by Vivian Arend
Beth licked her lips, and his eyes darkened, his stare fixed on her mouth. She stuttered for a second, then swallowed and took a deep breath. Part of the truth burst out.
“I need this. I need to know…” She couldn’t maintain eye contact anymore and buried her face against his shoulder. Shoot. It had been a stupid idea to begin with, and there was no getting around it. Now she sounded desperate, which she was, but acknowledging it was brutally difficult.
He’d turned out to be exactly the kind of person she needed for a one-night stand, compassionate and caring. Something inside her cringed with disgust at herself. Using him as an experiment felt dirtier than when she’d first come up with the idea.
He stood and helped her to her feet.
“What are you doing?”
“I thought we could dance.” He wove through the masses, leading away from the crowded floor toward the bathrooms. There was a small landing kitty-corner to the ladies’ room door, and he guided her there before pulling her into his arms and wrapping her close. She hid her face again, fear and rising desire fighting in her body. They were only steps away from the crowd. A constant stream of women passed by. If he frightened her, she’d have help in an instant.
She relaxed a tiny bit and let her arms snake around his torso.
“Hmm, that’s better. You’re not going to bolt on me, are you?”
Beth shook her head. “Feels nice.”
He swayed with her, every inch in contact. Her cheek rested on his collar, and his fragrance filled her head. Why was it that the smell of this man turned her on so much?
His heartbeat—it vibrated against her chest. He adjusted them, somehow bringing her closer until they were lined up, his erection nudging her belly. “I need to hear what you want, Beth. If it’s a dance, I’m happy. If more, you need to say the word.”
Oh God, he shifted his hands on her back, caressing, teasing. She sucked in air as if it were courage. “I want something. I don’t know what to tell you.”
He lifted her face to his, their bodies still swaying, hips touching intimately. Slowly, with lots of time for her to retreat, he lowered his head and brushed their lips together. A single touch. Chaste. When he retreated, she followed him without intending to.
A bright light shone in his dark eyes as he examined her face. “That was something. Was it enough?”
She took it as a positive sign that she definitely wanted more. “No.”
“So tell me.”
It was the hardest thing, to say the word. “Please.”
He had a wicked smile. She’d noticed his good looks, but the smile turned his whole face into sin incarnate.
“You’re having trouble articulating, darling. How about I offer you multiple choices. You look like the type who enjoys options.”
He kissed her again. Light. Fleeting. Behind them, the bathroom door opened and closed but Beth barely noticed. There could have been an audience circling them, and she wouldn’t have cared.
“You want a kiss?” He brushed a thumb over her lips and brought it back to his mouth, licking the moisture from the pad. “Hmm, you taste good. You want me to kiss you for real? Like a man kisses his woman? Or are you happy with more of the kind of pecks you give a neighbour at a church picnic?”
She swore she spoke aloud. She was sure her lips moved, but the deafening buzz in her ears outweighed the sound of her own voice. Daniel gave her another sexier-than-sin grin and came back for a third pass. She closed her eyes and hoped like hell she’d said door number one.
He gripped her tighter and lifted her, heavy brace and all, and she gasped in surprise. Then he tore the rest of the air from her lungs as he consumed her. Crushing their lips together, he thrust his tongue into her mouth and took control. She waited for panic to descend, but all that hit was a heavy pulse between her legs and the urgent desire to drop to the floor and rip off his clothes. She opened to him, accepted his demands. Clung to his neck and writhed shamelessly against him. He held her, cupping her by the ass and pushing forward until the cold wall met her shoulders. He leaned into her, supporting her with his torso and hands, pulsing his hips with small movements so the ridge of his erection ground against the apex of her mound where blood beat with an insane tempo.
He tasted fantastic. Clean and fresh, the hint of hops on his tongue from the beer, but beyond that, nothing but heat and passion. Tingles spread across her belly from the constant pressure on her clit. When he lowered her to the floor, she whimpered, suddenly fearful he’d leave her at this point, frustrated and all alone again with nothing but her own hand to bring her over the edge.
