One Last Risk (Oak Grove Series Book 1)

by Stopper, Nancy

  “Oh God,” she breathed against his mouth. He pressed his body against her, loving the feel of the soft curves of her breasts against him.

  She drew in a gasp.

  Chuckling, he brushed against her again then lowered her back to the couch and propped over her. She stared back at him through hooded eyes. His gaze locked on hers, he kneaded and fondled her breasts. He lowered his mouth to one, rolling his tongue around her nipple while continuing to caress the other. He laved attention on one and then the other, her warm skin soft against his tongue. She squirmed beneath him, arching her back and pressing her body firmer into his.

  Her arms smoothed down his back, the soft skin of her fingers leaving a tingling trail behind. When she reached his waist, she shoved her hands into his jeans and squeezed, sending another jolt straight to his groin. Damn, it had been too long. If she kept this up, he wouldn’t last long enough to make this good for her.

  Just as he moved his hands to the snap of her jeans, a beeping sound rang out from his phone. He collapsed on top of Sarah, his head tucked into the crook of her neck. “Damn.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “My shift.” He pushed up, his breathing ragged, his erection straining against his jeans. Sarah followed him up and pressed her body to his.

  “Not helping here.” He gritted his teeth and hissed at her. A few more minutes like this and he’d be calling in sick to the station. It was probably going to be a slow night… they wouldn’t miss him.

  Sarah laughed and smoothed her hand down his chest and abs before resting them just above the waistband of his jeans.

  He flopped his head back. “Still not helping.”

  He snatched her T-shirt and pulled it over her head before she could press her breasts against his bare skin again. Laughing, she finished shoving her arms into the sleeves while he grabbed his off the floor, pulling it on and leaving the tail hanging loose to cover his raging erection. He stood and yanked her up beside him.

  She snuggled her head against his chest as his arms snaked around her waist. “I wish I didn’t have to go.”

  “I do, too.”

  Tucking his finger under her chin, he tilted it and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. She responded, her tongue sweeping into his mouth. His nerves were on edge. With the simplest of touches, he’d be a goner. His breath caught in his throat. For the first time, he considered calling into the station and finishing what they had started right here on the couch. But he couldn’t shirk his duty to the station any more than he could allow a fire to lay burning while he was distracted. He pulled his mouth from hers and pushed her gently away from him.

  “If you keep doing that, I’m never going to get to work.”

  “Maybe that was the idea.” The twinkle in her eye held a promise of things to come. But that couldn’t be tonight.

  He groaned and threw his head back.

  “I.” He kissed her lips. “Really.” He kissed her cheek. “Need.” He nibbled her ear. “To.” He sucked her neck. “Go.”

  She sighed. “I know.”

  He stepped back, putting distance between them. She was a temptation he couldn’t afford right now. Not if he wanted to keep his job.

  “Lock the door behind me. I’ll see you Saturday at the festival after my shift.”

  After a final claiming kiss, he grabbed his keys off the table and hurried out the door before she could tempt him to stay. He jogged down the porch steps as he heard the lock snick behind him.

  The drive to the station from Sarah’s house took only a moment, but the happiness in his heart lingered a lot longer.

  Chapter Fifteen

  SARAH STOOD AT the window, bright sun shining through the streaked glass. Only a few thin, wispy clouds marred the blue sky. Perfect weather for the festival. These few minutes before Lily got up each morning was the only time she got alone. She soaked in the peace, the quiet of the dawn, before the world woke up.

  She wrapped her hands around her coffee mug. Her hands were chilled, even with the sun beating on her body—because the cold didn’t come from the outside, but inside her. She had plans with Lucas. It was only a date, but her heart told her it was so much more. She hadn’t planned on it, but Lucas had snuck into her life and made himself at home with her and Lily.

  There wasn’t anything on the surface to tell her she shouldn’t be with Lucas. He was sexy as hell. Who didn’t like a man in uniform? It was more than that, though. He really listened to her. Hung on every word she said. That kind of respect in a relationship was important. She needed to show Lily a healthy loving relationship. For the past two years, it had only been Sarah.

