Have Gown, Need Groom (15 page)

“Hannah?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” She stepped sideways to avoid touching him and looked up into his dark, serious eyes. “Sorry, I guess the day took more of a toll on me than I realized.”

“You don’t have to apologize.” He reached out and thumbed her hair from her eyes, and Hannah’s stomach tightened at the fluttery sensations spiraling through her. His dark eyes roamed greedily over her face. He obviously felt the electricity sizzling between them as strongly as she did. Panicking at the strength of her attraction to him, Hannah tried to pull away. She looked at the trees, then at the clear sky, which had faded into a smoky gray, anywhere she could to avoid Jake’s mesmerizing, sanity-stealing eyes.

Jake studied her face, his penetrating gaze unraveling emotions she’d thought long dormant. And awakening hunger unlike anything she’d ever experienced.

His husky voice pulled her into a web of desire as he spoke, “I used to hang out in the woods all the time when I was a kid. Sleep under the stars and make up stories about kids from other planets who lived in another solar system.”

The same way she’d made up stories with her dolls.

The dark soulful look he gave her radiated heat and hunger and hidden secrets. Hannah remembered the crazy silly dream she’d had about this man—that he was her soulmate. Her destiny.

But dreams didn’t come true and neither did silly legends. The two of them together—

No, they were far too different…yet were they really? Even in the midst of her busy family, sometimes she felt as if she stood alone.

Her senses begged her to invite him into her heart, but caution warned her to run the other way. He slowly reached out and traced a tender line down her cheek, rubbing his finger in a slow circle across her mouth, and all her reservations died. A groan of protest mixed with surrender rumbled from his chest right before he pulled her into his arms, gently teased her mouth open with his tongue and kissed her.

Chapter Sixteen

With Hannah’s soft warm body cradled in his arms, her female scent filling him with desire, Jake completely lost himself in the kiss. Heat flared inside him, searing him with a need so strong he deepened the kiss, tasting the warm vibrant essence of Hannah as she surrendered to his touch. A low moan rose in his throat at the sweet moment, and he dragged her body up against his, plunging one hand into her silky hair while the other stroked her back, the curve of her spine, then traced a path down to her waist. He felt her heart pounding against his chest, his need growing as her breasts flattened against him.

Hand in hand, they slowly moved back to their picnic spot. With a growl of pure male hunger, he lowered her to the blanket, angling himself over her as she looped her arms around his neck. Fire blazed a path down his body as he wedged one knee between her legs, finally breaking the kiss enough to nibble at her chin, then at the sensitive skin beneath her ear. Her breath whispered against his cheek, her hands dropped to grip his shoulders, her sigh of passion overrode all his good sense with an all-consuming urge to take her right there, beneath the stars and the moon and the wide dark sky.

But he suddenly felt her tense—subtle, but oh, so real. Her hands stilled, then swept around to press against his chest. His senses floated back slowly, desire still surging through him, but rational thought finally interceded. He slowed his urgent explorations, not quite releasing her as he pulled himself gently off her. Framing her face with his hands, he dropped a soft kiss on her face, then rolled to his side and simply hugged her against him.

She lay snuggled against him for several long seconds, one hand draped over his chest, while she brought the other one up to touch her mouth. The simple movement, the fact that her fingers were now tracing the tender skin where he’d just kissed her, sent desire burning through him again, a slow, steady ache that threatened to torment him long into the night.

A different kind of desire this time—sweeter, more gentle, but just as strong and potent. And much more disturbing.

“I…” What could he say? That he regretted kissing her.

Hell, he didn’t.

Kissing Hannah was the most erotic few moments he’d experienced in years. Maybe ever.

But the fact that she was Wiley’s daughter, and he was lying to her slammed into him.

“I—I’ve never felt this way before,” she murmured breathlessly. Her words lingered with a hint of disbelief, as if the kiss had been more than she’d bargained for, maybe more than the ones she’d shared with her fiancé.

Yeah, right.

His imagination was alive and kicking—just like his sexual drive.

He struggled for something to say. The only thing that came to mind was “I want you,” but she didn’t look as if she wanted to hear that sentiment at the moment. In fact, she looked confused as if she didn’t know how to handle the chemistry between them.

“It was incredible,” she whispered.

He was moved by her words, so moved he wanted to give her pleasure, even if he received nothing in return.

He gently traced a finger down her blouse, pulling her to him so their bodies touched from head to toe. He felt her subtle relinquishment of control and his sex hardened, pressing against her. But this moment was for Hannah.

