So while the water ran, she tried to distract herself from her worry by watching TV. She’d already folded all the laundry she’d washed in the motel’s machines. She’d put their new clothes away in the dresser drawers. The act had been oddly…intimate.
Funny how after all this time she was finally sharing a room with a man, and it was under circumstances she never could have imagined. She’d always assumed the first time she spent the night with a man, it would be after getting married. For the past several years, she’d pictured the man in question as Allan.
Kevin was about as different from Allan as it was possible for a man to be, which made the situation strange but not uncomfortable.
The water shut off. Haley half sat up, then flopped back down on the bed and watched the model on television apply lip liner. Her thoughts about which color she liked best were interrupted by a loud groan, then a grunt. She tensed, but didn’t move. They’d agreed she would wait out here until Kevin called her in to change his bandage.
After a few minutes, water ran again, followed by silence and a couple more groans. Finally, when she could barely stand it, the bathroom door opened.
She was on her feet in an instant. “Are you all right?”
“I’m still standing. The bandage is soaking, so it needs changing. You sure you’re up to that?”
“Absolutely.” Haley had already collected the first-aid supplies. She scooped them up into her arms and headed toward the bathroom.
“Brace yourself,” Kevin said, pushing the door open wide. “I managed to pull on a T-shirt, but I’m not wearing pants.”
“No problem.”
Haley spoke the words casually, even though her heart was pounding hard enough to bruise a rib. She told herself that seeing Kevin in briefs and a T-shirt was just like going to the beach. Not that she’d been since she was a kid. Actually he would be wearing more. She would be fine.
She stepped into the small, steamy room. The air was scented with soap and shampoo. After setting the fresh bandages and antiseptic cream on the narrow counter by the sink, she reluctantly turned her attention to the man sitting on the edge of the tub.
As promised he’d pulled on a loose-fitting T-shirt. He’d also draped a towel across his lap. She was both relieved and slightly curious about what he was covering up.
But this wasn’t the time to deal with any of that. She sank to her knees and reached for scissors.
“Did you get dizzy? Does everything hurt?” she asked as she cut through the soaked bandage.
“Don’t worry. The painkiller I took after dinner is kicking in.”
“Which means you’re dizzy but you don’t care?”
He chuckled.
She glanced up and found herself getting lost in his brown eyes. He’d brushed his wet hair straight back. Two days’ worth of stubble darkened his cheeks. He looked pretty darned good.
The bandage fell to the floor with a faint thunk. She pulled her attention from Kevin’s face to his leg, then nearly fainted when she saw the raw wound from the gunshot.
“Haley? Are you going to pass out on me?”
Her stomach heaved once, but she ignored it. “I’m fine.” It was only a white lie and shouldn’t really count. She reached for the antiseptic cream and squeezed some on. Kevin’s only reaction was to suck in his breath.
She worked quickly but gently. When the new bandage was secure, she rose and held out her arm.
“I’ll help you into bed,” she said.
He didn’t protest, which told her how bad he was feeling. Together they made the short walk into the other room. She’d already pulled back the covers on his bed. He sat heavily, then shifted and stretched out on the mattress. Haley bent to grab the covers. But before she pulled them up she allowed herself one quick look.
Even with the bandage around his thigh, his legs looked powerful and long. His hips were narrow, his stomach flat. Broad shoulders pulled at the seams of his T-shirt. And his face—
When her gaze settled there, she realized he was watching her. Awareness brightened his eyes and turned up the corners of his mouth.
Horrified, she started to turn away, but he caught her wrist and held her in place.
“I don’t mind you looking,” he said, his voice low.
She kept her back to him. “I shouldn’t have. You’re injured.”
“All the better to take advantage of me.”
She spun back to face him. “I would never do that.”
He chuckled. “I already figured that one out.”
He released her and she pulled up the covers. When she would have stepped away, he patted the side of the bed.
“Have a seat.”
She perched on the edge of the mattress, incredibly aware of her hip pressing against his body. He stunned her by taking her hand in his and lacing their fingers together. Heat filled her, making her breathing quicken. They were alone in a hotel room and he was holding her hand. How had she ever gotten so lucky?
“Tell me about the other men in your life,” he said.
“What other men?”
“Yeah, that would be my point. Have you ever seen a man before?”
The question confused her. Of course she had. She could see him right now. Then she got it. Oh. “You mean—”
If he hadn’t been holding her hand, she would have turned away.
“Naked, Haley. The word you’re looking for is naked.”
She stared at their fingers and at the way her wrist looked small and frail next to his. Instead of speaking an answer, she shook her head no.
“How did you get to the ripe old age of twenty-five without ever seeing a naked man?”
“They usually come to church with their clothes on.” She risked glancing at him and saw him grin.
“Good point. Probably any boyfriends would worry about what your father would have to say if they flashed the goods.”
Flashed the goods? She was both shocked and amused. Would Allan have ever said anything like that to her? She couldn’t imagine it.