  Sarah had a daughter to think about, and any decision she made would impact her. No matter how her feelings for Lucas had grown, Lily had to take first place. Everything Lucas did showed her he cared for Lily... and Lily adored Lucas. As she grew older, the absence of a father in her life became more apparent. She soaked up Lucas’s attention each time she saw him—attention only a man—a father—could give. The safe feeling of being scooped up in big, bold masculine arms that offered protection and reassurance.

  As Sarah drank her first sip of coffee, quiet, padding steps echoed down the hall. Lily ran in just as Sarah turned toward the room.

  “Yay! Today is the festival.” Ah, the innocent energy of a child.

  “Good morning, sweetie.” She lifted Lily into her arms and kissed her on the head, then placed her in the booster seat. “Eat your breakfast and then go get dressed, okay? I’m going to go hop in the shower.”

  “Are we going to see Mr. Lucas today?”

  “Why do you ask that, honey?” Lily had only seen Lucas two or three times, mostly at the park, because Sarah hadn’t wanted to confuse Lily before she knew they had a relationship. Was that what they had now?

  “I told Gracie at preschool how Lucas saved you and we saw him in the park. Gracie told me he came to school last year. She liked him. And I like him, too. Can we go see him?”

  The words speared Sarah’s heart. Lucas was the first man, other than Alex, Lily had spoken about in that way. If Sarah were considering making Lucas a part of their life, she needed to reconcile these feelings in her own mind. The pros and the cons. In every other part of her life, she’d approach things methodically. She’d write lists and analyze them. But not with Lucas. With him, she found herself throwing all caution to the wind and jumping in with both feet. She needed to start thinking like the single mother that she was.

  “I think we’ll see him today, baby. Eat your breakfast, get dressed, and then you can watch TV.”

  “Yay.”

  Sarah showered quickly and donned her clothes like armor. For a moment, she debated whether she should remove the chain holding her wedding ring. She reached behind her head to unclasp the chain but quickly stopped, her heart racing at the mere prospect. She’d taken the ring off the other night before making out with Lucas on the couch, but she’d put it back on as soon as he’d left. Removing her chain betrayed the memory of Alex but hiding her connection to the past from Lucas wasn’t any better.

  She just wasn’t ready to tell Lucas that she still wore Alex’s ring, that she couldn’t let go of that last piece of her former life. Not yet.

  What if Lucas wanted to make love tonight? She’d seen it when he looked at her, felt it in his touch. After all this time, years alone, she’d met a man she wanted to be with. At the same time, she just wasn’t fully ready to let go of Alex. She didn’t have to decide this right now, right? But just to be safe, she probably shouldn’t wear the ring around her neck. She reluctantly pulled the chain off and tucked it into her pocket, keeping it close but out of sight.

  Sarah ran her hands through her hair one more time, brushed over her sweater and down her jeans. This was as good as it got.

  “Hey baby,” she said to Lily when she passed through the living room. “I’m going to make a phone call.”

  “Okay, Mommy.”

  Sarah stepped into the kitchen, poured h
erself a fresh cup of coffee, and slumped into a chair. She pulled her cell phone from her pocket and dialed her sister.

  “Hey, Jessica.”

  “Hey, Sarah. How are you? How’s that little niece of mine?”

  “She’s wonderful. Watching cartoons in the living room.”

  “So, what’s up?”

  How much should she tell Jessica? Just enough to get her advice, but not enough to encourage her too much. She’d been on a Lucas kick since she’d talked to him on the phone after Sarah’s accident. “Oak Grove has their annual fall festival and dance today. Lily and I are going to head out in a little bit.”

  “That sounds fun. Another great thing about a small town, huh?”

  “Yeah, it is. Emma has a booth and I can’t wait to see everything else. It’s gonna be fun.”

  “And… what about this dance? Are you going… with Lucas, maybe?”

  Jessica was fishing and Sarah allowed herself to take the bait. “Yeah, Lily and I going to the dance.”

  Jessica squealed. “That’s great. I’m so proud of you. I know it’s been hard, but this is what you wanted, right? A fresh start in a new town.” When Sarah didn’t answer, Jessica pounced on the silence. “And what about Lucas?”

