A Risk Worth Taking (17 page)

“It’s my wrist that’s broken, not my legs,” she murmured.

“Humor me,” he said, carrying her through the house. When they reached her room, his eyes shot to her bed. God, their love making had been sweet. Sensing how she guarded her privacy, her trust had bowled him over. As he’d promised from the first, he’d take things at her pace. So, as much as it killed him to leave, he had.

Grant thumbed toward the bathroom. “Do you need some help getting ready for bed?”

A beautiful blush bloomed on her cheeks. “No, I’ve got it.”

He pointed to the bathroom. “I’ll wait while brush your teeth and whatever else you need to do.”

“I won’t be but a minute.” She hurried across the hardwood floor.

Grant ran through his game plan while he waited. There was no way in hell he was leaving her tonight, even if he slept in the chair in her room. He’d been toying with the idea of stripping down to his boxers and crawling into her bed when the bathroom door opened.

The bright pink cast did nothing to take away from her sex appeal. Wearing the same tank top and sleep pants he’d seen the day they’d gone out on his bike, she quickly slipped beneath the covers. After propping her arm up on one of the many pillows that decorated her bed, she turned to him. “I think I’m set for the night.”

Grant ignored the dismissal. “Not a chance.” He toed off his shoes and eased himself down onto her bed. “I’m not leaving you tonight.”

She sank deeper into the bed. “Suit yourself. I’m too tired to fight.” The comment held little weight since he caught a glimpse of a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. Keeping the pillow under her arm, she rolled over on her side. The fire in her whiskey-colored eyes had softened. “Take your clothes off and get under the covers.”

He didn’t have to be told twice. With a kiss on the tip of her nose, he turned out the light. When he imagined the first night in her bed, he hadn’t planned on a pink cast getting in their way and her loopy from pain meds. But since when did any of his plans with her work the way he thought. Tomorrow was probably going to be no different.

Chapter 17

Abby woke drenched in perspiration.
Damn hot flashes.
She scissored her legs to kick off the covers, but something heavier than the comforter had her hemmed in.
Oh!
As the heat from Grant’s body burned through the remains of sleep and medication, her memories of the night before resurfaced.

This was a first for her. Any sleepovers had taken place at the man’s place. She rolled to her side, careful not to bump him with her cast. Sleep erased the hard lines, making him look younger than his forty years. She traced her finger lightly over his cheeks and down to the cleft in his chin. How had she managed to wind up with such a hottie?

She glanced over at the clock. While it was past time to let Grant know how she felt about him, it was still too early to call Jackson and Katie. After she took care of one more thing, she’d call them. Over muffins and coffee she and Grant would simply explain their relationship. While she didn’t have a crystal ball, she felt good about where she and Grant where. Surely Jackson and Katie would be happy for them.

She leaned over to run her tongue along his whiskered jaw. “Good morning, Prince Charming.” He moaned and snuggled closer, bringing her in contact with his erection. “I see you’re a morning person,” she laughed, kissing him again.

This time he pulled her into him hard, grabbing her cast as he did. “Oh shit, Abby. I’m sorry.” Rolling over to the bedside table, he snapped on the light and turned back to her. His eyes were wide as he looked her over. “Did I hurt you?”

She ran her hand along the hard plane of his chest. “Relax. I’m fine. Remember I told you I was tougher than I look.”

“Are you sure?”

Abby trailed her hand down his chest and stomach till she reached his erection. “I’m more than sure.” She scooted her way down the bed, taking his boxers with her as she did. With only one hand for balance, she buried her face between his legs. Breathing in his musky scent, she began licking her way up his balls and shaft till she took him in her mouth.

He moaned as her tongue traced a circle around his head. With that encouragement, she took him deep into her throat. His hips punched against the mattress. “God, Abby you’re killing me here.” She chuckled, thrilled to have him at her sweet mercy and sucked him harder.

“Wait.” He tugged her to his chest. “I want us to do this together.”