He lowered his mouth and kissed her tenderly with the pure urge to satisfy a woman’s needs. His hands caressed her back, stroking and massaging the tender muscles of her shoulders and lower, until he cradled her hips in his hands, pulling her into his male hardness. She sank her fingers into his shoulders, holding him as he lowered his mouth and gently kissed his way down her neck, then slid her shirt up and suckled her breasts through her bra. He unclasped her bra and traced his tongue over a taut nipple, his other hand shifting to slip inside her slacks until he felt her moist heat.

“Oh, Jake, you feel so wonderful,” Hannah whispered.

Her passion-laced voice, so full of wonder and joy, sent his whole body into a tailspin of emotions.

“I want you to enjoy,” he whispered, moving his mouth to love her other breast, suckling deep and hard as his fingers probed, teased, stroked her femininity.

“Jake?” The soft uncertainty in her voice tore at him.

“Just relax, baby, let it go. Let me love you.”

She dragged his head up to kiss him deeply, and he felt her moan in his throat as her body convulsed around him. Seconds later, she lay spent in his arms, her expression of rapture one he would never forget. But she turned her face to his, a mixture of embarrassment and concern flooding her eyes. Concern that he wasn’t satisfied.

“Jake?”

“It’s okay,” he whispered, against her neck, finally saying the words from his heart. “I just wanted to love you.”

Her stunned gaze darted to him. He saw a tiny bite mark at the corner of her ear and silently applauded and cursed himself at the same time. He’d marked her as his, yet he didn’t really have the right….

“I’m sorry if I let things get out of hand.” He gently reached up and curled a strand of her soft hair around his finger. “But you’re pretty irresistible, doc.”

“I—I shouldn’t have…have let you….” She stood and righted her clothes, moved away to the stream and stared into the gurgling water as if the stony brook held the answers to her confusion.

He studied her rigid back, her slender legs, the slight tilt of her hips outlined beneath his mammoth sweater. If she was using him, she was one hell of an actress. He would almost swear that her innocent act was real. That she was as moved by their lovemaking as he had been. If he told her the truth about his reasons for being here, would she hate him?

But he couldn’t tell her, not yet, not until the case was solved.

Struggling to get up on his injured hip, he grunted and groaned until he was standing. Then he slowly walked over to her, his mind whirring with half truths and questions, his body still aching for her.

“Hannah?”

She lowered her head at the sound of her name on his lips. “I—I was engaged only a few days ago.”

“But you’re not engaged now,” he reminded her.

A long silence followed, giving him time to wonder if she regretted calling off her wedding.

“Still, it doesn’t seem right.” She cradled her arms around herself, shivering. “I—I don’t usually go from one man…to another.”

She’d started to say from one man’s bed to another, but caught herself. He found himself gritting his teeth at the idea of her in bed with that shrink, then silently cursed himself for feeling possessive. He had no right. “Are you planning to go back to him?”

A slight shake of her head indicated no.

“Then you have no reason to feel guilty.” He slowly lifted the hair from her neck, massaging the tension from her shoulders. She stiffened at first, then finally sighed and relaxed with the movement.

Finally, she exhaled and faced him. He saw the fine hint of desire still lingering in her eyes, along with a twinge of embarrassment and a truckload of regret. She opened her mouth to speak just as a shrill beep burst into the silence.

Her eyes widened, her hand automatically going to her waist. “My pager.” Lifting his sweater, she removed the small object from her belt and checked the number. “It’s the hospital, I’m not on call,” she said. “But there must be a real emergency.”

Was it his imagination or had relief filled her voice?

“I’d better get my cell phone.”

He nodded curtly, the call a grim reminder of reality. Even if he wasn’t investigating her father, his job didn’t exactly invite close relationships. Of course, her job came with odd hours also.

She made the call and turned to him, those blue eyes bright with emotions and questions. Questions he couldn’t answer. “I have to go,” she said softly. “Over a dozen people have been injured in an apartment fire. They need all the extra medical personnel they can get.”

He nodded, quickly packed up the picnic and stored the basket in the back. They rode back to his place in silence, the wind whipping her hair around her face, the cloud of desire and confusion hovering between them. And when she left him at his apartment, he sat in the dark and stared at the blank drab walls, wondering what he was going to do about the sexy doctor.

U
NBIDDEN IMAGES
flew into Hannah’s head as she drove to the hospital—images of Jake Tippins, naked and hot and whispering sweet erotic nothings into her ear. His husky voice murmured all the wicked things he’d like to do to her, and he pledged his love as he held her in his muscular arms. Oddly, he made her feel warm and cherished and safe….

But even if the man was sexy and all alone, even if she did feel sorry for him and even if she did feel she owed him for getting shot protecting her father’s business, he was still a drifter. A man who had no obvious roots and claimed not to want any. A man who didn’t bother to unpack or get a steady job because he wanted to be able to skip town at the drop of a hat.

