Dane

by Flora Madison

  “What is your story, Dr. Caden?” I whisper, suddenly wishing I had a mystery novel and a cup of strong, black tea. This place is damp and haunting, yet there’s something magnetic about it. My brain swirls, wondering what holds more secrets: the house or the doctor himself.

  My thoughts are interrupted by Dane’s heavy footsteps. He doesn’t meet my eyes, but goes right to my ankle and places the ice on top. I jump at the sudden burst of cold. “Thank you.” I say, trying to pull his gaze. When he doesn’t answer right away, self-consciousness takes over. “I’ll be out of your hair in no time.”

  “Not until the storm clears, you won’t.”

  “I’ve driven in worse conditions than this.”

  “No.” his booming voice rattles my chest. “Not until the storm clears.” A cold intensity stretches from his gaze, causing my breath to catch. “It isn’t safe.” His chest rises and falls in the silence between us, eyes still locked in on me. I swallow back a wave of pure desire for the dominant mystery man as my panties drench. An aching twitch rises in the center of my core. His hand brushes my shin when he stands and goosebumps fly up my leg.

  “Why do you have children’s books?” The seconds the words escape my lips I regret them. He stops in mid-motion, shoulders squaring, fists clenched.

  “The books are back in your possession, Eden.” He turns his head to the side, showing off that sexy profile of his. “I’ll give you cash for the fine.” Then he walks into the kitchen and leaves me on the sofa wondering why on earth a man like him has random children’s books. What wound have I triggered?

  My fingers part the velvet curtains and I peer out the dirty window, then lean my back against the arm of the sofa, close my eyes, and wait for the storm to pass.

  4

  Dane

  I thrashed in bed all night after I deemed it safe enough for Eden to leave, and it took every ounce of my energy not to follow her home to make sure she arrived safe and sound. The storm cleared sooner than anticipated and there was no reason for me to force her to stay, but dammit I wanted her here. I brush a stray strand of hair from my forehead. I want her here right now. The woman possesses a magic I forgot existed in other humans. The tightness against my boxers are a testament to that.

  I rub the sleep from my eyes and try not to chastise myself for not finding an excuse for her to stay. It’s crazy the feelings this virtual stranger has stirred inside of me. Feelings I haven’t felt in ages. Feelings I thought I’d never feel again.

  My feet hit the cold wood and I shiver, wishing I would’ve thought to turn up the heat. The leaves outside the window have taken on a golden hue. Fall is the season of death. A season I relate all too well with.

  I have to find a way to see her again.

  The old staircase creaks beneath my bare feet as I make my way to the kitchen. While it’s not the answer to everything, coffee is a cure in and of itself. The one upgrade I’ve made is the espresso machine, at this point my pride and joy. My smile dwindles. Of all the things Eden could come digging around about, of course it surrounds the accident.

  Acid coats my tongue. Maybe coffee isn’t the best thing for me right now. But what can replace the pain of losing your fiancé? Especially when you were the one who couldn’t save her. I wince at the memory of that night in the emergency room. My father always said I was shit under pressure. I’m glad he didn’t live to see the day I proved him right.

  And those library books, I’d nearly forgotten all about them. They belonged to her daughter, who must have a guardian angel looking out for her. She walked away without a scratch.

  A knock on the door snaps my head in its direction. Who the hell is here? When I check my phone still plugged into the kitchen outlet, I’m shocked to see that it’s after noon. Dear Lord, I did sleep well.

  When I throw open the door, ready to give this trespasser a piece of my mind, every ounce of anger melts from my body. Eden stands on my porch, backlit by the sun. Her vintage shirtdress, buttoned all the way down to her knees and cinched with a thick, cherry red belt, accentuates her curves like it was custom made. Damn this woman’s body should be illegal, so full and voluptuous. My lip curls, imagining what she looks like underneath all of that fabric. How her skin will prickle when I kiss every inch of her. This gorgeous librarian showing up at my door not once but twice may be the death of me.

