Harmony Cabins

by Regina Hart

  That wasn’t an answer. “Some people wouldn’t let that stop them.” Kerry hadn’t.

  “I’m not one of those people.” Audra curled up on the sofa. “Wendell’s pregnant fiancée isn’t the only reason I ended our relationship. I realized he was only dating me for my industry connections. He never cared about me.”

  Jack sat beside her. “If he doesn’t care about you, why is he still calling you?”

  She pulled on her right earlobe. “He probably wants my help with some other scheme.”

  “Would you take him back?” Jack wanted a straight answer.

  “No. I don’t want anything to do with him ever again.”

  His muscles relaxed. “Good.”

  “Why is that good?”

  “Because the idea of you reuniting with him makes me want to throw up.” What had made him say those words out loud? Maybe getting in touch with his feelings hadn’t been a good idea. For the first time in his life, he felt as though he’d said too much.

  Audra’s eyes widened. She searched his face. “We’re not supposed to get attached, remember? This is only a summer romance.” Her voice was soft, uncertain.

  But Jack had come too far to back off now. He drew a finger down her arm. “Whatever the season, as long as we’re together, I want to be the only man on your mind.”

  Jack leaned in and took her lips with his. His heart kicked when her body softened against him. He drew her onto his lap and deepened the kiss, pushing his tongue past her lips. He tasted her sigh as she let him in. Jack explored her mouth, stroking her tongue with his.

  He’d told her the truth when he said he wanted to be the only man on her mind. He hadn’t realized he’d felt that way until the words had fallen from his tongue. But ever since she’d sashayed into his life, wearing only a black plastic trash bag, Audra Lane had been the only woman on his mind.

  With his hands, Jack feathered the soft curve of Audra’s cheek, traced the graceful lines of her back. He loved the silken texture of her bare arms. If they were to have only these few short weeks, he wanted to know her everywhere. He needed to imprint her touch, taste, and scent on his mind to get through the long, lonely nights without her.

  Audra’s slender arms wrapped around his shoulders. Jack broke their kiss and pressed his face into the curve of her neck. He breathed deeply, filling his lungs with her scent, soft and sweet. It brought images to mind of the time they’d spent together: fishing, hiking, dancing, loving. His body throbbed. His muscles tightened. Just for now. Just for the summer. He’d have to make these memories last.

  He stroked his tongue over the long, delicate arch of her neck. Jack felt a flare of possession as Audra trembled in his embrace.

  “I love the way you feel.”

  “I love what you do to me. You cast a spell on me.” Audra’s words were breathless.

  Jack sought her lips again. This time, he took the kiss deeper, moving beyond her feel and flavors, and seeking her essence. Audra moved under him. Her shallow breaths and racing pulse resounded through him. Her fingers drilled into his muscles through his shirt.

  With his own breathing ragged, Jack freed her mouth and sat up. “Too many clothes.”

  “Yes.” Audra stripped off his T-shirt and reached for his shorts.

  “You too.” Jack’s hands shook as he helped Audra remove his clothing and hers as well. “You take my breath away.”

  Audra wrapped her arms around his neck. “You make my head spin.”

  Jack kissed his way to her shoulders, then lower to her breasts. He drew her left nipple into his mouth as he teased her right one, rubbing it between his fingers.

  Audra’s body undulated beneath him. Her movements were driving him to the edge. Her breath came thin and fast, like music to Jack’s ears. He smoothed his hand lower, past her waist, lingering near her hip. He used his knee to nudge her legs apart, then stroked a finger intimately between her folds.

  “Jack.” Audra gasped as her hips lifted from the sofa. She pinned him with her gaze. “I need to touch you.”

  Jack’s muscles almost spasmed. Her small hand pressed against his chest and he let her push him onto his back. Audra straddled him. She took his hand, trailed her tongue across his palm, then placed it on her breast. The heat in her eyes nearly melted his bones.

  Jack sighed, palming her breast and caressing her soft skin. “Kiss me again.”

  Audra’s warm body settled over him like a sensual blanket. She covered his mouth with hers.

