Hazard Play (17 page)

A sense of fun and laughter permeated the small town atmosphere. Under a different set of circumstances, Tess would’ve been caught up in the gaiety and attended every play possible. She decided to have lunch on the patio of the restaurant near her hotel while she was waiting for Lucius. She ordered a Cobb salad and iced tea, but ended up picking at her meal. She checked her watch for what seemed like the tenth time. It was almost noon.

A screech of brakes and piercing car horn drew her attention to the street directly across from her. She saw a tall, dark-haired man—his hair tied back—exiting a curio shop. Carrying a shopping bag, he turned to walk in the opposite direction,

For a moment...
Great.
Now you’re seeing Bailey everywhere.
Sighing, she gazed at the departing figure. The shop doorbell chimed and a sales clerk ran out with a piece of white paper and called to the man. He turned and started back to the store. Tess felt like her heart stopped, only to begin beating at a ferocious rate.

“Bailey!” Thankful that the traffic was with her, she ran across the street. Bailey had turned at the sound of her voice and was just in time to catch her as she launched herself into his arms.

“Tess, what—”

She took his mouth and poured all her love into the kiss. Her body molded to his and it still wasn’t close enough. This was no dream and now she knew that she could never accept less than the real thing. She breathed in his scent and deepened the kiss. The sidewalk where they were standing blurred and there was only his touch and the taste of him on her lips. She didn’t want it to end.

And Bailey reciprocated. His arms held her and he tangled his fingers in her hair, his tongue exploring hers eagerly. They exchanged gasping breaths as they came back into the world. If she hadn’t needed oxygen to survive, she wouldn’t have stopped the addicting flood of sensations his kiss brought her.

Tess staggered back to look at him, but only an arm’s length, so she could still touch him. She could never touch him enough. “Bailey, are you hurt? I can’t tell.” She immediately began checking for wounds, running her hands over his arms and chest, anything she could reach. She was breathing hard, both from the kiss and the overwhelming emotion at seeing him again...alive.

“Tess, what are you—?” He reached out and gathered her into his arms again and hugged her. “Damn, you look great. I—”

“Never mind the small talk. Should we be out in the open?” Tess looked up and down the street, not knowing whether to expect a speeding car or armed gunmen or both. “This way.” Pulling out of his embrace, she took his hand and drew him into the alley at the end of the row of shops.

“Wait, ‘out in the open’?” He stopped as she kissed him again and then looked up at him with tears in her eyes, the enormity of her feelings finally overwhelming her. “Hey, Contessa, what’s wrong?” He brushed away a tear that marked her cheek. “Can I help?”

His strong arms surrounded her and she felt like she’d come home to a place she’d never leave. She managed a shaky laugh. “Can you help me? That’s funny, because Lucius and I came to help you. I’m so glad to see you; I couldn’t help crying like a baby. I guess that means the Bounty Hunters of America won’t be beating down my door.”

“Lucius and you help me? But—”

“Wait.” She held up her hand. “First, let me say what I came to say. Then, we can get you out of this mess.”

“Contessa—”

“Bailey, I mean it. It’s taken too long for me to finally understand myself.” She traced the outline of his lips before laying her forefinger against them.

“I love you, Bailey. There it is. You don’t have to do anything or even say anything. I’m telling you this for my own benefit. I’ve spent the last several years determined not to fall in love and in less than a month, you’ve blown all my plans off the map.”

His arms tightened around her and she hurried to continue before he interrupted her. “I still don’t like that you’re a bounty hunter...and I never will, but I won’t let that keep me from loving you. I don’t expect anything from you, but I owed you the truth. I’ve felt more alive in the past few weeks than I’ve felt in years and it’s because of you.”

Bailey was silent. He lifted her face to his and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I have something to tell you, too, Contessa.”

Tess looked out to the street. “First, let’s get back to the hotel. I’m staying at the Ashland Springs a block away.”

“Hey, that’s where I’m staying. Hmm, Lucius didn’t mention that in his message, ” Bailey said.”

They came out of the alley and started walking.

“I’m just glad I found you.” Tess squeezed his hand.

“I was meeting Lucius because he wanted to have lunch with me.” Bailey looked puzzled. “What does he have to do with you being here?”

“He left word on my answering machine that you’d gotten yourself into trouble in Ashland and he was on his way to help you. He was so worried, and he sounded like an attack was coming on. Anyway, his plane was delayed and he’s meeting me. He really likes you, Bailey.” Tess hurried him along the street.

Bailey stopped short in the middle of the sidewalk. “Lucius called you and said I was in danger?”

“Yes. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were getting too old for this racket if you need a partner to get you out of jams.” She grinned, almost light-headed in her relief that he was okay. She planned to do everything in her power to keep him that way.

“And he’d be here except for plane troubles?” He spoke in a measured tone.

“What’s with the twenty questions? Tell me what we need to do and let’s end this.”

Bailey started to chuckle and then laughed out loud as she stared at him. He grabbed her, picked her up off her feet, and spun her around. When he finally stopped, he kissed her breathless.

Her laughter joined his laughter. “Have you gone crazy?” She couldn’t help but respond to his exuberance.

“Tessa, my Contessa, our good friend Lucius Monroe has been playing matchmaker. I was here signing a contract for a new job, and mentioned it to Lucius when I spoke to him.” He chuckled again. “He must have thought it a prime opportunity to get us together. I’m in no danger from this job.” He kissed her lightly on her nose.

Tess felt cold inside, then hot. The feeling wound itself around her stomach and spread through her body. She stared at Bailey’s happy face. “Not...in danger?” She stiffened her arms, effectively distancing herself from him.

“Don’t you see? Lucius did us a favor. It’s okay.”

Maybe a sinkhole would open up and she’d fall into oblivion.
“Okay? And this favor, as you call it, doesn’t make you mad that he’s interfering with our lives?”

