Guiding the Fall

by Christy Hayes

  Jack clenched his jaw and gripped the arms of his chair so tight, Erica thought he might rip them right off. “You’re awfully quick to cast stones when you can’t even utter a word to Lyle. When was the last time you had a conversation with the man, Erica? I can’t see his face, but I know misery when I hear it.”

  “That’s not the same thing. I haven’t been sharing my life with Lyle for the past month.”

  “Only because you won’t let him in. He’s crazy about you.”

  “Olivia’s crazy about you.”

  “She’s got a funny way of showing it,” he said. “I’m not going to beg her to be with me.”

  Erica watched everything Jack felt pass over the face she used to think was as hard as granite and just as hard to read. To those who knew him, the man wore every emotion on the surface.

  “I don’t think you have to. She cares about you, Jack. You’re both acting like this is no big deal, but it’s huge. I like Olivia. I like having her around. You’re falling in love with her and it scares you to death. I’m sick of putting up with your bad mood because you’re too stubborn to tell her how you feel.”

  “Then go make up with Lyle and spend time with him.”

  Erica noticed that Jack didn’t deny he was falling for Olivia. “I’ll talk to Lyle if you’ll talk to Olivia.”

  “Whatever. Is she coming over tonight for your lesson?” he asked as if the answer wasn’t what he’d been waiting to hear.

  “She’ll be here at four.”

  He picked up his headphones. “I don’t need anything from the store.”

  “I’ll be back in an hour.” She shut his door and gathered her keys and purse. If her stubborn big brother could take a step in the right direction, maybe she could, too.

  Chapter 44

  Olivia knocked on Jack’s door. She usually went in without knocking or she’d knock and enter at the same time. She waited anxiously on the front porch for someone to answer.

  Fortunately, or unfortunately, Erica opened the door. “Why didn’t you come in?” she asked as she hurried back to the kitchen. “I’ve got four things going at once in here.”

  Olivia set her bag on the kitchen chair, took off her coat, glanced down the hallway toward Jack’s office, and tiptoed into the kitchen. Erica was busy chopping onions, browning meat, had something boiling on the stove, and the oven preheating. “What are you making?” Olivia asked.

  “Chowder. I’ve never made it before and I’m trying to follow the recipe.” She snuck a glimpse at Olivia. “It’s a lot easier to cook when I do it by feel.”

  “By feel?”

  “You know, when I just guessed at the amounts by what felt right.”

  “Is that how you’ve been cooking all these years?”

  “Mostly. I used to skim the ingredient lists, but I didn’t recognize a lot of the words. That phonics chart has really helped me sound words out. I would have missed a couple of ingredients that went into this chowder if I hadn’t read the recipe.”

  Olivia took a chance and placed her hands on Erica’s shoulders. “I’m so proud of you.”

  Erica smiled, broad and bright. It was like watching the sun fill a dim room. “I am, too. Jack said I’d have to work hard and I have been. I guess it’s paying off.”

  “He’s a smart guy.”

  “Not that smart,” Jack said from behind her.

  Olivia whipped around as her heart bubbled like the soup on the stove. “Jack.”

  He stood with his hands in his pants pockets. She’d never seen that expression on his face. He looked confident, as always, and so breathtakingly handsome, but underneath, she sensed a wariness in his too calm eyes and apprehension in the small tic that twitched at the side of his mouth. “I wasn’t smart enough to ask you to stay the other night. To tell everyone to go to hell and stay with me. I don’t like sleeping without you, Olivia. I haven’t really slept since you left.”

  Olivia’s knees went weak and everything inside of her that had been wound tight loosened with relief and joy. They weren’t words of love or commitment, but at least he’d been as miserable as she had. “I haven’t either. I’ve gotten used to you heating the bed by at least ten degrees.”

  “And you cooling it down by twenty.”

  “Creating the perfect atmosphere for sleeping,” she said and walked into his arms. “I missed you, Jack. If you’d have asked me to stay, I would have.”

  “I missed you, too.”

