Mission: Seduction (12 page)

“More a thunderstorm than anything. It stalled out about a hundred miles in. The winds are wicked, though.”

“Good, we don't have to move him to the second floor, at least not yet. You go run a hot bath in that hot tub of yours. Do you have Epsom salts?”

“Yes.” The salts and a hot bath were the best thing for tired muscles, which she always had when she was training.

“Put a lot in.” He turned to Rafe. “Son, I owe you an apology.” Kelly stifled a laugh, because it sounded like “apwowgie.” But Rafe's color, which was now paler than she'd ever seen him, was enough to squash any humor.

“It's fine, sir.”

“No, it isn't, but I'm sober enough now to see that you do need my help. Do yourself a favor and lie down on the couch so I can examine your leg.”

Rafe shook his head.

Kelly was worried. Her dad had on his somber doctor's face, which meant he knew something merely from the way Rafe was standing.

Her hands went to his. “Rafe McCawley, you do what my dad says, or I will give you a taste of what I gave them earlier. Now,” she demanded and she pointed her finger at the couch.

Rafe watched her warily as he complied.

“Dad, I'll prepare the bath and help you get him in there when it's time. You two behave.”

She took a few steps and stopped.

“Dad, I swear, I'll never speak to you again if you've caused him permanent harm. I care about him more than I've ever cared about any man.” It didn't matter what Rafe might think of her for making such a declaration. She wanted him to know how important he was to her. “Keep that in mind while you're taking care of him.”

Turning the corner, she paused to listen.

“Is she always like this?” Rafe asked.

“Marine, if she's anything like her mother, you're in for one of hell of a ride.”

Rafe chuckled, and she let go of the breath she'd been holding.

“I can take it, sir. I've been through worse.”

“That you have, my boy. That you have.”

Kelly chewed on her lip as she found the salts and poured them into the bath. While the water ran, she found him some fluffy towels.

She knew the answer to her own question before she asked it. But that was all about to change.

Rafe was her priority, plain and simple. In her heart, he even came before the resort.

Oh, hell. She'd fallen even harder than she'd thought.

Her mind drifted to the secret she kept from him. Once he healed she would tell him the truth. But until then, she would look after him. He had a brother, but for the most part, like he said, he was alone in the world.
Not any longer
. She recalled his words to her.

They both had an anchor to get them through the storm.

She only hoped it would be enough once he knew the truth.

15

K
ELLY
CARED
ABOUT
him. As Rafe soaked in the warm water of the hot tub, his hip and leg positioned in front of the pounding jets, a grin spread across his face. She'd said that her feelings for him were stronger than she'd ever had for any other man.

Relief flooded his chest. While he'd known they desired each other, this was entirely different. She was as invested in their budding relationship as he was. It was frightening and crazy good—as she liked to say—at the same time. Rafe's main goal the past few months had been to recover, physically and mentally. Though the shrinks thought otherwise, he knew his mind was on the mend now, since he had met Kelly.

And he had hope for the first time in a long time. Many in the military suffered depression after they'd gone through the kind of trauma he had. When he came to the realization that his leg might never be 100 percent, it hit him hard. Though he had many options beyond the Marines, the corps was his life. But if he couldn't go back to active duty...

That led to thoughts about Kelly and what if their relationship progressed. But how would it? With her traveling so frequently and him, if he stayed in the corps, never knowing where he might end up. It wouldn't be fair to either of them to make promises or some kind of commitment, although the idea of never seeing her after this trip was one he couldn't accept.

Rafe had watched his friend Will leave the corps to be with the woman he loved. When it happened, Rafe believed he was a fool. Yet after meeting Kelly, he understood. There wasn't a person in the world he wanted to be with more than her. And he'd do anything for her.

Man, you got it bad.

“Hey, Marine, no sleeping in the tub....” Her sweet voice interrupted his thoughts.

He opened his eyes to find her kneeling beside the tub with a pile of towels.

“You almost drowned once tonight, I'd rather not have a repeat.” She dipped a finger in the water. “It's cooling down—do you want me to add more hot water?” She reached for the tap, but he gently pulled her hand away.

“I'm fine, Kelly. I mean it. Your dad gave me that steroid shot and I'm not in much pain.”

“Okay, but you still have to take it easy,” she said anxiously. “Dad said you were lucky tonight. You could have ripped those tendons that had only just healed. And I agree with him about getting new scans to make sure there aren't any tears.”

Rafe kissed her hand. “I'm lucky, that's for sure.”

“That's what—”

“No. I mean, I'm lucky the most beautiful girl I've ever met cares about me enough to boss me around and threaten her father.”

She smiled as she let go of his hand and then brushed his cheek.

