12 Days (Hope Harbor)

by Karla Doyle

  “It would be a bad thing for me. Whatever this thing is that we’re doing, it isn’t simple for me, like it is for you.”

  “You think kissing you is simple for me?” He moved forward again, not touching her, but standing so close, he might as well have been. “Kissing you is the most complicated thing I’ve ever done, Addie.”

  “But kissing someone should be simple, right? Not something to agonize about.”

  “You don’t seem to be in agony when my tongue is in your mouth, or vice versa. Maybe you should go with that organ, instead.”

  “Instead of what? Instead of using my brain, because I don’t want to screw up our friendship, which is more important to me than anything in the world? Instead of protecting my heart from being ripped out of my chest?”

  “That’s not what I meant. Shit.” He pushed one hand through his hair. “I was trying to lighten the mood with that tongue comment. To make you laugh and smile. Big fail on that, obviously. I hate seeing you stressed. I hate it even more, knowing I’m the reason.”

  “The fact that I misinterpreted your comment proves how out of sync we are.” Pressure was building behind her eyes, the kind that would result in tears, if she didn’t find a way to head it off. “I don’t want to talk about this here, with nosey noses everywhere I look.”

  “Then let’s go home and talk.”

  “Home, where your parents will undoubtedly be awake, and tuned in to every word we say?” She shook her head while hugging herself. “I don’t want to do that, either.”

  “Then what do you want?”

  She blinked rapidly, forcing the threatening tears to retreat. “I can’t answer that question right now.”

  “When are you going to decide?”

  She didn’t have time to answer, or maybe she was saved from answering, when Jenna emerged from a pocket of people.

  “It’s nuts in here,” Jenna said, distributing the bottles of beer she’d carried by the necks. “I tried carrying your shot of tequila, too, but when it started to spill while I was walking, I drank it instead. So, I owe you one.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” His nondescript words and tone were for Jenna, but his unwavering attention was still focused on Addie.

  “Cheers.” Jenna raised her bottle toward them, her gaze darting back and forth when they didn’t join in. “Um…what’s going on here?”

  “Nothing.” Kelly handed his beer to Jenna. “I’m going to head out. Make sure Addie has a good night, okay?”

  “I always do.” Jenna waited for Kelly to exit The Fischer Hotel’s large, upstairs lounge, then wheeled on Addie. “Apparently, I can’t leave you alone for five minutes.”

  “Ten.”

  Jenna rolled her eyes. “Whatever, Adeline. When I walked away, his arms were around you and there was no doubt—to be clear, I’m talking absolutely zero doubt—that he was totally into you. What did you do to scare off that fine piece of man?”

  “What makes you think I did something? Maybe he just changed his mind. He does that, you know.”

  “Ah. Now we’re getting somewhere.” A knowing nod preceded a long pull from one of the beers Jenna held. “You’re in self-preservation mode.”

  “Of course I am. I have to be. If I let this thing with Kelly go any further, I’ll never recover when it ends.”

  “Maybe it won’t end.”

  “This is Kelly we’re talking about, Jenna. I lost track of his female-body count years ago. He’s amazing, but he’s like a library book, not a bookstore book. No matter how much you love a library book, it’s not yours to keep.”

  “You’re such a nerd.” Jenna shook her head. “That said, I do hear what you’re saying.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Still, I wouldn’t be me, or a very good friend, if I didn’t give you a little food for thought. I know you’d rather buy the book than borrow it, but wouldn’t you rather check it out and enjoy the hell out of it for a while, as opposed to never reading it at all?”

  Chapter 8

  December 20

  KELLY

  “Hi.” Addie dropped onto the couch beside him, dressed in killer-hot black leggings and a red Christmas sweater that accented her sexy tits. Close enough that she could have leaned over and kissed him good morning. Unfortunately, she leaned in the opposite direction. “Sorry about last night.”

