FAST RIDE (7 page)

“Holly?” Kenny interrupted.

“Yes?”

“I heard you just fine.” He paused, and she wondered if he was trying to make some excuse for not wanting to have sex with her again when he said, “I’ll be right over.”

Too numb to move, Holly stood there for a moment, thinking about all the delicious and naughty things she wanted Kenny to do to her and all the delicious and naughty things she wanted to do to him. Realizing he would be here any minute, she dropped the phone in its cradle and ran to brush her teeth.

She and Kenny were going to have sex again. Yes!

CHAPTER SEVEN

T
he lakefront cottages
had all been built in the early sixties. They were mostly one-story, all-season homes. Although a few homeowners had added second floors over the years.

Kenny was thankful Holly’s was constructed on a slab like his sister’s. It made getting in and out with a wheelchair fairly easy.

Holly was waiting for him at the front door when he rolled up the drive and onto the sidewalk. She was dressed in the same jeans and yellow sweater she’d had on earlier. Her feet were bare, her toes painted a bright coral color. Which, he discovered, pleased him.

“Hi,” she greeted him with a timid smile.

“Hi.” Kenny buzzed past her and into the living room. He’d only been inside once last winter for a party she’d thrown during the holidays. The place had been pretty run down when she’d bought it two years ago. But Holly had added skylights to brighten it up, not to mention all the hours of decorating she’d done.

The room was in mostly neutral shades with splashes of bright magentas and blues in the artwork and toss pillows. Her furniture was wicker with big, boxy, cream-colored cushions. Two antique trunks were being used as a coffee table and end table. And the floors were hardwood throughout.

Kenny liked her taste, and he’d told her so the last time he was here. No need wasting time telling her again.

“So,” he said with a waggle of his eyebrows. He was hoping she’d invite him to check out her bedroom soon. He’d never been in that room and was definitely looking forward to it.

She flipped her hair off her shoulder and licked her top lip. “Are you sure you don’t want a sandwich?”

“I’m sure. But you go ahead, if you’re hungry.” He wouldn’t mind watching her eat. Just thinking about it was starting to turn him on.

“No, I’m fine. I had a big breakfast.” Her gaze flitted nervously around the room. “Jordan will be home around three. That gives us a little over two hours. Maybe we should get started.”

Good plan. Her gaze locked with his and Kenny felt his pulse skitter wildly.

“Unless you want to talk first,” she suggested.

Talk? Hell, no, he didn’t want to talk first. What did they have to talk about except what position they were going to use today. But he couldn’t seem to stop himself from saying, “Sure, we can talk first, if that’s what you want.”

Her butt immediately landed on the chenille sofa and she let out a noisy breath. She clasped her hands together in her lap and stared at him. “So,” she said. “What do you want to talk about?”

Kenny angled his chair so he could face her more fully. He shrugged. “Sports?”

She narrowed her eyes.

“The weather?”

She seemed even less enthusiastic with that topic. “Religion? Politics?”

“Can’t you think of anything more exciting than those things?”

“How about sex?”

Her eyes widened. She seemed more interested in this topic than any of the others. “Okay,” she agreed. “Why don’t you start the conversation?”

Not fair. He thought for a moment. How should he start off without sounding like a total jerk? “I love having sex with you.”

She blinked. “I love having sex with you too.”

Not knowing what to say next and wanting to get down to business, Kenny grinned. “This seems a little childish, doesn’t it?”

“Childish? Do you honestly think children have conversations about sex?”

He sucked in a breath, thankful for the cool breeze from the ceiling fan. “I suppose not.”

“I’m getting the feeling you’d rather go straight to the bedroom than talk with me for a few minutes.”

“That’s not true,” he lied. Or maybe he wasn’t lying. “I find you extremely . . . interesting.”

She smiled and relaxed her posture. “Why is that?”

The lady was conniving, that was for sure. “Why?” he repeated, stalling for time. “Because you are.”

Her smile faded. “You’re just saying that to make it easier for you to get into my pants.”

Bingo. “No, I’m not. I told you on Saturday that I thought you were a good mother, and a hell of a jewelry designer.”

“Yes, you did, but is that all about me that’s interesting?”

“No, of course not.” He paused. “I find you attractive, funny, sexy, and you’re a great cook.”

The smile was back. “The muffins were from a mix.”

