The last humbled him, because he knew she’d had little reason to trust lately.
He settled his mouth more fully over hers and deepened the kiss until his tongue tangled with hers. She tasted sweet and warm, like cinnamon and coffee, and he couldn’t get enough of her.
Never would.
A moan purred in her throat, and he thought of all the things he’d imagined doing to her earlier, entertained the tempting idea of easing her down onto the mattress and spending the entire day making love to her. That was his libido talking, because at the moment he was hard and aching. Rationally, he knew right now she needed more than physical intimacy. After yesterday, he was more concerned about her emotional stability, and he wouldn’t risk more confusion. The next time they made love, he wanted it to be for keeps.
He ended the kiss, slowly dragging his lips from hers.
Wide, luminous eyes stared at him. “What was that for?” She wasn’t upset, just curious.
“The hell of it,” he replied impulsively. “Because I wanted to. Because you wanted me to. What other reason do I need?”
A smile played at the corner of her mouth. “You’re awfully presumptuous.”
He gave a deceptively casual shrug. “I’ve got absolutely nothing to lose.”
That truth hung between them, until she finally looked away and plucked absently at the sheet with her fingers. Just as he’d expected, she was going to avoid the personal issues between them. He’d let her be. For now.
Grabbing his own cup of coffee, he took a drink, letting the hot liquid slide down his throat and warm his elly. “So, how are you feeling?” he asked, putting their conversation on a safer track.
She picked at the muffin, and tossed a morsel into her mouth. “Compared to what?”
“To last night.”
“Emotionally drained,” she said, admitting what he already knew.
He nodded, and wanting to give her something Anthony never had-an apology-he said very quietly, “I’m sorry for losing my temper last night, and for the incident with the gun.”
“Apology accepted. And I’m sorry for not listening to your orders.” A lopsided smile touched her mouth, diminishing some of the shadows in her gaze. “I think we both were pretty upset after what happened at the beach house, for different reasons.”
“Yeah,” he agreed, and let it remain at that.
She brushed at the crumbs that had fallen on her T-shirt, and he forcefully pulled his gaze from the way her taut nipples pressed against the soft cotton. He turned, resting his thigh on the bed. The slight shift in position loosened the snug fit of his jeans in a particular region. “Are you up for a little adventure?”
“Are you nuts? I think I’ve had enough adventure to last me a lifetime, thank you very much.”
“Then how do you feel about running away with me For a couple of days?”
Her entire expression lit up, as if he’d given her a huge, gaily wrapped present. “Running away sounds lovely.” A frown tugged at her brows, ruining her delight. “Can we do that? I mean, just take off and leave For a couple of days?”
He knew what she was asking, and sought to reassure her. He wanted this weekend to be all pleasure, with little or no thought about the case. “I’ve already talked to Reynolds about it, and as long as I’m somewhere he can get in touch with me, we’re free to go We’ll be back by tomorrow evening.” He stopped for a moment to encourage her to eat more muffin, which she did. “I figure you can call Pam and have her handle the boutique while you’re gone, and we can stop by the shop on our way out of town so you can pack a few changes of clothes.”
She looked impressed, and relieved. “You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?”
Everything but how I’m going to make you change your mind about us and having a future together. He hoped what he had planned was at least a start in that direction. “I just thought you might like a change of scenery.”
“Without a doubt.” She smiled around a bite of muf-. fin, then took a drink of coffee. “So, where are we go- ing?”
Her easy acceptance brought him a measure of satisfaction. “It’s a surprise, but I guarantee that the food is fabulous, and the atmosphere is total relaxation.”
Her eyes rolled back. “God, I’d be a fool to refuse such an invitation.”
“I couldn’t have said that better myself.” She sho him an indignant look for that insult, but he merely grinned. Standing, he set both of their coffee cups or the nightstand and offered her his hand for a boost up “Come on, lazybones,” he teased, feeling more optimistic by the minute. “Let’s get you up and dressed so we can blow this joint.”