  “What are you doing here?” The smile on her face fades, making me regret the words as soon as they leave my mouth. I clear my throat, trying not to sound like the bitter asshole I’ve become. “Did you forget the books?”

  “No.” She says, leaving me drowning in her dark brown eyes. “I came back because…” She scrunches up her face, teeth sunk into her bottom lip. She nervously wrings her hands in front of her waist, and lets out an exasperated sigh. “On my way home last night there were two cars that had spun off the road. One minute they were driving and the next.” She snaps her fingers. I wince at the gesture. “You were right to keep me here, and this might sound crazy, but you may very well have saved my life last night by making me wait out that storm.”

  “Eden— “

  “So, thank you, and…” Eden reaches down to the side of her, just out of my sight line and reveals a picnic basket. “I brought you lunch.”

  My brain goes haywire. Of course I want her here, but getting close to anyone is dangerous. Living my life alone prevents me from having to face ever having to save anyone I care about again. But when I open my mouth to object, Eden hobbles past me. I sidestep, not wanting to alter her balance.

  “It’s the least I can do, Dr. Caden.” Her honey smooth voice summons a deep part of me I thought had vanished. I know that if I let this woman in, there’s absolutely no chance of letting her go. She’ll be mine forever. I’ll never fucking let her go.

  I reach out and touch her arm, stopping her in her tracks. With her dark hair hanging in soft ringlets around her shoulders, she reminds me of a dark-eyed Scarlett O’Hara. Her ruby red lips remained parted begging to be tasted. The smile returns to her angelic face, she shakes her head.

  “Let me help you with that.”

  Eden shakes her head. “No, it’s all prepped. I just need to plate it.”

  I run a hand through my hair. “Alright, well, do you mind if I…take a shower?” Her dazzling eyes dance up and down my torso making me twitch in my pants. “I just woke up.”“Go.” She swallows, waving her hand through the air. “I know my way around a kitchen. I’m sure I’ll figure it out.” Eden’s skirt swishes with each step as she slowly makes her way to the kitchen.

  For once in my life, I’m speechless. Women like Eden don’t just appear out of the clear blue sky. I should warn her, tell her I’m not the strong, capable doctor she thinks I am, but I can’t bring myself to do it. Because deep down I know, I want Eden. I want to claim her and make her mine forever.

  5

  Eden

  The thought of Dane Caden upstairs in the shower ignites my senses. His giant frame under the hot stream of water, sudsing up. That thick, dark hair brushed back to reveal his chiseled features. A shiver of desire passes through me, causing my hands to shake as I pull the container of fresh strawberries out from the basket.

  Dane’s kitchen, though slightly outdated, turns out to be quite functional, though it’s as dark as the rest of the house. I pull the oversized curtains wide, and watch stray dust particles dance in the stream of golden sunlight. “Better.” I say to myself, and begin plating our lunch.

  After I got home last night I couldn’t stop thinking about Dane. Not only the fact that this hulking man took care of my ankle, but how I’d mistaken him for a monster when he may have turned out to be a savior in disguise.

  The mysterious doctor had my brain running on overdrive. Our odd interaction left me with more questions than answers, and as a librarian I know that the only way to get to the bottom of things is to do my research. When my internet search turned out to be a bust, I knew this mission required field work. Plus, if I’
m being honest, I wanted to see him again. My body tingles at the memory of his touch, how gentle he was with me. My nipples stiffen against my bra, panties soaking at the thought of that gentleness turning to rough, possessive passion. I close my eyes, embracing the ache pulsing in my center.

  Is that the real reason I came here today?

  “Find everything okay?” I let out a tiny yelp, breaking my own spell. I turn to find Dane in the doorway of the kitchen. His distressed jeans and white v-neck t-shirt highlight his god like physique . He blocks the sun with his hand.

  “I hope you don’t mind.” I gesture toward the open window. For a moment, he doesn’t say anything. He stares at me, hair slicked back revealing his perfect bone structure. The sheer bulk of the man should have the floor bulging beneath his weight, so strong and fierce in this delicate, vintage space.

  “It’s fine.”

