For the Love of Pete

by Sherryl Woods

  “Do you think that’s entirely necessary?”

  Her heart tumbled to her toes as an old and wonderfully familiar desire nearly overwhelmed her. “Now that you mention it, I don’t think it’s necessary at all.”

  In the back of his mind, Pete had been imagining this moment for days now, maybe even weeks. Maybe forever. Now that it was here, he could hardly believe it was real. He stroked a finger along Jo’s cheek just to reassure himself it wasn’t a dream.

  “Nope,” he murmured. “Definitely real.”

  “Make love to me,” she said, her hand on his cheek. “That ought to convince you I’m very real.”

  He knew he should keep his questions to himself and accept this precious gift, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself from asking, “Why now?”

  Her lips curved. “Why not now? Are you going to talk this to death? I thought men were the impulsive, spontaneous ones when it came to sex.”

  Pete knew he had to be candid with her. As desperately as he wanted this, he didn’t want to make a mistake they’d both regret. “It’s been a very long time, Jo. A lot’s happened between us. If I take you upstairs now, if I make love to you, it’s not going to be the start of some casual fling. It’s going to mean something.”

  She swallowed hard. “Please don’t say that,” she said, her gaze pleading.

  “I have to say it. You need to understand where my head is. I’m not saying you have to be in the same place, but you need to know how I feel.” He looked into her eyes. “I guess, in a way, I’m giving you the power to hurt me, because I’m telling you that my heart’s on the line. You’ll be able to get even with me for what I did,” he said. “Or you can love me back.”

  To his dismay, a tear spilled down her cheek. “Dammit, Pete. Don’t you know how I feel? I do love you. I don’t want to, but I do.”

  He chuckled despite her obvious distress. “Now there’s a declaration guaranteed to make a man’s heart sing.”

  She nudged him in the stomach with her elbow. “Don’t joke about this.”

  “I know, darlin’. It’s not a laughing matter.”

  “No, it’s not.”

  He looked into her eyes. “Does that mean we’re not messing around?”

  Her lips twitched, then broke into a wide smile, the kind of smile that had once twisted his heart into knots.

  “Think you can beat me up those stairs?” she taunted, already out of his lap and heading for the doorway.

  Laughing, Pete caught up with her in two strides and scooped her into his arms. “How about we get there together?” he said as he took the stairs two at a time.

  “I think I’m beginning to admire those muscles more than I did before,” she said as he carried her without hesitation into the right bedroom. “How’d you know which room I’d be in?”

  “I stood outside under your window often enough when I was a lovesick twenty-year-old. I know which room is yours.” He glanced around. “I’ve just never had a chance to see it from the inside before.”

  It was a girly room with lots of pale pink and soft green in the flowery materials of the comforter on the old iron bed. The bed was piled with lace-trimmed pillows. There was a dark burgundy stripe in the cream wallpaper that somehow tied it all together and made it just right for the sexy woman she’d become.

  He sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled her into the V between his thighs. Holding her loosely, he gave the mattress a test bounce, then grinned. “Good. No squeaks.”

  “Even if there were, there’s no one in the house to hear them,” she said. “Do you realize we’ve never actually made love in a bed before?”

  Pete frowned at that. It was true. They’d had to steal their moments to be together and be inventive about their privacy. He pulled her closer. “Then I think it’s way past time to change that, don’t you?”

  “I don’t know,” she said. “I thought there was something awfully exciting and special about trying not to get caught.”

  “Ah, so it was the thrill that got to you back then,” he teased. “It had nothing to do with me. In that case, let me run downstairs, unlock the front door and make a call to your sisters. Knowing they could turn up at any second could add a little spice to the afternoon.”

  “Heaven forbid,” Jo said fervently. “They can’t know about this.”

  Pete’s heart thumped unsteadily at the implication. “Why not?”

  “For your protection,” she said at once.

  “My protection?” he echoed, stunned. “Why on earth do you need to protect me?”

