Whisper's Edge

by LuAnn McLane

  This was insanity!

  But in truth he’d been attracted to Kate for a long time, even though he’d fought it tooth and nail. If he wasn’t mistaken, she felt the same way. He sure as hell hoped that he wasn’t mistaken. When he’d walked in on her cooling off beneath the ceiling fan with her shirt half unbuttoned he’d about lost it right then and there. The vision had stuck in his mind and invaded his brain at all hours of the day and night. He thought about it now.…

  And that was all it took.

  When they reached his home Ben opened the front door for her. Even though his heart was beating like wild, he calmly walked over and put the bag of food onto the round table in the breakfast nook in the corner of the room. And then, just as calmly, he walked back over to where Kate stood. He looked deep into her eyes to make sure she was feeling the same thing.

  And that’s where the calm ended.

  Her purse hit the hardwood floor with a soft thud when Ben pulled her into his arms. He dipped his head and captured her mouth in a kiss that was like striking a match to dry timber. The feel of her soft, moist lips had him deepening the kiss, needing more. She moaned against his mouth and gripped his shoulders, pressing her body closer. Ben wrapped his arms around her and slipped his hands beneath the silky blouse, eager for the feel of her skin.

  He wanted her beneath him, in his bed, naked with her legs wrapped around his waist.

  But it was too much, too soon.…Or was it?

  She kissed him back with hot passion, and when she tugged his shirt from his pants Ben eagerly awaited the sensation of her hands sliding up his back. He explored her sweet mouth, kissing her deeply, thoroughly, and loving ever second. When his mouth moved to her neck she gasped, pressing her body even closer, as if she couldn’t get enough. Well good, because neither could he.

  “All these damned clothes are in the way,” he grumbled.

  “True.”

  “I want you in my bed,” he said into her ear. “But—”

  “Then take me there,” she answered in a sexy, breathy voice that made him groan. He looked down at the tent in his pants. Yep, all of his parts were working.

  “No problem.” When he scooped her up in his arms she yelped and then laughed as he carried her down the short hallway to his bedroom. His house was small and his furnishings were simple but Ben kept everything clean and neat even though he rarely had company. The blinds were pulled shut but fingers of waning sunlight bathed the room with a soft glow. A paddle fan turned in a lazy circle but did nothing to cool Ben off. He let Kate’s long legs ease to the floor and then kissed her again. “I need some skin,” he pleaded.

  “Me too.” Her tone was husky, needy. When she fumbled with the buttons on his shirt he chuckled softly and then helped her. When he was shirtless she ran her hands over his chest. “You’re gorgeous. All that muscle makes my knees weak. It would make my day when you would mow your lawn in nothing but gym shorts. I made a point of having to pass by your house but pretended not to stare.”

  Ben chuckled. “I had no idea.”

  “I fully confess that I find you gorgeous and sexy as hell.” Her fingers fumbled again this time with his belt and when she brushed against his erection he sucked in a breath. God, he hoped he could hold it together. “And it evidently makes me clumsy.”

  Ben laughed. He stepped back and toed off his leather sandals before making quick work of his pants and underwear.

  “Dear God.” She reached out and grazed her fingers down his chest, sending a hot shiver down his spine. The female admiration in her gaze made him even harder, and when she lightly touched his cock Ben had to swallow a groan. “You are one gorgeous man.”

  “So you say.”

  “I mean it.”

  “Why do you still have your clothes on?”

  “Good question,” she joked, but Ben sensed hesitation.

  He tilted her head up with the tip of his finger. “Are we going too fast?”

  “No, it’s just that…” She swallowed hard. “I haven’t been naked in front of a man for a long time and—”

  Ben smothered her insecurity with a hot kiss. “You’re beautiful, Kate. And, um, as you can tell you turn me on something fierce.”

  “You haven’t seen me naked yet,” she joked, and Ben felt emotion gather in his throat. The humor was her shield, her guard.

