“Just be aware that you might have met your match,” she replied.
As they stepped out of the carriage house he noticed that the sun had disappeared beneath a thick layer of clouds and the air felt colder than it had before.
What he needed was a good old-fashioned blizzard that would make Melissa stay long enough for him to get her to agree what he wanted.
But Henry knew there were two things he couldn’t control. The weather was the first and apparently Melissa was the second.
It began to snow at nine o’clock that evening. Melissa stood at her bedroom window and stared out in dismay. If this kept up there was no way she could leave after breakfast in the morning like she’d planned.
She checked on the boys, who were sleeping soundly, then went back down the stairs where she knew Henry was probably having a glass of scotch. Funny, after such a brief time she’d begun to know his habits. He usually sat in the living room to unwind after his mother excused herself for bed.
Sure enough, he was seated in his chair, a glass of scotch at his side as he stared at the lights still twinkling on the Christmas tree. He smiled when she appeared in the doorway. “How about a glass of wine?”
“That sounds nice,” she agreed and sat on the sofa while he went to the bar and poured her drink.
It was odd, anytime she was near him a sizzle of anticipation raced through her and yet she was also comfortable with him. He was an easy man to be around, easy to talk to and share things with.
As he handed her the glass of wine, she again wondered if somehow somebody had hurt him in the past. Had somebody made him believe that he had nothing to offer a woman except for his bank account and a lavish lifestyle? His money seemed to be the only bargaining chip he knew how to use to get the things he wanted in life.
“Looks like your plans to take off tomorrow morning might have to be postponed,” he said as he returned to his chair.
“Don’t look so smug about it,” she replied teasingly. “Actually, I’m hoping it stops soon and the roads will be all right for travel by morning.”
“And I’m hoping it snows until March and you’re forced to stay here and I’ll have all that time to convince you to move into the carriage house.”
She laughed. “You’re positively relentless.” She took a sip of her wine and eyed him curiously. “Tell me why you’re such a cynic when it comes to love. Haven’t you ever been in love before?”
“The last time I was in love I was in seventh grade. Her name was Angela and I was absolutely crazy about her.” He took a drink of his scotch and then continued. “It took me months to get up the nerve to ask her to a school dance that was coming up.”
Melissa sensed a sad tale ahead and there was nothing worse than young love scorned. “Did she go to the dance with you?”
He smiled, and she saw a hint of sadness, a whisper of loneliness in the depths of his eyes. “She did. She told me she knew I was rich and if I’d buy her a gold bracelet she’d go with me.”
“So you bought her the bracelet?” A tiny pang pieced Melissa’s heart, a pain for the boy he’d been who had learned early that his worth was in his wallet.
He nodded. “Bought her the bracelet, took her to the dance and thought it was the beginning of a wonderful love match. Then when I took her home that night she told me that she’d only gone out with me for the bracelet and that I shouldn’t bother her anymore.” He smiled again and this time it was the smile of the cynic he’d become. “That was my first and only experience with love.”
“That’s horrible,” she exclaimed.
He shrugged. “It was a long time ago. Tell me about the man you were dating before we met that night. Were you in love with him?”
“I believed I was at the time.” She thought of Tom, who she’d once thought she would marry. There had been a time when any thought of him brought pain, but all she felt now was relief that she hadn’t married a man who had cheated on her, a man who hadn’t valued her.
“I loved what I thought we had. I loved the idea of getting married and building a family. I loved the idea of waking up with the same man I went to bed with day after day, year after year. We’d dated for over two years and it had become comfortable. I just assumed we’d take the next step and get married but now I’m glad we didn’t. He didn’t love me the way I wanted to be loved.”
“Mindlessly, desperately,” Henry said.
“Exactly,” she replied, surprised that he’d remembered she’d said that before.
They fell silent, but it was a comfortable quiet. Melissa sipped her wine and found her gaze going again and again to him.
He was such an attractive man with sharp, bold features and that sexy cleft in his chin. But it wasn’t his physical qualities that drew her. She loved the teasing light that so often lit his eyes. She loved the respect and caring he showed to his mother. He was a good man and he would make a wonderful role model for her children.
“I think I’ll call it a night,” she finally said. “I’m still hoping to be able to get home in the morning.” She stood and finished the last of her wine, then headed for the kitchen to place her glass in the sink.
“I think I’ll call it a night, too,” he said and followed behind her into the kitchen. “Jimmy is coming over tomorrow and we’re going to sit down and discuss what’s been going on and what we’re going to do about it.” He placed his glass in the sink next to hers.
“What can you do about it? You don’t know who is after you.” She looked at him worriedly. “Even if the person is just trying to scare you, there’s nothing that says he won’t make a mistake and actually manage to shoot you.” She was shocked by the fear that rocketed through her, fear for him.
“Yeah, that thought has entered my mind, too,” he said dryly. “I’m sure Jimmy and I can put our heads together and come up with a plan to figure out who is responsible and get them behind bars. Don’t you worry about it. I’ll get it all taken care of.”
