“A good idea,” he said, aware that his voice had become husky. “Tienes labios que gritan besame.” You have lips that scream kiss me. And he slowly, carefully, leaned toward her. He touched her mouth, drawing her lower lip between his lips sweetly, sensuously. He wanted to put his hands on her, but he was unsure what she could tolerate. He let one large hand touch her waist delicately, but he didn’t apply pressure and didn’t pull her to him. “I think I like this—being drawn into your confidence. I knew the heart-breaking would be something to look forward to.”
“I didn’t know I could do this,” she said a little breathlessly.
“I knew,” he said. “I told you. It was just a matter of time.”
“You’re going to get us into trouble….”
“No, Brie. There’s no trouble here, no problem. Everything is all right.”
“You sound overconfident.”
“I’m not worried about anything,” he said. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“You’re not trying for an upset? Trying to break my heart before I can break yours?”
“Estas en mi corazón.” You are my heart. “Go ahead. Do your worst. I’m strong. I welcome the pain.”
“Kiss me,” she said. “Kiss me one time, as though you don’t find me breakable.”
“Oh.” He chuckled, a husky sound. “Are you sure you mean that?”
“Just once,” she said, her voice a breath.
He circled her waist with his arms and drew her forward, pulling her across his lap and against his chest. Her hands rested lightly on his shoulders, waiting. He hovered over her lips for a moment. He let the flesh of his lips touch hers. Slowly, giving her time to change her mind, he pressed against her mouth. Her hands slowly drifted upward, circling his neck, a hand reaching up to the back of his head, holding him against her mouth, and with a groan of desire he moved over her mouth passionately, opening his lips. Hers opened as well, admitting his tongue. He wanted to die, the taste of her was so sweet, so delicious. He pulled her harder against him, feeling her firm breasts bore into his chest.
And it happened to him. He became aroused. It was the first time he had responded this way in so long that for a second he wanted to grasp her to him, lower her to the ground and press himself against her. But the hell of it was, he couldn’t proceed with her. She was just testing these waters and was still so unsure, so easily frightened. This kiss, this deep and wet and wonderful kiss, was a huge step for her. It was possible, lying across his lap as she was, that she felt his desire rising beneath her. And he didn’t want her to be afraid.
He heard her sigh, her breath soft against his face, and he withdrew from her lips. “Brie, I’m sorry. I can’t,” he whispered.
“Can’t?”
“I can’t kiss you like this. You tempt me. And you’re not ready to be with a tempted man. I have to take you home.”
She sat back, sliding off his lap and, a little rattled, brushed at her skirt. “Whew,” she said.
He ran a hand from her shoulder down her arm. “Okay?”
“Hmm,” she said. “Okay.”
“We have to go. It’s dark now. And we’ve had a full day.”
Jack was splitting logs in the early morning when Mike came from his RV. His hands plunged into his pockets, heading toward the bar for coffee, he said, “Morning” as he walked by.
“Mike,” Jack called after him. Mike turned and Jack leaned the ax against the stump. “I should probably say something about the other night,” Jack said. “I can’t figure out what.”
Mike grinned in spite of himself. “That’s too bad. I’d love to hear what you come up with.”
“How about—I’ll stay out of your business.”
“I don’t believe it, but I like it.”
“You have sisters. You know where I’m coming from.”
“Yeah,” Mike said, taking a step toward him. “I understand.”
“I care about her. Worry about her.”
Mike stepped toward him. He put a hand out to shake. When Jack took it Mike said, “I’m not talking to you about her. Period.”
“The boys will be here to hunt in a couple of days,” Jack said. “I’m going to Eureka for some supplies.”
“Need a hand with that?”
“Nah. Need anything while I’m there?”
“I’m good,” Mike said.
Jack nodded. “Thanks,” he said.
“For?”
“For refusing to talk about her. Says something.” He put a hand on Mike’s shoulder, directing him ahead toward the bar. “Let’s get a cup of coffee.”
An hour later Jack was gone to Eureka and Mel’s Hummer was parked in front of Doc’s. Mike drove out of town. He thought it was possible Brie was at Doc’s with Mel, but he didn’t stop to check, didn’t want to tip his hand. He pulled into the clearing at the cabin and gave the horn on his SUV three short toots. Then he stepped out and leaned against the driver’s door. In just a couple of moments she appeared on the porch, her damp hair pulled over one shoulder as she patted it dry with a towel. She wore slim jeans and moccasins on her feet. She looked so young, so vulnerable. She smiled when she saw him. “What are you doing here?”
He pushed his Rio Concho back on his head. “Checking in. How are you this morning?”
She tossed the towel onto the Adirondack chair and came down the porch steps toward him. “Fine. Very fine.”
“You look fifteen,” he said, feeling every one of his thirty-seven years. She took a step closer and he put his hands on her waist; she put her hands on his forearms and looked up at him. He twisted his hands at her waist, wiggling her a little closer. Then his arms went around her waist and he lifted her up so that her face was level to his. Her hands rested lightly on his shoulders. “I missed you,” he said. “I was thinking about you.”
