by Wendy Vella
Brad located the power and switched it off.
“Oh.” She spun to face him.
“Hey.”
“You scared me.”
“What the hell are you doing vacuuming at this hour?”
She dropped her eyes and began putting the cord away.
“It needed it.”
“And I repeat, why the hell are you vacuuming at this hour?”
“It's my house, I can vacuum if I want.”
He wasn't sure why he thought it, but there was something in her tone that told him this was more than just a random act of housekeeping.
“Why not do it during daylight hours?”
She towed the vacuum to the hall with Brad on her heels, and put it away in a cupboard.
“I did. It needed it again.”
“You already vacuumed today?”
She spun on him, eyes flashing, hands on her hips.
“I like to vacuum, so sue me!”
“No you don't, no one does. So why are you doing it?” It was just a shot in the dark, his pushing her for an answer, but he knew he'd hit something when the color in her face drained away, leaving her looking scared.
“I-I don't know why I still do it?”
“Still?”
She shut the cupboard and leaned on it, but her legs folded and she ended up on the floor.
“Brian, he used to make me vacuum two, sometimes three times a day, and I can't seem to break the habit. It's weird.” She looked confused. “I've changed so much, and worked so hard to be the person I want to be, but some things I just can't break away from.”
Brad could honestly say that his hatred for Macy's ex was running a dead heat with what he felt for his father. Dropping to his haunches, he cupped her cheek.
“H-he used to come home and put on his white gloves and run them over surfaces to check for dirt and dust.”
“Jesus.” Brad's felt her pain deep inside.
“I know he can't hurt me anymore, and I know I'm not crazy, so why do I still do this?” She looked up at him, seeking an answer.
“He called you again in the last day or two?”
She shook her head.
She looked so small and vulnerable that Brad was sure his heart just sighed. Not a response he would like when he thought about it later.
“I still have hang-ups from my father, and hate myself for them.”
“That makes me feel better.” She managed a small smile. “Which it shouldn't, because I don't like to think of you hurting, but it does.”
“I forgive you.” He smiled, although inside he wasn’t feeling it. What he was feeling was the need to punch someone, namely his father and her ex.
“I'm sorry, I planned to light some candles and then get out the wine, but I've killed the mood, haven't I?”
“You kidding me? Vacuuming women are a real fantasy of mine.”
This time her smile was wider.
“Did you ride up on your bike?”
He knew why she'd asked the question, because he'd given the noise his bike would make some thought too.
“I'm not a teenager, Macy, and even then I wasn't into hiding or sneaking about. So if we do this, then we deal with what people will say, and knowing this town, someone will have seen me walk my bike up your drive, and by morning it'll be gossip in the Roar. So be sure this is what you want.”
“I've never done anything like this before, but I want to.”
Brad ran a thumb over her cheek. She was warm to the touch.
“Sure you have, you're a wild woman. Riding a motorcycle, getting shot at, standing up in public meetings, and slapping Nadine Buchanan. This,” he waved a hand at her, “is just a soft and very, very sweet façade that hides that Amazon beneath.”
She leaned closer to him.
“I should point out that all those things have only happened since you appeared in Howling, and I may have taken a step backward tonight with the vacuuming business.”
He reached for her, slipping his hands under her and lifting her.
“I hope you're not attempting to blame me for your wild ways, Miss Macy, and like I said, seeing you here, looking all sexy with a vacuum in your hands, was a turn-on.” Brad buried his face in her neck. “You smell good too, honey.”
“And you turn me to Jell-O,” she whispered.
“Good to know.”
Brad headed for the stairs. “I'm guessing this is the way to your room.”
“D-don't you want some wine?”
“No, I want to taste you.”
Macy was fairly sure she was melting. The look in Brad's eye should have been X-rated. After the disastrous start, where he'd found her vacuuming, things had pretty much gone up from there.
She'd never been carried anywhere before, not by a man who desired her, that was.
“Do you think Billy is far enough away that he won’t hear you scream?”
“I can't believe you said that,” Macy whispered as her temperature spiked and she felt heat pool between her thighs.
“I'm Texan, honey, we don't hold back.”
She left a lamp on in her room, the soft golden color offering seductive light. He lowered her down his body, all those wonderful hard planes of muscle, and Macy suddenly wanted to put her mouth on him, lick the hard, warm skin, and make him moan the way she knew she was going to by the end of the night.
“You okay to do this in here?”
“Yes, this is not the room I slept in with him.”
She watched him look around. Neat and tidy, the room was like the others in the house: emotionless.
“Why do you have one colored wall in your house, and everywhere else is as sterile as a doctor's waiting room? Same goes for outside?”
“I couldn't answer that when my friends asked me, and I'm no closer now. It's like I need to continually punish myself by living like this, but I'm not sure why.”
He placed his lips on her shoulder, then bit softly into the skin, and Macy moaned low in her throat.
“We'll discuss this later. Right now I've got other things on my mind.”
