On the Mend (Carolina Waves Series Book 1)

by Tina Gallagher

“Honey, what did you mean when you told her you knew she’d come back?”

  Lexi shrugged. “She was gone, but I knew she’d come back.”

  “You mean when she went home for the weekend?”

  She hesitated, then nodded.

  “Are you sure?”

  She nodded again.

  “And you’re sure you’re not upset about this?”

  She smiled, jumped up to her knees, and hugged me. “I’m not upset. I love Sabrina and I hope she stays forever.”

  That makes two of us.

  Feeling good about this conversation, I squeezed her and said, “What book are we reading tonight?”

  She pulled away from me, turned around, grabbed a yellow book from the bedside table, and handed it to me. I stood and pulled back the covers.

  “Scoot in,” I said.

  After she was settled, I pulled the covers up to her waist, then climbed onto the bed beside her and opened the book. Lexi read the first couple pages, but then snuggled down into the covers and asked me to take over. I got through the rest of the first chapter before her breathing turned deep and slow.

  I closed the book and rolled off the bed. Walking over to the other side, I placed it on the bedside table, leaned down, and kissed Lexi on the forehead.

  I turned on her nightlight, walked to the door, and turned off the overhead light.

  As I closed the door behind me, I prayed the next conversation I need to have goes as smooth as this one did.

  Sabrina

  I stared at the ceiling and tried to figure out exactly where things had gone wrong at the ice cream parlor. We’d been having a great time, then one sentence—which I had intended as a compliment—changed everything.

  The rest of the day was filled with tense silence. Even Dan’s workout suffered. He was obviously pre-occupied with his thoughts and his form was off. I cut the session short and retired to my room, coward that I am.

  Dan’s right about the fact that I have trust issues where he’s concerned, but I don’t think I’ve been obvious about it. Truth be told, I haven’t had a reason to be obvious about it. For the most part, we’ve been secluded from the outside world. The only woman around on a daily basis is Mrs. Evans, and I don’t think white-haired, sixty-something women are Dan’s type.

  A light tap on the door broke into my thoughts. I got off the bed and turned the knob. Even before the door was fully open, I knew Dan was on the other side. His spicy-citrus scent filled my nostrils as soon as the door cleared the jamb.

  “Can I come in?”

  I stepped aside and swept my hand in a welcoming gesture. After closing the door behind him, I sat down on the edge of the bed. He followed suit mere inches from me. Taking my hand in his, he studied my fingers for several seconds before speaking.

  “I’m sorry about his afternoon, Bri.” He brushed his thumb across my knuckles and squeezed my hand before lifting his head and meeting my gaze once again. “I acted like a real ass.”

  I had to laugh at his choice of words. “I did mean it as a compliment,” I said.

  “I know, and thank you.” He dropped his gaze and studied my fingers again. “I just hate the fact that you don’t trust me.”

  I wanted to deny his words, but how could I? I don’t trust him…not totally anyway. Certainly not the way I should. I’ve changed in the past ten years, so it only stands to reason that he would, too. Logically, I know this, but emotionally I can’t help myself from reverting back to a twenty-year-old with a broken heart. It’s not something I’m proud of, but it’s a fact.

  Dan’s eyes met mine and my chest tightened. The look of anguish and longing on his face nearly broke my heart. It only got worse when he spoke.

  “Do you think you’ll ever totally trust me?” His voice was soft, almost hoarse.

  “I’m working on it,” was all I could say.

  Dan pulled me into his arms and kissed me softly. The loving that followed was so slow, so languid, so sweet that I was moved to tears. We didn’t speak afterward. No words were necessary. All our thoughts and feelings had been conveyed through touch. I rested on my side and Dan curled his body around mine, holding me as though he’d never let go. And, at that moment, I gave up a prayer in hopes that I could let him hold me forever.

  Dan’s smile greeted me in the kitchen the next morning, and due to the early hour, we were alone. He walked around the island and stopped directly in front of me. His eyes roamed over my face, seeming to devour me before his mouth settled on mine and did just that.