  Jack parted his lips and let her in. His mind spun as the taste of her had a different type of tension throbbing through him. He wrapped his arms around her waist, then slid one hand down to stroke and knead her derriere.

  Audra released his lips to rain kisses across his chest, licking and nipping his pecs. She strummed the muscles at his abdomen, taking an inordinate amount of time at his hips. There wasn’t an inch of Jack’s body that didn’t feel her touch. His erection grew increasingly painful as her fingers moved closer, then farther away from his manhood.

  Jack exhaled on a groan. “Audra, you’re killing me.”

  Her breath came closer, brushing over the part of him that strained to join with her. “I wouldn’t want to do that.”

  Audra covered him with her mouth. Jack’s toes curled. His hips tensed. He moaned long and deep. He felt greedy that he wanted more, yet anxious to love her the same way.

  She worked his breadth and licked his length, sucked his tip over and over and over again. His hips moved to the rhythm she set with her mouth and her hand. His heart pounded in his chest. Sweat broke out on his upper lip. “Audra.”

  She leaned away from him, licking her lips. “Now we need that condom.”

  Audra stretched her lithe body toward the floor to claim the condom from his shorts pocket. As she rolled the rubber over his rock-solid erection, Jack reached forward to tease between her thighs. Moaning, Audra closed her eyes. Her hips pumped in response. Pleasure softened her pixie features.

  Jack wanted nothing more than to join with her and give them both the release their bodies cried for. But not yet.

  “It’s my turn to love you.” Switching places with her, Jack raised up on his knees and hooked her legs over his shoulders.

  Audra’s eyes widened. “What are you doing?”

  Jack cupped her hips. “Loving you.”

  Audra’s breath rushed from her lungs. She shut her eyes again as Jack palmed her hips, opening her to his tantalizing tongue. He focused on her most sensitive flesh, kissing her, licking her, tugging her with his lips. Blood swooshed in her ears. Her muscles trembled in his palms. Her body moved like a puppet in Jack’s capable hands. She wanted to race to the finish. She wanted these sensations to go on and on. Her body was flooding with desire. She moaned and panted her pleasure.

  Oh, God, this feels so good! What he was doing to her—loving her, learning her—no one had ever made her feel this treasured, this desirable ever before.

  Her skin moistened with perspiration. Her hips rocked in time with his long licks and deep kisses. Her muscles pulled tighter and tighter, deeper and deeper. Then her body went stiff. Audra screamed as she climaxed under Jack’s thorough attention.

  Her muscles were still shaking as Jack lowered her legs. He surged into her with one deep thrust. The sensation was achingly sweet, painfully intense. Audra pressed her head back against the sofa cushion and opened her mouth to scream again. Jack covered her lips with his. She raked his back with her short nails, feeling her body tossed under echoing waves of erotic pleasure.

  Jack worked her body with a hard and fast rhythm. Audra met his demands and made her own. She’d never felt this free, this confident, this adventurous with anyone else. They rocked together as the pressure built inside her again. Audra gripped Jack’s hips, urging him even deeper. Her body strained to meet his. His groan echoed in her ear. Her back arched and lights exploded behind her eyes.

  Jack ripped his mouth from hers. Then he climaxed, holding her tigh
t as their bodies shook. They shared their release, flying over the edge together and landing, wrapped in each other’s arms, as one.

  Quincy lowered his voice. He leaned closer to Darius as they sat beside each other at the Books & Bakery food counter Wednesday morning. “Are people signing your father’s petition because they think that he’ll make a good mayor, or because they want a real election?”

  Darius almost lost his appetite for his half-eaten breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon. “At least you waited until Doreen went into the kitchen before you asked.”

  Quincy frowned. “I know better than to ask when she’s around.”

  “Those doctoral studies are finally paying off, huh?”

  Quincy ignored the insult. “So what do you think?”

  “I think you should change the subject.”

  “All right.” Quincy cut into his blueberry pancakes. “Did you do anything special this weekend?”

