“Yes,” he finally said, his voice deep but still soft in the silence. “I’m staying. Applewood is home and so are you. I had a long talk with my mother on Sunday and she set me straight about a lot of things. I may not know what I’m going to do with the rest of my life but I know that I want you in it.”
Mika wanted desperately to believe. Cal had evoked so many emotions in her since the day he’d walked back into her life. It was as if she’d been asleep for years but was now awakened, seeing everything clearly. So many mistakes, so many hurts. Was she arrogant to think they could wipe that away and start again?
“You’re not sure about me, are you? I’ve never lied to you, Mika. In the past I never said that I’d stay. I never made you a promise I couldn’t keep. So when I say to you now that I’m not going anywhere I’m telling the God’s honest truth. Will you trust me?” Cal asked, his fingers tracing her jaw and taking her breath away. She’d been alone way too long and had missed his strong hands. “Maybe this will remind you that you can.”
His lips were on hers and she gripped his shoulders as the world spun on its axis. The very breath seemed to be sucked from her body even as her heart sounded in her ears like a timpani. This was what she’d pushed out of her mind, told herself she didn’t need.
Pleasure and warmth rushed through her veins as one of his hands slid up her ribcage to cup her breast. His thumb strummed the already hard nipple poking through the lace of her bra and the thin material of her dress. She pressed herself closer, wanting to feel every muscled inch of him against her own body. Right now he was everything and her world had narrowed to only the two of them on this deserted strip of beach.
His arm slid under her knees and she felt herself lifted out of the water and carried to the blanket he’d pulled from the back of his truck earlier. Dragging his lips away, he set her down gently before lying on top of her, his arms taking his weight and effectively caging her in.
She wouldn’t have moved for the world.
The second kiss was completely different than the first. Cal took his time exploring every nook and cranny of her mouth as if they had eternity to just lie here under the stars and ignore the rest of the heartless, demanding world.
She slid her hands down his spine, feeling the muscles move and bunch under her palms. She pressed butterfly kisses to his jaw before blazing a trail down the cord of his neck, his pulse strong under her lips. His skin tasted slightly salty and she let her tongue lazily lap at the flesh until he groaned. His mouth and tongue glided down to her collarbone before beginning a sensual foray to the swell of her breast. His tongue snaked out and slid under the neckline of her dress and the lace of her bra, just skimming the edge of a pebbled bud.
Awash in sensation, she arched her back to give him more access as her hands continued their journey to catalog his every response to her touch, each moan and whisper amping her desire up that much higher.
She’d missed this and even if he left tomorrow she couldn’t be sad that she’d experienced it.
One more time.
* * *
Mika’s skin felt like the finest satin and he greedily slid his hand under the skirt of her dress, up the warm flesh of her thigh. He brushed his fingers over her mound and then played with the lace elastic waistband of her panties, knowing she loved it when he teased her a little.
She moved restlessly underneath him and he chuckled at her impatience when she nipped at the cord of his neck, molding her soft curves to his hard body. It had simply been way too long since the last time he’d touched and held her this way. He must have been crazy to ever leave and he sure as hell wouldn’t do it again. His career hadn’t given him a fraction of the satisfaction ten minutes in her company had.
A white hot flame built in his abdomen as he kissed, licked, and nipped every inch of exposed flesh. Her lips tasted of wine and chocolate mousse and he couldn’t get enough of her sweetness.
His fingertips sensuously glided over the spot where her hip met her thigh and she moaned as he tickled the skin before sliding up under the edge of her cotton panties. His thumb caressed the pearl between her legs while he eased one finger into her tight channel, already slick and hot. Her hips rolled as Cal found the sensitive spot deep inside that he knew so well and he slowly moved his finger in a circular motion while his thumb did the same on her swollen bud.
The catch of her breath and the trembling of her legs told Cal without any doubt that Mika was teetering on the edge. He added a second finger and Mika sobbed as her climax took over. Her tight walls clenched on his hand and he could feel the waves of her completion along with her panting breath. As Mika came down to earth she whispered his name in a soft voice that twisted his heart, hard and cruel. He’d never leave her again. Being with her like this was what had been missing from his life.
Scratch that. He hadn’t had a life. He’d had an existence.
Cal held her, neither of them speaking for a long time until her hand wandered down his torso and rested on his hard length. Sucking in a tortured breath, he jerked away from her questing fingers and lifted them to his lips.
“Easy, sweetheart. Tonight is for you.”
“But…you’re…hard.”
As solid steel and it fucking hurt, but he knew deep down that she wasn’t ready for them to do more than this. She wasn’t convinced of his sincerity. Right now this was her libido doing all the talking.
“I am but it won’t kill me to wait. The cold, hard fact is you still don’t believe me, do you? You think I still might leave. Until you can trust that what I say is the truth I don’t think we should take this any further.”
Mika slowly sat up and pulled her knees to her chest in a protective gesture. He’d guessed correctly. She wasn’t there yet. She still couldn’t believe in him and what was between them.
“I want to believe you,” she finally said, her chin resting on her knees. “Nothing has been the same since you left.”