She straddled him, and with her good arm she guided his cock into her heat. Sinking deep, she took every inch of his considerable length into her body. Her eyelids fluttered closed. “That is so good.”

Grant grasped her hips and eased her into long slow strokes that began at his balls and ended with his head just touching her clit. Over and over again they repeated the pistoning motion. It was glorious. She could feel the telltale hum of an orgasm building. Instead of continuing in his languid strokes he stilled and pulled her down, first capturing a nipple in his mouth before trailing his tongue up to her ear. “Good God, woman. I love you.”

She jerked her head up, expecting to find a smart-ass grin on his face. He had a way of cracking a joke at the most inopportune moments. Nothing doing. His blue eyes burned with lust. And love.

More than anything she wanted to shoot those three words back at him, but even as she opened her mouth to give it a shot, they caught in her throat. What if he decided he wanted children more than he wanted her? What if he didn’t want the trouble of a long distance relationship? Where would that leave her if she opened herself up and ended up getting hurt instead of happiness for her risk?

He touched a finger to her lips. “It’s okay if you’re not ready.” In a motion too swift for her to track, he had her underneath him and was thrusting into her hard and fast. His weight and strength and her need had them falling over the edge together.

Afterwards, she breathed deeply, taking in his warm spicy scent as she came back into her body. Her fingers moved over his neck and shoulders.

“Sorry, I must be crushing you.” He rolled off her, leaving her feeling bereft without the weight of him against and in her.

She settled herself over him, getting as much skin-to-skin contact as she could. Beginning with her face nestled in the crook of his neck and ending with her legs splitting his.

His fingers combed through her hair, then roamed down her back, pushing down the sheet and blanket as he did. After a few moments of sweet contact with the rough hands she loved so much, his caresses grew lighter and slower. Abby let herself drift into rest, knowing she was ready to tell everyone she’d found the May to her December. She chuckled to herself. Okay maybe she was September, October at the latest.

Sometime later, Abby jolted awake at the sound of dishes hitting the floor.

“What the fuck,” a familiar male voice growled.

She rolled off Grant and pulled the covers over their bare bodies. A blush bloomed on her cheeks as she took in her son’s dazed expression. “Jackson, Grant told you he was taking care of me.”

His jaw muscles flexed. “Yes, he did. But he failed to tell me exactly what that care would entail.” He took several breaths, his nostrils flaring before he finally bit out, “Mom, have you lost all sense of propriety?”

“Let me explain.”

“Please don’t try and tell me this isn’t what it looks like. I’m not a child.” His fist clenched as he spoke.

From beside her Grant snarled, “Could have fooled me. You sure as fuck are acting like one.”

Abby pressed her hand against Grant’s chest to keep him from having a go at her son. “Let me handle this.” Tucking the comforter firmly around her, she gestured to the door with her casted arm. “I’ll talk to you in the kitchen.”

The slammed door echoed around the room. This was
so
not how she’d planned for Jackson to find out. She stumbled to the dresser for her clothes, then turned to find Grant reaching for his pants.

“Stay,” she pleaded as she buried her face in his still bare chest. “This is something I should do on my own.”

He pegged her with a stare, his eyes darkening to midnight. “I’m not going to stand by while he talks to you like that.” His grip tightened around her arms. “Right now I’d like to shove my boot up his ass.”

Even if she didn’t need it, she appreciated him coming to her defense. “Which is precisely why you should stay in here. I know how to handle my son.”

“All right, but I don’t like this one bit.” He took her chin between his thumb and finger. “If he pulls any more shit, I’m coming in there.”

Abby rolled her eyes. No doubt he would. “I didn’t take his nonsense when he was little and I’m not going to start now.” She stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “Give me a minute. Have a shower then I’ll come get you. I’m sure we can talk this out like the rational adults we all are.”

