The Right Moment

by Heatherly Bell

  Kicking off her flats, Joanne began to run in the direction she’d seen Rachel go.

  Chapter Nine

  Hud has just finished up with the group he’d guided through a seven-mile hike when he caught a blur of red flashing in his peripheral vision.

  Jo was running—which she swore to him she’d never do unless someone was chasing her—screaming, “Raaaa-chellll!”

  For someone who didn’t run at all, she was moving quickly. But she didn’t look particularly equipped to be running on the hill, dressed in a short red dress.

  “Who’s that?” One of the hikers asked.

  “That’s my...girlfriend. If you’ll excuse me.” He dropped his backpack and took off after Joanne, who he guessed had to be running after Rachel.

  Here’s what he’d learned recently as a dog owner: dogs are pack animals. The owner is the pack leader. They want nothing more than to please you, so teach them how. And finally, and he’d learned this one the hard way: never, ever, chase a dog if your intention is to catch him. They’ll think it’s a game. But apparently no one had given Jo the 411 and she thought she’d be able to catch Rachel, who not only outran Jo, but became a little airborne at times. Like a gazelle.

  He ran after Jo, who ran after Rachel, who ran for the sake of running. Because she was a dog.

  “Jo! Don’t chase Rachel!” he yelled.

  Jo didn’t seem to hear him and with a solid lead, she was still several feet away from Hud. Headed toward the lake.

  “No, Rachel! Noooooo!” Joanne waved her arms in the air. “Don’t go in the laaaaake!”

  In other relevant news, Rachel knew how to swim and rather liked it. Hud was gaining on Jo but just when he was almost close enough to touch her, she jumped in the lake after Rachel. Her dress swimming around her neck, she finally registered Hud’s presence.

  “Don’t worry! I’ll get her.” She then began to swim after Rachel, who, Hud hated very much to tell Jo, was already drying herself off. On him. He picked her up.

  “Jo,” he said, biting back a laugh. “She’s right here, babe.”

  She turned in a circle, caught him holding Rachel, then swam back to the edge of the lake. He held out his other hand to haul her out. Wet and muddy, she gave him a little smile. “Good. She’s okay.”

  He pulled her into his arms. “C’mere.”

  She was shivering. “I thought I’d lost her forever.”

  He didn’t think he’d ever loved Jo more than at this moment. She’d probably crawl under Mrs. Diaz’s spider infested house for Rachel, too. Fearless. “She knows how to swim.”

  “I just found that out.” She reached to pet Rachel. “Did you enjoy that little dip, princess?”

  “More than you did.” Hud chuckled.

  “Are you laughing at me?”

  “Not at all. I prefer to keep my family jewels intact, thanks.” He continued to rub her back in small circles. “You’re freezing.”

  She fisted her hands in his now-damp tee. “And I ruined our picnic.”

  “Nah. We’ll just be relocating.”

  With that, he walked holding Jo’s hand, carrying Rachel in the other. In his backpack, he found his SOL orange emergency blanket and tore it open to cover Jo with it.

  “Thank you.” She drew it tighter around her.

  He walked her to his truck and went back to get the picnic blanket and cooler, putting everything, including his backpack, in the bed of his truck.

  He hopped in the front seat. “We’ll come back for your car later. This way you won’t get your car seat damp.”

  She pulled on his wrist. “I’m really sorry.”

  “Nothing to be sorry about. You were trying to save Rachel.”

  “Who didn’t need saving.” She sighed.

  “Let me tell you a few things about dogs...”

  He reiterated everything he’d learned since she encouraged him to adopt the rescue pet while he drove them back to his place. Foolishly, he hadn’t prepared to have her over for company. But thanks to his time in the Army, he kept a clean house. Mostly. And also had a maid come in twice a week when he was gone on rotation. Besides, Jo had been over here many times before for a movie, or the few times they’d double-dated with other people. But okay, yeah, he usually prepped better than this.