  She grinned at him. “Let’s think about this. We’re talking about three overly protective big sisters, who’ve just recently gone from whirlwind courtships into marriage. Can you connect the dots yet?”

  Pete saw her point, but he wasn’t nearly as terrified by the outcome as she apparently was. “Think they’ll try to push us into walking down the aisle?”

  “I know they will,” she confirmed.

  “Maybe that’s not such a bad thing. It’s what should have happened seven years ago,” he said.

  “No,” she said fiercely. “That was clearly the wrong time for us. Either you would never have had your son or he would have been born without a father. Can you honestly say either of those would have been for the best?”

  “No,” he admitted. As much as he regretted the way things had turned out for him and Jo, he could never regret having Davey. He tunneled his fingers into her hair and looked deep into her eyes. “Do you have any idea how amazingly generous you are?”

  “Me?”

  “Yes, you. You’re thoughtful and smart and sexy, too.”

  “All those things?” she said, clearly pleased. “I am amazing. Maybe I’m too good for the likes of you.”

  “You are,” he said at once. “Which makes me the luckiest man on the face of the earth since you’re here with me now.”

  Jo lowered her face until her lips were almost on his. “Then let’s take advantage of your luck,” she whispered right before her mouth settled against his.

  Pete felt his pulse jolt, then scramble. His blood shot straight from his brain to another part of his anatomy. He still had just enough sense left to remind himself to go slow, to savor this moment, to savor her.

  He took that soft, sweet kiss and turned it into something greedy and primal. Jo turned restless, her body seeking his, rubbing against hardness and heat and need in a way that almost had him bolting off the bed.

  “Slow down, darlin’,” he whispered against her fantastically seductive mouth.

  In response, she took his hand and slid it up under her sweater until it met flesh and lace. She was so hot, so soft, Pete wanted to bury his face between her breasts, wanted to stroke his tongue over the hard, sensitive peaks until she was moaning with pleasure.

  But not just yet, he told himself. He wouldn’t rush her or himself. He’d waited seven years for this. He could wait a little longer, make sure that she knew what a treasure she was, what pleasure she was capable of giving and receiving. He’d been too impatient at twenty. He’d loved her then, but not well—not with a man’s patience and desire.

  He did, however, strip away that soft sweater so he could gaze at her full breasts and the surprising black lace bra that was such a contrast to the innocence of the plain white garment she’d worn all those years ago. Sexy as this was, he almost regretted the change, or maybe what he really regretted was the loss of innocence. It was something he’d taken and could never give back.

  He skimmed a finger across the lace, smiled as she trembled. “Fancy,” he said, grinning.

  “When I turned twenty-one, my sisters thought it was time to upgrade my lingerie wardrobe.” She winked at him. “Wait till you see the pitiful excuse for panties I’m wearing.”

  Pete moaned. “Don’t tell me that. I’m trying to cling to some control here.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you deserve to be properly seduced.”

  “And you can’t do
that if I start talking about my skimpy little lace thong?”

  He covered his ears. “No, I cannot.”

  “It’s black, too.”

  Pete groaned.

  She grinned. “Good to know just how to rattle you,” she said, reaching for the zipper on her jeans and slowly sliding it down.

  Pete tried not to look, because he knew he’d be lost. Slow and sweet would be out of the question if those panties were half as sexy as she’d implied.

  One glimpse of black lace and he nearly swallowed his tongue. There was barely enough there to cover…well, anything. He finally tore his gaze away and met her eyes.

  “I warned you,” he whispered, scooping her up and settling her on the bed. He reached for her jeans and yanked them down and off with one smooth motion, then turned all his attention to that skimpy little bit of fabric.

  He cupped her, rubbing fabric against the sensitive bud that was already hard, then slipped two fingers over flesh and deep into moist heat. She convulsed around him, her hips lifting off the bed. A ragged moan tore from her throat.

