Montana Skies (You, Me and the Kids) (Harlequin Superromance, No 1395) (19 page)

Last night had awakened them both to the truth. Whatever the future held, it would be better. She and Skylar were both healing, Jonas and Carly would, too. And Jonas's apology was so heartfelt and revealing, she couldn't deny him.

Jonas hesitated, but when she smiled, he lowered his mouth to hers. His tongue sought entrance and pressed deep, and for the longest time, they shared everything. Breath, warmth. The beat of their hearts, and their many problems. Friends and…more. But what?

“I needed that,” he murmured against her lips. “The whole town's gone crazy over that damn party, my daughter won't raise her chin off her chest, and all day all I could think about was kissing you.”

She lifted her hands to his face, the rough stubble on his cheeks. “Tough night?”

“Hell.”

“Is she okay?”

“She's embarrassed and says she'll never live it down, but yeah, I think so. She's worried about school Monday.”

“Skylar, too, but of course she hasn't said anything. This
is
the last week. Maybe we should let them skip it?”

“That would only make it worse,” he argued, kissing her hand and nibbling. “Their absence will make them look guilty,” he murmured, explaining about the noise complaint. “It'll get blamed on Carly and Skylar if they don't make an appearance. Besides, it's only three days and then it'll be summer vacation.”

Three days… A lot could happen in that amount of time. Look what had happened in the last three.

 

C
ARLY CARRIED
her lunch tray and hesitated before sitting down at the loser table. Where else could she sit? Nobody had talked to her all morning. Just like before.

She looked up and saw that even though she'd sat at the end away from the others, all of them had gotten up and moved, not wanting to be seen sitting with her. Everybody blamed her for her dad breaking up the party and calling everyone's parents even though she'd told them the story about the noise complaint. Why was it her fault the boys had been jerks to do that in the first place?

A tray dropped onto the table across from her. Her
heart in her throat, Carly prayed she wasn't about to get the crap beaten out of her. Then she saw the rings.

Skylar's black lips were pulled down in a frown, and she glared at her a minute before she lifted her boot over the bench and sat down. Carly knew she should say something, apologize, but she couldn't make the words come. They sat there in silence, neither of them hungry enough to even look at their trays.

Then the bell rang.

Skylar surged to her feet. “Don't give them the satisfaction of making you cry. Word's getting around about the music thing. Keep your power and it'll be over soon.”

“Skylar—”

She ignored her and kept going.

 

T
HE DAYS PASSED
in a blur of work for Rissa. Cleaning all the occupied cabins and performing maid service took every ounce of her energy and by the time she drove to town on Tuesday to work her shift at the diner, she didn't know if she could keep her eyes open.

Grace's warning about burning the candle at both ends came to her, and she knew what she had to do, hard though it was. Rissa turned in her notice to Porter and thanked the older man for giving her a job when she needed it, but her guilt lifted when Porter told her he had a granddaughter needing a summer job and she could start immediately. A phone call later, Rissa worked her last night while training her replacement, then went home, saddened by Jonas's absence from the diner.

She told herself he was probably where he needed to be—at home with Carly—but it didn't help. She missed him, and in her mind loomed the fact their time together
was limited. Already it was the end of May, the end of school. And she hoped to relocate by the end of July so Skylar could start school in August and not transfer midyear. Their time in North Star was running out.

And she was more confused than ever.

 

T
HE LAST DAY
of school and early dismissal.
Finally.
Carly clutched her backpack to her chest and walked down the hall to where Skylar stood stuffing her junk into her book bag, her stomach hurting. Every day she'd sat by herself at a table until Skylar sat down with her. But other than the warning to stay strong, they hadn't talked. And even though a few of the girls invited to the party had come around and smiled at her, the entire experience made her appreciate Skylar's friendship even more.

“I'm sorry,” she blurted out before Skylar could walk away again. “I know I should've listened to you, and that you—you only tried to help. And—and I'm sorry for calling you names and for waiting so long to apologize.” Skylar stared at her as if she'd grown two heads and Carly shifted uncomfortably. Wasn't she going to say anything?

