Love By Accident (15 page)

Perhaps he couldn't prove it, and he'd told his staff to keep their eyes open but not to press the panic button yet. Still, he planned on making some extra rounds, keeping alert for anything out of the ordinary. Maybe take a horse for a ride through some backcountry.

If they had a poacher on their hands, he'd damn well make it as difficult for him to strike again as possible.

TWELVE

"Good, you're home."

Lauren shifted the phone to her shoulder, bracing it with her cheek while she opened a can of Pepsi. Although unexpectedly hearing from Matt was better than a jolt of caffeine any day.

"Well, my plane to Hawaii doesn't leave until morning," she teased.

"Hawaii, eh?" His voice went smooth and rich as the best Bernard Callebaut chocolate. "I can do that."

The dream she'd had the other night came to mind. Hot sand, white beaches. Matt shirtless. Oh, boy.

She cleared her throat. "Unless I win the lottery, I'm not going anywhere. What's up?"

"I need your help. Don't move. I'll be right over."

He hung up before she could say anything more. What was he up to now? Not that it really mattered. He was coming over. Glancing down at her worn sweats, Lauren set her can on the counter and raced to her room to quickly change into jeans and a nicer shirt.

Ten minutes later he rapped on her door.

A startled laugh jumped from her mouth when she answered it. "What are you doing? Halloween isn't for another two weeks."

Matt, wearing black jeans and his Doc Martens, his black leather coat and a Zorro mask breezed past her into her kitchen.

"I know."

"So you're wearing a mask because...?"

"I can't decide what to wear for Halloween. So I figured I'd get your opinion."

"On what, a mask? What are you supposed to be anyway?"

White teeth flashing, Matt ripped off his jacket. There, on his ebony t-shirt was a full set of felt crimson-red lips caught in mid pucker.

"And the pièce de resistance," he whipped a red rose from behind his back and handed it to her.

It was silly to be so charmed, but she couldn't help it. She inhaled the heady perfume while the velvet petals caressed her nose.

"Thank you. I'm still not sure what you are, though."

"I," his deep voice rumbled with each step closer to her he took, "am the Kissing Bandit."

Tingles zigzagged over Lauren's skin, leaving behind goose bumps. "Wasn't that on an episode of the
Love Boat
once? You know? Back in the
eighties
?"

His eyes shone with humor and something a little darker. "One of the best decades ever, don't knock it."

He'd reached her but kept coming forward, guiding her back until her hips pressed against the counter. Exhilaration at being so in tune with every movement she made left her breathless. She shifted her hand to the side so their bodies wouldn't squish the rose.

"If I remember right, once he kissed them, they never saw him again."

"Honey, you don't have to worry. I'm not going anywhere." And then his mouth covered hers.

Lauren sighed and pressed herself into him, loving the feel of his arms around her back while his lips seduced hers. He was a phenomenal kisser. His mouth was hot and juicy, demanding. It drew everything she felt into the kiss. She felt it all.

Hard chest muscles pressed against her breasts, turning her nipples into sensitized peaks. Strong arms drew her closer and closer to him. She dropped the rose on the counter. He was destroying her. With each stroke of his tongue, her leg muscles weakened.

"Matt," Lauren whimpered. Her blood was hot. Everything was hot.

His tongue traced her lips. His kisses became light and feathery. And then they stopped.

Dazed and swaying in his arms, Lauren opened her eyes.

He stroked her face reverently. "You're so beautiful."

Right then and there she believed it because the truth was in his shadowed gaze, in the soft caress of his hand.

"So are you," she answered and wondered how she'd never noticed it before. Her hands delved into his silky curls. Regarding her through the slats of the mask were striking blue eyes framed by long lashes. He kept his face clean shaven but always underneath was the hint of stubble. His mouth, she thought, yearning, was to die for.

"Thanks." He kissed her again, long and slow. "I'd better go."

"Oh. Okay. I guess you have to get up early tomorrow."

"Yeah," he sighed, some of the light going out of his eyes. "I have a long week planned. You don't have to get up for work?"

"No. I've got the day off."

"Lucky you." He pulled on his jacket.

"Everything all right?"

His eyes collided with hers and for a moment, she saw clouds swirling in their depths. "Yeah. Just been a long day."

"I can help, you know. If you need someone to talk to."

"I know, honey, but I'm fine. Really, I just need some sleep."

A vision of her cuddling next to him as he slept came to mind. Much as the thought thrilled her, she knew they weren't there. Not yet.

"Well, if it's any consolation, I think you make a great kissing bandit."

He grinned. "I know," he said and before he walked out the door, he proved it again.

***

Lauren couldn't remember the last time she'd had such a wonderful sleep. The blankets had never felt so cozy, her pillow so soft. Warm underneath her cocoon of covers, she'd slept on a cloud of dreams that circled around a masked man whose kisses left her hungry.

After showering and dressing, running behind because of her daydreaming about Matt, she rushed out of the house. With a spring in her stride Lauren walked down the sidewalk to the bus depot. When she spotted Nick's brother Kyle slouched on a park bench, lost in his Nintendo, she smiled.

"Hey," she said, kicking his Nikes. "Shouldn't you be in school?"

He cast her a belligerent glance she didn't believe for a second, slid his game in the pocket of his hoodie, and stood up.

"Aren't you supposed to be having a nap or something? Isn't that what old people do?"

"Little brat."

"Old fart."

Lauren laughed and opened her arms. Kyle hesitated, then stepped inside the circle, though he kept his arms hanging loosely at his side.