  “Don’t be.” He closed his laptop, cutting off the hockey highlights in the middle of an overtime, game-winning goal. “I didn’t hear you come in.” If that made him sound needy or controlling, then it did.

  “Jenna wanted to follow the pub crawl to last call at the final stop. It was so late when I dragged my exhausted butt to bed.”

  “I would’ve helped with your butt.”

  She leaned over to give him a playful swat, then flopped backward against the pillows again. “Personally, I was ready to quit the crawl after my first drink. Hair of the dog is not my thing.” She shivered. “And I know Jenna drank more than I did at her bachelorette party, hard as that is to believe. You wouldn’t have guessed it last night, though. She just kept going and going, all the way to the bitter end. Or maybe it was just me that was bitter, because I wanted to be home in my pajamas.”

  He chuckled. “Falling in love and becoming co-owner of a mega-successful upstart corporation doesn’t seem to have affected Jenna’s enjoyment of a good party.”

  “Nope. She’s the undisputed party queen. Last night, I realized that I’ve become the queen of going to bed by ten o’clock.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with that. My wild days are behind me, too.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “Your late-night partying days may be behind you, but I think there’s still plenty of wildness in you. Anyway,” she said, not giving him a chance to question or counter what could’ve been a compliment or a criticism, “I tried to be quiet when I got home. I’m glad I successfully avoided all the squeaky spots in the floor.”

  “Yeah, I need to put house maintenance on my New Year’s resolutions list. My dad has been pointing out everything I’ve slacked on since buying the place from them.”

  “I think the house is great the way it is.”

  “Any greatness about it is because of you. Without your touch, it’d be boring, bare walls surrounding the basic necessities, nothing more.”

  “I can’t take all the credit. We chose most of the décor stuff together.”

  He grunted a laugh. “I wouldn’t know those decorating stores existed without you. And if I wandered into one by some freakish mistake, I’d be overloaded by all the options, then turn around and walk right back out. Let’s call our home-decorating purchases what they really were—we went in the stores together, but you did all the choosing.”

  “Not true. You always help with the decisions.”

  “Sure. After I trick you into narrowing whatever it is down to your top-two favorites of any given thing. Then I know we’re getting something awesome that you like, no matter what I pick.”

  “You do that?”

  “Every time.”

  “You had me fooled. I always thought you liked shopping for house stuff.”

  Thank you, perfect opportunity. He reached over and snagged her hand, squeezing it while looking deep into her warm, brown eyes. “I’m a guy, I hate shopping—except when it’s with you. No matter what we’re looking at, or whether we buy anything, I always have a good time.”

  “So do I. Even when we’re looking at hockey equipment.” A smile broke across her lips. “Though, I’ll deny that to the death if you ever repeat it publicly.”

  “Your secret is safe with me. All of your secrets are.” He angled his body closer and stroked her soft, pink-tinted cheek. “I know I’ve been pushing for a big jump in our relationship, and I think I know what’s holding you back, even though you haven’t told me. But you did say you don’t want people seeing us together in a more-than-friends way, so I’ll tone it down in public until you give me the green light.”

  �
��Until? You sound pretty confident you’re going to get that green light.”

  “I am.”

  She moved back the tiniest bit as he leaned in to kiss her. “You just said you were going to tone it down.”

  “In public. We’re alone right now.”

  Her eyes opened wider as he threaded his fingers through her silky hair, then cupped her nape.

  He held her there, held her gaze, too. If she didn’t want this, she could tell him, just like she had last night.

  She didn’t say a word. Not with her mouth. Her expressive eyes told him everything he needed.

  He closed the remaining space between them and sealed their mouths together. Too many days had gone by without this. Hell, too many hours. The sweet taste of her lips. The warmth of her breath, mingling with his.

  He slid his tongue along the seam of her lips, getting instantly hard when she opened for him with a soft little moan. Instinct screamed at him to ease her onto her back and cover every inch of her with his body. Unwrap her like the gift she was.

