Worth the Fall(52)

Passing the screen door, he paused to call Annie in to join them. Abby watched her daughter slowly abandon her swing and walk to the door he held open.

“Come on, princess. You can show me the way.”

Annie started up the stairs. It was painfully obvious she wanted to be with Matt, but no way would she ask for attention like her siblings. Abby’s oldest daughter was too much like her.

Abby finished loading the dishwasher and dried her hands on a towel. The one Matt had popped her with. When he was gone, she’d picture him here. Everywhere he’d stood, everything he’d touched, would now hold a new memory for her. Did that have to be such a bad thing?

She followed the noise upstairs and stood outside the playroom, listening to the voices inside. As she peeked around the corner, she had to stifle a laugh. Gracie had Matt draped in scraps of silk and was none too gently pressing a plastic crown onto his head.

Matt added to his block tower next to Jack’s as he stiff-armed Charlie’s ramming bull impersonation.

Even dripping pink and purple silk, Matt exuded masculinity and power. She wanted these kids in bed. Now.

—

“Or this one.” Gracie moved from animal to animal, trying to make the ultimate decision on which lucky stuffed friend would watch the movie with her. She had it narrowed down to five.

“Maybe they could all come,” Matt suggested, taking in the girlie space that glittered and sparkled so much he didn’t know how they slept.

“Nope. Mommy says only one.”

Right on cue, a voice reached them from the other room. “Gracie, pick one and let’s go.”

He smiled at Abby’s mother radar as he turned away from Gracie while she deliberated, speaking earnestly to each candidate. Annie watched him from her neighboring bed.

“Hey, princess. Did you pick a friend to watch the movie?”

She didn’t answer, just held up her worn brown bunny. He’d been attacked by each kid upon arrival. All except Annie. She’d stayed on her swing, waiting for him to come to her. Not one to show her feelings, not ready to commit, she’d greeted him with a guarded half smile. Cautious and wary. So like her mother.

“Okay,” Gracie said, holding a blue and gray elephant. “I’m weady.”

Abby put in the movie and they sat on a large couch in front of a big-screen TV. Charlie snuggled in his lap and Jack pressed against his side. Annie went to the other end by her mom as Matt pulled Gracie onto his lap too, before she could insert herself between him and Abby.

The movie played, and just like at the beach, he was centered. Like everything he’d been made for was right there on that couch. With his arm around Abby, he made lazy circles on her shoulders. Their feet rested side by side on an oversize ottoman—his big, hers small. If he’d ever questioned his coming here, he didn’t now.

Sitting this close to Abby was sweet torture, a true test of patience and endurance. He looked at his watch. This movie ran eighty-seven minutes. And he was counting.





Chapter 17


Abby jumped at the sound of Matt’s footsteps behind her. She stood facing the kitchen island, opening a beer for him, and he placed both hands on the counter, locking her in. When he lowered his head so that the side of his face pressed lightly against hers, her eyes fell closed and it was all she could do to breathe. He relieved her of the silver bottle opener, took a sip of beer, then slid both away, shifting his attention to her.

He pushed her hair aside, exposing her neck, nuzzled her ear, and placed a kiss just below it.

“Are you still glad I came?”

Warm lips met her racing pulse, causing her answered yes to come out on a breathless sigh. Matt was all around her, like their last night at the beach, only this time infinitely better. His mouth was on her body and they weren’t minutes from saying goodbye. A sexual awareness she’d never experienced prompted words she’d never voiced. “Don’t stop.”

He didn’t, and her head dropped back against his chest. Warm tingles scattered over her skin as he continued the assault on her neck. Arousal and hunger built and tugged. Needing to touch him, she turned in his arms, and before she could think, his mouth covered hers. He angled, cupped the back of her head, and held her firmly, taking complete control of the kiss. With his other hand on her back, he pulled her closer.

She craved him. To touch him and be touched. She placed her hands on the counter behind her and Matt lifted her to sit, then stepped between her legs. Their eyes met and a million words passed between them before she raked her fingers through his hair and pulled, guiding him until their mouths came together again. And still it wasn’t enough.

Her heart raced, her blood pulsed. The taste of beer on his tongue and the faint smell of aftershave made her head swim. Never in her life had she kissed or been kissed like this. But that wouldn’t have been possible because it wouldn’t have been Matt.