Romancing the Wallflower

by Michelle Major

  He leaned in and whispered in her ear, “You have to get out of the truck if you’re going to make it to the cabin today.”

  She laughed and pushed him away. “You make fun, but that’s because you were a rich and famous baseball player. You probably hung out on yachts and stuff.”

  “A few speedboats in Miami, but no yachts.” He took her hand and tugged until she stepped out onto the gravel driveway. “Money makes things easier, but it’s not important beyond that.”

  “What people do with it is important,” she corrected. “Like fund an after-school program.”

  “And that,” he agreed. “This place is ours for the day. Let’s go explore it.”

  He laced his fingers with hers as they walked up the flagstone path that led to the front door. David produced a key from his pocket and unlocked the door, holding it open for Erin to walk in.

  She wasn’t sure what she expected, but it wasn’t a space that immediately seemed to wrap around her and make her feel at home. The foyer was cozy and bright, with framed paintings of mountain vistas on each wall. The family room was situated to one side. Rich, colorful rugs covered the hardwood floor, and overstuffed furniture had been arranged to make a cozy sitting area in front of the massive stone fireplace.

  “What do you want to do first?” he asked. “There are ATVs in the garage, a hot tub out back.” He led her into the kitchen, where wood cabinets and gorgeous marble countertops balanced the industrial feel of gleaming stainless steel appliances.

  “I could make us something to eat.”

  She glanced up at him. “You’re going to cook?”

  “Let me rephrase that,” he said. “I could heat up the food that the head chef at the brewery prepared for us.”

  She grinned. “You’ve thought of everything.”

  He turned to her fully, wrapped his arms around her waist. “I wanted this day to be about you and me. No distractions. No real life butting its ugly head in. You and me.”

  “You and me,” she repeated, and held on tight as he claimed her mouth. It was like they were the only two people in the world, and she let all her worries and doubts drift away. He lifted her into his arms, then sat her on the edge of the counter, pressing himself into the V of her legs.

  Her body tingled with need and awareness, and she could feel that he wanted her, too. It made her want to forget everything else and beg him to take her to the bedroom. What would it be like to spend an entire day in bed with this man?

  The air seemed to get caught in her throat at the thought, because what if she ruined everything by not knowing what she was doing. Kissing was one thing, but the rest...

  “ATVs,” she blurted, wrenching herself away from him.

  He stared at her as if she were speaking a foreign language, then laughed softly. “ATVs it is.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  David breathed in the pine-scented air and tried to keep his focus on the path in front of him, and not on Erin’s body pressed tight against his on the back of the ATV.

  Once again, his desire for her had almost gotten the best of him. If she hadn’t stopped it, he would have taken her right on the counter...or the floor...or wherever she would have him. He’d arranged with Josh to borrow the cabin so he could give Erin a day away from the responsibilities of life but still remain close to town if Rhett needed him.

  It was becoming more and more difficult to keep his mind on anything except what she would feel like under him and how much he wanted to explore every inch of her beautiful body.

  She shifted behind him, and he slowed the powerful machine, not wanting to scare her. Instead, she leaned in closer and shouted, “Faster.” That was all the encouragement David needed to hit the throttle.

  He tightened his grip on the ATV’s handles and maneuvered through the pine forest and out into a clearing that overlooked the valley below them. As soon as he pulled to a stop and cut the motor, Erin jumped off the back.

  “That was so cool,” she cried, bouncing up and down on her toes. “We were flying.”

  He grinned at her happiness. Everything with Erin felt new and made him want to shake off his typical attitude and see the world through her eyes.

  “Can I drive on the way back?”

  “Of course.” He gestured to the meadow behind them. “The trail loops around this field. You can use it like a practice course.”

  “On my own?” she asked, her eyes bright with excitement.

  He laughed. “Ditching me already? Yes, I brought picnic supplies. I’ll lay everything out while you take this baby for a ride.”

  He unloaded the soft-sided cooler and blanket he’d packed in the ATV’s cargo area. Despite the fact that it was early October, they’d been blessed with a summerlike day. The sun shone brightly in the clear blue sky, and even the breeze that whispered through the trees felt warm.

  “Climb on,” he told her, then stifled a groan at the way her eyes widened. “The ATV,” he clarified, wishing he’d locked her in the cabin and had his wicked way with her when he had the chance.

  Instead he watched her position herself on the ATV. He gave instructions on how to put it into gear, braking and steering around turns. Erin’s fingers trembled slightly as she gripped the handlebars. He wrapped his hand around hers. “Don’t be nervous.”

  “I’ve never even driven a stick shift,” she admitted.

  “We’ll put that on the list,” he assured her, “and this is way easier. Just don’t make sharp turns going fast.”

  “Because I’ll flip it?” she asked, biting down on her lip.

  He couldn’t resist the urge to brush a quick kiss across her mouth. “You’re not going to flip it. Go get ’em, Erin Earnhardt.”

  She turned the key, then shifted the machine into gear. He gave her a thumbs-up when she glanced over at him, and with a nod she hit the gas and took off down the path.

