Back for You

  Back for You

  Anara Bella

  He came back for her. Now if only he could convince her that’s a good thing…

  If there’s one thing bar owner Thea Maguire knows for sure, it’s that you can’t trust men to stick around. They’re only good for one thing—fun and games. Anything more than that? No way. Case in point, Cain Marshall. She’d trustingly given him her heart and he’d left her high and dry to follow his dreams. So she’s more than a little skeptical when he shows up claiming he’s come back for her.

  Cain has never forgotten Thea, nor stopped loving her. Nor has he forgiven himself for leaving her behind. But the Siren call of adventure and ambition had been a heady combination he couldn’t ignore. Especially when the fear of being tied down was riding his tail. But if the past ten years have taught him anything, it’s that life without Thea isn’t worth living.

  Sparks are flying, and the heat is undeniable. Now it’s up to Cain to convince Thea they belong together.

  Warning: This book contains a sexy, smoldering bad boy, excessive margarita drinking, drunk dialing, and oh yeah, plenty of molten-hot graphic sex.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  BACK FOR YOU

  Copyright © 2013 Anara Bella

  Cover by Angela Waters

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in reviews or promotion.

  http://www.AnaraBella.com

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only, and may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for supporting and respecting the hard work of this author.

  Dedication

  For Marie Harte, without whom this book would never have been finished. You’re an absolute treasure. Thank you.

  For Samantha Storm and Leah Braemel. I’d be lost without your encouragement and support.

  And most of all, for my wonderful readers. You guys make it all worthwhile. This book is for you.

  Table of Contents

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  About the Author

  More titles from Anara Bella

  Bound and Determined

  Batteries Not Required

  Chapter One

  He’s back.

  The shock of it rippled through Thea Maguire’s entire body as she fought the crazy urge to rub her eyes raw. She had to be seeing things.

  But nope, there he was. Big as life. Borne out by the jolt of awareness now zipping its way through her entire system.

  She was still trying to absorb it when she realized something else—the man still made her stupid heart go pitty-pat. How on earth was that even possible?

  Not wanting to look like a gawking statue, she grabbed her bottled water and raised it to her suddenly parched lips. Maybe it would help quench her thirst, and more importantly, maybe it would cool her off because all of a sudden she was feeling uncomfortably hot.

  Why was Cain here in the one place he was sure to run into her? After all, he’d managed to avoid her for the past ten years.

  From her vantage point in one of the tall banquette seats she’d had installed during the bar’s last renovation, she grudgingly admitted that the tall, dark epitome of masculine gorgeousness now dominating the room was a stone-cold fox. Always had been. Still, the flushed and fluttery feeling invading her traitorous body shouldn’t have been happening. Not with their history. She knew better.

  Or should have.

  But against all logic, her hungry gaze took in everything from his too-long, thick, dark hair to his long legs clad in well-worn faded denim that lovingly hugged all the important parts of his anatomy. Lingering with appreciation on his big, broad shoulders, she admired the strength evident in every line of his lean, tall body. The kind of strength that could carry an anything-but-petite woman such as herself up a flight of stairs without breaking a sweat. She sighed at the memory of his strong arms holding her close, taking the stairs two at a time in his desperate race to get her naked.

  Yep. A girl could be forgiven for reacting to the likes of Cain Marshall. Even after all these years, he was way-more-tempting than any man had a right to be.

  It was really kind of annoying. The least he could have done was go bald and get fat. That wasn’t too much to ask for, was it?

  Thea forced herself to stop enjoying the view while she slapped down her wacky libido. She needed to remember who Cain was. And why she hated him.

  She sat back and took another pull on her water as she watched him scan the room. A sexy combo of confidence and charisma radiated off of him, accompanying his perusal as if he were the one who owned the bar instead of her. She could’ve been annoyed by that, maybe should have been, but she knew it was just his way. As a take-charge kind of guy, he couldn’t help himself. It was an innate part of who he was.

  Just like his bold-faced nerve in showing up here in the first place.

  It figured that today, of all days, she’d slept in and had to rush to work. No makeup, messy hair caught up in a jaw clip, throwing on the first thing she’d grabbed. Thank God she’d slapped on some lipstick or she’d look like the walking dead.

  Her first inclination was to slouch down into the seat in hopes he wouldn’t spot her, not that she’d ever give in to her inner wimp. Instead, she sat taller, threw back her shoulders and crossed her legs. She had great legs. More importantly, Cain had always loved her legs. At least her worn denim shorts showed off her best asset.

  The invasive desire to know what he thought of her now ate at her. Had she changed very much since he’d last seen her? Did he still like what he saw?

