Love By Accident

by Michelle Beattie

  "Hmm. Mint."

  "Mint's my favorite."

  "I know," she grinned, enjoying teasing him.

  He took it from her and drank a long swallow. "Hmm. Good."

  Passing her the mug, he tilted his head back and closed his eyes. When he once again turned to look at her she saw the fatigue around his eyes and the slight droop of his shoulders. Concerned, she lay a hand on his arm; the leather of his jacket was crisp and cool beneath her fingers.

  "You look beat. Was the drive back from Edmonton a long one?"

  "No it was fine, the roads were good. Just kinda forgot how loud and obnoxious my family can be." He threw her a smile but she knew him better than that.

  "You told your family I was here, didn't you?"

  He hesitated a moment. "Yeah."

  "I'm sure that went over well."

  Lauren had loved his family on sight. They hadn't had many opportunities to get to Edmonton between their studies and their jobs, but Matt had taken both her and Gil up one January for Ukrainian Christmas and she'd never forgotten it. Tons of food had steamed from a smorgasbord which could have easily fed an NHL team.

  Conversations, two to four at a time, had ping-ponged through the rooms. Each was animated and spoken from the heart, which accounted for the raised voices and fists that threatened to collapse folding card tables when someone tried to make a point. She'd walked out of his parents' house dazed and in love with the Skarpinskys. Her own family, or at least her parents, were conservative and quiet. She'd envied Matt the rambunctiousness he'd come from.

  He toyed with the cuffs of his leather coat. "Baba says hi."

  Lauren set down her mug, no longer thirsty. "And your parents?"

  "Mom's conflicted. She liked you but I'm her baby, so she worries."

  "And your dad?"

  "Dad's trying to understand. But it will take some time to get used to the idea."

  "Of my being back in your life?"

  His blue eyes latched onto hers and suddenly the air between them was electric. "No," Matt said, closing the last of the distance between them, "of this."

  Before she could do more than blink, he'd wrapped his arms around her and lowered his lips to hers. Her heart did a slow roll and everywhere she felt him, her skin tingled. It didn't occur to Lauren to resist; it felt too incredible and it had been so very long since she'd been in a man's embrace.

  The blanket fell forgotten to her waist. She spread her open palms on his cheeks. Lips light as a butterfly's wings and tasting of mint covered hers, drawing her in completely. She was aware of only him and the hammering of her heart. Beneath her hands the muscles of his jaw moved with expert precision.

  He pulled her lower lip between his teeth. Everything inside her tightened with lust.

  His fingers brushed her mouth. "I can't tell you how long I've wanted to do that," he whispered though the street was silent and empty.

  She hadn't realized she was shivering until Matt drew the blanket back around her shoulders. Lauren clasped the edges tightly between her breasts. He'd wanted to kiss her? Since when?

  "I surprised you, didn't I?"

  She licked her lips, tasted his kiss. "Juliet told me she thought you were, uh, attracted to me. I didn't believe her. I'd never seen any signs."

  His smile was shy. "Well, what could I do? You were with my best friend."

  Lauren heart gave a hard knock. "What? I thought this was a recent thing! How long have you felt this way?"

  "Since the first time I saw you." His fingers teased her bangs, skimmed down her cheek. "I couldn't help it then and I can't help it now."

  She stood, taking the warmth of the comforter with her.

  "Did he know?"

  Matt moved quickly and suddenly he was in front of her, his hands on her arms.

  "No, I wouldn't have done that to him, or you. But whatever's happening here is between us. Only us." His hands fastened harder around her arms. "Please don't walk away from me again."

  A tsunami of emotion crashed over Lauren. His eyes were more beautiful, more passionate than she'd ever realized. She dropped her gaze to his mouth and her body yearned. Oh, man, he had a sexy mouth.

  She'd never been afraid of jumping into relationships before--although she'd really only had one serious one--but this was different. She'd lost Matt once before and the pain had cut deep. Thinking of losing him again, after getting this second chance, was unthinkable.

  "I don't want to wreck anything. We're talking to each other after all these years, we're back in each other's lives. I don't want that to change. I can't lose you again."