“For me either and I plan to spend the next few weeks proving that to you. I want you to trust me again.” He played with a strand of her silky hair, tickling her cute nose. “I need you to.”
“How do you propose to do that?”
Mika reached out and captured his hand with hers, their fingers entwined. She looked wonderfully mussed, her hair tousled and her lips swollen from their kisses. The neckline of her dress was slightly askew and it made him want to press her back onto the grass and continue what they’d started.
But he didn’t do it. Instead he chuckled and placed a kiss in the center of her palm before placing it on his heart where she could feel its heavy thud.
“I courted you once and won your love so I think I might be able to do it again. When was the last time a man made a fuss over you, Mika Adams? I’m going to bring you flowers, hold your hand, and steal kisses on your front porch swing. I’m going to let the whole town know that you’re my girl. Will you let me do that? Will you let me earn your trust again?”
He held his breath as she gazed steadily into his eyes. Even in the dim light he could see the emotions flit across her features. First fear, then want, and finally hope.
“Yes, although I have to admit it’s been a long time since I was courted. I may have forgotten how to act. You might need to take it easy on me in the beginning.”
“Easy,” he scoffed, a smile blooming on his face. “Baby, prepare to be wowed and wooed.”
He had a mission and it was only the most important of his life.
No pressure.
Chapter Eleven
‡
Wooed and wowed was an understatement.
Mika had been the recipient of flowers, candy, candlelight dinners, handheld strolls down Main Street, and even a stuffed bear that had been left on her front doorstep. She’d found him early one morning as she’d gone out to retrieve the newspaper. The furry brown teddy with big blue eyes had been holding her rolled up paper in its paws while being propped up on a sealed plastic container of pastries from the bak
ery.
She’d hugged that bear to her chest and felt tears prick the back of her eyes. He was truly trying to show her how he felt. Cal had always treated her well in the past but this time he’d taken it to a whole new level. She felt like a pampered princess.
“Mom, I’m hungry.”
A plaintive wail cut through the serenity of the moment and Mika had to chuckle softly to herself.
So much for royalty. A mother’s work was rarely glamorous and never finished. But it had been heaven for those few moments to bask in Cal’s loving regard.
“Eggs and toast? Or just cereal?”
Alex had been particularly picky about his food lately, telling her certain things were “icky” when he ate them all the time. His usual staples of grilled cheese and chicken fingers were being replaced with more grown up fare. Mika wasn’t against the transition in the least but it had come as something of a shock. Her baby was growing up so fast.
“Do you know how to make a cheese omelet?”
“Yes,” she answered slowly, pouring him a glass of orange juice. “I do, but have you ever eaten one?”
“Cal had one for breakfast on Sunday when we met him at the diner. I want to try one. Can you do it?”
Cal. Of course.
Alex had a serious case of hero worship going. He trailed after Cal like a puppy, wanting to do everything the older man did right down to what he ate and how he dressed. Mika was happy that the two most important men in her life were getting along so well but there was a little part of her that felt a pang every time she saw them together. If Cal didn’t keep his word he would break her son’s heart. It was her job as Alex’s mother to keep him safe from harm and here she was putting his love on the line.
It was one thing to do it to herself, but her son…
But with each passing day she believed in Cal a little more, the bricks surrounding her heart falling down one by one. He showed her in every way possible that she and Alex were the most important thing to him, even going as far as taking the little boy fishing early Saturday morning. Her son was blossoming under Cal’s positive attention and Mika couldn’t help but picture a future with the three of them as a family.
It was too soon to be thinking that way but she couldn’t seem to stop herself. Having Cal back in her life like this was bringing back all the reasons she’d fallen in love with him in the first place.
“Sure, I’ll make you a cheese omelet. It’s not difficult.” Mika pulled herself from her reverie as her young son busied himself with putting his school books into his backpack. He was supposed to do it at night so they wouldn’t rush around in the morning but more often than not she had to remind him. “Don’t forget that permission slip for your field trip. I signed it and set it on your desk.”
Quickly whipping up the omelet, Mika listened as her son regaled her with more tales of how amazing Cal was. Between the carpentry, the fishing, and the touch football in the front yard Alex was completely won over.
Mika still held out a small part of herself. The piece of her heart that was terrified of being hurt again. Cal had told her over and over that he wasn’t going anywhere but it was scary to believe.
“Yoohoo!” Charlotte stuck her head around the front door as Kenny barreled into the house, book bag in hand. It was Mika’s day to drop the boys at the elementary school. Charlotte would pick them up and take them to soccer practice. “Is that coffee I smell? I haven’t had nearly enough.”
Charlotte went straight to the cabinet and pulled down her favorite mug while Kenny and Alex disappeared into the living room to use the few brief minutes before school to play.
“Aren’t those lovely flowers,” Charlotte marveled with a wide smile, sniffing at the fragrant blooms in the glass vase. “Is this your second or third bouquet from Mr. Faulkner? Who knew he was such a romantic?”
“It’s the third,” Mika admitted but she was smiling as well. Cal had told her he was committed to making sure she had fresh flowers on her kitchen table at all times since he knew how much she loved them. “Cal’s being…really great.”