  That was all it took to strip away his last shred of control. He kicked off his own jeans and Jockey shorts, then ripped those dangerously wicked little pants right off of her before plunging into her with a thrust that had her bucking against him.

  He stayed perfectly still, counting to ten, thinking about the weather, doing anything he could not to give in to the desire to claim her for his own once and for all time. She whimpered against his throat and her hips moved with a will of their own, seeking, pleading, demanding.

  Pete looked into her eyes and saw the yearning, the hunger that he knew was reflected in his own and then he began to move, faster and then faster still until the heat and tension exploded, sending shudders rocking through both of them.

  It was a long, long time before his brain cleared enough to think, before he could shift his weight off of her to roll over, carrying her with him. He caught a finger through the ruined scrap of lace and dangled it in the air. “I’ll buy you a dozen more just like this,” he promised.

  “Oh, sweet heaven,” she murmured, her breath still ragged. “Forget the panties. What have you done to me? I’m limp.”

  Pete grinned and shifted beneath her. “I’m not.”

  She gave him a startled look and then a smile spread across her face. “No, indeed. You’re definitely not. I suppose it’s up to me to do something about that.”

  He laughed. “Only if you feel so inclined,” he said, putting his hands behind his head and waiting.

  She rose up and settled herself astride him. He watched her face as she rode him, laughed at her exultant expression, but then his body went on a wild ride of its own. His vision blurred, his breath snagged in his chest and for just a minute, he was pretty sure he could reach out and touch heaven.

  Jo woke to the sound of a door closing downstairs. She rolled over, expecting to find nothing but empty mattress, but there was Pete, still beside her, still looking magnificent and very, very naked.

  Which meant that door downstairs had been opened and closed by one of her sisters…or all three of them. She bolted out of bed as if someone had lit a fire under her. She peeked out the window, praying that she would see them driving away, probably confused by not finding her inside, but none the wiser about how she’d spent her day.

  But, no, there was Maggie’s car—right behind Pete’s pickup—and not a sign of Maggie herself, which meant Jo’s goose was cooked. Probably well done, in fact.

  She frantically pulled on clothes without stopping to consider the effect, then shook Pete. He blinked sleepily and reached for her.

  “Not now,” she whispered, pushing his hands away. “Sister alert. I’m going downstairs. Whatever you do, do not follow me. Understand?”

  He gave her a vague smile and rolled over, burying his face in the pillow. She rolled her eyes and headed for the door, then thought about it and took the time to run a brush through her tangled hair. There wasn’t much she could do about her swollen lips, except to touch them up with fresh lipstick.

  Five minutes later, she walked into the kitchen, yawning mightily. Three expectant faces turned to her.

  “Hey, you guys. I didn’t know you were here. Why didn’t you wake me?”

  “We just got here,” Melanie said, then tried ineffectively to swallow a chuckle.

  Ashley didn’t seem nearly as amused. “I hope, just in the nick of time,” she said.

  “Oh, please,” Maggie chimed in, not even attempting to hide her own amusement. “Nick of time? Not unless Jo’s wardrobe has taken a serious dive into flannel.”

  Jo glanced down and realized for the first time that the shirt she’d grabbed was Pete’s. It hung down to her knees and was buttoned so haphazardly, there was no mistaking the haste with which she’d put it on.

  “Oh, no,” she whispered and sank onto a chair. “I wanted so much to pull this off.”

  “What?” Ashley inquired. “A deception? You wanted to lie to us?”

  Jo’s chin rose a notch. “Yes, as a matter of fact.”

  Her oldest sister looked stunned. “But why?”

  “Because you’re going to get all protective and nosy and pushy. I know you, remember?”

  “We love you. We’re concerned,” Ashley said. “You should appreciate that.”

  “And I do, in a general, nonspecific sort of way. But right here and now, with you three in my face, I could live without it.”

  “I just have one question for you,” Ashley said. “What kind of man would let you come down here alone to face us?”

  “A man who was instructed to stay put,” Jo said.

