Safe in His Embrace

by Candice Poarch

  “Why, thank you, Colin.”

  Jasmine, George’s other granddaughter, and her husband, Drake Whitcomb, came in looking as if someone had just yanked them from the bed. George shook his head. Jasmine dragged her hand through her short hair and spoke.

  “Breakfast is ready,” George said. The couple usually slept in on Saturdays if they weren’t on call. He felt a little guilty getting them up so early, as they were both veterinarians and worked long hours, but it was the first morning he could get them all together. He wanted Dorothelia to feel comfortable around his family.

  Colin extended his arm for Dorothelia to take. “May I escort you to the table?”

  She blushed as she put her hands in his. “Why, thank you.”

  Colin grinned at George’s thunderous expression before leading Mrs. Jackson to the table.

  That boy needs to be taken down a peg, George thought, following them, miffed at having the opportunity to touch Dorothelia’s soft skin thwarted. As they passed by, he caught a whiff of Dorothelia’s pleasing perfume and his mood lightened.

  “Have you heard anything from the private investigator yet?” Dorothelia asked as she spread her napkin in her lap.

  “Nothing yet,” George said. “But the agency is very good. It’s only been a week.”

  “I guess I’m just too nervous. I should be getting back to Los Angeles.”

  “We could hear something any day. Then you and I will fly out to see her. You don’t have any pressing business back home, do you?”

  “Well…I don’t want to be an imposition. I’m sure you have plenty of work to do.”

  “You aren’t an imposition at all. Think nothing of it, dear.”

  “We really love having you here, Mrs. Jackson,” Colin said. “Look at this place. An entire platoon could stay here and wouldn’t make a ripple. Unfortunately, we’re gone most of the day. I wish we could spend more time with you.”

  “I don’t need to be entertained,” Dorothelia said. “Think nothing of it. I think it’s a wonderful place.”

  “Then please feel at home here. This is Senetra’s home, too, even though she doesn’t know it yet,” George said.

  “Thank you. You’re so kind.” She dished food onto her plate and George was pleased she’d be here a little longer, though he wished he could wipe the sadness from her eyes. He was going to spend the day with her, at least. Perhaps he’d invite her to the Kentucky Derby. They had a horse racing there this year.

  George dished pancakes onto his plate. He hadn’t felt attraction to a woman like this since his dear wife passed away. He never thought he’d feel this way again. And yet…He stifled a sigh. The Lord was certainly good to him. He’d lost his dear son and wife, but now he had three grandchildren and a new woman he was very attracted to. How could life get any better? There wasn’t a doubt in his mind that he’d find Senetra. He just wished they were quicker about doing it.

  “Did she ever talk about places she wanted to visit?” Drake asked.

  “I mentioned all of them to the investigator. She likes warm climates.”

  “If it was me, I’d go to a place he’d never think to look,” Jasmine said, and all eyes veered to her. “Well, I would. Why go someplace he’d automatically search?”

  “She hates the cold weather,” Dorothelia said slowly. “It’s what she disliked most about Wisconsin.”

  “North Dakota or Montana,” Jasmine said. “I wouldn’t even consider Florida or Texas. Forget South Carolina or Georgia.”

  “Blacks would stick out like sore thumbs in North Dakota or Montana,” Colin offered.

  “He wouldn’t search there, so what? There are a million places in this country where there are only a handful of us he’d never think she’d go to.”

  “She could be in some remote location in Nevada or Arizona. Like the high desert where it gets cold but not like Wisconsin or Montana,” Drake murmured.

  “Nome, Alaska. She’s not going near the desert,” Jasmine said. “Even I could find her in Nevada. Besides, she’s learned to live with the cold in Wisconsin. At least this way, she might have to sit in front of a roaring fire, but she’s free. If nothing else, she can hibernate until the spring thaw.”

  “Make that summer,” Drake said.

  “You’ve got a point,” George mused. “I’ll call the investigator after breakfast.”