Anticipation touched her features, and she placed he hand in his. “You don’t have to ask me twice.”
8
PAIGE GUESSED where they were going before they arrived at their destination. He’d taken Interstate 95 north, through Fort Lauderdale, past Palm Beach, to the small town of Jupiter, where his parents had retired. The familiar, scenic ride only took a little over an hour, but as the vehicle ate up each mile away from Miami, the stress of the past few weeks gradually disappeared. It was as though Josh was taking her to another world and she was leaving behind the corruption that had touched her life.
He’d known just what she’d needed.
She glanced over at him where he sat in the driver’s seat navigating the road, her gaze skimming his strong profile. “We’re going to your parents’, aren’t we?”
“Yeah.” A rakish grin tipped his mouth, and her heart fluttered in her chest. Josh’s lighthearted mood reminded her of simpler times, before her life, her marriage, had started to unravel. “That okay with you?”
She flashed him a reassuring smile. “More than okay.” She looked forward to seeing the older couple who reminded her so much of her own parents, whom she missed terribly.
The last time she’d seen Josh’s parents had been at Anthony’s funeral, hardly a festive occasion, but they’d come out of respect, and she’d been grateful for their support. Anna and Nick Marchiano had attended her wedding to Anthony, too, and that’s where she’d learned that the Marchianos had accepted her husband as one of their own, since Anthony had no family left and Josh had become such a good friend to him. And once she was married to Anthony, Josh’s family had welcomed her with the same warmth and kindness they’d instilled in their son. She’d often thought of them as the in-laws she’d never had.
During her first year of marriage to Anthony they’d spent many Sundays and holidays at the Marchianos’ for dinner, along with Josh and whoever of his four siblings could attend the gathering. The Marchiano family, she’d discovered, was a large, close-knit, loving Italian family, and she adored every one of them, including Josh’s eight little nieces and nephews, who’d automatically given her the honorary title of Aunt Paige.
The second and third year there hadn’t been as many visits, and the few she’d managed were without her husband. She’d made excuses for his absence, but she suspected Anna knew something was wrong from the few reproachful comments Paige had overheard Anna making to Josh about Anthony exerting more of an effort to accompany his wife. The other woman’s perceptiveness had been startling, though Paige never discussed her marital problems with her.
“How are your parents doing, anyway?” she asked, dragging her thoughts back to a more pleasant topic.
“Okay, I guess.” He glanced her way for a moment, and though he wore dark sunglasses, she could feel the warmth of his gaze. “With everything going on the past few months, I’ve only seen them twice since Christmas.” Regret tinged his deep voice.
Knowing that Josh tried to make an effort to have dinner with his parents at least twice a month, Paige understood that he’d been bogged down on the Carranza case. “I bet your mother loves your father being retired, and having so much time to spend with him.”
His smile conveyed wry humor. “Mom used to complain that he spent too much time at the station, but she’s let a few comments slip about
how he’s driving her crazy being at home.”
Paige laughed. “I’m sure she means it in the most affectionate way possible.”
“Probably,” he agreed. “But when Dad threatens to go back to the department on a part-time basis, just so he doesn’t have to listen to her nag, my mother threatens to divorce him.” He shook his head at the incongruity of the situation. “Poor guy can’t win.”
“It’s not easy being married to someone in law enforcement.” The defensive statement slipped out before she could think better of it.
He glanced her way. “No, I don’t suppose it would be.” His response was slow and deliberate, as if he chose his words carefully. “But my mother knew what my dad did for a living before she married him and has lived with it for over forty years.”
Feeling an argument rising, Paige declined to comment. Josh certainly knew her feelings on the matter, and she didn’t want to rehash issues that neither of them could agree upon.
