Delivering Decker

by Kelly Collins

  My hands clutched my stomach. All I wanted to do was throw up.

  I went to my room and fell onto my bed. Curled into the fetal position, I cried until my eyes drooped and nothingness took over.

  Eventually, voices came from the kitchen. I dragged my groggy ass out of bed and went to see who was talking. To my surprise, Mom sat with Tanner at the scarred kitchen table.

  Both of them looked up at me.

  “Good evening, Hannah.”

  I acknowledged him with a single word. “Tanner.”

  He stood. “I should let you go, but I’ll be here at eight in the morning to pick you up. You need to be clean and sober, or it won’t work.” Tanner walked past me and out the door.

  I sat down in the chair he vacated. “What was that all about?”

  “I’ve got a job and a sponsor.”

  Wasn’t it funny how life gave and took? In one day, I’d lost my sister and gotten my mom back. Stacey hadn’t come home last night, but Mom did, and she hadn’t been fully present for a long time.

  I topped off old man Tucker’s coffee cup. “Anything else, Bob?”

  His double chin wobbled when he smiled. “If you’re granting wishes, I’d like to be forty years younger and on a date with you, young lady.”

  I bent over and kissed his bald head. “It’s always good to dream, Bob.” I made my rounds and went back to the counter to cut pie. I no longer jumped a foot in the air when the bell above the door rang. Decker had eased me past the fear that all men were there to hurt me, sort of. I still believed it was true, but now I knew that not all men used their fists; some used their words. I wasn’t sure which was more painful. The bruises on the skin faded, but the scars inside seemed to hurt a lot longer.

  A man with a package stood at the counter. “Are you Hannah?”

  I put down the knife. “That’s me.”

  “This is for you.” He pulled a card out of his pocket and set it on top of the box. “The person who sent it suggested you read the card first.” He waited for a tip before he turned and walked away.

  Only one person had ever sent me anything, and that was Decker. There was no doubt in my mind this was from him.

  My hands shook. I slid my finger under the flap of the envelope and opened it. It was stationery with his name on it—Decker Owen Riley. Was it crazy that I brushed across the letters like I was touching him? I opened the card slowly and took in the gracefulness of his writing. Elongated and loopy, it popped off the page and into my heart.

  Hannah,

  You are worth far more than I gave. The last days have been unbearable without a word from you. I don’t know where I messed up. All I know is I’m desperate for another chance. I’ll be waiting when you get off work tonight.

  Decker

  He’ll be waiting? My hands went straight to my face. No makeup, no mascara, no lip-gloss. Hell, I almost hadn’t brushed my hair. In the end, I pulled it into a high ponytail and called it good. I was a mess on both the inside and outside.

  I looked around, making sure no one was watching. For some reason, this gift seemed special. I eased the top off and found a beautiful teapot, two matching cups, and the biggest bag of Moroccan Mint tea I’d ever seen. Everything was labeled from Dushanbe. A tiny handwritten note sat on top.

  It’s not enough, but it’s a start.

  D

  The damn man didn’t bring me to Dushanbe. He brought Dushanbe to me. Flowers decorated the pot. The forget-me-nots were no accidental purchase. He chose the teapot with care and consideration. I opened the bag of tea and inhaled the rich mint scent. I wanted to stay angry with Decker, but it was impossible. Maybe I’d been wrong to judge him. Maybe I should have stayed for pancakes, tea, and an explanation.

  The owl clock ticked away faster than I could imagine. I shuffled Ana, Grace, and Mona out of the diner with haste in hopes that I could hang the closed sign five minutes early and put myself together, but I had no such luck: Decker walked in as my guardian angels walked out. They stopped a second to stare before they climbed into Ana’s Jeep and left.

  “You’re early.” I fiddled with my hair.

  Decker looked around the empty restaurant and then stared back at me with hungry eyes. “I wanted to get here before you could slip out the back and avoid me.” A smile twitched at his lips.

  “You need a bandage, a cup of coffee, a piece of pie?”

  He stalked toward me, pushing my body up against the counter. “Nope. All I need is your forgiveness and a kiss.”