  After breakfast everyone scattered in different directions. Colin and George went out to the barn to deal with a problem with one of the stallions.

  George had asked Dorothelia if she would like to go into D.C. to look at the cherry blossoms even though it was still a little early in the season. They’d had a mild winter and the trees were blooming already.

  Dorothelia agreed. She was somewhat flustered. George was so different from the men she usually met—very handsome and such a gentleman. But most of all, his kindness touched her. Long ago, she’d given up on ever finding someone to share an intimate relationship with. But George seemed as attracted to her as she was to him. And she felt guilty because she should be concentrating on her daughter, not Senetra’s grandfather.

  She might be in her midsixties, but she was still a woman and had a woman’s needs.

  It was odd having nothing to do. But at nine-thirty the mail arrived and with it a package for her. She’d asked her friend to pick up her mail once a week and send it to her.

  Sitting on the comfortable sofa in her suite, she opened her mail. There were several letters and enough junk mail to outfit a tree. But there was also a letter from Senetra. Dorothelia’s heart gladdened. Did she know about Timothy?

  With bated breath, Dorothelia tore into the letter to read it first.

  She sighed with disappointment and frustration. She didn’t know about Timothy, but on the other hand she’d had a wonderful birthday. Something to be pleased about.

  “Oh, darling. I wish I knew where you were.” Tears came to Dorothelia’s eyes. She missed Senetra so much.

  A knock on her door brought her up from the sofa, wiping her eyes.

  It was George.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked with concern.

  She still clutched the letter in her hand. She handed it to George. “I got a letter from Senetra in the mail today.”

  “Do you mind if I read it?”

  “Please do.”

  George glanced at the envelope first. “It’s postmarked from Los Angeles.”

  “They all are. From the same postal area.”

  “Do you know who might be mailing them?”

  “I don’t think it’s anyone she knows. I think it’s being mailed to someone she might know in another location in the country and that person mails it to someone Senetra doesn’t even know. I know she set up an intricate network before she left.”

  “Smart girl.”

  “A little too smart,” Dorothelia said with a wry glance. “Which makes it very difficult to find her.”

  George stroked her arm. “We will find her.”

  A tear slipped from Dorothelia’s eye and George gently wiped it away and held her in his arms.

  She’d shouldered her burdens alone for so long. It was so nice to be able to share this with someone. Not that she discounted her very good friends back home. Rachel especially had been a lifeline to her.

  Dorothelia was unaware of when the moment turned from gentle comfort to desire. But suddenly they were looking at each other. Her hand was pressed against his strong chest and he held her gently in his arms, but the desire in his eyes was unmistakable.

  “If you don’t want me to kiss you, speak up quickly,” George said.

  Dorothelia bit her bottom lip. “And if I do, shall I remain silent?”

  The shift of emotions in his eyes was telling. And as his head lowered, hers tilted toward him. It was Dorothelia’s first kiss in many years and the hunger hit her hard. And when his mouth touched hers, her heart thudded against her breast.

  One of his hands rested against her back, the other against her ch
eek. Desire and need raged in her as what started out as a soft and gentle kiss turned hot and demanding.

  George kissed with a skill and an emotion that was breath stealing.

  They heard a noise, a quickly indrawn breath and hurried footsteps leaving the area.

  They came apart like teenagers caught necking in the broom closet.

  “Well,” George said around a chuckle. “It’s been many years since I’ve lost my head so completely.”

  Dorothelia laughed, too.

  “Are you ready to leave, my dear?” George said softly, but he still held her within the circle of his arms and it felt so good.

  Still riding on a cloud of desire, Dorothelia nodded.

  Dorothelia hoped Senetra was experiencing a new love, too. That a new and wonderful experience was in the offing for them both.

