"You--" She ran her hand over her hair. "No, we," she corrected herself. "She's my sister. I want to help."
"Even if it means moving back to Michigan?" When she didn't answer, he said, "You want to know what I think?"
"Probably not, but go ahead."
"I think you need to learn to trust people."
"No big revelation there."
"I think you trust me. As long as you continue to trust me, you won't hurt me."
"Could it be that simple?"
"Why not? Why must it be complicated?"
"I don't know. Because important, life-changing things should be complicated?"
"I'd like to change your life."
"You already have."
Their gazes met again, and unspoken understanding hovered between them. Trust. Such a basic concept, yet so elusive. It could be that.
She trusted Rainer.
She loved Rainer.
A weight lifted from her heart, and she felt as though it might jump from her chest. She loved Rainer! "You are my best friend. Isn't that crazy?"
"You're mine, too. I don't think it's so crazy. We fit together."
She smiled, feeling understood and appreciated, not for what she had done, but for who she was. He'd listened. He'd encouraged her to talk about her feelings. He hadn't chastised her or judged her. He loved her.
This man--this relationship--was a treasure. She couldn't let it go. At that moment, she made a promise to herself. She would do her best to make him happy, not because he asked her. But because she wanted to. He deserved it.
He pulled her to stand, then dropped a kiss on the top of her head. "Should we go to the house?"
They walked, hand in hand, silent and reflective. She ached to show him how much she appreciated him. As soon as she shut the door and flipped on a light, she slid her arms around Rainer's neck and kissed him. It wasn't a rushed, urgent kiss, but a slow, seductive kiss that left her feeling drunk. Her head spinning, she stepped back, slipped her top over her head and watched Rainer's gaze caress her body.
Her bra, a thin sheath between his fingertips and the sensitive skin beneath, felt like a body cast. With a deft snap, Rainer opened the back clasp and slowly slid the straps off her shoulders.
She basked in the feeling of utter exposure, another surprise. She'd always preferred hiding in the dark when making love. But with Rainer, her embarrassment evaporated.
He worshipped her body with his eyes, hands and mouth, treating every inch as though it deserved his undivided attention. He began at her neck, trailing licks and nips on the sensitized flesh, then wandered to the juncture between her shoulder and neck. Even the tender, ticklish skin on her back and the sides of her breasts were explored.
All the while, she grew more desperate. She wanted to feel his weight resting overtop her. More so, she wanted him inside her, their bodies joined as their souls were. They belonged together. She had no doubt.
Somehow, they moved to the couch. He lowered her, his face flushed and eyes heavy lidded. She reached up, gripped the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head.
He was the most amazing creature she'd ever seen. A work of art. His chest was tight and muscular, sprinkled with coarse dark hair. A line of hair ran down the center of his stomach, beckoning a fingertip. It meandered slowly toward the waistband of his pants.
Before she reached her target, he gently forced her back onto the couch, then unsnapped her jeans and slid them down. Her center tingled in anticipation when her panties followed her jeans. She lay nude and brazenly exposed, making her heart pound loudly. Her bottom rested on the edge of the couch, her knees closed, but aching to open. When he rested his hands on them, they parted.
Her willingness was rewarded with a look of utter awe. His gaze traveled up and down her form. "You're absolutely stunning."
She couldn't speak. His gaze held hers. Breathless, speechless, mindless. All she cared about was watching him, touching him.
"I want to bury myself in that sweet body so bad."
She thought she'd lose her mind if he didn't. "Please."
"Not yet."
Oh, God.
He leaned down, and the first touch of his tongue sent a spear of heat up her spine. She sucked in a deep breath.
"You are so sweet, love."
His tongue, lips and teeth worked magic, sweeping her away until the pinnacle lay no more than a breath away. She fought to stay in control.
She needed him. Now. She gently pushed his head away. "Make love to me."
He shook his head, but she couldn't accept his refusal. She sat up and unbuttoned his jeans, then teased him through his snug, black boxers.
"Make love to me, Rainer. I need you."
He stood up and she forced his jeans to his ankles, then tugged his shorts down. He stood as exposed to her as she to him, and she worshipped his body with the same care he'd given hers. When her mouth closed around his arousal, he moaned and pushed her onto the couch. "Enough," he said.
She opened to him, and he finally filled her. She sighed as their bodies fell into rhythm, clinging to each other as he thrust again and again, bringing her closer and closer to that place she'd only experienced once before. In his bed.
And then the first pulse of her climax gripped her body. Her eyes closed. Every muscle tensed, her heart hammering as a sweet cadence shot through her body. He cried out and quickened his pace, riding upon their shared crest.
Once their energy was spent, he rested upon her, his chest heaving with each breath, his skin slick with sweat. She kissed his neck, salty, and smiled. This was what lovemaking was supposed to be.
She'd had no idea it could be like this.
"I love you," he said, the words sending joy through her whole being.
It had been a long time since she'd heard those words from someone she loved in return.
"I love you," she said, then closed her eyes. Sleep called her as Rainer's warmth and love seeped into her body and soul.
###
Rainer's arm tingled, Hailey's head cutting off the blood flow. He gently pulled his heavy arm free, but as her head lowered onto the cushion, her eyes opened.
