by Cheri Allan
He kicked off his trousers and stood, cotton boxers the only clothes he had left on, as he helped her to her feet. Kate swallowed hard when he slid his hands down her body, taking her dress to the floor, leaving her in nothing but a pair of hot pink bikini underwear.
She held her breath as he stared at her nearly naked body. It had been a decade since anyone but her husband and gynecologist had seen this body. His gaze swept over her breasts, hips and thighs.
“I was right,” he finally said, his voice low and husky. “You’re not pretty.” As her heart all but slammed to a stop in her chest, his old smile returned, teasing and unbearably sexy. “You, Kate, are unbelievably... hot.”
She grinned with relief. “The feeling is mutual.”
Without another word, he grabbed her hand and pulled her up the stairs. She felt like giggling, as if she were a teenager sneaking away to do something terribly wicked.
Nervous shivers shot up her spine, made her flesh tingle with awareness. The air upstairs was cooler, a window left open, and she could hear a wind chime somewhere in the fading light of the day.
She smiled to herself. She’d never done anything like this before. But she didn’t want to be practical or responsible. She didn’t want to think about the future. She wanted to be in the arms of a man who thought she was hot. And, conveniently, he was right in front of her.
Jim impatiently tugged her to him, his hands like fire on her skin, his lips firm and moist on her mouth.
She slid his boxers down his thighs, her fingers delighting in the soft rasp of hair on his legs. She stared at his naked body with awe. He was glorious. Lean. Muscular. Ready.
Perfect.
She pressed against him, and he moaned, his mouth hungry on hers, then he was urging her back against the edge of the bed. She held onto him greedily as his arms braced her, his body hard and pulsing against her as they fell to the mattress.
He dragged his mouth from hers and lowered it to her breast, his lips teasing her nipple, sending electric heat rippling through her. She arched on a moan, her hips seeking his, her hands reaching for him.
When his fingers found the edge of her panties, she wiggled her hips, letting him slide them down her thighs as his mouth worked its magic elsewhere.
Then he found her center with his hand and she arched against him. Yes.
He pulled away.
She tugged him back. “Don’t go...”
“I’m just getting protection,” he murmured as he rummaged, one-handed, in the night stand.
Desire was nearly a fever pitch in her. She wanted—no needed—the feel of him. Right now. “Don’t worry,” she gasped as she felt him pulse against her belly, felt an answering surge deep inside her. “You don’t need any.”
“You’re covered?” he asked.
“Yeah,” she said.
He nodded—then on a groan, entered her.
Kate let her head fall back against the sheets, glorying in the feel of his body moving over her, in her, as he began an urgent rhythm they both craved. She groaned and gripped him to her.
It wasn’t really a big lie, she reassured herself as she surged toward climax. There was no risk of Jim making her pregnant.
At least it would be some trick if he did.
Seeing as she already was.
CHAPTER TWENTY
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“WOW.”
Kate turned her head to look at Jim as he lay sprawled on top of the bedclothes next to her.
“That was incredible,” he breathed.
Her body was slick with sweat, her breathing still returning to normal as she lay, boneless, on the sheets. Incredible was a good word for it.
She’d hoped for a fun, remember-it-fondly frolic. What she’d gotten was one of the most intense orgasms of her life.
“Was it good for you?” He grimaced. “I sound like a teenager. You’re just so quiet.”
“Good,” she said as she laid a weak hand over her brow. “Very good.”
He nodded, his face relaxing with relief. “I thought maybe I’d been too... we were so...” He trailed off and rolled to his side to face her, his finger coming to draw little circles on her bare shoulder. “I’m not normally like that.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
He chuckled and pressed a kiss to her lips. “That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it. Which I did. Very much.” He tilted his head and studied her. “But I also like to take my time. Enjoy the journey not just the destination.” He replaced his finger on her shoulder with his lips. Soft, sensual lips. Kate closed her eyes as his mouth trailed slowly along her collar bone, rekindling a fire that still smoldered inside her.