  He’d had every intention of taking her back to her home after the picnic and keeping his hands to himself once again. It was killing him, sure, but she was worth it. They were worth waiting for. He just knew it would be explosive between them because those kisses were simply a hint at what was to come. Given the change of plans this afternoon, he’d have his first real challenge. Because seeing her with that dress floating around her neck and the view below through the clear lake water had him nearly swallowing his tongue.

  Inside, he encouraged her into a warm shower and gave her a towel and his bathrobe.

  “I’ll put your dress in the dryer.” He stopped, rethinking. “Can it be put in the dryer?”

  She gazed at him from under hooded eyes. “Thank you for asking, but yes, it can.”

  With that, she removed the dress and wiggled out of black lace panties and a matching bra.

  She smiled and tossed them to him. “So glad we’re doing this whole waiting thing.”

  He swallowed hard. This idea to wait had seemed like a good one at the time.

  While she was in the shower, he fed Rachel, then settled her in the kennel. He got busy arranging for a picnic on the living room floor. Okay, he was officially corny. If the guys at the station could see him now, they’d razz him until the end of time. He’d never been a fool like this over a woman. He didn’t feel good about that now because maybe he’d been unfair to the women he’d dated in the past. While he’d tried to be clear about his intentions, he knew there were some ex-girlfriends who’d believed they’d be the one to change him. To get him to finally settle down.

  One of them had sat here in this very living room on a double date with him, Jo and some loser she’d dated a couple of years ago. Not Chuck, but still not good enough. Jo had later warned him that Kristine had every intention of making herself “the one.” Maybe his stance had made him a bit of a challenge to her, but he hadn’t intended that. And when she’d kindly told him, after realizing they weren’t going anywhere, that he should just go ahead and tell Jo he was madly in love with her, he’d made Kristine sound like the paranoid one.

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” he’d said, or something equally inane.

  She’d just smiled and told him to think about it, and to call and thank her when he finally figured it out for himself.

  But up until now—what he considered his last chance, whenever he’d allowed himself to consider the possibility—he believed he still wasn’t ready to give Jo everything she deserved. That he had to earn more money. Had to save more. Buy a bigger house with plenty of room for both Jo and Hunter to move in with him. Get rid of some of his workout equipment in his spare room to make space for her fabrics and dresses she liked to bring home. Those were all excuses, he now realized.

  Because deep down he was terrified of losing her all over again. Deeper still in those small tight spaces where he didn’t often dare to look, he wondered if he was the problem. Maybe she couldn’t ever love him like she had the first time. Maybe gold didn’t strike twice.

  Jo emerged from the bathroom wearing his bathrobe, which pretty much swam on her, coming down to her ankles. Despite that, she looked like a cover girl model to him. Her blond hair was damp and pushed back behind her ears. She was fresh-faced, all the makeup washed off, making her appear even younger.

  “That was just what I needed.” She walked to the edge of the blanket he’d now laid in the middle of the living room. “Oh wow.”

  This time, he’d added a few touches he wouldn’t have ever attempted on Wildfire Ridge. Candlelight. Plates and actual fla
tware instead of the plastic stuff.

  “Ready for our picnic?” Crouching, he dished out her favorite salad on a plate.

  She sat on the blanket, then opened up the robe so that her legs were showing. “How did I never know that you’re this romantic?

  “Probably because I’m not.”

  “Hud, this—” she waved her hand over the area “—is romantic.”

  “I’m trying.”

  “And I love that you’re trying.” She scooted closer to him, giving him a good whiff of his own soap. On her.

  That hint of intimacy drove him wild. He tucked her in close. “You deserve it.”

  “It’s funny you should say that, because I gave up on this kind of thing a while ago. Expectations.”

  He let that statement settle in his bones, realizing that he’d done something for her no other guy had. “Why?”

  She shrugged. “When I became a mom, I gave up on romance and shucked it for responsibility. Security.”