Charlotte rolled her eyes and laughed. “Is that code for I’m falling for him again because he’s not only gorgeous, he’s sweet and wonderful?”
“There’s still a lot of questions unanswered. I’m not rushing into anything.”
Charlotte downed half of her coffee in two gulps. “What’s unanswered? Cal’s hotter than a firecracker and I remember you saying he could kiss better than anyone else. He’s also just a really good man. He never cheated on you. What’s the issue? Is he simply too perfect?”
Cal wasn’t perfect but she was beginning to believe they were perfect for each other and that was a dangerous proposition. It meant putting herself out there and that was something she hadn’t done in a long time.
“I’m being cautious and if you were me you’d be the same. I have more than myself to think about.”
“Alex adores Cal and Cal’s good with kids. You’re still young enough to have one or two of your own, you know.”
Mika’s fingers tightened on the slice of bacon and it crumbled back onto the plate. “What if he doesn’t stay?”
“Then you go with him,” Charlotte said softly, her smile disappearing. “Because having him in Chicago, or New York, or even Timbuktu is a hell of a lot more important than staying in Applewood because of some sort of loyalty to your job or Alex’s school. Alex will make new friends and you can get a new job.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
Charlotte abandoned her coffee and stood in front of Mika, placing her hands on her shoulders and giving her a little shake. “You always want to talk about taking an idea to its logical conclusion, so let’s do that. Let’s say Cal wants to leave and you for some reason decide not to go along. So you stay here in Applewood and Alex grows older and goes away to college. Maybe he gets a job in another town and gets married. He can have a kid or two. Then his job transfers him to Los Angeles or Seattle. In the meantime you retire from teaching. So now Alex and your job are gone and you’re sitting here in this house in this town with no man to love you. You’re alone. I know some people might be okay with that but dammit, you deserve someone to love you, Mika. I’d hate to see you miss out on that.”
Mika’s throat clogged at the picture Charlotte had painted. “There are no guarantees.”
“That’s true. You could meet another man. Your relationship with Cal could fall apart even if you do follow him. But you’ve spent all this time trying to pretend that you didn’t make a decision when Cal left. Inaction is a decision, Mika. You decided to let Cal leave and if he goes and you stay you’ll have decided to do it a second time. Make no mistake, just sitting here and waiting for him to come back is a decision.”
“He says he’s staying.”
Charlotte rinsed her cup in the sink before reaching for her purse. “Then believe him. Show some trust in a man that has never lied to you and has only wanted your happiness. We should all be so lucky.”
Everything was beginning to become clear. Cal was doing all he could to build some sort of future for them. What was she doing?
Doubting. Impeding. Complaining because every little thing didn’t go her way.
It was time to show Cal how she felt.
Chapter Twelve
‡
“There’s more eggrolls if you’re still hungry.”
Cal pushed the white paper box closer to Mika but she groaned and patted her stomach. They were enjoying an early dinner and a movie before she had to pick up Alex from Charlotte’s house. It was Kenny’s birthday and Charlotte had taken her son plus a few of his friends into Virginia Beach for a bowling party.
“I couldn’t eat another bite but it was delicious. Alex only ever wants to order a pizza.”
Cal chuckled and began to clean up the food, stowing the leftovers in his refrigerator. “It’s nice that there are more places to order from than there used to be. When I lived here before it was pizza or nothing. And th
ey closed at ten in the evening.”
“We’ve moved up in the world,” Mika teased with a smile. “We have two places for pizza, Chinese takeout, and even a fast food burger joint. It’s like we’re in the twentieth century.”
“You mean twenty-first,” Cal corrected but she shook her head.
“No, I meant the twentieth but I’m sure we’ll get to the next century eventually. We’re not in any hurry. We locals are funny like that.”
Applewood certainly did march to its own drummer. The people enjoyed the small town atmosphere that was steeped in traditions from another decade.
But it still had Wi-Fi.
Cal popped the movie she’d picked out into the player and they settled on the couch, her head on his shoulder and her thigh pressed against his. Since he’d called a halt to their lovemaking that night on the beach he’d worked hard to court her and win her trust. It hadn’t been easy to tame his more base instincts but Mika was worth it. He needed her to know this wasn’t a game.
About ten minutes into the film he knew he’d been had.
“What are we watching?”
A beat of silence and then a giggle.
“Um, a romantic comedy about two friends who fall in love.”
Cal groaned and twisted around so he could see her delighted expression.
“You promised.”
They had watched three chick flicks in a row – that she’d chosen – and she’d promised to choose something else for tonight.
“I know and I feel badly about that, but this one just came out and all the teachers were talking about it at school today.”
Mika held up the DVD cover with an embracing couple on the front. Her lower lip stuck out in a pout and her eyes twinkled with merriment. She’d learned that from Alex or perhaps he’d learned it from her. Either way Cal wasn’t falling for it a fourth time.
“You promised,” he repeated. “It didn’t have to be a bloody war movie but come on, sweetheart. At the rate we’re watching these my testosterone is going to drain away and I’ll find myself crying on the couch craving chocolate.”
Unwanted Danger Page 7
