Erika swallowed hard, her chest so tight she could barely breathe. Her own moment of truth. “I saw him a few years ago. He came in with...an injury.” She’d spare her friend the details. “He’d been drinking on the job. Once he recognized me, he asked to be treated by another doctor.”
Cassie looked pained.
“Sorry I didn’t reach out to you then, to tell you. I wanted to. I almost did, but I didn’t know how and we weren’t...as close as we used to be. I wasn’t sure if you already knew or if you’d even want to know.”
Cassie nodded slowly. “I understand. I’m not upset—I get it.” She paused. “And you haven’t mentioned this to Reed?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
Erika released a deep sigh. “Because I didn’t want to hurt him.”
Cassie nodded. “And you’ve only cared about him for five minutes.” She paused. “I will tell him... I just need a little more time.”
* * *
REED WIPED THE steam from the bathroom mirror and examined the extent of his injuries. Bruising along his left side and several deep-looking cuts along his chest and shoulder from their dash down the mountainside...they could probably use a stitch or two, but he’d been more concerned about the others. He’d been so busy, he hadn’t even noticed any pain until the hot water had hit the open wounds.
Arriving home, he’d fallen onto his unmade bed, savoring the scent of Erika’s vanilla body lotion on his sheets as he’d passed out. Three hours’ sleep was barely enough, but he was eager to see her. He still couldn’t believe what she’d done to save that man’s life. He’d tried to think of what he would have done had she not been there, and nothing he came up with resulted in a man who would have survived.
Leaving her that morning hadn’t been by choice.
Tank had still looked nauseous when he’d left him at the hospital. This rescue had been the only time Reed had seen the guy nearly break down with relief when the group had finally come into view—safe.
Tank’s relief could have rivaled his own.
Man, he hoped his sister and his friend would smarten up and take a chance at being together. They both deserved happiness and the feelings they had for one another were obvious to everyone, including themselves.
His own feelings for Erika had shocked the hell out of him, but there was no denying they were strong. Would she be willing to try a long-distance thing when she went back to Anchorage?
Hearing his doorbell, he grabbed a towel, and a moment later opened the door to Erika. Such a sight for sore eyes. Why had he slept so long?
“Hi,” she said, looking uneasy.
“Hi... I was just getting ready to come over to Cassie’s. Everything okay?” he asked, stepping back and allowing her to enter.
Her gaze fell to his injuries and her eyes seemed to water.
“Hey, don’t worry...these are nothing,” he said, moving to wrap his arms around her. The cold of her jacket against his still damp skin made him shiver but he didn’t care. He couldn’t be this close to her without having her in his arms. “And now that you’re here, maybe you can take care of me,” he teased, lifting her chin to force her gaze to meet his.
She looked distraught and his chest tightened, remembering the awkward way she’d left his apartment the morning before. The kiss after the rescue had him thinking they were okay, but maybe not. “Hey, did I do something wrong?” Whatever it was, he’d make it right.
She shook her head. “No, definitely not.”
But she had bad news, he could tell. “What’s the matter?”
“I’m leaving,” she said, sucking in a deep breath.
“Next week...right?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
Too soon. “Why?” He stiffened slightly. Had things gone too far between them? Was she second-guessing how he felt about her? How she felt about him?
“My dad called. He needs me back at the hospital.”
“The same dad that forced you to take vacation?” He’d never been close to Erika’s parents, but he knew her father was demanding and critical and rarely gave his daughter credit. He’d always dictated her life, according to Cassie, and the fact that he had so much control over her still annoyed Reed.
She nodded. “He heard about the rescue. He wasn’t happy that I’d taken such a huge risk.”
“There was no other choice—Tom would have died. We all know that.”
“He also heard about the job opening at Wild River Community once Dr. Smyth retires and I guess he’s freaking out a little.”
Reed’s hope lifted slightly. “Were you considering that position?” Maybe mountain life had started to appeal to her, made her realize she could have a fulfilling career in a more laid-back lifestyle. She had grown up here, after all, maybe being back here reminded her how great it was.
But she shook her head. “No. My career...my life is in Anchorage.”
That stung a little, but he had no right to hope that after their short time together, she’d consider such a drastic life change. “Of course.”
She moved closer, resting her head against his sore body, but he didn’t care—he held her tight. She was leaving the next morning. He thought he had another week of this. More time holding her, kissing her, making love to her... Convincing her to give them—together—a shot when she returned to Anchorage.
He kissed the top of her head. “How do you feel about going back so soon?”
“I don’t want to leave you,” she said.
He hugged her tighter. “Cassie’s at home? Is she okay?”
She nodded, but he felt her tense at the mention of his sister. “Tank’s with her.”
He’d text the guy and make sure he stayed there for a while. He needed this time with Erika. A last few hours together before she left. There was so much he wanted to say...yet he had no idea how. It was too soon to claim he was in love with her, but there were no other words to describe the overwhelming sensations running through his body and heart when he was with her, when he saw her, when he thought of her.
