by Alison Mello
He had heard those words at least three times, and he knew as he examined her pinched face and arched brows that she was anything but.
“Well, to be honest, I’m not fine. I feel angry. Angry at myself. I’m a city girl, and I know how to look after myself. I never take risks with my safety. I never talk on my cell phone when walking alone. I always let my friends know if I’m going on a date, which I haven’t been for quite some time. It’s fine. I don’t need a man in my life. Anyway, you know what I mean. I moved here to get away from the noise and the thugs. Do you know Bridgton’s motto is small town–big love? And that back in the thirties, a group of people from the town banded together and cleared six trails on the north side of Pleasant Mountain? The trails spelled the word LOVE. Isn’t that amazing? I thought I would be safe here. But if you hadn’t arrived when you did…” She smoothed a shaky hand over her mouth as her voice broke apart.
The shock surfaced, and he let her ramble, knowing she needed to let it out, then he would hold her. He wanted to help her. She sniveled and lowered her head.
“I’ve closed up at Betty’s loads of times alone without any trouble, but Matt was going to hurt me. I tried to fight. I hit one of them with my bag and stomped on his foot, but…”
Rafe brushed her long hair away from her face and cupped her cheek. “It wasn’t your fault. You did the right thing, Summer. You were brave. Those depraved animals are the ones in the wrong, not you. You should be able to walk at night and be safe, but the reality is, sick people lurk everywhere. You must always be prepared. Have you thought about taking self-defense classes?”
Summer shook her head, and he longed to comfort her, but he held back. A tear strolled down her bruised cheek, and he cursed. “I could teach you some simple maneuvers, if you like? Every woman should take them to feel more in control. That cheek is nasty. You need to put some ice on it. It’s red…”
Before he could finish the sentence, Summer stepped up on tiptoes and kissed him, preventing him from saying another word. She nudged his lips, kissing them softly, and pressed her soft breasts into his firm chest.
While she continued to caress him, he steeled himself to remain detached, even commanding his breathing and heart rate to slow down as he stood cornered in her kitchen. If he gave in, one kiss would never be enough, and it would escalate to more.
Shit, this isn’t the plan.
Needing to bring a halt to Summer’s behavior, he bracketed her arms and whispered against her cheek.
“Summer, we shouldn’t do this.”
Staring down at her pale heart-shaped face tilted up at him, he convinced himself this wasn’t an ordinary mission. To help Summer, he needed to show warmth and compassion too. That was the reason he gave himself for what he did next. The cottage creaked as the wind ramped up speed outside and a branch tapped on the back window, as if in warning. Rafe held her face with both his hands. Holding such delicate beauty, he savored her rising passion as her chest rose and fell in quick succession.
In anticipation, he brushed his thumb slowly over her lower pink lip. Brown whiskey eyes flashed at him with innocence, but also a wild hunger, and he couldn’t deny her. Without another thought, he lowered his lips against her soft waiting mouth and groaned at the touch. Summer wove her arms around his neck, raking her hands through his hair and dragging him closer, as if she couldn’t get enough.
You drive me crazy. You always have.
Rafe reacted before his brain kicked in. He dropped his hand to the small curve of her waist and smoothed his way under her shirt to glide across silky skin. As her breathing increased, so did his desire, and he pressed her back against the granite counter to deepen the kiss. Thrusting his tongue through her parted mouth, he teased and slid over hers to plunder inside, relishing her taste of fresh mint as he leaned in, holding on tight.
A feral and primal need grew, along with the desire to have her warm skin brush against his. But his rational side willed him to slow down before he couldn’t stop. Summer slid her hands over his broad shoulder muscles, and as he explored her curves, she dug her nails in his body, marking him.
If she carries on, any minute now, I’m going to rip her clothes off and take her to bed. Especially if she keeps making those little whimpering noises.
