Sheglanced back at him, a little smile hitching her lips. “Did you look at itclosely?”
“Ican’t see anything in this damn light.” Without the damn glasses.
Shesettled against him and folded one arm over his. Her other hand reached backand twiddled his hair, shooting warm tingles through his scalp. “Well, Mr.Growly Bear, it’s an A and an H for Anderson Homes; it alsomatches my grandma’s maiden name, Audrey Hamilton.”
He ranhis hand along her arm and nibbled her neck, mumbling, “Oh. I thought I’d behating on Adrian more than I do. Now I just hate the guy who gave you thetattoo.”
“Why?”she laughed.
“Becausehe got to see your ass.” He fondled said ass. “And a damn fine one it is too.”
“If Ididn’t know better, I’d think you were jealous. It was a woman tattoo artist,by the way.”
Reliefspiked in him. Was he jealous? He swept his hand over her hip, her ribs,and cupped her breast, the word mine dancing a jig in his head. Hebrought the other hand up and kneaded her breasts as he trailed lingeringkisses along her neck. With a sigh, she dropped her head on his shoulder andburrowed her fingers deeper in his hair.
She bither lower lip and closed her eyes. “Mmmmm.”
Hiscock stirred and pushed against her back. “Oh, hello,” she purred.
Hepulled away. “Nothing I’d like better, Andie.” Nowhere I’d rather be thanburied deep inside you. “But that was my only condom.” And normally Iuse two. Broke that rule too. He kissed her cheek, laughing inside at herpouty face. “How about I feed you instead?”
“Nothaving condoms doesn’t mean we can’t … have fun.” She arched her eyebrows.
Ohyeah. Hemirrored her arch. “I definitely need to refuel.”
“I couldstand to eat.” She scooted to the edge of the mattress and rose.
Avertinghis gaze, he pulled on his boxers and pants, trying to dampen his growingdesire. “Maybe I can call CDOT and tell them I have an emergency. They mightsend a plow.”
Shepicked up her clothes and held them against her body, but they didn’t coverenough. Probably nothing could cover her enough to keep his thoughts fromwandering where they were wandering. Damn!
“Acondom emergency?” she laughed.
“Hey,any guy would understand. They can bust me out and get me to the nearestconvenience store.”
“Whichwill be closed.” She smirked. “Is it okay to use your bathroom?”
“Usewhatever you want.” Especially me. He pulled on his T-shirt as shepivoted. He watched her gorgeous hips and perfect naked ass sway, her cutelittle logo winking at him. He sighed. Wonder if they’d do an airdrop?
CHAPTER 23
Up All Night
Paige stared in the mirror at the telltale rosy stains onher chest and cheeks, unable to wipe the smile from her face. Wow! That was so… Wow. Toe-curling.
Shestill couldn’t believe she’d stood unflinching when he’d taken off her clothes.Maybe because she didn’t know what else to do, frozen with fear that he wasflipping through his mental catalog of every other woman he’d seen naked.Getting through a catalog that big would be time-consuming, and measuring up totheir perfection was unfathomable to her. But he hadn’t looked at her that way.No, his look had been one of delight—wonder, even. And he’d called hergorgeous. It had reassured her, emboldened her.
Beingwith Beckett was so different … from anyone. Ever. It was as if their twobodies combusted when they joined, and the result was uncontrollable,explosive. Brief but torrid, and brevity was probably a good thing, or they’dhave incinerated each other. Was this how it was with every woman he bedded, orwas she a special case? Please let me be special.
Pushingthe thought away, she splashed water on her face and slicked her cavewomancurls. She’d lost all sense of the storm outside in the storm of theirlovemaking, but now it howled at every window and door.
Amouthwatering aroma wafted in, and her stomach growled in appreciation. Shepulled on panties and socks, and substituted a striped button-down hanging onthe back of the door for the baggy outfit. She hugged the smell of Beckettaround herself.
Afamiliar melody floated from the great room, and she tiptoed in to observe himat an upright piano, his back to her as his hands moved deftly over the keys.He was humming. With a glance over his shoulder, he jerked his head ininvitation. As she came toward him, he scooted over; she slid beside him on thepolished bench.
“Timefor a hmm, hmm,” he sang softly.
“Irecognize that tune. ‘Cool Change,’ right?” She began to hum, and the wordsbubbled up in her brain, so she sang them under her breath. Beckett joined in,and they upped their volume as they blended their voices.
Theypaused for breath, then resumed. They’d gone a few bars when Beckett’s voicecracked and he stopped, but his fingers continued working the keys, so Paigekept singing, expecting him to jump back in. His hands slipped off and came torest in his lap. He turned his head from her.
Shelaid a hand on his arm. “Beck?”
Wasthat a sniffle?
Straightening,he shook his head and scrubbed a hand over his cheek.
“What’swrong, Beck?”
Heturned and faced her, tears swimming in his eyes, spilling over. Alarmed, shebrushed her fingertips over his cheeks and wiped them away.
Hishead dropped. “I, ah, I’m sorry. It’s … That song gets me. Every. Time.”
Herheart ached for him. “Then why play it?”
Hepulled her hand from his face and held it between his, skimming his thumb overher wrist. “Mom. We used to sing it together.” He brought his head up, moretears pooling in his eyes. Paige fought down her own.
With ashuddering breath, he said, “Every once in a while, I get blindsided.”
Herbrows knotted together. What happened?
As ifhe’d read her mind, he let out a mirthless laugh. “Mom and I sang together. Alot. She was always goofing. She had this … this way of looking at everythingwith pure joy. That song was her favorite. She’d warble parts, I’d croon parts,but we’d always belt out the chorus together. She’d hold a wooden spoon infront of her mouth like a damn microphone. God, I miss that. So much.” His facecrumpled.
Paigethrew her arms around him and pulled him close. He clutched her.
“Oh,Beck,” she murmured, her heart constricting.
His