As she stared out the window and watched the scenery pass, Paige wondered how Anna dealt with the men in her life putting their jobs before family, and decided the woman was a saint to tolerate the stress and worry. She had a husband who’d been with the Fort Lauderdale police department, and her eldest son, Vince, who was married with three children and one on the way, worked for the Jupiter police department. Though Jupiter was a relatively low-crime community, two years ago he’d been shot in the arm during a convenience-store robbery. The wound hadn’t been life-threatening, but Paige clearly remembered how frantic Audrey, Vince’s wife, had been over the incident She also recalled thinking that their three adorable little girls had come too close to losing their daddy.
And then there was Josh, a homicide detective who worked long hours investigating crime scenes and tracing leads, and sacrificed family gatherings for the sake of the job. He didn’t put himself in the direct line of fire, not intentionally, but the danger was always there.
The only Marchiano male who hadn’t opted for a career in law enforcement was twenty-nine-year-old JoeL He was the smart one, Paige decided-he’d gone into business with a friend and chartered sailboats in St. Lucie. The family affectionately called him the beach bum, and he joked that, with his laid-back life-style, he was going to outlive them all.
Josh’s older sister, Tyne, had married a conservative accountant and lived in Orlando with her husband and five children, and Gina, the baby of the family, was still single and working in Tampa as an ad executive. At least Anna didn’t have to worry much about her daughters’ welfare.
“So, do your mom and dad know we’re coming?” she asked curiously.
Josh exited off Interstate 95 and headed east on Indiantown Road to a more remote part of Jupiter. “No. I thought I’d surprise them.”
More quietly, she asked, “Do they know about Anthony and this case?”
“Dad does. I told him the last time I came up to visit. I also asked him not to tell Mom.” He reached across the console and rested his hand on her thigh. His touch burned through the material of the casual dress she’d donned at the boutique and kicked her pulse up a notch. “Don’t worry, he won’t put you on the spot with awkward questions. If anything, he’ll ask me about the case privately.”
“I appreciate that.” She didn’t mind discussing Anthony’s betrayal with Josh, but felt uncomfortable doing so with Nick. “Since your parents aren’t expecting us, what are we going to do if they aren’t home?”
“I have a key to the house, and we’ll be alone.” His brows bobbed mischievously. “The possibilities are endless.” His voice dropped, filling with sexy male undertones.
Those intimate “possibilities” swirled in her mind, prompting thoughts of the sweet, drugging kiss he’d given her that morning and how reluctant she’d been for it to end. She’d wanted to feel his hands on her breasts, stroking her belly. Wanted him to ease the ache lingering from that strange, erotic dream she’d had before he’d woken her with the delicious smells of breakfast Even now, she felt unfulfilled, wanting Josh in a way she had no business entertaining. Not when she intended to leave him.
Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the three bedroom house Josh’s parents had built on a prime piece of land after Nick’s retirement from the force five years ago. Ten acres of woods surrounded the charming old-style Victorian home, and a small stable nearby connected to a fenced-in pasture, where two beautiful quarterhorses grazed. The atmosphere was peaceful and serene.
Before either one of them could exit the car, his slender, petite mother was out of the house and heading down the porch stairs. A huge smile wreathed a pretty face framed by short, silky hair the same shade as Josh’s, and dark eyes twinkled with pure delight
“What a lovely surprise!” Reaching Paige as she stepped from the Volvo, the older woman wrapped he in an affectionate hug. “It’s so good to see you, dear.”
Paige closed her eyes, absorbing the warm embrace before letting the other woman go. She smiled. “It’s good to see you, too, Anna.”
Anna’s gaze narrowed in mock reprimand, and she shook a chastising finger at her. “You haven’t visited in months!”
“She’s been working too hard,” Josh interjected as he rounded the vehicle, saving Paige from fabricating ai excuse for her absence. “So I decided to kidnap her and bring her here for some forced R and R.”
“And you, Joshua Michael,” Anna admonished turning to her son to give him equal treatment. “You haven’t called in weeks, let alone returned the messages I left on your answering machine.”
Josh ducked his head sheepishly, making him appear adorably contrite. “I’ve been busy, Ma.”
