Echo Falls, Texas Boxed Set

by Patti Ann Colt

  Robin flushed, stopping herself from fanning her face. Trust Olivia to zero in on it. If only the floor would open up and drop her out of sight. With a sigh, she took the dessert from Olivia. She didn’t want any, but managed to swallow a few bites.

  Chad raised a hand in surrender, but when he looked at Robin, the heat radiating from the depths of his gaze made the sweet confection toss in her stomach. He didn’t move away, didn’t move his arm, but didn’t tease her anymore either.

  “Can we go watch television, Mommy?” Boo kissed Tom’s cheek and jumped from his lap.

  “Yes, you may.” Robin bent to wipe Boo’s face. Lindy finished the last bite of her dessert and slid from Tom’s lap, following her sister. Rick and Tara’s three kids were already in the family room. Their dinner plates littered the coffee table. Fourth grader, Carin, was dressed as a witch. Their boys, Derek in first grade and Devon in second grade, were dressed as Mario and Luigi.

  “The girls seem to be better.” Tom rose to put his own dishes in the sink.

  Robin nodded. “They’re on the downhill side. Fever’s down. No new spots. Keeping them from scratching the scabs is a full-time job, though.”

  “I remember when you kids got chicken pox.” Helen shrugged out of her red suit jacket and hung it over the back of a chair. After rolling up the sleeves of her black silk blouse, she began filling the sink with soapy water.

  Robin studied the tall woman. She dressed like a politician, but the chore looked practiced. Self-conscious next to the obviously educated, articulate woman, Robin focused on the genuine, endearing affection in Helen’s eyes and smile.

  Helen plunged her hands into the soapy water. “Rick got exposed at school, so we decided to expose all of you at once and get it over with. Rick got it first and was covered. The other three remained stubbornly well. Then, two weeks later Tom breaks out and two weeks after that Chad breaks out. Meg never did get them.” She rolled her eyes. “I wouldn’t wish six weeks of chicken pox on anybody.”

  “You two look like you could use a solid night’s sleep.” Olivia placed the dishes Helen handed her in the dishwasher.

  “I wouldn’t complain.” Chad took Robin’s empty dessert bowl and piled it with his, handing them to his mother.

  “Why don’t the girls come to my house for the night? They can help me with trick-or-treaters and we can make a slumber party out of it. I promise they’ll get a good night’s sleep and you two can do the same.”

  “I don’t know…” Robin glanced in the family room at the girls jabbering with Rick’s daughter.

  “Nonsense, hon. They’ll be fine. A little break will do them a world of good.”

  The two in question bounced into the kitchen. Chad squatted to their eye-level. “Hey, you two. Would you like to spend the night at Grandma’s house?”

  Olivia wiped her hands on a dish towel and looked at Robin “We’ll make popcorn and watch movies and sleep in my big bed upstairs. Would you like that?”.

  Boo and Lindy both turned to their mother, too. “Can we, Mommy?”

  “Can we get our three in on this deal, too? It’s Friday night, after all.” Rick squeezed Tara’s hand.

  Olivia smiled. “Sure. The more the better.”

  The other kids rushed into the room. The promise of trick-or-treating and a slumber party made them dance around the kitchen in noisy celebration.

  “Then I want in, too.” Meg rose from her chair. “I never turn down slumber parties at Grandma’s.”

  Chad looked up at her. “Robbie?”

  Robin chewed her lip in indecision.

  “Can we, Mommy?” Boo tugged at her hand.

  A night alone with Chad. God, they’d end up in bed again. Or worse, he’d want to talk. She wasn’t ready for that, but two little faces pocked with scabs grinned at her in anticipation.

  “Please, please, Mommy?” Lindy begged, wrapping herself around Robin’s leg. Boo quickly followed suit with her other leg.

  Robin sighed. “All right.”

  Squeals of delight echoed through the room and a flurry of activity to finish dishes and to gather clothes and pillows followed. In a short amount of time, everyone started out the door. Before Robin was ready, the girls were secured into the back of Olivia’s car, Lindy with her blankie and Boo with her daisy cow in her lap. Olivia’s hands were full of calamine lotion and Tylenol. Quick kisses and promises to be good were over too fast.