  “You can have both, you know.”

  “You’re reminding me of that.”

  They ate quietly for a few minutes, he nearly inhaling his sandwich, rethinking this whole “waiting” thing. How long had they known each other, anyway? Even if their relationship had recently changed status, he’d waited long enough for her. She was finally available, and he’d made his move. He’d made it clear she was special, and not one of his many seductions. Sure, it would be better to know that she was truly over the idiot and not just distracting herself with Hud. Because he needed her whole body and mind and wasn’t going to accept anything less.

  When Jo crawled into his lap, she had unbelted the robe, and beautiful fleshy soft skin brushed up against him.

  “Can I talk you out of waiting? I mean, I nearly died trying to save Rachel.”

  “I have a feeling you could talk me into anything.”

  Her fingers threaded through his hair, and he began to lose focus on anything other than her mouth. “I want you so much. Tonight.”

  “And I need you to be sure.” Parting the robe, his hand explored under it, tweaking her nipple.

  She moaned. “I’m sure. I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.”

  With that assurance, Hud put out the candlelight, drew her into his arms and stood, carrying her toward the bedroom.

  * * *

  Flush with anticipation, Jo held tight to Hud’s shoulders as he carried her. The wait was over. She would undress him and get to witness up close and personal all of that gorgeous taut skin and muscle. With Hud, she easily lost any inhibitions because tonight he’d made her feel desired and special. He’d proved something to her, and now it was her turn to do the same. To let him know he wasn’t any rebound guy. He was Hud. Her Hud. Always had been, and always would be. No matter what.

  Did she think this meant forever? No. She was a grown-up now.

  After their very first time, she’d made big plans. Plans to get married, since of course they would have had to now they’d had sex. But she wasn’t that young and idealistic girl anymore. Life didn’t go according to plan. And this time she wasn’t going to pin Hud down to anything permanent. Better to take it one day at a time and see where it went. Along the way, she was going to enjoy every second because she’d been holding back for too long.

  Hud laid her gently on his bed, and she wiggled out of the robe and tossed it aside. She let herself drink in the sight of his heated gaze, taking in the view.

  “What are you waiting for?” She stretched her arms out, wiggling her fingers for him to come and join her.

  “We’re not waiting,” he said, slow and rough as he pulled off his shirt with one hand.

  Coming up on her knees beside him, she went for his pants, unsnapping and sliding them down his slim hips. Then, finally, his boxer briefs came off and she thought she’d never seen anything more beautiful. Hud was all man, sharp angles and planes. Hard everywhere. She ran the pads of her fingers down his chest to his abs and luxuriated in each sinewy muscle, and the sensations as he tensed beneath her touch.

  “I want to touch you everywhere.”

  “I’m not going to stop you.”

  His big hand covered her butt while his mouth came down eagerly to her nipple, sucking hard. Her body buzzed with a sweet ache, and warmth spread between her thighs. Still standing beside her on the bed, hand on the nape of her neck, he tugged her mouth to his for a long deep kiss. Then he took them both down to the bed, his hard body covering hers. She wrapped her legs around his back, burying her face in his warm neck. Licking. Tasting.

  “I missed this.” She’d never felt this physically connected to anyone else. Her body purred and vibrated under his touch. “I missed you.”

  “We’re going to take our time.” Hud braced himself above her with a slow smile. “You don’t have to be anywhere for the next twenty-four hours, do you?”

  He didn’t wait for her answer, as he slowly crawled down her body, kissing and licking as he went. His tongue played with the shell of her ear and when his teeth sank into her earlobe, a wild and unexpected pull of desire made her thighs throb and pulse. His lips nibbled at her nipples and sucked each one until she bucked under him, opening her legs.

  “Patience.”

  He kissed and licked his way down, playing with her belly button. But when he lowered his head between her thighs, far from patient, Joanne became so aroused her hips gyrated and her legs trembled. She fought the cresting wave and tried to regain control as he pushed her higher. The wave came anyway, and with one more lick from him in just the right spot, she lost all control. She moaned his name, suddenly aware that she had her hands in his hair, clutching him tight.

