The job, he reminded himself, that Noah Chandler had robbed him of.
And my sister is sleeping with this man.
The sound he made in his throat was not a happy one.
* * *
SUNDAY MORNING, before most people were awake, Noah ran to the top of Angel Butte and back home again. Early as it was, the day was promising to be hot. Draining a bottle of water, he thought about staining the now stripped woodwork in the two front bedrooms and couldn’t work up any enthusiasm. Better he wait until he had the floors sanded anyway. Last time he’d done the two jobs ass-backward, he’d had to touch up the stain.
He wondered what Cait was doing this weekend. The look of desperation he’d seen on her face a few times kept tormenting him. She couldn’t go for a run or head out for an aerobics class at the health club if she’d joined yet. Her new town house was gathering dust. As far as he knew, the only times she left her brother’s house or city hall was when she was with Colin, hidden behind the tinted windows in his SUV.
Or with me.
Would she rather have spent the weekend with him? The thought was insidious. If Colin didn’t talk, no one would know she was there. What would she have said if he’d asked her? Noah wondered. It wasn’t too late. What would she say if he called and asked her to spend the day with him?
Noah wished he knew whether she’d so much as given him a thought the past few days. If so, there was no reason she couldn’t have called him, was there? he asked himself defensively.
And do what? asked an irritating voice in his head. Invite you to hang out at her brother’s house?
This was a woman who had no privacy and damn few choices these days.
Guilt speared him. He dried himself, got dressed and went downstairs. He could have breakfast first. But his usual bowl of cereal didn’t sound very appealing. And maybe it was too early to call Cait, but he doubted she was staying up into the wee hours and sleeping late these days, either.
Even if she was up, he half expected her to let his call go to voice mail. That’s what he deserved. But instead she answered, although she didn’t sound all that excited.
“Noah.”
“Ah...wondered if you have plans today?”
“Nell and I thought we might prepare some dinners for the week.”
“Could I talk you into coming to brunch instead? I make damn good waffles.”
There was a really long silence. He braced himself.
“You know, this might be a good time for us to do the smart thing and call it quits.”
He didn’t like the echo of what he’d been telling himself. “No.”
“I’d swear Friday I saw you duck into Shirley Suh’s office because you saw me coming down the hall,” Cait said acidly.
He couldn’t stand Shirley, and Cait knew it.
“I don’t ‘duck,’” he protested, knowing he’d done exactly that.
Silence.
“Hell,” he growled, goaded. “I admit, I had some second thoughts.”
“And?” Cait McAllister could be as uncompromising as he was.
Noah closed his eyes. This whole conversation was outside his comfort zone. She was outside his comfort zone. But he’d seen that he had two choices: take the chance of being hurt beyond his wildest fears or let her go.
Too late.
Every muscle in his body had gone rigid. His SUV had gone off the road and hurtled toward a tree. He had the flicker of knowledge that he might not survive the collision.
“I may be slow,” he said, “but I eventually recognized it was the boy in me running scared.” He didn’t think he could finish the thought. Say, That’s the boy who was sure even his own parents didn’t really love him. The one who’d decided never to risk putting himself out there again, yearning for something impossible.
But he didn’t have to say any of that, because Cait would understand.
“I’m done with that,” he concluded.
Control, focus, ambition had been all-important to him. Two months ago he wouldn’t have been able to imagine letting go of them, making himself vulnerable. Knowing what he wanted most was out of his hands might kill him.
“I’m...beginning to realize how much I’ve listened to the little girl in me, too,” she said, softly, haltingly.
The distress in her voice reached right inside his chest and squeezed off the blood flow for a minute.
“I would love to have brunch with you, Noah.”
God. His whole body sagged with the intense relief.
If you’re going to jump, then do it, he told himself.
“So, how would you feel about packing enough to stay the night?” he asked.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
THE ALARM SOUNDED as if it needed to gargle.
Not quite awake, Cait puzzled over where she had spent the night. She hated being on the move like this, living out of a suitcase, but she had to be careful not to wear out any of her friends’ generosity. Usually she plugged in her own alarm clock, but...
The heavy, muscled arm that lay across her wasn’t part of her usual morning, either. She came awake abruptly, remembering. She wasn’t in Seattle; she was in Angel Butte. And she had spent the night with Noah, the second that week.
Colin wasn’t happy about it, although she had to believe he and Nell would like some time alone together, considering they hadn’t been married very long.
The arm tightened, and Noah nuzzled her nape. “Morning,” he murmured with a rasp that hadn’t yet cleared from his voice.
She tipped her head forward to give him better access. “Good morning.” She wriggled a little, enjoying the feel of his erection pressed against her butt. “You know we don’t have time for this.”
“Sure we do.” His big hand gently squeezed her breast, and she shivered. “I gave us an extra half an hour.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope. Planned ahead.”
She wasn’t averse. His hand smoothed over her rib cage and belly and slipped between her thighs. She moaned and let him work his magic. It didn’t take long until she wanted more, but when she started to roll to face him, he held her in place and nipped a sensitive spot on the side of her neck.