  "Then let's make a deal right now. Whatever happens, we remain friends afterward."

  Lauren rolled her eyes, even as she wished it were so simple. "You know it's easier said than done."

  He clasped her hand. "Answer me this. If this doesn't work, would you move or are you in Jasper for good?"

  Without hesitation Lauren knew her answer. "I love it here, I'm not going anywhere."

  Hope flashed across his face. "Neither am I. So the way I see it, we're going to be in each other's lives no matter what." His hand cupped her cheek. "Please. Let's give this a try."

  It had been a long, long time since she'd felt this breathless anticipation around a man. That the man was Matt was both thrilling and scary.

  "Don't think, Lauren. Just feel."

  Her breath shook out of her lungs. Oh, how she wanted to do just that. To simply lean into him, forget the past and concentrate on where they were right then.

  "I'm scared."

  He choked out a laugh. "You're not the only one."

  Knowing he was also afraid gave Lauren the push she needed. Her head light and spinning, she nodded. "Okay."

  He smiled, drew her tightly against him and pulled the blanket around them both until she felt like she was in a cocoon. Long fingers rested on her neck and shoulders. His eyes were dark and heavy with desire. Lauren felt the echoing response sizzle along her every nerve.

  The kiss started slow. A peck, then another. A quick flick of his tongue at the corner of her mouth. A moan escaped her. Lauren felt his smile. His fingers crept along her shoulders, tantalizing the sensitive skin at the back of her neck. Shivering, Lauren pressed closer.

  His tongue became more insistent. It touched the seam of her mouth. He added just enough pressure. Lauren needed no further coaxing. Her mouth opened under his.

  Tasting Matt for the first time was like nothing Lauren had ever experienced. He was hot, so hot. It was like chocolate melting in her mouth and the taste was exquisite, addictive. Craving more, Lauren curled her tongue around Matt's, dug her fingers into the silk of his curls. His moan reverberated through his chest into hers. It filled her heart until it felt twice its size. It filled her head until she was drunk with desire.

  His hands were gentle. They skimmed her neck, her throat, the soft skin behind her ears. Her skin burned where he touched and throbbed where he didn't. Gently, as though they had all the time on earth, Matt drew out the kiss, extracting desires and needs Lauren had tucked away for years. When he lifted his mouth from hers, he was as out of breath as she was.

  "Oh, man."

  Lauren searched his face but didn't see anything other than the dazed wonder she herself felt.

  "I'm a bit out of practice," she admitted.

  "That's out of practice?" Matt sputtered. "Lauren, that was the hottest kiss I've ever had. Any hotter and I'd have embarrassed myself."

  Lauren blushed, amazed she could feel soft and feminine and powerful at the same time. Stringing together a complete sentence seemed impossible, so she shifted her attention to the quiet street.

  "No comment?" he asked. "Did I push this too soon?"

  "I wasn't expecting anything like this with you. It never occurred to me that we'd--that we'd do this."

  "And now that we have?"

  Lauren swallowed her nervousness and faced him. "All I can think of is doing it again."

  His eyes went hot
as lava. "Hell, you don't have to ask me twice."

  Matt crushed his mouth to hers and the Northern Lights exploded behind her eyes.

  ***

  You could have knocked him over with a feather. Well, granted it likely wouldn't be hard to do considering he was a ghost, but jeez, he hadn't expected this.

  Gil was leaning against Matt's car, arms crossed, chin dragging on the pavement.

  Matt and Lauren kissing? And not the little peck on the cheek he used to give her. This time he was giving her tongue. Gil shook his head even as his heart fell. This wasn't good.

  It wasn't that he was jealous, he wasn't. He did feel like shit, though. Matt had wanted Lauren all those years and he'd never said a thing? He'd kept his feelings hidden to spare his friend. A friend who hadn't deserved it.

  "Some fucking friend I turned out to be," Gil cursed, thinking of what he'd done. Well the time would come to pay the piper, but now wasn't it. He was lingering in this life for a reason. Gil needed her to tell Matt everything.

  Shit, he thought as his arms fell to his side. This was going to be messy. And hearts were going to get broken all around.

