by Thea Devine
He looked back and caught her stare. “Hey.”
“Hey, back,” she said happily.
“You have lust in your eyes,” he teased.
More than that, she thought, but said instead, “Can you blame me?”
“Well, I can’t say I mind, as long as you’re looking at me,” he replied, crossing to where she sat. When he slid his hand back around her neck, she winced at the unexpected pain. He froze, drawing his hand away gently.
“What? Oh, no.” He looked down more closely, and winced. “You got a bit of a burn.”
“But I used sunblock!” she protested, touching exposed spots and finding she had more than one that felt hot to the touch and hurt when she prodded.
“You’re so fair, and being out on the water is a whole different ballgame—I should have known better and reminded you to reapply,” he said with a note of self-recrimination. “Let’s get you up to the house. I have some lotion that works wonders.”
“You’ll put it on for me?” she asked flirtatiously.
He grinned, seeking her hand as they walked along the well-worn path. “I will, though I think you should take it easy tonight, drink lots of water—take some aspirin. We’ll see how serious it is when we get in a better light.”
Edie shivered as the cool night breeze wafted over her hot skin. Unreasonable tears formed, not from pain, but from regret that she’d been thoughtless, and that her sunburn could keep her from Joel for even one night. Their time was short as it was. She swiped the tears away before he could see.
“I’m sure I’ll be fine. It’s just a sunburn.”
“You don’t feel sick or have a headache? Dizzy?”
“No, just a little tingly. Hot, but shivery.”
“Hmm.” He sounded concerned as he opened the door and ushered her in.
He flicked the light on and turned to inspect her shoulders—when he inched the material from her shoulders, she shivered again, for an entirely different reason.
“You’re pretty red—good thing you were wearing a hat. It protected your head and your face, but your arms, shoulders and neck are going to smart for a bit. Let’s get something on them before it really kicks in. It’ll probably feel worse before it gets better.”
“Okay,” she said, not about to argue. The lack of the cool breeze that had been tickling her skin outside intensified the heat that suddenly seemed all-consuming over her tender flesh, and she followed willingly to his bathroom where he took a bottle of green gel from the cabinet.
“It’s a special aloe lotion—it will cool your skin and anesthetize the burn, and moisturizing will reduce peeling. I’ve had a few bad burns, and this will help a lot, with a few aspirin.”
“Thank God…I don’t think I’ve had a burn since I was a kid, and I’d forgotten how lousy it is,” she said, sighing in relief as he gently smoothed the cooling gel over her skin. Further investigation showed some redness on the backs of her legs, as well, and the tops of her feet were red—she hadn’t even thought to put sunblock on her feet. Stupid.
By the time Joel had finished layering the soothing gel all over her, she was caught between relief and wanting him so much she wasn’t sure which way to go. Joel made it clear he was only providing comfort, and deep down she appreciated his solicitousness.
Normally, she was the one who took care of everyone, the steady rock in her family upon whom everyone depended. It was nice to be coddled. It also reminded her how near she was to the end of her time here. Soon she would be back to her job and her family. A normal, boring person among a family of artists and free spirits.
She loved them dearly, and knew they loved her, too, but nonetheless, it often landed on her shoulders to be the responsible one, the one who planned, the one who took care of mundane, everyday things like bills and doctor’s appointments. She thought of her conversation with Joel on the beach. Of how Joel was thinking about what he had given up, and of going back after his dreams.
What had she given up? Was she wrong not to pursue her own dreams? Did her family really need her that much, or was that a convenient excuse not to take risks in her life? She feared the latter.
“Feel better?” he asked, looking up at her with silvery eyes that pierced right through to her heart. She loved his eyes.
“Mostly,” she answered.
“You sound tired. Let’s get you something to drink, some aspirin, and we’ll hit the sack early.”
No, she didn’t want to sleep. Didn’t want to lose a single second she could have with him.
“Could we just watch some movies or television for a while, or talk? I’m not tired. I feel much better. I promise. This salve is a miracle.”
He looked at her skeptically, and she almost laughed, feeling like a child asking to stay up after bedtime. She shut down that thought a little too late for comfort. It wasn’t too big a leap to think of Joel looking at his own children with those wonderful eyes. He’d be a fantastic father—she was certain of it.
Oh, she was in sooo deep.
“Sure we can watch some TV. There are a ton of DVDs, as well—why don’t you pick something?”
“How about a chick flick?”
He smiled in a sideways, sexy way that melted her heart. “I’ll suffer through it. I have you to watch.”
He turned away and she raised a hand to her throat, where sudden emotion choked back words. She hoped there was an action-adventure in there somewhere, because she couldn’t stand to watch someone else’s happily-ever-after when she knew she wasn’t going to have one with Joel.
6
JOEL SET the book he’d been reading aside, yawning. Edie had fallen asleep halfway through the movie. He’d let her rest there on the sofa because he knew how difficult it could be to fall asleep with a bad sunburn. He also enjoyed watching her sleep. He enjoyed just about anything with Edie, maybe a little more than he should.
