by Selena Blake
“No,” she said and he saw her approaching out of his peripheral vision. “I just wanted to make sure I understood.”
She reached for his hand and for just a second, all he noticed was the warm smooth skin of her palm. Then there was a distinctive awareness that travelled up his arm signalling to his brain how good it felt to touch her. To have her touch him, rather. This was a connection unlike any he’d ever felt. Hot and innocent at the same time, it blew his mind.
“Yeah,” he said but his voice sounded funny. Broken, almost like a guy who’d just hit puberty. He cleared his throat. “That’s amazing. I guess...my mind focuses on you rather than the fact there’s a nerve in my back that feels like it got clipped with rusty pruning shears.”
She laughed softly.
“You just need to let the pain meds kick in.”
“Yeah. Probably.” But since they weren’t gel caps they usually took at least a half hour to begin numbing the pain. A full stomach seemed to be slowing the process.
“We could watch a movie. I’ll hold your hand until the pill kicks in or the thrill wears off.”
He stared up at her, not letting her hand go. Instead of tugging on that sexy lower lip, the corner of her mouth had hitched up in a grin that made his heart thunder.
“Why are you so nice? I sound like a fucking nut.”
The grin turned tender. “Everyone deserves someone nice in their life, especially the crazy ones.”
He huffed out a laugh and was immediately reminded of why they couldn’t watch a comedy tonight.
“You’re one of a kind Gretchen.” And damn if he didn’t want to pull her into his lap and kiss her breathless.
While she changed into a pair of flannel pajama pants and made popcorn, he finished checking his email. It was so weird to see the emails from Thursday morning before the accident and then everything from Friday on. He didn’t know why but somewhere in the back of his mind he’d just expected the emails to stop. To pause at Thursday because that’s when his whole world had paused. But there were new emails, including one from his Realtor about his condo.
Who cared about a condo when a man was dead? But it’s not like his agent even knew about the accident. It was unrealistic to expect the rest of the world to pause along with him. The dark hole that had been there since Friday morning yawned a little wider, threatening to suck him in. What was he doing? He shouldn’t be enjoying himself. He shouldn’t be living his life like nothing had happened. What the hell was wrong with him?
“You look tense. Everything okay?”
“No.” Nothing was okay.
She put what looked like a binder of DVDs on the foot of the bed and then placed to bowl of popcorn on the nightstand.
“What can I do to help?”
“Don’t you think you’ve done enough?” He asked dryly but the words were far sharper than he’d intended.
By the sound of the breath Gretchen sucked in his words had hit her like a dagger. Son-of-a–
Her chin came up and for a second she looked like she wanted to bolt. Another fraction of a second passed and he could see her warring with herself.
“Evidently not,” she murmured at the same time he said, “I’m sorry.”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
Evidently not? She thought she hadn’t done enough for him?
“Never mind.” She pursed her lips, shook her head and then glanced down at the binder.
“No.” He grit his teeth as he swung his legs to the floor. She wasn’t fishing for complements. Somehow he was sure of that.
“About the movie–”
“Forget about the damn movie,” he said as he stood. “I want to know what you meant by ‘evidently not?’”
He didn’t know why it was so important that he get to the bottom of it except that she’d become important to him.
“Just that if you’re in so much pain that your jackass filter is turned off I must not have given you your pill early enough.”
They stared at each other and his brows inched upwards at her language. He’d never in the ten years he’d known her heard her cuss. The dirtiness in her tone and the steel in her backbone was one hell of a turn on. There was nothing quiet or subtle about the way she was staring him down right now and it reminded him of how she’d come alive in his arms. The smirk on her lips made him wonder what she’d look like when they made love.
Would her eyes flash like that? Would her lips form that delicious O shape that made his cock sit up and take notice? Would her skin glisten with sweat as they worked themselves into a frenzy?
At the rate he was going, he’d never find out.
“Me being an absolute jackass has nothing to do with you, sweetheart. I’m sorry that I’ve been an ungrateful bear and I’m sorry I keep snapping at you. Forgive me.”
He wanted to reach for her, touch her, kiss her until she agreed that they were okay and that they could get back to the way they’d been before he stuck his foot in his mouth.
“Sit down,” she said with what sounded like a sigh. Fear tightened his gut.
She must have seen it written across his face as well.
“I’ll massage the knot out of your shoulder blades. I took a massage therapy class to help my grandmother with her pain there at the end. Hopefully I’m not too rusty.”
Gretchen was right to call him a jackass. He was just enough of a pig to want her hands on him even though he should be the one giving her a foot rub.
But he sat in front of her, arranging his achy body as best he could. The instant she touched him he forgot everything else. Every ounce of attention focused on the incredible way her thumbs moved against his shoulder blades, gently at first and then harder, massaging away the tightness.
“I think you missed you’re calling. I’m sure you’re a great teacher but you’re one hell of a nurse.”
“Thanks.”
