WalkingSin (8 page)

“Not exactly a fashion statement, am I?”

“Considering you plowed your car into a
tree a short time ago, I think you look damned good.” Dax took cocoa, sugar and
salt from the cabinet. “I wasn’t sure if your accident should be reported or
not, but I called our sheriff to make sure. Brad will check out your car
tomorrow morning.”

Kelcey bit her bottom lip. “I need to call
my insurance agent too.”

“Use my phone.”

“Her number is in my cell phone, which is
in my purse in my car. I really don’t want to get wet again to get my cell.”

“So you’ll call her in the morning. There’s
nothing she can do tonight anyway.”

“That’s probably true.” She stepped closer
and peered into the saucepan. “You make hot chocolate from
scratch
?”

“Sure. It’s better that way.” He gave the
concoction a quick stir. “Doesn’t Emma make hers from scratch?”

“Yes, but you’re a guy.”

“Yep, I’m definitely a guy.” One who could
smell the rain in her hair, see the way the light over the stove illuminated
her eyes…those incredible, sexy, blue eyes.

Dax had to look away from her to get his
hormones back under control again. “What happened? Why did you hit the tree?”

“The lightning scared me and I jerked the
wheel. Then I hit a huge puddle on the side of the road. I lost control of my
car.”

“You’re lucky you aren’t seriously hurt.”

She held up one hand, palm toward him. “I
can swear that airbags do work and seat belts hold you in place.”

“Think you’ll be bruised tomorrow?”

Kelcey shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe.”

He took two thick mugs from the cabinet.
“Will you do something for me?”

“What?”

“If you’re sore tomorrow, see a doctor. It
won’t hurt you to get checked out.”

She smiled, accepted the mug of cocoa from
him. “Okay.”

Dax picked up his mug from the countertop.
“Let’s go in the living room.”

Walker lifted his head and thumped his tail
when they walked into the room. After Kelcey sat on one end of the couch, he
shifted so he lay at her feet.

“I swear you hypnotized my dog.”

He enjoyed the contented expression on
Kelcey’s face while she rubbed Walker behind his ears. “He’s so beautiful.
Aren’t you, Walker?”

He licked her hand and whined softly.

“That’s it. He officially loves you.”

Still petting the dog, Kelcey turned her
head toward Dax. “How do you know?”

“He kissed your hand. I told you Walker is
very stingy with his kisses.”

“Then I’m honored.”

Holding her mug with both hands, she curled
her legs beneath her in the corner of the couch. She should’ve looked silly in
his too-big sweatshirt with the afghan wrapped around her legs. Instead, she
looked soft. Comfortable. Lovely.

Desirable.

Dax stretched his arm along the back of the
couch. Another few inches and he could touch her hair. He wondered what she’d
do if he moved closer to her.

Before he did that and sent her running
away, he drained his cup of cocoa. “That was good, but I need food. Are you
hungry?”

“I could eat.”

“Mom keeps my freezer stocked with
casseroles and stuff I just have to stick in the microwave. And I’m pretty sure
I still have some steaks in there. Be right back.”

Kelcey turned and watched Dax walk out of
the living room. She’d never thought sweatpants were sexy. On Dax, they were
definitely sexy. They molded to his butt and hips, letting her see every curve,
every dip, every bulge. Especially that enticing bulge at his groin.

She’d never thought underarm hair sexy
either, but she’d been fascinated by the tuft of dark hair when he stretched
his arm along the back of the couch. She’d wanted so badly to touch it and see
if it was as soft as it looked.

He’d taken the band out of his hair. The
long tresses fell around his shoulders and down to his chest. She didn’t know
how any woman could resist burying her hands in it while she devoured his
mouth.

She couldn’t think about that glorious
wide, hair-dusted chest or flat stomach without her heart beating funny.

Her cheeks flooded with warmth. Being
around Dax still rattled her. She shouldn’t be here, but she didn’t have a
choice. She either had to wait for him to take her home or call Alaina or Emma
to come get her. She didn’t want either of her friends to have to drive in this
horrible storm.