  “No.” Darius dug into his breakfast, willing his appetite to return.

  “You’re not going to tell me about her, are you?” Quincy’s look was chastising.

  “Who?”

  “Stop playing dumb. You’ve been visiting a woman in the next town every weekend for the past five years. All this time, I’ve respected your privacy. But now I’m leaving town. Are you going to tell me about her or not?”

  Darius swallowed his final bite of toast. “No.”

  Quincy’s sigh was heavy with exasperation. “Man, I’m leaving Trinity Falls in three weeks. At least tell me the name of your mystery woman in Sequoia.”

  “You make it sound as though we’re never going to see each other again.” Darius eyed his childhood friend. “You’re moving to Philadelphia. You’re not going off planet.”

  “Come on, Darius. Who is she? Your secret will be safe with me.”

  “That’s good to know. How’s the search going for your replacement?”

  “Fine.” Quincy sighed again. “I can take a hint.”

  “That’s a first.” Darius mumbled into his mug of coffee.

  Quincy ignored him again. “The search committee offered the position to the professor from New York. She accepted.”

  Darius lowered his coffee mug. Curiosity stirred in him. “Why would she leave NYU for Trinity Falls University?”

  Quincy forked up the rest of his pancakes. “You can ask when you interview her for the Monitor.”

  “What do you know about her?” Darius bit into his bacon.

  “She has an impressive CV.” Quincy referred to the professor’s curriculum vitae. “She graduated from Penn a couple of years after I did. But she got her Ph.D. from NYU.”

  “Curiouser and curiouser. TFU is a good school, but it’s a stepping-stone. It’s not a destination—unless you have ties to the area.”

  Quincy finished his coffee. “I don’t think she has family here.”

  “What’s her name?”

  “Peyton Harris.”

  The name didn’t ring any bells for Darius, either. But he did love a good mystery, and this sounded like one. “I’m looking forward to meeting her.”

  “She’ll be here next Tuesday.”

  “That soon?” Darius pushed away his empty plate.

  “She needs to find a place to stay.” Quincy propped his forearms on the counter. “Classes start in the middle of August. That’s less than a month away.”

  “You’re still here.” Darius drained his coffee.

  Quincy’s grin was smug. “Ah, but that’s because Ramona loves the thrill of apartment hunting. She enjoys the exploration and stress. We’re looking at a couple of places this weekend. Care to join us?”

  Darius recognized the not-so-subtle trap. He stood, smiling tauntingly. “No, thanks. I’ve got other plans.”

  Quincy’s smile morphed into a frown. “How did you meet her?”

  “You just won’t give up, will you? That’s admirable.” Darius started to walk past his friend to the register.

  Quincy stopped him with a hand on his forearm. “All kidding aside, man, I’m worried about you.” He released his grip. “After I leave, who’s going to keep your perpetual moodiness at bay?”

  Darius had wondered the same thing. He and Quincy had been friends their entire lives. They were more like brothers. Quincy’s family had been his refuge when his dysfunctional parents had threatened to overwhelm him. As much as he teased the other man, he’d miss the hell out of him, once he was gone.

  “You aren’t my only friend, you know.” Darius tried a cocky tone. “Ean’s back and Jack’s still here.”

  “Ean’s with Megan, and Jack’s still grieving. Why don’t you think about moving to Philadelphia? There are some good newspapers there.”

  Darius was shaking his head before Quincy finished his pitch. “I’m happy with the Monitor.”

  “What’s keeping you here?”

  “Trinity Falls is home. You, Ean, and Ramona may want more, but I’m fine here. Ean came back after trying the big city.” Darius pulled out his wallet. “Who knows? In a couple of years, you and Ramona may move back, too.”

  Quincy stood. “Why are you being so secretive about this woman? Is she good for you?”

  Darius cocked an eyebrow. “This from the man who waited fourteen years to tell his friends he was in love with the mayor?”

  “That was different. Ramona was with Ean.” Quincy frowned. “Is your girlfriend married?”

  Darius snorted. “Give me some credit.”

