Chapter 12

“No,” she whispered.

He cupped her cheek with one big hand; she leaned into the touch ever so slightly.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

He smiled. “No and yes, is that all you’re going to say?”

“Maybe.” She tried to keep her face serious, but couldn’t hold back a small smile.

He chuckled. “For the record, ‘yes’ works for me, but if your answer is ‘no,’ or even ‘maybe,’ I’ll respect those too. I can just take your bags upstairs and then be on my way.”

“No.”

His face dropped as he released her face, and reached for the door handle. “Okay, I understand.”

She reached across the center console to still his hand. “That’s not what I meant. I’d like you to come up, I only meant I can carry my own bags.” She blushed and continued. “If you’re going to stay over, you’ll need your bags too, and there’s no need to load you up like a pack mule. I don’t want you to get worn out before we even get to my apartment.”

He let out the breath he hadn’t even realized he was holding. After a weekend of tension with his family, and essentially foreplay with Heather, he had not been looking forward to spending the night on his own in his cabin, with its big, cold, lonely bed.

He grinned at her. “So, you don’t want me worn out—got big plans for me, huh?”

She grinned back as she unbuckled her seat belt. “You better believe it!”

****

Mick followed Heather up the stairs to her apartment over the Nosh Pit. He was already a big man, but lugging all of their bags up this narrow stairwell, he was worried he’d get wedged in, and they’d have to call the Rivers Bend Volunteer Fire Department to pry him out. It would be a real mood killer.

He heard the jangle of Heather’s keys as she unlocked the door and threw it open with a flourish.

“Ta da! Be it ever so humble…”

Mick followed her into the apartment. “Where do you want the bags?”

“Just dump them anywhere; we can worry about them later.”

Was she as anxious—okay, forget anxious and call it what it really was—was she as hot for him as he was for her? Her loud stomach rumble put that question out of his head.

“I’m sorry I didn’t stop for lunch, I was just enjoying driving Lola on the open road so much,” he said with a frown.

The fresh air from having the top down, and the loud music Heather had cranked up on the amazing sound system, had done a good job of blasting away memories of his father and Danny’s disdain for him; however, he hadn’t thought Heather might want food. He felt like a selfish jerk.

“No problem. I was having fun too; I didn’t think about it until my tummy reminded me just now.”

“But it’s Rivers Bend on a Sunday night, where are we going to get food? The mini-mart at the gas station is the only place open. How about a hot dog and a slushie? Tell you what, since I clearly know how to treat a lady, I’ll go wild and even get you the nachos, with the scary mystery cheese matter on them.”

Heather held up her index finger and spoke as she walked into her little kitchen. “Hold on, we might not have to resort to mystery cheese. If I know my sister, Deidre…” She opened the fridge door, peered inside it, and crowed triumphantly. “And I do! We’ve got leftovers from the Nosh Pit!”

Mick squeezed between the old school shiny aluminum and red kitchen table to peek over her shoulder at containers and wrapped up sandwiches.

“She knew I’d be getting in too late to get food, and she knows me well enough to know I don’t have anything to cook here. She gave me some coleslaw, potato salad, and sandwiches left over from Saturday service at the Nosh Pit.”

“Bless her,” Mick’s response was heartfelt, as talking about food made him realize he was hungry for more than just Heather.

She held up a sandwich in each hand and read the writing on the paper wrapped around them. “We’ve got Virginia ham and cheddar, and turkey with Havarti. Do you want to split them so we each get some of both?”

His stomach grumbled this time, and Heather laughed. “I’ll take that as a yes.” She gestured with her head. “Plates are in that cupboard. Would you please grab a couple for us?”

“Sure.” He grabbed two dishes and set them on the table with a clatter.

“What do you want to drink? I’ve got beer, wine.” She pointed through the pass-through between the kitchen and the living room with the hand holding a tub of potato salad. “Or if you want, I’m quite the mixologist, I can whip up a cocktail. Right now, I’m trying to perfect a frozen mint julep for my mom’s annual Kentucky Derby party. Want to be my guinea pig?”

“Maybe later. Did I see diet cola in your fridge?”

“You did. I’ll get it for us, and you divide up the sammies.”

He peered into the living room through the pass-through, and saw a vintage tiki-style bamboo bar. “I love the way you’ve decorated this place.”

She looked over her shoulder as she opened the freezer door to get ice for their sodas, which she plunked into their glasses. “Are you being sarcastic?”

“No, why would you think I was?” Mick took a sip of the cola she handed him and looked at her over the top of the glass.

“Because everything in here came from yard sales and my mom’s attic, and you strike me as more of a professional interior decorator kind of guy.”

He shrugged. “I used a decorator for my place in Portland, because I had no idea how to do it, but I like what you’ve done here. It’s funky and eclectic; it’s you.”

She bit her lower lip, and peered at him, as if still trying to decide whether or not he was picking on her. “Thanks.”

They sat next to each other at the table and dug into their impromptu dinner.