Unable to stop, he cupped and massaged her rounded breast, loving the feel of it against his palm, free from the restraints of a bra. The way she responded to his exploration stoked the fire building inside his loins, but as quickly as the fire started, it died, and she shoved at his chest, pushing him away. She blew out a long breath and stared up at the ceiling, wiping her mouth with a shaky hand.
“You need to leave. I’m sorry, I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I shouldn’t have done that,” she said in a hushed, shaky voice.
The regret stunned him. He rubbed his forehead as he studied Summer, willing his breathing to slow, but she twisted away, closing herself off to him. She stood with her back to him, blocking him out. An urgent need to regain his territory with Summer rose, but at this point, he didn’t know how. He hadn’t meant for any of this to happen. As a Navy SEAL, he prided himself being in control and making quick, calculated decisions, but with Summer, all his training disappeared.
Damn it.
He backed away and clasped his hands over the back of his head to stop himself from reaching out to her.
“Look, I think you like to put things in neat little boxes. That way, you deal with one issue at a time. But life isn’t like that. It’s messy. I’ll go, but don’t be too hard on yourself. You needed comfort…”
“Oh God, please just go.” She grabbed the counter, refusing to turn around. “Please.”
Staring at her tensed shoulders, he decided the best action would be to retreat and respect her wishes. They were a foot apart, but it might as well be miles. Pressing his lips together, he strode away. Reaching the couch, he grabbed his jacket and shoved his arms through the sleeves, keeping his eyes trained on her. He blamed himself for losing control, and at the whole damn situation. She always stirred his blood. When Summer didn’t move, he tugged his boots on and headed to the front door. Rafe paused as he held the handle.
“Use the lock on the door, Summer. It’s a damn sight better than nothing. You may not be in the city now, but you know, there are shitheads everywhere. I’ll see you in the morning.”
With that, he left.
***
Summer
Summer couldn’t move. The rich taste of brandy still lingered upon her lips from Rafe, and tingles flared in her belly at the mere thought of him. He stirred such a riot of delicious sensations inside her that left her thirsting for more.
One minute, I’m attacked by creeps and the next I’m kissing Rafe. What the heck?
She pressed a hand to her neck.
It’s the shock. That’s why I kissed him.
Sending him away was for the best despite his touch feeling so good and so right. He was a stranger and he was married.
Her cheeks heated with embarrassment, and a torrent of tears burst out. In between sobs, she admitted that although she started the kiss, Rafe had deepened it.
Damn it.
When did she become so easy to seduce? The entire evening had been an unmitigated disaster. She had misjudged the guy in the diner, and she hugged herself at the thought of what could have happened if Rafe had not intervened. She stared at the brandy and downed the amber liquid in one gulp. Summer coughed and spluttered, but a warmth spread through her veins, strengthening her. She reached for her cell and dialed the number.
“Jim, yes, I’m all right. I’m sorry. I know it’s late, but I need to report an assault.”
The local chief of police launched into his professional role as he talked to her over the phone, and his calm reassuring voice settled her as she pressed a hand to her temple. After talking for a while and sobbing, she assured him, yet again, that she didn’t need medical attention.
“Yes, I will call over and make a fu
ll statement in the morning. Thank you.”
Eventually, she ended the call and set about fixing the kitchen ready for bed. She replaced the brandy in the cupboard and rinsed out the glasses.
Perhaps Rafe is right, and I should look at taking some self-defense classes.
Tomorrow she would check in the library to see if there were any notices, but she needed to steer clear of the man at all costs.
There’s no way I’m waiting for him. I’ll call Nicki for a ride. He’s just another complication I don’t need.
Walking upstairs, she surveyed the interior she had painted and renovated with some of the insurance money from the haulage company after the accident. She had been living full-time in Bridgton since July and worked at Betty’s until she figured what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. After selling her interior design business to her partner, she had bought this property with the crazy idea of renovating it. The bedrooms still needed to be finished, as well as the rotting deck at the back.
