So Sensitive

by Anne Rainey

  She took a sip of her iced tea and thought of how nice it would’ve been to grow up with siblings and two loving parents. “It sounds like a pretty great childhood.”

  After finishing off his last bite, Wade sat back in his chair. The black T-shirt he wore only seemed to enhance his powerful chest and hard abs. “Dad owned his own landscaping business. He made a good living with it. Mom was a nurse. She retired last year, after Dad died.”

  Gracie immediately felt bad for prying. She reached across the table and covered his hand with hers. “I’m so sorry.”

  Wade turned his hand palm up and entwined their fingers. “That’s okay. I’ve dealt with my grief. It was a little harder on Mom and Deanna. I think both of them walked around in a daze those first few months.”

  “How did he die?” she asked, then quickly added, “if you don’t mind my asking.”

  “A brain aneurism. He didn’t suffer. I’m grateful for that. The hard part lately has been talking Mom into sel ing the house. She rattles around in that big two-story. We want her to have something smal er, to be close to other people so she won’t feel so alone.”

  She remembered Wade’s brother and sister coming over the day before, and guilt assailed her. “The apartment you were supposed to look at for your mom. Oh, Wade, I’m so sorry. You should have gone with them.”

  He shrugged. “It’s okay. Deanna told me it’s a dump. Back to the drawing board. We need to find something soon, though, because Mom has someone interested in the house.”

  Gracie thought of her own place and said, “What about my apartment complex? It’s a nice neighborhood. Er, until this whole nasty business with my stalker, I mean. Before this al started I never had a single problem there.”

  His thumb stroked over her knuckles, and Gracie nearly lost track of the conversation. “Not a bad idea. I’l let Deanna know. She’s been sort of heading up this project. She’s a little protective of Mom. So far Deanna has nixed every apartment we’ve looked at for one reason or another. I’m starting to think she’s not ready to let go. She grew up in that house. It’s hard to move on.”

  She understood, al too wel . She’d hated when her father had sold her grandmother’s smal house. It wasn’t anything grand, but it was her grandma’s and that made it special to Gracie. “Al her memories of your dad are tied to that house.”

  He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Yeah, pretty much.”

  She had a feeling he was covering his own grief. “What about you? Are you ready to move on?”

  A subtle tightening of his fingers on hers was the only indication that Gracie had struck a chord. “It’l be hard, but I’l always have Dad in my heart. It’s Mom I’m worried about. The more she stays out there, the more she becomes a hermit. I’m afraid she’s withdrawing.”

  “She won’t.”

  “You sound pretty sure of that.”

  “She has you, Dean, and Deanna. She has something to live for. Maybe she just needs to feel needed again.”

  He sat up straighter, giving her his ful attention. “What do you mean?”

  Gracie wasn’t in familiar territory. After al , what did she know about families? “Wel , I don’t know her, but she’s a mother, and she used to be a nurse. It seems like she’s the caregiver type. Maybe if she thought someone needed her again it would help.”

  He frowned and released her. “Her kids need her. She’s our mother.”

  Gracie tucked a wayward lock of hair behind her ear and attempted to explain. “Her kids are grown, on their own and thriving. Her husband is gone. Her job is finished. That’s a lot to take in, Wade. Maybe she just needs a new purpose.”

  He studied her, not speaking. Gracie was terribly afraid she’d overstepped the bounds of their relationship.

  “I see what you mean,” he said at last. “Stil , I have no idea what would make her feel needed.”

  Gracie stood and brought their plates to the sink, mul ing over the idea. When she turned around and leaned against the counter, she said,

  “There’s always charity work. She’s a nurse; maybe she could be of some use at the women’s shelter downtown. The way you talk about her, I think she’d make a great counselor.”

  Wade left his chair and came toward her. He tucked his hands in the front pockets of his jeans, his expression pensive. “Helping women who’ve been in abusive relationships?”

  “Think about it for a second. From what you tel me, she has a great sense of self-worth. A lot of women could real y benefit from talking with a woman like that.”