  “Well, I’m about to remedy that.” He made quick work of the belt and then tugged the billowy shirt over her head. He took in the sexy sight of her standing there in a cream-colored bra before reaching behind her to unhook it. When she reached up to cover her breasts he beat her to the punch, cupping the lush fullness. “You are one beautiful woman.”

  “So you say,” she teased him with his own line but her voice was breathless.

  “So I mean it,” he said softly but firmly.

  She opened her eyes as if to see if he was telling the truth.

  “You are.” When he brushed her nipples with his thumbs, her eyes closed and they sank backward onto the bed.

  “I’m no spring chicken,” she protested.

  “Neither am I but I swear you make me feel like I’m eighteen again.” Ben quickly pulled off her sandals and tugged her pants off until she was naked except for a pair of cream silky panties and he wanted to lap it up. “Those are hot.”

  She laughed low in her throat. “And I’m damned sure glad that I shaved my legs,” she joked, but her breath hitched while he explored her soft skin.

  When she shivered, he asked, “Are my hands too rough? I have callouses.”

  “God no, you have the hands of a workingman. I love the way they feel on my body.” Youth might have passed them by but there was a certain beauty that comes with age. She moaned when he caressed the silk fabric between her thighs until she felt hot and moist. “I need to taste you, Kate.”

  “Ben!” she protested but he tugged her panties down and buried his face between her thighs. “Oh…” She pushed at his head but he laved and teased with his tongue until she tugged his hair and arched her back. “God!” she gasped hoarsely but he could feel her giving in to the pleasure. He wanted to please her, to pleasure her until she couldn’t take any more. He loved the taste of her, the feel of her, and when he reached up and caressed her breasts she cried his name.

  Unable to wait any longer Ben scooted up and covered her body with his. He groaned at the sheer pleasure of skin on smooth skin. Her alluring, feminine perfume filled his head and the texture of her curves fitting perfectly against him made his senses sing. Ben dipped his head and kissed her, and when she parted her thighs he entered her silky warm heat.

  God, it felt amazing.

  “Oh!” Kate moaned and then wrapped her legs around him. He rocked against her, moving slowly, savoring each stroke, wanting to make this last. He kissed her neck, loving the sweet sensation of being sheathed inside her body. But when she arched her back and pressed her hands to his ass and squeezed, he stroked faster, went deeper. “Oh, Ben!” When he heard her soft gasp and felt her body clench Ben thrust deep and climaxed with hot pleasure that seemed to erupt from his toes.

  “God…” He pressed his forehead to hers and then chuckled softly. He shuddered. “That was…”

  “Amazing? Stupendous? Incredible?”

  Ben pulled back and looked into her eyes. “Yeah…all those things.” He dipped his head and kissed her gently and then rolled to his side and pulled her close, enjoying the warm afterglow of their lovemaking. “And more.” He could feel the fast beat of her heart and he smiled. He kissed the delicate slope of her shoulder and then sent a warm trail of kisses up her neck before hugging her close. She sighed, and he smiled again at the sound of her contentment. Relaxed. As it should be. They spooned for a while, not speaking, neither of them wanting to break the spell.

  “Are you hungry?” he finally asked.

  “Famished.”

  “Sorry we had dessert first.”

  Kate rolled over and faced him. “Dessert? I thought that was jus
t an appetizer.”

  Ben laughed and he felt something ease inside him. Kate was melting the hard ball of pain that had been lodged in his gut for a long time. Ben was starting to feel more like his old self.

  And it felt good. No, it felt great.

  Kate smiled, and Ben was pleased to see that the sad, haunting look in her eyes had vanished. Life, as he well knew, sometimes threw you curveballs, and it was hard to keep your head in the game. But Ben suddenly felt recharged. He had no idea how long the feeling would last, or where this would go past tonight, but he refused to think about anything and, instead, simply live in the moment.

  13

  There’s Something About Savannah

  “HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN THE CHARCOAL IS READY?” Tristan waved his hand over the coals but wasn’t sure.

  Savannah finished lighting the citronella lanterns and then walked over to stand beside him. “When it turns an ash gray and looks as if it’s glowing red from the inside.”