“The other night you said you’d only kissed three guys. Is that true?”
She nodded, caught up in the fact that they’d only met a couple of days before. Somehow she felt as if she’d known Kevin forever.
“That’s not very many,” he said. “How can you compare technique and style with a sample of three?”
“It’s been a problem. I never knew if I kissed okay and I didn’t know how to ask.”
When she’d gotten drunk, she’d been hoping Kevin would want to make it four and maybe give her some pointers, but he’d resisted her attempts to seduce him. It was just her luck to fall in with a gentleman.
“Haley, you don’t have a clue as to what’s going on, do you?”
“What are you talking about?”
“My point exactly.”
He stared at her, his dark eyes seeming to see into her soul. His thumb brushed against the back of her hand in a way that left her more than a little breathless. The room seemed very quiet—she couldn’t even hear the television.
“The thing is, with this painkiller, I’m pretty out of it.”
“Sort of like me the other night.”
“Exactly. So we’re even.”
She felt he was trying to tell her something, but she didn’t know what.
“Do you want to kiss me?” he asked.
She would have thought she was done with her shocks for the day, but no. Here was yet another one. Blood rushed from her head to her feet, which made the room spin, then hurried back in place. She tried to breathe and couldn’t. Tried to stand, but not a single muscle so much as twitched.
“It’s not like I’m in a position to protest,” he told her.
She didn’t understand. “But you said you weren’t interested.”
“I’m pretty damn sure I never said that. My point was that I wouldn’t do anything about it. That point still stands.”
“So you don’t want to kiss me?” Hurt flared in her chest. T
hen why had he brought it up?
“I’m not going to take advantage of you. That doesn’t mean you’re under the same constraints.”
She blinked. Her mind heard the words, processed them and sent the results back.
She could kiss him.
“Oh.” She blinked again. “Oh!”
Kiss a man? Her? As in, initiate? As in, start it? As in—
“I can hear you thinking from here.”
She looked at his face, then narrowed her gaze to his mouth. “I’ve never kissed a man before.”
“Maybe you’ll like doing it.”
Maybe she would.
Slowly, carefully, she leaned forward. At some point Kevin’s eyes closed, which was good because she couldn’t remember ever being this nervous before in her life and the last thing she wanted was him watching her. When she was almost there, she closed her eyes, too, because she wanted to feel everything. Then her lips brushed against his.
Her breath caught at the sweet, hot pressure. His mouth was firm yet yielding and felt exactly right against hers. She hovered there, not sure what to do. It had been years since she’d kissed anyone except Allan, and he’d always taken charge.
“Do whatever you want,” Kevin murmured, once again reading her mind.
What did she want to do?
She pulled her hand free of his and gently touched his cheek. As she stroked his skin, she kissed him again, this time moving back and forth, pressing harder, then lighter, discovering possibilities. She found she liked being the one to kiss more, to pull back, to start again.
Tension swept through her body, making her legs tingle and her chest ache. The unfamiliar sensations forced her to lean closer. Kevin parted his lips in invitation and she didn’t even hesitate before sweeping her tongue inside.
He tasted of minty toothpaste and something indescribably sweet. As they touched, fire seemed to leap between them. But the flames didn’t burn. Instead, they pulled them closer together. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her against him. She could feel the pounding of his heart—somehow the rhythm matched her own.
She angled her head so they could kiss more deeply. They played and danced and circled and stroked. She wanted more. Funny how she wasn’t clear on what that more might be, but she knew she wanted it. With Kevin. She trusted his strong hands to hold her and touch her. He would keep her safe on any journey.
She wasn’t sure how long they kissed. Eventually the tingling in her thighs turned into something heavier and her breasts swelled uncomfortably in her new bra. Reluctantly, she sat up.
His eyes were dilated, his mouth swollen. They stared at each other without speaking. When he reached up and cupped her cheek with his palm, she turned her head to kiss his skin.
“You’re full of surprises,” he said, his voice low and husky.
She was a little surprised herself, but in a good way. She could feel her blood rushing through her body—reminding her of the pleasure of being alive. She’d just kissed a man for the first time ever. It had been great.
“Just for the record, you kiss fine.”
“Maybe you should have kissed me last time I asked,” she teased.
“No way. I wouldn’t have stopped there.”
“Really? You mean we would have—”
“Made love. A word of advice from someone who knows. Never do that when you’re drunk.”
His words made sense, but she would have to think about them another time. Right now she was too caught up in the concept of actually doing “it” with Kevin. Did that mean he wanted her? Was he aroused?
She didn’t dare look and she couldn’t ask. Did men get aroused just from kissing? What about making love? Did they—
He covered his ears. “Stop thinking so much.”
He dropped his hands to his sides, then shifted and winced. She remembered his injuries.
“You’d better get some rest,” she told him.
“Good idea. You going to be okay?”
“Uh-huh.” Empowered by her recent experience, she bent and kissed his cheek. “Sleep well.”