She was it for him. He knew that. As crazy as it sounded, he’d fallen fast and hard for his sister’s best friend. Now, he had to figure out how to show her. Find out if she was feeling even a fraction of what he was. Where they went from here, how they made this work, he wasn’t sure, but if she wanted him, he was willing to try. More than eager to explore this connection between them.
He backed away slightly and kissed her forehead, her nose, her cheeks and finally her lips.
Taking her hands, he wrapped them around his neck, and placing his hands under her thighs, he lifted her, wrapping her legs around his waist as he carried her to his bedroom.
She continued to kiss him as he made his way blindly into the room and set her down on his unmade bed. Breaking their connection, he unzipped her jacket, removed it and tossed it aside.
Seemingly lost in a silent turmoil, she quietly removed her sweater and bra, then her jeans and underwear and, naked, she lay back against his pillow, waiting for him.
God, her leaving was going to suck the life out of him.
Dropping his towel, he lay on the bed next to her. Not touching, not kissing, just lying there staring at one another. Two people who’d connected on so many levels in such a short time...or perhaps the connection had started that night in the forest when he’d held her while she’d slept. A night when they’d been a source of unexpected comfort for one another.
He could see so many of his own conflicted thoughts in her eyes and he reached for her, pulling her closer. “You’re sure you can’t stay longer?” He kissed the top of her head as his hand slid the length of her side, caressing each delicate, soft curve, trying to commit each inch of her to memory.
“Unfortunately not,” she said, and he could hear her desire to stay in her voice.
“Well, let’
s not waste any more of the time we do have,” he said, gently guiding her onto her back and lying on top of her. He supported his weight on his arms as he separated her legs and placed himself between them.
He felt himself grow thick as his body touched hers.
“We should talk...about things,” she said, biting her lip.
“We should definitely talk about things, but first I need to make love to you.” He could show her how he was feeling so much better than he could tell her anyway. Lowering his head to hers, he slid his tongue along her bottom lip, tasting her, teasing her...
She gripped his head between her hands, letting her fingers tangle in his hair as she pulled him closer, connecting their mouths. She kissed him hungrily, with a desperate urgency of a lover knowing their time was coming to an end.
He slipped his tongue between her lips and explored every part of her mouth. His hips began to rock slowly, pushing his thighs into hers, his cock against her pelvis. He wanted her so bad. But not just right now...
Damn, she was right. They did need to talk. His own anxiety was rising with his desire. He had to know this wouldn’t be the last time he was with her. Had to know she wanted more.
He reluctantly broke away and forced a breath to refocus his thoughts—not an easy task with her sexy, willing body beneath him.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“I think we should talk first.”
“Okay.”
Rolling off her, he grabbed the bedsheets and pulled them over their bodies as he lay on his side next to her. Keeping her fantastic curves hidden might help him get through what he wanted to say without the urge to be inside her interrupting again.
He stared at her for a long, silent moment, hoping she’d speak first.
She didn’t.
“Okay, so the thing is...this...whatever’s happening between us, I don’t want it to end when you go back home.”
She looked happy...relieved. “Good.”
“Good?”
She laughed. “Yes. Very good.”
“Good, because I’m starting to fall...I mean, I’m having feelings for you that I haven’t had in a long time...maybe even ever.”
She nodded. “Good.”
He laughed. She was right, communication was something she had to work on. But if all she could muster right now was “good,” he’d take it.
“So I want to try to make this work. For real, you and me,” he said, touching her cheek softly.
“G—”
He kissed her, unable to hear another “good.” For now, knowing they were going to try a real relationship was enough. Pulling her on top of him, he let the blankets fall away and his breath caught as he stared at her beautiful, firm breasts. Her legs on either side of him, her folds pressed against his thick, hard cock. Her hands trailed down his chest and stomach and the look of need in her eyes had him feeling completely weak. He was powerless to the feelings he had for her, coming on so strong, so unexpected...
Reaching for a condom, he tore it open and slid it on before lowering her body down over the length of him. “Fuck, you feel so good. So warm, so tight...”
She swallowed hard as she lifted her hips up and down in a slow, torturously dangerous rhythm that had him practically panting for more. Watching her breasts rise and fall with her movements, her head tossed back in pleasure of her own and her dark hair cascading over her shoulder...he was mesmerized.
He lifted his hips to go deeper, needing to be closer to her, wanting this feeling of absolute pleasure to last.
She pushed down further and let out a small gasp as his cock plunged deep into her body. “Damn, you’re so big and hard. I’ve never been with anyone who makes me feel so good,” she said, rocking a little faster, a little more desperate against him.