  “In your bed, I presume,” Ashley said.

  “Yes, in my bed. I’m a grown woman. I get to decide who’s in my bed.”

  “And you want Pete Catlett there?” her sister persisted.

  “Yes,” Jo said emphatically.

  “And it has nothing to do with that house you want?” Ashley pressed.

  Jo scowled at her. “Do you have any idea how insulting it is that you would even ask me that?”

  “It is,” Melanie and Maggie agreed.

  Ashley didn’t look fazed by their reaction. “It’s a fair question. Why is that man in your bed?”

  “Because I love him, dammit!” she all but shouted. “There, are you satisfied?”

  Filled with heat and dismay and anger, she grabbed her jacket off a hook by the door and slammed out of the house. At first, the frigid blast of air felt good against her overheated flesh, but within seconds she knew it was too darn cold to be going for a walk just to get away from her sisters. Worse, she hadn’t brought her keys, so she couldn’t even go and sit in the car with the heater on. Then she thought of Pete’s truck out front and the keys he usually left in the ignition.

  “Thank you,” she muttered gratefully with a glance toward her bedroom window. She climbed into the pickup and started the engine. In no time, the heater kicked in and the windows steamed up.

  When the passenger door opened, she didn’t even turn. “Go away. I’m not talking to you.”

  It was Pete who responded. “Not even to me?” he asked quietly.

  Jo sighed. “I probably shouldn’t be talking to you, either, but no, you’re not the problem. Well, you are, but not the one that has me ticked off at the moment.”

  He studied her for what seemed like an eternity, then chuckled. “I like the way that flannel looks on you. I’ll never be able to wear that shirt again without getting turned on.”

  “Don’t even mention this blasted shirt to me,” she grumbled. “I might have pulled this off if I hadn’t grabbed it by mistake.”

  “Maybe it wasn’t a mistake,” he said. “Maybe you wanted them to know.”

  She frowned at him. “Believe me, I did not want them to know about us.”

  “Are you so sure? Maybe you were hoping they’d kick up such a fuss it would give you an excuse to call things off before they get any more complicated
.”

  “No,” she said with certainty. “I wanted time, Pete.”

  “Time for what?”

  “To figure out if we can get it right this time.”

  “Oh, darlin’,” he whispered, pulling her into his arms. “We’ve got all the time in the world for that.”

  “Did you see those three?”

  “Actually, no. I did the cowardly thing and snuck out the front door after I saw you crawl into my truck. When I heard the engine turn over, I was afraid you might just head for Montana to get away from all those prying eyes.”

  “Definitely not a bad idea. They’re sitting in there waiting to pounce all over this. It’s Ashley mostly, but even Maggie and Melanie will get in on the act sooner or later.”

  “Then tell them to butt out.”

  “I did,” she said.

  “And then you ran out here to hide in my truck. You let them chase you out of your own house.”

  She regarded him with dismay. “I did, didn’t I? I gave them all the power. How stupid was that?” She cut the engine and wrenched open the door, but before she could climb out of the truck, Pete pulled her back.

  “Hold on,” he said.

  “I need to go back in there and tell them to butt out.”

  He grinned. “In a minute.”

  She stared at him blankly. “Why wait?”

  “For this,” he said, and kissed her till her head went spinning. He grinned, obviously satisfied. “Now, then, warrior princess, let’s go get ’em.”

  “You don’t need to get involved,” she protested. “You could leave.”

  “I am involved.” His grin spread. “Besides, I can’t very well leave without my shirt, and I doubt you want to strip it off and give it to me before you go back inside. Neither one of us would hear the end of that.”

  Jo laughed at the image of her sisters’ reaction to that. “Might be worth it,” she said. “Then again, it might be smarter to go in there with backup.”

  He winked at her. “Always said you were smart.”

  Jo suddenly felt stronger, as if she really could conquer the world. Then, again, she’d settle for keeping her sisters’ noses out of her business.