  Chapter 17

  Decker

  My heart hadn’t beat this hard or fast in my lifetime. With my body pressed against hers, I waited for some sign that said she’d give me a second chance.

  “I heard you that night.” Her voice lowered with each word until it became a whisper.

  My mind raced with everything I’d said since the day I’d met her. “What did you hear?”

  She flattened her hands on my chest, but there was no push. Her palms smoothed over the cotton of my shirt. A surge of want and need gripped my heart and squeezed it like a lemon, sending the acid to my stomach.

  “You thought I was asleep, but I wasn’t.”

  “Oh, my God, Hannah.” She’d heard me tell her I’d have to give her up. “I was confused. I’d never fallen so hard or so fast for a girl. I was overwhelmed by my father’s expectations and my need for you. I thought I had to give one of you up, and since my dad is dying, I chose to keep him for the time being, but it was never my intention to not see you ever again.” I lowered my head and touched her forehead with mine. “I’m so sorry.”

  Her eyes lifted. Her lips were close enough to kiss. “What’s changed?”

  “Me. I’ve changed.” I lifted her bottom to set her on the counter. “I’m finding a balance.” I sat on the stool in front of her and moved her legs so my body could be in my favorite place—right between her thighs. “It’s not easy, and it’s certainly harder without you as a part of my life.”

  “How do you know you want me in your life—that you won’t change your mind again next week?”

  I hadn’t considered what I’d do if she turned me away, and that possibility was starting to look likely. My best option was to be bold and be honest. So I yanked her from the counter and sat her in my lap, her legs straddling my waist.

  “Because I’m smarter today than I was the other day.” I took another chance and pressed my lips to hers. The kiss started tentative, then moved into something more. It wasn’t the kind of kiss that had me ripping at clothes to get us both naked. It was more. It was a silent promise that said, I’m not going anywhere.

  “I’m sorry too. I should have stayed and fought for you. It’s just that I’m so tired of fighting and losing that I gave up too soon.” She nuzzled her lips against my neck.

  “Don’t give up on me.”

  “Never.”

  We kissed for minutes before I pulled away. “Can you get tomorrow off?”

  She tilted her head. “Why?”

  “Trust me.” I was asking a lot since I’d already proved myself to be untrustworthy, but the best advice my father ever gave me was, If you don’t ask, you don’t get. I was putting that logic to the test with Hannah. “I’m playing hooky too.”

  She pulled out her phone and texted someone. “Done. What’s next?”

  The diner seemed spic and span, but I didn’t want to jeopardize her job. “Should I mop?”

  She laughed, and my topsy-turvy world seemed to right itself. “No, I finished everything before you got here.” She ran her hands over her face and hair. “Except for me. I look a mess.”

  Her face fit perfectly in my cupped hands. “You’re beautiful.” I climbed off the stool and let her body slide down mine. “Let’s go. There’s a room waiting for us at the Sonnenalp in Vail.”

  “You’re taking me to Vail?”

  “Lock up, sweetheart, time is wasting.”

  She raced around the restaurant shutting off lights and grabbing the pre
sent I’d had delivered today. When we got outside, she looked at her car. “Leave it here. If someone steals it, I’ll buy you a new one.”

  She snorted. “Yeah, right.” Her hands brushed over her apron. “I don’t have clothes. I have to go home and pack.”

  Tired of waiting, I picked her up and walked her to the Rover. “You don’t need clothes.” I gave her a peck on her shocked little mouth. “Whatever you need, I’ll supply.”

  “Where are the cameras? I’m being punked, right?”

  I buckled her in, put her present in the back seat, and ran around to the driver’s side. “You’re being kidnapped. Relax and enjoy. Is there someone you need to call?” I put the Rover in gear and took off toward Vail.

  Hannah texted her mom, then turned to me. “I went to see Tanner.”

  “You too? I showed up at the bar with a bottle of vodka and a broken heart.”

  Her hand gripped my arm. “You didn’t start drinking again, did you?”

