by Cate Beauman
Taking Shane to bed was a mistake; there was no doubt about it. Wanting him again when she shouldn’t, could only lead to disaster. But she did want him, craved him, which sent up a shrill of alarm bells in her heart. He was leaving. In six days Shane would go back to Los Angeles, and she would stay here.
Last night had been unexpected, their startlingly deep connection unanticipated. And now it was over. She had inventory to take, and Shane had bags to pack and details to see to before his departure. Biting her bottom lip, she grabbed hold of his wrist, lifting his arm draped around her waist, and inched herself away from his warm body.
Free of him, she sat up, sighing her relief when he didn’t stir. Leaving before he woke was better. Later they would have to talk, but for now she needed to go. She stood, walking to her robe that had fallen near his side of the bed, and gasped when powerful arms wrapped around her waist.
“Going somewhere?” he asked next to her ear.
“You scared me.” She turned, staring into sleepy green eyes. “I didn’t hear you get up.” She smiled, waiting for him to release her. “I have to shower and get ready for work.”
He shook his head. “I think the patients of Black Bear Gap can wait their turn.”
“I really have to—”
“Lay down with me.” He lifted her off her feet and collapsed to the bed, trapping her beneath him.
“Shane—”
He kissed her temples, her chin, her lips.
“Mmm.” She closed her eyes, getting lost, wrapping her arms around him, then opened her eyes just as quickly when he settled himself more truly between her legs, fully aroused. “Shane,” she whispered. “We can’t do this.” Even as she spoke she spread her legs wider, tilting her hips, inviting him to enter.
“I definitely think we can.” He pushed himself inside, sucking in a deep breath as she clutched at his shoulders, whimpering with the flash of heat.
“We should hurry,” she gasped as he thrust, staring into his eyes.
“How about we just see where we end up.” He nuzzled her neck. “But I have to admit, Doc, you’ve got me pretty stirred up.”
She slid her hands down his back and grabbed at his ass. If she was going to be foolish and sin a second time, she planned to sin well. “Then take me for a ride.”
His eyes changed, the green going dark and dangerous. “You want a ride?”
Her stomach clutched with a swarm of flutters, the intensity of his stare promising to take her to sinful places. “Mmhm.”
“You’ve got it.”
She grinned, eager, ready as he devoured her mouth, rolling with her over the mattress. He sat up, settling her on top of him so she took him in deeper as she wrapped her legs around his waist, but by no means was she in charge as he gripped her hips, sending her to the brink with his hurried rhythm.
“Shane,” she gasped. “Shane.”
“More,” he said against her mouth, kissing her brainless. “More, Reagan.” He laid them back against the sheets, rolling her to her stomach, and entered her from behind. She cried out, clutching the headboard as he reached down, teasing her into a frenzy with skillful fingers while he nipped at her shoulder with his teeth. She screamed into the pillow, orgasming with a power she’d never experienced.
“God, more Reagan. I want to see you.” He turned her, shoving himself deep, pumping while flesh slapped against flesh.
She bowed back, flying over the edge again, realizing the loud, throaty purrs were coming from her. He gyrated faster, harder, and jerked, throwing his head back and let himself go, collapsing forward, his ragged breathing filling her ear. “Holy shit.”
“Mmm,” she agreed, too drained to do anything but stare at the ceiling while she waited for her heart rate to settle. Never ever had she been so expertly ravaged. “That, Mr. Harper, was incredibly impressive.”
He looked up, grinning, his face sheened in sweat as he tossed the sheet over them. “If you’re going to do something, you might as well do it right.”
“That felt pretty right.”
They both chuckled.
His smile vanished as he traced his thumb along her bottom lip. “So did last night when we did things a little differently.”
“There’s nothing wrong with variety.” She tried to play it light even though it worried her that the tenderness of hours before hadn’t been lost on him. She swallowed. “I should get in the shower.”
“In a minute.” He kissed her long and deep, sending her emotions into a mess of confusion.