She slid her hands beneath the hem of his T-shirt and then upward. His body was hard, the skin warm beneath her fingers. Brian never let her touch him, unless— No, she wasn't going there. Tonight was for just Brad and Macy.
“You are a sexy woman, Macy Reynolds.”
His fingers were tracing the top of her bodice, dipping beneath. She felt them on the rise of her breasts.
“Ar-are we going to have an affair, Brad?”
“Yes, honey, we are.”
His words were harsh, and she reveled in the fact that he wanted her as much as she wanted him.
“When I saw you in this dress, all I could think about was stripping it off you.”
“Oh yes,” Macy sighed as one large hand cupped her thigh.
She pushed his shirt off his body, and then placed her lips on his chest. Kissing him, she ran her tongue around one nipple and then the other. Macy was working on instinct because she'd never done anything like this with Brian.
“Sweet Jesus, honey, that's good.”
She continued down his body, using her hands and mouth on him, and loved each indrawn breath. One of his hands sifted through her hair, the other touching wherever he could reach.
At his waistband, she undid the button and pushed down the zipper. He helped her remove the last of his clothes.
“You're a beautiful man, Brad Gelderman.”
His eyes were intent, fire burning in the blue depths, and it was all for her. She felt deliciously wanton in that moment. Macy Reynolds could incite a man like this; it was a heady thought.
“Touch me more, Macy.”
She started on his thighs, feeling the strength, and then one hand trailed inward, her fingers wrapping around his arousal. The breath hissed in his throat as she stroked the full flesh. Moving her fist up and down, she bent and licked the top.
His breath was coming out in short bursts as she continued, taking more
of him in her mouth. He didn't tell her she was doing it wrong, or pull her hair, he simply stood and let her do what she wanted to him. Macy explored him, teasing him, touching him with the tips of her fingers, and then digging them into his ass.
“I'm seriously dying here,” he rasped, reaching for her. “And you're wearing too many clothes.” He pulled her dress over her head. “I have to see the back view of those.”
She'd put on a pair of blue silk panties. They barely covered her and the back rode high on each cheek.
He turned her, and then she felt his hands run down her thighs as he dropped to his knees.
“You have some seriously sexy curves, honey.”
His licked the edges of the silk, and Macy felt her body ignite. He kissed every inch of exposed skin, then moved to the front and placed his lips above the waistband.
Macy’s breath was ragged as he eased the satin down her thighs and then opened her. The first lick made her cry out, and then she was lost. Panting, moaning, sounds she didn't even know she could make, and soon she was spinning out of control.
His chuckle was dirty as he got to his feet. Picking her up, he dropped her on the bed then straddled her.
“I need to give these some attention.”
And he sent her straight back there as he sucked a nipple into his mouth. On and on he went, and Macy scaled the summit again. When he left her briefly to pull on a condom, Macy wasn't sure she had anything left, but as he eased her hips to the edge of the bed and slid inside her, she realized she was wrong.
“Give me one more, honey.”
“Yesssss.” Macy hissed out a breath as the wonderful feeling started to grow inside her again. But this one was different, bigger and stronger, and when it came she screamed out his name. He grunted and followed two thrusts later.
He fell beside her on the bed, one hand on her stomach, and Macy only had the strength to place hers on top, and then her eyes closed.
She woke to silence, which in itself was odd, as Billy usually woke her demanding breakfast.
Opening her eyes, Macy looked beside her but didn't see Brad. He must have pulled up the covers, because she didn't remember doing it. Her limbs were sore and stiff when she moved them. Smiling at the memory of why, she got out of bed and headed to the shower.
Billy must be sleeping late, or playing with Razzle in his room. The water felt blissful. Dressing in a pair of old shorts and a fitted tank, she ran a brush through her wet hair and headed downstairs.
It was Saturday morning, and Jany was opening the shop, so she could spend the day at home with Billy. Her feet stopped on the bottom step as she heard voices. Brad was still here.
Making herself walk into the kitchen, she found Billy eating his cereal and Brad leaning on the counter drinking coffee. He saw her and smiled, and it made her toes curl. Open and honest, it lit his eyes. His hair was mussed, shirt wrinkled, feet bare, and she wanted to walk over and lean into that lovely body of his. Let him rest his head on the top of hers and settle into him for a long cuddle. It was a scene that she was sure would be carried out in several houses in Howling this morning, but it shouldn't be happening here.
“Mom, Brad arrived early to check on Razzle, and made me breakfast!”
“Oh.” She shot him a quick look, but couldn't read anything in his expression. “That was nice of him.”
“Yup, and then we took Razzle out and he did a pee and poop on the grass.”
The puppy wandered over and dropped his butt on the floor before Macy, and looked up at her. To give herself time, she bent to pat him.
“You want coffee?”
“I—ah sure.”
“How do you take it?”
“Cream and sugar, thanks.”
Billy hopped off his chair and ran past her.
“I'm going up to get Razzle's bed. He may need it for a nap, ’cause Mac said he'd do that a lot while he's little.”
Macy didn't know what to do with her hands, so she stuck them in her back pockets.
