by Debra Webb
She swore, then sighed and tried again to open the stubborn jar. Good thing the reverend wasn’t within earshot.
“Need some help?” Matthew grinned at her disgruntled expression as he reached for the jar.
“What did you tighten it with, a pipe wrench?” She frowned when he opened the jar with ease.
“Just had to put a little muscle into it, that’s all.” He sat the open jar on the table next to her.
“Yeah, right.” She forced her attention to the table—away from him. She didn’t want to look at him and she didn’t want him this close.
Up close, Matthew Stone was dangerous... to her heart.
“Didn’t you eat at the reunion?” he quizzed, humor in his deep voice. The slow, sexy sound of it made her skin tingle.
“No,” she said curtly, making a production of arranging her sandwich makings. “I wasn’t hungry then.” The truth of the matter was, she’d lost her appetite. She wasn’t sure she could eat now.
“You know, I couldn’t keep my eyes off that dress today.” Matthew twirled a strand of Abby’s hair between his fingers. “You should have warned me that your wardrobe produced these kinds of side effects,” he murmured close to her ear.
A shiver racing down her spine, Abby drew away from him. She couldn’t do this. Couldn’t allow herself to feel it. “I’m sorry I made you uncomfortable,” she said without looking at him. If she looked it would be all over.
He dragged her hair away from the back of her neck and kissed her in that most sensitive spot. “I’m not complaining,” he said between tenderly sensual kisses.
Sensations flooding her traitorous body, she turned to face him, determined to tell him in no uncertain terms that what had happened that morning wasn’t going to happen again.
He smiled down at her and Abby’s heart lurched. “I can’t even look at you without wanting you,” he said softly, as he traced the outline of her jaw with the tip of one long finger. “It’s going to be lonely around here without you.”
Abby managed a smile. “Maybe someone will come over and keep you company,” she said wanly. The thought filled her with such anguish that her heart twisted painfully in her chest. She didn’t want anyone else keeping him company.
Matthew bent his head and nipped her lower lip, stealing her breath. “Not just anyone will do for what I have in mind.”
Unable to help herself, she pressed her forehead to his chin and slid her arms around his lean waist. “What did you have in mind?” she whispered. Slowly, she pulled his shirt from his jeans. The sound of his sharply indrawn breath when her hands found his bare chest kindled the desire she’d tried so hard to deny. The feel of his skin beneath her palms made her weak with want. This might be her last chance to be with Matthew. How could she deny herself—deny him—this one last time together?
“That’s a very good start, Miss Wade.” Matthew tilted her chin up, then dipped his finger in the open mayonnaise jar and spread a dab of the creamy white stuff over her lips. He moved in closer, wedging her body between his and the table. “A very, very good start.” Slowly, sensually his tongue traced her lips, removing the taste of mayonnaise and leaving behind the unique taste of Matthew.
Past the point of no return now, Abby slowly, one by one, released the buttons of his shirt. She pushed the soft cotton off his broad shoulders, then down his strong arms. He blazed a path of heated kisses down her neck and across her shoulder, then pushed the flimsy straps of her silk sundress down, exposing her unrestrained breasts. Warmth filled her and her earlier doubts dissolved as his tongue laved her erect nipples. Abby planted a desperate kiss on the top of Matthew’s head. She would never learn to numb her body against his touch. He swept the sandwich fixings aside with one stroke of his arm, then, he lifted Abby and positioned her on the edge of the smooth, oak table. All the while his hot mouth moved over hers, devouring and plundering.
He parted her thighs and pushed the skirt of her dress to her waist. Abby gasped as his right hand slid up her thigh and found her panties. Moving beyond the thin fabric barrier, he gently parted her feminine folds and slipped one finger inside to explore the moist, aching heat.
Need and desire detonated into a thousand brilliant sparks inside her. She wanted him—needed him—desperately. How would she ever survive without him? She unzipped his jeans, grasped his hard, throbbing sex and freed him from his jeans. Her breath caught as he sheathed himself deeply inside her, filling her so completely that nothing else mattered. She kissed him as if it might be the last time she would ever have a chance. Very soon she had to go, but today she would make love to Matthew Stone with all her heart.
