Out of Sight

by Michelle Celmer

  He couldn’t even make himself say the word.

  “I wasn’t raped, if that’s what you’re thinking. I’ve just done a lot of things for the wrong reasons. This feels right.” She smiled up at him. “Now where were we? Oh, I remember….”

  Her eyes locked on his. She shook his hand from her wrist, took hold of it and guided him back down to the opening of her shorts. He slipped his hand inside, this time going directly inside her panties, watching her face. As his fingers brushed her warm, slippery folds, she moaned and her eyes rolled up, her thighs easing farther apart.

  He was wound so tight already, so turned on, he knew he wasn’t bound to last very long, but he let her unfasten his shorts. He didn’t stop her when she lowered his zipper. His breath hitched and his muscles tensed as her fingers brushed his stomach. He kept up his tender stroking, not missing a beat when she slipped her hand under the elastic waist of his boxers and gripped him gently. He sucked in a breath and his free hand fisted in her hair.

  She rubbed her thumb back and forth across the tip, over the slippery moisture there. Will groaned and muttered a curse, feeling the familiar tightening in his groin already starting. At this rate, it would be over in about ten seconds.

  Then, by some miracle, she stopped.

  “Take your shirt off,” she demanded. And he could see where Adam got his bossiness from.

  “But, Adam—”

  “He won’t wake up.”

  “Abi—”

  “Please. I want to feel you against me.” She pulled her own shirt over her head and peeled her bra off without bothering to unhook it. It would seem she wasn’t self-conscious about her body after all. He wondered if anything he’d thought about her that first day was true anymore. And if not, well, that was okay, too.

  He raised up on one elbow and yanked his shirt up over his head, then dropped it on the floor behind him where it would be convenient to grab if Abi was wrong and Adam did wake up.

  They lay down facing each other, her breasts warm and soft against his chest, their legs intertwined, and didn’t waste any time picking up where they’d left off. They slowly caressed and stroked each other, eyes locked. This wasn’t just two people making each other feel good. This was absolute intimacy and closeness, total trust.

  But it wasn’t long before need and instinct took over, actions became bolder and breath quickened.

  “Kiss me, Will,” she whispered.

  Their lips barely brushed when she moaned and began to tremble all over. Feminine muscles contracted and gripped his fingers. He was so close, teetering right on the edge, ready to fall over. Then she reached down with her other hand, touched him just below the family jewels, and he lost it. He smothered a groan against her lips as every part of him clenched and locked, then let go in a rush of absolute pleasure.

  They rode it out together, wave after wave of erotic sensation, then just held each other.

  For some stupid reason Abi felt like crying. With Will’s arms wrapped around her, their bodies touching, she felt so safe, so…complete.

  She’d vowed a long, long time ago never to need a man to make her feel like a whole person, but this wasn’t something she could control. It was just there, in her heart. Touching each other this way, sharing something so personal, had done something to her, changed her somehow, and she knew somewhere deep in her soul she could never go back.

  “Abi?”

  Abi looked up to find Brittney hovering over her desk and wondered how long she’d been standing there. Big surprise, she’d been daydreaming about Will again, about what they had done Sunday night. For three days it was all she’d been able to think about. That and what they would do when they met at her cabin tonight. Since Sunday they’d barely had a minute together, much less any intimate time. Monday night Adam had a combination of too much sun, too much candy and too much fun and was up late with a tummy ache. Early Tuesday morning Abi had left for an over-night camping expedition on the other side of the lake with the ten-and-older kids and hadn’t gotten back until this afternoon.

  Tonight nothing was going to stop them from being together.

  “Hello? Earth to Abi.”

  Abi gave her head a shake. “I’m sorry, Brit. What did you want?”

  “I came in to ask if you’d talked to Tom like you promised.”

  “Talked to Tom?” she asked, drawing a total blank.

  “About him screwing around, not doing his work. Abi, we discussed this over a week ago!”

  Damn, she’d completely forgotten. “Yeah, of course.”

  “So did you?”

  “I’m sorry, Brit. I guess I’ve been a little preoccupied. I’ll talk to him today, okay?”

  “I can’t take this anymore, Abi. It’s like he doesn’t know anything about being a camp counselor. I have to tell him how to do everything. Even then, he either doesn’t do it or he does it wrong.”

  “Maybe he’s just used to doing things a little differently.”

  “That’s not it.”

  “He has excellent references.”

  “I don’t care what his references say,” she snapped. “If he doesn’t get his act together or you don’t fire him, I swear to God I’ll quit.”

  “Whoa, Brittney, hold on—”

  “You know he’s screwing around with the guests. He takes that girl to his cabin.”

  “That’s a strong accusation to make.” One she hated even to consider, since she was guilty of the same thing. Tom knew the rules. It was likely another employee she’d seen going into his cabin and not a guest.

  Or this could be Brit’s wounded pride talking.

  “I understand that you’re upset. Sometimes when we feel rejected, we get hurt and we lash out.”

  “Rejected?” She looked confused, then her cheeks went pink. “You think I like him?”

  “You don’t have to be embarrassed—”

  “Even if I did—which I don’t—at least he’s not a guest,” she challenged.