“I'm sorry. I planned to get out before he woke, but I overslept. He doesn't know I stayed the night, Macy. He thinks I arrived early.”
“Sure, thanks.” Macy made herself walk to the coffeepot. “The thing is, Brad, this is what I didn't want to have happen, and because I put myself in this situation it has.”
“I told you I wasn't into hiding, Macy.”
“I know… it's just that he's so young, Brad, and he won't understand what's happening if he hears about you being here last night. So, this….” She looked at him briefly.
“Hot, bone-melting sex?”
She gave a jerky nod. God yes! “I can’t let it happen again. I thought I could, but I can’t.”
“Sure, if that's how you want it.” She took a step back as he pushed off the counter. His eyes were now cool, the blue depths empty, his emotions shut off from her, and that lovely morning smile gone.
“I-I'm just not like other women. I have a son, and I hope you understand I can't let him see me behaving like a….”
“Woman with needs?”
The words came out coated in ice.
“This is a small town, and people will soon know if this carries on. I should have realized that, or maybe I did, but—”
“You put yourself first for a change?”
“I’m not first, Billy is, and I don’t want him hurt.”
“I told you last night someone may have seen me pull up, Macy.”
“I know, and I thought I could handle it, but I can't.”
“Your phone is ringing.”
She hadn't heard it. Hurrying out into the hall, she answered it.
“Hello.”
Macy's heart started racing as her mother shrieked into the phone. The panic in her voice was very real, for once.
“I'll be right there.”
“Problems?”
He was behind her, so she made herself turn and face him.
“Dad took a bad turn last night. Both Doctors McBride are with him now.”
“I'm sorry.”
“I-I need to get there.”
“I'll watch Billy, you just go.”
“I can't—”
He grabbed the hand she dragged through her hair and pulled her into his body, simply holding her. Macy closed her eyes as she allowed herself a few brief seconds to rest on his chest. She had no rights to this man, but right now she would take his strength.
“I'm sorry about this morning, Brad, but it has to be that way.”
“I got that, now you go and get your things, and I'll drive you over.”
“I can drive.”
“Sure, and I've seen you, but you're shaking, so not today.”
She was shaking. She'd had calls before, but Macy knew this one was different. This one could mean her father had only a short time left, and that scared her.
Macy made herself pull out of his arms.
“Thank you for understanding about us…. I mean—”
“There is no more us.”
“Yes. I'll ring a few people, see who can take Billy now, if Dad… oh God.” She pressed a hand to her mouth.
“Macy, I got him. He's fine with me, and I'll look after him until you get home.”
“I was mean to you.”
He sighed. “No, you were honest, and sometimes that makes us mean.”
She nodded. This man could have been important to her before life had played its hand on them both.
“Go now, and get what you need, and then we'll leave.”
“Okay.”
They pulled out of the drive a few minutes later, and she was glad he was behind the wheel because her insides felt funny. She’d known her father was deteriorating fast, and the panic in her mother's voice told her this time it was bad.
“Call us if you need us, Macy.”
Brad pulled up outside her parents’ house and her stomach dropped as she saw Jake's pickup.
“Okay, and you be good for Brad, sweetie.”
“I will, a
nd kiss Grandad for me, Mom. Brad said we might make a garden.”
“Will do, and you know I love you.”
“You too.”
“A garden?” Macy looked at Brad.
“Your place needs brightening up, but don't you worry about it now, honey.”
“I'm scared.” The words rushed out before she could stop them.
“Want me to come in with you?” His hand settled over the one she had clenched.
“No, but thanks.”
Inhaling, she opened her fingers briefly and squeezed his before she got out. She felt Brad's eyes on her as she walked to the house. She shot them a final look before walking inside.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Brad watched Macy until the door closed behind her. She was scared, and after seeing her father's condition, had every right to be.
“Where we going to?”
“Well, it's my bet Razzle's still enjoying his nap, and I could do with another coffee. Shall we go see Buster?”
“Yes!”
He looked in the mirror to where Macy's son sat. His responsibility until she told him otherwise. He wasn't sure why he'd offered, but he liked the boy, and they seemed to get on, and, hell, the woman carried around way too much weight on those slender shoulders of hers, so he thought to relieve her of some.
He hadn't enjoyed hearing her say last night was the last time he'd touch her, or kiss those sweet lips, but now that he'd calmed down he knew she was right. They'd been governed by lust, pure and simple, and that wasn't right, not when that little man in the backseat could be hurt by their actions.
“Don't tell me, let me guess. You want a milkshake and chocolate muffin?”
“Can I?”
“Don't see why not,” Brad said, hoping he was right.
She'd opened herself up to him last night. Given so much, and taken everything he gave her back. His body hummed at the memory of her cries as they made love. Brad couldn't remember a time when he'd had such a connection with a woman, but was sure he would again one day. He just had to find someone else when he was ready to settle down. If ever he was ready to settle down. It wasn’t likely, but the fact he was considering it was a major step as far as he was concerned. He could thank Macy for that.