  “Good morning,” he said when we finally managed to pull apart.

  “Mmm hmm,” I muttered, as I slipped my arms around his waist and rested my head against his chest.

  “Sorry about my disappearing act last night.” He kissed the top of my head. “More than anything I wanted to wake up with you in my arms, then make love to you all morning.” His arms tightened, pulling me closer. There was a distinct bulge pressing into my stomach. I rubbed against him and smiled at his groan.

  “I understand,” I said. “Though what you just described sounds like heaven.”

  Dan pulled back and looked into my eyes. “You think so?”

  “I do.”

  If his kiss was any indication, I’d say my answer pleased him. His mouth opened over mine, hungry and demanding, and I responded in kind. Tongues tangling, hands roaming, passions rising, I forgot where we were and lost myself in the sensations overtaking my body.

  By slow degrees, Dan ended the kiss and pulled away. I watched through heavy lidded eyes as he drew a deep breath in through his nose and let it out slowly through his mouth. He ran a frustrated hand through his hair, then let it drop to his neck and rubbed there.

  “We’d better put a stop to that before I drag you to the table and bury myself deep inside you.” The way he said it sounded like a warning. Heeding it, I backed slowly away, hoping some space would cool us down.

  Dan cleared his throat. “Mrs. Evans is off today, so if we want breakfast, it’s up to us.” He glanced at the coffee maker, then back at me. “I made coffee and it’s not too bad, if I do say so myself.”

  His adorable smile took my breath away.

  “Bri,” Dan growled. All his frustration and love was conveyed in that one short word. “Please don’t look at me like that.”

  “Sorry,” I tried to sound repentant, but didn’t quite pull it off. My coquettish grin didn’t help matters either, I’m sure.

  “Uh huh.” Dan’s own grin was devilish. “So, what about breakfast?”

  “What do you usually eat when Mrs. Evans is off?”

  “Cereal,” he answered. “And if you weren’t so busy hiding from me all those weeks, you’d know that.”

  I opened my mouth to protest, but decided against it. As amusing as sparring with Dan might be, my mood is way too mellow to rise to the occasion. Dan must have felt the same, because he let it drop.

  “How about an omelet?” he asked, as he opened the refrigerator. “I think I have some ham and cheese.”

  I couldn’t help but admire his backside as he bent over and searched the refrigerator. I was caught ogling when he straightened and glanced my way. I smiled letting him know I’d enjoyed the view.

  Dan chuckled and pulled eggs, butter, ham, and a bag of shredded cheddar out of the refrigerator, closed the door with his foot, and placed the items on the counter.

  “What can I do?” I asked.

  He grabbed various bowls, plates, and utensils from their respective spots. “Sit back and watch Chef Dan create,” he said, with a flourish.

  “Oh brother.” I rolled my eyes and climbed onto a stool.

  “Seriously,” he said as he cracked eggs—one-handed, I might add—into a bowl and whisked them with some milk, salt, and pepper. “Omelets are one of the few things I can cook well. I’m pretty good at French toast, too…that’s Lexi’s favorite.”

  I watched as Dan concentrated on his task. The muscles of his back and arms flexed and bunched with his ev
ery move. I remembered how those same muscles felt to touch, to caress, to kiss and my temperature rose a few degrees.

  “Bri?”

  “Hmmm?” I practically purred.

  “Do you want toast?” he asked around a knowing smile.

  I nodded and stood. “I’ll do it.”

  His eyes roamed over my face before he smiled again. “Great.”

  Once I stepped around the island and into the working area of the kitchen, the intimacy felt a bit suffocating. With trembling hands, I took two slices of bread out of the bag and placed them in the toaster. It was after I turned the toaster on that I realized Dan was watching me.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  I nodded and concentrated on wiping the deer-in-the-headlights look off my face.

  Dan placed his hand on my shoulder and his thumb traced slow circles as he kissed my lips. He pulled back and smiled. “It’s okay, Bri.” Another light kiss was placed on mine before Dan pulled me into his embrace. “We’re just cooking breakfast here.”