  The ATV lurched forward several times as she got used to driving it. But after a few minutes, she was moving at a steady pace around the perimeter of the meadow. Slow but steady.

  She pulled to a stop in front of him when she’d circled the entire path and clapped her hands together. “How’d I do?”

  “Great. But you can go a little faster if you want.”

  She scrunched up her nose. “That was boring, right?”

  “Watching you is never boring, but trust yourself. You can handle the machine.” He reached out and tugged on the end of her ponytail. “You can handle anything.”

  Determination seeped into her gaze, lighting her eyes with a fire that made him want to shout for joy. This was the woman he knew and...

  Once again, not going there.

  She steered the ATV down the path once more. Within minutes, David regretted his words as the ATV went faster and faster around the dirt trail. He motioned for her to slow down as she sped past him, but she either didn’t see or chose to ignore the warning. Her hair came undone and flew out behind her, like she was some ancient Amazon warrior racing into battle.

  He held his breath as the ATV suddenly veered sharply to the right, and two of the wheels lifted from the ground.

  “No,” he shouted, already running toward her.

  At the last second, Erin shifted her weight and the machine straightened on the path once more.

  David bent forward, placing his palms on his knees as he struggled to pull air in and out of his lungs. The ATV was at his side a moment later, and he quickly turned the key, then hauled her into his arms.

  “What the hell happened?” He hugged her close, then gripped the sides of her head with his hands, moving her away enough that he could examine her face. “Are you okay?”

  She grinned up at him. “Did you see me go up on two wheels?”

  “See you,” he shouted. “I almost had a heart att
ack watching you. I thought I said no sharp turns.”

  “A chipmunk ran across the trail.”

  He couldn’t understand how she remained so calm when his heart was rioting in his chest. “I didn’t want to hurt him.”

  “So flipping the machine seemed like a better alternative?”

  She laughed and smoothed the hair from his forehead. “I didn’t flip. I had the whole thing under control. Remember, I can handle anything.”

  He stared at her for a moment, taking in the pure joy on her face. “You’re really okay?”

  “Maybe your mom was onto something when she said you were a worrywart.”

  “My mom has no idea what she’s talking about.”

  Erin reached up and covered his hands with hers, a frown pulling on the corners of her mouth. “You’re shaking,” she whispered.

  “You scared the hell out of me.” He closed his eyes and leaned in to place a kiss on her forehead. “Adventure is fun, but it would kill me if I couldn’t keep you safe.”

  He touched his lips to each of her eyelids, then trailed kisses down her cheek and along her jawline. It was as if he needed to touch every part of her to reassure himself she was okay.

  “I’m fine,” she assured him. “I’m sorry I scared you.” She tilted her head so that her mouth met his, and the kiss quickly turned molten. He couldn’t wait anymore. His body still shook from fear of her being hurt, and he channeled his thundering emotions into the kiss. Scooping her into his arms, he strode across the field to the place he’d spread out the blanket and lowered her to it.

  The sun remained warm on his back and he buried his nose in the crook of Erin’s neck, breathing in her scent mixed with the smell of pine trees and fresh mountain air. It was intoxicating in a way not even the finest liquor or the most powerful drug could be, and he was an instant addict.

  His body trembled as he tried to control his need, to take things slow, to allow this to be her choice. More than anything, he wanted her to choose him.

  “I want you,” she whispered into his ear, and it was like every prayer he’d never had the guts to say had been answered.

  * * *

  For a moment Erin wondered if she’d said the wrong thing. David stilled above her, the muscles of his back going rigid under her hands.

  He lifted his head, the intensity in his blue eyes stoking the fire inside her almost as much as his kisses had.

  “I had a plan for this,” he told her, his voice rough. “Champagne and rose petals and—”

  “Actual rose petals?” she asked on a hoarse laugh.

  To her surprise, pink tinged his cheeks. Who knew she could make David McCay blush?

  “It seemed like something one of your romance heroes would do,” he told her.

  “You’re the only man I want.” She ran her hands down his back and up under the hem of his sweater. He gritted his teeth as she drew her nails along the bare skin of his back. “And I’ve waited long enough, David. Please don’t make me wait anymore.”

  “I guess I can’t refuse since you said please,” he whispered against her lips.

  Then he kissed her again and all her senses began to sing, a choir of desire and lust building in her body. After a few minutes he sat back, straddling her legs as he knelt. He slowly unbuttoned her denim shirt, his gaze fierce as inch by inch, her skin was revealed to him.

  She shrugged the shirt off her shoulders, any wariness she had about being with a man so much more experienced than she was forgotten because of the longing reflected in his eyes. Longing for her.

  The sun was like a warm bath on her skin, and she reached forward and tugged his sweater up and over his head.

  She’d seen his chest before, but the sunlight casting his body in silhouette was perfection. He rolled to one side and quickly toed off his boots and undid his jeans, pushing them down over his lean hips.

  Reaching behind her back, she unhooked the clasp of her bra and let the soft satin material fall away from her body, then shimmied out of her jeans and panties. David let out a small groan as he knelt at her side again, a condom packet held between two fingers.

