Sneaking Around: Sneaky Love, #2

By Chelle Pimblott

Can she get him to get out of his head long to admit his feelings or will she be the little sister he doesn't have?

 

For Mia, Dan has always been a part of her life, he's her brother Alex's best friend and he's been family forever. She's also had a crush on him for as long as she can remember and it only got worse the older they got. 

 

Dan has fought his attraction to his best friend and business partners sister for so long now it feels like a second skin. Alex knows him better than anyone but if he knew what he was thinking when he looked at Mia, there's no way he'd still be his friend. That's why he has to keep his distance.

 

When they finally give in to desire, will Alex be able to accept them being together or will their happiness be short lived?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chelle pimblott
• Release date: Nov 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9780645340334

Chelle Pimblott

Chelle Pimblott lives in Regional Melbourne, Australia with her husband, two teenage sons, and their Irish Wolfhound, Sarge. She started reading romance novels back in the 80’s, when she found her grandmother’s Mills & Boon stash, and she hasn’t looked back since! Although, she didn't actually start writing romance novels until her mid 40’s, well after her beloved grandmother’s death, she’s pretty damned sure her grandmother would be proud as punch of her pursuits today. Chelle’s stories are very steamy, but even so, she knows her grandmother would love them! Chelle started writing after sharing a quickie that she’d written with her friends one day, and they encouraged her to continue the story. That same group of friends still stand behind her today, and that first quickie became ‘Sneaky’, her first published novel.  

Book preview

Chapter One

MIA

I’m sitting at my desk , staring off into space, daydreaming. About whom you might ask, and I might tell you......not! I’ve dated a few guys, long and short term. Most of them have been idiots and I’ve been an even bigger idiot to stay with them! After the last one, I’ve decided to stay away from the opposite sex. No, I’m not going after girls, not that that’s a bad lifestyle choice, but girls just don’t do it for me!

Well, there is one guy. One guy that if he ever noticed me as a woman and not a little girl, I would reconsider my ban for. Oh boy! That’s who I’m wishing would come into the office and take me away! Never gonna happen, but a girl can dream. Right?

I’m still staring off into space, flipping my pen around when my boss manages to sneak up and scare the crap out of me!

Good morning Mia. Working hard this morning, I see! Tonya says with a smile.

Why yes I am Tonya, just thinking about something is all.

Well, at a guess, that something is very delicious. What’s his name?

Tonya may be my boss but we’re also pretty good friends. It’s unusual around this place, but we get along really well. I get my work done and she’s normally happy with it and when she’s not, we work it out.  She hired me because I didn’t bullshit her when she interviewed me. I told her I had no experience but was willing to learn and that I could learn fast. It’s exactly what I’ve done and she’s taken me under her wing. That being said, I’m not telling her about Dan, I’m not telling anyone about Dan!

There’s no-one Tonya and you know it! Eye candy only for me right now.

Uh huh ... so what’s the eye candy’s name then? I know you have one, I could see the dreamy look in your eyes just now. That can only be bought on by a hunk of maleness. Tonya laughs, loudly, causing the rest of the office to turn around and look in our direction. She doesn’t give a shit, but I do!

I was actually thinking about this latest book you gave me. It’s hard going, who is the author? I don’t see a name on it.

Ohhh, it’s ummm, a new author. Feel free to make any notes on the transcript you want. I’ll take a look at it once you’re done.

With that, Tonya walks back into her office. Strange, very strange indeed! It’s unusual for an author’s name not to be on a transcript, especially with a new author! I’m never getting out of here today if I don’t concentrate on work instead of Dan.

DAN

I WORK CONSTRUCTION with my best friend Alex, it’s a job and it pays the bills. I’m more than happy to be working with Alex, since we’ve known each other since high school and we’re great partners, even if he is technically my boss. He’s letting me take on more of the day to day stuff now that he’s found himself a great woman, Ally. He’s had to drop his workaholic ways to spend time with her. Good for him and good for me too.

My real passion though, is woodworking. I have my own workshop at home, I fitted out the garage with everything I need. I create tables, chairs, benches, cabinets, any shape, any size and each one is an individual piece of work. I select my clients and the pieces I want to make and most of the time, once I’ve shown them the design I draw up for them, they leave me in peace to just create. That’s the way I like it.

Today I’m working on something special, for someone special. They’re simple shelves, but I’m putting some extra love into them. The fronts of them are curved and slightly rough. I’m sanding the edges so that they’re beautiful and smooth but still a little edgy. We went out together and searched for the wood, it’s not what I usually do but like I said, she’s special. I’ve known her for what feels like my entire life.

As I’m sanding these curves, I can’t help but imagine that they’re her curves that my hands are sliding over. If only!

MIA

WHEN I FINALLY LEAVE work, I don’t feel like going straight home. It can get lonely when you have a whole house to yourself. Don’t get me wrong, I really love the house. My brother managed to convince his girlfriend to move in with him and Ally offered me her house to rent. She didn’t want to sell and I needed a place to live after living on a friends couch for a while.