  Chapter 7

  A host of activities was going on at the Spit. A brisk wind blew over the area. Children drank hot chocolate and adults drank hot coffee to keep warm. Kathryn and Senetra stood hovering in the cold, sipping on cups of piping-hot coffee, talking with the locals while they waited for Rick and Alex to return. Several boats had already pulled up to the dock. Many of the fishermen appeared to be immune to the cold. And Senetra guessed they were, since they fished in weather much more frigid.

  Salmon was weighed and smaller prizes were given out on the hour.

  Food stands did record business selling their succulent and delicious fare. Senetra ate fried clams and meandered closer to the scales where a crowd gathered.

  She had a few more shots left in her camera and took pictures of some of her students who participated.

  “So, tell me. How are things with Alex?” Kathryn asked with a sly smile. “I heard he spent the night.”

  “I was a little upset after the altercation with Danya. He didn’t want to leave me alone, that’s all. So don’t try to make it into more than it was.”

  “Am I getting a false impression? Because you’re out here waiting for him to come back.”

  “I’m taking shots of my students.” She narrowed her gaze. “And waiting for Alex. Okay, okay. I like him.”

  “You say it as if there’s something wrong with liking him.”

  “I don’t know if I’m ready.”

  “You don’t have to marry him, Regina. But I think he really likes you.”

  Senetra contemplated a moment. She usually kept her thoughts to herself. Kathryn was her friend, had been from the moment she moved there. Maybe it was time to trust her—to a certain point anyway.

  “My last relationship wasn’t good, Kat. I don’t want to rush things. I just want to take this slowly. I’m leery of getting in over my head again. And that’s easy to do if I move too quickly with the heat of the moment.”

  Kathryn brushed Senetra’s hair out of her face and smiled sadly. “Oh, honey. I knew it was something. I could tell there were demons from the moment I met you. And I know you’ve lived cautiously because of your past,” she said. “I just…You can’t give the one who hurt you that kind of power over you. The power to steal the joy you can experience with other men, even if it doesn’t work out with Alex. There’s going to be someone you eventually fall for.”

  “I know, but…”

  “You like Alex enough to give it a try, don’t you?” Kathryn asked with a hopeful expression.

  Senetra nodded.

  “You both take life so seriously. You should talk about his past. He’s had his share of pain, too. And sometimes like souls draw together, they can be comfort for each other.”

  “Was it just another woman?” She already knew about Jessica, but was there more?

  “I’m going to let him tell you. He’s not secretive. But he’s taking things cautiously with you. He’s as afraid of getting hurt as you are.”

  “Or he’s still in love with another woman. I don’t exactly want a rebound situation, either.”

  “Trust me. Alex wouldn’t waste time with you if it wasn’t real. He’s not that kind of guy.”

  They linked arms and walked closer to an open fire pit to warm up.

  “I think I see them in the distance,” Kathryn said, shading her eyes with her hand.

  “Which one? Looks like a million boats are out there. How can you tell one from the other at this distance?” she asked, searching, but couldn’t find anything distinctive enough. “Anyway, it’s three-thirty. You know very well Rick isn’t coming in before he absolutely has to. There were over four hundred boats in the tournament last year.”

  “Let’s hope someone convinced him to come in early.”

  “It’s too bad you don’t like to fish,” Senetra said. “Then the two of you would be quite a team.”

  “If fishing is the defining factor on us being a team, we won’t make it. I won’t go out on a cold, blustery morning fishing when I can snuggle up under my warm comforter, and I don’t clean fish.”

  Senetra laughed.

  “They’re here,” Kathryn said, waving enthusiastically as the boat drew to the dock.

  The two of them ran toward the boat.

  Four of the guys were on deck, looking cold yet happy as they carted their fish to the scales. Senetra snapped a couple of pictures.

  “Wonder how much they’ve been drinking?” Senetra asked. The guys looked dizzy on adrenaline.

  “Not much yet, but tonight’s a different story.”

  As their salmon was being weighed, Senetra snapped off more shots. She took a perfect one of Alex alone with the huge fish. She planned to frame a copy of it for him.

  Among the hustle and bustle, the fish was weighed. They won in their category—one thousand dollars split among the six men.

