“You enjoyed yourself; I know you did.” After lunch, Ned had taken all three kids out back to play ball while she sat in the shade cradling Amanda and enjoying the view and the day. She had spent hours watching Ned with the children and had realized how sweet, caring, and loving he had been during every moment. Even when Hunter had given Flipper his cupcake to eat or when Tyler had accidently squirted him with the hose while filling Flipper’s water dish. Whenever Ned touched a child, his voice had been soft and his hands gentle.
She glanced at his big work-roughened hands. Hands that had cradled tiny Morgan’s hands to show her how to catch a ball. Hands that had flipped the burgers on the grill and helped with the boys’ baths. Tender hands that had securely held a squirming, slippery Amanda in her tub, all the while making sure shampoo didn’t drip into her eyes.
Hands, she was positive, that would never strike out and hit a woman. No man could have that much love and tenderness for a baby and then strike out at the woman who had given that child life. Ned was not her father, and her mother was right. Not all men were created equal.
For the first time in well over a year, she felt safe in a man’s company. She felt normal again.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Ned softly said.
She tried not to blush as she met his gaze. Ned had been watching her the whole time she had been staring at his hands. “I was thinking I might not make it up off this couch.”
“If you fall asleep, I’ll throw a blanket over you.” Ned didn’t appear worried about the prospect of her sleeping on his couch. Maybe he was hoping she’d handle Amanda if she woke in the middle of the night.
The offer to just sit here and sleep for the next eight hours was too tempting. She needed to head on home while she was still awake enough to drive. “I’d better get going. What time did you say their parents are coming back?” She got to her feet and stretched.
“Around dinner time.” Ned stood up and walked over to where Zsa Zsa was sleeping. The dog had claimed the leather recliner. Ned gently picked her up. “I think they tired out Zsa Zsa too.”
“She had a very busy day.” She took the dog from Ned and picked up her purse. She could either leave now and call it a day, or she could see if there really had been something more in Ned’s gaze.
The last time she had asked a guy out, she had been in the eighth grade, and it had been an invite to the Sadie Hawkins Day dance, where if you didn’t ask a boy, you weren’t going. At fourteen, she’d had more guts than she did tonight. So she hedged, “Do you need any help tomorrow with the gang, or can you manage on your own?” She headed out the door and off the porch.
Ned walked with her to her car. “Oh, I could manage, but having another adult around would keep me sane.”
It wasn’t quite the response she had been hoping for. She opened the door and placed Zsa Zsa on the passenger seat. The dog curled up into a ball and immediately went back to sleep. “So any adult would do?” She wanted to make sure she understood him.
Ned moved a step closer, crowding her against the side of the car, but he didn’t touch her. “Do you have any idea how hard it is for me not to kiss you right now?”
Between Ned’s porch lights and her dome light she had plenty of light by which to see him. Ned was serious, and she wanted that kiss. It had been ages since she had been kissed. Held. Touched. “What’s stopping you?”
He seemed surprised for a moment. “I didn’t want to frighten you.”
“You don’t frighten me.” He had at one time, but that had been before she had gotten to know him. Before he had helped with the bookcases. Maybe a six foot, two inch male didn’t frighten many people, but when you were only five foot, one inch, and that was stretching it, there was quite a difference in height. A difference in strength.
“You’re so tiny.” Ned moved a couple of inches closer and looked down.
“You’re so big,” she fired right back while looking up. Way up. She could feel the heat of his body warming the cool evening air. Ned was built for Maine’s weather, while she, on the other hand, wasn’t looking forward to this coming winter.
“We’re back to size, are we?” The corners of his mouth kicked up into a small smile as he inched closer. His chest was nearly touching her chin.
All it would take to put more room between them was for her to lean back and press her back into the side of the SUV. She held her ground. “You started it.”
Ned slowly put his hands on the roof of the SUV. One on either side of her body. “So I did.” He studied her face as he blocked her in. “Can I kiss you now?”