  “Oh.” Tristan examined the mound of charcoal she had fashioned in the Weber grill, and then nodded. “I think we’re almost there.”

  Savannah picked up a stick and poked a briquette. “I do believe you’re right. Haven’t you used charcoal before?”

  “No, only the gas kind of grill.”

  “Sweet. Well then you’re going to be pleasantly surprised.”

  “I like those kind of surprises the best.”

  Savannah chuckled. “The flavor is so much better. Lots of the folks here in Whisper’s Edge use old-school charcoal. It was all they knew back in the day.” She pointed to the grill. “Of course, this relic was left here by the previous owner, looking all crusty but I brought it back to life with some elbow grease.”

  “Is there anything here that hasn’t been salvaged?”

  “Hmmm…” She tapped the side of her cheek. “Not much, I suppose and I guess in a way even I fall into that category.” Savannah peered down at the charcoal but then glanced back up at him and winced. “Sorry that it’s taken so long for the coals to get hot. I should have gotten it lit a while ago but…” She paused and rolled her eyes. “I was too caught up in deciding what to wear.” She looked down at her yellow sundress and shrugged. “I think I’m overdressed. The outfit was Kate’s idea.”

  Tristan loved her honesty. “Well, you look very pretty, Savannah,” he assured her with a firm nod.

  “Thank you, Tristan,” she said, but then ducked her head and gazed down at her toes. “An improvement over what I was wearing earlier, I suppose?”

  Tristan chuckled. She sure would be surprised if she knew that he’d found her sexy as hell in her tattered shorts and tight tank top. But surely she’d been told that she was pretty before? He could tell that she was nervous, and he wished he could put her at ease. Of course, he guessed he’d be jittery too if his boss had come over for dinner, and he hoped she didn’t regret her invitation. Maybe she was only being polite? He hoped not. But although Tristan didn’t really feel like her boss, he was well aware of the fact that he held her future in the palm of his hands.

  “Would you like another beer?” When she titled her head up Tristan had a hard time not closing the gap between them and kissing her.

  “Yes, please.” He handed her his empty bottle, and the slight touch of her fingers brushing his sent another jolt of longing through his bloodstream.

  “Coming right up.” She gave him that shy smile of hers that made him want to drag her into his arms and kiss her. But then again what didn’t? All it took was a look, a touch; even the sound of her husky laughter turned him on. Now that he knew what it felt like to kiss her, he wanted her in his arms even more. The kiss was sort of hanging in the air between them, creating a sexual tension unlike any he’d felt before. But it went beyond attraction. There was just something about Savannah that made him feel…protective of her. This basic male instinct wasn’t something he was used to experiencing and it took him by absolute surprise.

  He looked over at her and watched her open the bottle of beer. Maybe it was because she had a vulnerable softness and he was used to hard edges. Or perhaps I’m already starting to care about her tiptoed into his reasoning but he pushed that thought away.

  Tristan already knew that coming here with a bottle of wine was going against everything he’d told himself to do. And cooking dinner with her in the moonlight wasn’t smart either. But where Savannah Perry was concerned Tristan didn’t seem to have one ounce of self-control.

  “Thanks,” he said when she pressed the cold beer into his hand and then peered over his shoulder. “I think we should give it about ten more minutes and the coals will be perfection.” She gave him an okay sign with her thumb and index finger.

  Tristan nodded. “I always go for perfection when given the option.”

  “So you’re a perfectionist?”

  Tristan stepped away from the heat of the grill. “You sort of have to be in my line of work. A minor missed detail could cost the client lots of money or even the case.”

  “That must have been stressful.”

  “It was, especially when you’re poring over details at all hours of the day and night. I needed a break.”

  “I can’t even imagine.”

  When he sensed she would have asked more, Tristan decided it was best to change the subject. “Let’s sit down while the coals burn. Unless you have something I can help you with in the kitchen?”

  “I don’t think so.” Savannah shook her head. “Those amazing steaks you brought are seasoned and coming to room temperature. The potatoes are baking in the oven and the salad is tossed and chilling in the fridge. I even have some emergency dessert in the freezer.”

