by Marie Force
“For what it’s worth, I made the same assumptions. More than once I’ve thought they were awfully young to be left to their own devices so often. Joe says I didn’t let him out of my sight until he was thirty.”
Leave it to his Caro to make him laugh when he felt like shit. “I believe him.”
“He’s not that far off,” she conceded.
“I want to help them, but I don’t know how.”
“Tomorrow, we’ll talk to Lisa, and we’ll ask what we can do.”
“Do you think she’ll let us help?”
“If she’s sick and alone with two kids, she may not have any choice but to accept whatever help is offered.”
“They’re cute little buggers. I’ll give them that.”
“They are indeed.” She kissed his cheek and then his lips when he turned toward her. “You feel better?”
“I always feel better when you’re talking sense into me.”
“Someone’s gotta do it.”
With a low growl, he said, “I’ve got much better uses for that fresh mouth of yours if you’re interested in using it for something other than giving me a hard time.”
Her hand drifted from his chest down to find him fully erect. “A hard time, you say?”
He gasped when she stroked him, making him even harder, if that was possible. “A very hard time.”
* * *
For the first time in her life, Katie Lawry woke the next morning to a man in her bed. And not just any man. No, this one was incredibly sexy and handsome and thoughtful and adorable in his sleep. Overnight, he’d sprouted whiskers on his jaw that only added to his sexiness.
Katie checked the bedside clock to make sure he wasn’t oversleeping. It was only seven, so he had time. He’d said he liked to be at work by nine.
As she watched him, she wondered what he’d do if she touched him. Would he wake up? Would he sleep through it? Would he want to have sex again? They’d done everything short of actual sex before falling asleep long after midnight. He’d said he was worried about her being sore if they did it a second time.
While she’d appreciated his concern, she’d wished he’d been a little less concerned.
Before he woke up, Katie decided to get up to use the bathroom and brush her teeth. She moved slowly so she wouldn’t disturb him. As she stood on her injured foot, two dull stabs of pain greeted her—one on the bottom of her foot and the other between her legs.
Maybe he’d been on to something with his worries about her being sore. She hobbled to the bathroom, where she discovered just how sore she really was and was thankful for Shane’s foresight. She brushed her teeth and limped back to bed, wincing as she sat on the edge of the mattress.
“How bad is it?”
The rough morning scratch of his voice sent a tingle down her spine as she turned to face him. “Not too bad.”
“Are you lying to me, Katie Lawry?”
She pinched her fingers together. “Just a little.”
“Come here.”
Katie moved carefully to comply with his request, scooting across the mattress until she was pressed up against him.
He kissed her forehead and then her lips. “Morning.”
“Morning.”
“Sorry you’re sore.”
“I’m not.”
“Oh no?”
She shook her head. “Best night of my life. Hands down.”
“Really. Well… That’s quite nice to hear.”
It was okay if he didn’t feel the same way. He’d been married after all, and by all accounts had been crazy in love with his wife. Of course he’d had better nights than the one he’d shared with her.
“I know what you’re thinking,” he said, startling her.
“How do you know?”
“Your eyebrows become a straight line when you’re overthinking something.” He traced his finger over them to make his point.
“They do?” No one had ever told her that before, but then again she’d never let anyone get close enough to notice such quirks.
“Uh-huh.”
“So what wisdom are you gaining from my eyebrows?”
“You’re thinking that I was married, so naturally this was just another night for me, but it wasn’t. It was really important—and special—for me, too. For many reasons, but primarily because I got to spend it with you.”
“And that was the most perfect thing you could’ve said.”
He smiled. “I thought you might like that.” After another kiss, he said, “I really do mean it. I’ve been stuck in a bad place for a long time now, and it’s so nice to feel good again. The time that we’ve spent together has made me feel very good, which is a huge improvement in a short time, so thanks for that.”
“Happy to be of assistance.”
Shane checked his watch. “I’ve got some time before I need to be anywhere. How about some breakfast on the porch?”
“That sounds delightful.”
As he helped her to shower while keeping her foot dry, she was astounded by how quickly she’d adjusted to being naked with him. What should’ve been awkward and embarrassing simply wasn’t. It was like an extension of the night before when he’d gone out of his way to ensure her comfort.
She became extremely uncomfortable—in a good way—when he filled his hands with liquid soap that he ran all over her body, making her tingle from head to toe.
“So sensitive,” he said softly, kissing her neck as he cupped her breasts.
Katie’s legs began to tremble as he worked his way down to her belly and below.
“Nice and easy,” he said as he let his fingers slip between her legs.
Katie gasped from the soreness as much as the exquisite knot of desire that overrode the pain.
“I can’t wait to taste you again,” he said. “Tonight, after dinner at your mom’s, I’m going to taste you again.”
“You can’t say that and mention my mother in the same sentence,” she said with a nervous laugh.
“Why not?”
“Because!”
His low chuckle echoed off the walls of the shower stall.