“I can’t help but worry about it,” she replied. “You’re now a part of my life.” Emotion began to well up inside her. “I mean, I don’t want my boys to grow up without their father,” she said hurriedly.
As they left the kitchen and headed for the stairs, Melissa tried to get her emotions under control. It was true, she didn’t want anything to happen to him for the twins’ sake. But it was also true that as a woman she’d be devastated if anything happened to him.
He turned off the Christmas tree lights then together they climbed the stairs. As always, the first thing Melissa did when she reached the top of the stairs was go into the boys’ bedroom to make sure they were still peacefully sleeping.
Henry followed her in and a soft smile played on his face as he looked first at Joey and then at James. That smile, filled with such love, with such tenderness, created a warmth inside her.
She would never have to worry about her sons being loved. If anything ever happened to her, Henry would make sure they not only had what they needed to survive, but he’d make sure their world had the love he refused to believe in for himself.
“Melissa.” He grabbed her hand as they left the room.
She knew immediately what he wanted, what she wanted from him. For months after that night of the blizzard she’d thought about the pleasure she’d found in his arms.
She wanted it again. She wanted him again and she could tell by the heat in his eyes that he wanted the same.
She stepped closer to him and raised her face to him and he took the unspoken invitation by crashing his mouth down on hers.
His mouth was hot hunger against hers and she felt as if she’d been waiting for this since the moment he’d first opened the door to her.
Allowing him to deepen the kiss, she leaned into him, wanting him to have no question in his mind that she wanted him.
His tongue danced with hers as his hands slid down her back and pulled her hips into his. His arousal was evident and fed the flames of desire inside her.
T
he kiss seemed to last forever before he finally dropped his hands from around her and stepped back. “You look beautiful in that blue sweater, but I remember how beautiful you looked naked. I want you, Melissa. This has nothing to do with anything but you and me.”
“I want you, too,” she said, her voice a husky whisper.
“You know I’m not making any promises. I need you to understand that there’s no future with me. I’m not the man to give you your happily ever after.”
“As far as I’m concerned, tonight you’re a handsome cowboy keeping me warm on a wintery night and nothing more,” she replied. His eyes flamed as he pulled her into the bedroom and back into his arms.
Chapter 9
This time his kiss left her breathless and aching. When he pulled her sweater over her head she was more than ready for him. There was no embarrassment as she stood before him in her wispy bra. The light from her bathroom spilled into the bedroom and she could see the flames that lit his eyes while he gazed at her.
Every bone in her body weakened and she reached out to unfasten the buttons on his shirt. The heat from his body radiated to her, urging her to unbutton his shirt and sweep it off his broad shoulders.
He was beautiful, with his chiseled chest and flat abdomen. He pulled her back into his arms and as he kissed her he reached around her to unfasten her bra. He tugged the straps off her shoulders and when it fell away he embraced her again and she delighted in the feel of his bare skin against hers.
“I’ve wanted this since the moment you arrived,” he said, his breath hot against her throat.
“I’ve wanted it, too,” she confessed.
Within minutes they were both naked and beneath the blankets in bed. Even though she’d only made love with him once, his skin felt just the way she remembered, warm and firm as he pulled her against him. The familiar scent of him filled her head and she knew any other man who ever wore that particular brand of cologne would always evoke memories of Henry.
As his kisses made her mindless, his hands cupped her breasts and a low moan escaped her lips. He pulled his mouth from hers and looked down at her. “You are so beautiful,” he whispered.
She felt beautiful beneath his gaze. That was part of Henry’s gift. He’d made her feel beautiful and desirous that night of the blizzard, and he made her feel that way now.
He lowered his mouth to capture the erect tip of one of her breasts and she tangled her fingers in his rich, dark hair. Sweet sensations sizzled through her.
He teased her nipple, swirling his tongue and using his teeth to lightly nip. Melissa closed her eyes as all concerns about the future melted away beneath the heat of his caresses. She couldn’t think about anything but him and the magic of his touch.
She ran her hands down the length of his broad back, loving the play of muscle beneath her fingertips. She felt safe with him, not just physically protected, but emotionally as well. She felt as if she could say anything to him, tell him her deepest, darkest secrets and he’d keep those secrets safe.
The love she’d tried not to feel for him welled up inside her, a love she knew would never be reciprocated. But at the moment that didn’t matter. She had this night with him and she knew it had to be enough for her. She wouldn’t allow this to happen again but she intended to enjoy every moment of it.
“This is much nicer than a hardwood floor beneath the scratchy blanket from my truck,” he said, his voice thick with desire.
“I have very fond memories of that scratchy blanket and the hardwood floor.” She could speak no more as his mouth once again claimed hers.
Every inch of her skin was electrified, for each and every place he touched, he kissed, sizzled in response.
His heartbeat was strong and quick against hers, the heart that didn’t believe in love, the one that refused to believe that anyone could love him for himself.
She slid her lips down his neck, wanting him to feel loved, to feel as desired as he made her feel. Her mouth moved down his chest and she licked first one of his nipples, then the other.