“I keep telling you guys not to mess with surfer chicks. We're all hang-ten and livin' life, dude. That is, until someone we care about gets hurt.” She leaned over and kissed him lightly on the lips.

“You know, there's room in here for two. Hell, we could probably fit three or four in here.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “First of all, it will only be you and me, buddy. You need to know that straight up. Second, my mom and dad are outside my bedroom door. So I'm not exactly feeling it right now.”

He couldn't help but chuckle as he noticed her breasts. Her nipples were tight against her white cotton T-shirt.

She rolled her eyes. “It's cold.” Then she grinned. “Yes, all you have to do is look at me, and I, well, it doesn't matter. You're going to take it easy. Now let me help you out of there. Do you want me to get Dad?”

Rafe shook his head. He hadn't lied, he definitely felt better. But he was smart enough to know the steroids were only a temporary fix. At least the pain would back off for a few days, and maybe by then his body would have repaired any of the damage he'd done to it.

Rafe pushed himself up to the ledge of the tub with his forearms. In the hospital, he'd learned how to put most of his weight on his arms to take the pressure off his hip and leg.

He sat there while she dried him off. It was sweet and sexy as hell the care she took with his body. And he couldn't hide the evidence of just how much he liked her touch.

“Give it up, Marine.” She kissed his cheek. “We are so not going there tonight.”

“We marines never give up,” he whispered as he pulled her onto his lap.

Swatting him with the towel, she tried to stand up, but he held her tight.

“I need you,” he told her as he nipped at her ear and then trailed kisses down her neck. The pulse there increased.

“But you need to—”

His lips silenced her, and his hands palmed her breasts.

She moaned and pressed herself into his caress.

“Tell your parents to go to bed,” he ordered as he thumbed her taut nipple through the T-shirt.

She shook her head.

“I've taken orders from you tonight, now it's time for you to do the same.”

She sized him up for a second and then smiled. “On one condition.”

“And that is?”

“You know that thing you do with your tongue...”

“Consider it done.”

He wasn't sure that he'd ever seen her move so fast.

* * *

T
HE
STORM
CONTINUED
to lash the shore when she woke in the morning. She had no idea when they'd finally made it to the bed and she didn't care. Curled next to Rafe, there was no better place to be.

He slept on his stomach, one arm thrown possessively over her. His hand held her waist and his face was burrowed against her shoulder. Leaning close, she kissed one eyelid and then the other until he gazed up at her sleepily.

“Still dark. Go back to sleep.” The command was gruff and sweet.

“That's the storm. It's morning, I need to check on my parents.”

He groaned, his mouth barely moving as he said, “Give me a minute and I'll go with you.”

“Ha.” She slowly, lovingly, feathered his hair though her fingers. “No, I'd rather you stayed in bed so when I return, I can crawl right back in here with you.”

His arm tightened. “Stay. Go see them later.”

“I would, but there is a storm.” After everything that had happened last night, she had to make sure they hadn't killed each other after she'd sent them to bed. That would be really bad for business, not to mention any future family holidays.

Rafe lifted his head and glanced at the windows. Like the rest of the property, they were shuttered. Meanwhile, the rain pounded the roof with heavy drops and the wind constantly howled.

“They're fine, and you know it,” he said.

“Rafe...” He wasn't listening. “I bet you don't want me to go so that I can go back to sleep,” she teased.

“You're about to win big, Kel.” His feathery light touch trailed down her hip.

She giggled until his mouth met hers, and then she was lost.

A few hours later, she eased out of the bed, careful not to disturb him. They'd played for an hour before drifting off again. She was one, long, happy ache. She'd never understood what it meant to hurt so good before.

Forcing her gaze away from the sleeping, sexy marine, she pulled on her tank top and a pair of cutoffs. Rafe shifted and she paused, worried her movements might wake him. More than anything, she wanted to slip under the covers and into the warmth of his arms. Safe and adored. That was how he made her feel.

She took a step toward the bed but stopped.

No. See to Mom and Dad first.

Blast being a dutiful daughter. She tiptoed into the bathroom and washed up quietly. After brushing her teeth and pulling her hair up into a ponytail, she snuck back through the bedroom.

She checked on him one more time. Her heart squeezed at his relaxed pose.
Go before you give in to temptation.
She rushed out the door, closing it as silently as she could.

When she rounded the corner into the resort's main living room, she stopped to open a shutter and have a look at the rain. It was coming down in sheets.

She closed the shutter and, bracing herself, dashed up the stairs.

But she'd only taken a few steps when she froze. Her mother and father were on the stairs, naked, entwined in each other's arms.