"Hi," he said, losing himself in their emerald depth.
"Hi." She shifted onto her side and reached for a loose cushion.
"Don't. Don't hide your body from me. You're beautiful. You're such a giving lover, so open. Don't clam up now."
Her face flushed instantly. "Sorry." She looked so awkward, a soft blush showing in the dim light coming through the window. He turned away.
Someday, he vowed to himself, she'd stand proud before him. Like she did when they made love. "Well, as much as I'd love to laze around, I think we have some things to talk about."
"Oh?" She sat up.
"But, I'd like to shower first. Is that okay?"
"Of course. Absolutely," she said exuberantly.
"You joining me?"
"I think I'll wait. I need something to drink." When he lifted a brow, she added, "Tea, of course."
"Of course." He followed her to the bathroom, thanked her for the towels she handed him, and enjoyed the time alone. He sternly reminded himself he wasn't going to fall into old habits. Either she truly wanted this or not. He wouldn't try to change her mind. He would try to force her into any decisions. She was a capable, independent woman, and he would respect that.
After toweling off and donning the bathrobe he found on the back of the bathroom door, he returned to the living room. It was empty, but he heard clanking pots and pans in the kitchen. He followed the sound, and the smell of coffee.
"Are you hungry?" she asked, standing at the stove and stirring something in a fry pan. "I'm not that great a cook, but I can heat up a mean scrambled egg."
"That's fine. Can I help?"
"No. Please, sit. Can I get you something to drink?"
"Coffee's fine." He sat at the tiny round table snuggled into a bay window nook and glanced outside, not surprised to see the ocean in the dis
tance, the morning sun hanging low in the horizon.
"Pretty, isn't it? I love this house. Every window on this side has a great view."
He still sensed strain in her voice. "Should we talk about what happened?"
"Do we have to?" She didn't face him.
"If it means you're going to continue avoiding looking at me, yes."
She turned around and smiled. "I'm sorry. This is a little scary."
"Why scary?"
She returned to her task, but stood in profile rather than cutting him off completely. "I'm not sorry for what we did, and I meant what I said, but--"
"But you said it in the heat of the moment?" he finished for her.
"No, that's not it." She looked at him as she carried a cup of coffee, sugar and spoon and set it down. Confusion marked her expression, her brows huddled, her face strained. She bit her bottom lip.
"What's holding you back from making a commitment to this? To us?"
She carried the pan to a plate on the counter and spooned out the eggs. Starving, he watched, his mouth salivating.
She stared out the window. After a moment of silence, she whispered, "I want to."
"Will you move to Michigan?"
"Yes, I will." She smiled, a tear slipping from the corner of her eye.
"That's great!" His heart took flight. He could shout from the rooftops. He leapt from his chair and held her tightly. She would be near. She would be his. "Now, how can I help you get ready to come back home?"
"Home?" Her head raised a tiny bit, and her neck and shoulders stiffened. "This is where it gets complicated. I mean, I want to do the right thing for Pete. I can't dump the shelter on him. He's semi-retired. He doesn't want the work every day. And we still haven't settled the marine rescue. The contributors must be contacted. What about my house? I need to find a job, a place to live." Her shoulders slumped. "I hate moving!"
He palmed her cheeks. "I'd like to help--If you want."
She smiled. "I think I've finally learned I can't handle everything on my own. But if you push--"
"I won't. I promise." He rested his chin on the top of her head, relished the way her body fit with his.
"God, I hope I'm not making a mistake!"
"You're not." He squeezed.
"If I do this--take this chance with you, with my life-- and it doesn't work out, I don't know what I'll do."
"You think too much. One thing at a time. One day at a time."
She snuggled closer. "Yeah, yeah. So I've been told."
He kissed the top of her head and chuckled. "So, what do we tackle first?"
"The rescue. I need to find someone to buy my shares, a person who would enjoy the day-to-day work," she mumbled into his chest.
"Any ideas?"
"None. It's weird. Less than a month ago, I was ready to expand--open the marine rescue. My dream come true, it was the most important thing in my life. When I learned our land deal was in jeopardy, I knew it would be tough to get things up and operating, but figured I could still pull it off. Then our biggest contributor ran into trouble, and we lost a huge donation, but I still thought I'd find a way to get what I want. But now..."
"Now it's all a trap."
"I guess it is. But that doesn't make me feel better. In fact, that scares the crap out of me. That's exactly how I felt before--when I hurt Heidi. Can't I ever be content?"
"I think you can. What I see is a woman who has learned what's most important in life. You've been second-guessing your goals for some time--longer than you're admitting."
She shrugged. "Maybe."
They sat and ate in silence. He didn't bother hiding the tension skating up and down his spine. Although the food was good, and he was starving, he hurried through the meal, anxious to help her work through her problems.
While she showered and dressed, he made phone calls, looking for a friend with a house to rent, a job, anything to help. No one was able help him. He hadn't been able to solve a single problem for her.
Later that day, he watched her pretend to be busy cleaning the kitchen, knowing she was moving more out of nervous energy than out of the need to clean. The room sparkled, not a crumb anywhere.