  He smiled, then took her face between his large hands. “You’re amazing.” He dipped his head and kissed her. It was light and fleeting, and she wanted so much more. “I’m going to talk to Mom about this. I think she’l love the idea.”

  “I’m glad I could help.” Gracie didn’t say it aloud, but she was grateful that she could do something for him for a change.

  His finger feathered over her bottom lip. Gracie melted. “You make me lose my mind,” she softly admitted. “I can’t seem to think straight around you.” He touched his lips to hers again. Soft, coasting back and forth with barely-there strokes. When his tongue darted out, a shiver of excitement raced the length of her spine. He was doing it to her once more. To be in his presence was to be a living, breathing flame of desire and need. When he pul ed back and stared at her, a frown marring his brow, Gracie worried she’d somehow disappointed him.

  “I want to take you somewhere today.”

  Gracie thought of her destroyed apartment and wanted to groan. She had a ton to do. For once in her life, Gracie didn’t want to be the responsible one. “Where do you want to take me?”

  Wade winked, and her bones liquefied. “I want to take you to the shooting range. I want to show you how to handle a gun.”

  His life as a PI fascinated her, but she wasn’t comfortable with guns. “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.”

  “I have a .38 caliber Ruger. It wil be a nice size for you. Easy to handle. Give it a try, baby. Please?”

  “This is because of my stalker.”

  His expression hardened. “Damn straight. To tel the truth, I’d rather you were licensed to carry, but until we can get that taken care of, I’d feel better if you at least knew a little more about guns.” He glanced down at her cast and frowned. “You can’t shoot, not with your wrist fractured, but I can show you a few things.”

  She pushed out of his arms and moved away from the sink. “It’s not going to come to that, Wade. It won’t.” Even as she said the words, she knew she was fooling herself.

  He took a step toward her. She took a step away. He sighed and pushed his fingers through his thick, dark hair. “Hopeful y not, but I want you safe, Gracie. That’s my first priority here.”

  She could feel herself caving, and it pushed her frustration level to an al -time high. “You’re very pushy, do you know that?”

  “Determined, baby, just determined,” Wade growled, as he came closer. Gracie moved away. He chuckled and stalked her around the kitchen. “I wil catch you, and when I do I’l have to punish you.”

  Gracie had no idea what he had in mind, but knowing Wade it would be the sort of punishment she’d only read about in her romance books

  —and secretly craved. “Stay away from me, you perv.” She darted toward the stairs and heard him coming up behind her. She was going to let him catch her, but that didn’t mean she had to make it easy on him.

  “Never.”

  Gracie heard the dark, sexy tone and felt hot breath against her ear. As she reached the first step leading to the upstairs loft, Gracie glanced around her shoulder and yelped when she came face-to-face with an extremely turned on dark-haired hunk. Her hunk. He grinned and wrapped his hands around her waist, lifting her easily into the air. “Time for your punishment, sweetheart.”

  She laughed as he cradled her in his arms and took her up the stairs. “Think you’re man enough, do you?”

  “You’re my woman,”
he murmured. “I’l always see to your wants, your needs.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck, but as his words sank in, she tensed. The first thing that popped into her mind came tumbling out of her mouth. “Why would you say that? It’s only been a few days, Wade.”

  His gaze on her intensified; his arms tightened a fraction. “I don’t give a damn. You’re mine.”

  She frowned, unable to think straight. His heat and woodsy male scent fil ed her senses, blocking out al rational thought. “Don’t, Wade. It’s too much, too fast.”

  He stopped on the upstairs landing and stared down at her. “Don’t you know that time doesn’t matter? I’ve dated other women, Gracie. Some of those relationships went on for several years at a time. I’ve never felt the type of connection with any of them that I feel with you.” He paused, and Gracie held her breath, afraid of what he might say next. “Can you honestly tel me this is just sex to you? That you don’t feel something for me?”

  Gracie had no words. Only feelings. In truth, she felt too much. Gracie was terrified she was fal ing in love with Wade. “It’s not just sex,” she admitted, her voice not quite steady.