A man who had brought her to ecstasy and taken nothing for himself.

But Jake Tippins couldn’t be her destiny.

Because, even in the middle of all her muddled thoughts, she knew one thing with excruciating clarity—roots, responsibility and family meant everything to Hannah.

And the thought of loving someone else and having them walk out was too scary to even imagine.

L
ATER THAT EVENING,
Jake drove toward the dealership, planning to stake out DeLito. Blocking images of Hannah’s soft body in his arms took every ounce of strength he possessed. But he saw DeLito leave work, and reminded himself he needed to solve the case before he even considered letting things progress further with Hannah.

Was he actually considering allowing their relationship to progress?

DeLito stopped by his dumpy apartment first, and Jake had almost decided he was wasting his time when the man rushed back out to his car and took off. Jake followed, surprised when DeLito drove toward the northeastern parkway. Thirty minutes later, he wound through the mountains. Jake followed, his gut sensing that he was definitely onto something.

Five miles down the highway, DeLito veered onto a dirt and gravel road through the countryside. Jake lagged behind, waiting till the dust settled behind Joey to follow. He crept slowly along the road, dodging potholes and mud-encrusted rocks, finally stopping behind a cluster of bushes in a wooded area near an old abandoned warehouse. Just the kind of place Jake had been searching for.

Grabbing his camera and binoculars, he eased out of the Jeep, and crept through the woods to get a better view, half expecting, half dreading that he would see Wiley or Mimi appear. Instead, the same brassy blonde DeLito had met in the bar emerged from the dark shadows of the warehouse, holding a cigarette in one hand, an envelope in the other.

Jake raised his camera and photographed the couple, adrenaline surging through him. The out-of-the-way warehouse would be the perfect spot to hide the stolen cars in transit to the dealerships. They might even have facilities inside to paint the hot vehicles and change the license plates. As soon as DeLito and the woman left, he’d check out the place. Then he’d call in the location and get a search warrant. Tomorrow they’d search the place, maybe even tie up this case.

Now, he simply had to figure out whether or not Wiley was involved—and if his daughters knew about his side business. The memory of Hannah’s lips burned through his brain and he doused it with cold reality. The case would be over soon, he’d be history, her former fiancé would probably return, and he’d kiss Hannah Hartwell good-bye forever.

I
T WAS ONLY TEN
when Hannah returned from the hospital. Weary from work and from anxiety over her attraction to Jake, she let herself in the house, made a cup of tea and changed into a pair of silky pajamas. The bride doll stared back at her from atop the hope chest, clearly reminding her of her broken engagement. And the reason for it. She had to talk to someone.

Would Grammy Rose still be awake? Remembering her grandmother’s penchant for late-night movies, she decided to call anyway. If she didn’t get some advice, she wouldn’t sleep a wink tonight.

Settling on top of her bed, she pressed her fingers to her lips again, the heat of Jake’s kiss and her wanton reaction to it lingering with an intensity that startled her.

The phone rang three, four times before her grandmother answered. “Hello.”

“Grammy, it’s me, Hannah.”

“Mercy child, is everything all right? You sound plumb out of sorts.”

Perhaps her grandmother was psychic. “I
am
tired,” Hannah said, leaning against the bank of pillows covering her headboard.
Tired of living in la-la land.

She explained about Jake. “I don’t understand how I could feel so drawn to him, Grammy. He’s not at all the type of man to settle down. He’s so wrong for me.”

“Are you sure about that, hon? Maybe you only think he’s wrong for you. Maybe he’s exactly what you need.”

Hadn’t Dr. McCoy made a similar comment?

Hannah still refused to believe it. “What? A drifter who barely even unpacks when he moves to a new town? A man who sells used cars today and will be doing God knows what tomorrow?”

Her grandmother clucked. “So, this is about his job and your dad, huh?”

“No.” Hannah twined a strand of hair around her fingers and sighed. “Not exactly. I just don’t see us together. Except well…you know.”

“I do know, hon,” her grandmother said without preamble.

“Grammy—”

“I may be old but I’m not dead, child.” Grammy Rose chuckled. “In fact, a good healthy love life keeps you young. I do believe it’s kept my wrinkles to a minimum.”

“Grammy!”

“And it’s good exercise, keeps the heart pumping.” Her grandmother laughed again and Hannah laughed along with her.

Grammy Rose’s voice softened, “If you dreamt about the man while wearing the heirloom ring, then he’s your destiny. Might as well quit fighting it.” Her grandmother sounded as if she really believed the silly folk legend. “Just follow your heart, hon.”

“But what if my heart is confused because of this…this chemistry stuff? What if it’s not love, just—”