  “A big party to celebrate,” they said, “but the winning captain’s throwing a party at the Pit.” They were all meeting there later. The finalist won nearly fifty grand, but it wasn’t the money as much as the sport of it that brought the men out in droves each year. As low-key as Alex was, she could tell he enjoyed himself.

  “I smell pretty rank so I won’t get too close,” he said with a twisted grin. “But could the winner get just a little kiss?” he asked with a boyish grin.

  “Sure.” Despite the ripe scent of eau de fish, she felt a pleasant jolt to her system when she kissed him.

  “Ah,” he moaned, and shook his head, smacking his lips facetiously. “That made it all worthwhile. Where can I sign up again for next year?”

  Senetra laughed.

  Alex went to Rick’s place to clean up before he picked Senetra up. It was six when Alex and Senetra walked into the bar. The music was loud and beer and other drinks were liberally enjoyed. It felt as if a thousand fishermen had shown up, but the only man on Senetra’s mind was Alex.

  He’d cleaned up nicely for the occasion. He wore another cable-knit sweater—black this time—and Senetra was really turned on all over again.

  The crush of people in the bar pushed Senetra up against Alex. He inhaled a deep breath to keep his libido intact. He thought he’d never love another woman the way he’d loved Jessica, but right now what he’d felt in the past paled in comparison to what he felt that moment. He didn’t know if it was mere sex or what, but it was strong and intense. Whatever it was, he was in for the ride. Yet he had to remember she was still skittish about being in a relationship.

  Alex pulled her close in his arms. Her body molded perfectly to his.

  “Are you going to let me stay the night?” he asked. “Or do I have to camp out on Rick’s sofa?”

  She threw him a wary glance before she looked away. “I’m not quite ready,” she said.

  “Okay.” He pulled her closer. “At least I get to hold you now,” he said, trying to control the desire waging a war in his body.

  His phone buzzed against them.

  “What’s that?”

  “My cell.” Alex pulled it out and glanced at the number. “My dad. I have to take this. Be right back.”

  The phone had stopped ringing by the time Alex a
nswered it. He called his father back and the older man picked up on the first ring.

  “What’s up, Dad?”

  “It’s all settled. All your sisters and brothers are coming for Easter. They’re spending the week here and they’re all looking forward to seeing you,” he said. “You are coming, aren’t you?”

  Alex stifled a groan. His dad was trying so hard to mend the rift between him and his siblings. “I had planned to stay in Alaska.”

  “You haven’t been home for more than a day or so in two years. You get some vacation time.”

  Alex sighed. He’d planned to visit Senetra again. Things were going pretty good with them and he didn’t want to give her too much time alone—without him.

  “When will you get here?” his father asked as if his silence was agreement. “The whole family plans to attend Easter service together. Be good having everyone home at the same time for a change.”

  With no other option, Alex knew he had to give in. His father was right. It was time to go home. He only wished he could take Senetra with him, but that wasn’t going to happen. She didn’t trust him enough, and if she was in hiding she was risking danger.

  “I’ll call and let you know when I’ll arrive,” Alex finally said.

  Besides, he couldn’t put the confrontation with his siblings off forever. He might as well get it over with once and for all. It would be good to see his nieces and nephews. A couple of his nephews had visited him last summer. One had just graduated from high school and the trip was a graduation present from Alex. Alex had taken some time off to show him around. He’d really enjoyed it.

  “Okay, I’ll see you soon,” his father said, and hung up.

  Alex closed his phone and breathed in the brisk, cold air. As much as he desired Senetra, he was unsure how he would react once he saw Jessica again. His desire for Senetra was sharp and real. But it was time for him to face the demons of his past. All of them. His siblings and Jessica. It was also time for him to move forward.

  He returned to the party and found Senetra sitting at their table, nursing a ginger ale. Rick and Kathryn were talking to someone near the pool table.

  She smiled when she saw him. “Is everything okay at home?”