“Shane,” Jenny called from the hallway.
His head whipped up. “Yeah?”
She opened the door. “Do you know where Reagan—” Her eyes grew wide as they darted from Shane’s to Reagan’s. “Sorry.” She stepped out and shut the door.
“Damn.” Shane closed his eyes.
“I didn’t lock the door. I never planned to…” She scrambled out from under him, wrapping herself in her robe. “I’ll go talk to her.” She hurried from the room, rushing to the commotion in the kitchen. “Jenny.”
Jenny tossed a not-so-friendly look over her shoulder. “I can’t talk. I need to make Faith’s bottle before she wakes up.”
“Jenny.” She touched Jenny’s rigid arm. “I’m sorry.”
Jenny whirled. “I didn’t know you two were sleepin’ together.”
She slid her hand through her hair. “Jenny—”
“Do you love him?”
She pressed her lips together, realizing she had no idea exactly what she felt. “It’s complicated.”
Jenny huffed out a breath and turned back to the process of mixing powder and water.
“I care for Shane very much. He’s a special man. I’m sorry if we surprised you. I never meant for any of this to happen. Believe me.”
“Me findin’ out?”
She leaned back against the counter. “Any of it.” She rested her face in her hands, realized they smelled like Shane, and dropped them. “None of this was supposed to happen.”
“Don’t cry or nothin’, Reagan.” Jenny’s voice gentled. “I’m not that mad. I guess maybe I’m just a little surprised even though I shouldn’t be, now that I think about it. You two are always touchin’ each other and lookin’ at each other.”
Sighing, she closed her eyes, resting the back of her head against the cupboard. “I guess I never noticed.”
“Is he good at it?”
Her eyes flew open as she stood straight. “Jenny.”
She grinned. “I’m just curious. Shane looks like he’d be real good at it.”
She glanced toward the hallway, shook her head, and leaned in close. “He’s amazing.” She fanned her hand in front of her face, and she and Jenny laughed. She pulled the girl into a hug. “I’m sorry if this hurt your feelings in any way.”
Jenny hugged her back. “I thought I liked him like you do, but then I realized maybe I think of him more like a brother—kinda like how he thinks of me like a sister.”
“Okay.” She kissed Jenny’s cheek. “I think that’s good.”
“So what are you gonna do? He’s leavin’.”
“I’m going to let him go and get on with his life.”
Jenny frowned. “But—”
“He lives in Los Angeles and I don’t.” She kissed Jenny’s other cheek, reminding them both of the facts, whether she liked them or not. “I need to take a shower. We can talk about whatever it was you wanted in a few minutes.”
“I just wanted to tell you I started my period.”
“You did?”
She nodded.
Reagan wrapped her up in another hug. “Thank goodness.” She eased away. “No more sex.”
Jenny shook her head. “No more sex.”
“But if you decide you want to—”
“I don’t. I don’t want any more babies. I’ve got a life to make for me and Faithy.”
“I’m so proud of you.” She ran her hand down Jenny’s long hair. “You’ve come such a long way.”
Shane’s phone rang as Reagan stepped away. “I’m going to shower. Tonight’s pizza and a movie, right?”
“Right.”
“I can’t wait.” Crisis averted, Reagan started back down the hall, slowing when she heard Shane’s voice.
“I’ll only be in town for a day or two. Ethan’s sending me to Madrid for a couple of weeks, then I’ll be back. Yeah. Definitely. Sounds fun.” He chuckled. “A boring dinner with your new boss, then we’ll go hang out at Smitty’s. I’ll write it down. It has been awhile. Okay. Bye, Amber.”
Frowning, Reagan swallowed, absorbing the rush of hurt. Sex with her then plans for a date with another woman before the sheets had a chance to cool. She lifted her chin, determined to shake off the sense of betrayal. She and Shane had blown off some sexual tension, nothing more. No big deal. She stepped back in his room, pasting on a smile. “I talked to Jenny. Everything’s fine. And she’s not pregnant.”
