Lean On Me

by Tori Scott

  He could do this. It had been years since he'd been on a real date, but he could play the gentleman, keep his hands to himself, and show Sandy a good time. He hoped.

  As he drove, he glanced at her from time to time. He could tell she was nervous by the way she kept her hands clasped in her lap, her fingers turning white from the strain of holding them so tightly.

  He was nervous, too. His palms were sweaty, and he had to restrain himself from wiping them on his slacks. It had been years since he'd felt vulnerable. He'd always been a man's man, at least since joining the Air Force. He'd moved rapidly through the ranks, excelling at his job, gaining the respect of his peers. Then he'd lost his wife, had thought he was losing his son.

  He’d never get his wife back, but somehow Sandy was at least partly responsible for giving his son back to him. The more time Jason spent with her, the more he settled down and became the boy Hunter remembered. He could never repay her for that. Or for the pain and fear he and Jason had put her through. Tonight, though, he was going to try his best to try to make up for it, if only in a small way.

  He pulled into the parking lot of Del Marco's and turned his Tahoe over to the valet. With his hand at Sandy's back, he ushered her inside. When she turned to look up at him, eyes wide, he smiled. "Have you ever been here before?"

  "Are you kidding?" she whispered. "I can't even afford to look at their menu. Do you know what a meal costs here?"

  Hunter enjoyed her surprise. He thought she deserved at least one night of royal treatment, and he was determined to make sure she got it. "Yes, I do, and it's worth every penny. And so are you." He dropped a light kiss on her mouth, then went to the hostess and gave his name.

  They were soon ushered to a relatively quiet table and given menus. Sandy's eyes widened further as she read. "Hunter, I can't let you spend so much on one meal. This will cost as much as my entire grocery bill for a month."

  "Don't worry about what it costs. I want you to enjoy it. They have the best steaks I've ever eaten. Order whatever you want, as much as you want. You can take whatever you don't eat home with you."

  "Ask for a doggy-bag in a place like this? I don't think so."

  "Everybody does here. It's kind of a status symbol. No one can finish everything."

  Sandy sighed and returned her attention to the menu. "I can't decide. Everything sounds delicious. Why don't you order for both of us?"

  When the waiter returned moments later, he placed their order. Steak, lobster, asparagus, baked potatoes, mushrooms, and wine. The waiter left a loaf of hot fresh bread and glasses of iced tea, along with an appetizer of shrimp cocktail.

  "I'm glad I skipped lunch today," Sandy said. "This is wonderful. I never dreamed I'd get to have dinner here."

  He laughed at her sparkling eyes and flushed cheeks. It made him feel good to do this for her. But this was just the beginning. He intended to court her the old-fashioned way. Dinners, movies, candy and flowers. This time around he wasn't making any mistakes. He wanted this woman now and, he was beginning to think, forever.

  Sandy glanced up and caught Hunter staring at her with an intense expression. What was he thinking? He smiled at her, his eyes crinkling at the corners, light dancing in his eyes. Warmth suffused her body. Oh God. She hoped she wasn’t falling in love with him.

  Not now. Not when she was free for the first time in her life. Couldn't she wait another year or two? She shivered, dread creeping over her.

  "Are you cold?" He began to remove his suit coat to place over her shoulders.

  "No, not really. Keep your jacket. I'm fine."

  "Are you sure?"

  She nodded. "So, how are things going with you and Jason? I've noticed it's been a lot quieter at your house."

  "We've been getting along pretty well, but there are still times when I want to wring his neck. We went to the counselor yesterday. Jason insisted on talking to her alone for now. I don't know what they talked about, but he seemed a little better afterwards."

  Sandy reached across the table and put her hand over his. "That's wonderful. I hope she can help. He has some issues he needs to deal with, but I think he's on the right track."

  "Has he said something to you?"