  “You make me want to lose myself,” he said, covering her body with his. “You make me forget everything except this moment.”

  “I think that’s the point,” she said, then gasped as he filled her. She wound her arms around his neck and kissed him, arching up so that every part of her touched every part of him.

  He groaned in response and she felt an unfamiliar surge of power lick through her. She could feel that he was holding himself back, trying to take it slow because that’s what a woman like Erin would want. But she wanted more. She wanted everything, and David was the man she wanted to give it to her.

  Or even better, she’d take it from him. She moved her hips at the same time she raked her nails over his muscled shoulders. “Let go,” she whispered, and without even having to add “please,” he gave her exactly what she wanted.

  They found a rhythm all their own, deep and intense and exactly what Erin craved. Her pleasure built in thick waves and she lost herself in the sensation of it and the fact that David seemed as overwhelmed by desire as she felt. He whispered her name like a prayer and buried his face in her neck. Then he nipped at the sensitive flesh of her ear and Erin spun out of control, gripping him tighter as she hurtled over the edge of passion.

  He followed a moment later and Erin wasn’t sure if it was her own heartbeat or his she heard pounding through her head. He continued to kiss her throat as she came back down, humming soothing little sounds against her skin.

  “That was incredible,” David whispered into her hair. “You were incredible.”

  Erin still felt like she was floating through the air, and the only thing that tethered her to earth was his deep voice. It was as if she’d shrugged off the old, boring version of herself and had begun to step into becoming the person she was meant to be.

  “We were incredible,” she corrected him, because she knew that nothing in her life would ever compare to this moment. Whether they lasted another week or for an eternity—and how she longed for an eternity—he would always hold her heart.

  Even though he hadn’t said the words I love you, she had to believe he felt something for her. It was in the way he looked at her, the intensity of his touch, the way her body came alive as he moved inside her.

  “Are you hungry?” He trailed his fingers over her stomach in small figure-eight patterns. “You distracted me with your race car ATV driving and I never got the food unpacked.”

  She kissed his shoulder. “I think you distracted me by getting naked,” she said, earning a rumbling laugh from him. “But now I’m starving.”

  After several long, lingering kisses, he rolled away from her and she grabbed her clothes. As she dressed, Erin looked around in wonder. She’d just had the most amazing sex she could ever imagine in the woods. Outside. She almost giggled at the thought of it. Talk about an adventure.

  They ate the lunch he’d packed, sandwiches, fresh fruit and the best chocolate chip cookies she’d ever tasted. After repacking everything into the ATV, they took a short hike up to another overlook. Erin told him more about her relationship with her mother and her friends at school. While David peppered her with questions, he offered little about his life in return.

  “What happened to Jenna?” she asked finally, as they stood together gazing out over the valley.

  “You were there that night,” he said casually. “You saw her apartment and—”

  “I’m not talking about recently.” She made her voice level, even though nerves tumbled through her. “I mean years ago. Something happened, and I don’t know what it was, but it’s clear you feel responsible for it.”

  He dropped her hand and stalked toward the path that led to the ATV. For a moment she thought he was goin
g to leave her standing by herself in the woods. How was it possible he’d willingly shared his body with her but not whatever it was that so obviously burdened him about his sister?

  Just before disappearing around the bend, he turned and walked back to her, his gaze fierce.

  “I’ve never talked to anyone about Jenna,” he said.

  “Let me be the first.”

  He was silent for so long she thought he might refuse. Then he gave a jerky nod. “I started playing for a club baseball team in high school. Kids from the area, but no one from my neighborhood. These were boys whose parents could afford to sponsor the team, buy us the best equipment and make sure college scouts took notice. I knew my only chance of getting out of our crappy neighborhood was a scholarship.” He shook his head. “Jenna didn’t like the team because it took me away from home. We were on the road a lot during the summer.”

  “It was your dream,” Erin said softly.

  “Yeah,” he agreed, his voice filled with bitterness. “My dream. Mom had started dating a new guy around that time and it got serious real quick. I didn’t mind the guy—he wasn’t as bad as some of her boyfriends—but Jenna didn’t like him. He got too into the ‘father’ role, trying to impose house rules and curfews.”

  “This man lived with your family?”

  David shrugged. “Not officially, but he stayed over a lot. Mom definitely knew how to pick the losers. Jenna asked me to kick him out or talk to Mom about kicking him out, but I was too busy with baseball to even care. The dude left me alone. It was Jenna he wanted to fall into line. Her wild streak had always been blatant and she was mouthy with anyone who gave her grief about it.”

  “She sounds like a lot to handle.”

  “We mostly raised ourselves, so she wasn’t much into being ‘handled.’” He gave a small laugh. “She still isn’t. But it doesn’t excuse what happened to her.”

  His shoulders rose and fell, as if he was struggling to catch his breath. Suddenly all of it came together. His protective instinct around his sister while holding tight to the belief that he’d failed her. The ambivalence toward his mother. Her mouth went dry but she forced out the words, “Did your mother’s boyfriend—”