“What are you doing?” she blurted, and clapped a hand over her eyes.

Never in her life would she be able to get that image out of her mind.

She shivered.

“What are
you
doing?” Her mother echoed the question, but with a great deal more amusement.

“Making sure you two hadn't done each other in,” she answered, “but obviously that is not the problem.”

Clothing rustled behind her. “Please just go upstairs. I gave you separate rooms. Surely you could use
one
of those. Anybody—the staff—could have come across you. And I have a boatload of guests arriving later tonight if the storm lets up. You can't do...that sort of thing wherever you feel like it. Ugh.”

Her parents' make-up sex on the staircase wasn't exactly the kind of reputation she wanted for Last Resort.

At least she would be the only one with the wounded psyche.

“It's safe, darling. You can look now.” Her mother's humor only added another layer to the bizarre.

Peeking through her fingers, she took a quick peek.

Her father stood, wearing his dress slacks and her mother had her robe in place. Her hair was artfully mussed and her lips bore no trace of lipstick.

Wow.

“As you can see, we are perfectly fine.” Her father cleared his throat.

“Clearly.” Her hand dropped. She stared at them in wonder.

“Oh, hush. You're hardly a child and I'm guessing since your father found you so chummy with that delicious marine that you were not alone yourself last night.” Raina combed her fingers through her hair, mussing it more artfully if that were possible.

“Mom!”

Her dad's low laugh started in his belly and grew louder. His shoulders shook. “Yes, I suppose I did catch them, so turnabout is fair play.”

“Dad!”

What was she going to do with them?

Her father continued anyway. “Kelly, I'm fairly certain I explained to you that the marine needed to rest. And that he shouldn't put any undue pressure on his leg.”

“I am not having this conversation with you. It's none of your business, and I'd appreciate it if you would keep your business behind closed doors.”

“Carter, for a surfer girl, she's kind of a prude.” Her mother swept down the stairs, regal in her thick white robe. Kelly's legs refused to budge and her mother pulled her in for a hug.

“Your father and I want to apologize. You were absolutely right last night. We are two adults and we do know better.” Her mother tugged at Kelly's ponytail. “I'm sorry we ruined dinner with your young man. I promise if you ever let us eat with him again, we'll behave.”

“We promise,” her father agreed, joining in a group hug. He pressed a kiss to Kelly's forehead. “Given everything he's done for me, the least I can do is be a little nicer to him. He seems a solid sort, not like the kind you usually date. He does have that going for him.”

“Oh, Carter. That's so sweet. Silly. But sweet.” Her mother leaned up and kissed him. As if by mutual consent they released Kelly and wrapped their arms around one other.

“Hey. Still standing right here.” She shook her head, unable to get over their transformation from drama king and queen to teenage make-out session. She really didn't know which one was worse.

They broke their kiss but rubbed noses in a disgustingly cute gesture. Her father gazed down at her mother with such loving adoration and she returned the same to him.

Okay, Kelly liked that part. It was good to see her parents enjoying their togetherness—but she never really needed to see them that
together
again.

“All right, darling. We'll go upstairs.” Her mother pouted as if they were being punished for being in love.

“Great. I'm going to check on Rafe.”

There just wasn't enough brain bleach in the world to wash away that image of her parents. Better to simply not think about it.

“She's a wonderful daughter, Raina. So much like you.” Carter leaned down and kissed her again. At the first hint of another kiss and then another, Kelly bolted. She made it to the kitchen in record time. Grabbing some orange juice and a couple of glasses, she put them on a tray with some fruit and powdered beignets Adrien had made the day before. She glanced at the shutters and the strong glass they protected. “So far so good,” she said to herself.

The sea must be tumultuous, she thought. If it wasn't for the rain coming down so hard and the lightning, she'd be out on the water riding the seven-foot waves. But it wasn't safe, and she had other plans.

Back in her bedroom, she found Rafe just as she had left him. Drinking in the sight of him was like a cure-all for the crazy, including her parents and their crazy fights, crazy love and being crazy about each other.

After putting the tray down on a table, she pushed the button to automatically open the shutters. It was still dark enough outside that the light didn't bother Rafe.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand and she rushed to get it before it woke her favorite marine. Snatching it up, she darted for the bathroom. Greg's face popped up on the screen and she wrinkled her nose.

Nope. Not today.

Thumbing Decline, she turned her phone off. Her parents were upstairs. Rafe was in her bedroom. She really didn't need—or want—any more interruptions in the day.

Greg could wait.

Turning on the hot water, she stepped into the shower. As she rinsed the conditioner out of her hair, the shower door opened.

Rafe stood there, gloriously naked. She leaned over for a good-morning kiss.