As if to emphasize Mother Nature’s wrath, a
crack of thunder shook the windows. Kelcey gripped her mug tighter. She had no
idea how long the storm would last, but she couldn’t leave until it stopped. That
meant more time with Dax. Perhaps the rest of the evening.

Perhaps the rest of the night.

Chapter Seven

“You have several choices,” Dax said,
stopping next to her on the couch. “From Mom I have lasagna, chicken casserole
or stew. I also have sirloin steaks and chicken tenders. I can do baked
potatoes or French fries or a salad, whatever you want.”

Kelcey didn’t want him going to a lot of
trouble for her. “The stew sounds good.”

He smiled. “Excellent choice. Mom’s stew is
the best. Biscuits or cornbread?”

“Surprise me.”

“A woman of adventure. I like that.”

He winked at her before heading back to the
kitchen. How silly for a wink to quicken her breathing and make her imagine all
kinds of naughty things…things that she had no idea how to do, or anyone to do
them with. After the disastrous event with Dax Saturday night, he would never
want to be with her. Besides, he dated half the single women in Lanville. A man
with so many choices wouldn’t want a woman so scarred that she couldn’t even
kiss him without freaking.

The aroma of stew and baking biscuits made
her stomach gurgle. Pushing aside her self-pity, Kelcey rose from the couch and
walked to the kitchen. Dax stood at the counter, pouring red wine into two
glasses. Disappointment curled in her stomach to see he’d pulled on a navy
T-shirt. She would’ve enjoyed looking at his chest while they ate.

“How about a little wine with the stew?”

“That sounds nice.”

“Would you like to eat in here or in the
living room?”

“In here is fine.” She accepted one
wineglass from him. “Can I help with anything?”

“You can be the official biscuit butterer
as soon as they’re done.”

Taking a sip of wine, Kelcey leaned against
the cabinet and watched Dax open the microwave to stir the dish of stew. He
seemed so confident in every move he made, even something as simple as opening
the oven to check the biscuits.

He also possessed so much talent. Kelcey
knew he’d painted the beautiful grapes and vines in the B-and-B’s dining room,
but assumed he’d used some kind of stencil or pattern. Alaina told her this
morning that he’d done everything freehand. Then Emma showed her the sketches
Dax had made of the artwork he planned to do on the restaurant walls of
different fruits and vegetables. It would be absolutely incredible.

A pinging noise drew her attention to the
window over the sink. “Is that hail?”

“Sounds like it.”

The pinging turned into a deafening roar as
hail pounded the house. Dax motioned with his finger for Kelcey to follow him.
He led her to the patio door in the dining room that opened to the backyard.
Light flooded the area when he flipped a switch.

“Wow.” Kelcey couldn’t believe how quickly
the ground turned white with pea-sized hail. “It’s really coming down.”

She couldn’t ask Dax to take her home now.
Even though Alaina and Rye lived only a mile away, the hail would cause all
kinds of damage to Dax’s pickup. The same with Alaina’s and Emma’s vehicles.
She didn’t want anything to happen to her friends’ cars. She had no choice but
to stay here with Dax.

The buzzer on the stove went off at the
same time the phone rang. “I’ll get the biscuits,” Kelcey said, “while you
answer the phone.”

“Good plan.”

She removed the pan from the oven as Dax
picked up the receiver from the wall phone. “Hello?” He looked at Kelcey.
“Yeah, she’s right here.” He held out the receiver to her. “Change of jobs.
It’s Alaina.”

Kelcey traded places with Dax so he could
butter the biscuits. “Hi.”

“Are you okay? I was so worried when Rye
and I got home and you weren’t here.”

“Yes, I’m okay. I had a little accident in
my car and—”

“You had an
accident
?” Alaina’s
voice rose in pitch with each word. “Where? When?”