  Robin watched the tail lights of car after car leave the driveway until she was alone in the carport.

  Chad slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her to his side. “They’ll be all right.”

  “I know.”

  “In fact, Grandma’s slumber parties are notorious. If I didn’t have something better to do here, I’d go, too.”

  Robin turned to gaze at him, overwhelmed with a need to kiss him, to feel his firm mouth on hers, to wrap herself in his warmth. Before he could say anything else, she forced herself away from him and went inside.

  Chad lingered on the driveway and watched until the last vehicle disappeared down the road. He unplugged the lights glittering along the porch railing, lingering for a moment in the darkness, enjoying the bright jack-o’-lantern faces. He took his time, blowing out their candles one by one. The smell of burnt pumpkin stuck in the back of his throat and he inhaled deeply, needing the magic of Halloween to sustain him through the tough conversation ahead.

  Back in the kitchen, he found Robin wiping down the clean counters. She attacked the chore with desperate concentration.

  “Do you want some more dessert?” Robin dropped the sponge and opened the refrigerator. She wouldn’t look him in the eye.

  “No.”

  She shut the refrigerator and attacked the surface again. Her fingers shook as she scrubbed the counter.

  Surprised, he grabbed the sponge from her hand and tossed it in the sink. “I think this job is finished.” He turned off the overhead light, leaving the accent light on over the sink.

  There in the muted light, Robin whispered. “They aren’t even well yet. I’m a horrible mother.”

  “They need a break from us. We need a break from them. They’ll have a great time at Grandma’s. Besides, if I have to stay up one more night and watch infomercials, I may hurt someone.”

  “You, too?” Robin’s hesitant smile made Chad’s heart pound.

  She smelled of spicy cinnamon and calamine lotion, a curious combination that made his body harden. He put an arm around her shoulder, turning her toward the family room. As much as he wanted a repeat of the other morning, they had to talk first. They wouldn’t talk unless he got her to relax. She was tighter than a cramped muscle. That combined with her natural stubbornness would make her disagree with anything he said.

  Lightly rubbing her neck, he zeroed in on the tension that tightened her muscles while he guided her to the sofa. Once settled there, he dropped his hands from her shoulders and hit the power on the remote. Friends blared from the TV. He turned the volume down, pulled Robin to his side and propped his feet up on the coffee table.

  “Come on, Robbie. Relax. God knows we need it.” Chad squeezed her shoulder.

  Tipping his head back against the sofa, he pretended an interest in the show. Finally, Robin relaxed against him. He knew her eyes were on him. Did she think he was going to pounce when she wasn’t looking?

  When she shifted to get more comfortable, the curve of her breast brushed against his chest. White, hot lust shot to his groin. Clamping down on the need, he crossed his feet to ease the tightness of his jeans and took a deep breath.

  No pouncing.

  Not until they talked. Stroking Robin’s arm, he tried to distract himself by paying attention to what Rachel was saying to Ross on the television. Instead Robin’s soft skin tantalized him with how silky it would feel under his mouth.

  When Robin sagged a little more against him, he looked at her.

  Asleep. She was asleep.

  Unbelievable.

  C
had closed his mouth on a desperate sigh. Okay. Maybe a little nap would help this conversation go in his favor. God knows they were both exhausted. Wrapping her closer, he picked up the remote and began to channel surf. Settling on an old Cary Grant movie, he muted the sound.

  Before the movie finished, Chad nodded off, too.

  The loud ring of Chad’s cellphone woke Robin with a start. She was sprawled across Chad’s body, her face pressed against the warmth of his neck. Somehow they’d ended tucked against each other on the sofa. Chad reached behind him for his phone. His body pressed into hers. Her heart hammered against her ribs in a free-for-all arousal.

  “Hello. Yeah, she’s right here, Grandma.”

  The movement of handing the phone to Robin pressed Chad’s hips more firmly into her. Tucking the phone against her ear, she tried to force her mind away from the hardness pressed against her abdomen.

  “We wanted to say good night, Mommy,” Lindy said.