Summer switched off the lights and strolled into her large bedroom as the old floorboards creaked. Her bedroom retained the original, old-fashioned, pale blue wallpaper with tiny white flowers, but she had splurged on the extravagant brass and crystal king-sized bed, which dominated the head of the room. As she lay on her cold but comfortable bed alone and stared up at the high ceiling, her thoughts wandered. There was a strange familiar pull to Rafe. She tossed and rolled on her side to study the trees highlighted by the moon as they swayed outside. The rugged man with his sharp eyes tugged deep inside. Each time she saw him, her heart leapt into action, all rational thought vanishing and putting her on edge.
She raised her head and punched the pillow with her fist.
Damn him.
He made her crave hot, earth-shattering sex, something she hadn’t had in ages. Summer flopped back and closed her eyes, but all she could see was the sparkling ice blue eyes that belonged to Rafe and feel the softness of his lips as he kissed her.
CHAPTER 5
Summer
After a restless night, Summer woke early to grab a lift with her friend Nicki, who worked at Betty’s too, rather than face Rafe. Even now, the shared kiss and her reaction lingered. Customers flocked into the diner, and she couldn’t help but glance up at the clock. It was eight-thirty. A nervous tension twisted in her gut, and she wandered to the next customers, a young starry-eyed couple. She wrote down their order, smiled in the right places, and answered their questions, but she was always conscious as to who entered the diner.
Maybe he won’t show up today.
Summer nodded at the couple and moved away to hand their orders to the kitchen staff. Making the two chocolate milkshakes, she returned to their table and handed them over. She smiled and moved on, consumed with the constant flow of customers.
“Hi, Charlie. What can I get you?”
“How about a date, Summer? That would be a great start.”
She held her pad with her left hand and smiled at the easy to look at man with tidy, swept-back, sandy hair and pleasant brown eyes. Charlie Wilson was a successful realtor, and from the minute Summer had arrived in Bridgton, he’d flirted endlessly.
“How much rejection do you think one man can take? Come out with me, Summer. One date—to The Bar. You know, the new place in town, this Friday. I hear they make great margaritas.”
She laughed as the bell tinkled and happened to glance over as Rafe strolled inside. Summer snapped her mouth shut and tore her gaze away as her stomach somersaulted. Without any good reason, she heard herself utter a response to Charlie.
“Yes, yes, I’ll go out with you.”
The man squeezed her hand, and she stared at him, smiling, determined not to seek Rafe out again, even though she felt his eyes upon her. After getting a ride this morning, she exchanged her designated tables with Nicki to avoid having to face him. Silly, perhaps, but she needed some distance from the intense man. The way she responded to him scared her.
“I’ll pick you up at seven. That way, we can grab some food too. I’ve wanted to try this place since it opened. It’s owned by a lawyer from Boston whose family has been vacationing up here for years…Summer?”
Even though she studied Charlie, her mind was elsewhere. She couldn’t escape the sensation of Rafe and the memories of the kisses they shared. Taking a deep breath, she pushed her thoughts of the warrior away.
“I’m sorry. I’m a little distracted, but it sounds good. I’ll meet you there, if you don’t mind?”
“Not at all. If that’s what you want, Summer.”
She nodded at him, needing to maintain some space between herself and the man before her. Charlie was a gentle and patient man, but her last serious relationship not only broke her heart but destroyed her confidence. She’d lost a boyfriend and her best friend overnight. Summer didn’t want to risk getting hurt again, but she needed something; that much was clear after her tangle with Rafe. Perhaps Charlie would be the answer.
Baby steps.
She told herself that’s what this date would be. Okay, there were no sparks or wicked thoughts with Charlie, but he was safe and single. That’s what she needed right now. Someone safe.
“The first of many, I hope. To build my stamina and keep me going until Friday, I’ll have the big breakfast.”
Summer laughed at his order, which differed from his usual eggs and toast. “One big breakfast coming up.”