  ELEVEN

  She was a jumble of nerves. Every time the bells chimed announcing a new customer Lauren's stomach clenched and her eyes, despite her determination not to look, were drawn to see who'd come in. So far she'd been disappointed thirty-two times. Where the devil was Matt anyway? If he'd just show up, maybe she could concentrate.

  "Sorry, what was that?" Lauren asked Norm, one of her regulars. His blue eyes twinkled beneath bushy black eyebrows.

  "Cheeseburger, no pickles, fries. Gravy on the side."

  "Got it, thanks Norm."

  "I hope so, it's the third time you've asked me."

  Embarrassed, she scurried straight to Carlos and put in the order before she forgot or got distracted again. She managed not to screw up anything else until the bells rang again. Her head spun to the door, and she sighed heavily when another regular strolled in.

  "Lauren?"

  "Yeah? She turned to another of her daily clients.

  "Is there a reason you just dumped this dishcloth on my plate?"

  "Oh, my God!" Horrified, she gasped and yanked the whole plate away. "I'll get you another BLT, on the house."

  By sheer determination alone, she shut out the sound of the bells, the memory of Matt's kiss, and managed to get through the rest of the afternoon without any other catastrophes. By four o'clock, and nearing the end of her shift, the restaurant was finally cleared. Carlos was outside having a smoke and she felt safe enough now to let her mind wander back to last night. It was a vivid memory she'd played over in her head throughout the wee hours when she'd been wired and her emotions were too upside down to sleep.

  "Name your price for a cup of coffee and it's yours."

  Lauren's heart tripped and she spun around. Oh, God, there he was. Hair a little mussed by the breeze, a hint of beard darkening his jaw, and that uniform. How had he gotten in without her hearing? Without her knowing? After all day of being attuned to the door, he'd slipped in when she'd finally stopped expecting him to.

  Yet she couldn't be happier to see him.

  Matt plopped down on the stool at the counter and turned down the radio on his belt when it began to squawk.

  She poured him a cup, heavy on the cream and sugar, and slid it over.

  He arched a brow. "You remembered?"

  "I remember everything," she said, thinking of their days in college when both Matt and Gil would be intolerable until they'd had at least a cup each.

  His lids lowered, his voice dropped and Lauren knew he wasn't thinking about college. But then, with him looking at her with all that heat in his eyes, neither was she.

  "You do, huh?"

  She was over thirty. How could looking at him make her feel sixteen all over again?

  He took a slow sip, his gaze locked on her until, despite the dry leaves flying past the window outside, she was tempted to turn the air conditioning back on.

  "Thanks for the caffeine jolt, I needed it. After last night, I couldn't seem to fall asleep."

  Her heart soared with his words. "Not me, slept like a baby."

  Matt grinned and the cocky tilt of it sent her nerves dancing. "Liar."

  The smile they shared was intimate.

  "Are you busy Saturday?"

  "I have to close, why?"

  He frowned. "Well, that sucks. What are your hours?"

  "Two to ten."

  "You need another job," he muttered. "Okay, it's not ideal but it'll still work. I'll pick you up Saturday, say ten a.m. We'll have some fun, a light lunch and then I'll take you to work," he said. He pulled a five out of his pocket and set it next to his mug.

  "Ten? What are we doing so early?" Not that it mattered. Especially with the way he was looking at her.

  "I have big plans, honey. See you then."

  He turned and walked away and of their own volition her eyes targeted his butt.

  Lauren sighed and a smile curved her lips.

  There wasn't a woman alive who could dispute he had one fine ass.

  ***

  The call came right after lunch. Three hours later Matt was back to complete the necessary paperwork and then he promptly left again. After a four mile run, a shower and a beer, he nuked some soup for supper. Not even his mom's homemade vegetable soup helped. Finding a second dead bear had left a smear on his mood.

  It pissed him off. Poaching was wasteful. He could understand legally hunting for meat but hunting for profit left him frustrated and angry. Not only because his career was environmental protection, but because it was morally wrong. He could only be thankful she wasn't a nursing bear. At least she wouldn't be leaving orphaned cubs behind. Still far too many got away with poaching every year. And it wasn't just bears. Bighorn sheep were prized and killed for their horns, elk, deer and moose for their racks. The list went on.