  "He talked to me some at the hospital, but I'm not allowed to say anything. He wants to talk to you himself when he's ready. And I think he will, soon. He just needs to get things straight in his own mind first."

  He leaned toward her, his eyes sad. "It's hard being on the outside, looking in. At least, that's how I feel sometimes. I know he's been hurt. I just don't know how. I wish he'd talk to me, tell me what's bothering him." He looked away and for a moment was lost in thought. "After his mother's death, he was alone until my family and Liz's parents arrived. He was with his mother when she died and it took something out of him."

  She hesitated to continue what must be a painful topic for him, but she needed to know more about what he and Jason had been through. Finally, she gathered enough courage to ask, "Hunter, how did your wife die? What happened?"

  He leaned back in his chair and fixed his eyes on his glass. "She died of cancer. She'd complained some about a lump in her breast the last time I was home, and I told her to go see a doctor. I had to leave again on a mission, and that time I was gone for six months. By the time I got home, she was dead. She'd waited another three months to see a doctor, and the cancer was too far advanced for them to do anything. They tried chemotherapy, but it just made her sick." He picked up his glass and set it down again, then drew circles in the condensation that coated the outside. "I was out of contact, on a rescue mission behind enemy lines. I never knew what happened until I got back to the base."

  The misery on his face made her chest hurt; his story clogged her throat with unshed tears. She wished they were alone so she could take him in her arms. And Jason. The poor kid had tried to take care of his mother, only to have her die of something that might have been cured if found in time. No wonder he had blamed his father.

  Not that it was Hunter's fault. His wife should have seen a doctor when she first noticed the lump. Waiting had cost her her life, Jason his mother, and Hunter his wife. What a price they had all paid.

  "I don't want to make you sad tonight. Let's talk about something else. How's your mother doing?" He lifted his fork and began to eat again.

  "Much better than I thought she would. I figured she'd drive me crazy within a day or two, but she seems to be making an effort to mind her own business."

  He laughed and set his fork down on his empty plate. "That’s good. Do you want dessert before we go?"

  "You've got to be kidding. I still have half a steak left, although it was wonderful. I couldn't possibly eat another bite."

  "Okay, we'll get you a doggie bag." He looked at his empty plate. "Jason's not going to be happy I didn't save him some."

  He’d eaten a huge amount of food. It was a wonder he could eat like that and stay so fit. "He can have some of mine. There's no way Melanie could eat this much."

  "You'll be his friend for life. He loves steak."

  Back in the Tahoe, Hunter handed her his cell phone so she could check on Melanie. Jason answered on the second ring. "Hi Jason. How's Melanie?"

  "She's fine. She's asleep now. She had some ice cream, and I made her brush her teeth like you said. We played three games of Candy Land, then she made me read four books before she finally fell asleep."

  "That sounds about right. She never lets me get away with one story either. Do you feel comfortable staying with her a while longer?"

  "Sure, no problem. Can I talk to my dad?" She handed the phone to Hunter. She wished she could hear Jason's side of the conversation, because all she could get from this side was Hunter's occasional "Uh-huh," "okay," and "yeah."

  "What did he say to you?"

  "You don't want to know," he told her, shaking his head.

  "Yes, I do. What did he say?"

  Hunter looked at her, eyes dancing. "He wanted to make sure I remembered to bring
protection with me, just in case."

  She felt the heat rush to her face and was grateful for the concealing darkness. Then she burst out laughing. "Oh, my goodness. Did he really ask you that?"

  "Yep, he sure did. Can you believe that kid?"

  "What did you tell him?"

  "What do you think? I told him yes."

  "Oh." It was all she could think to say. He'd brought protection. If they wanted to, they could… No, they couldn't. Could they?

  The more time she spent with him, the more she wondered why she kept trying to push him away. Okay, so he might eventually move on to someone else, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy him while she had the chance. And just because they had sex, well, that didn’t mean she had to let her heart get involved. She wasn’t some repressed virgin who needed promises of love and marriage before she had sex with someone.