He heard the smile in her voice and a bit of the tension left him. Actually, the tension in his shoulders just drifted and morphed into tension in his gut. If she kept this up he was going to need a pillow for his lap.
As if sensing his thoughts, she gave one last lingering rub down his back and then sat back.
“So what’ll it be? Action/Adventure, a classic, comedy, drama? I draw the line at horror films after nightfall.”
She hopped off the bed and reached for the binder full of DVDs. Then she was back, crawling up next to him as she perused the options. And just like that, the darkness ebbed.
“Afraid something will go ‘BOO?’” He lunged at her, arms outstretched and paid for it with a piercing sting between his shoulders. All her hard work undone in a moment.
She smirked and touched his arm. “You’re not the smartest of ghosts, are you?” Her normal effortless charm was back. Thank God.
He grunted. “Guess not.” But once again his brain focused on the way her skin moved over his, brushing against the hairs on his forearm, then the tip of her finger traced the vein on the inside of his wrist.
“Better?” she murmured.
She wasn’t even looking at him, rather, the massive collection of DVDs in her lap. Her touch was instinctive, inspired, soothing.
“Much, thanks. And I vote no comedy, my ribs couldn’t take it.”
“How about The Terminator?”
“Sounds good.”
“Have you seen it before?”
“Not in the last twenty years.”
“Close enough.”
She slipped the disk out and stepped across the room to the TV on the dresser. “Want anything to drink while I’m up?”
“Water, please.”
He was going to have to think of some way to pay her back. But what did one get for a saving grace? Normally he’d buy jewelry or flowers or a nice bottle of wine, but for this woman...she was seeing him through some dark days. Her soothing presence and happy personality were keeping him in check. With every glance and conversation she reminded him that he was still alive, that it was o
kay to be thankful that he was alive.
“Here you go. Water. Popcorn. And a classic movie.” The fact that she thought of The Terminator as a classic intrigued him. What else did they have similar taste in?
Before he got the chance to quiz her, the movie started. The uncomfortable vibe from earlier was gone and she settled at his side, hand reaching for his. And just as she’d promised, she kept her hand in his, occasionally stroking his skin with her thumb, squeezing during a startling moment on screen. It didn’t take long for other parts of him to override the pain and his brain. But she’d already fallen asleep at that point. He took the bowl of half eaten popcorn and with a fair amount of effort, sat it on the nightstand. Should he finish the movie? He wasn’t really that interested and he hadn’t been paying much attention to the first forty-five minutes of it.
He flipped the TV off with the remote and glanced down at the sleeping woman beside him. A tendril of hair curled around the base of her neck. How did she manage to smell so good after a long day in the kitchen?
Should he wake her? She looked so peaceful with her fist against her heart.
No. This was her bed and it wasn’t like he could do anything anyway. Between laughing and trying his hand at Casper the Practical-Jokester Ghost, he’d injured himself enough tonight. Hell, he didn’t even want to attempt getting up so he could go sleep in the guest bed. So he flicked off the light, careful not to wake her or jostle his back, and settled back against the pillows, her hand still in his.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Trevor followed Julia into the enormous master closet and dropped their luggage next to the island. She slipped out of her shoes and sighed.
“Good to be home,” she murmured, tipping her head to the right in a long stretch.
“Sure is.”
He was beat. Between the time zone changes, seeing Carson again for the first time in two years, and then the worry over Greg it’d been a while since he’d been able to truly relax. He didn’t want to think about appearances, flights, or the latest note from his stalker that Joe had found in the mail. Luckily, this week was shaping up to be quiet. He was looking forward to some quality time with his fiancé and a few reps in the gym. And hopefully, hopefully, Joe would catch this latest SOB so Trevor and Julia could have some peace of mind.
Julia opened a drawer and pulled out an ivory gown. That got the attention of an important body part that evidently wasn’t the least bit tired.
“I’m going to go wash off the airplane germs.”
She disappeared through the open door and he ripped off his shirt and then shucked his jeans. Condom in hand he followed her. The shower steamed up the glass enclosure as Julia took off her earrings. He paused for a full second to admire the quiet moment. If she noticed him watching her she didn’t let on.
He stepped behind her and reached for the clasp of her necklace.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
He laid the long silver necklace on the vanity and kissed the side of her neck. She tipped her head to the side and sighed. Lips questing north he nipped the lobe of her ear and she shifted, turning in his arms. He slanted a kiss across her lips and backed her against the counter.
Her body moved against his in a long, fluid undulation. Arms around his neck, she kissed him back. Not frantically, as if passion was lighting her from the inside but sweetly, deeply, completely.
Trevor was lost in the ecstasy that was Julia. Happily lost and hoping to never return with the way she gave and took, her whole body moving slowly, smoothly against his. Legs tangled, fingers twined in his hair, her hips rolled against his, yep, he was a goner.
He came up for air just long enough to utter the three words running through his mind on an infinite loop. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“You’re wearing too many clothes.”