“Maybe, if you don’t object,” he said, “we could try it again. Savor it this time.”
She shivered under his touch, whether from regret or excitement she wasn’t sure. A bittersweet longing squeezed her heart. Oh God, there shouldn’t be a ‘next time,’ she counseled herself. Shouldn’t have been a ‘this time.’ But her mouth was already saying something else.
“I’d like that,” she said, knowing she should put some distance between them, but unable to concentrate with Jim’s lips tantalizingly close to her breast. “But, maybe we should, ah, eat first?”
He raised his head, hazel eyes smoldering, hair in sexy, tousled disarray. “Good idea. Sustenance. I’ll start reheating dinner.”
She nodded. “I’ll go, ah, freshen up. If that’s okay.”
He pointed her to the bathroom then headed downstairs, completely nude. The guy certainly didn’t have a problem with excessive modesty. Not that it bothered her. He could parade around in front of her all he wanted.
Sighing, she sat up and looked for her sundress, then realized it was somewhere on the living room floor. She picked up a T-shirt from atop Jim’s dresser and hoped he wouldn’t mind if she borrowed it. Sliding it over her head, she padded across the hall and closed the door.
Then she shut her eyes and leaned her head against it.
Oh. Lord. What was she doing?
More to the point, what had she done?
She turned from the door and walked to the sink, staring at herself in the mirror.
She barely recognized the woman staring back at her. Hair a tangled mess, eyes unusually bright, cheeks flushed. She turned on the tap and splashed cold water on her face, her wrists.
She’d made a mistake.
She’d thought she could indulge in this out-of-proportion attraction thing, as Jim called it, get it out of her system, and go back to her messed up life.
Only she’d known the moment he rolled over and said wow that things weren’t going according to plan. She’d already been thinking once wasn’t enough, not nearly enough.
Maybe it was the hormones.
Or maybe it was the feel of him real and naked inside her.
She closed her eyes. That had felt particularly good. For never-again mistake sex, it had felt very, very good.
Kate sighed and opened her eyes. Even the last time with Randy, she’d insisted he use a condom.
She grimaced at her reflection. What were the odds of getting pregnant by your dead husband’s sperm after the separation while using birth control? If she were a gambler, she’d be laughed off the track for betting on odds like that.
She squeezed her eyes shut against the hot sensation gathering there.
But here she was, with the jackpot.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
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IT WAS AFTER ELEVEN O’CLOCK that night by the time Jim pulled back into his drive after the ill-timed fire call.
What a night.
As exhausted as he was, he still couldn’t wipe the goofy smile from his face. And it was all because of one woman. One amazingly sexy, spontaneous, incredible woman.
Kate.
He glanced at the cottage through the trees, wondering if she were still up. No lights. He sighed lightly into the cool night air. She’d probably gone to bed.
&nb
sp; If only he’d known her longer. If only this hadn’t been their first night, he’d feel more confident about going over, knocking on her door... or just letting himself in.
Jim swallowed as he felt a stirring in his groin. Better not think about that right now, or he’d be suffering the rest of the night. Although, it would be really hard not to think about it. Especially now that he was so close to the woman who’d amazed the hell out of him just a few hours ago.
He knew he needed a shower. Knew also, he really wanted to see her again. Which was why, when he walked in the door, his pulse quickened. There were three messages on his answering machine. He pressed the ‘play’ button.
The first was Doug, ribbing him about bailing on them at the diner.
The second was Rachel, apologizing for Doug ribbing him about bailing on them at the diner.
The third was Kate.
Jim turned up the volume as Kate’s voice filled his kitchen.
Hi, Jim. It’s Kate. I just wanted to say thanks for... tonight. Dinner was great and... I put your food in the fridge after you left. Sorry you didn’t get to finish.
Well, it’s nearly eleven now, so I guess I’m headed to bed. Have a good night. Bye.