His tempting mouth seemed a long distance away. “Can I stand on my tippy toes?” She didn’t want him to get a kink in his neck and then have to stop short. She had a feeling that this kiss was going to knock her socks off.
A low chuckle vibrated his chest. “You can do anything you want as long as you kiss me back.” Ned slowly lowered his mouth and kissed her.
She stretched up and pressed herself into the kiss. Into his heat.
Ned groaned deep in his throat but didn’t take his hands off the roof of the car. He didn’t wrap her in his arms and pull her closer. The only part of her he was touching was her mouth.
She wanted more. Needed more. Ned was holding back, cheating them both out of their first kiss. She wasn’t going to allow him to do it. She wrapped her arms around his neck and lightly bit his lower lip.
Ned’s hands left the roof and pulled her close as his tongue swept over her lips.
One of them moaned, or maybe it was both of them. She didn’t know or care. She was too busy sinking into his kiss to care if the world had stopped turning. Either she didn’t remember what being kissed felt like, or Ned’s kisses were in a class unto themselves.
Her fingers wove their way into his hair as she pulled him closer. Her tongue danced against his, and liquid heat pooled in her stomach.
The world shifted beneath her feet, and the next thing she felt was cool metal beneath her thighs as Ned sat her on the hood of her car.
Ned broke the intense kiss first. His mouth trailed away and nibbled down her neck to nuzzle a spot below her ear. “I knew it.”
She tilted her head and gave him free access to anywhere he might want to trail that wickedly wonderful mouth of his. “Knew what?” Maybe the earth had stopped turning. She felt weightless and giddy.
Ned pulled back a couple of inches. His fingertip traced her lower lip with slow deliberation. “You taste like trouble.”
She smiled and playfully nipped at his finger. “Is that good or bad?” By the way Ned was breathing heavily and by the slight tremble in his hand, she had the idea it might be good. Very good.
“Depends.” Ned leaned forward and quickly kissed her again.
“On what?” She tried to pull his mouth back to hers, but he wasn’t budging. There was no physical way to move him, so she pouted. There was no way she was done kissing Ned. She was dying of thirst, and she had just discovered the taste of water.
Ned grinned at her playful sulking, but he didn’t give her what she wanted. What she needed. “Definitely trouble.”
“I’m not sure if I should be insulted or not.” Ned seemed happy about something, but for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out what. You didn’t kiss a person senseless, tell her she was trouble, and then grin like a baboon about it.
“It’s a compliment.” Ned lifted her off the hood of her SUV and gently lowered her to her feet. He took particular care not to have her body slide down the length of his. “Are you going to come back tomorrow?”
“Are you asking?”
“Begging would be unmanly, wouldn’t it?” Ned gave a low chuckle aimed at himself.
“The kids weren’t that bad.” She walked around the car door and dug the keys out of her purse. Her heart was still pumping a thousand liters of blood per second, and her voice still sounded low and husky. Ned Porter was the one who was trouble. A delicious, melt your socks kind of trouble. Where had the man
learned to kiss like that?
“I’m not asking because of the kids.” Ned held the door while she climbed inside.
“Who are you asking for?” She wanted to hear him say it. Say that she wasn’t the only one feeling these feelings and missing that kiss. Suddenly, she was uncertain. Afraid that she had misread the entire situation and Ned. Could a man kiss a woman like that and have it not mean a thing to him?
Ned squatted down next to her and gently cupped her cheek. “Me, Norah.” Ned’s voice was a husky growl. “I want you to come for me.”
She tried not to release the breath she had been holding in one big burst. A smile of wonderment pulled at her mouth. She hadn’t misread the situation or Ned. “Would it be okay if I bring donuts for the kids?”
“They would love it.” Ned trailed his thumb over her lower lip. “I wish I could drive you home, so I’d know you got there safely.”
“I’m a big girl, Ned. I know how to drive at night.” She wasn’t insulted, even though she ought to be. In a way, it was kind of cute that Ned was worried about her. True gentlemen were getting few and far between in this everyone-was-an-equal world.