  He leaned down to kiss her, and she reached up and pulled his face down, too eager to feel his lips on hers. His hands on her back pulled her up to his willing mouth. If Erica hadn’t dropped a spoon and yelped when the boiling water sprayed her skin, Olivia would have embarrassed them all with her wanton behavior.

  “Are you okay?” Jack asked his sister.

  “Yes, it’s nothing.” She ran her hand under cold water. “I should have been more careful when I put the vegetables in the pot.”

  “It smells good,” Jack said. “Whatever you’re making.”

  “Smoky sausage corn chowder.”

  Jack sniffed the air. “And?”

  “Beer bread’s in the oven.”

  Jack held Olivia to his side and rubbed his slender belly. “Yum. Excellent fuel for makeup sex.”

  Olivia felt her face heat. “Jack!”

  “Erica knows we have sex, Olivia.”

  She slapped hid stomach. “Not if you make assumptions. I refuse to be a foregone conclusion.”

  “You’re anything but.” He patted her behind. “Go teach your lesson. I’m going to go to my office and dream up some conclusions.”

  Erica piled dishes in the sink. “These can wait until later.”

  “I’ll do them after our lesson,” Olivia said. “I need to earn my keep.”

  “There’s always more than enough food. It’s worth making extra to see a smile on his face,” Erica said after Jack disappeared. “He’s been moping for days.”

  “Really?” Olivia couldn’t imagine Jack moping over anyone.

  “Don’t go getting a big head, but yes. Have mercy on us both and stay the night. We about came to blows earlier.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  Erica waved her hand. “All is forgiven if you sex him back into a good mood.”

  “I’ll do my best.” Olivia pulled reading material out of her bag in an attempt to hide her embarrassment. She’d told Erica she and Jack were having sex, but that didn’t mean she was comfortable talking about it. Turnabout, she decided, was fair play.

  “Speaking of moods, I talked to Lyle the other night.” Erica kept her back to Olivia and turned the water on to wash her hands. Olivia waited patiently for her to finish. “He didn’t tell Tommy about the wind study.”

  Erica jerked her head around. “How do you know?”

  “He told me, and Tommy confirmed it. Jack applied for a permit for the tower. Someone involved with STS must have—”

  “STS?” Erica asked.

  “Stop the Slaughter. It’s the coalition to stop the ski development at Bear Stream. My brother’s in charge of STS, so when someone spotted the permit, they assumed it was the developer and told Tommy.”

  Erica wiped her hands on a dishrag. “I accused Lyle of telling Tommy, but he didn’t tell me about the permit. He let me believe it was him.”

  “My guess is he wanted you to believe in him without having to be told.” When Erica lifted her eyes, Olivia recognized the look as the one she’d just seen on Jack’s face. “Lyle’s as proud as any other man on the planet. He’s also fair and forgiving. I imagine an apology would make things right.”

  “I hate apologizing, but I hate worse that I was wrong. I should have known he wouldn’t tattle on Jack.”

  “He’s got power at the cabin. I know for a fact he’s planning on spending the night there tonight. It’s a nice night for a walk. We could do your lesson later.”

  “No. I want to do the lesson and have dinner. I’ll walk over and apologize later.”
r />   “Are you stalling?” Olivia asked.

  “No, I’m planning. I figure you and Jack would like to be alone after dinner since he practically swallowed you whole earlier.”

  Olivia rubbed her forehead. “I really don’t like talking about this.”

  “Then you know how I feel about apologizing. Some things you have to do, like it or not.”

  ***

  Jack slipped his hand up Olivia’s leg and chuckled as she gasped and nearly choked. She masked it with a cough while reaching under the table and shoving his hand away.

  Erica stood up. “Okay, that does it. I don’t mind talking about the fact that you two have sex, but I don’t want to watch it.” She carried her dishes to the sink. “I’ll take you up on your offer to do the dishes, Olivia. If they’re not done when I get back, I’ll understand you got sidetracked.”

  “Where are you going?” Jack asked. He hadn’t meant to chase his sister away, but his need to touch Olivia was too strong.

