Worth the Wait (McKinney_Walker #1)(64)

“I’m not just saying it, but I understand.”

His arms loosened around her, and she wanted to cry. She didn’t want to be alone, but so much had happened in such a short time, and she felt dazed, off balance, unable to cope. He could devastate her, and she didn’t think she could bear any more devastation. Not now, not yet. Maybe not ever.

“I should go.”

“I didn’t mean I wanted you to go.” Damn it.

“I know, but I need to.” He smoothed a hand over her hair then slipped his fingers under and curled them around her neck. “I want you so badly, I’m not above bringing out all my secret weapons to get you back into bed.”

“You have secret weapons?” she asked, teasing.

“Maybe I’ll show you some time.”

They shared a smile. He’d always been good at making her smile. It went a long way to easing her knotted emotions. “I’ll pour you some fresh coffee to go.” She took his mug, poured it, and refilled it. When she handed it to him, he took it and set it aside, then, in an achingly tender gesture, brushed the hair back from her face. He kissed her, beginning with a slow brush of his lips, then taking her under. His kiss was a weapon she knew well.

“I’m working a case that’ll take me out of town a lot the next couple of months. We’re working in conjunction with the Maryland office.”

“Is it dangerous?”

“No.”

“Would you tell me if it was?”

“No.” He sent her a crooked half smile, and she scowled at him, not wanting to think how she could lose him like that.

“It’s more than traveling. They’ve set me up in a temporary apartment. Bad timing, I know.”

“Because Hannah’s engaged.”

“Maybe that’s part of it. I’m still getting used to the idea. Though it seems this is happening, and I’d better get on board or get left behind.”

She smiled again. “That’s progress.”

“Yeah. But really, I was thinking the timing is off for us. This thing that’s still between us, I don’t want to lose it before we give it a chance or give you time to decide it’s a bad bet. I don’t mind giving you time, but you need to know, I’m not stepping away.”

She tried to speak, but he kissed her again until she couldn’t string two words together. Rough hands framed her face. His eyes stared into hers until she couldn’t breathe. Then his lips brushed hers in a touch so soft it shouldn’t have kindled a fire in her blood, yet it did.

She sank into him, falling deeper and hating herself for letting it happen. They hadn’t seen each other in ten years, then a night of passion and the heartbreak that nothing had changed. Then last night, Nick had been there to hold her crumbling pieces together, made sweet love to her for hours. More had been shared, more had been said and admitted, and now he was in her kitchen saying he wasn’t going to step back from her.

The kiss ended with their foreheads touching, both of them breathless. Then he pressed a kiss to the top of her head, took the coffee she’d poured, and left her standing weak kneed in her kitchen while the rain continued to fall.





Chapter 21





MIA SAT IN THE barn office, waiting on Hannah to say goodbye to a student. It smelled old but clean. She studied the pictures attached to the wood-paneled wall with thumbtacks. There were old ones of the previous owners and new ones of Hannah and her students. Most were of Whiney, Hannah’s beloved palomino.

There was one of Hannah and Nick. Her heart shuddered. It shouldn’t hurt to fall in love with someone a second time, but she felt an enormous weight on her chest.

She’d taken the past weeks to put her life in order. She’d given the crib to Abby then accepted her invitation for coffee and, in the process, felt like she’d made a new friend. She’d stopped calling the adoption agency and given clothes and books to the women’s and children’s shelter. Now one more thing. Sharing good memories from the past without thinking of it like a loss.

“I told you he was a cutie,” Hannah said of the little burn victim she’d just seen off.

“Yes. He is.”

“You want a drink?” Hannah went to her mini fridge on the other end of the shoebox-sized room.

“No, thanks. His parents may have to let him live here. The joy in his eyes was practically blinding.”

“I know. His family’s going on vacation, and he was extra sad to say goodbye to Hazel today. Ahh.” Hannah sank into the desk chair, opened a bottle of water, and took a long drink. “What’d you bring?”

“This.” Mia held out the photo box to Hannah. “Old pictures, things I saved of yours, from kindergarten, mostly. I’d forgotten I had so much.”