  “I’ve been attracted to you for a long time, but somewhere along the line, I admit, it became more.” His lips curved upward, a sure sign she’d just given the devil his due. Gracie smacked his chest. “Don’t smile. I’m not saying that’s a good thing. I don’t know how to trust a man. What’s more, relationships boggle me.”

  “This is new territory for me, too. We can figure it out together. Just know that the instant you took that nightgown off in your apartment and showed me those pretty piercings, you became mine.”

  Gracie wanted to hear him tel her he loved her. That his heart, his soul, belonged to her. At the same time, a part of her wasn’t ready for that monumental step. She was very much afraid she might never be ready. For now, Gracie vowed, she would enjoy the beauty of having Wade want her as badly as she wanted him.

  Once Gracie and Wade were in his room, their lips met again. Gracie’s fears drifted away. Al that mattered was Wade and this moment.

  It was an hour’s drive to the shooting range, and by the time they arrived Gracie was nervous as hel . How had she let him talk her into handling a gun? Wade parked his truck and turned off the engine. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and as always his strength calmed her. It was a little scary how easily he did that.

  “Ready?”

  Gracie looked out the windshield at the large, tan building that housed the shooting range. It was intimidating as hel . “Not real y.”

  He squeezed her shoulder. “It’s going to be fine. Trust me.”

  “If you say so.” She kept her reservations to herself as she unbuckled her seat belt and turned toward him.

  “I do.” Gently, Wade kissed her; the tender brush of his lips nearly had her forgetting where they were. Nearly. He opened his door and stepped out, and Gracie distracted herself by watching him make his way around the front of the truck. His powerful body the stuff of fantasies.

  Her mind flashed back to the hour they’d spent in his bed after lunch. He’d teased her to a fever pitch, then very skil ful y showed her just how stimulating a spanking could be. Already she wanted him to do it again.

  Now, dressed in a black T-shirt, a black leather jacket, and a pair of worn jeans, Wade looked good enough to eat. Damn, would she ever get enough of him? The way he affected her, it was downright mind-blowing. She’d never been so starved for a man before, and yet just watching Wade walk had her pussy creaming.

  Wade pul ed her door open and wrapped his hands around her waist, helping her to the ground. She waited as he pushed the seat up and took out a large black case tucked behind. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know what it contained.

  They both signed in, but Gracie also had to fil out some paperwork since she wasn’t a member. She noticed how wel Wade knew his way around the place. He spoke to the guys working there as if they were old friends. After paying, Wade opened the large black bag he carried and brought out two sets of safety goggles and earmuffs. He handed one set to her. “Put those on.”

  Gracie didn’t have to be asked twice. After they both had the protective gear in place, Wade pushed open a door that led outside. Confused, Gracie grabbed his arm. He arched a brow and mouthed the word “what.” She pointed to his earmuffs. He got the message and pul ed them away from his head. Gracie did the same. “What’s wrong, baby? Stil having second thoughts?”

  “No, but why are we going outside? I thought we’d be shooting inside.”

  He nodded. “We wil , but first I wanted to get some quick practice in using the rifle. I’m a little rusty.”

  She so didn’t like the sound of that. “Rusty as in shoot a toe off rusty?”

  He laughed. “Have a little faith, sweetheart.”

  Faith, trust, what was the difference? She was terrible at both. She placed the earmuffs back over her ears and nodded.

  He winked and led the way outside. “The range sits in a val ey,” he yel ed in order to be heard over the earmuffs. “The hil s provide protection when shooting at the targets.” He took her over to a long, narrow table where several people, men and women both, were already practicing.

  Wade handed her a long scope, but Gracie had no idea what to do with the thing.

  As if understanding her predicament, Wade shouted, “The target is four hundred yards away. You’l need that if you want to see where the bul et hits.”

  Gracie held the scope to her right eye and waited.

  Wade loaded the rifle with bul ets that were obscenely long as he took up position behind the table. He placed the gun on something that looked like a beanbag. After adjusting the bag a few times while he stared down the scope on the top of the rifle, Wade pul ed the trigger.

  Gracie jumped.

  Wade looked up at her and frowned. “I should have warned you,” he yel ed. “Even with the ear protection it can be startling.”

