However, as they entered Haley’s shop a few minutes later and Ian’s cock had an instant, hardening reaction to seeing her again, he was beginning to doubt his own words. He had never reacted so strongly to a woman before and since he had the same reaction every time he saw her, he found it unsettling, especially coming so swiftly after having sex with someone else. He should be satisfied for now, but seeing Haley’s blue eyes shy away from him, her slender body tense with a combination of discomfort and attraction, he was anything but. It was irritating to discover that the more he was around her, the more he wanted to know about her past and who had given her cause to live her life in fearful caution.
“Hi,” she greeted them, her questioning eyes moving from Piper’s piqued look to Ian before shifting away from his intense stare. “You sounded upset on the phone. Is everything all right?” she asked Piper as she set her backpack on the counter.
“Yes, sorry. I just need to unwind from the stress of the past few days. Can you get away for lunch at Rowdy’s?”
“They serve food there? Real food?” Ian’s mood brightened considerably at the thought.
“Just cold sandwiches from the diner, but they’re good. What’d you bring me?” Haley picked up a pair of black satin boy shorts trimmed in pink lace that Piper had pulled out of her bag.
“That has a matching camisole,” Piper said as she pulled the top out and held it up. “I thought it’d work for sleeping in or under clothes. What do you think?”
“I think it would be wasted under clothes,” Ian commented as he leaned his arms on the counter and smiled when Haley blushed crimson. “It’s much better suited for bed. It looks about your size.” Ian couldn’t help but needle her, she looked so flustered whenever she was around him and even more so with a counter top piled with sexy lingerie between them.
Haley despised her telltale blushing as well as the lack of courage to pursue what she finally wanted again after so long. Sex with Ian would be hard and fast and she was beginning to suspect mind blowing, nothing like sex with her oh-so-proper ex. If she could ever get up the nerve to take him up on the interest she saw when he looked at her, she knew she wouldn’t be disappointed. And the best part was that he would be leaving and wouldn’t expect anything from her except sex. Unfortunately, her cowardice won out over her newly awakened libido every time he came around and she doubted if he’d be in town long enough for her to overcome it.
“I can close for lunch after we get these things displayed,” she told Piper, ignoring Ian and his comment.
“Coward.” Ian winked at her then went to stand at the front window while they worked. He had no trouble picturing Haley in that sexy number, or in nothing at all or imagining how her slender thighs would feel wrapped around him, the softness of her small breasts against his chest or the tightness of her pussy as she gripped him. Not. Going. To. Happen. He kept repeating that litany until they were ready to walk down to the bar, which, thankfully, wasn’t too long.
Piper loved the close, homey feel of strolling down Main Street, waving at the people she knew, saying hello to friendly strangers who were nice enough to spend their vacation dollars in Hope. The Fourth of July always brought an influx of tourists and since it was only two days away, the town was bustling with activity and visitors. She couldn’t help wondering, however, if one of these tourists was the one responsible for her recent troubles and, more importantly, why. For the first time, she was grateful to have one of the guys with her. From the look on Haley’s face, however, she surmised her friend wasn’t as grateful as she was. By the time they walked from Haley’s shop at the far end of the street to Rowdy’s at the other end, the tension between the two was almost as thick and impenetrable as that between her and Brody on occasion.
Ian held the door for them, nodded at Crack who was, as always, behind the bar in the darkened club. Pointing across the street at the sheriff’s office where he saw Brody’s car was still parked, he stated, “Be right back.”
“Got it covered,” Crack answered as Piper and Haley took seats in front of him. “What’s wrong?” he asked them point blank, knowing them both well enough to see something was bothering them.
Piper smiled, loving the feeling that she couldn’t get anything by the gruff, tough looking ex-biker who had a soft heart. Her guilt over fucking Ian had increased when she saw Haley’s reaction to seeing him again. Her friend had led an isolated life from men for as long as she had known her and now that she was showing an interest in one, what does she do? Knowing none of them were in a relationship did nothing to ease her conscience and Piper knew she was going to have to come clean, but not until she had a few beers.
“Just worry over who has a grudge against me. Did you hear about my tires?”
“Yes, as well as the way you took off without your bodyguards. What the hell were you two thinking?” His glare included both of them.
“Can you yell at me later and just give me a beer and veggie sub please?”
Crack never could resist either of them when they were batting their pretty eyes and cajoling him into quit nagging them. Heaving a sigh, he asked Haley, “What do you want, hon?”
“An Italian sub and iced tea, please. I have to go back to work.”
“Let’s get a booth.” Piper hopped off her stool and settled in a booth in the corner. The bar was crowded since it was lunch time and she was lucky there was one available.
“Okay, give. What happened yesterday when Brody took you home? He looked really pissed.”
Piper spilled everything quickly, sex with Brody, his rejection last night and the way she had taunted Ian then fucked him today. “I think now, that I wanted to push Brody into fucking me again yesterday and when he turned from me afterwards, I taunted Ian today in retribution. God,” she moaned, throwing her head down on her folded arms on the table. “I’m sorry, Haley. I’m such a slut!”
“Why do you think you’re a slut?” Crack asked furiously as he set their food and drinks down.
Haley laughed when Piper jerked her head up, her eyes wide, her face a bright red. “This is girl talk, Crack. Go away.”
“Are Ian and Brody giving you a hard time?” he questioned, the double innuendo purposely implied, his scowl that of an over protective friend.
Both Haley and Piper burst out laughing while shooing him away. When their giggles stopped, Haley looked at Piper with a frown. “Why on earth would you think I blamed you for having great sex with two really hot guys? I mean really, Piper, those two men are walking orgasms. I’d think you’re crazy if you didn’t take advantage of the situation. Besides, I know how you’ve pined for Brody all these years.”
Piper closed her eyes in relief and swallowed half her beer before she answered her. “I did not pine for that jerk. I’m in a relationship, aren’t I?”
“No, you’re not. Hopping in the sack a few times a year with Cole when his tours bring him this way does not make a relationship. And, be honest, does Cole push your happy button as well as Brody?”
“Nobody pushes my happy button as well as Brody.” Piper finished her first beer, ordered another then bit into her sandwich before saying, “I’ve seen the way you look at Ian, Haley. You’re interested, and for you, that alone is a huge step. I don’t want you to resent me for being where you might want to go, especially after all this time.”
Haley took a deep breath then admitted, “I think I’m ready to have my happy button pushed again, but until I’m sure, feel free to indulge. Just make sure you give me details. Just hearing what they did to you has my panties damp, and for me, that’s huge.” The sex sounded exciting and erotic, but she didn’t tell Piper her reservations about the spanking. She knew what it felt like to be hit by a man and, even though she had heard of people responding to erotic pain, she didn’t think she would be one of them