  Muffled voices from way too nearby and the metallic click of the spare bedroom’s door handle turning forced him to break their connection instead. Shit.

  “That’ll have to tide us over until later,” he said, pulling back to a safe distance.

  She blinked at him with the glassy eyes of a kiss-drunk woman. Gorgeous. And so damn tempting. “What’s happening later?”

  “If we slip my parents some sleeping pills at dinner, hopefully a lot more of what we just did.” He waved at his inconvenient, unexpected houseguests as they emerged from the spare bedroom, exhaling when they turned toward the kitchen, instead of the living room. “I love them, but I can’t wait for them to leave.”

  She laughed quietly. “Is it wrong that I feel the same way?”

  “I’d be seriously concerned if you didn’t.”

  “Kelly, darling…” His mother’s voice carried from the kitchen, one room over. “I’m making pancakes. Would you and Adeline like some?”

  Addie clapped her hand on his knee as she smiled at him, her eyes wide and shining. “Did you just get a flashback to when we were eleven years old, playing together on a weekend morning, or is it just me?”

  He shook his head. “I got it, too.”

  “We’ve known each other a long time.” Her voice was as soft as every other perfect part of her.

  Why it’d taken him so damn long to realize that, he couldn’t say. “Twenty-three years so far, with double that still to go.”

  “Friends forever.”

  “That’s guaranteed, no matter what.” He covered her hand with one of his and squeezed. “But we could be more. I want more with you. It feels like you want more, too.”

  “You know I do.” A deep blush filled her cheeks. “I’m sure you remember what I told you the other night.”

  “I’ll never forget. But I’m looking forward to the day you say it all again, without the liquid courage.”

  “I’m not sure that’ll happen.”

  “You repeating it while you’re sober, or us being more?”

  “Both.”

  Not the ideal time to get their cards on the table, but when opportunity knocks, you answer the damn door. Especially with Christmas looming directly ahead. “Since it’s something we both want, why wouldn’t it happen?”

  She glanced toward the kitchen before answering. “Because my feelings are already deeply rooted, and you’re a man who doesn’t let relationships get past the freshly sprouted stage. I’m not saying that to insult or pressure you, it’s a simple statement of the way we are, and an important way that we’re different. If we let this attraction go further, I don’t know if I’ll be able to go back to being your platonic best friend, once it’s over. You’re too important to me to take that risk.”

  “Pancakes? Anybody?” his mom called from the kitchen. “Whatever you’re chatting about in there, I’m certain it can wait until after breakfast.” She appeared in the doorway, glass mixing bowl and measuring cup in hand, before they could answer. “Adeline? Can I fill you up before you go to work?”

  “That should’ve been my question,” he said, at a volume only Addie could hear.

  She slid her hand free and used it to swat him, then rose from the couch. “Just one pancake for me, please.”

  “One?” His mom frowned. “That’s not the Adeline I remember.”

  “Same old me. Just with a lower pancake intake.”

  His mom sighed. “I miss the days when you’d gobble up whatever I put in front of you, but if one is all you want…”

  “It is,” Addie said, standing her ground—literally and otherwise. “Thank you.”

  He would come to her defense any day of the week, about anything. One of the endless great things about her was the fact he didn’t need to.

  His mom turned her attention on him. “What about you?”

  “Sign me up for a stack.” Best answer he could give to appease his mother. Something he needed to do before hitting her up for a stack-sized favor. He waited for her to disappear into the kitchen, then hopped up and snagged Addie around the waist before she got clear of the couch. “I have to talk to my mom after breakfast, then I’ll head over to the store to help.”

  “You don’t have t—”

  He stopped her with a kiss.

  One she resisted, briefly, before pressing her lush body up against him and parting her lips to let him in. But there was nothing passive in that move. Hell, no. She sucked his tongue into her mouth, sending every drop of available blood directly to his cock.