  “Grandma Olivia has two phones so we can talk at the same time. Isn’t that neat?” Boo asked.

  “Yes, sweeties. That’s great.” Clearing her throat, Robin was glad her girls couldn’t see her face.

  “We watched Finding Nemo and ate popcorn and helped Grandma with trick-or-treat.”

  “Grandma Olivia’s bed is so big.”

  “I’m glad you’re having such a good time. You go to bed now and sleep tight. Have Grandma Olivia give you extra kisses from me, uh, and Mr. Chad.”

  “We love you, Mommy and Mr. Chad.”

  “We love you, too.”

  Robin handed the phone back to Chad, who stretched to put it on the side table. That action forced every square inch of his body against hers.

  Fire erupted.

  God, it wasn’t smart, but darn it she was a normal, healthy woman. She wanted to make love right now before Chad tried to talk about the future and other things to which she didn’t have answers. She wanted one more moment to store away for later. When she was alone again.

  He dropped back to the sofa and slid his arm around her. His gaze burned. The restriction of clothes was too much. Still side by side, she reached for his shirt and pulled it from his jeans.

  Robin leaned into him and sealed her mouth to his before he could say anything that might destroy the moment.

  His surprise was evident, as he hesitated, and then his arms locked around her. His head angled to let her take the kiss deeper if she chose.

  She chose.

  Lord, did she choose.

  His mouth was warm and sweet. She buried her fingers in his thick, soft hair and tangled her tongue with his, stroking and sampling his unique taste and texture. A series of tremors exploded through her system. She’d never kissed a man like this. Not before when they’d made love. Not ever. Frightened at the riotous feelings coursing through her, she pulled back.

  “Robbie.” Chad’s hoarse murmur made her look at him. The desire drowning her was also reflected in his eyes. His mouth slid from hers to her throat to her collarbone, shooting fire across every nerve ending. His fingers fumbled to unfasten the buttons on her shirt.

  Yes. Get me out of these clothes.

  She unfastened the buttons of Chad’s shirt and then tried to pull it off. Elbows bumped.

  “Robbie, we’re going to hurt each other.”

  With one hand, he pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it behind the couch. Robin wasted no time in splaying her hands through the pale hair on his chest, her fingers absorbing the warmth.

  Chad moaned.

  “What?” Robin stroked her hand down his sides.

  “I like this honey. Your hands on me like this.” She moved her mouth across the plane of his chest, ran her tongue around first one tight, brown nipple and then the other and listened with satisfaction to his hiss of pleasure.

  “Two can play that game, sweetheart.” Pulling atop him, Chad ran his mouth down her breastbone and settled over her nipple, sucking through the fabric. His big hands gently squeezed the mounds. Her skin tingled where he touched her, his mouth sending a raging river of heat to her core.

  “Please, Chad, get me out of this.”

  Chad released her and helped her divest herself of her shirt. Behind her, he found the clasp and released her breasts into his wanting hands. Robin grasped his shoulders for balance and tried to control the heat ripping through her. When Chad settled his questing mouth over her breast and began sucking, Robin fractured. Not wanting to go alone, she stroked her hands over the bare skin of his back and reveled in his tight moan.

  Chad rose up enough to grip either side of her face in his gentle hands. His fierce gaze pierced her heart.

  “Last time just happened. This time I need to know if you’re sure this is what you want.”

  Robin slipped her hands to the front snaps of Chad’s jeans. Releasing the snap and forcing the zipper down, she leaned up to run her tongue around the rim of Chad’s ear while taking advantage of the proximity to his erection to take a thorough feel. A rush of feminine pleasure and anticipation flooded through her.

  “I’m sure.” She whispered in his ear. A shiver worked down his body, making her feel powerful, sensual.

  Two seconds of breathless swearing was all it took for Chad to rise, get rid of boots, jeans, underwear and socks and to grab a condom from his wallet. Only another brief moment followed before Robin’s slacks and panties joined the pile on the floor. The fledgling discomfort at Chad seeing her without the security of sheets or partial clothing existed for only a breath.