He stared at the phone. Nearly eleven? The kitchen clock read 11:17. Maybe it wasn’t too late to call after all.
Before he knew what his fingers were up to, her line was ringing. He should let her sleep. Probably it made him look desperate to call like this, but then she answered, and he didn’t care how it seemed, he was so pleased she’d picked up.
“Kate? It’s Jim.”
“Jim? Oh. Hi. I didn’t expect to hear from you... tonight.”
“I just got back.” She was quiet. “I’m sorry. Is it too late to call? I thought I saw your light on...” Okay, so he hadn’t, but...
“No, it’s fine. I... It just feels silly to talk on the phone knowing you’re right next door.”
He grinned and looked through the window toward the cottage. “We could change that.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” she said, although he could tell by the tone of her voice she was at least entertaining the notion.
“I could come over for a nightcap.”
“A nightcap, huh?”
“Yeah, you know, we could have a drink. Sit on the porch. Relax.”
“Relaxing isn’t how I’d describe time spent with you so far.” She was teasing him. That was a good sign.
“Yeah, well, I’m open to suggestions.” She was quiet again, but she hadn’t said no, so he pressed his advantage. “How about we give it half an hour? If you’re not feeling... relaxed... in that time, we call it a night? Okay?”
She laughed lightly, and the sound sent warm tingles over his skin. “Okay. You win. Just give me a couple minutes.”
“How about ten? I need to shower.”
“Ten minutes,” she agreed.
TEN MINUTES!
Kate scrambled from under the covers and quickly pulled them back into place, straightening the pillows and stuffing her night guard in a drawer—just in case. She raced downstairs to put in her contacts and brush her teeth.
Eight minutes.
She stared at her reflection, fluffed her hair with her fingertips and rummaged quickly for her tinted lip gloss.
I’ll shoot for natural beauty, she thought, as she swiped the gloss over her lips. Hmm. Okay, so she’d grab the eyelash curler and pretend she had naturally curling eyelashes, too. But, no mascara! It would only smear and look awful by morning if Jim spent the night.
Spent the night?
Four minutes.
Okay. Focus.
Kate glanced down at the oversized tee she had on and dashed toward the stairs. She could not let him see her in the same saggy T-shirt she’d had on on Monday!
Five minutes later, there was a light knock on the front door. Kate poked her arms into a long-sleeved pink cotton shirt and hurried back down the stairs as Jim called from the entry. “Hello? Kate?”
She checked to be sure she’d actually remembered to pull on the capris she’d decided on and stepped off the bottom stair. “I’m here.”
He stepped over the threshold and shut the door. “Hi.”
“Hi.”
She licked her suddenly dry lips and smiled shyly at him, feeling awkward and unsure after all they’d done earlier that night. Had she really stood naked in front of this man just three hours ago? If so, why did she feel so self-conscious now?”
“Sorry about dinner,” he said.
“It’s okay. I put the rest of your burger in your fridge.”
“I saw.” He licked his own lips. “I brought us something.” He held up a bottle. “Sparkling apple juice. Leftover from a birthday party. I hope it’s okay it’s not chilled.”
Kate smiled more easily and stepped forward to take the bottle. “It’s perfect.” He was perfect. Standing there in his bare feet wearing that soft, lopsided smile, he was just what she would have asked for if she were at the man-bar ordering up something delicious and refreshing.
He followed her into the kitchen. She knew this because every sense was acutely aware of him behind her. The soft shuffle of his feet on the bare wood floor. The fresh scent of his soap. She reached up for glasses and nearly dropped the bottle on the floor when he pressed his body against hers and began to nuzzle the back of her neck.
“Kate...” he murmured into her hair, his lips doing dizzying things to her already jumbled brain. Thankfully, he grabbed the bottle and set it on the counter, as Kate could do little more than hold herself upright, her knees threatening to buckle.
