by Tori Scott
Everyone clapped wildly as Mac swept Debbie off for a slow dance. Debbie's cheeks glowed and her eyes sparkled with happiness. Sandy knew her neighbor was a hopeless romantic, but who could blame her when she had found her soul mate in Mac. The two had been married for ten years and still acted like newlyweds. She couldn't help feeling a spurt of jealousy. She'd love to have another baby.
But to do that she'd have to get married again, wouldn't she? The thought still terrified her, even as it thrilled her to think of children with Hunter's dark hair and green eyes, riding their father's broad shoulders. And Jason would be a wonderful big brother.
Who was she kidding? Hunter hadn't brought up the subject of marriage again after that day at lunch. And he didn't show any sign that he'd been thinking about it, either.
***
Saturday morning Hunter announced they were taking Melanie to the zoo. Jason would go with them, then to his grandparents' house afterwards. Sandy's irritation with having no say in the day's plans faded when confronted with the realization that she could have a night alone with Hunter.
While an excited Melanie made Jason push her to her room to get Pooh, Hunter leaned in close and whispered in Sandy's ear, "Can you get a sitter for tonight?"
"Why didn't you give me more warning?"
"I just got a call from Jason's grandfather this morning, wanting to know if this was a good weekend for a visit. I jumped at the chance. Please tell me you can find someone to take Melanie."
"I don't know. I'll have to call Debbie and see if Melanie can spend the night."
Hunter pulled her into his arms and kissed her neck. "Why don't you call her while Jason and I get his stuff packed in the Tahoe? That way he won't know we're planning anything special while he's gone."
She snuggled in closer for a moment, then stepped back before the kids could catch them. "Okay. I'll pack a picnic lunch to take with us."
When Sandy called Debbie a few minutes later, she found out the Sweeneys had no plans for the evening and Jenny was excited about Melanie coming to visit. They didn’t mind at all.
"As long as you don’t mind bringing her to my house, you can bring her whenever you're ready," Debbie assured her
Sandy hung up and wrapped her arms around her body. Was it time to take the next step, or time to back away? She'd been without any kind of physical closeness for so long, she felt like it was way past time. But taking that step to intimacy also meant risking her closely guarded independence. If she could remember it was just sex, she'd be fine.
She'd take it one step at a time. If it felt right when the time came, then she could go for it. If it didn't, she'd tell Hunter to take her home.
Satisfied she could handle whatever the evening held, she went to tell Melanie the news.
CHAPTER NINE
The morning was overcast, but Sandy was grateful for the resulting mild temperatures. Melanie oohed over the bears and squealed at the antics of the monkeys. "Look Mommy! That one looks just like Billy Johnson. He always hangs upside down on the monkey bars at school."
Jason, not to be outdone by a kid named Billy, did his best monkey imitation by swinging himself up into a tree, hanging by one leg, and screeching and scratching until Melanie was doubled over, laughing at his antics.
Sandy laughed along with her daughter and reveled in the family atmosphere, more at peace than she'd been in years.
"Smile." Hunter's camera flashed for the fiftieth time, at least.
"Darn it, Hunter. I told you I don't like having my picture taken." He'd caught her unawares too many times to count. Why did he need so many pictures of her, anyway?
"Too bad. I like looking at you and I'll bet the camera loves you. Besides, it'll be good for the kids to have the pictures later." He slung an arm around her shoulder and pulled her in for a hug. Melanie giggled and Jason gave them a sly wink.
Sandy thought they probably looked like a family enjoying an outing on a Saturday morning. She wasn't sure how she felt about that. She pulled away from Hunter and went back to Melanie's wheelchair.
"Mommy, I'm hungry."
"Okay. We'll find a table and eat our lunch." She led the way to the picnic area where they found a spot under a shade tree and sat down to eat the lunch she’d prepared. She had just taken a big bite of her sandwich when Jason asked Hunter, "What are you two going to do tonight without your chaperones around?”
Sandy choked on her sandwich and coughed while Hunter pounded her on the back. Tears ran down her cheeks before she was finally able to breathe easily again, and she hoped the others thought the heat in her cheeks was from the choking spell. When she could finally speak, she looked at Jason and said, "I thought I'd catch up on my reading and get to bed early."