“I’ve created a monster,” he muttered, closing his eyes. “You’d better not attack me in my sleep.”
“I won’t.” But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t think about it.
Later that night, when Haley was sure that Kevin was asleep, she turned down the television and picked up the phone on the table between their beds. Using her newly purchased Wal-Mart calling card, she dialed the eight hundred number, entered her code, then the phone number for her father’s office at the church. At this time of night the building would be deserted. She wouldn’t have to worry about anyone picking up her call.
She listened to the four rings, followed by the answering machine message. When she heard the beep, she sucked in a breath and spoke quickly.
“Hi, Daddy. It’s me. I wanted to call and let you know that I’m safe and well.” She hesitated, not sure what else she should say. “I know you got my note, but that you’ll still worry. I wish you wouldn’t. I’m going to be okay. I just have to figure a few things out and I can’t do that at home. I’m fine with Allan’s decision. In fact I think he did the right thing. Please don’t be too mad at him. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone. At least a few more weeks.”
There was so much more she wanted to tell him, but not like this.
“I’ll leave another message in a few days. I love you.”
She hung up the phone. She didn’t doubt that her father still cared about her. She was his daughter and nothing could make him stop loving her. But forgiving her was another matter entirely.
Chapter Six
They were on the road by ten the next morning. It was cooler and cloudy, so Haley had put the top up on the old Caddy, and rather than shorts, she’d dressed herself in jeans.
Kevin figured she should have been measurably less sexy with denim covering her legs, but she wasn’t. He couldn’t figure out if it was the cropped T-shirt that barely came to her waist or the confident bounce in her step. He’d noticed it as soon as she’d come out of the bathroom after her shower. She’d greeted him with a smile that had nearly sent him to his knees—fortunately he’d been lying down—and had sashayed across the room.
He tried to tell himself that her curves were no better than average. He’d always been partial to large-breasted women and while Haley didn’t have anything to be ashamed of, she didn’t qualify as busty. Nor was she as tall as he usually liked. And her—
He stopped himself in mid-thought because he knew he was lying. Big breasts, small breasts, it didn’t really matter. Something about Haley got to him. It had almost from the start. It didn’t matter if she was covered in burlap and had a tail—he wanted her.
A night of sleep had left his leg slightly less painful and his head clear. Which meant he could remember everything that had happened the previous evening, including Haley’s unexpectedly erotic kiss.
The whole thing had been a mistake. He shouldn’t have made it clear that while he wouldn’t kiss her she was free to kiss him. He should have kept his mouth shut—in more ways than one. Kissing her had taken things to the next level, and it was dangerous up there. After all, who was he kidding? A guy like him and a preacher’s daughter? In what universe?
No. The right thing to do was to put the brakes on right now. There wouldn’t be any more physical contact. No touching, no kissing. He wouldn’t even tease her. They would have impersonal conversations. Maybe about the weather, or the scenery.
Not that there was much to look at right now. They were on the interstate, heading for Wichita. By his calculations they would be there by early afternoon. Haley said they would be lucky to make it by nightfall. She had several stops planned.
“I miss my hair,” Haley said.
He turned to look at her. “What?”
She fingered her short blond hair and gave a quick shrug. “I cut my hair when I left home. It was an impulse. One I’m now regretting.”
Regret
was good. Haley was determined to take a walk on the wild side and someone needed to teach her consequences.
“Sometimes it’s important to think things through,” he said.
She nodded.
He knew he shouldn’t ask. He really didn’t want to know. But he couldn’t help himself. “How long was it?”
“To my waist. I mostly wore it back in a braid.”
She kept on talking, but he wasn’t listening. Instead, he pictured her with long blond hair spilling down her back and over her shoulders. He pictured her naked, on top of him, moving lower, her hair tickling his thighs as she lowered her head and took him in her—
“Kevin?”
“Huh?”
“Are you all right? You seem tense.”
He swallowed. “I’m great.” And he would be right up until he slid into hell.
“You’ve mentioned your mother and your brother, but you haven’t said anything about your dad. Is he still alive?”
He accepted the change in topic because the alternative was to be tortured by visions of what could never be. As his mind shifted gears, his body stopped heating, although it was going to be a long time until it cooled.
“I don’t know where my biological father is,” he said. “I don’t know much about him. I know he was a lot older than my mom. She was seventeen when she got pregnant with Nash and me.”
Haley sucked in a breath. “That’s so young.”
“She always says that he was a smooth talker who convinced her they were destined for each other. Before she knew what had happened, she was in his bed. That was in Dallas. He was in town for some kind of convention. After making promises to stay in touch, he went back to whatever rock he’d crawled out from under and she went home. Unfortunately for her, she turned up pregnant.”
“He never contacted her again?”
“You got it.” There was a time when even thinking about his biological father made Kevin furious, but he’d learned to make peace with that which couldn’t be changed. “Unfortunately my mom’s parents weren’t real supportive. They threw her out the day she turned eighteen. My brother and I were about three months old.”
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