He gasped, a quick intake of breath that made her even bolder. He rolled over on his back as she moved down the length of his body, kissing and nipping and teasing his fevered skin with her lips.
Tangling his hands in her hair, his entire body tensed as she kissed his inner thigh. He was fully erect and although this was something she’d rarely done for Tom, she wanted the utter intimacy with Henry.
As she took him into her mouth she let out a low groan and every muscle in his body tensed. “Melissa,” he moaned as his hands tightened in her hair.
She loved the strained sound of her name on his lips, loved the pleasure she knew she was giving to him. But it didn’t take long for him to push her away and roll to his side.
“Now, it’s my turn,” he said, his eyes gleaming with promise. He ran his hand down her body and rubbed against her. “I want you gasping for air and crying out my name.”
As he moved his fingers against the very center of her, a rising tide of pleasure began to build inside her. She arched her hips up to meet his touch, needing release, wanting the wave to consume her.
And then it did, crashing through her as she cried his name over and over again. She shuddered with the force of it and tears filled her eyes. But he wasn’t finished yet. He rolled over and grabbed a condom from the nightstand and while she was still weak and gasping, he moved between her legs and entered her.
For a moment neither of them moved. The pleasure of him filling her up was so intense she feared if she moved she’d lose it again.
He froze, his arms holding him up from her chest. From the light shining in from her bathroom she could see his features. His eyes were closed, his neck muscles corded as if he were under enormous strain.
He opened his eyes and looked down at her, then slowly slid his hips back and thrust forward. That single slow movement broke everything loose between them.
Fast and furious, he stroked into her and she encouraged him by clutching his buttocks and pulling him into her.
Lost. She was lost in him and once again she felt the wild tide rushing in. As it washed over her she felt him tense and moan against her, knowing it had claimed him, too.
He collapsed on her and she wrapped her arms around his back, wishing she could hold him there forever. But all too quickly he got up and padded into the adjoining bathroom.
Melissa turned her head to one side and fought a sudden rush of tears. Of all the foolish, reckless things she’d ever done in her life, this was probably the worst. She’d chosen to make love to a man who apparently wasn’t capable of loving her back.
MysteryMom couldn’t have known that she was sending Melissa into a new heartbreak. The woman had probably simply wanted to unite a man with his sons, ease the burden of single parenting for Melissa. She’d accomplished that. Melissa would no longer be alone in the task of raising her sons. She knew in her heart, in her soul, that Henry would always be a support and help in the parenting process.
But MysteryMom couldn’t have known that Melissa would fall mindlessly, desperately in love with Henry. She couldn’t have known that Melissa would repeat the same mistake that she’d made on that snowy night over a year ago. At least he’d used a condom and there wouldn’t be another accidental pregnancy.
As he came out of the bathroom she assumed he’d leave to go to his bedroom, but instead he surprised her by sliding back beneath the sheets and taking her in his arms. He kissed her on the temple, a sweet, soft kiss that touched her more than anything that had occurred between them.
“Definitely better in a bed,” he said. He lay on his back and pulled her into his side. His hand stroked her hair as she placed her head on his chest. “I really hate to see you take off tomorrow.”
“It’s time, Henry. It’s been a wonderful holiday but now it’s over and I have to get back to my real life.” It was more important than ever that she leave here as soon as possible. Her heart had gotten involved in a way that already wo
uld ache when she left. More time here would only make the ache sharper when she did go home.
She raised her head to look at him. “You know I’ll do whatever I can to make it easy on you to see the boys.”
“I know that.” He raised his hand and trailed a finger down the side of her cheek, across her lower lip. “I can’t think of a better woman to be the mother of my boys.”
The tears that had hovered just under the surface sprang to her eyes at his words. “You’re just saying that now because you have me naked in bed with you,” she replied with a choked little laugh.
“You know that’s not true,” he chided. “You have the values I want the boys to have. I know you’ll teach them to have integrity, to have strong but gentle hearts.”
She ran her hand across his chest and placed it on his heart. Her last thought before she fell asleep was that the one thing she would teach her boys was to believe in the power and wonder of love, something apparently nobody had ever taught Henry.
Henry stood at the window in his study and watched the snow swirling in the air. It had snowed about two inches overnight, effectively postponing Melissa’s plans to leave first thing that morning.
He was now waiting for Jimmy to arrive. Jimmy had called earlier to tell Henry that the snow wouldn’t keep him from his appointment.
Staring at the carriage house in the distance, Henry thought of the night before. Making love to Melissa had been amazing and he’d been in no hurry to leave her bed.
Henry couldn’t remember the last time he’d slept with a woman in his arms. He’d never stayed the night with Hilary, had always preferred the comfort of being alone in his own bed. But sleeping with Melissa had been not just comfortable, but comforting in a way he’d never imagined. It had been nice to feel the warmth of her next to him as he’d drifted off to sleep. And it had been equally as nice to wake up with her curled in his arms.
Surely these crazy feelings he was developing for her were nothing more than gratitude. After all, she’d given him the greatest gift a man could get—children.
The Cowboy's Secret Twins Page 9