  “He’ll be there.”

  “Is that all you’re going to give me?”

  “Yes?”

  Jessica laughed.

  Sarah filled in a few details for Jessica but glossed over how much she’d seen Lucas in the past ten days. And the way he’d practically mauled her the other night. And how much she’d liked it. If she couldn’t sort out her feelings in her own mind, how could she explain them to Jessica? The one thing she did know is that her heart beat faster at the thought of seeing him again, despite her head trying to warn her away.

  She couldn’t wait for the chance to run her fingers through his thick hair and stare deeply into his eyes… eyes that told a story all their own, one she was coming to read and understand the longer she knew him. Like how the brown lightened to hazel when he smiled, or when the whiskey color deepened to a dark coffee color when he was aroused—like he was the other night. She sighed.

  “Oh my, he’s so dreamy…” Jessica crowed through the phone, a familiar phrase they’d shared growing up as they swooned over teenage boys.

  Sarah laughed with Jessica.

  “How about a selfie tonight of the two of you? Then I can live vicariously through you.”

  “I’ll think about it.” Sarah had taken a picture of Lucas with her phone one day in the park. Since then, she’d run her finger over his image a number of times, imagining him in front of her, with her. But they didn’t have one together. She’d have to remember to take one.

  “Listen. I’ve got to run. Nicky has a Mommy and Me swim class in half an hour, and it’ll take me that long to wrangle him into his suit and out the door.”

  “Have a good time. Thanks for the talk.”

  “Call me anytime, day or night. I know you insist on going at it alone, but you don’t have to. We’re all here for you. Don’t forget that.”

  “I will. I love you.”

  “You too.”

  Just as Sarah had hoped, her talk with Jessica had bolstered her confidence. She hopped out of the chair. “Lily, it’s time to go.”

  Lily leapt off the couch and barreled toward Sarah. She wrapped her arms around her daughter to prevent a collision. “Hold up there, honey. We need your boots and your coat before we can go.”

  Lily darted down the hall and returned just as quickly, her feet shoved into her pink boots and her jacket flung over her shoulder. “Ready, Mommy.”

  “Okay, sweetie. Let’s go.”

  She and Lily headed down Maple Street toward the center of town. The closer they got, the more people joined them on the sidewalk. She chatted with the few neighbors she had already met and was introduced to some new ones along the way.

  When they reached the town green, everyone scattered, each heading in different directions around the festival. Sarah, on the other hand, stood back and took it all in.

  The town green had been transformed from its normal, serene space into a full-fledged party. The bright reds, oranges, and browns of fall colored every surface. Tents circled the edges of the park… she’d never be able to see everything. How would she find Emma’s booth in this sea of color?

  She and Lily walked slowly around the tents so Sarah could immerse herself in the experience. From fresh produce vendors, Amish furniture craftsman, and craft displays to candles, landscaping, and home improvement, the festival had everything she could ever wish for. At a small jewelry booth tucked in between two larger tents, Sarah fingered a delicate chain with a gold pendant dangling on it. The artist had perfectly captured the yin-yang emotions of a mother and her child. Sarah’s heart broke open wide and she looked down at her beautiful daughter’s face. Lily smiled back at her. Pressing her hand over her pocket holding her wedding ring, Sarah said a silent prayer of hope that she’d be ready to replace that chain with another someday.

  Sarah turned the corner and discovered booths from some of her favorite Main Street vendors. Patsy’s Petals’ stand practically glowed with color. The woman behind the table sold fall corsages laden with mums to a line full of eager young men. Sarah savored the scents of the season as she passed, their rich aroma one of her favorites.

  In the next tent, she found Clyde Monroe, the owner of the hardware store right on the town green. His ever-present carpenter’s apron covered his overalls, but today, instead of his typical broom, he held a hammer, showcasing some easy do-it-yourself projects from his hardware store.

  Clyde waved. “Hey, young lady.”

  “Hey, Clyde.” She walked up to his booth. “How’ve you been?”

  “Cain’t complain, no siree. But how you been getting’ on after yer accident?”

