smiled and gently scratched his beard.

  “I thought we were taking it slow?” he pointed out.

  “And so we are.” She kissed him gently. “But I can tell when something feels right, and this does at this very moment.”

  “I want you—you cannot fathom how much,” Haile said huskily. “But after what you’ve been through, I need for you to see this isn’t just sex or my needs. I care about you, Marisol.”

  “I love how you say my name.” She nibbled at his lip, and it was making him hard. “I’m seducing you, Haile, why don’t you accept it?”

  “Because I don’t want you to have doubts about us, I don’t want to you regret this,” Haile admitted.

  “I’ve spent my life regretting things, situations.” Mari looked down at him and caressed his cheek. “The only thing I regret is not meeting you first instead of Jeffery.”

  “Don’t say his name, don’t even think about him.” Haile’s voice became a low husky growl. “Not when I’m about to take your body as mine.”

  Haile rolled until she was beneath him, and this time the gasp that escaped her was when he pressed his hips against hers. H
e looked down at her, taking in her ebony skin and wide brown eyes before he kissed her. She whimpered and lifted her hips to find that connection again. There was a slow build to intensity, he didn’t want to scare her but for him the burn of desire was immediate. He cupped the back of her neck and felt the ends of her pixie cut against his fingers. Mari moaned, and he took the opportunity to taste her and delve his tongue into the recesses of her mouth. She slipped her hand under his sweater and the contact of her touch made him move against her. Mari spread her legs wider, and God he wished they had no clothes between them.

  Haile could barely think. It was all he could do not to tear at her clothes while her tongue dueled with his and he sipped her like a fine wine. If he was made of wax, he would be melted while her hands roamed all over his waist and back beneath his shirt. He moved long enough to help her get her coat off and cupped her breasts though her soft blouse before he pushed the shirt up impatiently just to feel her skin.

  “Wait, wait,” she whispered.

  Lord, he hoped she wasn’t changing her mind. He would have to accept it, but damn, he would need to jump into the cold sea to cool off. Luckily it was to take her shirt off, and he followed suit. When their bodies met again, he closed his eyes in pleasure at the sensation that coursed through him. Haile trailed slow kisses down her neck and between the cleavage of her breasts. He buried his face for a moment, inhaling the scent of her skin before taking one nipple in his mouth. The pert nipple beaded hard, and when she cried out in pleasure, he sucked deeply as if he was starved for her taste. Mari arched and slipped her hand around his back to pull him closer and offer him more of her body.

  “You taste so good. I can’t get enough of you,” he whispered harshly between licks and nips.

  “Kiss me more,” she begged.

  He worked his way back to her lips. Haile plundered her mouth, and her hands were at his jeans trying to work at his belt.

  “We should be naked,” he whispered against her lips.

  “That works,” she gasped.

  Together they worked at her boots, leggings, and panties before Haile moved to the buckle of his belt. Mari stared at him as he discarded the rest of his clothing. Does she know she licks her lips like she is anticipating tasting me, he wondered. That thought made his cock throb in response. Haile knelt between her legs and with his hand at her waist he caressed her soft skin, slowly committing each inch of her to his memory. Haile ran his hand down her torso to the apex of her thighs. Her pussy was wet and hot, while he stroked his fingers up and down her slit, he watched her. Mari bit her bottom lip, and she closed her eyes to the sensation of his touch.