“Abby.” Matthew’s gaze found hers. The look that passed between them said many things, but none of the promises they both knew they could not make. She pulled his mouth to hers and kissed him with a fierceness she felt certain would give away the desperation filling her heart. Somehow she knew that when her time with Matthew ended, no one would ever be able to make her feel this way again. She wanted this moment... the memory of this closeness with him to last forever—no matter what it cost her.
And it would cost her everything.
With extraordinary tenderness, Matthew eased her back onto the table and began to move slowly inside her. With each slow, deep thrust he kissed her more thoroughly. She inhaled the smell of his skin and the scent of their lovemaking. Her senses absorbed every detail, each new element heightening the fiery, thrilling response within her. Abby couldn’t control the need to call out his name. Matthew responded instantly, bringing her to the pinnacle with such driving force that they came together.
“Abby.” Her name came out more a tortured moan than a word.
She felt his eyes on her, but she couldn’t look at him. If she looked at him now, she would never be able to hold in check the tears suddenly burning in her eyes. He whispered her name once more as he gently kissed her cheek.
Dear God, how could anything this wonderful hurt so badly?
A shudder shook Abby as she felt her heart shatter into tiny pieces.
Chapter Nine
Abby gazed out over the beautiful landscape of Matthew’s backyard from the bedroom window one last time before she went downstairs. So very lovely. How she would miss this place. She smiled and shook her head at the irony of it all. Tears welled in her eyes.
This was ridiculous. She never cried.
But she had fallen in love with the man and his small hometown. Every detail of Matthew Stone and Salem was permanently etched in her heart.
Abby swiped at the tears spilling past her lashes. The story had been written at last... her bags were packed and in the rental car. Matthew probably stood by the front door waiting to tell her good-bye. She drew in a long breath and blinked rapidly.
Would he ask her to stay? Abby knew he wouldn’t and that she couldn’t, even if he did ask. She steeled herself against the waterfall of emotions cascading over her. She had to be strong. She would get over it. But she wasn’t so sure. If she lived to be a thousand years old, would she still be in love with Matthew Stone?
Yes.
They had tiptoed around each other since the explosion of passion in the kitchen. Matthew had asked her to sleep in his bed that night, but she just couldn’t. She didn’t want to know how it felt to wake up beside him after a night of lovemaking, to feel his strong arms around her when she woke in the middle of the night. By mutual unspoken consent, they’d opted to go to Jenny’s early Sunday afternoon and stayed late to avoid being alone together.
Abby had given Jenny the interview she wanted, so they were even. Except Abby was the one with the broken heart, not Matthew. But Jenny didn’t seem to notice that Abby would never be the same again.
She let go a heavy breath. It was time to go.
~*~
Matthew watched Abby descend the staircase and his heart dropped to his feet. She really did intend to go. And nothing he could do would stop her. He’d shared things with her and felt feelings for her that he
’d thought he might never feel again. Now he knew for certain that he would be alone the rest of his life. There would be no children... nothing. For the only woman he would ever want was about to walk out of his life.
If only he could take the chance and ask her to stay.
She would never stay. She would leave anyway. Her life was in New York. She loved her job. What could he possibly offer her? Nothing.
Right now, Matthew desperately wished he could stop feeling the pain of watching her go—but he couldn’t. It was too strong. He loved Abby Wade with all his heart. But, she had come for one thing and one thing only—the story. She’d gotten it and now she was leaving. No matter what he thought he saw in her eyes or how she felt in his arms, she was leaving and that was that.
And he would never be the same again.
“So... you’re all ready to go?” Matthew searched her eyes one last time for some sign of regret, but all he saw was that professional smile she had started giving him. The same one she showed everyone else.
“I guess so.”
“Okay.” He forced a halfhearted smile and opened the door for her. Barney waited by the steps and even he looked a little sad.