He caged her against the wall, his lips brushing her ear. He snuck his hand between their bodies until he cupped her breast. “Time for two more options. You want me to touch you over your clothes or put my fingers on your bare flesh?”
He licked her earlobe and tugged her blouse, pulling it loose from the waist of her skirt.
This was insane. She’d gone insane. This was no longer an exercise to discover if she could again bear physical contact with a man. It was a torture method to see how much her body could take before she exploded from the mere thought of a caress.
“Skin.” It was the only possible choice.
Whisper light, seductively slow. Inch by inch his hand crept up her waist, strumming the curve of her ribs gently like piano keys, lifting the bottom edge of her bra and forcing it out of his way. He cupped her, his palm calloused and rough but so tender and careful she shivered. He distracted her with strokes of his tongue against hers as his fingers plucked her nipple to a hard peak.
“God, you’re driving me mad.” He rolled the sensitive tip between thumb and forefinger and a piercing flash shot straight between her legs.
“More.” Beth ached. It wasn’t enough to have confirmation she could be touched. She wanted to come, and she wanted Daniel to be the one who brought her over the peak. It had been too long, and something in this man made her think he’d understand if she told him what she truly needed. Why.
“Get a room!”
Laughter burst behind them. Daniel twisted, covering her with his body, protecting her from the giggling girls exiting the bathroom and traipsing back onto the dance floor.
A cold flush descended. What was she thinking? Groping in a hallway with a stranger. All the passion she’d felt, the sense of being truly alive, drained away like air from a balloon. She struggled upright and fumbled to put herself back in order—her bra, her blouse. He helped, his hands remaining careful and slow, redoing the buttons that had slipped open, tucking her hair behind her ear.
“Beth. Don’t. Don’t start thinking this was a mistake.”
She glanced up in astonishment. “How did you…?”
He brushed a hand over her cheek and she stilled again, her skin burning hot. “Your only mistake was thinking a short encounter in a back hall would be enough. I’m not that type.” He shook his head, his eyes fixed on hers. “I don’t think you’re that type either. Not really.”
She hesitated, then nodded with reluctance. He deserved that much honesty. It was all she was willing to give.
“Let me get to know you better. We’ve got the chemistry. I’d like to find out who you are when you’re not trying to be someone else.”
Every word drove another nail into her guilty conscious. “Sure. Let’s go back to the table. Darleen must be wondering where I am.”
He kissed her once more and she took it eagerly. Trying to store up the memory of his taste, the way he tugged his fingers through her hair just right. None of the fear she’d expected was there. When he drew back, she had to fight to keep tears from falling. He had no idea, but he’d helped remind her she was free. Samuel had tied her in knots, and Daniel had cut some of the remaining cords that held her bound.
They headed to the table, but their previous space was filled with strangers. Beth spotted Darleen waiting beside the bar door, wearing a frown so deep it was almost comical.
“Shoot. Looks l
ike there was trouble in paradise.”
Daniel pointed to the far side of the room where Jesse and Joel tossed back beers at the long bar counter. “Double shoot. Jackasses. I’ll whoop their butts if they—”
She shook her head. “Knowing Dar, it’s just as easily her fault. It’s only a night out on the town.”
He turned her in his arms. “It’s more than a night on the town for me. I like you, Beth. There’s something about you…”
His gaze traced her hair and she flushed. She hadn’t intended the evening to finish this way.
Daniel pulled out his wallet and handed her a card. “It’s for the family business, but my contact numbers are on there. You can email me, or phone.” He handed her an extra card. “Write your number on the back for me.”
He pulled her close, and she used his chest as a solid base to scribble her name. Beth Jackson. Jotted down a number. He took the card and tucked it away, his dark gaze burning a hole in her conscience. “I’ll call you a cab.”
She held up a hand, refusing his offer. “We have a car. We’re fine.”
Dar flounced out the door and Beth rolled her eyes. With the rest of her dilemmas, she had no energy to deal with her temperamental little sister. She took one last look at her cowboy, wishing things could be different.