“Yeah, well…don't let it happen again. Choose a nice guy next time instead of a jerk, or you might not get a second chance.”

She wet her lips. “Okay…so, are we friends again?”

“Maybe.” Skylar slammed the door shut.

“Would you, um, like to go to the ballet with me? My grandma said I can bring a friend and—you said you liked going in New York.”

“Is that why you apologized? 'Cause you don't want to get stuck alone with your grandma?”

“No!”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive. Do you want to go or not?”

“I guess.” Skylar smirked. “But only because I can't wait to see your granny's face when she gets a look at who you invited. She's going to have a coronary.”

Carly giggled and together, they headed down the hall.

 

R
ISSA KNEW EXACTLY
who was the most excited about the girls going to the ballet—she and Jonas. After a long week of fetching and carrying and cleaning, and the ongoing angry calls from parents worried more parties like the one last week would be taking place, the news that Carly had invited Skylar to the ballet was…extraordinary. Even more so since Skylar had actually accepted knowing it was a black-tie event.

Jonas booked two connecting hotel rooms in Helena and presently both girls occupied the bathrooms, getting ready for their big night out. But it was nothing compared to the tension and awareness spiking between her and Jonas at the thought of an evening alone together. In a hotel room, no less.

They'd nearly made love, and she'd like to share that intimacy with him. But what then? Larry's infidelity had destroyed their troubled marriage, but Jonas had the potential to break her heart if she let him.

“Looks like heavy thoughts for what could be a wonderful evening,” Jonas murmured in her ear, slipping up behind her where she stood staring blankly out the window. “Rissa, there's no pressure. Yes, I want to make love to you,” he whispered huskily, “but I understand if you don't want things to get even more complicated.”

What could she say? Jonas had agreed to view their relationship as short-term at
her
request. She couldn't
change the rules now and beg him to want her to stay. She had too much pride for that, and she knew all too well that love had to go both ways.

Meaning she loved him?

A knock saved her from answering her panicked musings, and Jonas quickly moved through the connecting doorway to his and Carly's hotel room. She heard him greet Marilyn, and noted Jonas's voice lacked a certain warmth when he spoke to her.

But that was yet another problem. Should she and Jonas get together, Marilyn would never accept her or Skylar. What then? Ongoing verbal battles? That wouldn't be good for anyone.

Carly joined Jonas and Marilyn, her soft voice greeting her grandmother, and Rissa bit back a laugh when she heard Marilyn's sharp intake of breath all the way to where she stood. Having received Marilyn's choice of the cotton-candy pink dress replete with numerous and rather large bows from a department store in Helena, Jonas had stopped at the store and endured three females shopping to exchange the dress for one Carly liked—a trendy dark electric blue with a modest halter top and flaring knee-length skirt.

“Caroline, you—you look beautiful, dear, but what happened to the dress I sent you?”

“I exchanged it. I
love
this color, Grandma. Isn't it awesome? The saleslady said it matched my skin tone and hair much better. Thank you for getting the other one. If you hadn't, I wouldn't have gone and found this one.”

“Oh…well, I—I suppose it does look nice on you. Are you ready?”

Rissa moved to stand in the doorway, and the moment Marilyn noticed her presence, Rissa's stomach
dropped. The woman looked shocked. Carly obviously hadn't told her grandmother who would be accompanying them tonight.

Just when she thought about begging off for Skylar's sake, Jonas waved her forward and placed his hand on her waist in a possessive gesture. “Marilyn, you remember Rissa?” he said, his gaze daring the other woman to behave like she had at the house.

“Yes, of—of course. Hello. Caroline, dear, we really must be off.”

Carly shot Rissa a worried glance. “Grandma, I brought a friend like you said I could. She'll be ready in a second.”

Marilyn's expression revealed her upset. “I know what I said, Caroline, but I did not imagine you would invite—”

“Skylar used to live in New York, and she knows a lot about theater and ballet. If you talk to her, you'll see. You might even like her. And she's my friend,” the girl continued determinedly, “so if you want me to go, she goes, too. It's my birthday gift, right?”