He set down his phone. “That’s great.”
“Yeah. Great.” She took a step in retreat as she glanced at the mess they’d made of his bed. “I’m going to shower and head to the clinic.”
“I’ll be there soon.”
“No,” she said too sharply. She cleared her throat. “You don’t have to.” She slid the hair back behind her ear. “I’m almost finished with inventory.” She tightened the belt on her robe. “I’m sure you have a lot to do to get ready to go home.”
“Reagan—”
“I don’t want you coming in today.” She turned and walked into her room, shut the door, and locked it, leaning against the wood. She and Shane had a little fun, now it was over.
~~~~
Shane peeked in Reagan’s empty room as he walked down the hall after his shower. He glanced at Jenny sitting on the couch holding Faith while she read a magazine, and he kept moving toward the kitchen for a cup of coffee.
Jenny set down her reading material and followed. “Mornin’.”
He poured a mug full of coffee, trying to bury the residual awkwardness of Jenny finding him and Reagan in bed. “Morning. Did Reagan leave?”
“Yeah. She was out of here pretty quickly.” She leaned her hip against the counter.
He nodded, sipping the hot brew. Reagan had been in a hurry to shake him loose pretty much since he pulled himself free of her last night. “Listen—”
“If this is about you and Reagan doin’ it, we don’t have to talk about it. I’m cool with the whole thing.”
He raised his brow and drank deep. “I’m glad I have your blessing.”
She adjusted Faith in her arms as the baby’s eyes drooped. “You don’t have to be grumpy about it. I’m actually kinda glad. It’s nice that she has you. Reagan’s so strong. I want to be just like her someday.”
“She’s pretty great,” he agreed.
“She’s sad though sometimes. I don’t think most people notice, but she is.”
He paused with the mug halfway to his mouth, surprised Jenny had picked up on the emotions Reagan fought so hard to hide.
“She’s such a nice person,” Jenny went on. “But a lot of times I think she might be kinda lonely too. I guess I always thought women who were as beautiful and smart as Reagan didn’t have problems, which is silly because she does. I guess maybe she might have even more because she expects so much of herself.”
He made a sound in his throat, seeing Reagan through Jenny’s perspective.
“I’m just glad me, Reagan, and Faith’ve got each other. She’s always tryin’ to make sure everythin’s all right for everybody else, and I think maybe you try to make sure everythin’s all right for her. I promise I’ll take care of her after you leave.” She walked away.
He stood where he was, struggling with the sickening weight of guilt. He was leaving, going back to his life, but Reagan and Jenny were stuck here—Reagan trapped by her obligations and Jenny by her circumstances. He walked out to where Jenny sat, flipping through the same magazine while Faith slept in her arms. “What are you reading about?”
“Oh, this ain’t—isn’t school stuff. I’m readin’ up on fashion. I figure when I turn eighteen Faith and me’ll be leavin’ and I’ll be wantin’ to know how to dress so I don’t look like I’m so poor.”
He studied one of the trendy outfits Jenny stared at, then looked at the pretty young woman wearing the baggy clothes Reagan had given her. “You like fashion?”
“Sure. I mean what girl doesn’t?”
“What about jewelry?”
She looked at him as if he were a fool. “Does a bear poo in the woods?”
He chuckled. “You’ve got a birthday coming up. The big one-seven.”
“Yeah. It’s the day after you leave. Reagan said she’s gonna take me and Faith to Lexington. We’re gonna shop and stay in some fancy hotel.”
“Sounds fun.” And he was going to miss it.
She nodded as she smiled. “I’m pretty much countin’ down the days. I’ve never had much of a birthday, so this one’s gonna be pretty special.”
“Sounds like it.” He drained the last drop from his cup. “I have some work to do before I head over to the clinic.”
“Oh, Reagan wanted me to remind you that she don’t—doesn’t need you.”
He rubbed at his stomach as Jenny’s words hit home. Reagan didn’t need him. “I guess I’ll go get to those errands then.”