Mick closed his eyes his bliss as he took his first bite. “Mmm…this was so thoughtful of your sister. Still want to tell me your family isn’t perfect?”

She rolled her eyes as she chewed, and swallowed hastily. “They’re great—I give you that—and since we became adults we all get along really well, but we’re not perfect. Jeez Louise, didn’t you listen to a word I said in the car?”

He put his sandwich back on the plate, and took her free hand. “I did, Heather, I’m sorry if you thought I didn’t listen. You shared something real and personal, and I get it. I do. You inspired me, and I’m going to try to get along better with my dad and Danny.”

“Good.” She smiled at him and turned her hand in his, so their fingers intertwined. “I’m glad. It won’t be easy, but this way even if they don’t come around, at least you’ll know you did everything you could.”

He rubbed his thumb against her palm and felt her shiver at the touch. He lifted their joined hands and pressed a kiss to the spot his thumb caressed.

She licked her lips, and suddenly he was hungry for something other than the sandwich. He leaned toward her and kissed her lips; he felt her grip tighten on his, as she returned his kiss with fervor.

He whispered against her soft lips, “Want to finish dinner later?”

She nodded and peeked at him through her lashes, with uncharacteristic shyness, which made him worry she’d changed her mind.

“Are you sure, Heather? If you don’t want to, I’ll understand. There are clearly issues. I’m still your boss, we’ve got a complicated history together…”

She cut him off with a kiss. “Can’t we worry about all that stuff later?”

A slow smile curled up the corners of his mouth. “Sounds good to me.” He ran his knuckles along her cheek. “I’ve wanted this, wanted you, since the first time I saw you eleven years ago.”

She rubbed her face against his hand, and then surprised him when her pink tongue darted out to lick his finger. “Me too, and I’m not a patient woman. I’ve never waited for anything this long in my life. We can figure all the other stuff out tomorrow.”

She stood and tugged him up with her.

He scooped her up into his arms and carried her out of the kitchen. She kissed him at the sensitive juncture where his neck met his shoulder. Had she remembered how it made him wild after all these years? “Okay, I’ve never been in your apartment before. Which way do I go?”

She laughed and twined her arms around his neck. “I love how you’re strong enough to carry me around like I was a petite, little thing like Magda.”

He smiled. “Glad my brute strength and size is finally good for something besides football. Now…bedroom?”

“Last room on the right.”

He strode down the hall with purpose to Heather’s bedroom, and when they entered it, he wasn’t surprised to see how messy it was. Working with Heather had taught him she was super-efficient, but her office always looked like a tornado had just swept through it. Her bedroom was much the same.

He placed her carefully on the unmade bed and bent down to kiss her. She reached up and pulled him down on top of her. They both laughed as the bed bounced, and creaked ominously. Mick looked at it for the first time. It was clearly old enough to qualify as an antique, but not fancy. Someone had painted it white, with purple flowers painted on the headboard. Mick didn’t know diddily about flowers—were they heather, like her name? He wondered if Heather had painted it herself.

“This bed wasn’t made for a man my size; I hope I don’t break it.”

“I’ve had this bed forever. It’s sturdier than it looks.” She blushed. “Let me rephrase that, because it made me sound a little slutty.”

He chuckled. “I don’t think you’re slutty.” He punctuated his next words with kisses to her forehead, nose, and finally her lips. “I think you’re amazing, smart, funny, and sexy as hell.”

As he stretched out next to her, the bedsprings complained…loudly. Heather giggled.

“Are you sure this thing is going to hold up?”

“Only one way to find out.” She kissed his neck, and pulled his shirttails out of his pants.

After eleven years of unfulfilled desire for each other, neither was in the mood to go slow. They undressed in a frenzy. Clothes flew all over the room, and they never stopped kissing each other, touching each other.

When she reached down to take his hard length in his hand, he groaned as a most unwelcome thought popped into his head.

She pulled back to look at him, she loosened her grip on him. “That didn’t sound like a groan of pleasure. Did I hurt you?”

“No! Trust me, baby, hurt is the last thing I’m feeling. It’s just I had no expectations about this weekend. I really meant it when I said we’d just be going together as friends, so I don’t have any protection.”

“Oh! No worries. I’ve got it covered.”

Heather jumped out of bed, and Mick admired the view of her body as she hurried across the hall to her bathroom. She had the long, lithe build of an athlete, combined with the curves that made her all woman. She came back, waving a box of condoms. “Here you go; thanks for thinking of it, I was too far gone.”

Mick effortlessly caught the box she tossed to him, and pulled out a foil packet. He hadn’t lived like a monk for the last eleven years, but he didn’t want to think about another man leaving condoms here. He knew it wasn’t fair, or even rational, but he felt jealous and possessive of Heather. Tonight wasn’t the time to think about those feelings, or what they might mean.

Heather hopped back into bed with him and the bed creaked. “So, where were we?”