  I nodded again and snuggled into his chest. His words told me he understood my fears. And between his words and the warmth of his arms, I relaxed. Dan kissed the top of my head.

  “Better?” he asked.

  “Much,” I answered, before pulling him down for a soul-searing kiss.

  We managed to pull apart before our food burned. After plating everything, we made our way to the table.

  “So you talked to Jodi yesterday?” Dan asked from his seat across the table from me. He cut his omelet into bite-sized pieces and popped one in his mouth, his eyes prompting me to answer his question.

  “Yes, I did.” I cut a piece off my own omelet, but only had a chance to spear it with my fork before he spoke again.

  “How much longer do I have you for?”

  Leave it to Dan to get straight to the heart of the matter. I lifted my napkin from my lap and wiped my mouth. “Four weeks.”

  Dan blinked. From the look on his face, I knew I’d shocked him. He opened his mouth to speak, closed it, then blinked again.

  “Four weeks?”

  “Four weeks,” I repeated.

  He shook his head slowly. “Huh.”

  “Is that good or bad?” I asked around a nervous laugh.

  “Oh honey, it’s definitely good,” he quickly assured me. “I’m just surprised.” The tips of his ears reddened. “I read your last report.” He shrugged. “It was on the desk and I couldn’t resist.”

  “And?”

  “From what I gathered, your time here is just about up. Did I misunderstand?”

  “No,” I said. “No, you didn’t misunderstand.”

  “Then I’m confused. Did you send in a different report?”

  “No, the one you saw is the one Jodi and the team received.” He opened his mouth to speak, but I stopped him with a halting hand. “I told her I didn’t think you needed me as your therapist any longer. You know the routine, and you’re healed enough to do your strength training on your own.”

  “Then I definitely don’t understand. You said you’re staying another four weeks.”

  “I am, but not as your therapist.” I pulled my bottom lip into my mouth and dragged it back out through my teeth, feeling uncertain. After all, I made my plans without even consulting Dan.

  “Then as what?”

  “I have four weeks’ vacation and I told Jodi I wanted to take them now.” I paused for a moment to let my words sink in. When understanding dawned in his eyes, I continued. “So I guess I’ll be here as, well, uh, as your girlfriend.” My tone raised an octave or two on the last word, turning my sentence into a question.

  Dan’s green eyes filled with such intense emotion, they trapped my gaze and held it captive. “You’re staying here because you want to?” I nodded. “Not because you have to?” I shook my head. “You’ll be here of your own free will, not out of obligation or because of any partnership?”

  “I’m staying because I’d like to. But if you’d rather I didn’t, I can change my plans.”

  Dan jumped out of his chair and was at my side, lifting me out of mine before I knew what was happening. He pulled me into his arms and slanted his mouth against mine. Intense, passionate, and so damn hot, the kiss ended only when we were both about to pass out from lack of oxygen.

  I rested my head against Dan’s chest and listened to his heart pound in rhythm with mine. He pulled me closer and kissed my forehead, before dragging in a deep breath and letting it out by slow degrees.

  “Thank you,” he sighed.

  28

  Sabrina

  I rolled over and punched my pillow. Though physically exhausted, sleep was beyond my reach. I couldn’t stop thinking about Dan and Lexi, and my feelings for them both.

  In the two weeks since I relinquished my title as therapist and became an official girlfriend, the three of us have spent nearly every waking moment together and I’ve loved each and every one of them.

  I’d never really pined for marriage and family, but I’m not so sure that’s the case anymore. I could very easily see myself slipping into Dan and Lexi’s lives as wife and mother.

  I fell in love with Lexi shortly after I met her, and despite all my resolve not to, I opened my heart to Dan once again. Although I still haven’t said those three little words out loud, there’s no doubt in my mind that he knows.

  I rubbed my cheek on the pillow attempting to get comfortable. Never, in my wildest dreams, did I think I’d be in this situation again. Not with Dan or anyone. I’ve been too gun-shy since college to let myself get this emotionally involved with a man.