Ned’s amused gaze roamed the length of her body, but he didn’t comment on her size. “Promise to drive safely.”
“Promise, and good night, Ned.”
“Good night, Rose Fairy,” Ned whispered as he closed her door and backed away from the car.
She started the SUV, gave him a quick wave and a smile, and pulled away. Thick trees were on either side of his driveway, but her headlights cut through the darkness and into the night.
The Jeep bounced over a couple of rough spots. Ancient shock absorbers screeched from the abuse. She glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Ned standing on the steps to the porch watching her leave.
She turned the bend in the drive and finally felt the blacktop of the road under the wheels. It would be smooth sailing all the way into town.
It was a real shame her relationship with Ned was going to be anything but smooth sailing after her column on the lumber industry hit the mailboxes.
Chapter Nine
Ned watched Norah as she pushed Tyler on the tire swing he had hung in the backyard this spring. Amanda was drooling on his shoulder, and Morgan and Hunter were trying to do somersaults while waiting for their turns again. Norah had been pushing for about half an hour, but she was still laughing with the kids and having a fun time. For what Norah lacked in height and weight, she made up for in sheer endurance. Norah could match any one of his sisters-in-law in the child care department.
He lightly patted Amanda’s back. “Come on, young lady; you owe me a burp.” She also owed him about three hours of sleep. He now understood why Paul and Jill had seemed so excited to get away for only one night. Being a parent to an infant wasn’t conducive to a good night’s sleep. At least Morgan, Hunter, and Tyler all slept through the night. He had actually gotten a shower and shaved this morning at six o’clock while all four kids were still sleeping. He wanted to be at least clean and presentable before Norah and that delectable mouth showed up on his front porch bearing donuts.
Those delicious sweets, which she had driven all the way into Sullivan for, had made her friends for life with the kids. Flipper had particularly enjoyed the frosted one with sprinkles that Tyler had slipped him under the table. The dog had probably gained five pounds this weekend.
Amanda bobbed her head and then let out a good, hearty burp that made him smile. She was definitely her father’s daughter. Paul would be so proud. He used the spit-up cloth and wiped the drool of formula from her tiny rosebud lips before it got on his shirt. Today, he was trying to stay clean.
Eventually his brothers would show up and collect not only their children but also all the paraphernalia that was cluttering his home and overflowing his refrigerator. How one tiny baby required so many bottles of formula was still a mystery to him. The amazing part was that there were barely any full ones left. Amanda was also running out of diapers. Her parents better get their butts here before either one of those essentials ran out.
They had said they would be back before dinner, and it was almost that time now. Once they had all cleared out, he and Norah would be left alone for the remainder of the evening in peace and blissful quiet. He had a couple of steaks in the freezer that he could throw on the grill. Slide a few potatoes into the oven; toss a salad; open a bottle of wine; and presto, a romantic dinner for two. He could almost taste that steak and picture them enjoying the meal out in the screened porch with a few candles flickering nearby.
Standing in the screened porch, he watched as Norah brought the swing to a stop and Tyler jumped off and ran for the house. Norah, Hunter, and Morgan followed him at a more leisurely pace, with Flipper right on their heels. Tyler barreled onto the screened porch like he was on fire. He didn’t see any tears or blood, which was always a good sign. “What’s wrong?” The screen door slammed, causing Amanda to jump and begin fussing.
Tyler sped by him and into the house without a word.
He absently rubbed the baby’s back and looked at Norah, who was smiling. “What’s wrong with Tyler?” It couldn’t be anything serious if she was smiling.
“He had to go potty.” Norah and the kids came into the screened porch and plopped down on the chairs.
“We’re hungry,” Hunter said.
“Me too,” Morgan added. Today, her hair looked much neater since Norah had been the one to comb it and put it up in pigtails this morning. Morgan also had on all her clothes and pink sneakers. Potty trips still required a complete strip down, but his niece was at least listening to Norah and putting her clothes back on.
Tyler, looking relieved, came back out of the house. “What’s for dinner, Uncle Ned?”