  He hadn't felt like dwelling on it any more. He'd needed another distraction. Traffic was quiet tonight. The lights on the dashboard shone faintly in the interior of the Corvette. Not that driving the curving mountain roads in the dark was conducive to putting the pedal down and letting the 'Vette loose enough to clear his head, but he needed to be out.

  Damned poachers.

  Hitting a stretch of straight road, Matt punched the gas. Bon Jovi lived on a prayer through his speakers but to Matt it was background noise. His thoughts dominated everything. Another bear found within three miles of the first. He couldn't determine the cause of death because this bear had been dead longer than the first one they'd found. Rodents and scavengers had torn away most of the carcass, everything Matt would have needed to make a better examination. It wasn't possible to tell for sure; there were no signs it had been poached. Yet he knew.

  He dimmed his lights for an approaching logging truck and shifted into third to take a turn. Red metal eyes glowed off the elk warning sign in the ditch so Matt kept his speed down and his attention focused. He wasn't afraid of driving, the accident hadn't fazed him that way, but he had learned a healthy appreciation for life which didn't entail taking on a bull elk or a full grown moose. But the poacher was a different story. Him, he'd gladly take on. And by the time he was done with him, the bastard would think twice before ever touching another animal again.

  Perhaps he couldn't prove it, and he'd told his staff to keep their eyes open but not to press the panic button yet. Still, he planned on making some extra rounds, keeping alert for anything out of the ordinary. Maybe take a horse for a ride through some backcountry.

  If they had a poacher on their hands, he'd damn well make it as difficult for him to strike again as possible.

  TWELVE

  "Good, you're home."

  Lauren shifted the phone to her shoulder, bracing it with her cheek while she opened a can of Pepsi. Although unexpectedly hearing from Matt was better than a jolt of caffeine any day.

  "Well, my plane to Hawaii doesn't leave until m
orning," she teased.

  "Hawaii, eh?" His voice went smooth and rich as the best Bernard Callebaut chocolate. "I can do that."

  The dream she'd had the other night came to mind. Hot sand, white beaches. Matt shirtless. Oh, boy.

  She cleared her throat. "Unless I win the lottery, I'm not going anywhere. What's up?"

  "I need your help. Don't move. I'll be right over."

  He hung up before she could say anything more. What was he up to now? Not that it really mattered. He was coming over. Glancing down at her worn sweats, Lauren set her can on the counter and raced to her room to quickly change into jeans and a nicer shirt.

  Ten minutes later he rapped on her door.

  A startled laugh jumped from her mouth when she answered it. "What are you doing? Halloween isn't for another two weeks."

  Matt, wearing black jeans and his Doc Martens, his black leather coat and a Zorro mask breezed past her into her kitchen.

  "I know."

  "So you're wearing a mask because...?"

  "I can't decide what to wear for Halloween. So I figured I'd get your opinion."

  "On what, a mask? What are you supposed to be anyway?"

  White teeth flashing, Matt ripped off his jacket. There, on his ebony t-shirt was a full set of felt crimson-red lips caught in mid pucker.

  "And the pièce de resistance," he whipped a red rose from behind his back and handed it to her.

  It was silly to be so charmed, but she couldn't help it. She inhaled the heady perfume while the velvet petals caressed her nose.

  "Thank you. I'm still not sure what you are, though."

  "I," his deep voice rumbled with each step closer to her he took, "am the Kissing Bandit."

  Tingles zigzagged over Lauren's skin, leaving behind goose bumps. "Wasn't that on an episode of the Love Boat once? You know? Back in the eighties?"

  His eyes shone with humor and something a little darker. "One of the best decades ever, don't knock it."

  He'd reached her but kept coming forward, guiding her back until her hips pressed against the counter. Exhilaration at being so in tune with every movement she made left her breathless. She shifted her hand to the side so their bodies wouldn't squish the rose.

  "If I remember right, once he kissed them, they never saw him again."