“Hell no! Not if it gets me you.” Bailey reached for her, but she turned away. “What’s the matter, Contessa?”

Tess couldn’t bear to look at him. “It doesn’t ‘
get
you me.’” Her cheeks flamed with heat. “I feel so stupid. I fell for his story and came riding to your ‘rescue’ like some kind of Charlie’s Angel.” She forced a laugh. “Yeah, that’s a good one, all right.”

“Contessa, I don’t think—”

“No wonder you were speechless when I threw myself at you. You had no idea what to do while I poured my heart out. Color me embarrassed. Well, they say an occasional humiliation is good for the soul, don’t they.” She turned and walked away from him.

“Tess, wait!”

“Don’t follow me, Bailey. At least let me leave with some dignity.”

Bailey caught up to her before she’d moved more than a few steps. He linked his arm through hers and said, “You’re not a fool. In fact, you’re the least foolish woman I know, except maybe for the fact you see something in me that no one else ever has.”

They started toward the hotel. Tess couldn’t think of anything to say that would change what had happened. Bailey was also silent, but he nodded to passers-by and smiled at the activity in the streets. Periodically, he squeezed her waist with the hand that rested on her hip.

In her room, Tess turned to him. “I can’t believe Lucius would do such a thing. What was he thinking?”

Bailey gathered her close. “You said it yourself. He likes both of us and decided we needed a push in the right direction. Answer me this, do you think we’d be here now if it weren’t for him?”

“I don’t know. I don’t usually ‘attack’ men in the streets and that alone is going to take some time for me to get over.” She sighed and laid her head against his chest. “I’m sorry I made such a scene. You must think I overreacted big time.”

“Stop. You keep telling me what I’m thinking. I can see this calls for drastic measures.” He swept her into his arms and carried her to the bed, depositing her gently.

“Bailey, I don’t think—”

He stopped her with a kiss and then proceeded to remove her sandals. His hands were warm on her skin as he took his time. “Exactly. You’re not thinking. Maybe, it’s time to start feeling.”

When he pressed his lips to her instep, she exhaled in a sharp breath. She couldn’t have spoken then if she’d wanted to.

“Contessa, it doesn’t matter how we came to be together.” His caress swept up her leg and he lavished his attention on her knee.

Tess moved restlessly, closing her eyes as she concentrated on the heat coursing through her limbs. How could she ever have thought her dreams were even close to reality?

“This is now. The present. No past. No future. Let me show you how I feel.” His whisper penetrated her consciousness.

She heard the slide of the zipper on her capris and felt cool air touching her stomach as he removed them. His tongue touched her navel and she gasped. When Bailey placed his hands beneath her tee shirt, she lifted her arms to help him pull it off and over her head.

He kissed her along the line of her collarbone before opening the front clasp of her bra and releasing her breasts to his waiting lips. She cried out, unable to remain passive any longer. Tess arched her back and he drew upon first one pebbled nipple and then the other. She felt the powerful tug of his mouth throughout her fevered body.

She reached for him and pulled his mouth to hers. Their tongues met and mated. She wanted to feel his skin against hers, where it belonged. She had to. Somehow, he’d shrugged out of his polo shirt and her hands reached down and found him, hard and erect. His clothes joined the rest of hers on the floor and he was poised above her.

“Contessa?” His question trailed off.

“I think I’ll die if I don’t feel you inside me.”

Her soft plea elicited a groan and his mouth swooped down to take hers again as, with one powerful thrust, he entered her. As she took him deep within her, the daylight dimmed and there was only feeling as they moved together until the inevitable explosion took them away.

* * *

When she awoke, it was late afternoon. Bailey was asleep beside her. Even now, he seemed like a dream. She’d never expected to love with so fierce a passion. She’d thought committing to a loving companion would be peaceful and calming. But this...torrent of emotion nearly overwhelmed her with its turbulence.

There was nothing serene about what she felt for him. This love was loud and frightening, unstoppable, and not at all gentle. She frowned. And what about Bailey? What did he feel about her? Was it really the kind of love she wanted?

Deserved?

His passion was real, but was that all it was? He’d asked her to stay with him in Reno. He’d been truly happy to see her, and when they made love? That was real. But he’d never told her he loved her. She could try to convince herself that every time they made love proved he cared, but she wanted more.

She couldn’t demand it from him. What kind of love would that be? She carefully slid from the bed and gathered up her clothes from where they ‘d been tossed. She dressed and tiptoed out of the room with her overnight bag.

Closing the door, she stopped in the hotel hallway and caught back a sob. She refused to treat the love she had for him like a casual affair. She’d rather end it now. She put her hand against the door for a moment before she turned and walked away.

* * *

Tess didn’t remember much about the car trip back to Greenview. Except that, just when she thought her life couldn’t get any worse, she was stopped by a cop and ticketed for speeding.  At least that incident woke her up enough to pay more attention to her driving.

She was back in Greenview by late that night. Pyewacket greeted her with his own patented full body rub against her legs. He followed her to her room, vocalizing every step of the way. She unpacked and he kept jumping into the suitcase on the bed, refusing to move unless she picked him up and petted him. All in all not a bad welcome, considering her state of mind.

A quick shower and she went to bed. She lay awake, recalling every moment of the ill-fated trip. She tried to tell herself that she was glad she’d been honest with Bailey about her feelings, but the embarrassment of the actual situation overrode that truth.

How could Lucius have done that to her? She figured that first acting stunt had gone to his head. Sure, she’d never have sought Bailey out otherwise, but now she felt worse than when she’d left him at the airport in Reno.

She still believed leaving Bailey before he’d felt forced into declarations he didn’t mean, was the right thing to do. Still, it didn’t make the emptiness feel any less.