In the days since their fight—and their making up—on her birthday, he’d decided to throw himself in and savor his time with her; the boat could wait. However, in doing so, he might have gotten in deeper than he’d anticipated. He reassured himself that it was just a rebound thing, a summer romance, but deep down, a little voice told him differently.
Could he be falling for her? How was that possible so soon after the divorce? Wasn’t it smarter to wait and get some distance before jumping into another relationship? Not that Edie had given even one clue that she wanted more. As far as he knew, she’d be packing up in a few days and returning to Cleveland.
The idea left him feeling hollow inside. Not good.
Joel jerked when the phone rang, nearly dislodging Edie from her nesting spot. She moaned and turned over, allowing him to jump neatly from the sofa and leap toward the phone before it woke her—who the hell would be calling this time of night?
He vaguely recognized the number on the caller ID, but when he heard the voice, it definitely rang a bell: Edie’s mother, who didn’t seem at all thrown that a man was answering the phone her daughter should have answered. The fact that she seemed to know him threw him even more.
“Joel! Is that you? Is Edie there?”
Momentarily shocked into silence by the unexpected familiarity, he paused, and then it hit him that Edie must have told her family something about him.
“Yes, this is Joel,” he said more formally. “Edie is here, but she’s sleeping.”
“We need her, there’s been an accident. Can you put her on, please?”
Joel put the phone down and shook Edie gently awake. Though he was trying not to panic her, she rushed over to the phone when he told her it was her mother, and they needed to talk to her.
Joel watched the color drain from her face as she spoke in calming tones to her mother, assuring her she would be home right away.
“My sister was in a car accident,” she whispered to Joel in a quivering voice, covering the receiver for a moment.
Joel put a hand on her shoulder and made her sit as she spoke with her mother, then her f
ather. She kept trying to get off the phone, telling them she had to get on the road if she were going to get home quickly, but it appeared they all wanted to talk to her as he heard her reassuring them. Joel grabbed his cell phone. There was no way he was letting her drive this way.
When she finally hung up, she lifted a trembling hand to wipe away one tear, and Joel hauled her up close, holding her tight.
“How serious is it?”
“It’s hard to say—my mother said the doctor was in with her, and hadn’t come out to talk to them yet. I—I have to get home.”
“I know. We’re going.”
She pushed away, looked up at him, bemused. “What? We?”
“While you were talking I called and booked a water taxi to Boston and flights out of Logan. We’re on the next plane to Cleveland, so pack something and let’s go now.”
“But, you don’t have to go, I can go, I have my c-car….”
“It will take too long, and you’re not driving when you’re so worried.”
“But Joel, you shouldn’t have to pay for all of this—”
“Shush. We’ll work that out later.”
She was quiet while they got ready and got to the airport, but not one more tear had fallen. She’d made some other calls, attending to details, making sure things were taken care of, and asking a friend to check in on her parents.
Through it all, he hustled her along, and before long, they were standing in line at the gate, ready to board. He had the feeling Edie was the backbone of her family, that this little blond bombshell of a woman was the one who held it all together. He’d heard as much in her mother’s desperation on the phone, and in how she talked to all of them, attended to what needed to be done without complaint.
Who looked out for Edie? Protectiveness, concern and other emotions swamped him as they took their seats.
For the moment, he would.
“OH, EDIE…we’re so glad you made it home! How did you get here so fast?”
Her mother wrapped her in a tight hug, looking stressed.
“Mom, why aren’t you at the hospital? Where’s Katie?”
“She’s here. She’s fine.”
Edie took a full step back. It was just 7:00 a.m. and she’d been running all night on fear and caffeine. “Fine? But you said she had an accident—what did the doctors say?”
She didn’t know she’d raised her voice until she felt Joel’s hand on her shoulder. Joel came forward, quietly introducing himself. He’d offered to drop her off and go to a hotel, but there was no way she’d hear of it when he had paid to get her home so quickly. And if she were completely honest, she’d been anxious, and had wanted him with her. Having him with her on the plane had kept her imagination from taking over by picturing everything terrible that might have happened to Katie. He’d kept her talking, distracting her, and she was so grateful for everything.
Though right now, at this moment, she was just completely stymied. Her mother, presently calm and very taken with Joel, seemed far away from the hysterical woman on the phone, “Mom—really, please. Joel rushed us home on a plane—where’s Katie? What’s going on? I’ve been worried sick—you were a wreck on the phone.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry, honey. We tried to call you back but your cell phone was off. I left messages.”
“I didn’t check. When we hit the ground, we just got here as fast as possible.”
“Yes, of course, I didn’t think of that. Katie is fine. It wasn’t that serious.”
“But you said the doctors were in with her, and no one had said anything…It sounded so bad….”
“I know, but we were so upset, I may have just been too worked up. I’m so sorry, sweetheart. There was a car accident, and Katie was hurt, but it was just a bump on the head—she has a concussion and some cuts and bruises but that’s all, thank God. I’m so sorry we worried you. I called you as soon as we knew, but your phone was off, and…” Her mother shrugged and pulled Edie into a hug that she returned limply.
“I guess waiting to call me until after you knew whether it was serious didn’t make sense,” she said vaguely.