  “Oh, Hud. I’m sorry.” Letting go, she smoothed his hair down from the tufts she’d created. Good thing he had a lot of hair. “I hurt you.”

  He braced above her, looking no worse for the wear. “I didn’t feel a thing.”

  She quirked a brow though she knew exactly what he meant.

  “I didn’t feel a thing on my head.” He gave her a wicked smile. “The big one.”

  “C’mere.” She pushed him until he went flat on his back. Naturally, he went willingly.

  She could feel his body tense as she lowered herself over him, licking down his flat abs, and then licking down to the promised land. She licked once, twice, and took him into her mouth. He groaned and his muscles tensed to the consistency of granite as she teased him mercilessly until he was at the edge of where she wanted him.

  When he’d finally had enough, he made her stop and rolled on top of her. “Condom.”

  Yes, finally!

  He rustled through his nightstand to where she assumed he kept his stash of condoms. She wouldn’t know. And she didn’t much want to think about that right now. The stash of ready condoms. She’d prefer he had only a couple in there, specifically for her, maybe even with her name on them, were she wishing for a miracle.

  “Shit,” he said. “I’m out.”

  While she wondered just how much sex he’d been having lately to be completely out, he added, “I haven’t bought any in a while. It’s been...a long time.”

  Joanne tried not to let that bit of information get to her, but damn if it did.

  Her playboy best friend, condom-less.

  With her.

  “And we were going to wait,” he added.

  This would all be incredibly upsetting if Joanne wasn’t prepared. She’d learned her lesson the hard way, after all. Never depend on a man to bring the birth control. Hud looked absolutely disgusted with himself, poor baby.

  Joanne bent over the bed to reach for her purse and brought out a tiny silver foil packet. “I’m not out.”

  Hud brightened, even more so when Joanne ripped the package open and slid the condom on his shaft. She stroked him once, then twice, making him groan. Taking o
ver, he braced himself on top of her. He kissed her, warm and deep making her skin tingle all over, and in one deep thrust he was inside her, making them both gasp.

  She’d never seen anything as beautiful as Hud’s face, a mask of concentration as he moved inside of her, deeper and harder each time. He wasn’t the boy she’d loved once beyond all reason, but a man. A grown man, who’d been through so much and yet he’d never left her behind. He’d always come back to her, one way or another. The knowledge of that pierced her, and she let go of a little more control, allowing the sensations to roll and sway through her body.

  The pressure built inside her quickly, like nothing she’d experienced before. She and Hud were like fire together, explosive, both urging each other to the pinnacle in soft whispers and ragged breaths. She bucked against him, wanting more, wanting deeper, harder, and he gave it to her. Faster and deeper he went, taking her higher, until she fell apart in a sweet climax. Only then did he let go and have his own release.

  “We’ve gotten a lot better at that,” Joanne said on a ragged breath. She was including herself in there, though it was mostly Hud, were she being completely honest.

  Hud tucked her to his side. “I didn’t have a whole lot to offer you then, other than my enthusiasm.”

  “You definitely had that in spades. But you were also very sweet.”

  “Sweet? Me?”

  “Yes, you. Or I probably wouldn’t have fallen in love with you.”

  They were both too quiet for a moment, as if the raw memory had shattered them both a little.

  “Stay with me tonight,” he said, brushing a kiss against her knuckles. “Sleep with me.”

  “Will I actually get any sleep?”

  “We can do some of that, if you want.”

  “Okay,” she said, snuggling closer. “But you have to promise me something. It’s very important.”

  “Anything.”

  “Next time I take a shower, don’t leave me in there alone.”

  Chapter Ten

  “Is it a beautiful day, or is it just me?” Joanne set her coffee orders down. “One soy latte for me, one caramel macchiato for you.”