  Gracie waited for her heart to stop sprinting before yel ing, “I thought I was ready for it since other guns are going off, but I guess not.”

  Wade reached out and stroked her arm, soothing her frazzled nerves instantly. “Look into your spotting scope, sweetheart.”

  Gracie put it to her eye. It took her a second, but she final y found Wade’s target. “Wow, you’re good,” she cal ed out. The bul et hadn’t hit the center but the next ring out. She raised her eyes to his to find him grinning down at her. “What?”

  center but the next ring out. She raised her eyes to his to find him grinning down at her. “What?”

  Wade placed his palm beneath her chin and gently tugged her toward him. “I am very good.”

  He’d said the words close to her ear, his hot breath fanning the flames of her desire. When he touched his lips to hers, disarming her completely, she had to force herself not to lean into his body. Ah, if only they were alone. Unfortunately they weren’t. As she glanced around she noticed a few of the women checking Wade out. From head to toe. The twinge of jealousy skating down her spine took her by surprise.

  She pul ed away, and Wade’s eyebrows shot up in silent inquiry.

  She indicated their very public surroundings with a wave of her hand. “Behave,” she mouthed. Not exactly the reason she’d pul ed back, but he didn’t have to know that.

  He didn’t speak, simply stroked his thumb back and forth over her bottom lip. Gracie was hard-pressed to keep from moaning. When Wade resumed target practice, Gracie sighed in relief. Much more of his feathery touches, and she would’ve been dragging him off to his truck.

  The remainder of their time outside was spent in silence. Gracie was suitably impressed with Wade’s marksmanship. She should’ve known he would handle a rifle like a pro. After al , the man was damn good with his hands. Careful and precise. And while she wasn’t a gun enthusiast, she could see Wade took it al very seriously. He took his time, shooting the gun repeatedly.

  By the time they made their
way to the indoor range, Gracie wasn’t nearly as nervous. Maybe it was because Wade made her feel safe, or maybe it was because the .38 caliber Ruger was so much smal er than the daunting rifle he’d used. She didn’t know. Either way, handling the smal gun wasn’t nearly as difficult as she’d expected.

  Wade careful y walked her through the entire process. He demonstrated everything from where the safety was to how to load the clip. He showed her how to chamber a round and shoot. He even instructed her on how to check to see if the gun was loaded. She couldn’t do much with her cast, of course, but simply becoming familiar with the firearm, the weight and feel, was one step closer to feeling less vulnerable.

  Somehow Wade had known that Gracie needed that smal measure of comfort.

  How was it possible he knew her so wel in such a short time? She’d spent her entire life careful y keeping men at arm’s length. Without her even realizing it, Gracie had somehow let Wade around her defenses. He made her want more. A deeper connection. A life ful of love and laughter . . . with him.

  And that sent fear through her like nothing else.

  19

  “I can’t believe you cal ed everyone to help clean, Wade. You real y shouldn’t have done that.”

  “The more help we can get, the faster it’l go.” Wade picked up one of her torn books and careful y placed it on the pile with the rest of them.

  He wasn’t throwing them out, not until he had a chance to write down the title and author of each book destroyed. “Besides, that’s what friends are for. To lend a hand when needed. Might as wel get used to it, Gracie.”

  Wade watched Gracie stare out the front window. He fol owed her line of sight and noticed Cherry and Dante pul ing into Gracie’s apartment complex. Wade went to the door and opened it for them.

  “Cherry’s my friend,” Gracie said, her voice a little too shaky for his peace of mind, “but your brother and sister and Jonas, they’ve only just met me.” She turned to him. “Why would they want to help clean up this mess?”

  She was truly baffled, and it broke his heart. He closed the distance between them and took hold of her shoulders and noticed that her eyes were fil ed with tears. How she managed to keep them from fal ing down her cheeks was beyond him. The woman had strength and pride in spades. “Because you’re a sweet, loving, gentle person, sweetheart.” She started to speak, but he wouldn’t hear more protests. “You didn’t deserve what this asshole did to you. Stop acting as if you have to bear this burden alone. You aren’t alone, not anymore.”