When he withdrew his hand from between her legs, she nearly toppled over. His arm came around her waist to hold her steady.
“I want to wash you.”
“Hold on to me.” He rearranged them so he was in front of her, keeping her injured foot outside the shower.
She ran her hands over his bulging biceps. “That was very smooth.”
“We can’t get that foot wet for another couple of days. Wait till you see what we can do then.”
“I can’t wait.” She held out her hand. “Soap, please.”
He filled the palm of her hand with liquid soap that she took great pleasure in spreading all over his muscular body, working her way down slowly until he was nearly panting from waiting for her to get to the erection that hung hard and heavy between his legs.
“I need more soap to finish the job,” she said, giggling at the tortured grimace on his face.
He gave her a refill and then propped a hand on the wall.
Katie loved that he seemed to be bracing himself for her touch, so she decided to make it well worth it. She started again at his shoulders, smoothing her hands over his nipples and rippling abs before she grasped his erection and began to stroke him.
“Shit,” he whispered.
“Is this good?” she asked, fascinated by the velvety soft skin that covered his hard length.
“Harder.” A muscle in his cheek pulsed as he covered her hand with his own and showed her how he liked it.
“That doesn’t hurt?”
“Hurts in the best possible way. Don’t stop.”
Even when the shower in the old hotel began to go cold, Katie didn’t stop. Emboldened by his heavy breathing and the hand he curled around her neck, she used her free hand to cup his balls.
“God… Katie…”
She watched, fascinated, as he came hard. Then he wrapped his arms around h
er and held her for a long time, until they both began to shiver under the increasingly cold water.
“Best cold shower ever,” he whispered against her ear, making her laugh.
Chapter 20
After they were dressed and Katie had put her wet hair into a ponytail, Shane walked slowly by her side as she hobbled down the stairs.
“I wish you’d let me carry you.”
“Not happening. It’s bad enough you had to carry me the other night.”
“So being held in my arms was bad. That’s what you’re saying.”
“I did not say that,” she said, laughing, “so don’t twist my words.”
“Are you two kids already bickering?” Laura asked from her post at the reception desk. “Shouldn’t you still be in the rose-colored glasses stage?”
“Who’s in the rose-colored glasses stage?” Abby asked as she came out of the gift shop. “Oh,” she said, when she saw Shane and Katie. “I know who. Come down and tell us everything.”
“While that’s a lovely offer,” Shane said sarcastically, “we’ll pass.”
“I’ll get it out of him and fill you in later,” Laura said to Abby.
“No, you won’t,” Shane said firmly.
Though she was horrified by the idea of Laura “getting it out of him,” Katie laughed at their banter. They reminded her of the way she spoke to her siblings now that they were older and out from under the black cloud they’d lived under as children.
Shane handed Katie her other crutch. “We’re going to breakfast. Leave us alone.”
“Do I have to?” Laura asked, chin propped on her upturned hand.
“Yes,” her brother said, “you have to.”
“He has no idea how things work around here, does he?” Abby asked.
“None at all,” Laura replied. “By the way, Katie, we’re getting up a girls’ night out for tomorrow. We’d love to have you join us.”
“She’s busy,” Shane said before Katie could reply.
“I am?” Katie asked him.
“Very, very busy.”
“Doing what?”
“Come with me, and I’ll tell you.”
Katie smiled at Laura. “Thanks for the invite, but it seems I have other plans.”
“If you change your mind, you know where to find me.”
“She’s not going to change her mind.”
Katie knew he was joking around with his sister, but something about the way he said that gave her pause. “Wait.”
“What?” Shane asked.
Katie looked over at Laura. “I’d love to go tomorrow night. Thanks for asking me. Let me know what time.”
“Oh,” Laura said. “Okay.”
Keeping her head down, Katie moved slowly and painstakingly into the restaurant, uncertain if Shane was following her or not. Her heart beat fast from the exertion as much as the fear of what he might have to say to her. She wasn’t actually “afraid” of him or anything like that, but where she came from, being assertive and overruling a man led to trouble.
“Table for two, please,” Shane said from behind her as Katie reached the hostess stand.
They were led to the same table Katie had shared with her grandmother the day before. As she settled into her chair, Shane took the crutches from her and leaned them against the porch rail.
Maybe it was less than courageous of her, but while he took a seat, she took an interest in the menu.
“Katie.”
She glanced at him, hoping he couldn’t somehow tell that her heart was racing and her hands were trembling ever so slightly. This, right here, was why she’d avoided men all her life.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. I was doing what I do with Laura. I shouldn’t have answered for you. If you want to go out with her and the others, that’s exactly what you should do.” He smiled. “I’ll find a way to get by on my own for the evening.”
His adorably heartfelt apology and innate understanding of what had upset her went a long way toward calming her rattled nerves. “Thank you for apologizing. That scenario…” She gestured toward the lobby. “Sort of a hot-button issue for me.”