Visions of that nice romantic dinner with Norah started to blur around the edges. Where were his brothers?
The ringing of the phone saved him from answering the kids. “I’ll be right back.” He headed into the house and picked up the kitchen phone. “Hello.”
The kids and Norah followed him in. Norah reached for and carefully took Amanda from him as Paul’s voice boomed in his ear. “Ned, that you?”
“Of course it’s me; who did you think you were calling?”
“How come I’m not hearing any kids in the background?”
“Because I tied and gagged them all.” He rolled his eyes and shook his head at Norah, who was giving him a funny look.
“That’s good,” said Paul cheerfully. “Hey, we’re stopping in Franklin on the way back. We voted on picking up a bucket or two of chicken.”
“Who voted? No one asked our opinions.” His older brothers were always making decisions for everyone else. “We didn’t get to vote, and we’ve been doing all the work.”
“Who’s we?”
“Norah Stevens and I.” He flashed Norah a quick smile when she turned and looked at him. He prayed his brother wasn’t going to make mountains out of molehills.
“The cute redhead?”
“Yes, Mom’s neighbor.” He knew Norah couldn’t hear what his brother was saying, but she knew they were talking about her. “Make sure you bring enough for Norah. I’m sure she’ll appreciate it.” He wanted to end the conversation fast. He could hear both Kay and Jill in the background asking questions. “See you in about forty minutes,” he said and then pressed the disconnect button.
“Looks like chicken for dinner, kids.” He swung Morgan up into the air. “That was your parents, sweetie. They are on their way, and they’re picking up dinner. Think you can last that long?”
“Yes!” Morgan squealed with delight.
What was with girls and their high-pitched squeals? Hunter and Tyler both shouted, but they didn’t squeal. He looked over at Norah and shrugged apologetically. “Hope you like chicken.” He set Morgan back down on her feet and rubbed his ear.
“Chicken’s fine.” Norah looked apprehensive for a moment as she watched the three kids race into the living room to stare
out the front windows. “I’m not causing any problems by being here, am I?”
“No.” He stepped closer to Norah but didn’t touch her. Today, she smelled like lavender. He watched her eyes, but not a trace of fear showed. The fear that he sometimes glimpsed in her beautiful green eyes bothered him. He relaxed and gently played with Amanda’s hand, which was resting against Norah’s bare shoulder. His niece’s tiny fingers grasped one of his fingers and held on tight. “You do realize that there is going to be a lot of speculation as to why you are here.”
“We’ll tell them the truth.” Norah’s eyes sparkled with mischief.
“And that is?” He liked seeing her so relaxed and teasing around him. He definitely was going to have to kiss her more often.
“That you called me up begging for help with the kids. You couldn’t handle them.”
He laughed. “Do you think my brothers are going to believe that?” His brothers were smart enough to take one look at Norah and know exactly why he had called her yesterday morning. Norah had looked beautiful and comfortable yesterday dressed in a pair of shorts and a tank top. Today, she looked hot. Sexy hot.
Norah had traded in her shorts for a denim skirt that was short on material and long on temptation. Her plain green tank top from yesterday was gone, replaced with a skimpier, lacier white top. There was nothing indecent or out of the ordinary about her clothes. Hundreds, if not thousands, of women were probably wearing the same type of outfit today. However, on Norah’s slim, compact body, the clothes should have come with a warning. A heat warning.
“Maybe not”—Norah’s mischievous eyes sparkled brightly—“but your sisters-in-law will.”
“Ouch.” He bent forward and quickly kissed her surprised mouth while the kids weren’t watching. “That’s dirty pool. Kay and Jill won’t let me watch them again if they think I can’t handle them.”
He had purposely kept his distance from Norah all day long. The need to taste her kisses had followed him into his dreams last night. Every time he had gotten to an interesting part in his dream, Amanda’s cries had pulled him from Norah’s arms. His frustration was running high, and he didn’t need the kids running to their parents with tales about Uncle Ned kissing Norah.
Harbor Nights Page 13