  He groaned and gripped her hips, pulling her as close as their position and circumstances allowed. This is how they were meant to be. She knew it. He just had to prove he knew it, too.

  Her sexy moan vibrated against his lips when he slid his hand around to cup her ass. “You have to let me go.”

  “Never.” He smacked her sexy backside hard enough to startle a yip from her. “But I’ll let you get some breakfast.”

  “That stung,” she said, rubbing the area he’d warmed with his palm. Words that could’ve been a complaint, if she wasn’t also blushing brighter than a bonfire.

  He’d done a little ass-smacking here and there, but he’d never had any urge to spank a woman. Until now. “You should go to the kitchen.”

  Her eyebrows rose and her eyes opened wide. She’d heard the huskiness in his voice. Probably saw the hungriness in his gaze.

  He felt like the wolf, and he was more than ready to eat his Little Red Riding Hood. “Addie.” He moved closer, molded his hands to her waistline and squeezed. “If you don’t hustle to the kitchen in the next five seconds, I’m going to carry you into my bedroom, lock the door, and give you a much better reason to blush—on all of your cheeks.”

  Lips parted, eyes glazed with arousal, she stared up at him. She wanted him just as much as he wanted her.

  He could focus on the sizzle between them. Use it to get her into his bedroom and out of her clothes. And he would, many times, for years and years to come. Not the first time, though. That needed to be different. The focus needed to come from the heart, not the heat they generated.

  “All right, you two,” his mom called from the kitchen. “The first lot of pancakes are ready. Take the sock off the door handle and join us for breakfast.”

  A blush of a different kind streaked Addie’s cheeks. “Oh, my God,” she whispered. “Does that mean she heard us?”

  “Sounds that way. I’m sure it’s no surprise that we’re kissing, since they walked in on us making-out against the wall the other night.” He released her, but only because he had to. “Come on, let’s go get breakfast before she says something else that’ll scar my eardrums. The ‘sock on the door’ comment was bad enough.”

  Addie stood her ground when he motioned for her to move toward the kitchen. “I can’t. Not now. She’s going to look at me like I was in here doing things to her little boy.”

  “Oh, you’re doing things to me.” One tug
had her snugly in his arms again. He pressed his rock-hard cock against her abdomen. “And there’s nothing ‘little’ about it.”

  The ting-ting of metal against glass made Addie jump backward, out of his arms and beyond his reach. Her pretty face tinted deep pink with embarrassment, she ducked her head and speed-walked past his mom, into the kitchen.

  “Kelly Edward Horne.” His mother pointed at him with the spoon she’d banged against her juice glass, a move that’d proved as effective as a cold-water hose-down. “For goodness sake, give the groping a rest, and let that poor girl eat breakfast.”

  “Sorry, Mom.” Sincere words, yet he couldn’t wipe the shit-eating grin from his face if he tried.

  That poor girl liked his groping. A lot.

  Having his mom in the know about their upgraded relationship would make it easier to ask for the big favor when he talked to her later.

  The setbacks were behind them. He still had five days, but he only needed one to ensure he was the man she wanted. With any luck, that day would be tomorrow.

  December 21

  KELLY

  He’d never been one of those people who believed in the stars aligning, and other assorted, wishful shit. He believed in what was right in front of him. In setting a goal, planning, then doing what was necessary to make it reality. That’s how he’d gotten through school. How he’d become a business owner and a home owner. That’s how he’d convince Addie to take the next step with him.

  He set down the shopping bags full of stuff that’d turn tonight’s plan into reality. He’d picked up everything on his list with ease, despite Christmas being four days away.

  Clear skies had topped dry roads all the way to the city. The mall had been crowded, but the lingerie store had been empty—and not because they were out of stock. They’d had exactly what he wanted. Even hitting Ikea had been a breeze. A parking spot near the door, then a short line at the checkouts. Most efficient shopping trips ever.