"Hailey," he called out.
She turned, acting surprised, like she hadn't expected him to speak.
"Come. Sit with me for a minute. If you scrub that counter anymore, you're going to take off the laminate."
She smiled, her expression cautious, and slowly sat, keeping her eyes on him as she moved. The corner of her mouth trembled. "You can't help me, can you?"
He hated to say the words, couldn't stand the sound of them. "No. I can't." His heart fell to his feet.
She nodded, and lowered her head. "I'm going to hurt Pete. I can't." Tears spilled from those gorgeous eyes--the ones that had captured his heart.
Chapter 16
Hailey glanced at her watch and ran to her car. As she wrenched the key in the ignition, she wished Rainer had been able to stay in town for a few more days. She could use the moral support.
No sooner had she gotten on the road, knowing she would be late unless she took the side streets at seventy miles per hour, than her cell phone rang. Darn. Pete was calling.
One hand on the steering wheel, she rummaged through her purse for the phone, then punched the talk button. "Hello?"
"Hi Babe."
Her heart skidded. "Rainer! I wish you were here. I'm late. I'm supposed to meet Pete at eight, but I slept in. This isn't going well!"
"Don't worry. I'm sure everything will be fine.
"I love you. I'm there for you--wish I'd been able to stay longer," the regret was clear in his voice.
"I know. Me too. I love you, too."
"Remember, we agreed you'd do everything possible to get out of that business deal with Pete, even if it meant leaving it all to--"
"I never agreed to that!"
"Damn, it was worth a try."
She smiled, despite the misery tugging at her soul and siphoning her strength. "Nice try. I'll call you when I'm done. I'm almost there."
"Okay. Bye."
She shut off the phone, pulled into Pete's driveway, and forced herself into the building.
"Good morning!" Pete said, letting her in the front door. "I was beginning to wonder if you were going to show up."
"Sorry. It's been one of those mornings."
He led her upstairs, and motioned toward the couch. She sat, her stomach clenching and unclenching. Good thing she hadn't eaten breakfast. She was sure it would be decorating his area rug by now.
Pete sat next to her, his eyes boring into hers. She could hardly meet his gaze. "What is this all about?"
She stood. Pacing the floor wasn't enough to spend the nervous energy buzzing through her body.
But it was enough to annoy Pete. "Would you stop that?"
"I can't. I'm nervous as hell."
"I can see that," he said, still sitting and watching. "What's the problem?"
"I just want it all to end!"
"What to end? Stop running laps and talk to me."
She stopped pacing and shook her head. "So much has happened, and I haven't told you a word. I'm so sorry. I'm a terrible friend." He was her friend. Her mentor. He was loyal, giving, loving. How could she do this to him? "I need to ask you--" she started, then stopped.
"What? What do you need to ask me? This is worse than pulling teeth."
"I know."
He sighed. "Why can't you be honest with me?"
"I'm trying."
"Then say what you came to say."
"Damn it, Pete! This is hard." She sighed. "I need to get out of our partnership. Sell my shares."
He looked dazed, completely taken by surprise. "Really?"
"I know you don't want to run the shelter full time. I know you wanted to be a silent partner--you did this for me. I owe you more than this."
"Don't worry about it. I'll figure it out. Is it because of your health? Are you sick?"
"No. It's my
family."
"I understand. You should be with them if they need you. Go. Do what you need to. I'll be fine."
"I want to help you find someone to take over my duties."
"I said I'll handle it."
"No. I won't leave it all to you. I'll interview--"
"Damn it, you're stubborn!"
She stepped back, crossed her arms over her chest and shrugged her shoulders. "Yeah. But that shouldn't come as a surprise. You've always known that about me. But you love me anyway, right?"
"Right."
Their gazes met. For the first time, Hailey didn't feel trapped by Pete's inquisitive stare. "It's my sister," she said. "Cancer. The surgery wasn't for me. It was for her. Bone marrow transplant."
"I'm sorry."
"We haven't been close recently. I need to spend some time with her. Make things right. I never meant to do this to you."
"I know that."
She sighed and plopped onto the couch, letting the worn cushions envelop her. "You've been such a great friend. I haven't been nearly so kind to you. And now, there's this. How will you manage? With the clinic and Paws and Claws. And the marine rescue. We owe those contributors their money...This is what I did to my sister. Ran away and left her with all the responsibility. I don't want to make the same mistake again."
"Hailey, I've always suspected this day would come. Don't worry. I can handle it. Amy is an eager beaver. I'll get her to cover more hours. She's more than capable--"
"Oh, my God! That's it!" she clapped her hands to her cheeks.
"What?"
"Do you think Amy would like to take over? Would you like her as a partner? I know you've grown fond of her. I don't know if she has the money, but we can work that out..."
"She's like a daughter to me."
For the first time all morning, her mood lifted. "What do you think? She's smart, excellent with the animals--"
"I think it's a good solution."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
She threw her arms around his neck and squeezed. "Thank you."
"I didn't do anything."
"Yes you did. More than you'll ever know."
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Rescue Me (a quirky romance novel about secrets, forgiveness and falling in love) Page 19