“Okay, scratch the great cook part.”

She laughed.

“Don’t worry. The fact that you have a nice ass makes up for the cooking part.”

“That’s not something that makes me interesting.”

“That depends on who you’re asking. And did I mention you’re sexy?”

“Yes, I believe you did.”

“Your turn.”

Her hand went to her hair, twisting a strand around her finger. It looked as though she was stalling as well. After a lengthy silence, she dropped her hand to her lap. “You’re right. This is childish.”

“Not so fast. This was your idea. Remember?” He gave her another minute and when she didn’t say anything, he said, “All right, I suppose I’m not all that interesting.”

“Yes, you are. You’re extremely sexy and funny, in a sarcastic sort of way. You’re a talented cartoonist, good with kids, and a wonderful lover.”

The words “wonderful lover” echoed through his brain to inflate his ego. “Sounds like we’re the perfect couple.”

Uh, oh. Careful, pal.
It’s sex and nothing more than sex. Don’t ruin it by saying stupid things like that.

Holly leaned forward. Her eyes seemed to be searching his face, his soul. “Kenny, are you still in love with Karen?”

His chest tightened with the acute sense of loss. He swallowed the feeling of despair in his throat. “Holly, I really don’t want to talk about my dead wife with you.”

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked. It was insensitive of me.”

Kenny couldn’t do more than stare right through her, trying to block the increasing pain.

“I thought since we’d become . . . friends,” she said, “that maybe you’d feel comfortable talking with me.”

“Friends?” He pinned her with a look. “We both know why I’m here. And being ‘friends’ has nothing to do with it.”

She stiffened. “My mistake.” She stood slowly, keeping her gaze on him. “Well, since there are now no misunderstandings as to why you’re here, we may as well get started.” Skirting past him, she headed toward the hall. “The bedroom is this way.”

Kenny didn’t follow. “Maybe I should leave.”

She turned around, blinking back unshed tears. “I seem to be getting mixed signals here. Does that mean you no longer want to fuck me?”

“Holly, don’t. You don’t have to say those things.” He set his chair in motion and moved toward her. As angry as he was, he couldn’t stand seeing her hurt this way. “Ooh, but I thought you got all hot and bothered when I say dirty words like that.” She licked her lips, driving him crazy. His dick was already at half-mast.

“I know you want to see me naked.” Her hands went to the bottom of her sweater and she whisked it over her head.

Instead of the cotton sports bras she’d worn on the weekend, this bra was made of pink lace and revealed her nipples. She dropped the sweater to the floor and smoothed the hair from her face. Running her fingers over the lacy cups, she pinched and tweaked, until her nipples became erect. “Do you like what you see?”

He swallowed. “Yes.”

The jeans came off next, sliding over her slender hips and puddling at her bare feet. Leaning against the wall for support, she stepped out of the denims and kicked them to the side. Her panties were also pink lace, exposing the tuft of red curls beneath the thin fabric.

“Do you want to see more?”

“You know I do.”

She made a big show of staring at his erection. “Yes, I can see that.” Blowing him a kiss, she sashayed down the hall and stopped outside a doorway that he assumed led to her bedroom.

Following, Kenny stopped just inches from her. He reached out to touch her, but she took a quick step backward.

He sighed in frustration. “Stop being a tease.”

“Is that what you think I am? A tease?” She trailed a finger along the waistband of her panties. “A meddling neighbor? A convenience for you?”

He looked up and met her smoldering gaze. “What are you doing? I don’t like whatever game it is you’re playing.”

“Okay, so now I’m starting to get the picture. You don’t want to play games with me, and you don’t want to talk to me. You just want to fuck, right?”

He didn’t answer. After taking one last look at her delectable body, he said, “I’m out of here.” He put the chair in reverse and backed down the narrow hallway.

“Kenny, wait! I’m sorry.”

He stopped but didn’t make any attempt to go to her.

“Please,” she begged. “Don’t leave. I need you.”

He knew it was a bad idea. He could think of a hundred reasons to go back home and pretend last weekend had never happened, but he rolled toward her anyway. It was obvious Holly wanted something more than he could give. All right, something more than he was
willing
to give.

But right now, he needed her too, and he planned to have his fill before telling her it was over.

Reaching in his pocket, he took out the handful of condoms he’d brought along. “Let’s see how many of these we can use before three o’clock.