  “I have to see a man about an apology.” She pulled a plastic container from the cabinet, filled it with chowder, and grabbed the rest of the beer bread. When she turned toward the door, Jack reached for Olivia’s chair. He grumbled when Olivia lifted her leg and blocked him.

  “Erica?” Olivia called and Erica stopped at the door. “Lyle secured the bank on his side of the river and added some rock where it dipped in the middle. Wear those new rain boots you’ve got by the back door and be careful crossing when it gets dark.”

  “Thanks, Mom,” Erica called and slammed the door.

  “I thought she’d never leave,” Jack said and dove for Olivia’s neck. If he didn’t smell her soon, he might combust.

  “You weren’t exactly being subtle.”

  “She was as eager to leave as we were to have her gone. I don’t mind an audience, but I don’t want to have to be quiet.”

  “I do mind an audience,” Olivia said. “And I don’t like her feeling uncomfortable.”

  “She’s fine. Let her go fix things with Lyle.” He lifted her off her chair and placed her on the table.

  “We can’t go to the bedroom?” she asked.

  “I thought you didn’t want to be a foregone conclusion.” He stepped inside her open legs and reached behind her to push the dishes out of the way. “I want you sprawled naked on this table. I’m as hungry for you as I’ve ever been for a meal.”

  “Let me stack the dishes in the kitchen. They’re going to fall off the table.”

  “I don’t care. I want you. A few broken dishes won’t stop me from having you.”

  She leaned back when he cruised his hands over her breasts. If she didn’t hurry, he would rip the material from her body. “I don’t know why your caveman routine is so appealing,” she said on a moan. “I shouldn’t be so willing to do whatever you ask.”

  “Whatever I ask?”

  She sat up, gripped his head, and wrapped her legs around him, trapping him inside the cocoon of her body. He felt something weave itself around him, as elusive to catch as smoke. “Anything. I’ll do anything to have you. All you have to do is ask.”

  Love me. The words erupted from his heart, shot up his aching throat, and melted on his tongue before he could say them. He wouldn’t ask. For a man who’d made his living—his life—on taking risks, he finally found one too dangerous. “Give yourself to me,” he said instead. “I want everything you can give me.”

  She nipped at his lips. “I’m yours. I’m yours, Jack.” She clawed at his clothes, pulling buttons, his belt, the zipper on his jeans.

  He couldn’t say what his heart felt, but he could show her. The more frantic she became, the more his blood thickened and his pulse beat for her. He trapped her clever hands behind her back and took over, savoring where he’d meant to ravish, drawing out her pleasure instead of rushing into her warmth. He would tell her with his body what he couldn’t say with words.

  She bowed back when he lifted the dress over her head and flicked at the clasp on her bra. Still holding her hands, he took one taut nipple into his mouth and then the other until she was writhing in a harmonized rhythm. Her skin was so soft, so alive under his fingers and lips. He’d asked for everything and she gave it and more.

  She let out a surprised laugh when he lifted her. “Where are we going?”

  He carried her to his room. “The bed. If I have to go back here for a condom, you’re coming with me. Unless you want the table?”

  “I want you,” she said as her hands burrowed into his hair. “Any where, any time, any way you want.”

  “Yes,” he said. “Yes, yes, and yes.” He turned on the light on his bedside table and fished a condom out of the drawer. Before he could sheath himself, she grabbed the condom and tossed it onto the bed.

  “Let me,” she said and cruised those lips over him.

  The scent of her wound up and surrounded him in a dizzying haze as she devoured him with her lips and her hands. Everywhere she touched, he trembled. Everything inside of him went thick and heavy. Emotions, never set free, bubbled up and rained over him. “Olivia.” Her name was all he could say, all he could think as she brought him higher than he’d ever soared before.

  Impatient and teetering, he flipped her over, grabbed the condom, and was inside of her before she destroyed him with her taunting. Something just out of reach floated closer, teasing him as he drove them both nearly insane with his slow, methodical pace. He couldn’t rush, didn’t want to end the torture too soon and lose hope as he grasped for the elusive prize. With Olivia, the pinnacle didn’t feel like an ending, but a beginning, an opening of a door long shut. Knowing he couldn’t turn back, he gave and gave and gave until he poured himself into her with a deafening cry.