  Okay, fine. That’s exactly what she’d been when Todd came along. And she’d been so desperate to get away from home that she’d fallen for the first guy who’d looked at her twice.

  Her imagination took flight, wondering where they could go, how long they could stay, and if she had the courage to take a chance. And what on earth was she thinking? It was still too soon. She hadn’t decided if she wanted a relationship right now. She was content with her life the way it was. But dear Lord, she was tempted.

  Hunter took the decision out of her hands. "I'm not going to ask you to do anything tonight. I promised you that we would get to know each other first. I've enjoyed just spending time with you, being alone together. I don't want to mess things up by forcing you into a decision you're not ready to make."

  Oh, but I want you to, her heart cried. Shocked at that thought, she remained silent. Since when did she want a man taking the decision out of her hands? The force of her response to Hunter scared her. This man could make her do things she wouldn't normally do. That was not a good thing. But the thought of making love to him was now deeply imbedded and she couldn’t shake the desire to do just that.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Hunter turned the radio on low to the local country station and they rode companionably, talking about their children and work. Safe topics. Neither one mentioned the condoms, though Sandy suspected he was thinking about them as much as she was.

  Sandy thoroughly enjoyed the exhibit, in spite of the sexual tension sparking between them. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been to an event not geared toward small children. Hunter was entertaining and intelligent, offering candid interpretations of the art as they walked along, hand in hand.

  When it was over and they were back in the car, Sandy was already regretting that the night had come to an end. She was a little worried about being away from her daughter for so long, but Melanie was in capable hands. Jason or her mother would have called if there had been any problems.

  Instead of taking her straight home, Hunter pulled into a parking space at a pretty green belt with a hiking trail. "I thought we’d spend a few minutes away from the crowds before we go home."

  "That sounds nice. Could you bring the cell phone, just in case Jason needs to reach us?"

  "Sure." He dropped the phone into his pocket, then got out of the vehicle and walked around to open her door. He offered her his hand and helped her climb down. She shivered slightly as the cool night breeze brushed her skin and he took off his jacket to wrap her in it.

  "Won't you be cold without your jacket?"

  "No. I'm going to let you keep me warm." He put his arm around her shoulders and led her onto the path. They stopped to watch a group of boys playing Frisbee tag, then strolled a little further. At one point the path went through a tunnel formed by overhanging branches. A few yards inside he pulled her off the path and into the trees. Before she could protest, he buried his hands in her hair and covered her mouth with his. He teased her lips open with his tongue and seared the inside of her mouth with his heat. All she could do was hold on for the ride.

  Her hands went around his waist, sliding up his back to his broad shoulders as she pulled him closer. His hands cupped her head to keep her mouth aligned with his. He angled his hips forward, letting her feel his hardness against her stomach.She moaned and met his thrust.

  When their chests began to heave from lack of oxygen, He lifted his head. As they gulped for air, he slid his hands down her back and cupped her bottom, pulling her back against him. "Do you feel what you do to me?"

  She nodded. She could feel it, all right. And she wanted to feel more. She slid her hand over his fly, and he hissed a warning.

  "Be careful. It's been almost eighteen months since I've been with anyone, and I'm on the edge of my control right now. I want you so much it hurts."

  "I know," she said softly. "It's been over two years for me, except for the other night. That just stirred up feelings that have been dormant for a long time."

  Hunter looked deeply into her eyes, as much as he could in the near darkness. He saw need there, need and desire. She wanted him, too. It was an empowering feeling, one that made him even more determined to win her over. They belonged together. He could feel it.

  "One more," he begged, lifting her chin with his hands. "I have to have one more kiss." This time, before he kissed her, he wrapped her tightly in his arms, relishing the feel of her body against his, even with several layers of clothing between them.

  The kiss was as desperate as the last, all tongues and lips and blazing heat. His hands roamed her body, from hip to breast and back again. He couldn't get enough of the feel of her.