She couldn’t say how long they stood like that, him driving her dizzy with tantalizing kisses, before he finally pulled away. “Turn around,” he ordered thickly.
Slowly, she turned, her pulse thundering in her ears.
“Kate,” he said again.
Oh Lord, she thought unsteadily as she stared back at him. His hair was still damp from his shower, his jaw shadowed with the day’s stubble. He wore a plain tee and an old pair of jeans, and she was quite sure that if he said ‘Kate’ in that low, sexy voice again, she’d dissolve into liquid heat right before his eyes.
“I’ve been thinking about you all night,” he said as he dipped his lips to her nape again. How did he know that was the one place that drove her crazy?
“You have?” she squeaked.
“Mmm,” he murmured against her cheek, her closed eyelid. “I’ve been thinking about taking it slow this time.”
“I thought you wanted to come for a... a nightcap?” She gripped the edge of the counter as she felt herself slumping toward the floor.
“Is that what you want?”
“What I want?” Thank heaven he’d slid an arm around her, because this verticality issue she had when he was near was definitely becoming a problem.
“Mmm,” he murmured.
His mouth was now so close to her own, she felt her lips plumping up on their own accord just to make contact with his. Just a little closer. A little more, they seemed to say. “I want... I want...,” she stuttered.
And then his lips were on hers, saving her the effort of finishing her sentence, because he was giving her exactly what she wanted.
A long sigh escaped her lips as he traced his tongue down her nape, then up to nip lightly on her earlobe. “I’m glad you’re still up,” he said.
“Me... too,” she breathed as his hands moved slowly on her back, stroking rhythmically down to her hips. Then he pulled her against him and held her hips against his so she could feel his response to her.
He kissed her again, softly, slowly, then more firmly. Teasing. Tempting. “I don’t normally do this,” he said, pulling back just enough to separate their lips. “I want you to know. I’m not that kind of guy—this kind of guy—normally.”
At least, that’s what she thought he said. She was having trouble listening to him, what with her blood pounding in her ears.
“Me either,” she said
as his mouth went south again at the same time his hands went north—under her shirt, that is. “But, I, ah... didn’t see that it did any harm earlier to... indulge.” This last word came out in a burst as his fingers undid the front clasp of her bra, setting her breasts free a scant moment before he cupped them in his palms.
“I like you,” he sucked in a breath as she fumbled with the zipper to his jeans. “It’s not just about the sex.”
“I like you, too,” she replied as his jeans slid down his thighs, exposing the strong, sexy contents therein. She looked up. “And it’s totally about the sex.”
He nodded, his eyes rolling back under his closing lids as she began to stroke him through his boxers. “Maybe... now... it... is...” He grabbed her hand and opened his eyes. “But, it doesn’t have to stop there. Just so you know.”
“I know,” she said as she wet her lips and slid to her knees, watching as his eyes grew wide. “But it’s okay if it does.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
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“I DON’T UNDERSTAND,” Carter said later that Friday morning. He uncoiled the hose and began to spray down Sugar Falls’ Engine No. 2, just one task in a host of preparations for the town’s Fourth of July Parade the next day. “How could we possibly be related—even remotely—if you aren’t totally psyched about this?”
“First of all, I’ve always had my doubts about our being related. And second of all, I was talking to Doug.” Jim followed Carter around the engine with a long scrub brush and a bucket of detergent.
“Sorry, I just came by to see how things went after you left last night. Didn’t mean to start anything.” Doug leaned against the wall of the fire station. He didn’t look particularly sorry to Jim, not after hearing a highly-edited synopsis of the previous evening’s events.
“So just to review what we know so far: You’re saying you actually slept with the hot widow next door and she says that’s all she wants from you?” Carter said.
Jim put all his concentration on eradicating a particularly sticky bug smear. “Basically.”
He scowled at the bug guts, trying to sort through his emotions. He was relieved, certainly, that Kate wasn’t looking for a serious relationship. Hadn’t he just gotten out of one?