  Then he eased himself back to her, naked skin to naked skin. A moan of pleasure escaped from deep in her throat. Chad’s breathing brushed hot and heavy against her neck. His fingers found her breast and lightly twisted her nipples, compelling her to raise her hips straight into the hardness pressed at her core. A hot ache exploded, making the moisture flow to her center.

  “Slow, Robbie. We’re going to slow down this time.”

  “I don’t want to.”

  “Robbie—”

  “Next time, next time we’ll go slow. Not now.”

  Reaching for the condom, she tore it open and helped Chad put it on. Then Chad once again pulled her on top of him. The freedom and control from this position was an unfamiliar treat.

  “You decide, sweetheart. Take us there, whenever, however you want.”

  Robin stared at the fever gleaming in Chad’s eyes.

  Whenever. However.

  Not one other time had she been allowed to be in control. Warmth spread through her heart causing tears to fill her eyes. Blinking them back before they could fall, she rose up to settle her knees on either side of Chad’s hips and lowered her wet core over him. Pushing down, she slid onto him, anchoring him deep in her center, then collapsed on his chest. His arms wrapped tightly around her.

  “God, you feel incredible.” Robin whispered against his throat. Chad flexed upward and slipped completely home.

  “Come on, sweetheart. Ride’s not over yet.” His warm breath fanned her face. His hardness buried deep inside spread hot sensation through her body. Rising up, she lifted slightly until Chad was nearly out of her and then slammed down again.

  Chad’s warm hands settled on her hips to help her set an electric rhythm. The pressure spiraled tighter and tighter. Chad placed his hand where they were joined and smoothly stroked her there. His muscles tightened. He gave a hoarse cry pressing into her to the hilt. That pressure erupted in her womb, filling her, hazing her mind in a flash of black and light. Sweet pleasure filled every sense. She collapsed on his chest in a heap, her heart pounding erratically.

  Tears sprang to her eyes, but she stifled them.

  For several long moments, Chad stroked her back.

  Finally, he rolled her to the side and rose to dispense with the condom. Content and satisfied, she drifted in a relaxed haze.

  “Let’s move this to the bedroom.” Chad’s breath whispered across her neck.

  “Okay.” Robin rolled over.

  He l
ifted her into his arms, carrying her down the hall. Feeling cherished, Robin let go of the emotion beating at her.

  She wanted this time. With him. Before their differences tore them apart.

  ~~CHAPTER TEN~~

  Chad woke alone.

  After a night of loving Robin, it was not a great way to start the day. The clothes he’d worn last night lay on the hamper. Rolling over, he checked the bathroom.

  Empty.

  Trying to control the panic, he tumbled out of bed, shoved his legs into his jeans and raced to the kitchen. Robin stood at the stove in her jeans and a shirt, with one bare foot on top of the other. She’d told him once that it was habit from when she was younger, had no slippers or socks and no one gave a damn whether she was cold. The stance made him angry. He turned back down the hall to his room, swearing at everyone who had let her down. He pulled out what he wanted from his drawer and walked back to the kitchen, taking a deep breath to banish his irritation.

  Robin turned as he entered the kitchen, frowning as he approached her. “Is something wrong?”

  He didn’t answer, instead kneeling on the floor. She lifted her foot at his command. He fit first one foot and then the other with a pair of his socks. Rising, he threaded his fingers through her silken hair and pulled her tight against him to kiss her lush and startled mouth.

  “I love you. I should have told you last night.” Chad searched her eyes. He hadn’t meant to start that way, but he couldn’t keep his heart from spilling out of his mouth. Her wary expression pierced his hope. Patience warred with fury, making him grind his teeth. “You can’t deny we made love last night.”

  She tried to shift out of his embrace.

  Frustrated but determined, Chad pulled her closer, burying his nose in her hair, holding the pleasure of the apple scent in his gut. The warmth of her against him dallied in his heart, determination to win this fight chasing out the doubts.

  “Chad…” Robin stumbled over his name. “Don’t.”

  “Don’t what, Robbie?” Chad pulled back, grasping her chin, forcing her eyes to his.

  “Don’t do this.” Robin bit her lip, lowering her eyes.