When he sent her a knowing look, one way too old for a sixteen-year-old, she realized she'd only made things worse.
Hunter stepped in. "After I drop you off at Gramp's, I'm going to mow our lawn and wash the Tahoe. Later, if Sandy will join me, we're going out to dinner. Not that it's any of your business."
Jason had the decency to look chagrined and lowered his head to concentrate on eating. They left the zoo as soon as everyone had finished and dropped Jason off at his grandparents' house on the way home. Melanie, worn out from the morning's activities, fell asleep in her car seat.
"I'm sorry about Jason's big mouth," Hunter whispered to Sandy, trying not to waken the sleeping child. "Every time I think he's growing up, he says something more suited to a twelve year old."
"That's all right. I think all teenagers develop a morbid curiosity about their parents' sex lives. Most deny it exists. At least Jason has more sense than that."
"Right now I wish he thought I didn't have one. Which I don't." He gave Sandy a searing glance. "But I'm hoping to change that real soon."
All she could say to that was, "We'll see."
***
For Hunter, the afternoon seemed to drag by. He mowed the lawn, washed the truck, cleaned the house, and put fresh sheets on his bed. He put a stash of condoms in the drawer of the night stand, just in case, and set candles around the room. Fresh flowers bloomed in a vase on the dresser.
By six o'clock he had run out of things to do, so he showered and shaved, careful to make sure he didn't leave any stray whiskers that might scratch her tender skin. He used his best cologne, one he'd received as a birthday gift from Jason.
He was dressed and pacing the floor by six forty-five. He wanted to go next door now, but he'd told her seven. He didn't want to seem over-eager, even if he was. Ten minutes later, unable to wait another minute, he rang her doorbell.
When Sandy opened the door, his jaw dropped. He couldn't help it. She looked gorgeous. She'd styled her hair on top of her head in soft curls which exposed her long, graceful neck. Her dress was red and made of some kind of clingy fabric that hugged every curve. The skirt flared out and ended well above her knees, showing off slender legs that seemed to go on forever.
He realized he was staring when she laughed. "Is it too much?"
"A-h-h, um, no. You just took my breath away for a minute. You look wonderful."
"Thanks. You did say to wear something sexy, right?"
"Yeah. And you sure did. I'm afraid I may not be in any shape to pursue our plans for later tonight, though."
Sandy frowned. "And why is that?"
"Because I'll be black and blue from fighting off all the guys who'll want you for themselves."
Her face relaxed and her eyes sparkled with pleasure as she punched his arm playfully. "Oh, you. I don't think there will be any cause for fighting tonight. I'll be draped around you so tightly there won't be room for anyone else."
An image of Sandy, draped around him and wearing nothing but a smile, had his body tense and hard in seconds. "We'd better go before I decide to skip dinner and go straight to dessert," he told her, guiding her out the door.
"I've always heard dessert tastes better when eaten before a meal." She tossed him a saucy grin as she climbed in th
e truck. "But if you're not hungry…"
"I'm hungry, all right. Right now I'm too hungry to take the time to savor dessert like it deserves to be savored. Eaten slowly, relishing every bite. And if we don't quit playing this game, everything will be over in a matter of minutes. I intend to make the most of tonight, and we'll start with a proper meal. Now buckle up."
Sandy laughed and obeyed. She reached over and turned on the radio, searching the stations until she found one she liked.
Garth Brooks crooned about standing outside the fire. She sang along quietly, her voice clear and sweet, the words a fitting beginning to a night sure to singe them both.
***
As Hunter drove through the heavy freeway traffic, headed for downtown Dallas, Sandy took the opportunity to study his profile. His nose was straight except for a bump at the bridge that looked like he might have broken it at one time. His jaw was strong and square, almost chiseled.
His chin sported a small cleft that invited her to run her tongue over it. He looked good enough to eat.