Marilyn glared at Rissa, her hands knotted in front of her thick waist. “Caroline,” she murmured, her voice shaking a bit, “I understand Skylar is your friend, but…I'm also sure Skylar and her mother understand that Skylar's appearance—”

“What about it?” Skylar asked from the open doorway between the rooms.

Rissa turned, her breath catching in her throat.

J
ONAS'S HAND
flattened against Rissa's waist and squeezed. His touch offered her support and strength, shared in her pleasure that Skylar had taken yet another step forward.

Still Gothlike in a long black skirt and sleeveless top, her daughter's makeup wasn't as dramatic or heavily painted. Her eyes were lined and she still wore her dark contacts, but she'd exchanged her black lipstick and blush for dark rose. The look was different, infinitely better and another example of the progress Skylar had made since moving to Montana.

Rissa blinked back tears and stepped forward to hug her, glad that this time the embrace lasted longer than the previous one. “You look
beautiful
. Doesn't she look beautiful?” She turned, her arm around Skylar's shoulders.

“Absolutely,” Jonas murmured, his gaze gentle and proud. Skylar said nothing in response, but she didn't glare at him, either. “You look fantastic, Skylar. Both you girls do. Here, stand together and let me get a picture.”

Marilyn remained quiet and disapproving while Jonas teased the girls into smiling naturally. Rissa's attention was torn between the girls and the woman, wary of sending Skylar out with Marilyn under the circumstances. Especially after Skylar had made such a con
cession on Carly's behalf. The daughter she'd raised was trying to make the night go more smoothly for her friend. But what about her?

“Is it time to leave, Grandma?”

Carly's question pulled Marilyn out of her dazed state and she nodded. “Oh. Yes, dear. Yes, it is. We'd—we'd better go or we'll be late.”

“Have fun but be careful,” Jonas warned. “And stay with Marilyn at all times.”

Carly made a face. “Daaad, we know.”

Rissa hurried forward and pulled a fifty from her pocket, slipping it into Skylar's palm.

“Mom, you don't—”

“Take it just in case. And have fun.” She hesitated, then pretended to quickly hug Skylar again. “Do
not
let that woman treat you badly. Stand up for yourself and if she leaves you behind, fine. Call me and I'll come get you.”

When she reluctantly let go and stepped away, Skylar frowned, her head down. “Thanks… Mom?”

“What?”

“Don't do anything that'll make you sad later…when we leave.”

Rissa barely suppressed a gasp of unease. Skylar had considered the fact she and Jonas would be there in the rooms alone. A glance at Carly made her groan. They
both
had. But while Carly obviously didn't mind the thought of her and Jonas getting together, Skylar hated it. And it was obvious.

“Skylar, come on!”

The girls walked out the door carrying their shoulder wraps and sparkling bags. Skylar slid her one last look before Marilyn blocked her view. Marilyn remained quiet,
frowning, but she'd managed to keep her thoughts to herself after Carly's passionate declaration of friendship.

Jonas shut the door behind them and waited a long moment before he slipped the lock into place. “Wow.”

She raised her hands to her face and fought back tears. “Do you think she'll be all right? Marilyn was not pleased to see who Carly had decided to bring. And after all Skylar had done to try and fit in better. Maybe we should—”

“They'll be fine.” He closed the distance between them. “And I know the perfect way to distract you.”

She shook her head, her thoughts on her daughter. “I'm really worried about them. I mean, what if—”

A rough chuckle sounded before Jonas swung her up in his arms. “Hush,” he ordered. “They'll be fine. You, on the other hand, are at my mercy,” he threatened, his mouth hovering above hers.

With that one look from Jonas, Rissa's protests died on her lips. She stared up at him, watched while scorching need flared to red hot desire in his eyes. The reflection of hers?

“Well?”

She palmed his face and brought his mouth low. Jonas brushed his lips against hers, his tongue seeking entrance. She curled her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss while he lowered her to her feet long enough to dip her backward and yank the coverlet off the bed. Vertical again, Jonas raised his head, smiled into her eyes and then gently pushed her backward. She fell with a surprised gasp that turned into a laugh when he pulled his shirt over his head and followed her down, snagging one of her jean-clad knees with his hand to settle himself comfortably between her legs.