  Quincy lowered his voice again. “I don’t know, man. If you can’t even introduce her to your friends, you may not want to keep seeing her. This may not be a healthy relationship for you.”

  Darius laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind, Mom.”

  “Yuck it up, Darius, but I’m serious. I won’t be here much longer to watch your back.”

  Darius patted the other man’s shoulder. “I hear you, Q.”

  He appreciated Quincy’s concern. But there were some things you couldn’t tell even your best friend.

  Doreen’s smile froze. Leonard had just entered the café area with the Heritage High School English teacher Wednesday afternoon. Why was his hand riding the small of the skinny woman’s back? Why was he standing so close to her? Doreen’s heart contracted as she watched him settle her at a table in the center of the dining area.

  Ramona interrupted her description of the Philadelphia apartments she’d arranged to view with Quincy. She followed Doreen’s gaze. “What is Leo doing with Yvette Bates?”

  “That’s what I’d like to know.” Doreen’s heart was ready to jump from her chest. She tracked Leonard’s progress to her. “Why are you here with Yvette?”

  Leonard’s brown gaze was cool. “We’re here for lunch.”

  Doreen wasn’t in the mood for games. “Lunch with a friend, or is she something more?”

  Leonard shot a quick glance at Ramona before turning back to Doreen. “Can we speak in private?”

  What game is he playing?

  Doreen looked at Ramona, who sat as though enthralled by their show. She struggled to keep her voice low. “If you wanted to keep our business private, you shouldn’t have come here with another woman. You broke up with me five days ago. Are you already dating?”

  Ramona gasped. “You two broke up? Why?”

  “Do you mind?” A spark of temper showed in Leonard’s eyes when he met Doreen’s gaze. Good. “You don’t know what you want, Dorie. You’re your own worst enemy. You want all or nothing, but all or nothing of what? Do you even know?”

  Doreen unclenched her teeth. “I know exactly what I want.”

  “So do I. I want a wife.”

  Ramona gasped again. “Leo proposed to you?”

  Doreen ignored Ramona’s interruption. “Your definition of a wife is someone who sits at home, waiting for you with dinner on the table.”

  Leonard’s expression twisted as his temper built. “I want someone I can share my life with.”

  “But you aren’t willi
ng to share hers.”

  Ramona’s hum interrupted their exchange. “She’s got you there, Leo.”

  Doreen shook her head. “Ramona, please.”

  Leonard turned his temper to Ramona. “Mind your business.”

  Ramona sipped her coffee, but never took her attention from Doreen and Leonard. Doreen looked around and realized Ramona wasn’t the only customer using her and Leonard as entertainment. Even Yvette watched them with a dismayed expression.

  “Come on.” Doreen led the way into the kitchen.

  “I told you,” Leonard muttered.

  Doreen took a position beside the ovens and glared across the room at Leonard. “I had no idea you were such a selfish person.”

  Leonard pressed an index finger to his chest. “I’m selfish? You’re the one who’s walking away from our relationship because you don’t have time for me.”

  “I’m not going to give up who I want to be. If that’s not the woman you want to live with, then go ahead and have lunch with Yvette.” She nodded toward the dining area, just beyond the kitchen door.

  Leonard tossed his arms. “So that’s it? You’re walking away from me? From us?”

  Doreen battled the tears burning her eyes. “You broke up with me.”

  “I’m in love with you, Dorie.”

  Doreen crossed her arms. “You’ve got a strange way of showing it.”

  “How long am I supposed to wait for you?”

  She shook her head. “You’re in love with who you want me to be. But I’ve finally figured out who I want to be. I won’t let anyone else take that decision away from me. Not even you.”

  She held his gaze for what seemed like an eternity. She willed him to change his heart, to be supportive, excited, happy for her. Leonard finally broke eye contact and turned away. Doreen leaned against the kitchen counter, watching Leonard leave. She lowered her head and slapped away the tears that dared to trail across her cheeks.

  “Doreen?” Ramona stood in the kitchen doorway. “Leo’s gone.”