Abby paused on the last step. Her hand trembling, she reached down and gave Barney a quick pat on his big, shaggy head. Matthew almost smiled. Hell, she didn’t like dogs. Was she actually saying good-bye to Barney?
He followed her to the car, then opened the driver’s side door. “Have a safe trip,” he managed to say, in spite of the emotions that closed his throat.
“I will.” She hesitated a moment before getting into the car. “Thank you... for everything.”
He nodded, couldn’t bring himself to kiss her goodbye or even speak. The hurt twisted razor sharp inside him.
The sound of tires crunching gravel in his drive pulled Matthew’s attention in that direction. Jenny. His sister jumped out of the car and rushed over.
“I’m so glad you haven’t left yet!” Jenny threw her arms around Abby and hugged her close. “I was afraid I had missed you.”
Abby’s eyes were bright with unshed tears when Jenny finally released her. Could Matthew be wrong? Could she feel the same way he did? He mentally kicked himself. Of course she didn’t. He was a fool. Abby was beautiful, elegant, she could have any man she wanted. Why would she want a guy like him? Before that inner voice could give him an answer, Matthew’s pager beeped. Talk about bad timing.
A house fire. Matthew swore.
“Gotta go.” He opened his mouth to say a few more words to Abby, but he couldn’t think of any. Instead, he pulled her against him and kissed her with every ounce of feeling he could summon. When he released her, she looked as stunned as he felt.
Matthew heard Jenny call out “Be safe!” to him as he climbed into his truck. He waved, then gunned the engine. He had to get to the station.
~*~
Within minutes of Matthew’s swift departure, Abby heard the sirens in the distance. The sound sent a cold chill over her skin.
“I worry every time I hear that sound.” Jenny shook her head, her expression distant. “Will Matthew be all right? Will someone else I know and love be hurt? Will some of my friends lose their home?” She shivered visibly.
Abby released the breath that had stalled in her lungs. “I have to get to the airport.” She couldn’t bear this a moment longer. Jenny was right... this was too hard.
Jenny smiled. “Have a safe trip, Abby. And drop us a line now and then.”
Abby nodded. “I’ll do that.” She closed the car door and turned the ignition. Nothing happened. Abby frowned, then tried again. Nothing.
“Is something wrong?” Jenny leaned down and peered in the car.
“It won’t start.” Abby made a strangled noise, not quite the laugh she’d been shooting for. “It doesn’t even make a sound when I turn the key.”
“Oh no,” Jenny muttered. She reached inside and twisted a knob on the left side of the steering wheel. “Your battery’s dead. You must have left the lights on when you first arrived.”
Memories crashed in on Abby. It had been almost dusk when she’d arrived in Salem. She hadn’t remembered to turn off the lights because Roger had hauled her away. She hadn’t been in the rental since.
Abby closed her eyes and heaved a sigh. “Oh, God, what do I do now?”
“I’ll call Dad and tell him I’m taking you to the airport.” Jenny opened the car door. “Matthew will see to it that your rental car is returned. Come on,” she urged. “You don’t want to miss your flight.”
~*~
Ninety minutes later, Jenny parked in the ten-minute parking zone in front of the airport. She turned to Abby and smiled. “Well, here we are.”
Abby couldn’t bring herself to get out of the car. Emotions churned so wildly inside her that she wanted to cry one second, and scream the next. What if Matthew wasn’t all right? What if he were hurt in the fire?
“Abby, are you all right?”
No! she wanted to say as tears surged anew; she wasn’t all right. She couldn’t be feeling this, yet she did. She loved Matthew, but could she...? Abby closed her eyes. God, she just didn’t know. This was crazy.
Jenny placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” Abby fumbled for the latch and quickly opened the door. She had to get out of here. Scanning the entrance, she spotted a skycap and gestured him over. The action felt normal, routine. She was on her way home.
Home.
She suffered the strangest twinge of regret with that thought.
Jenny stood quietly by the open trunk as Abby’s luggage was unloaded to be taken to the appropriate flight desk. “Well, I guess this it,” she said with a shaky smile, as the skycap disappeared into the terminal.