“Thanks, Daniel. It was great meeting you.”
He brushed her cheek with a kiss. “I’ll call you in the morning. I’d love to take you for coffee.”
She smiled and stepped away, the relentless noise and the situation making her head and heart hurt. “That would be great,” she lied.
The cool night air brushed her face, refreshing after the heat of the bar, and she sucked in a calming breath. Dar brought the car around, and Beth manoeuvred herself into the passenger seat, the leg brace frustrating and cumbersome.
“Where the hell were you?” Darleen griped. “I’ve been wanting to leave forever.”
Beth dropped her head against the rest and groaned. She was sexually frustrated, her leg ached, and she really didn’t want to listen to whining right now. “I thought you were busy. With two guys.”
Darleen had the grace to look embarrassed. “Yeah, well, they were nice enough. Then one of the Stampeders asked me to dance. I mean, one of the linebackers from the professional football team? I had to say yes, and when I got back, the guys had left.”
Stupid child.
“You went and danced with someone else and expected them to wait for you?” Darleen didn’t say anything. Beth rolled down her window and let the sounds of the city streets soothe her soul. “Can’t have it all, girl.”
Darleen flicked a hand in her direction. “Whatever. It was still fun, I guess. How about you? Their older brother was hot. Did you hit it off with him?”
A lingering pulse beat between her legs. Did they hit it off? Oh sweet Jesus. “Yes.”
“You going to see him again?”
Beth stared at the card he’d given her. She’d been clutching it like a lifeline. The dark expression in Daniel’s eyes scared her yet gave her hope, and for one moment she hesitated.
No. It was time for a total break. She tore the card into tiny little pieces so she wasn’t tempted to try and recover the numbers. “Nope. I’m leaving town with the boys in two weeks. Making a new start, and I don’t need any baggage in the shape of male stalkers, thanks very much. Been there, burnt the T-shirt.”
“Guys aren’t all like Samuel, you know. There are good ones out there.”
Was Daniel one of the good ones? Beth dropped the scraps into the trash bag and adjusted her leg. “Enough. I want to go home. Mom’s bringing the boys back in the morning, so it’s not as if we can sleep in.”
She stared out the window and wished more than anything Daniel were the one taking her home and tucking her into bed.
Chapter Two
Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, August
“What do you mean I can’t get keys to the apartment? I’ve got one week to settle in before school starts. I need the key.”
The owner of her rental complex leaned back on his beat-up truck and shrugged in slow motion. Beth wanted to scream. She wanted to kick something. Most of all she wanted to start unloading the boxes she’d brought with her from Calgary before she completely ran out of steam. Her boys had crawled into the front seat of the moving van, three sets of eyes gazing down as they waited in silence.
“Sorry, ma’am, but see, that’s what I’m trying to tell you. There was a fire a couple of nights ago. Far end of the complex, but the fire marshal shut down the whole place until the wiring can be inspected.”
She tapped her good foot. If he would talk a little faster, the conversation might be done by the end of the weekend. “Are there any other apartments for rent in town?”
A slow shift of the shoulders. “There were. Until yesterday. All the other occupants of the apartment house had to find alternative arrangements too. I think just about everything available got snapped up.”
The throbbing in her temples couldn’t be good. She rubbed her fingers against her forehead. Now what? Head back to Calgary and beg her parents to let her stay with them again? Drive three hours twice every day to get to school once her teaching position began?
“I’ll have to check into a hotel or motel.” She couldn’t afford it, but… “Do you know which one would be the cheapest for a long-term stay?”
The old codger raised a brow. “Well, you could try the motel, but if you give me a minute, I bet we can do you one better. Since it’s partly my fault you’re in this mess.” He gestured at the U-Haul. “You need a place to dump all that anyway. Won’t fit at a motel, I’m guessing.”
He hauled out a cell phone, and she turned her back to stop the hysterical giggles that wanted to rise up and overtake her. The incongruity of his worn overalls and the shiny new phone was too much to handle when she stood on the verge of a breakdown.