  I rested one hand on top of hers for a second. “No, I wanted to, but I knew what to do. Buying the alcohol was simply a placebo for drinking it.”

  “He’s helping my mom.”

  “He’s good at helping. She’s in good hands. You don’t need to worry.”

  “Worry is my middle name these days. Now that my mom is getting some help, I figured that my life might get back on track. That maybe I could find some balance and go back to school. But then my sister, Stacey, showed up with her jackass boyfriend. She dropped out of school, and she’s pregnant.”

  I reached over the console and held her hand. “You’re not her keeper. You can’t make decisions for her.” I hated that I sounded like my parents, but in hindsight, it was good counsel. “She’s responsible for her good and bad decisions.”

  Hannah let out a loud sigh. “I know, but I wanted one of us to have a really good life.”

  I squeezed her hand. “Why can’t it be you?”

  She sat in silence for a moment. “You know, you’re right. Why can’t it be me?”

  She fell asleep about halfway through the two-hour drive and woke up just as we drove to the valet parking stand.

  “Wake up, sweetheart. We’re here.”

  She stretched and looked around at the little piece of Bavaria set in Colorado. “It’s beautiful.”

  It was a nice hotel. Nicer yet because I’d never brought a girl here.

  The valet opened her door. “Can I take your bags tonight?” he asked.

  I rushed around to Hannah. “We don’t have any.” The valet lifted a brow.

  Hannah slugged me in the arm as soon as we were out of earshot. “He thinks we’re here for a booty call.”

  I laughed. “If only I could get so lucky.” I walked with confidence to the registration desk. “Riley, checking in.”

  The woman at the counter looked at me, then at Hannah, and smiled. “Yes, I have you in the signature suite. Can I schedule any spa appointments for you or Mrs. Riley?”

  Hannah’s expression was priceless. Her plump pink lips fell open. God, it made me want to kiss her. “I’m not—”

  “What my lovely wife was going to say is that she’s not a morning person, so if we could get a couples massage around eleven, that would be wonderful.” I turned my attention to Hannah. “Sound good?”

  She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and nodded.

  “Oh, and sadly our luggage was lost. We have nothing to change into. Can you have the boutique send up a selection of clothes to our room so it’s waiting for us when we get back from the spa?”

  Hannah’s smile grew until it was the only thing I saw when I looked at her. I wanted her this happy all the time.

  We gave the desk clerk our sizes. I handed over my Amex card, and she handed over the key.

  “Let’s go, Mrs. Riley,” I wrapped my arm around her waist and led her to the elevator. “They have an amazing all-hours menu that includes tea.”

  She wrapped her arm around my waist and looked at me. “Why are you doing this?”

  Didn’t she know? “I’m doing this because I like you. More than like you, really, but more importantly, we both have stressful lives right now, and I thought it would be a nice break if we could just be us for a day or so. I didn’t ask you here for sex.”

  I opened the door into our suite. It was a large room with two beds. I didn’t want to assume she’d sleep with me. I was hopeful that I could fall asleep holding her and wake up with her still there. That was my only goal.

  “Wow.” She walked forward, running the tips of her fingers over all the surfaces, from the green upholstered chairs to the corner fireplace. “This is amazing.”

  I was used to staying in nice places, so I tried to see it through her eyes, and it was pretty amazing. “Are you hungry?” I knew she was; her stomach had grumbled several times while she was sleeping in the car. “How about I order us some food and you check out the bathtub? If I remember correctly it’s a Jacuzzi.”

  “There’s a Jacuzzi?” She spun around, looking for the bathroom entrance. She gripped my hand and dragged me behind her. Smack dab in the center of the bathroom sat the large tub with several dozen bubble jets. “It’s big enough for two.”

  “Is that an invitation?” I dropped her hand and leaned against the marble counter.

  “It seems kind of silly for me to take a bath while you wait. Why don’t we both enjoy the bubbles, and we’ll order room service later, or we’ll have a big breakfast in the morning before our massage?”

  Dressed in blue jeans and a cotton shirt, Hannah was stunning. Even without a stitch of makeup on, she was the most beautiful woman I’d seen. There was no way I’d turn down an invitation like that.

