Secretly Hers (Sterling Canyon)(89)

 

He wrapped one arm firmly behind her back, and took her hand in his other and placed it against his chest. He merely needed to tilt his head a bit in order to be cheek to cheek, thanks to her spiky heels.

 

Neither of them said a word as he led her around the little space. Peace took root and spread through him. This kind of tender moment . . . it was enough for him. He didn’t need to complicate things with promises about a future he couldn’t predict.

 

Kelsey’s earlier tension seemed to melt once he held her in his arms. Her lips brushed his neck before she whispered, “Maybe this will be us one day, thirty-five years from now.”

 

If she noticed his misstep as every muscle in his body contracted, she didn’t let on. Instead, she laid her head on his shoulder and hummed along with the melody.

 

 

 

Kelsey stared into the mirror, brushing her teeth without seeing her reflection. Her mind was too lost in thoughts about the party and Trip to register much of anything else.

 

The blinds in the bedroom rattled, probably from him pushing them aside to look out the window at the snowfall. The major storm predicted—uncharacteristic for this early in October—had started up around nine o’clock. If they woke to the anticipated foot of fresh snow, no doubt he’d be pulling out his skis tomorrow and hiking up the mountain.

 

Not that he’d mentioned it on their way home. He’d been unusually quiet ever since their spontaneous dance in Maura’s entry.

 

When he’d asked to cut in, with his sexy bedroom voice, his eyes had shone with affection. He’d taken her in his arms and held her close—gently, lovingly. A perfect moment: one that had nearly convinced her of his love, until her wistful comment had sent him fleeing.

 

One moment she wished she could retract it, the next moment she resented him for not even allowing her to hope for anything beyond the here and now.

 

Emma’s probing questions about healthy relationships and love kept poking at her conscience. Maybe they were the reason for all the headaches she’d been experiencing this past week.

 

After rinsing her mouth, she grabbed her silk robe and walked into the bedroom. Trip lay sprawled out on her bed, eyes closed, wearing nothing but his boxer briefs. His athletic body—its gorgeous slopes and ridges of muscle—momentarily distracted her.

 

As if sensing her gaze scouring him, he popped one eyelid open and grinned. “Like what you see?”

 

“Most of the time.” All of the time, really, but his ego needed no encouragement.

 

Trip propped himself up on his elbows and tipped his head. “But not tonight?”

 

Kelsey sighed and sat in the chair across from the bed. She placed her hands on her knees, her gaze drawn to her fingernails while she groped for words.

 

“Uh-oh. This little scene is reminding me of our first night together.” Trip sat upright. “You’re not about to kick me to the curb again, are you?”

 

She looked up, surprised by his careful tone and perturbed recollection of that hot July night. So much had changed since then it seemed like much longer than ten weeks ago. The bargain they’d struck hadn’t turned out as either of them had planned.

 

Trip had thundered into her world bringing an avalanche of thrills, chaos, comfort, and one of her heart’s dearest desires—a baby. Like any natural disaster, his presence had upended her life. Now, despite all of her early efforts to control her heart, it lay exposed and yearning and not at all safe from harm.

 

His dating tips flashed through her mind like a blinking traffic light, urging caution. Yet her need for reassurance overwhelmed her restraint.

 

Her skin grew clammy, her stomach cramped, but she pushed forward.

 

“You were uncomfortable tonight, weren’t you?” She glanced away and then back at him. “I mean, you were pleasant with my family, but you weren’t yourself.”

 

“That’s probably a good thing, right?” he teased. Another deflection, like always. She stared expectantly without smiling, forcing him to answer her question with something more than a glib remark. He rolled his shoulders back. “Did I do or say something wrong earlier, aside from the Fee thing?”

 

“No. In fact, I doubt anyone but me noticed your itch to bolt . . . like the place was on fire.” Kelsey sighed. “Why were so you eager to leave? Don’t you like my family?”

 

Trip reached out for her to come to him and, reluctantly, she did. He pulled her onto his lap, hugging her close and resting his chin on her shoulder. “I think you’ve got that backward, princess. I like them just fine, but I doubt right now that’s a two-way street—not that I blame them, exactly.”