“And you’re not wearing any,” she shot back without missing a beat. She laughed against his lips and he made quick work of removing her clothing.
“We’re going to run out of hot water,” she said a minute later as he kissed and caressed his way down her body.
He grunted in acknowledgement but wasn’t concerned about water right now. Right now the only thing that mattered was her, him, them. She sucked in a breath when he nibbled the inside of her knee. He looked forward to hearing that sound for the rest of his life.
Her head dropped back and she braced her hands against the marble counter-top as he made the return trip.
“I’ve been thinking about this all week,” he murmured before taking her left nipple between his lips. There was that delicious sound again. This time, she slung an arm around his neck, holding him close.
He worked his way back up to her lips, clasped his hands beneath her thighs and turned for the shower. The hot spray eased the friction and her skin slid against him with maddening efficiency.
It tested his willpower which was already in short supply. Lips still fused, he turned and eased down on the tile bench. Julia bent her legs so she could straddle his lap.
Leaning back, she dipped her head beneath the rain shower and then she righted herself and looking at him with so much love in her eyes, he realized he was the luckiest guy in the world.
Wordlessly, he gripped her hips and urged her down on his needy cock. She was warm and wet, ready for him just as he knew she would be. Their eyes held as she slid down inch after inch and when she was finally engulfing him, her eyelashes fluttered closed.
“Damn, you’re beautiful.”
She smiled and opened her eyes. “You’re not too bad yourself, hot stuff.”
He loved that she held his gaze as she started to move. Slowly at first, so he felt every painstaking movement, then faster, finding a rhythm that took his breath away.
Somehow she managed to keep up the delicious motion as she kissed him. There was something about a hot, tongue tangling kiss that snapped the last thread of control he possessed. Luckily she was right there with him, hurtling over the edge, moaning with pleasure.
“What are you thinking about so hard?” he asked after they’d dried off and were settled in bed.
She had a legal pad on her lap but she hadn’t written anything in several minutes. A half smile curved her lips and she tossed the pad aside and then curled up against him.
“The guest list, the fact that we need a dining room table and Gretchen, Greg.”
“So a little of everything.” He wasn’t surprised.
He reached past her for the pen and paper. “Well, the first problem is easy.”
He jotted down the names of all of their immediate family then added Gretchen, Baby and Cindy. His closest friends brought them to fifteen.
“Who else?” he prompted.
“Cousins? Your agent? My agent?”
He added a few friends, aunts, uncles and his old coach. “That’s thirty five. Minus dates.”
“And kids.”
“It’s a good start.”
She murmured her agreement and stayed snuggled at his side, her hands around his bicep. “Although, I should leave Ronny and Thomas off for their mean trick.”
Trevor laughed softly and wrapped his arm around her. “They got your hopes up, didn’t they?”
“Yes they did. I thought there was something going on with Greg and Baby last year and that got my hopes up too.”
“Not everyone needs to end up married, babe.”
She gave a mock gasp. “I know, I know. But Greg’s ready. Ronny may never be ready again, but Greg’s been ready to settle down for years.”
“But does he know that?”
“He’s always tried to play it cool, but think of how many women he’s dated. Not one offs, but long term. Actual girlfriends. I think he’s always been looking.”
“Baby would eat him alive.”
“She’s not that bad.”
He wasn’t going to point out that Baby was most definitely not ready to settle down. From every indication, she had zero interest in ever
getting married or starting a family, not that those two things were mutually exclusive.
“But you’re right,” Julia said with a sigh. “Greg’s outgoing but Baby’s…adventurous. Gretchen would be a perfect match though. She’s smart and sweet, laid back.”
From the sound of her voice he could see that she was ready to play match maker.
“I think you should let Greg and Gretchen find their own spouse, sweetheart.”
She sat up and pegged him with those gorgeous blue eyes that had melted him on more than one occasion. “But don’t you think they’d be good together?”
“You have such a sweet heart.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“He was just in a horrific accident, give him some time.”
The reminder took the stars right out of her eyes and her wistful smile dropped into an anguished frown. He pulled her back into his arms and ran his hands up and down her back.
“Just give him time, love. If they’re meant to be, they’ll figure it out. Nothing will sort out a man’s feelings like being in the same house with a woman for a while.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“That I love you more than ever.”
She smiled up at him. “Ditto.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The next morning, Gretchen was in the middle of a super-hot dream when the bed shook beneath her. She blinked a few times and rubbed the sand from the corners of her eyes. Two things were immediately obvious. She’d fallen asleep while holding Greg’s hand and he was now trying to get out of her bed.
“Sorry to wake you,” he said quietly.
She threw back the covers and scurried from the bed.
“No, it’s fine.” She squinted into the bright morning light that poured through the open curtains. “What time is it?”
“No idea.” He twisted so his legs dangled over the edge of the bed.
“Need any help,” she asked, stepping toward him.
“Feel like hauling my butt out of bed one more time?” he asked dryly.