  I tilt my head, gazing deep into his stormy eyes. “Don’t you ever smile?”

  He doesn’t respond. Instead, he makes his way to the kitchen table. “Looks like your ankle’s better.”

  “It is.” I glance down at my feet. “It’s like I’m miraculously cured, doctor.”

  “You don’t have to call me that.”

  “What if I like it?” I bite my lip, flushing at my own blatant flirtation.

  “Do you like it?” His low voice comes out as a growl.

  I nod. “And I have to admit, I have ulterior motives for coming here.”

  “I told you, I’ll give you the money. I could’ve transferred it online. You didn’t have to come all the way back out here.”

  “It’s not the money, either.” I set the two plates in front of us, allowing the full of my breast to brush against his arm on the way. The crisp, clean smell of freshly showered man fills my nostrils and wetness explodes into my panties. With his full lips parted, he glances up at me stopping for a brief second to linger on my intentionally full cleavage.

  Losing my nerve I sit in the seat next to him, and place my napkin on my lap. Feeling a little out of my league, I’m the first to speak. “I’m not usually this bold, but I have to admit.” I force myself to finish my sentence. “I’m wildly intrigued by you.”

  Dane’s nostrils flare. He shakes his head. “There’s nothing special about me, Eden.”

  I bring a strawberry to my mouth, and run it across my bottom lip before taking a bite. “A handsome doctor living some sort of recluse lifestyle in a secluded, borderline decrepit Victorian mansion in the woods? I’d say that’s pretty interesting.”

  “It’s not.” His stern voice furrows my brow.

  “Are you really a doctor?”

  “I already told you.”

  “What hospital do you work for?”

  “I’m sort of retired.”

  “And why are you out here all alone in the woods?”

  “People bug me.”

  “Do I bug you?”

  Dane’s jaw clenches, unamused. “This line of questioning does. What is it you want to know, Eden?”

  I take a deep breath. I might as well cut to the chase. “Fine. I want to know why.”

  “Why what?”

  “Why are you living here all alone, cut off from society and your profession with kid’s books that are a two years overdue?”

  The chair skids against the hardwood. Dane jumps up from his chair, wipes his mouth with his napkin. “Thank you for lunch.”

  “But we’re not done.”

  “Yes, we are.” He puts his hands on his hips, and refuses to meet my eyes. His broad chest rises and falls with each exasperated breath. Geez Louise, what was I thinking? That he really was some kind of Mr. Darcy type when in truth, his temperament leaves him more in the Heathcliff realm.

  Slowly, I rise from my chair feeling like a total idiot for coming out here like this with some sort of romantic, gothic fantasy in my head. “You’re right, Dr. Caden … I mean, Dane.” His Adam’s apple dances when he swallows. “I’m a jerk for coming out here like this. Invading your privacy when clearly you want to be left alone.” I close my basket and lift it from the table. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”

  My lips press into a weak smile, because I know what I was thinking. Something inside of me told me that this might be something more than a promotion mission. When I couldn’t get him out of my head, I thought maybe this could be love.

  Love? Listen to yourself, Eden!

  “Goodbye, Dane.” I can’t get out of there fast enough, trembling from embarrassment. Did I really think I could come in here and get some sort of answers from this man when I don’t even know him? I make it out to my car and sit there for a long moment, silently chastising myself. I’ve never been able to resist a wounded puppy, and Dane Caden is definitely wounded. I just wish he would tell me why.

  I hit the steering wheel with my palm, then cover my eyes with my hands, attempting to pull myself together when there’s a loud tapping on my window. A curt yell escapes my mouth. When I flip my head around, I’m surprised to see Dane peering in at me.

  I roll down my window. “Did I forget something?”

  “No.” For the first time I notice the golden ring around his pupils, a tiny bit of warmth illuminating from his steely gray stare. “I’m not used to company.”

  “I gathered.”

  “I’m sorry, Eden. Please believe me.” His jaw clenches, eyes pleading with me.