The hard length of him pressed against her and she shifted her hips slightly to better feel him, a low moan rising in her throat. He kissed her again, breaking contact to skim her throat and tease her. Rissa curled into him even more, wanting, craving, the culmination of what had built between them these last few months.

Jonas propped himself on an arm and set to work unbuttoning her blouse. With every button he released, he pressed a kiss to the skin exposed, the slow bend-and-kiss moving his lower body in breath-stealing nudges that ground him against her, a poor simulation of what they both wanted.

But no matter how much she enjoyed Jonas's touch, no matter how much she wanted their clothes removed and him to make love to her, her daughter's words kept intruding. She'd be sad later. If she slept with Jonas and left, she'd be sad. No question about it.

“Rissa?”

She gripped Jonas tighter, slid her hands from his shoulders to his face and gently drew him away from his pursuit and back to her mouth. She was an adult who knew what she wanted, needed. A full-grown woman who deserved the tender loving of a good man after the painful marriage she'd endured for too many years.

She fastened her mouth to his and a rough chuckle rumbled out of his chest. After quickly freeing the last button, Jonas followed her urging, slanting his mouth purposely over hers. His hand slid up her exposed stomach to cup her breast and Rissa gasped at the sensation, raised her knees and tried to get closer. It wasn't enough.

Jonas pulled the cups of her bra aside and covered
her with his hand, touching her delicately at first. She arched her back off the bed and relished his strength surrounding her, anchoring her, supporting her, and yet—

Jonas ended the kiss to view what he'd uncovered, smiling when her body instantly reacted. His eyes were slumberous, his lashes low, and he'd never looked sexier or more handsome than he did in that moment. She wanted him, wanted more. But when she closed her eyes she saw her daughter's face. Knew Jonas would never be able to handle Skylar's many moods.

Jonas played with her, his thumb wreaking havoc with her ability to breathe because it brushed back and forth across the tip of her breast.

“What's wrong, sweetheart?”

His voice caused a shiver to run through her. Husky and deep, the low timbre rasped over her senses the way his thumb stroked over her skin. She tried to push the worries away, to respond to his touch, but couldn't.

“Nothing.” The word was weak and layered with frustrated tears. A lie and a poor one at that.

His expression tightened. “Are you thinking of your husband?”

“No. Jonas,
no,
it's—it's not that. Not him. Please don't ever…don't ever think that. We weren't…good together,” she whispered. “Not like this, not like…us.”

He held her gaze for a long moment before breaking eye contact and staring longingly at her breasts. With one last, lingering kiss to the pointed tip, he smoothed her bra back into place.

“Jonas—”

“Shhh. Come here.”

He pulled her close, and she clung to him, the moment gone.

 

J
ONAS ROLLED OVER
and took Rissa with him, cradling her against his chest. He ran his fingers down her back and smiled ruefully when she squirmed. Thank God. For a minute he'd been afraid he was the only one ultrasensitive after what they'd just shared, or nearly shared. What had started off as hot and heavy passion had cooled with Rissa's obvious indecision. Now he had to get himself under control so that his arousal didn't cause him quite so much discomfort and then find out what happened.

Minutes passed and slowly his body cooled. They lay there snuggled close, the night ahead of them, and a lot unsaid.

“What were you thinking about?”

She shifted against him and rested her hands on his chest, raising up to prop her chin on top. She slid him a sheepish, questioning look that was vulnerable and sad. “I'm thinking of how grateful I am that you're a good man. I—I'm sorry, Jonas. Not that I changed my mind, but that…things got a bit out of control before I did. You've stopped, not once but twice now, and you haven't once treated me like a tease.”

“You're not a tease, Rissa, I know that. We both have things we need to figure out.”

Her lashes lowered over her eyes and once again Jonas saw the sparkle of tears. He rubbed her back, soothing the tense muscles, and waited for her to continue. Whatever it was, she needed to talk about it. He'd like to think her indecision was based on her need of him, in wanting more, maybe some confusion as to whether or not she wanted to leave Montana and him behind. Was that too much to hope for? God knew he felt more for Rissa than he'd ever felt for Caroline's
mother. They'd been too…opposite, Lea too into herself to be much of a wife or mother.