“‘Kay.”
Chapter Twenty-one
Reagan sat in her office taking notes while she watched her third how-to video on baking the perfect birthday cake. Jenny’s birthday was just around the corner and there wasn’t a bakery in town to save the day. She watched the cheery woman pour the batter in the pan and seconds later, through the magic of time lapse, pull the perfectly golden cake from the oven. Wincing, she shook her head, remembering the unfortunate incident involving flames and the need for her kitchen sink hose the last time she attempted to bake anything.
The clinic door opened, and she slammed her laptop closed when Shane stepped inside wearing relaxed fit jeans and a black zip-up hoodie, his snug top beneath accentuating his broad shoulders and chest.
“Hey.”
“Hi.” She licked her lips, sliding her legal pad beneath a book on her desk. “I finished the inventory a little while ago. I really don’t need you today.”
“Yeah, I got the message the first two times you and Jenny told me.” He leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms at his chest. “I wanted to talk to you about Jenny.”
“Sure.” She steepled her fingers on the desk, trying to appear casual while frantic gasps and moans echoed in her head as she remembered the way his powerful body dominated hers. “What’s up?”
“It’s her birthday next week.”
“Yeah. I was just planning out some stuff for her.”
“I want to do something for her before I leave.”
“Oh, okay. Sure.”
“I’ve ordered her some stuff. I’m having it overnighted, so it should be here in two or three days.” He smiled as she did. “I was thinking we could do a cake and maybe some presents Wednesday night.”
“But you leave Thursday morning. That sounds a little hectic.”
“I’ll make it work.”
She shrugged. “Sure. We’ll have a party Wednesday then.”
He moved closer, sitting on the edge of her desk. “What’s up, Reagan?”
She reached for her water, scooting a couple inches away as their legs touched. “What do you mean?”
“I have this hunch you’re not only avoiding me but regretting last night.”
She sighed, looking at the straw in her water bottle instead of him. “Last night shouldn’t have happened.”
“And this morning?”
She stood, walking to the file cabinet, too restless to be still. “That was a mistake too.”
“A mistake?” Now he stood. “How can you say that?”
She pressed a hand to her s
tomach as it started to ache. “We never should’ve ended up in bed. It’s my fault. I initiated the whole thing. I take full responsibility.”
“I’ll take half of it. I’m pretty sure I was your willing partner—just as you were mine.”
She met his stare. “There’s no need to make a big deal out of one night. We had sex. It’s over.”
“Bullshit. We have something—a connection. We have since the beginning.”
She didn’t want to have a connection with Shane. What good did it do either of them when they lived on opposite sides of the country? “You’re good in bed. I had a nice time—”
He snagged her wrist, yanking her against him. “Don’t do that.”
She pressed her hands to his chest as he wrapped his arms around her waist. “Shane—”
He held her tighter. “Last night wasn’t about fun.”
She needed it to be. “Yes.”
He shook his head.
“Okay. Fine. Clearly we’re attracted to one another, but that’s just pheromones and chemical reactions—simple science.”
“No.” He rubbed his lips against hers. “The way you looked into my eyes, the way you kissed me, that had nothing to do with science. You said you needed me, and I needed you right back.” He nibbled her bottom lip, following his sexy assault with a slide of his tongue until her breath shuddered out and she gripped his jacket. “What we have is more than a chemical reaction.” He captured her mouth, leaving her helpless to do anything but answer his edgy demands. He eased back, tugging on her lip. “We have more.”
She pulled away, running her trembling hand through her hair. “I can’t do this—”
A vehicle honked several times and screeched to a halt outside.
She and Shane rushed to the window. “It’s Ms. Daisy.” She dashed out the door with Shane following behind.
“Doc Reagan.” Daisy stumbled out of the driver’s side, her cheeks tear streaked. “It’s Henry. He’s not wakin’ up.”
Reagan looked through the windshield at the man slumped in his seat. “Help me get him out,” she said to Shane.