“I understand. It won’t happen again.”
She stared across the table at him.
“What?”
“I… I didn’t expect that to be so easy.”
“Why not? I was way out of line and realized it about two seconds after I said what I did. You don’t think I’m going to fix that ASAP?”
“How in the world did your wife ever let you get away?”
The stricken expression that overtook his face made Katie instantly sorry for asking the question. She shook her head. “I shouldn’t have said that. My turn to apologize.”
“It’s okay. It’s a question I’ve asked myself lots of times. I mean, don’t get me wrong. I’m as far from perfect as it gets, but I was always good to her. I put her first, which turned out to be a huge mistake.”
“It might’ve been a mistake with her, but that doesn’t mean it’s a mistake with everyone. If you’re with the right person, they’re putting you first, too, or at least that’s how it seems it should work.”
“You’re absolutely right, and as much as I loved Courtney—and I did love her—she never put me first. Our marriage was all about her, which is something I’ve come to see with some rather painful hindsight.”
“That makes me sad for you. I’ve only known you a short time, but I already know you deserve better than that.”
“Yes, I do, but it took me a long, long time to come to that conclusion.”
Katie sat back in her chair, feeling relaxed and at peace, which was a rare state of being for her. She’d been intimate with a man, and the world hadn’t ended. It was, she realized, a relief to have finally taken that step. Everything seemed brighter today—the sparkle of the sunshine on the water, the clean fresh air, the mouthwatering scents coming from the plates of nearby diners. Even the coffee they were served tasted more robust. She felt more alive than she ever had before.
Despite the lingering ache between her legs, she had no regrets. She’d chosen the right man to take this important step with. No matter what happened between them—or what didn’t—she’d never forget how sweet and tender he’d been. Shane had given her another important gift last night—hope, which had been in short supply in her life.
Maybe last night would be the start of something lasting with him, though she had no way to know if that was what he wanted, and she wasn’t about to ask him. Not now anyway. There would be time for that conversation much later. For now, she planned to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere, the company of a smart, sexy, sweet man and the rare tingle of hope that made everything seem fresh and new on this glorious morning.
* * *
Sitting alone in the surgical waiting room, Mac stared at a poster on the wall and tried to think about anything other than what was happening to Maddie. The picture of the meadow filled with wildflowers reminded him of their backyard. He’d much rather be sitting on his own deck looking at the real thing than forced to exist in this cold, sterile room, looking at pictures that were intended to provide fake serenity.
The table next to him was stacked with magazines, and a nearby coffee station was well stocked. Mac didn’t partake of either. He couldn’t work up the interest in anything other than his wife. At times like this and the night Hailey was born, his mind traveled to worst-case scenarios that made him crazy.
The thought of life without Maddie was so unbearable it could bring him to his knees. He couldn’t stand to be without her for even a single day. Hell, the two hours they’d told him it would take to perform the procedure and see her through recovery seemed endless to him.
He scrubbed his hands over his unshaven face, and when he dropped them, his father’s big frame filled the doorway. Mac blinked repeatedly, certain he was seeing things. “What the… What’re you doing here?”
Wearing his summer uniform of a faded logo T-shirt, khaki shorts, deck shoes
and sunglasses propped on his thick gray hair, Big Mac dropped into the seat next to Mac’s. “I thought you might like some company.”
Mac had managed to hold it together all morning for Maddie’s sake, but his father’s kind words broke his composure.
Big Mac’s heavy arm came around Mac’s shoulders, offering comfort the way he had all of Mac’s life, from skinned knees to broken hearts and everything in between.
“I can’t believe you’re here.” Mac wiped his face.
“Joe got me and the truck on the eight o’clock boat. It was no big deal.”
“It’s a huge big deal. Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me. I’ve been where you are right now, son. It’s a bitch. No way around it.”
Mac couldn’t have said it better himself. “Yes, it is.”
“How’s Maddie?”
“She’s… She’s quiet. Very, very quiet.”
“She’s processing it in her own way.”
“I want us to process it together, but she’s… It’s like she’s somewhere else.”
“As hard as it is, you’ve got to follow her lead. She’s going to think she did something wrong to cause this.”
“She already does. That was her first question to Victoria. And I told Shane yesterday, right before the appointment, that the thought of having three kids gave me hives. I didn’t mean that. I was excited to meet our new little person.”
“Course you didn’t mean it. It’s not her fault and it’s not yours for saying what any dad expecting his third kid would say.” He glanced at Mac out of the corner of his eye. “I heard Mom told you what happened to us.”
“She did, and I’m sorry. I had no idea.”
“Wasn’t talked about so much in those days. It happened, and you went on with your lives. Took your mother a long time to understand it wasn’t her fault, but she got there eventually. Was one of the more difficult stretches in our life together.”
“So I should prepare for a long siege?”
“Possibly.”
The idea of distance between him and Maddie depressed him profoundly.