So, instead of going home, I head over to Dan’s. On the way over, I grab us some dinner, because I’m pretty sure he’s out in his workshop and hasn’t eaten yet, as usual.

I stand in the doorway of his workshop for a minute and just watch him. He’s in the zone and sexy as hell! Fuck! I wish I was that piece of wood he’s sanding down, his hands running all over it with care and attention! I swallow then cough, announcing my presence. I don’t want him sanding any major parts of his anatomy now do I? Yes, hands do count!

He stops what he’s doing and looks up.

Hey Dan, thought I’d bring us some dinner, while I checked up on my shelves I smile, hoping that my face isn’t red and he can’t tell what I’m actually thinking. He looks a little flustered himself but he’s the one doing physical activity, I don’t have that excuse.

Hey, Mia. Thanks, I haven’t eaten yet so, ummm, yeah thanks. He stumbles out and I think it’s adorable. He’s rarely at a loss for words, so when he is, I have to pick on him!

Are you ok there Dan? Did I scare you that much, that you can’t find your words? I laugh.

"Oh, you’re so very funny aren’t you sweet cheeks? You didn’t scare me, I was just in the zone and thought I was alone. You startled me is all, smartarse! He sounds annoyed but I can see the smirk fighting to be free. What did you bring me to eat woman?"

A burger and chips, man beast and don’t call me sweet cheeks!

He looks at me and says, Did you bring me a milkshake too? he’s got such a hopeful, childlike look on his face!

Yes Dan, I got you a chocolate milkshake. Just like always.

His smile is worth every minute of the detour to get dinner and come here, rather than go home. He looks so damned happy, it’s hard to believe that he’s the same age as my older brother sometimes. I know he didn’t have a happy family life as a kid, but when small things like bringing him a burger and his favourite shake makes him this happy, it’s a damn crime!

So, what are you doing here sweet cheeks? Don’t get me wrong, I love the home delivery, I forget to eat when I’m out here.

I didn’t feel like eating alone and I wanted to check up and see how far you’d gotten with my shelves. He starts to speak but I hold up my hand, "Yes, I do know that you don’t like to feel like you’re being checked up on while you’re working on your creations, but I didn’t want to go home just yet, ok" I didn’t mention that after this morning, I had a real desire to see him and not my shelves! Boy, was it desire fanning the flames of need too, trust me. I tried to find any reason to catch up with Dan, especially when it’s just the two of us.

Well actually, what I was about to say was, I was just finishing up the last one as you walked in. I just need to give it a lick of lacquer, let it dry and I’ll be ready to bring them over and install them. He grins around a mouthful of chips. How the hell can I find even that adorable? The fact that he said lick, has my knickers damp! Holy shit! This has to stop, I’m not asking him to do any more ‘projects’ for me. I can’t deal with it anymore.

Hey Mia, are you ok? You look a little flushed and slightly unsteady on your feet. He asks as he comes over and wraps an arm around my waist, to guide me towards a chair. He really needs to stop touching me, it’s not helping with the whole ‘weak at the knees’ thing!

I push him away, I’m fine Dan, thanks for helping but I’m good. I’ll just sit here, eat my dinner and then I’ll leave you in peace. I know you prefer it that way.

Are you sure you’re ok? You don’t have to leave you know. I can finish what I’m doing and we can go relax in the house.

I cannot go into that house with him! I want to jump his bones and I can’t, so I have to go home. It was a terrible idea coming over here.

DAN

I CAN’T BELIEVE I SAID lick to Mia and managed to keep my tongue in my mouth! Fuck me! Then, I invite her to stay and hang out for a while. What the fuck am I thinking? I can’t do this, she’s Alex’s sister and well, she’s not actually related to me, but it’s kind of how we behave. Alex will KILL me!

I want her to say no, she has to go home. She has this look on her face, it tells me that she’s feeling the same way I am but she doesn’t know what the fuck to do with it. God help me! She needs to go home.

Actually, if it’s ok with you, can I go use the bathroom ..... At the house, please? I have a bathroom down here but if she wants to go up the house, it’s ok with me.

Sure, Mia, go right ahead. I’ll be there in a few minutes and we can go over the brackets you want to use for these shelves. If you want?

Yeah, yeah sure Dan, we can do that, and then I’m going home, ok?

Sure Mia, no worries. Suddenly the thought of her going home, well, it just doesn’t appeal to me. I want her to stay here, with me and that’s just fucking dangerous!

Chapter Two

MIA

Iwalk out of the workshop and up to the house. I know it almost as well as my own and Alex’s. I walk into the bathroom and close the door. I don’t like what I see when I look in the mirror, I really need to use the toilet and then get the hell out of here.

I walk out of the bathroom, busy looking in my bag to find my keys when I walk into a solid wall of maleness that’s easy to recognise. Especially seeing as I’ve been dreaming about running my hands all over that body! Dan!