Abby felt her own smile waver. “I guess so.”
Jenny looked at the concrete walk before meeting her gaze. “Good-bye, Abby.”
Abby gave her another tight smile and a weary gesture that could pass as a wave good-bye, then turned and strode into the busy terminal.
Matthew would be fine. He’d been a fireman for years, he knew what he was doing. Abby could call Jenny when she got to New York, just to be sure.
No.
She had to know now. Abby could not leave without knowing Matthew was okay. Without seeing for herself that he was unharmed and...
“To hell with it,” she muttered. Abby pivoted and ran toward the entrance. What if Jenny had left already? Abby burst through the doors, scanning the curb for Jenny’s blue sedan. Her heart sank when she didn’t immediately spot the car that had been there only moments before.
“Looking for anyone in particular?”
The sound of Jenny’s voice lifted Abby’s sagging spirits. “Jenny, thank God! You’re still here.”
She gave Abby a pointed look. “I knew you wouldn’t go.”
“You have to take me back,” Abby said in a rush, before she lost her courage. “I have to know that Matthew is okay.”
“I knew you were in love with him,” Jenny crowed. “When I saw the two of you at that reunion together, I knew it was a done deal.”
Abby summoned her patience. “It’s not what you think, Jenny. I just have to be sure he’s okay—that’s all. And then I’ll return to New York.”
Jenny shrugged. “Whatever you say.”
“Just take me back, please.”
A mischievous grin spread across Jenny’s face, reminding Abby far too much of the twins. “What about your luggage?”
“What about it?” Abby retorted, ushering Jenny toward the car she now saw parked farther down the sidewalk. “So, it’ll get back to New York before I do. No big deal.”
“Right,” Jenny returned, drawing the word out.
Abby pitched her purse into the car, then gave Jenny a look across the top of the car. “Don’t blow this out of proportion, Jenny. I’m not staying. I’m only looking for a more dramatic ending to my story.”
“Right,�
� Jenny said again.
~*~
Dramatic had been a poor choice of words.
The hospital’s antiseptic scent immediately assaulted Abby’s nose. The automatic doors closed with a hydraulic swish behind them as they entered the emergency room’s lobby.
Matthew was hurt.
That was all they knew at this point. As soon as they’d entered the edge of town, a police officer Jenny had known in high school pulled her over and related the bad news. Fifteen minutes later they had parked in the lot of the Franklin County Medical Center.
Though she’d never put much stock in prayer, Abby had prayed the entire way.
Please, God, let him be all right, she pleaded even now.
Roger and Luke met them halfway across the wide lobby, their solemn faces still smeared with soot.
“What happened?” Jenny demanded.
Luke grasped her by the shoulders and steadied her. “Your daddy is back there with him now. They haven’t told us anything since they brought him in almost two hours ago,” he said somberly. “But Matthew’s a tough guy, it’ll take more than a knock on the noggin to keep him down.”
An icy chill permeated Abby’s being. She forced herself to ask, “What exactly happened?” She didn’t recognize her own voice. The flat, emotionless tone sounded as numb as she felt.
Since Luke was busy consoling Jenny, Roger gave Abby the details. The house was located on an almost deserted stretch of road and it would have burned to the ground if Ralph Steele, a neighbor, hadn’t been on his way to work and saw the smoke. The place was pretty much past saving when they got there. Since it had been so early in the morning, they had no way of knowing if anyone was home and maybe still in bed. They had no way of knowing if the occupants were out of town. The firemen had to assume they were in the house.
Roger swallowed hard before continuing the story. “We searched the place from top to bottom and didn’t find anybody. Luke and me got out first, but old Ray”—Roger shook his head—“the smoke got to him. Best we could tell, he collapsed while he and Matthew were still on the second floor. We heard glass shattering around back and rushed around there. It was Matthew. Ray was unconscious and Matthew was trying to get him through the window. He dropped him to us. I could tell that Matthew was suffering from the smoke too. Before he could get out, part of the second floor collapsed. There was so much confusion then that he just jumped without signaling us first. He hit his head pretty hard.”