“I’m liking this.” His voice was edged with pleasure. He kept stroking her until her hips were moving involuntarily and he was rocking against her, too. “God, you feel good,” he said hoarsely, and then he pushed into her.
Cait’s back arched in a great spasm. Lovemaking with Noah had always been hard and urgent. This morning he seemed to be taking his time. Her eyes closed, and she savored the sensations. She gripped his strong forearm even as his fingers still played between her legs. He used his teeth and lips on her neck and the muscles that ran to her shoulder, stinging her with tiny bites, then soothing the skin with a damp lick. He sucked until she knew she’d show the mark, but right this minute she didn’t care.
He began moving faster, driving harder, deeper. Finally he groaned and half lifted her onto her knees, rising behind her to thrust in a powerful rhythm that sent her over the edge, her body shuddering in astonishing pleasure. With a long, guttural sound, he pulsed inside her, and as she sagged to the mattress he came down on top of her.
It was a minute before she noticed she couldn’t breathe. She squirmed. Noah grumbled in his throat and rolled off her, coming down on his back.
“Hell of a way to start the morning,” he said in a voice that was still rusty but obviously satisfied.
Cait struggled to turn over so she could see him. “Are we late?”
His mouth lifted in a smile that fleetingly made him handsome. “Five minutes to spare.”
“Did you give me a hickey?”
He lifted his head and inspected her. His lips curved. “Yeah, I guess I did.”
“I should give you one in revenge.”
He lifted his chin, baring his neck to her. “Have fun.”
She gave serious thought to it, but settled for making a face at him. “As nice as today is going to be, I’d look like an idiot wearing a turtleneck, even assuming I had one in my bag.” Not that she’d be outside in the beautiful June weather. “What will people think?”
His eyebrows rose. “That you’re having great sex?”
Cait sighed. She couldn’t argue with that. “Dibs on the first shower.”
He slapped her butt as she slipped out of bed. “I might get somewhere on the second bathroom if you weren’t keeping me so busy.”
Time for a saucy smile and a waggle of her hips as she headed for the hall. “One is enough as long as I get to go first.”
Having to climb into the claw-footed tub to shower had made it a challenge for two, one they’d overcome on Monday morning, since Noah hadn’t had the forethought to set the alarm for earlier. Unfortunately, they had not only used all the hot water, Cait had slipped and banged her knee painfully, leaving a bruise. On top of that, they’d been late arriving at city hall.
Or maybe that was fortunate, she thought now, massaging his shampoo into her hair. She was pretty sure nobody had seen them arrive together.
They weren’t going to get away with this for long. Because she had a bag in his Suburban, Noah would have to take her back to Colin’s that afternoon. Which meant they were both arriving and leaving together.
As she was stepping out of the shower and reaching for a towel, the bathroom door opened. Noah walked in. He was an impressive sight naked, solid and muscular. When her gaze finally made it up to his face, she saw that he had a strange expression.
“I didn’t use a condom.”
“I’m on the pill,” she said slowly, stunned to realize she hadn’t given a thought to a precaution she had never willingly dispensed with before. “Um...we could quit using condoms.”
Noah’s stare was unnerving. It was a long time before he gave a short nod. “All right.”
Leaving him to shower, she wondered if she’d freaked him out again. What had he thought, that he might have impregnated her? Cait was dismayed at the funny cramp she felt down low at the idea. What would it be like to make love with the hope of getting pregnant? Noah didn’t sound as if he’d ever want children. He’d looked really disturbed when he’d realized he’d forgotten the condom. Remembering the expression on his face hurt even though she knew they didn’t have that kind of relationship.
As if she had the slightest idea what kind of relationship they did have.
He was done with running scared, he’d said, without elaborating on what he’d been scared of. He had asked her to stay the night, knowing they were risking their relationship—for want of a better word—becoming public knowledge. That was the sum total of his commitment thus far.
She’d had an amazing time with him that week. He had been less guarded, letting her see some doubts and self-mockery he’d always hidden before. His sense of humor was more evident, too. And she couldn’t doubt his physical hunger for her.
Why was she even thinking like this? New life, independence, remember? No men? Shouldn’t that ring a bell? And, especially, no domineering men?
But, heaven help her, she was beginning to wonder if that description actually fit Noah, at least in the way she’d feared. Yes, of course he was bossy. Definitely impatient. He evaluated evidence and made decisions quickly and had little tolerance for the wait while other people caught up with him. Unlike Blake, he did listen, though, and even changed his mind based on new information. She hadn’t been able to help noticing that the people he had hired since winning the election were more capable and stronger-minded than the old-timers. That suggested he actively sought out managers likely to challenge him.
She thought about how much he seemed to enjoy arguing. Not once had he behaved as if she threatened his masculinity or sovereignty when she contradicted him or won an argument with superior firepower.
