was okay with her. They kissed like that, standing by the kitchen, until her shoulders relaxed and her limbs got wobbly. He ran his hands over her back and down, cupping her rear and pulling her tight where she felt him hard and thick.
A moan and a squeeze, and he stepped back. Again, that smile, that sad little bruised grin, and he took her hand to lead her down the hall, into the bedroom.
The undressing wasn’t theatrical at all. Just hurried. He was naked first, all the way down to his long, elegant feet.
She still had her panties on, a sea foam green thong that cost more than a decent pair of shoes, which, from the look on his face, was worth every cent.
“Oh, my God,” he said. He looked up into her eyes, and she saw such helplessness there, such bewildered loss.
“Boone, honey, what is it?” She closed in on him, not at all sure what was happening.
“You’re so amazing.”
She fought a smile because the way he said it was pained. “Thank you?”
He touched her hair. Petted her, actually, and then his splayed hand spanned her neck as he pulled her close. She nestled right in the crook of his neck, inhaling his warm scent, still unsure what had gotten him so upset. “Boone? Want to tell me what’s wrong?”
He shook his head. She knew this because she felt his jaw touch the top of her head.
“Please?”
“You know that once we finish here, once the window is fixed and the money situation is straightened out, I have to leave.”
“You live in Pasadena. It’s not that far.” She knew it wasn’t that simple. That when he left, he would leave for good, but she couldn’t…Not yet.
“Right,” he said. “Pasadena. Nice town. Except on New Year’s Day.”
“You don’t go to the parade?”
“I don’t go to anything.”
The hand that wasn’t petting her hair was rubbing big circles on her back. It was the most soothing, wonderful feeling in the world. Meltingly sensuous, made more so by the contrast of his soft palm and calloused fingertips. He was right. It wasn’t fair, not in any way. This man, he was something. The way she felt about him was so different from anything she’d experienced before. It was too fast, of course. No doubt about it at all. But it was true, nonetheless. He had touched her. Changed her. All she wanted in this life she had back was to know him better. To learn him.
“It’s crap, Christie. What they’ve left us. It’s not just me. There are five of us, and we don’t go to things. We don’t see our parents. We pay cash for everything, but that’s not much because we might have to leave in the middle of the night with the clothes on our backs, so what’s the point of buying things? We don’t date, because wouldn’t it be just our luck to have someone try to kill us over a nice prime rib.”
“You’ll stop them,” she said, pulling back, meeting his eyes. Well, his one eye. “You will. But not today. Today, you’re going to make love to me. For a long, long time. Then, we’re going to finish the cookies, and make love again. Deal?”
He closed his eye and rested his forehead against hers. “Deal.”
She pulled his hands down to the top of her thong. He took it from there.
EVENING HAD ARRIVED, and there was no more dodging the issue of getting out of bed. Poor Milo had been kept outside for most of the day, and he had to be lonely. But Christie didn’t want to move, unless it was to turn over and snuggle closer to Boone.
His stomach grumbled, and that did it. She kicked the covers off and sat up. Damn, he looked great, all spread out and naked right there on her blue sheets. She stretched, feeling languid and a little sore, thinking about the shower. She should go by herself, because if they did it together, there was no guarantee they’d have dinner any time soon.
“Don’t go,” he said, then he winced and touched his lip.
“When’s the last time you took an aspirin?”
“I don’t need an aspirin.”
“Oh, really? You feel no pain, is that it?”
“That’s right, missy.” He banged on his chest like a gorilla. “Real men don’t need aspirin.”
She bent over and kissed him, hard, on the lips. He yelped like a little boy. Still hovering inches above him, she smiled. “Liar.”
“Okay, so we feel a little pain.”
“I’m going to get out of this bed. First, I’ll bring you medicine. Then, I’m taking a shower because, frankly, we’re pretty rank. After that, I plan to eat an obscene amount of junk food. You may come with me, as long as you swear not to rag on me about my meal choices.”
“I may, huh? I suppose I can hold back.” He rolled over, nearly knocking her off the bed. “Wake me when it’s time for food.”
She slapped his naked butt. “Like hell. You get to feed Milo, you lucky stiff. And you get to shower as soon as I’m done.”
“Hey, wait a minute.”
“My house, my rules.”
“But who’s going to wash your back?”
“I’ll manage. Now don’t fall asleep.” Christie got out of bed, wincing a little herself, and grabbed her robe from the back of her door. She went into the bathroom, got Boone some painkillers and a glass of water and made sure he took the pills. The she smiled as she gathered her clothes and headed for the shower.
THEY’D GONE FAST-FOOD ALL the way, including a plain burger without the bun for Milo, who was now frolicking happily on the grass while Christie ate and Boone scowled. He’d kept his promise and hadn’t said a word. Not that he had to. The crease above his nose spoke volumes.
She looked around the park, enjoying the freedom of eating alfresco, even if it was at a picnic table. There were two other families sitting several tables away, and quite a few folks with dogs, which was why she’d chosen this particular park. Milo deserved a reward after all he’d been through. Just like she deserved the large order of fries and the chocolate milk shake. Boone, foolish boy, had gotten a grilled chicken salad with no dressing. Incomprehensible.
Just as Boone was about to say something, his cell rang, saving her, she felt sure, from a lecture on trans-fats. She half listened as he tried to tell Seth discretely why his phone had been off for most of the day, but mostly she watched Milo, who was fascinated by a Rottweiler’s rear end. Boone’s voice changed so dramatically that she forgot the dogs and zeroed in on the part of the conversation she could hear.
“When?” Boone asked.
She tried to catch his eye, but he was staring at the table, deeply focused and concerned.
“Get everything you can, and get out