"What happened to you? You used to be short," she commented when his gaze was nearly level with hers.

He shrugged, his eyes looking far too old for his age. "Maybe you're shrinking. I heard it happens to old people."

"Watch it, or I'll beat you with my cane."

Grabbing his duffel bag, he threw it over his shoulder.

"Again?"

"Very funny for a kid who's relying on me to feed him until his brother gets off work."

He nodded, looking a little more like the boy he should still be at thirteen. "Good point."

They fell into step, Lauren still marveling at just how fast a kid sprouted. He looked tired, though, and maybe most kids his age slouched, but to Lauren it seemed his was pronounced. Like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Since Kyle hadn't been to visit Nick for a few weeks, Lauren decided to make this weekend extra special. For two days, at least, he could forget and just be a kid.

"So I thought we'd rent a couple movies, stock up on chips and pop and get some pizza for supper. How does that sound?"

Kyle's smile lit up his face and chased some of the shadows from his eyes.

"Can I get a horror movie?"

Lauren cringed. "As long as I don't have to watch it."

"Chicken," he shoved her lightly with his arm.

They crossed the street and pushed open the doors of the convenience store.

Half an hour later, with arms full of movies and junk food, they trudged into Lauren's place.

"You think this will be enough?" Kyle asked, eyeing the four bags of chips, three king-sized chocolate bars, a box of microwave popcorn and a dozen Pepsis.

"If it's not, we're getting you checked for tape worms."

He laughed. Nothing had ever sounded so right to Lauren and she longed to hug him again. She settled for wishing life could always be this simple for him. No thirteen-year-old boy should have to deal with the harsh realities of cancer on a daily basis.

"It's good you're here. I really missed you."

"Yeah." He shifted uncomfortably. "So, has my brother, like, proposed yet?"

She cracked two pops open, passed one to Kyle.

"You know we're just friends, Kyle."

He frowned. "Is there something wrong with him?"

Lauren choked on the carbonation. Bubbles burned the back of her throat. "No, Kyle. I like Nick, you know I do. Would I put up with you otherwise?"

"Okay, I get it. You're not hot for him."

Well that was more direct than she'd expected, but she followed his lead.

"No, I'm not. Don't you have any friends that are girls? That you don't want to go out with, but maybe just like hanging out with?"

He blushed to the edges of his hairline.

"Ah, I see." Lauren smiled and led him to the living room. "Come with me, little brother. Let's talk."

***

In the end, Lauren watched the horror flick, sandwiched between Nick and Kyle who tormented her by grabbing her legs at the most suspenseful parts. She didn't breathe normally until the credits started.

"That was awful," she said, prying herself off the couch.

"How could you possibly know?" Nick asked. "Your eyes were closed through most of it."

"I saw enough," she muttered, placing the disc back in the case. "Besides, my movie was way better."

Kyle groaned. "It was lame. All those chick flicks are the same."

"I concur," Nick agreed.

Lauren threw a pillow at him. "I feed you supper, spend the day with the brat," she pointed at Kyle, laughing when he crossed his arms and stuck his tongue out at her, "and you can't take my side?"

"Nope," Nick agreed. "Ours was better." He gave Kyle a high-five.

Despite their conflicting tastes in movies, they all worked together to clear the empty wrappers and cans from the living room. When Kyle went to the bathroom, Nick lowered his voice.

"I really appreciate you picking him up. Looks like he had a great time."

"You're welcome. I enjoyed it as much as he did. It seems to have taken his mind off things."

They dropped the cans into the recycling bin.

"It was good for him. Thanks. So, you busy tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I've got something in the morning," she deliberately kept Matt's name out of it, knowing they didn't like each other. "And then I have to close."

Disappointment killed his smile. "Shit. And I'm driving Kyle home first thing Sunday."

"Then I guess I'll see you next week."

Nick didn't look happy about having to wait so long. Kyle shuffled back into the kitchen, the boy once again replaced with a young man with a lot on his mind. "We heading out?"

"Yeah, grab your coat."

She waved at Kyle, told him to call her anytime. He mumbled an answer, leaving the screen door to bang shut behind him. Nick hung around for a bit longer. Lauren deliberately kept a little distance between them, always careful not to encourage the affection that was clear in the way Nick looked at her.

"Thanks again."

"Any time."

Suddenly Nick cocked his head.

"What? Did you hear something?"

He shook his head. "No, I don't hear anything." He stepped around her to the kitchen sink. "Did you finally get these taps fixed?"

"Uh, yeah. A few days ago."

"I hope you didn't call a plumber. They charge a fortune."

Shit. She crossed her arms over her sweater. "Uh, no. Another friend volunteered. Just brought the parts right over, I didn't even ask."

Nick stared at the sink for a long while, not saying anything. His jaw, however, kept flexing and releasing, pulsating with anger. Then, saying nothing more, not even good night, he turned and left.

***

"Hey pretty boy, you missed a spot."

The razor in Matt's hands jerked but he managed to yank it back before he sliced his neck open. He glared into the mirror at Gil's reflection.

"Are you nuts? I could've joined you--" he gestured with his hands, "up there."

Gil pressed his tongue into his cheek. "What makes you think you're heading North? Seems to me, after everything you did as a kid, you might not want to pack a sweater."

Matt finished shaving and splashed warm water onto his face. The last of the cream swirled down the drain.

"Considering I did most of those things with you and you don't seem to be suffering from major burns, I'd say I'm safe." He toweled off and poured some Hugo Boss into his palm.