  Sandy pulled back slightly. "Hunter, take me home. To your house, not mine."

  He shook his head sadly. "I can't. Jason would see the truck, or hear us pull up. We need to plan a night, sometime when he has plans and you can get your Mom or Debbie to stay with Melanie. Let's try to work out a way for us to have some time together, without either of our children knowing what we’re up to. Okay?"

  She was disappointed, but she knew he was right. They needed to set a good example for the kids. The fact that they were consenting adults meant nothing when weighed against impressionable young minds. "Okay. You win. It looks like we wait."

  "Don't look at me like that, or I may change my mind," he said, a wicked gleam in his eye. "Even I can be seduced, you know."

  Sandy leaned her head back and looked up at him. "Oh, really? I'll keep that in mind." Then, laughing, she grabbed his hand and started back down the path toward the truck. "Let's get out of here before we end up arrested for indecent exposure."

  During the drive home, she kept her hand on his thigh, rubbing lightly, edging closer and closer to his groin with each stroke. His jaw was tightly clenched, and she could tell he was trying to maintain control. Finally, he reached down and grabbed her hand. "Woman, are you trying to drive me crazy? I'll have frostbite from the cold shower I’ll need to cool off."

  "H-m-m-m, I can think of better ways to release all that tension," she teased. Was this wanton female really her? She’d never acted like this with a man. Her husband had insisted she was frigid, that she was too repressed to enjoy sex. Something told her that wouldn't be the case with Hunter. Just being with him brought out a side of her she'd never suspected existed.

  "Don't tempt me, Sandy. I can't handle much more." His thumb stroked the back of her hand, raising goose bumps on her skin. "When will your mother leave? If you could find a sitter for Melanie, I could suggest an overnight fishing trip for Jason with his grandfather. He'd jump at the chance to take his grandson to his favorite camping spot."

  "She’s going to stay with Brenda’s mother starting on Sunday night if Dad doesn’t talk her into going home before then. He’s called every night, but she doesn’t want to talk to him. She won’t even tell him why she left. I had to tell him about Melanie."

  She’d go nuts if her mother stayed much longer. She always felt like her mothering and housekeeping skills were being examined under a microscope when her mom was around. "Once she’s gone I'll ask Debbie if sh
e and Jenny would stay with Melanie. But I can't be away from her all night. Not while she's hurt."

  "I know. But if we could just have a few hours, I'd be ecstatic."

  "Then count on us finding ecstasy, Hunter. Together."

  "Okay, that does it. We're going to my house."

  "But what about Jason?"

  "We'll park down the street and leave the lights off in the house. They'll never know."

  A frisson of excitement raced through her. She'd finally managed to push him over the edge, broken through his facade of control. Now she wasn't sure that had been wise. But she wasn't going to be a tease and chicken out.

  He pulled the Tahoe to the curb a block away from their street, shoved the gearshift into park, and leaped from the truck. When he pulled open the passenger door, he didn't wait for her to climb out, but scooped her into his arms and shut the door with his hip.

  "Hunter, put me down. I'm too heavy for you to carry."

  "No, you're not," he said as he set her on her feet. "I could carry you, but we can get home faster if I let you walk."

  Before they'd taken ten steps away from the vehicle his cell phone rang. "Well, damn!" he cursed soundly. "Now what?" He flipped the phone open. "What?" he barked.

  "Dad? Can you come home?" Jason begged. "I'm sorry to interrupt your date, but Melanie's crying and her grandmother and I can't make her stop."

  "We're almost there," Hunter assured him and disconnected.

  He reached for her and rested his forehead against hers.

  "We have to go home. Melanie needs you. She's fine," he said when her head jerked up, "just crying and Jason doesn't know what to do."

  Sandy gave a little cry and turned back to the truck, climbing in before he could catch up and help her. With a weary sigh, he rounded the front and climbed in the driver's side.