  Abi didn’t have to ask what she’d meant by that or deny that she deserved it.

  “And I don’t listen to gossip or draw any conclusions until I have all the facts,” Abi said.

  Brittney dropped her eyes to the floor. Abi could tell she’d made her feel bad, which of course filled her with guilt.

  “I will talk to him today,” she said gently. “I promise.”

  Brittney nodded, then walked out.

  It wasn’t like the girl to be so judgmental and she loved her job. She would never quit without a very good reason. Abi had to consider that Tom really was causing a problem. And maybe his being in town with Cindy Sunday hadn’t been an accident after all. Maybe Cindy had claimed to hitchhike there to protect him.

  Abi would have to get to the bottom of this.

  Her phone rang and she answered it.

  “Abi,” Susie said. “We have a problem in the therapy room. Some kind of fight between two of the kids. Eve wants you to come there right away.”

  “I’ll be there in two minutes.”

  She hung up the phone. As if she didn’t have enough on her plate already. Looked as if that talk with Tom would just have to wait.

  “They were leaving the afternoon therapy when it started,” Eve told Abi. “I caught them fighting next to the building.”

  Abi stood beside her in the therapy room, trying to figure out the best way to deal with this mess. Leanne sat on one side of the room in a chair beside her father. He had an arm protectively around her and was glaring across the room at his older daughter, Cindy.

  Tearstains streaked Leanne’s cheeks and one side was scratched and bleeding. One of her eyes was swollen and turning blue. On her part, Cindy had the beginnings of a fat lip forming on the left side of her mouth. Their clothes were filthy, as if they’d been rolling in the dirt, and their hair was in shambles.

  This was no sisterly spat. Someone had been out for blood.

  “Either of you want to tell me what happened?” Abi asked.

  �
�That’s what I’d like to know,” their father said, shooting Cindy an accusing look. “What did you do to your sister?”

  “Oh, so you automatically assume this is my fault?” Cindy spat. “How typical. You always side with her.”

  Leanne looked up at her father, tears brimming in her eyes. “I don’t know why she hates me so much.”

  “First hitchhiking, now beating up your sister?” her father said. “Why are you doing this?”

  Cindy shot her sister a dirty look. “Why don’t you ask her? She started it.”

  “I’m asking you.”

  “No matter what I say, it’s going to be my fault, so what difference does it make?”

  “I’m going to have to talk to Maureen about this,” Abi told their father. “Any physical altercation between guests is grounds for immediate expulsion from the program without a refund. Since the fight was between sisters and no one else was hurt, she might be willing to cut you some slack.”

  “Dan, why don’t you take Leanne to the nurse and have her scratches cleaned and her eye looked at?” Eve told their father. “I’ll have a talk with Cindy.”

  He nodded and stood, then said to Cindy, “Until we straighten this out, you are on house arrest, young lady, understand? You can go to meals and therapy, but that’s it.”

  Cindy shot him and her sister a look of pure hatred as they stood and walked out the door.

  “I’m going to go talk to Maureen,” Abi told Eve and added quietly, “See what you can get from Cindy.”

  “So,” Maureen asked after Abi had explained the Cindy/Leanne situation, “how do you think we should handle this?”

  Like Abi, she was more sad than angry. Sad that after more than two weeks of therapy Cindy was no less angry or confused than when she’d arrived.

  “I think we should let their father deal with them.”

  “According to the rules, which are very clear on the matter, they should be expelled from the program.”

  “There are extenuating circumstances.”

  “Are there? Or are you losing your objectivity?”

  She knew exactly what Maureen was alluding to. Abi had asked herself that same question a dozen times on her way to her office. If she cut them a break, would people think her own behavior was a motivator? Or if she stuck to the rules, would people see her as a hypocrite?

  All she could do was try to keep her personal feelings out of it and make a decision based on the facts.

  “Since no one else was hurt and they are sisters, I think they should be given another chance. Their behavior is a clear indicator that they could benefit from further therapy.”

  “And you’re prepared to deal with any backlash you may get from the other staff over your decision?”

  She understood where Maureen was coming from, but she couldn’t help feeling angry—at herself as much as at Maureen. For four years she’d been a faithful employee, had done everything by the book, with no regard for her personal life aside from her son. She shouldn’t be made to feel guilty for finally taking something for herself. Yet she couldn’t blame anyone for judging her. No matter how much she cared for Will, she was still breaking the rules.

  This was getting so complicated.

  “If you want me to stop seeing him, say it,” she told Maureen.

  “Would you?”

  The question stopped her.

  The truth is, she didn’t know. Was he worth losing her job over if she were given an ultimatum? How could she risk that when neither she nor Will was sure yet where this was going? She couldn’t be so irresponsible, not with her son to think about. But Will would be gone in ten days. Could she pass up the opportunity to get to know him, to be with a man who, for the first time in her life, she’d even come close to falling in love with? A man who might someday be a father to her son? Would that be fair?

  “No,” she told Maureen. “I don’t think I would.”