  She quivered beneath him, her breath coming in pants. “Jack.” She pulled his head up from where he’d buried it in her hair. “Jack.” She showered him with kisses. His nose, his forehead, his ears and cheeks. She nipped at his jaw and held his head, searching for the answer to what made them feel so completely connected, so indelibly in tune.

  As sanity returned, he knew he’d turned a corner. It was Olivia. Olivia was the answer.

  Chapter 45

  Lyle couldn’t believe how far he’d come since his decision to fix up the old hunting cabin. What had seemed like an overwhelming endeavor sat almost fully realized. Light blazed from every fixture and the hum of a refrigerator buzzed like music to his ears.

  Dodge slapped him on the shoulder. “Well, you’re just about there. When will you move in for good?”

  “There’s no rush, but I’m anxious to fill this place with furniture.”

  “What furniture?” Dodge asked.

  “I’ve got a bedroom suite. Mom said I could have the old couch in her office since she wants a new one.”

  Dodge’s brows shot beneath the brim of his cowboy hat. “Oh, she did, did she?”

  Lyle knocked his elbow into Dodge’s side. “You don’t want me sitting on the floor, now do you?”

  “I’m fine with it. Apparently your mom’s not.” Dodge scratched the back of his neck. “I guess I’m going to be stuck getting that old thing out of her office and over here.”

  “I’ll help,” Lyle said.

  “You’re darn right you will. Your mom promised I wouldn’t have to move any furniture. I should have known she was telling you one thing and me another. Story of my life.”

  Lyle only shook his head. His mom, from the first moment they met, had exasperated Dodge. Everyone knew he’d move heaven and earth to make her happy.

  “You okay on food? Your mom’s got a big pot of chili going back at home.”

  “I’m good. I’ve got peanut butter and jelly.”

  “You’re passing up chili for pb&j?”

  “I want to get the kitchen clean now that the appliances are in. Tell mom once the fridge is cold, she can send leftovers my way.”

  “I don’t think I’ll have to say anything for that to happen.”

  A knock at the ope
n door had them both spinning around. Lyle’s mouth hung open at the sight of Erica holding an armful of food. “Hi,” she said as her cheeks turned a delightful shade of pink.

  “Hi,” Lyle said back. “I didn’t hear you come over.”

  “I wasn’t sneaking. I don’t mean to interrupt.”

  “You’re not. Erica, this is Dodge, my stepdad.”

  Dodge held out his hand but ended up patting her shoulder when he realized her hands were full. “Nice to meet you, Erica.” Dodge turned around and gave Lyle a wink. “I’m gone. Your mom’s chili is calling my name.”

  Erica stepped tentatively inside to let Dodge pass. “He looks like a movie cowboy.” She watched him saunter to his truck.

  Lyle smiled. “He’s a cowboy, all right, and he’ll love it when I tell him you said so.”

  “Don’t tell him! I was just making conversation.”

  “What have you got there?” Lyle tipped his head toward the plastic container in one hand and the bag of bread dangling from the other. His stomach grumbled.

  “Chowder. I made too much, and our fridge is full. Olivia said you had power and were spending the night. Figured you wouldn’t turn it down.”

  “You figured right.” He reached for the container and their fingers brushed. Her eyes flew to his at the sensation of skin touching skin. At that moment, he knew every second of frustration she’d caused since walking into his life was worth the aggravation. “Have you eaten?”

  “Yes, sort of. I started, and then Jack and Olivia were all over each other, so I got out there fast.”

  He reached for the container after nabbing the bread from her hand. “You want some more?”

  She looked around. With her hands empty, she didn’t seem to know what to do with them. She crossed her arms, then dropped them to her side, and finally shoved her hands in the back pockets of her jeans. “No, but you go ahead. I can hear your stomach growling from here.”

  Lyle didn’t need to be told twice. He grabbed a plastic spoon from a small stash he kept in the drawer and dove right into the container. “Wow, that’s good. And hot.”