“I know, we should have done that, but we were so upset and we just thought you had to know. But everything is fine. You should get back to your vacation.”
Edie just couldn’t believe it, but then again, she could. In the end, Edie was still thankful they’d called. Exhaustion caught up with her as she swayed a little, and Joel’s body provided a solid wall of support.
“You okay?” he asked, looking down into her face.
“I—I’m fine. I’m so sorry…we came all the way here, and you didn’t need to.”
“I’m glad your sister is okay. These things happen. Coming here was the right thing to do.”
She lifted her gaze to his, almost completely missing her mother’s watchful eyes, which were dancing with interest when Edie looked back at her.
“Mom, I’m glad everything is okay, but my vacation is almost over, and I’m exhausted—we both are. I need some sleep, then I’ll need to go back, get my things and return the car to the rental agency, I guess. Maybe I can get an extra day off.”
“Oh, honey, I wish we’d been able to get hold of you sooner. Joel, it was so good of you to rush her home—a white knight, I think, yes…with those clear, penetrating eyes…maybe a painting instead of clay.”
Edie almost laughed in spite of her exhaustion—had Joel just blushed? If anyone could make that happen, it would be her mother. As they went inside, Joel hung back. Edie turned to him.
“Joel?”
“Edie, since everything is good, I should probably leave. I don’t want to impose on your family.”
Edie and her mother objected at the same time, and Edie watched her mother step forward and wrap Joel in a tight mom-hug—Joel was definitely on her mother’s A-list.
“Joel, don’t leave. At least not without me. Let me see Katie. We’ll stay at my apartment, and head back tomorrow.”
She saw him soften, nod, and her heart warmed. Edie knew the adult thing to do was to part ways with a kiss and forget the whole thing, but she couldn’t let go yet. He was her vacation lover, and technically, she was still on vacation. She planned on spending every second they had left together, and didn’t think about anything after that.
A FEW HOURS later, Joel was seeing double by the time he and Edie left the house.
“Sorry that went on so long—I really thought we’d just stay a few minutes,” Edie said to him as they walked down the sidewalk, peering up at the night sky. “You were a big hit. When they like someone, it’s hard to make them let go.”
“They’re a great bunch, Edie.”
She shook her head, smiling, as they walked in the direction of her apartment.
“Here’s my building,” she said, navigating a turn around a wrought-iron fence. “I should apologize, again. I could have waited and not jumped the gun, bringing us out here so quickly.”
“Maybe they just wanted you here. Maybe you wanted to be here. Nothing wrong with that,” he said as they entered a small, well-designed apartment, painted with bright colors and accented with eclectic furnishings that should have clashed, but didn’t. Edie clearly had more of her parents’ artistic sense than she thought. She hung their jackets on the rack and he set their bags down.
“Do you want anything? A drink? I have a halfway-stocked bar, though to be honest, I’m not sure what’s in there.”
He answered honestly, unable to take his eyes away from her. “Only you. I just want you.” His voice was ragged, maybe with desire, maybe with emotion or exhaustion, but all he knew in his heart was that he’d uttered the truth.
All he wanted was Edie. It seemed very simple. He was reordering his life, changing his priorities. Edie was very clearly becoming a priority. He wanted more time with her, a chance to see what they could have together. However, the woman of his dreams was standing right in front of him, and he didn’t know what to do. She hadn’t shared anything that would make h
im think she was open to more than a fling.
Was that really what he wanted? Was he just tired and mixed up? Was it another mistake to be paid for later down the line? All he knew was that when she’d gotten that call, he’d wanted to protect her, to be at her side and to make sure she was okay. He wanted to be with her even when they weren’t just having fun—or sex. That meant something, right?
She walked up to him, shadows under her eyes, no makeup, her hair tossed and road-weary, but he thought she was completely gorgeous. Emotion such as he’d never really experienced washed over him. Scared him.
She slid her hands up his chest, linked her arms around his neck, and cuddled in.
“You feel so good. I just want to sleep right here. Can we just catch a quick shower and go to bed?”
“Sounds perfect,” he said, realizing it did as he scooped his arms around her in a hug. The desire was there, muted by their sleepiness, but there was also comfort. He wasn’t sure he’d ever felt comfort—not really, not in just this way—with a woman before. And while he still had questions, he wasn’t sure he was ready to let it go.
EDIE WOKE FIRST to the strange feeling of being in her own bed, but not alone. That wasn’t a usual occurrence in her life. And yet, it felt great—normal. Right.
She snuggled into Joel, wrapping arms and legs around him, finding him hard and warm against her stomach. They hadn’t bothered dressing after their showers, but had just dried off and fallen into bed, passing out almost immediately.
She was awake now, and so was he—at least parts of him. Desire spiked as she pressed against him. She didn’t hide the surge of emotion that gripped her as she watched him sleeping, and lifted her hips up gently, lowering until he was planted deep inside. Feeling so connected to him was becoming second nature, as if her body sought out its natural connection to his. Was that possible, in such a short amount of time?
He moaned, arching up slightly, eyes still shut. She knew he slept like the dead, and smiled at the intimate knowledge. She pressed gently against him once more, sighing at the perfection of it.