  I pushed off the counter and reached around her body to start the bath, making sure the water was hot enough to relax muscles, but not hot enough to burn.

  With my arms crossed, I gripped my shirt and pulled it over my head. Hannah’s eyes never left me. I kicked off my shoes and yanked my jeans and boxers down my legs. Naked in front of her, I gave her an eyeful.

  Her baby blues widened when my rod hardened and bobbed. Wanting her was a painful endeavor. I palmed myself and stroked it. “You do this to me. All I have to do is think of you, and I’m hard.”

  She remained silent, but there was a glint of joy in her eyes. “You’re not alone.” She lifted her shirt and unhooked her bra.

  Despite the room being warm and the mirror starting to fog, her nipples beaded tight. Her waist was small, her hips were wide, and every inch of her was perfect. She smelled like strawberries and tasted like honey.

  While she continued to undress, I sank into the tub. Seconds later she was completely naked, and all I could do was stare. “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?” I spread my legs, making a space for her in front of me.

  “I know how beautiful I wish I was.” She tested the water with her toe and then climbed into the tub in front of me. She fit perfectly between my legs.

  “Any more beautiful and I’d have to spend my days guarding you instead of working.”

  “That sounds good to me.” It didn’t take long for her to relax against my body.

  My hard shaft twitched against her back even though I willed it to go soft. I was back to feeling like a sixteen-year-old seeing his first naked girl. I normally had more control over myself, but not with Hannah. When she so much as walked near me, it stood tall and saluted.

  One push of the button and the jets began. Hannah laughed as the bubbles surrounded us. With a squirt of shower gel in my hand, I went to work caressing every inch of her body. Her soft wispy moans spoke to the center of my being. I wanted to lift her up and set her down on me. Instead, I ran my fingers through her slick folds and swirled them around her clit.

  “Ohhh,” she moaned. “Orgasms are the best stress relief.” Her knees fell open and exposed her tender flesh inside and out. In order to gain better access, I lifted one of her legs over the edge of the tub, without thinking about the jets
. She hummed when one of the strong streams of water pulsed over her sex.

  “Feel good?” Two of my fingers pressed into her tight opening, pumping until she squirmed in my arms.

  “Jesus. That’s…oh.” She tipped her hips up to get the best positioning, and I plunged my fingers in and out of her until she was shaking. Short labored breaths rasped from her mouth followed by my name. Her head fell sideways, and I saw a look of pure bliss wash over her as she came around my fingers. My pace slowed until she stopped shaking and melted into my body.

  “I wish you could have seen yourself when you came. Your blonde hair swirled around your head like a halo. Your cheeks blushed, and a look of complete ecstasy softened the tension that lines your forehead. You were ethereal.” I wrapped my arms around her body and listened to her breathe.

  “Your turn.” Her voice cracked.

  “Sweetheart, this is all about you.” I kissed her on top of her head and pulled us both to a standing position. She wobbled on rubbery legs, but I’d never let her go. Once out of the tub, I rubbed her down with the soft bath sheet and wrapped her like a mummy before I dried myself.

  “You are so damn sexy, Decker.” She raised one hand and traced down my chest to my stomach. Muscles I’d built by taking my frustrations out in the gym. Her light touch caused a tidal wave of sensations in me that went from my heart to my groin. It would be so easy to pick her up, throw her on the bed, and bury myself inside her, but I wanted to prove to her that she was more than a plaything. And although I planned to play with her all night, tonight was about her satisfaction, not mine.

  “Well, Mrs. Riley, what’s next?” Although the words were used in play, they didn’t seem too far-fetched. I could see Hannah by my side. She seemed to get me when no one else did. She knew firsthand about my addiction, and she was still here with me. And, as a bonus, she didn’t judge me because I sucked at riding motorcycles.

  “A fluffy pillow and soft sheets sound pretty amazing.” She dropped the towel and walked into the living area. Hannah didn’t hide behind a bathrobe; she owned her body, and she wore it with confidence. That might have been the sexiest thing about her.