  “Emergency dessert?”

  “Mint chocolate chip ice cream. I keep it on hand for my sweet-tooth cravings and for when I’m having one of those days.”

  “I have a stash of Reese’s Cups for that.”

  “Excellent choice!”

  Tristan smiled but he hated to imagine Savannah sad and in need of ice cream in order to cheer her up. He suddenly wondered if she had any friends her own age that she hung out with or if she dated. Although they’d had a blast at Wine and Diner, Tristan got the impression that she was a homebody. The thought somehow bothered him. Savannah deserved to go out on the town and have fun on a regular basis. “Well”—he raised his eyebrows—“sounds like you have everything under control. You must like to cook.”

  “I’ve learned a lot from watching seasoned cooks in the community. Since I’m often invited to dinner I pitch in and help. My senior friends cook a lot of comfort food that likes to stick to my bum.” She lightly patted her backside and groaned.

  Tristan chuckled as they sat down at the bistro table, but he thought her bum was quite nice. The sun had set but the lanterns cheerfully flickered in the background and there was just enough light coming from the kitchen to cast a soft glow over the backyard. Savannah had replaced the geranium in the center of the table with two fat candles and added two place settings. An end table held a small galvanized bucket of beer chilling in ice. Little did she know that she was the perfect hostess and that her simple patio and lush garden could easily be featured in one of those decorating magazines that were stacked on her coffee table.

  “Would you like some music?” Savannah asked.

  “No, I don’t think so right now.” He shook his head. “Our conversation is enough for me. Do I hear water gurgling?”

  Savannah nodded. “Yeah, it’s a tiny pond with a waterfall in the center over there in the far corner of the yard. The water attracts birds and sometimes a frog or two will appear. It was a DIY project gone way wrong until Ben came to my rescue.”

  “The sound is soothing.”

  “Oh, I know. I leave the windows open until it gets too hot to take. I like hearing bullfrogs from the river, the wind in the trees, and the chirp of crickets. The sounds of nature put me to sleep in nothing flat.”

  “I can imagine. All I heard from my condo was the hum
of traffic on the highway, horns honking, and an occasional siren. Not exactly music to my ears.”

  She took a sip of her wine. “I know I’ve already asked but I can’t believe that you really don’t miss the city?”

  Tristan tilted his head. “Ah, some things, for sure. And at the risk of sounding like a mama’s boy, I do miss my mother.”

  Savannah’s eyes widened. “Oh, don’t ever apologize for missing your mother.” She leaned forward. “And don’t ever take her for granted. People do, you know.” She suddenly sat back and looked up at the sky. “Oh, sorry for sounding so bossy! I guess you just hit a nerve.”

  Tristan had to ask, even though he was pretty sure of the answer. “Are you an orphan, Savannah?”

  “Not technically, but kind of like that,” she answered quietly, but then gave him a slight grin. “But I sure looked like Orphan Annie. All that poufy red hair! I just never had Daddy Warbucks to rescue me or a cute dog named Sandy to keep me company,” she joked, but he wasn’t buying the humor.

  “So were you raised in an orphanage?”

  “No.” Savannah shook her head. “There really aren’t orphanages like that anymore. Foster care is supposed to create a ‘family atmosphere.’” She used air quotes.

  “And I’m guessing it didn’t?” he asked gently.

  Savannah shrugged. “It’s an overcrowded and flawed system for sure. There are way too many kids and not nearly enough homes to place them.” She shook her head. “Foster parents are supposed to be trained and certified. Qualified. And don’t get me wrong, I think many of them offer their homes for all the right reasons but sometimes it turns out to be more than they can handle and they drop out of the program. Unfortunately, others are in it simply for the money. There is abuse and neglect. It’s sad, Tristan.”

  “Are there social workers who check up on things?”

  “Not nearly enough. Those jobs are low-paying and difficult at best. The stories you might have seen on the news were things I witnessed with my own eyes.”

  The vision of his mother reading bedtime stores to him at night filtered into his head. He couldn’t imagine not having that in his life. “So were you given up for adoption at birth?”