“We’re good together.” And it surprised him that two people who were so incompatible on the surface could be so perfect together at the core. He felt he knew her, knew who she really was beneath the cool, professional exterior. She was letting him in, letting him see parts of her she hid from the rest of the world—a softer, caring, irresistible nature that he was drawn to. “I don’t want to let you go,” he said, reaching up to brush her long hair away from her face.
The look in her eyes told him she felt the same way and his heart pounded loudly in his chest.
Placing her hands against his shoulders, she rocked her hips faster, sliding up and down over him, until her breathing matched his and they were both searching for release. He gripped her ass, his fingers digging into the flesh, helping her motion, increasing her pace...until finally his body erupted in waves of pleasure, shooting throughout his core.
“Damn, Erika,” he said, his eyes rolling back as he enjoyed the aftershocks of his orgasm.
He felt her clench tight around him, then her own vibrations rippled over his cock. Her body throbbing around him was almost too much but he pushed a final time, giving her the same rush of intensity he was feeling.
Spent, she fell against him and he held her close, pulling her into his arms as she rested her head against his chest.
They both lay there, lost in their own emotions, battling the one thought that he suspected was plaguing them both.
Could they really make this work?
CHAPTER TWENTY
WITH A HEAVY HEART, Erika climbed the stairs to Cassie’s condo the next morning. She opened the unlocked door and immediately found herself wrapped in a big, warm hug.
“Oh my God. Look at you!” Arlene Reynolds stood back to take her in. “So beautiful,” she said.
Erika blushed. Would Cassie’s mother be as friendly if she knew how Erika had spent the evening before? Wrapped in her son’s arms, making love to him over and over...both desperate to fuse their connection, make it as strong as possible so that it could survive what came next.
Had Cassie told her mother about them? She’d yet to talk to her friend since their uncomfortable chat the day before. All she’d wanted was to go to Reed—the one place she felt safe, the only place she could be herself.
Cassie hadn’t asked any questions when she’d left the day before. She knew where Erika was going, but Erika needed to apologize to her friend before she left Wild River. She wanted her connection with Cass to be strong going forward so time or distance or arguments couldn’t come between them.
But now that conversation might have to wait. “Hi, Mrs. Reynolds. Nice to see you.”
“It’s been far too long. I was so happy when Cass told me you were coming to visit her. You two used to be inseparable.” Erika closed the door and stepped over two heavy-looking suitcases still in the entryway. Reed had told her that his mother was coming to stay with Cass while her foot healed. Arlene had read about the details of the search and rescue in the Willow Lake backwoods newsletter. “It’s such a shame you have to go back early. I would have loved to catch up with you,” she said, looking genuinely disappointed.
Erika nodded, swallowing a lump forming in the back of her throat as she removed her coat. Arlene had been like a mother to her after hers died. The other woman had taken her shopping for her prom dress and taught her how to apply makeup. Seeing her now brought another wave of nostalgia that made leaving so much harder.
She had two hours before she had to catch her train and she felt guilty for having spent her last night there with Reed. She wasn’t sure if Cassie would even want to talk to her.
“Cass, Erika’s back!” Arlene called up to the bedroom.
Erika held her breath as Cassie made her way down the stairs, holding the rail with one hand and her crutch in the other. She bit her lip, but relief flowed through her when Cassie sent her an apprehensive smile as she hobbled her way toward them. “Do you see the size of those suitcases?” she asked, nodding toward her mother’s things.
“Yes, your mom packs as light as I do,” she said w
ith a laugh, hugging her friend tight at the bottom of the stairs. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“Me, too,” Cass whispered back as she pulled away, giving her a reassuring smile. “And you were right—I will tell him.”
Erika nodded slowly, no longer sure about the right thing to do. Would the news about his father’s whereabouts make Reed feel better or worse? For now, she focused on the positive, the things she could control. She and Cassie were okay. Their friendship had somehow survived ten years of almost no contact—one argument couldn’t break the friendship ties they’d formed in childhood. Emotions rose in her chest and not for the first time, she regretted having to leave so soon.
What would happen if she told her father no? If she took the rest of her vacation and went home a week from now?
She’d be replaced on his research team.
“Seriously, Mom, how long are you planning to stay?” Cassie asked, struggling to lift Diva off one of the leopard-patterned suitcases.
“Until you’re feeling better and the foot is completely healed,” Arlene said.
Her friend’s eyes widened.
Probably the same way they must have when Erika had announced the unexpected length of her visit. She grinned, remembering that awkward first night in the bar. Reed had certainly warmed up to her quite a bit since then.
Man, she’d been such an asshole. Thank God, her friends had seen through her bullshit.
Her chest ached at the thought of what distance and time might do to them all, but she pushed the negative thoughts away.
Negative or realistic?
“That’s not necessary—you don’t have to stay that long. I’m fine. I can totally get around here all by myself. You just watched me come down the stairs,” Cassie was insisting.
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