She slipped away and placed the order on the revolving turntable at the front counter. A squeeze on her arm made her slide a glance sideways, and her pulse rocketed. Standing as tall as she could muster, she spun around. Precious inches separated them, but it was enough that the rest of the diner blurred into the distance. Rafe stood cool and casual as she studied his toned biceps, which peeked out from his fitted T-shirt. His eyes searched hers, and for a moment, he didn’t speak. He loomed over her with his black cap in hand. If she knew him better, she would think he was nervous, or annoyed, or both.
“I stopped by the cottage to give you a lift and to apologize for last night. I’m sorry. I was an ass, especially after you had been attacked.”
He was apologizing, and she was speechless. Being this close to him made her skin prickle with the heat emanating from his body, and she nodded, fiddling with her ponytail.
“Thank you, but I wasn’t myself last night. What happened is best forgotten. Anyway, this morning, I wasn’t sure you would turn up. So I called my friend to give me a lift.” Needing a distraction, she stared over at Charlie.
“The guy over there?” He followed her gaze, and she shook her head.
“No, a work colleague,” she said, not wanting him to get the wrong message.
He reached his hand out and touched her arm, sending shock waves through her body.
“I see, well, I was worried, and I just wanted to check to make sure you were okay. Did you call the cops?”
Summer nodded at him. She couldn’t think straight around him. It was crazy. She coughed to break the spell his touch elicited, and he removed his hand.
“I spoke with Jim Meadows last night. He’s the chief of police. He said he wants to talk to you and get a statement. I’m sorry to get you involved in this, and I’m sorry about last night. Thanks for helping me, but I need to get back to work or my boss will fire me.”
Embarrassed beyond words, she backed away, wanting to make a fast exit and get as far away from him as possible.
But he caught her elbow and leaned in close. “Jesus, Summer, you don’t need to run from me. I’m not going to hurt you, and of course I’ll speak with Meadows. I want him to keep an eye out for those shits in case they come back. How about I call over later and put a new lock on that door of yours?”
Until now, Summer had put the assault to the back of her mind, trying to forget the incident, but when he mentioned Matt and the possibility he may return, she shuddered. But the last thing she wanted was Rafe coming over to her place. Summer caught hold of her brain.
“
No, you don’t need to do that. You’ve done enough already, and I don’t want to take up any more of your time. I know a thing or two when it comes to DIY. You should see me with a power tool in my hand.”
The impossible giant eyeballed her and smiled, but she wouldn’t accept his help. She didn’t need it, and he was more trouble than she could handle, now or ever.
He shook his head and smiled. “Now, that’s something I would pay to see. Make it a priority, Summer.”
“I will.”
“Good, well, I know I’m late, but can I have my usual?”
She locked onto the dark curls of ink that crept up his neck like ivy and longed to know the story behind them. Uncomfortable and lost in the puzzle that was Rafe, she swallowed an invisible lump. “Yes, I’ll give your order to Nicki. She’s serving those tables today, and it’s my treat for saving me.”
She didn’t want to feel she owed him anything, and this way, she was able to repay his heroic action. Keeping her voice light, she avoided meeting his direct gaze, afraid he would sense how his presence affected her. Rafe slanted his head to the side and dipped his neat eyebrows at her for a minute, but when she made to move away, he grabbed her elbow. She stopped and waited as he shoved his other hand into his back pocket and removed a business card. Letting go of her, he took the pen from her fingers and scribbled on the slip of paper.
“Here’s my number. If you need me at any time, use this.” He thrust the card at her, and the mysterious man strolled away before she could reply. Summer examined the card he had given her and flicked it over. In bold red and gold letters, STEPS stood out. In brackets was an explanation for the acronym.
{Survival training experience that promotes living in harmony with the environment and teaches lifelong skills.}
Underneath, printed in black ink was
“Teaching a way of life, not just a backup plan.”
A small picture of an aerial ropes course stood in the corner.