  She shouldn’t care, and God knew she’d be mortified if Cain had an inkling of what she was thinking, but there it was. Her sane, logical side said it shouldn’t matter, but her vanity wanted him to be struck dumb by her beauty. She wanted him to regret dumping her, and the feeling was made more acute because the passage of time had only added to Cain’s allure. It had made him a man. Sexier. Harder. Colder.

  Hotter.

  As if on cue, Cain’s sharp gaze zeroed in on her like a human GPS. There was no missing the glint of hot recognition in his piercing gray eyes. It told her as plain as words what was on his mind, and there was no doubt he recognized her. Nor had he forgotten anything about their steamy time together.

  But then, neither had she.

  His gaze ate its way down her body, lingering with burning intensity on her thighs. She fought the urge to squirm. When his gaze snapped back to hers, she read hunger in their depths, and an unwanted shiver of awareness ran up her spine. Without breaking eye contact, he headed straight for her, force of will evident in every step he took.

  The faint hope he’d come to see someone else flew off into the ether, but then the ridiculous notion should never have been there to b
egin with.

  What did he want anyway?

  Stopping in front of her, he tipped his head, his guarded, watchful eyes holding a hint of something more in their sharp depths. “Hello, Thea.”

  Steel-gray eyes pinned her to the booth as irritation edged into her consciousness.

  She acknowledged him with a cool nod of her own, not willing to reveal more than he did. “Cain.”

  Staring him down, she hoped against hope she projected cool indifference. If only feigned lack-of-interest were enough to keep her from appreciating his strong wide shoulders, ripped abs, tight ass, not to mention all of his other significant assets. No question, the bastard had it all.

  A flood of hot memories prickled up her neck, bringing a wave of unwanted awareness along with it. The man had always made women melt into a puddle of lust just by walking into a room. She’d been no exception. Not ten years ago, and by the looks of it, not now either.

  She faced the obvious. Despite everything that had happened between them, Cain still generated enough lust-filled thoughts to fill ten football stadiums. “You’ve got a lot of nerve showing up here.”

  Something dark flickered in his eyes, but his mouth kicked up at the corner. “I’ve never lacked for nerve, Thea. You should know that.”

  Yeah, she knew it all right. And with that nerve, he’d always managed to bring out the willful wild child in her too.

  She fought back an unexpected grin at the heretofore buried memories of the two of them doing wild, wicked and crazy things together. The wave of nostalgia and desire that crashed through her would have brought her to her knees if she’d been standing. “Go away, Cain. You’re not wanted around here.”

  His heated gaze slid a sensuous path from the top of her head to her strappy-sandal clad feet, again lingering for long moments on her legs, making her hyper-aware of her cut-off tank top and skimpy shorts. Making her feel completely exposed and disconcertingly naked. Making her more than a little hot and bothered.

  “Is that so?” His gaze slammed into hers again, and the oh-so-familiar white-hot spark of electricity arced between them. Nothing had changed in that department at least. The magic was still there. But then, he’d always been the match to her tinder, able to send her up in flames faster than gasoline-soaked rice paper, all with just one heated look.

  There was no doubt in Thea’s mind that even now the man was nothing but trouble. She raised her chin in defiance of the lust she felt even now.

  Placing one hand on the tabletop beside her, he shoved it aside in one smooth move. His other hand rested on the back of the bench seat, so close to her head she felt the heat radiating off his skin. Panic fluttered in her breast at his heart-palpitating closeness, distracting her until it was too late.

  Before her brain registered what he intended, he leaned in and kissed her with such toe-curling, mind-bending thoroughness her brain shorted out.

  Everything inside her melted. Her pulse tripped about with giddy abandon, her breath hitched in her throat. And with frightening speed her mouth opened to his seeking tongue and took him in.

  God, she’d missed this—his soft but firm lips, his taste, his scent. Everything.

  A moan pierced through her sensual fog sounding suspiciously like it came from her. A fact she knew was important. A fact that should matter. A lot. But she wasn’t able to piece together why.

  He shifted, his knee brushing against her inner thigh—when had she uncrossed her legs?—a shiver of response skated to her core, setting up a slow burn and throb deep inside her soul.

  His hand left the table and cupped her jaw. God, she loved it when he did that. It was so sexy, made her feel cherished and special. It had been a long time since she’d felt that way.

  Too long if it affected her like this.

  She had to be a special kind of stupid to allow this kiss, but she was ravenous for him, way beyond breaking it off.

  When she thought she’d literally melt into him he broke the kiss, pulling back just enough to look into her eyes. He was so close she could count the black flecks in his silvery gray eyes, feel his sweet breath wafting across her face. So close she was afraid of what he might see lurking in the depths of her wide-eyed gaze.