He wasn't wearing a suit this time, but a black suede cowboy-cut jacket over a gray western shirt and bolo tie. Black brushed-suede pants matched his jacket, and he wore black boots that looked like ostrich. He could pass for a country singing sensation, except he wasn't wearing the obligatory hat.
He looked good in whatever he wore, but she'd bet he'd look even better without clothes. And maybe, if she didn't lose her nerve later tonight, she’d finally get the chance to see for herself.
It had been so long since she'd loved a man. She'd thought she loved Todd but her marriage had been strained for a long time before he died. He'd looked at her with disgust when she touched him, wanting to be held, to be loved. She'd finally stopped trying. He'd found all he needed elsewhere, and she'd grown tired of the constant rejections and put-downs. And it wasn't as if sex was something she'd looked forward to. It had merely been a way to connect with the husband she knew she was losing.
Her past made it difficult to take steps toward her future, but she was determined to lay the old demons to rest tonight. Hunter wasn't Todd, she reminded herself once again. He wouldn't slice her heart to ribbons with hurtful words. She was sure of it. And he wouldn't force his way if she said no. So why were her hands shaking?
Sandy was pleasantly surprised when Hunter pulled into the parking lot of the downtown Dallas El Fenix restaurant. After dinner at Del Marco's, she'd been worried he'd take her to another exclusive restaurant. Not that she hadn't enjoyed it, but it wasn't something she felt comfortable doing on a regular basis. This was much more her style.
"I hope you like Mexican food," he said as he turned to face her. I figured you ought to get to know the real me. This is where I like to go for dinner out when I'm not trying to impress my lady love."
His lady love. How old-fashioned that sounded. And did he mean her, or just whatever woman he was dating? She didn't dare ask him, so she said, "I love Mexican food, and especially El Fenix."
"This is my favorite. We ate here whenever Liz and I visited her parents. Plus, it's close to the nightlife. I thought we might go dancing after dinner."
"That sounds fine," Sandy agreed.
She felt a little less sure of herself than she had earlier. Would he compare her to his late wife? She knew they'd had problems, but from what Jason had told her, Liz had been pretty and feminine. Sandy felt more like the earth-mother type. Strong bones and straight teeth--kind of like what you'd look for in a good plow horse. She was too tall to act dainty and overly feminine. It was a self-image problem she'd dealt with all of her life, and one Todd had preyed on.
With a sigh, she took Hunter's hand and climbed out of the truck. He cocked an eyebrow and lifted her chin with one long finger. "What was the sigh for?"
"Nothing," she replied as she struggled to shake off her depression.
"Sandy, something's bothering you. What is it?"
She looked up into his deep green eyes, which were darkened with what looked like genuine concern. "I guess I'm wondering if you'll be comparing me to Liz tonight. Jason told me a little about her, how small and fragile she was. I feel a little like a Belgian draft horse being compared to a thoroughbred."
Hunter pulled her into his arms and hugged her. "If I needed a horse, I'd choose the Belgian any day. Thoroughbreds don't appeal to me at all. Give me strength and endurance any day over high-maintenance, high-strung fillies."
He pulled back and smiled down at her. "But you're not a horse, so don't compare yourself to one. I like you just the way you are. A beautiful woman who can withstand whatever life throws her way." He hugged her again, then released her and pressed a hand to the small of her back, searing her skin with his heat as he guided her toward the restaurant entrance. "Let's go eat. I'm starving."
Sandy wanted to stop everything, savor every word he’d just spoken. No one had ever said anything like that to her before. But Hunter kept her moving forward toward the wonderful scent of grilled onions and bell peppers.
Over chips and hot sauce, he told her tales of his life in the Air Force. She relaxed and focused her attention entirely on Hunter. The stories he told fascinated her and made her want to hear more. During the meal of enchiladas, rice, and refried beans, she asked questions to keep him talking.
"What kind of training did you have to go through to get into the pararescue division?" she asked after he had described his specialty.
"It was tough. We had to pass a number of physical agility tests and endure months of rigorous training. I'm a nationally registered Emergency Medical Technician and trained in search, rescue and combat trauma. We had to be precision parachutists, skilled in scuba, amphibious, survival and evasion techniques. Our missions involved insertion behind enemy lines at night--to rescue downed airmen or to establish assault zones for friendly aircraft and troops."