“You don't realize it, but you gave me something special just now.”

He raised an eyebrow, knowing his teasing expression would indicate his thoughts.

She lifted her head long enough to whack him gently with her hand. “Okay, so maybe not
that
,” she said, resuming her position with a soft laugh and a quick kiss to his bare chest. “I meant something else.”

Jonas shifted in the bed, rolling so that she landed on her back, her unbuttoned blouse falling open to the mattress beneath them. He propped his head up on his fist and leaned over her, careful to maintain skin-to-skin contact. “What?”

He liked how her shoulders were dotted with freckles. They spread down her arms, across her chest. He fingered the edge of her bra, and noted with satisfaction that her breathing immediately quickened. Maybe one last kiss? Something to hold onto and dream of when she—

Rissa pasted a weak smile on her lips and swallowed with a little shake of her head, apparently still trying to gather her thoughts. The sight ended his debate, and the movement of her throat drew his touch. From there he ran his fingertips back down her neck, over her collarbone, across her chest to her breast, squeezing gently. Touching her was torture considering it wasn't going to go any further tonight, but he couldn't help himself. And if he were honest, he liked the closeness, being with her. Sex or no sex.

This was the kind of connection he'd told Caroline she needed to find before making love. He saw it, felt
it, he even thought Rissa felt it. But for whatever reason she was suppressing her feelings for him, shutting down. Was she afraid? He was.

Her eyes revealed her doubts, the words that needed to be said but neither could say, and he bent and dropped a kiss on her mouth. “It's okay.”

“It's not,” she said thickly, shaking her head. “I
want
you, but Skylar…”

Just as he feared. But what could be done about it? Rissa wasn't going to put her own happiness over her daughter's, not after what Skylar had been through. And he couldn't expect her to. He'd be a hypocrite if he did.

“I understand. We'd be good together, Rissa, but until you figure out what you want in here,” he said, gently smoothing his fingertip over her heart, “and come to terms with Skylar's dislike of me in relation to what you want for yourself when you think of us and our future, you can't take the next step.”

But he'd been ready to do just that.
Make love to her because he—

Her eyes widened, and Jonas realized he'd said way more than he'd meant to. Declarations from him were the last thing she needed to hear, not when she was trying to sort through her feelings. And then there were the girls. Carly loved Rissa already and she and Skylar had made up after their fight. But Skylar…who knew what the girl would do if faced with staying in North Star? He certainly hadn't gained any ground where she was concerned.

Rissa looped her hands around his neck and pulled him close for a kiss. Jonas entered the sweet interior of her mouth, slow and easy, wanting to show her how special he thought she was and how much he cared, praying she'd decide to stay and then—

What? Sneak around so Skylar wouldn't get upset?

“Thank you,” she murmured against his mouth before breaking contact and snuggling her face into the hollow of his neck. Her breath hit his skin.

“For what?”

“For being you. Jonas, no matter what happens, please know I—I'll always…cherish the time we've spent together. Cherish this.”

That sounded too much like goodbye. Needing some distance, Jonas gave her one last kiss. Only time would give her the answers she needed, allow her to realize what they could have together if she wanted it. But time was running out and he knew it. He loved her, but would she realize she loved him before it was too late?

Skylar's “transition” was occurring little by little, and tonight was another step forward. Summer would be gone in a flash…and Rissa would be gone with it.

 

“W
ELL
?” Rissa asked, opening the door with a strained smile. “How was it?”

Carly glanced at her grandmother before saying, “It was okay.”

“It was
great,
” Skylar informed her, crossing over the threshold first. “The music, the costumes. It was awesome!”

Her back to her grandmother, Carly wrinkled her nose, and Rissa had a hard time smothering a laugh. “And you said thank you to Mrs. Wells?”

“She did,” Marilyn confirmed from where she stood outside the hotel room door. “Your daughter was…a surprise,” she admitted, appearing reluctant. “If not for her unfortunate choice in appearance and, at times, speech, she seems to be quite nice.”