  She blinked, snapping out of her thrall. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  His pupils flared. “You said I wasn’t wanted around here.” His gaze flicked down to her still moist lips. “I beg to differ.”

  Who the hell did this guy think he was? And how dare he come in here and kiss her as if the past ten years had never happened?

  Anger rose, fresh and full blown and she reveled in its power. It gave her the strength she needed to push him away.

  He didn’t budge. She might just as well have shoved a granite statue. “What do you want?”

  She took in his unfailing confidence that she’d fall back into his arms, as if what he’d done didn’t matter or had never happened. And every hackle she owned rose to the surface.

  Desperate to put some distance between them, she shoved harder. This time he stepped back, giving her the much needed space she sought.

  “What else would I want in Forsythia Falls, darlin’?” Her stomach fluttered at the familiar endearment, loving the way he still had that sexy hint of a southern twang in his voice. A remnant from his childhood with his father’s roving ways. “I want you.”

  “Me?” To her eternal embarrassment, her voice actually squeaked.

  But instead of flashing his signature grin, he looked uncharacteristically somber. “It’s always been you, Thea. Always.”

  For an instant she latched on to what he said before reality sank in.

  Yeah, right. What he was selling, she wasn’t buying.

  The cocky bastard was in for at least one surprise today. Her body may have reacted with great gusto to Cain’s blistering-hot kiss, but anyone would have. The guy was sexy as hell. Her reaction didn’t mean anything except she was a normal woman with an above-average sex drive. Nothing more.

  “And I’m supposed to what? Weep for joy? Fall at your feet in a puddle of blithering gratitude? All because you say you want me, that you’ve deigned to grace me with your precious attention again?”

  She saw what looked like pain mixed with admiration flicker in his eyes, and gloried she’d struck a hit. Stepping off the banquet seat, she faced him with her chin held high. “Go away, Cain. Stop bothering me. I don’t have time for this.”

  She turned and stomped over to the bar, silently seething at his audacity.

  The bastard was as arrogant as he’d ever been. The passing of years hadn’t changed that about him either. Not one bit. Nor had it lessened his physical impact, the sex appeal that practically dripped off of him, or the way he filled out a pair of jeans.

  Those same years had, however, changed her. The girl he used to know was now a mature woman. One who had learned to harden her heart against men. Especially against him. She was in control, cool and collected. An island unto herself.

  And there was no fucking way he was going to just show up here and sweet talk his way back into her bed.

  No matter how much her traitorous body still wanted him.

  Chapter Two

  Filled with regret, Cain watched as Thea stormed off to work behind the bar.

  He had his work cut out for him, that’s for sure, but he’d known that going in. Thea’s rigid posture just confirmed it. And taking in the fiery blue-green eyes that kept shooting lasers of death his way, he regretted even more he’d been the cause of all that cool disdain and anger.

  Not that he was surprised. Thea had always been strong, even ten years ago. He’d always admired that about her. Now, she was a force to be reckoned with—a competent business woman, smart, decisive, in charge. The whole package. And it made her even hotter than he remembered. Which was saying something because she’d always wowed him.

  Full of confidence and control, strength and determination, fire and passion, she was exactly what he wanted in a woman. An
d boy oh boy, that fire. She’d always had it in spades, but ten years ago it had been the fire of passion and strength of character. She’d been fun-loving and spontaneous, full of curiosity about everything. It had been one of his favorite things about her.

  But there had always been a sweetness beneath all the bravado. Something he thought she’d always possess. Now he was very much afraid he may have damaged it, or worse, destroyed it altogether, leaving only the cool contempt and disdainful anger she leveled at him now. That trait was new, and he mourned its manifestation.

  It was a certainty he’d ruined any sweet feelings she’d ever had toward him. Proven by the way she currently looked as if she wanted to do him bodily harm.

  Not that he blamed her.

  With a long sigh of regret, he turned away and left the bar.

  The brisk walk felt good, soothing his troubled thoughts, as did the familiarity of everything around him. It was busier than he remembered, even for tourist season, which had to mean good things for the local economy. The kept up look of downtown confirmed it. Some stores had changed, and others had refurbished their storefront, but for the most part it looked the same. And it still felt like home. Although, it would never really be home without Thea in his life again.

  He’d been a fool to toss away what they’d had. As if something that special could be found all the time. The truth was their timing had been way off. He hadn’t deserved her love, hell he still didn’t. But back then he’d been too young, too afraid of commitment and being tied down to one place and one woman.

  Too much of a fool.

  Thank God he was older and a lot wiser now. He just hoped it wasn’t too late to make things right between them.

  The delicious smell of fresh baked goods snared his attention, luring him into Mama Biggs Bakery. As he passed through the door, he saw the place still looked the same, bringing back a multitude of happy memories.