  “I’m good. Almost fully healed.”

  Clyde directed his attention to Lily. “How are you doing, little one?”

  “I’m great, Mr. Clyde. At least, I will be, if Mommy lets me go bounce soon!”

  Sarah and Clyde laughed while Lily leapt from foot to foot. She couldn’t blame Lily—Sarah had always hated waiting for grownups to talk.

  “She’s quite a cutie you got there.”

  “Yes, she is,” the husky, male voice behind Sarah declared. She shuddered, the deepness of his voice soothed her. He placed his arm on her lower back, leaning over her opposite shoulder. The masculine scent of his aftershave swirled around her, one uniquely Lucas.

  “Mr. Lucas! Mr. Lucas!” Lily plowed into him. He stumbled backward, wrapping his arms around her before scooping her up and plopping her on his hip. After leaning over and placing a gentle kiss on Sarah’s lips, he turned back to Lily.

  “Hey, sweetie. How are you today?”

  “I’m good, Mr. Lucas. I want to go bouncing.”

  “Bouncing, huh? Well, we’ll have to talk to your Mommy about that.”

  He was so good with her daughter. Exactly how Alex would have been if he’d lived to see Lily grow up. Daggone it, she’d promised herself to focus on the present and the future and not dwell on the past today. Lily was happy and healthy and giggling in Lucas’s arms as he tickled her.

  Another man walked up to Clyde’s booth and the crowd started building around them. Clyde rested his hand on her arm. “Listen, I gotta get me back to work. Stop in and see me again, ya’ hear?”

  “Thanks, Clyde,” she and Lucas said in unison.

  Sarah, Lucas, and Lily continued down the row of tents together. Lily chattered endlessly from her perch on Lucas’s hip. They both laughed at her antics, but all Sarah wanted right now was a moment alone with Lucas. She found an opening when Lily spotted her friend Gracie from preschool.

  “Can I go see her? Huh, Mommy?”

  Sarah waved at Gracie’s mom and gestured toward Lily. Gracie’s mom waved back.

  “Okay, Lily. Run over and see Gracie. Mr. Lucas and I will wait right here.”
>
  Lily ran off to greet her friend then Lucas grabbed her hand and dragged her back between two tents.

  “Hey,” he said quietly, his mouth barely a whisper away from hers. His hot breath tickled her lips.

  She licked hers unconsciously and stared at his. “Hey. How was your morning?”

  Lucas traveled the last inch and brushed his lips over hers before pulling her into him and deepening the kiss. Her nerves sparked and her heart raced. Never before had a simple kiss turned her on, but Lucas’s talented hands and tongue played her like a violin.

  He broke the kiss. “Better now.”

  “Are you off duty?”

  “Just. We’re all on call in case something happens, but for now, I’m all yours.”

  Lucas’s words sent another shudder through her. They had a lot of time at the festival before they could be alone, and every moment would drag on if he kept touching her and kissing her like he just did.

  Lucas steered her back out into the crowd. “Have you seen much of the festival yet?”

  “Some. I stopped in at a couple of cute craft booths. I met two women I really liked and gave them my card. I hope to get to know them better. I made arrangements to get my leaves picked up next week, and I eyed this necklace I’m thinking about buying.”

  Lucas laughed. “You’ve been busy, but you’ve missed the best part.”

  He gestured across the park where the rows and rows of food trucks, carts, and booths stood, hawking their greasy, delicious treats.

  Sarah jumped up and down like Lily had when she saw Gracie. “Oh, wow. So much to choose from, so little time.”

  “We have all night. We’ll just eat in shifts, but first, let’s go say hello to Emma.”

  “Let me go tell Gracie’s mom where we’re headed.”

  Sarah rushed over to Gracie’s mom, Edith. “Hi, Sarah. We haven’t officially met. I’m Edith, Gracie’s mom.”

  “I’m so happy to meet you. Lily talks about Gracie all the time.”

  The girls immediately informed her they were going on the moon bounces and Edith would watch them. Sarah placed a kiss on Lily’s head and sent her on her way, telling Edith where they’d be.