“Hmmph.” Anna’s expression softened, but she wasn’t completely ready to forgive. “Too busy to call your mother to let her know you’re doing okay?”
Josh rolled his eyes and gave Anna a hug that seemed to swallow her up whole within his broad chest, the planted a kiss on her cheek. “Stop already, Ma. You’re embarrassing me in front of Paige. I promise it won’ happen again.”
She gave him a curt, satisfied nod. “Be sure that i doesn’t.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he murmured, shooting Paige a co vert, I-can’t-believe-she’s-doing-this-to-me-in-front-of-you kind of look.
Paige nearly chuckled at Josh’s embarrassment, but didn’t think he’d appreciate her laughing at his expense. Paige admired the other woman. She certainly knew how to handle her boys and keep them in line-with a firm hand and a loving heart.
“Your father is down in the stables. Go on and get him and don’t give him a heart attack by sneaking up on him. He’s getting old and isn’t as spry as he used to be.” She accompanied the outrageous lie with a sly smile and shooed Josh in that direction. “Paige and I are going into the house for a glass of iced tea and some girl talk. I’ll call Vince and Joel and see if they can make it for dinner tonight.”
"I’d like that.” Josh’s warm gaze touched on Paige, then returned to his mother. ”If you don’t mind, Ma, we’d like to stay overnight.”
Anna looked properly affronted. “Of course I don’t mind! That’s what the guest room is for, though you’ll be sleeping on the couch.”
“That’s fine,” he conceded with a grin.
Paige followed Anna into her large, spacious kitchen. Anna and Nick lived alone in the custom-built house, but Anna felt that a large cooking and eating area was a necessity, because that’s where her family always socialized during get-togethers. Strong family ties, good authentic Italian food and unconditional love were the bonds that held the Marchianos together. Paige loved the other woman’s traditional values and how she’d managed to instill in her children the same ideals and morals:
Anna insisted Paige make herself at home, and Paige felt comfortable enough to do so. While she poured each of them a glass of tea, Anna phoned Joel and gave him a similar guilt-inducing spiel about not stopping by often enough when he only lived an hour away. Before she hung up, she’d secured Joel’s attendance for dinner. Though V
ince was on duty until six that evening, his wife, Audrey, promised to be by soon with the children. Tyne and Gina both lived too far away to make such an impromptu trip.
Anna didn’t allow Paige’s mind or hands to remain idle, which she silently appreciated. They worked together to prepare dinner while talking companionably about nothing in particular. Anna’s idea of “throwing something together” consisted of a huge pot of homemade spaghetti sauce with sausage and her special blend of herbs, her own fresh noodles, a large salad-which had come straight out of her garden-and a loaf of garlic bread. And for dessert, a German chocolate cake made from scratch.
Josh and Nick finally ambled up to the house and into the kitchen, where each of them sampled the various dishes in progress. Anna slapped Nick’s hand as he attempted to snag a radish from the salad, and Josh got “the look” from his mother for trying to distract Paige while she frosted the cake so he could sneak a taste of the icing. Apparently, Anna knew how her husband and son operated, and kept an eye on each.
Josh leaned against the counter next to Paige, glanced over his shoulder to make sure his mother was otherwise occupied, and dragged a finger along the rim of the bowl filled with frosting to come away with a big blob of the confection. He popped it into his mouth and winked at her.
Paige couldn’t help but grin at his mischievous behavior. “Your mom mentioned German chocolate is your favorite.”
“Yep.” He swiped another taste. “Are you enjoying yourself?”
“Immensely.” She’d been so busy with Anna, she hadn’t had time for any unpleasant thoughts. It was a nice change of pace. “Thank you for bringing me here.”
“No thanks necessary,” he said, his voice low and incredibly gentle. “I’d do anything to keep you smiling, Paige.”
Paige’s heart swelled at the sweet sentiment, and a lump formed in her throat. If only things were that simple, she thought. If only her life wasn’t so complex and she didn’t need things Josh couldn’t offer her, like stability and security.
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