“Luckily right in front of Dax’s house. I
hit a puddle and ran into a tree.”

Alaina gasped. “Ohmi
god
, are you
okay
?
I’ll be right there.”

“I told you I’m okay and no, you won’t be
right here. It’s horrible outside. There’s no reason for you to get out in this
weather.”

“Didn’t Dax take you to the hospital?”

“He tried to, but I wouldn’t let him.
Lainy, I’m
fine
, I promise. Dax has taken excellent care of me. In fact,
we’re about to eat supper.”

“Are you
sure
? Are you
really
sure you’re okay?”

“I’m really sure I’m okay.”

“Let me talk to Dax.”

Shaking her head, Kelcey held the phone out
to Dax. “She wants to talk to you. She doesn’t believe I’m not hurt.”

She couldn’t help hearing his end of the
conversation while she searched through cabinets and drawers for bowls, plates
and utensils so she could set the table.

“Hey, Alaina… She refused to let me call an
ambulance or take her to the ER… She seems to be fine. She says she is.” Kelcey
glanced at Dax to find him watching her. “I think that would be best. There’s
no reason for anyone to get out in this weather… Sounds good. See y’all in the
morning.”

He replaced the receiver in its cradle.
“Rye said he’d let Griff and Emma know what happened. They’ll all be here in
the morning.”

In the morning. That meant Dax intended for
her to spend the night. “I’m sorry. I know you didn’t expect to have a
houseguest tonight.”

“It isn’t a problem. You know I have plenty
of room.”

Including a bedroom where she’d slept alone
Saturday night after she’d almost made love with Dax.

He gestured toward the table. “Sit down.
Your clothes will probably be dry by the time we finish supper.”

Conversation with Dax had been easy so far.
But now, realizing she would spend the night in his house, she didn’t know what
to say. She took a bite of stew and washed it down with wine while trying to
think of something that didn’t sound lame or boring.

“You got quiet,” Dax said.

“I’m eating.”

“If you’re uncomfortable spending the night
here, I’ll take you back to Rye’s house.”

“The hail will destroy your pickup.”

“The hail won’t last much longer. Besides,
that pickup is a work truck. It already has lots of pings and dings in it. A
few more won’t hurt it.” The corners of his lips lifted in a grin. “Just don’t
ask me to take you in my car. My baby doesn’t go out in bad weather.”

Kelcey chuckled. She liked this humorous
side of Dax. “Is that what’s under the tarp in the garage? One of those
bachelormobiles?”

His grin widened, his eyes sparkled like a
kid’s with a shiny new toy. “Oh yeah. Solid black, lots of leather and chrome,
zero to seventy in about half a second.”

“Which is so handy on these country roads.”

“Hey, they’re paved. With lots of curves
where the tires squeal when you take ‘em.”

“What are you, ten?”

Dax ran his fingertips over his beard.
“Maybe sixteen when I’m behind the wheel.”

His teasing helped her to relax. Kelcey
returned his grin. “Now I have to see it.”

“If you’re really nice, I’ll take you for a
ride.”

“I accept.”

The dryer buzzed, signaling that her
clothes should be dry. Kelcey took one more bite of the scrumptious stew before
she stood. “Do you mind if I keep wearing your sweatshirt? I hung up my
cardigan in your bathroom, but I’m sure it’s still wet.”

“Are you cold? I can turn on the heat or
build a fire in the fireplace.”

Although a fire would feel good, it would
be much too romantic. “I’m okay as long as I can wear your sweatshirt.”

“You can keep it as long as you need it.”

“Thanks.”

Kelcey didn’t know Dax had thrown his wet
clothes in the dryer with hers until she opened the door and saw them. First
she slipped on her panties and jeans, sighing happily at the warmth on her
legs. Next she took out her bra and T-shirt. The thought of putting her bra
back on didn’t appeal to her at all. With Dax’s huge sweatshirt covering her,
he’d never be able to tell whether she wore a bra or not. She folded it up
inside her shirt.