* * *

Holly took another bite of Libby’s meatloaf, swallowed and then yawned. “This is delicious. Isn’t it, Jordan?” Her son had barely eaten anything on his plate. Meatloaf wasn’t one of his favorite meals.

Jordan made a face, and Holly was about to tell him he had to at least try it. But Kenny was the one who intercepted.

“Hey, sport, if you let me have your meatloaf you can have the leftover pizza in the fridge.”

“Cool.” He was out of his seat in a flash.

Kenny laughed, and then stifled a yawn.

“I must be pretty boring company,” Libby said. “You two have been yawning ever since we sat down to dinner. What’s going on?” Her gaze drifted from Kenny to Holly. .”

“Nothing,” Holly and Kenny said, practically at the same time. They exchanged a smile then Holly added, “I’ve been up late the past few nights working on my jewelry orders.”

“Sounds like you’re pretty busy. Do you have some large orders?”

“No, just the usual.”

“Then why can’t you get them finished while Jordan is in school?”

Holly stole a glance at Kenny, who was busy eating. He did nothing to hide the smirk on his face.

And then Libby’s mouth fell open. “Well, it’s about time,” she said knowingly. She smiled at her brother and went back to her dinner.

Holly felt her face grow warm as Jordan brought the plate with the slice of pepperoni pizza to the table and sat down.

“Mom,” he said, “if I eat all my pizza, can we go see a movie tonight?”

Holly fought off a yawn. “I’m kind of tired, honey.”

“But I don’t have school tomorrow, and you said we’d do something fun this weekend.”

She looked at his little face and caved. “Okay, but you have to eat every bite and finish your milk.”

“Deal. Kenny, do you wanna go to the movies with us?”

Before Holly could say anything, Kenny said, “Sure, I’d like that.” He met her gaze and nodded slightly. “I’d like that a lot.”

The fact that Kenny wanted to do something other than have sex with her was surprising, but it pleased her at the same time. They’d been going at it like two rabbits for six days in a row now. Maybe they needed some down time, and a distraction. And Jordan would certainly be a distraction.

* * *

Kenny watched as Holly tossed her cards down on his bed. “I lost again.” She took off her bra and whizzed it past his head. He knew her body well enough by now to know that her breasts strained for his touch.

“You’re cheating,” he accused, still fully dressed while she sat in only in a pair of black, silk panties.

“I’m losing. How can I be cheating?”

“Because you’re deliberately trying to drive me crazy.”

“Is it working?” she asked with a sly smile.

“Yes,” he admitted. He gathered the cards and set them on the nightstand. “And the penalty for cheating at strip poker is that you have to take off everything.”

He waited for her to scoot out of her panties, and then he pushed his way in between her legs. “Open up. I’m dying for a taste.” Except for Friday night at the movies, he hadn’t seen her for two days. It was her weekend with Jordan, and she’d taken him to visit her parents in Ohio.

She fell back on the bed, and lifted her legs to rest on his shoulders.

“I missed this,” he said. She was already wet, her pubic hair glistening with her dew. He dipped his tongue in, tasting her sweet nectar. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too.”

He lapped up her juices, spreading them to her most vulnerable spot and nibbled at her.

“Oh, God, Kenny, I’m gonna come.”

He loved hearing her say that, and feeling her body shudder with her release. He loved everything about her. In fact, he was almost certain he was in love with her.

Resting his head against her thigh, he breathed in her womanly scent and waited for her to come back to earth. “Remember the day you asked me if I was still in love with Karen?” he asked sometime later.

She went still. “Yes,” she whispered.

“The truth is, a part of me will always love her, but I’ve finally put her to rest.”

He felt her relax. Heard her sigh of relief. “Thanks for sharing that with me, Kenny.”

He debated whether or not to tell Holly he loved her, and in the end he lost his nerve. Although he was quite certain she knew their relationship had blossomed into something more than just sex, he feared she might back off if he confessed his love for her. So instead, he made love to her tenderly and held her close until it was time for her to go.

He was a coward, and he hated himself for it. But it seemed like the right thing to do. He could handle it if she didn’t feel the same about him as he felt about her. He just couldn’t handle not seeing her again, making love to her, seeing her smile or hearing her laugh. That would kill him.

Because until he’d gotten involved with Holly, he hadn’t realized how much was missing from his life.