  Though, truth be told, Dan is the only man who ever elicited any kind of real emotion from me. I’ve never bought into the whole soul mate thing, but if there is one for me, it is most definitely Dan. That last thought was running through my head when the object of my musings let himself into my room and closed the door behind him. Dressed only in a pair of blue plaid boxers, he made his way to the bed and sat on the edge.

  “I didn’t wake you, did I?” he asked.

  I shook my head. “I couldn’t sleep.”

  “No?” His sly grin told me he knew exactly why I couldn’t sleep and that he was quite pleased with the fact.

  Again, I shook my head.

  “Maybe I could help you out,” he said.

  “And how would you do that?”

  “Well,” he said, dragging out the word. “I could tell you a bedtime story. That always works for Lexi.”

  “As nice as that sounds, I don’t think it’ll work in this case.”

  “Hmmm.” He rubbed his chin. “I could run down to the kitchen and warm some milk. That was one of my mom’s favorite remedies for insomnia.”

  “I don’t like warm milk.”

  “You are a difficult case,” he said, an adorable smile punctuating his words. “Let me think.” His eyes roamed over my body, causing goosebumps to break out on every inch of my skin. “I suppose I could give you a nice, slow massage to relax you.” He leaned closer and whispered in my ear, his warm breath tickling my neck. “And if that doesn’t do the trick, I could make love to you until you pass out.”

  My answering groan elicited a chuckle from Dan. “We finally found one you like.” He leaned down and nipped my earlobe. “Let’s get rid of some of these clothes and get started.”

  The words were barely out of his mouth before he had my top off. It was his turn to groan. “You are so beautiful, Sabrina.” He kissed the side of my neck down to my shoulder, then shifted me onto my stomach and brushed his lips against each vertebrae of my back. After paying special attention to the dimples just above my ass, he shifted and removed my shorts and underwear in one clean sweep.

  Once he had me naked, I expected Dan to crawl back on top of me, and was surprised when I felt his warm hands grasp my left foot and apply a soothing pressure to its arch. I looked over my shoulder and our eyes met. I couldn’t help but wonder if my gaze looked as hungry as his.

  “Wha
t were you thinking about when I came in?” he asked. While his voice was a mere whisper, it commanded an answer. Even if it didn’t, I knew I’d tell him anyway. I have to be truthful if this relationship is going to stand a chance. After all, I want honesty from him, can I offer anything less?

  “I was thinking about you and Lexi and me.”

  His hands stilled for a moment. I’d obviously shocked him, but whether it was because I’d actually answered his question or because of my answer, I couldn’t say.

  “What about us?” he asked, his hands in motion once again, moving his ministrations to my right foot.

  “I was trying to sort out my feelings.”

  “About you and me and Lexi?”

  I nodded and enjoyed the feel of his hands, which had moved up and now kneaded my calf muscles.

  “Is there so much sorting to do that you’re kept awake at night?”

  Dan slid his hands up my calves to the top of my thighs in a long, sweeping motion. His thumbs lightly skimming my folds before moving back down toward my ankles.

  “Mmm, that feels so good.”

  Up and down, he continued, caressing and stimulating, moving closer to where I wanted him—where I needed him—with every pass. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that he could feel the wetness that had settled between my thighs.

  “Bri?”

  “Hmm?”

  His low chuckle brought a fresh rush of arousal. Moving on to my lower back, he asked the question again.

  “No…Yes…Not really,” I answered.

  He snorted. “Well that answers that.”

  “It’s not my feelings I question. It’s everything else.”

  “Such as?” Dan’s thumbs rotated on either side of my spine, relaxing every muscle in my back, along with my inhibitions.

  “I worry about getting hurt again. About hurting you, and hurting Lexi in the process.”

  “Why do you think anyone’s going to get hurt?”

  “It’s not that I expect it to happen, but it is a possibility.”

  “Anything is possible, Bri. Maybe no one will get hurt. Maybe we’ll all live happily ever after.” At this point, his hands were doing more of a stroke than a massage, but I wasn’t about to complain. “But you have to be open to all the possibilities before any of them can happen.”