Sandy felt like a fool. She had pulled him back from Melanie's side at the accident because she’d thought her Red Cross training made her more qualified to check her daughter for injuries. And he was a paramedic. Why had he stepped aside so easily? While they ate their dessert of strawberry-covered sopapillas she finally summoned enough courage to ask him.
"Because I had already determined that she was breathing and her heart was beating. There was no blood, no protruding bones. I couldn't do anything for her at the moment, other than keep her still and wait for an ambulance. I didn't dare move her. I figured the best thing for both of you at the time was to let you check her over yourself."
"I'm sorry, Hunter. It must have been difficult for you to stand back when you knew you were much more qualified than I to tend to her. Thank you." She reached across the table and caressed his cheek. "You're a very special man, do you know that?"
He reached up and covered her hand with his own, then turned it and placed a kiss in the center of her palm. Fire shot up her arm and spread through her body. She was more and more certain she was falling in love with this man. She prayed it wasn't a mistake, because she didn't think her heart could be mended if it was broken again.
***
They left the restaurant and made the short drive to Cowboy's, a county-and-western nightclub in East Dallas. The parking lot was jammed with cars, testifying to its popularity.
"I hope there's room for two more on the dance floor," Hunter told her.
"Me, too. There must be a concert tonight."
"Maybe. I forgot to check. If it's too crowded, we can go somewhere else."
He escorted her inside and paid their cover charge. The noise level was deafening, so he leaned close and shouted, "Do you want anything to drink?"
Sandy shook her head instead of trying to answer over the music and the conversations of hundreds of people. They wound their way through the throng in search of a table. Not finding one empty at the moment, Hunter pulled her onto the crowded dance floor.
The band was a local one Sandy hadn't heard before. They were good but not outstanding enough to account for the crowd. They w
ere playing a George Strait song which was fast and upbeat. Not what she really wanted to dance to at the moment. She wanted slow and sweet, something that would bring her into closer contact with Hunter.
After three or four fast-paced tunes, Sandy was ready to sit down. Then the music changed as the band played Willie Nelson's “You Were Always on My Mind.” Hunter said, "Finally," and pulled her close, wrapped his arms around her and settled his cheek against hers. Sandy sighed and nestled closer, glad to be where she'd wanted to be all night.
Hunter decided he must have died and gone to Heaven. Sandy fit perfectly in his arms and easily followed his lead. The faint scent of vanilla she wore reminded him of his mother's kitchen at Christmas, when she'd baked cookies for days in preparation for the holidays. He leaned down and nuzzled her neck and felt peace and contentment flow through him. This was where he belonged.
As they danced their bodies rubbed together and sparked desire, red-hot and so overwhelming he was ready to take her right there on the dance floor. He slid his hands down to her hips and nudged her lower body into closer contact with his. Sandy inhaled sharply, then slid her hands into his back pockets, holding him against her. When she turned her mouth into his neck and nibbled, he pulled back and grabbed her hand.
"Let's get out of here."
"Okay," she agreed.
He held her close as they fought their way through the crowd toward the exit. At the door, two girls chattered excitedly about the Collin Raye concert that would start soon. Hunter looked at Sandy. "Do you want to stay?"
"I love Collin Raye, but I think I'll wait until another time to see him. Let's go home."
Hunter breathed a huge sigh of relief and pushed the door open. He was glad she didn't want to stay. If he had to wait much longer to be alone with her, he was going to explode. He'd wanted to do all the courtship-type things he thought she needed, but the strain of holding his feelings back was wearing him down. He couldn't afford to scare her off, either, if they were going to have any chance at a future together.
During the drive home, Sandy leaned across the console and laid her head against his shoulder. Hunter ran his hand up and down her left leg, venturing higher and higher when she offered no objection. She responded by rubbing her hand across his stomach, moving lower as his hand moved higher. It reminded him of the games of "chicken" he and his friends had played in grade school, riding their bikes toward each other determined not to be the one who chickened out at the last second.