Mick pulled her against him, and shuddered at the sensation of her silky skin pressed against his hard body. “Right about here. I want you so much, Heather, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to show much finesse this first time.”

She ran her hands down his arms and slipped the foil packet out of his fingers, smiling at him as she tore it open. “Fast works for me this time too, but next time…”

He grinned. “Next time, I’ll show you some of my better moves.”

“Ooo, the man’s got moves,” she teased as she rolled the condom onto him.

As he slid into her welcoming heat, they both moaned. Mick had never felt anything like the way they moved together. He realized this was the first time he’d made love to a woman. Raw, wild sex, yeah, he’d had plenty of that, but this was different. Heather was different. He felt like something had clicked into place and he suddenly understood what all those sappy love songs meant. It was a thought he expected to terrify him, but as he continued to stroke inside her, he felt nothing but a bone-deep calm, a sense of belonging…of rightness.

Heather’s eyes fluttered shut, and her body gripped him in waves. No sound had ever sounded sweeter than his name on her lips, as her release washed over them both. It brought his own climax on, and he roared his release.

****

Heather woke up early, and felt satiated, content, and—cold? She pulled the covers tighter around her, and wondered where Mick was. The man was like a blast furnace. He put off so much heat while he slept; she thought the chill when he was gone must be what had awoken her.

She smiled as she snuggled into bed. Mick had not lied when he said he had moves. The first time they’d made love was the best she’d ever experienced…until the second time, which managed to be even better. And when he woke her up in the middle of the night with his talented fingers and mouth—hoo boy—round three was the best yet, and it blew her away.

Rustling noises and a muffled curse made her open her eyes. Mick stood in the middle of the room in all his naked glory, and was his body ever Greek god glorious! He bent to rub his big toe as if he’d stubbed it.

“Mick? What are you doing?”

“Shit! Sorry I woke you. I was looking for my clothes.”

He didn’t want to wake her? And he was looking for his clothes?

What the hell?

She sat up and pulled the covers over her breasts, suddenly feeling shy and vulnerable in front of this man, who had explored every inch of her naked body the night before. “You were going to get dressed and sneak out while I was sleeping?”

He pulled on his boxer briefs and shook his head. “No! What kind of man do you think I am? I was going to wake you up to say goodbye.”

“Goodbye?” She managed to croak the word out around the lump in her throat. “Is that what this is?”

He found his shirt, and clutched it in one hand as he sat on the bed next to her. The mattress dipped and squeaked, causing Mick to chuckle. “You were right about this bed being sturdier than it sounds. If we didn’t break it last night, nothing ever will.”

He pried one of her hands off the covers she clutched against herself, like a shield, and held it in his big, warm hand.

Heather bit her bottom lip. She was so confused. Last night had been unbelievably special to her, and she thought she’d seen the same wonder she was feeling reflected in Mick’s eyes. But here he was, getting ready to bolt out of her apartment before dawn.

“What’s going on, Mick?”

“Nothing. I know you like to get to the office early on Monday morning, and I was trying to find my clothes so I could go home and grab a shower before I headed into work too. Your unorthodox approach to clothing storage made it hard to find my clothes. I’ve heard good things about dressers and closets; you might want to give them a try sometime.”

Heather looked around the room, which did seem to have a good portion of her wardrobe strewn about everywhere but the closet or dresser. There were jeans on the floor, her work polos crumpled on a chair, and one bra was even artistically draped over the mirror above her dressing table. She was pretty sure it was the bra she had on last night.

She lifted one bare shoulder. “If you’re looking for Suzy Homemaker…”

“I’m not,” he interrupted firmly. “I was teasing you, Heather.”

“Okay, then on to your second point—my apartment may not be the penthouse of the Ritz, but I do have indoor plumbing. You could shower here; you don’t need to sneak out while I’m sleeping to go home to shower.”

“I wasn’t sneaking! I was going to wake you. I just didn’t like the odds of us actually making it into the office today at all, if we were both naked when I did it.”

“You have a problem with showering here?”

“Your brother is my boss, and he’s one of my oldest friends.”

“I’m not seeing the connection to my shower.”

“It’s not your shower, per se, but I’m seriously breaking the guy code by sleeping with a buddy’s sister, and I don’t want him to find out about us by the two of us waltzing into the office together, with a just-laid glow about us.”

“There’s a glow?” She grinned, in spite of her misgivings.

“You glow,” his answer was serious. “It’s one of the best things about you. Wherever you go, you bring the sun with you.”

She blushed, and looked down, feeling pleased and a little bit like a jerk all at once. She’d allowed Danny’s snarky comments from the wedding to worm their way into her head. When she woke up and thought Mick was sneaking out, she’d heard Danny’s voice in her mind. You’re good enough to sleep with, but not good enough to be seen in public together.

She mentally stuck her tongue out at Danny. After spending the whole weekend telling Mick to ignore his brother’s jibes, it turned out she was the one who let Danny get to her.