  Maureen leaned forward. “And you should know me well enough to realize I would never ask you to make a decision like that. Not when in a week and a half he’ll no longer be a guest here. And I think you’re right. There are extenuating circumstances in the fight this afternoon. They should be allowed to stay.”

  “If you agreed with me, why the third degree?”

  “I wanted to be sure you were confident in your decision.” She smiled. “And I believe that you are.”

  “I’ll let the girls and their father know.”

  “I can’t force you to make a decision about Will, Abi, but I also can’t shield you from what the staff may do or say.”

  “I realize I’m in no position to expect any more special treatment. I can deal with the staff.”

  “Good.” She sat back in her chair and folded her hands on her desk. “Can I ask you a question? As a friend?”

  “Of course.”

  “Do you love him?”

  “I…I don’t know. I’m not sure if I even know what that is. He’s so unlike any man I’ve ever known. I like the way I feel when I’m with him. The way I feel about myself and the way he makes me feel. I…I trust him.”

  “Does he feel the same way?”

  “I think so.”

  “What about Adam? Does Will want to be a father?”

  “I think he might. He’s so good with Adam, and Adam adores him.”

  “You’ve only known him two and a half weeks. He lives in New York, you live in Colorado. What will you do? A long-distance relationship? Will you leave the retreat?”

  “I don’t know yet. We just know that we want to give this time to develop. I know we’re going to have to talk about it soon. With work and taking care of Adam, there just hasn’t been time. I have no evening activities tonight, so we were planning on having dinner together. I suppose it’s time I bring it up.”

  “Maybe I could take Adam. Give you two some alone time to figure this out.”

  “I hate to ask you—”

  “You didn’t ask. I offered. Bring him by around five. He can spend the night.”

  “Oh. That’s not necessary. Our relationship hasn’t…I mean, we haven’t—”

  “It’ll give as much or as little time as you want.” Maureen gave her a smile. “You deserve to be happy, Abi. I hope this works out.”

  “I know that if you met him, you would love him.”

  “Then why don’t you bring him to dinner?”

  “Really? You’re sure?”

  “If you trust him, then I do, too. And If I’m going to give you my blessing, I have to get to know the man, right?”

  “When?”

  “How about tomorrow night? Say six o’clock?”

  “I’m sure it will be fine. I’d better go have a talk with Cindy’s father. Let him know they’re staying. And thanks, Maureen, for being so understanding about everything.”

  Maureen gave her a smile and turned back to her computer screen.

  Abi left Maureen’s office wondering what she would say to Will, how she would ask him what he wanted. She didn’t want to rush things or put him on the spot, but with only ten days left they were going to have to start talking about where this was going and what their expectations were. Did he want a committed relationship? And if so, how did he feel about her son? Adam didn’t need a stepdad, he needed a father, someone who could love him like his own.

  And if she discovered they were on a completely different page in terms of the future, she would have to end it now. Tonight. Before she let herself fall too hard and was in too deep. The last thing she wanted was a broken heart.

  Though she couldn’t help wondering if she was in too deep already.

  Chapter 14

  “Bishop is getting in to see her tomorrow night,” Mikey told Vince.

  “You’re sure.”

  “I heard ’em talkin’ today. It’s definitely tomorrow.”

  Vince’s heart pounded, his blood pulsing with the lust for revenge. “We’ve gotta handle this very carefully. We can’t let her get away again and we can’t let
the FBI get to her first. She can’t testify.”

  “If it’s her, he’s going to want her on the first plane outta here.”

  If the feds got her first, Vince would never get his money—if there was any left. “I have to take her first. Before the feds have time to get there.”

  “You?”

  Mikey was family and loyal to the death, but this time Vince couldn’t afford any mistakes. If it was Crystal, he was going to be there when it went down. To see the look on her face when she realized she’d been found. The fear in her eyes when he told her exactly what he planned to do to her. And he wanted to be there to get his money. “I’m catching the next flight out. I want you on them every second. The minute you know anything, you call me and I’ll meet you at the retreat.”

  “What about Bishop?”

  “No witnesses, Mikey.”

  “He’s an agent.”

  “Wouldn’t be my first.”

  “What if it ain’t her? What then?”

  It was. He could feel it. Besides, Bishop had been looking over his shoulder for four years. He was tired of it. Maybe it was time to send a message to the FBI. “I’ll kill him anyway.”

  He was finally getting in to see Maureen.

  Abi had told him that afternoon when they’d passed each other on the beach—she’d been on her way there with a group of kids, and he’d been on his way back from a swim. It had taken every bit of self-restraint Will could muster to keep his response passive when Abi had told him the good news.

  He would know tomorrow night if Maureen was Crystal. And if she was, he would have his witness and Vince would finally go down.

  He should have been bouncing off the walls with adrenaline and instead he was wracked with indecision.

  And he knew exactly why. There was no doubt in his mind he was falling in love with Abi. The more he went to therapy, learned what made him act the way he’d acted, the more he believed that they had a shot together. That he could be a good husband and maybe even a good father. He realized he wanted the chance to try. But there was the very real possibility that when she found out why he was here, it could be over. She might never forgive him for not being truthful, for turning in her friend. She may not understand why this was so important to him. And he couldn’t blame her if she didn’t.