  “I shouldn’t have interrogated you like that. We barely know each other and I’m not good at these things. To me knowledge is power and you’re a gigantic enigma.“

  “Come back inside.” His gravelly voice pleads, leaving me helpless. “I want you here, Eden.” Dane pushes his rapidly drying hair back from his face. “You’re the first person I’ve wanted in a very long time.”

  I’m ashamed to say that’s all it takes. Dane’s hand rests on my lower back as he leads me back into the house.

  6

  Dane

  I can’t believe I acted like such a dick, but these questions bring up such pain, such a sense of failure. But if I’m going to heal and embrace the luck of having Eden appear in my life like this, I have to be honest. Both with her and myself.

  “Want some coffee?” I ask.

  “Got anything stronger? It’ll take the edge off.”

  “What edge?” I raise my brow. It takes Eden a second to realize I’m joking. “Whiskey okay?”

  “Yes, please.” She laughs. I nod and turn toward the bar cart propped next to the fireplace. Dust coats the bottles. I wipe my hand on my faded jeans and turn back toward Eden whose eyes are fixated on me.

  “I haven’t touched the stuff in a while. But I promise, it’s still as effective.” She opens her mouth to speak but thinks twice. “It’s okay, Eden. I want to tell you everything.” I hand her a tumbler filled with amber liquid and sit on the couch next to her. “It’s just hard. I don’t want you to think less of me.”

  “I won’t.” Her fingertips press against my knee and electricity shoots straight through me, stiffening me on the spot. “I promise.” She licks her full lips and sips her drink.

  “I’m sure you know those books weren’t mine. My fiancé’s daughter checked them out.”

  “Fiancé?” Eden’s face falls, her voice a whisper. “Marjorie.”

  “Yes.”

  “So, you’re engaged?” Her finger nervously traces the bottom of her glass.

  “Not anymore. Marjorie and her daughter were in a terrible accident.” My fist clenches around my glass. “Marjorie didn’t make it.”

  “Oh my God.” She whispers, shaking her head. “Oh Dane, I’m so sorry.”

  “The weather was identical to last night and they were coming home from the market.” I take a deep breath, knowing that every time I tell the story—which isn’t very often—I lose her all over again. Still, for some reason this time feels … different. “They were taken to Mercy Hospital’s Emergency Room. One of my colleagues called me immediately. Marjorie was in critical condition
.”

  Eden traces her thumb along my thigh. “What happened?”

  “Luckily, her daughter made it out with barely a scratch. She’s living with her father a few towns over, but Marjorie.” The pain comes crashing into my chest, failure burning like hellfire. “Even after twelve hours of surgery, I couldn’t save her.”

  “No wonder you’re out here all alone.” Eden sets down her drink, and wraps her tender arms around me, holding me tight. “That’s awful. I’m so sorry you had to go through that.” I open my mouth to speak, but she presses her finger against my lips. “You don’t have to say anything else, Dane.” Her soft cheek, wet with tears, presses against my own. Her breath, hot and comforting against my earlobe. “It’s not your fault. I hope you know that.”

  “Sometimes I still feel like it is.” She pulls back, leaving her arms around my waist and meets my gaze. Her dark brown eyes dart back and forth between my own. “I understand if this is a lot for you to handle.”

  “Both of my parents died when I was in high school, Dane. I blamed myself for years. It’s a natural response, but it’s not true.”

  My fingertip traces the outline of her jaw. “Ever since you showed up on my doorstep last night, something inside of me shifted. I can’t stop thinking about you. About seeing you. Touching you.” I press my forehead against hers. “Kissing you.”

  Eden’s breath tickles my lips. “I feel the same way, Dane. It’s the strangest thing.”

  “But I feel guilty.”

  “I understand.”

  “No, Eden, you don’t. I feel guilty about not feeling guilty. I haven’t wanted anything as much as I want you, right now. And I’m not sorry for it. Not one bit.” I take her hand and place it over my erection. “See what you’re doing to me?” My lips brush hers and I can smell the sweet hint of strawberry lingering on her breath. “I’m burning for you, Eden. I need you so bad. Like I’ve never needed anything in my entire life.”