Oooomph! Are you in a hurry Mia? Trying to ditch and run huh? He grabs the top of my arms so that I don’t fall over backwards but him touching me, well that just means my body is on high alert and while he’s looking me in the eyes like that, I’m grateful he’s holding me up because he makes me go weak in the knees. AGAIN!

Ahh hey Dan, I wasn’t expecting you to get to the house so quickly! I was ditching you kind of, I just remembered I have something I need to get done for work tomorrow. He turns to walk away from me, letting go of my arms.

"Sure, it was so important that you weren’t even going to come back out to the workshop to say goodbye ..... Mmmmm hmmmmmm. Glad to know I’m a priority to you, thanks. If nothing else, I thought we were at least friends, Mia!"

I don’t know how I made him angry and I can’t move my feet or speak. I don’t know what to do. If I tell him the truth, then I’m screwed and if I don’t, he’s going to think that we’re not even friends.

"It’s ok Mia, just go. I’ll email you some pictures of the brackets and I’ll get your brother to come help me install them, that way you’ll know you’re safe AND the job gets done quickly.

I walk over and place a hand on the back of Dan’s shoulder, he flinches, actually flinches from my touch! I leave my hand resting there lightly and say, Dan. That’s not what I’m doing, I just, I know you hate to be interrupted when you’re working out in your workshop. I just wanted to give you the space you like. That’s all. He turns to face me and my palm now rests over his heart. I can feel it beating, fast yet rhythmic. I would have come and said goodbye or most likely, I would have sent you a text.

"Ohhh yeah a text would be fucking wonderful, friend!"

Why are you so angry with me? I was trying to do the right thing, Dan!

I’m not angry with you, I just ........ He shakes his head and I’m confused. "You. I just.

Ahhh, fuck it! I just wanted you to stay for a while, that’s all Mia."

That’s all? You just needed some company huh? No hot dates tonight? I’m just who’s here, so I’ll do, hmmm? Now it’s MY turn to be angry!

No, that’s not what I meant and you know it! I just ..

"You just WHAT Dan? That’s about the third time you’ve, ‘I just’ but never finished the fucking sentence! You’re driving me nuts, you know that? I can’t stay here, I have to leave, I just can’t do this anymore." I fling my hand between us, indicating an us that doesn’t exist.

DAN

I SHOULDN’T TOUCH HER. I should let her leave but I don’t. I can’t. I grab her flailing hand and pull her to me, our chests meeting with a dull thud. I hold her hand over my rapidly beating heart. I know I shouldn’t but I do it anyway. I need the touch. My other hand reaches up behind her neck and slowly, I bend her head backwards, so that I can reach her lips. Our lips aren’t touching, but they’re only a breath away, I could easily reach out my lips and kiss her. My eyes haven’t left hers and I’m watching every reaction she has to me. She hasn’t pulled away, that’s always a good sign.

If you tell me to stop Mia, I will and we can forget anything happened. But, if you don’t tell me to stop now, I don’t think I’ll be able to. She takes in a deep breath, never once looking away from my eyes. "Answer me now Mia, I’ll only ask this once. Do you want me to kiss you, sweet cheeks?"  Goddamnit, if she says no, I’m fucked!

She takes a deep breath, holds it for a few seconds. I start to let her go, I’ve completely screwed this up and I can’t take it back. She’s my best friend’s sister and I have to see her way too often to have let it get this far.

Before I can move away from her, she drops her bag and grabs the hand holding hers onto my chest. Her voice is husky and sure, Dan Robson, if you don’t kiss me now, I’m going to punch you so fucking hard .....

That’s all the permission I need! Within a split second, my lips are on hers. Gently for just a minute and then she gasps as I pull her hips to mine. I know she can feel my hard cock rubbing against her stomach. I put my knee between her legs and rub against her. She’s warm and wet, I can feel her through my jeans. She groans and I slide my tongue in her mouth, tangling it with hers. I can’t get enough.

GOD! Why did I wait so fucking long? She’s like heaven! I’ve never felt this rush or need with anyone else!

MIA

I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS is happening. I want to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming but it would make me look like an idiot! Instead, I thread my hand through his hair and moan into his mouth! Ohhhh god! He feels so good, too good to be true honestly but screw that, I’m going with this for as long as he will.

I push myself even closer to his body and I rub my pussy along his thigh. My leg that’s between his, rubs along his already hard cock and he growls in my mouth. I can’t help but smile against his lips. It’s nice to know that I affect him as much as he does me!

He pulls back, just slightly and we’re both breathing hard. He rests his forehead on mine and says in a husky, sexy voice, "Mia, if you don’t want this, you have to tell me now. Otherwise, you better be ready for me because I’m taking you to my bed and making you scream my fucking name to the world! He pulls in a deep shuddering breathe and continues, This is your last chance