As she rolled thigh-high stockings up her legs, partly to cover the bathtub bruise that was still mostly purple, she reflected again on how much he had in common with her brother. Neither man would like hearing that, she knew; in fact, she could just imagine Noah’s expression if she suggested any such thing. But it was true. And what she’d seen was that Colin had two sides—the police captain who elevated guarded to ten-foot-thick stone walls with slits for pouring boiling oil on the enemy, and then Nell’s husband and Cait’s brother, a man who was patient, gentle and infinitely dependable. A man she’d known she could run to, despite eighteen years of estrangement.
For the first time, she understood how, even in his absence, Colin had shaped her idea of the ideal man. His one check in the debit column was his capacity for violence, so like their father’s to her child’s eyes. Thus explaining her choice of smart, not-so-physical guys. One of whom brutalized her, while Noah, both smart and unnervingly physical, seemed willing to do anything to keep her safe.
Caught up in her reflections, she didn’t even look at Noah when they traded places again. She used gel in her hair and dried it quickly, then applied a minimum of makeup. No need to worry about suntan lotion, either, when the sum total of her outdoor time today would be walking thirty feet to Noah’s SUV and then, at the end of the day, an even shorter distance from it to Colin’s front door. She didn’t have to worry about the sweat factor, either. If this went on much longer, she was not only going to look pasty; she was going to have to start worrying about getting enough vitamin D.
Right. There was the biggest source of anxiety in her life.
She packed her overnight bag and carried it downstairs, leaving it by the front door, then followed the smell of brewing coffee to the kitchen. Noah already had a raisin-cinnamon bagel in the toaster, which she stole when it popped up. He put another in and poured two cups of coffee. He was quieter than usual as they ate, which made her wonder what he was thinking and how much of him she’d see the rest of the week.
It stung that she had to wonder.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Sure.” She grabbed her messenger bag and let him carry the overnight bag. He locked the door, and they cut across the lawn to the driveway.
“Oh, shit,” he said suddenly under his breath.
Cait turned her head. A balding man approached on the sidewalk, towed by a golden retriever on the end of a leash. George Miller, city council member and developer. She didn’t even have time to avert her face before stunned recognition dawned on his face.
Noah reached out and gripped her arm. Both of them stopped where they were. Tail swinging happily, the dog tried to get to them but was brought up short by his leash.
“George,” Noah said, nodding.
Turning red, he looked from one to the other of them. “Goddamn it! I’d heard the rumors, but I didn’t believe them. What in the hell were the two of you thinking?”
* * *
OF ALL THE LUCK.
Miller had to be the last council member Noah would have wanted to encounter under these circumstances.
Noah knew his fingers had to be biting into Cait’s arm. She seemed to be struck dumb, not even blinking.
He thought quickly, but there weren’t many options. No point in denying she’d spent the night, not when the bag that dangled from his other hand was peach-colored and clearly feminine.
“We’re both single adults,” he said evenly. “We’re not stepping on anyone’s toes.”
George’s eyes narrowed. Chances were he was seeing a gift placed right in his hands. He’d like nothing better than to force Noah’s resignation.
“The woman works for you, Chandler.” He shook his head in disgust. “You’re playing with fire here.”
Cait stiffened. “I can assure you there was
no coercion involved, George. The city won’t be looking at a suit for sexual harassment, if that’s what you’re afraid of.”
George didn’t so much as bother glancing at her. Neither did Noah, who appreciated the sentiment but almost shook his head at her naïveté. George wasn’t afraid of a lawsuit—he’d like nothing better.
This was politics, plain and simple.
“This is a little more than the two of us sleeping together,” Noah said easily. “Cait has agreed to marry me.”
“What?” she gasped.
This time George’s sharp gaze did slice to her.
Noah tightened his fingers even more. “As it happens, you’re the first to know. We haven’t even told Cait’s brother yet. We’d appreciate it if you’d keep the news to yourself for a day or two.”
The dog squatted and peed on Noah’s lawn. George scowled at Cait and Noah.
“What do you plan to do about the job?”
“We wouldn’t be the first married couple to work together.”
Noah sensed words wanting to burst out of Cait, but for the moment she kept her mouth shut.
“Hmph.” The city councilman yanked on his dog’s leash. “We’ll see about that,” he snapped and turned back the way he came.
For a moment, Noah didn’t move. Then he steered Cait to the Suburban. As always when she wore her high heels, he stood behind her until she was safely in, tossed her bag in the rear, then went around and got in behind the wheel. He stuck the key in the ignition but didn’t turn it. His hand fell to his thigh.
He couldn’t decide if he was in shock or not. A man who’d sworn never to marry had just announced his engagement.
“Are you crazy?” she burst out.
He turned his head to look at her. “What did you want me to say?”
“‘It’s none of your business, George’? Or stop with reminding him that we’re two adults?” Her eyes shot sparks. “And, by the way, you couldn’t have mentioned that he’s a neighbor of yours?”
“He lives two blocks down.” Noah clenched and unclenched his jaw. “Howard Fulton is three blocks the other way. You know at heart this is a small town.”
Harlequin Superromance January 2014 - Bundle 1 of 2: Everywhere She GoesA Promise for the BabyThat Summer at the Shore Page 23