“Mommy. Are we lost?”
She smiled at Nathan, his blond head poking out from the window of the truck. “No, we’re in the right spot, only there’s a mix-up. We’ll get it figured out.”
Lance popped up beside him. “Are we still going to live here? It smells.”
Oh Lord. “Yes, we’re moving here. You’re going to school here. I’m teaching here. Nothing has changed since the last time you asked, twenty minutes ago. And it doesn’t smell any worse than your bedroom before we cleaned it up to get ready to move.”
Nathan laughed at him and Lance stuck out his tongue. Robbie forced his way between his brothers, all three of them hanging precariously from the window. “I have to go pee.”
Beth sighed. She glanced at her erstwhile landlord who was still talking on the phone. He laughed at something then motioned at her, flashing a thumbs-up while he continued to yatter. A 7-Eleven across the street caught her eye, and she motioned for the boys to back up.
“Bathroom break for everyone. I’ll buy you a Slurpee, then I expect you to stay quiet until I get this little issue solved. We’ll hit a park as soon as we can, okay?”
They clambered down, and she pulled them in tight for a hug. Life had been hellishly tough at times lately, but these dirty, smiling faces made it all worthwhile. She waved a hand at Mr. Jordon then pointed across the street. He never broke stride in his discussion, which now seemed to be about feeding tomato plants with fish fertilizer to get the best yield. She really hoped somewhere in the conversation he had managed to find them a temporary home.
They recrossed the street ten minutes later, three contented boys clinging to sweet frosty drinks. Didn’t take much to make her crew happy.
Mr. Jordon grinned, pride filling his face. “I talked to my friend, Mike. He said there were no troubles with you taking possession of Grampa Peter’s homestead for a bit. His oldest sons have been living in it, but there’s plenty of room at home for them temporarily like. You’re even welcome to rent the place with the furniture if you need it. Six months sound good? I’ll promise you space back he
re at the end of that time since we weren’t ready when we promised.”
“A house?” Hope brightened her weary load. What she wouldn’t give for a house to live in, instead of an apartment. It would be so much better for the boys, but she knew exactly what her expenses were going to be, and the cost for a house was probably out of reach. “How much does he want for rent?”
Mr. Jordon snorted. “He didn’t want a damn thing, but since I figured you’d have issues with that, he said to tell you he’d take what you were going to pay me. No first and last. Just get him the money when you can. Any furniture you want to use, you use. Anything you don’t want, there’s an outbuilding to store things in.” He eyed her leg brace. “Who’s helping you unload the truck?”
“We are.” Lance spoke up. He’d been hanging back politely but marched forward to stand wide-legged in front of her, his fists resting on his hips. Her heart ached at the sight. Only eight, and he was already trying to take care of her. “We’re Mommy’s helpers.”
Mr. Jordon nodded sagely. “And mighty fine ones too, I bet. But you see, I know a few other young men, strapping strong fellows like yourself. Perhaps I can get them to help as well. You know, so you can show them how it’s done.”
Lance’s face lit up and Beth breathed out slowly. It looked as if her insane idea to take her family to a place with a quieter pace of life might work after all.
She smiled at the older man. “I’d like to see the house before I make any commitments, but I really do appreciate your help.”
He laughed, peeling himself off his truck and yanking the door open. “Didn’t do nothing. Tell you what, you follow me. We’ll take a spin out to the Peter’s place. The Colemans are all working right now, so we won’t be disturbing anyone. If you’re happy with the place, we’ll come back and get you put up for the night at the hotel. That’ll give the boys time to clear out their things, and tomorrow I’ll get my grandsons to help your fine moving team get you settled.”
Beth nodded at another of the adults she recognized from the Meet the Teacher night she’d attended a week earlier. Settling into the community had gone far better than she’d expected, with early September the usual whirl of commotion. Lance and Nathan loved their teachers in the small elementary school, and Robbie’s kindergarten class seemed to spend more time outdoors than inside, which was exactly what the active little boy needed.