“Is that so? Are you coming on to me?”
“Brie, I’ve been coming on to you for six months,” he said. “How’m I doing?”
“You’re pretty obvious.”
“I can’t help that. I have no savoir faire.”
She laughed at him and plucked the hat off his head, holding it behind him. “I think you have more than you deserve. Enough to be dangerous.”
“With you I’m an innocent.” He touched her lips lightly with his. Tentatively. “My days of being dangerous to women are over.”
“Is that so? And when did that happen?”
He gave a shrug. “A few months ago I began to lose interest in other women. A few weeks ago, it was over. There is only one.”
“You’re wooing me.”
“I’m trying, yes.”
“If you mean business, you should kiss me,” she said.
“Oh, I was hoping you would say that.” He covered her mouth with a passionate kiss, holding her close against him. Her mouth opened under his lips at once and he probed with his tongue. She not only let him in, she welcomed him in, moving over his mouth with lips that were hot and urgent, holding him tightly. From what he could taste, she was enjoying the kiss very much; she moaned softly and grew breathless. He couldn’t remember when he had last kissed a woman before Brie. A thousand years ago, surely. She tasted like honey, so sweet and pure.
He hated for it to ever end and when it did, she whispered, “Would you like to come inside?”
“No.” He smiled. “You’re not really ready for me to come inside.”
“You make me wonder what I’m ready for.” She kissed him again. Deeply and passionately.
“When you no longer wonder, we’ll talk,” he whispered against her lips.
“You could take advantage of my weakness,” she said.
He put her back on her feet and put a soft kiss on her forehead. “There will be no taking, mi amor. Only giving.”
“Oh, my. I can see why women would marry you so easily.”
He touched her nose. “Brie, it was never like this.”
“I don’t believe you,” she said.
“I wouldn’t believe me either, but it’s true.”
He pulled her to him and she leaned into him, resting her head on his chest, her arms around his waist. He held her like that, both of them quiet for a long time, just enjoying the closeness. He stroked her back and dropped soft kisses onto her damp hair, feeling more alive than he had in such a long, long time. It filled him with pride that she didn’t tense or tremble while he held her. She had slowly become accustomed to his touch, his embrace, and knew that she was safe and loved in his arms. Even if nothing more ever came, he felt he had already won the prize.
“You know the boys are coming to hunt?” he asked her.
“Yes. Jack’s getting ready for them. Will you hunt?”
“Of course. Which means I won’t be around town much during the day. If you need me for some reason, you’ll have to let me know beforehand.”
“I’m helping Mel with a big project she has going on. Something about free mammograms for the women around here.”
“Then I’ll see you later?”
“Yes. Later.”
He gave her a peck on the lips and pushed her gently away, taking his hat out of her hand, then got back into the SUV and drove away. He watched in his rearview mirror and saw that she stayed outside in the clearing in front of the cabin until he was out of sight.
When Mel went into the bar for her morning coffee, David contented in the stroller after his breakfast, she found Paige sitting at one of the tables with the newspaper spread out in front of her. “How’s it going?” Mel asked, parking David by the table while she went for a mug and some coffee.
“Good,” Paige said. “Hi, coochie,” she said to the baby, making him smile. She automatically took a toast crust from her nearly empty plate and gave it to him to teethe on. He was delighted by it.
Mel brought her coffee to Paige’s table and sat with her. She noticed David gnawing on the toast and smiled. “Isn’t that good?” she said to the baby. “Where is everyone?” she asked Paige.
“Hmm. I think Jack has gone to Eureka for supplies. I offered to do that—the boys are going to be here pretty soon. He said he’d get it, then next thing I knew he wasn’t around. John’s in the back, setting up lunch, with Christopher underfoot as usual.”
“How about Mike?” she asked.
Paige shrugged.
Preacher came out of the kitchen with a tray of glasses. He put them under the bar roughly. “Hey, Preach,” Mel said. “Where’s Jack?”
“Eureka.”
“How about Mike?”
“It’s not my day to watch him,” he said gruffly, going back to the kitchen.
“Jeez,” Mel said. She looked at Paige and met twinkling eyes. “Something funny?”
“John appears to be a little tense. Amazing he got through so many years without sex every day.”
“Every day?” Mel asked. “Well, holy shit, his count must be down to nothing!” She looked over her shoulder to make sure they were alone. “How’s he handling the drought?”
“He’s a little testy,” Paige said, amused. “I keep telling him this is entirely up to him. If it’s too much, we can make a few adjustments. But he wants to do it right.”
“Hope he doesn’t explode,” Mel said absently.
“He asked if we can close the bar on ovulation day.”
Mel’s eyes widened in surprise and they both melted into laughter.
Jack hadn’t seen Rick in a couple of days. He hadn’t been back from Eureka for long when Rick showed up. A couple of hunters were having a late breakfast at one of the tables, so Rick jumped up on the bar stool and Jack fixed him up with a cup of coffee. “Welcome back,” Jack said.