Jackson had his back to her when Abby entered the kitchen. At the sound of her footfalls against the tile, he jerked to face her. His glare showed the few minutes it had taken her to throw on some clothes had done nothing to improve his frame of mind. Not since his early teens, when he’d been all hot temper and bad attitude, had she been on the receiving end of such a lethal stare.

Abby snorted. That was just fine with her because she was pretty pissed with him too. She planted her fists on her hips and dove in. “Since when was it okay for you to talk to me like that?”

He cocked his jaw out in defiance. “Since when did you become a cougar?”

“You certainly aren’t holding anything back.”

His eyes narrowed. “You raised me to speak my mind.”

She’d also taught him how to treat women. Still, she did see things from his perspective. He’d never seen her even hold hands with a man much less find his mom in bed with one. Her mother’s heart softened a little. “I know you’re shocked, but I’m happy, so please be happy for me.”

“I can’t do it, and I won’t be there to help you pick up the pieces when this all goes to shit.” He ran his fist through his hair. “For Christ’s sake, Mom! He’s my brother-in-law.”

The two of them had had several conversations about his desire to make a good impression on wealthy Katie’s family. “I’m well aware of who Grant is.”

“Are you also aware that he has a wife and child?” His words hissed through clinched teeth and cut her to the quick. He might not have ever seen her with a man, but he knew her history and for the two of them her past would never be fully put to rest.

She shut her eyes and prayed her voice came out calmer than she felt. “Ex-wife and yes, I’ve met them both. Grace is absolutely precious and Heather is charming and gracious.”

Some of the heat evaporated from his expression but the set of his jaw and the hard lines around his eyes showed their confrontation wasn’t quite over. He let out a slow breath, then crossed the black and white tile floor to plunk down at the kitchen table.

Eager to set things straight, she did the same, resting her cast arm on the table top. Jackson reached across the table to take her hands. “I doubt Grant has told you everything. They may be divorced on paper, but he and Heather are very much a part of each other’s lives.”

Since she’d raised him on her own, he’d never seen parents sharing custody. Abby let out the breath she’d been holding. “That’s to be expected. They have a child together.”

Jackson shook his head. “There’s more to it than that. You should have seen them yesterday at Mrs. Davis’s house. They spent the whole time huddled together, talking, laughing and playing with Grace. Katie thinks Heather’s still in love with Grant.” He touched her arm, a trace of pity in his eyes. “Honestly Mom, all the Davis clan expect them to reconcile. If they do, where will that leave you?”

What did her darling son know of the real situation?

Abby was certain of one thing: Grant would never say he loved her if he still had feelings for his ex-wife. She pegged him with her own glacial stare. “You’re only saying that because you don’t want me to make waves with your new family.”

Bolting from the table, he hissed over one shoulder, “You’re right, Mom. I don’t. These people matter to me, so stop making a fool of yourself and embarrassing me.” As the echo of the door slamming died, the sound of tires chewing up her gravel driveway filled the void.

Tired to the bone, Abby slumped down on her bed and waited for Grant finish in the shower. The pain meds had worn off and her wrist hurt like a son-of-a-gun. She slipped under the covers, propping up her arm with a pillow.

When the water shut off, she braced herself for one more heavy conversation. How could she put voice to the questions wreaking havoc through her crowed brain? It wasn’t like she could start with, “Why are you with me?” or “Do you know Heather’s still in love with you?” Like there was a way for that to sound anything other than jealous, insecure, and bitchy.

The bathroom door opened, and he stepped out wearing a towel wrapped low on his hips and a scowl. He crossed the room in a pair of strides, his blue eyes the color of the ocean after a storm. “How’d it go?”

Why couldn’t he crawl under the covers with her and the two of them forget the past half hour? “Not great.”

“Tell me.”

Abby knew he meant well, but she’d heard enough harsh words for one day and repeating her conversation with Jackson wasn’t going to change anything. She shook her head. “Later.”

Before he had time to argue with her, she propped up on her good arm and reached for the bottle of pain medication. “My arm hurts. Right now I just want to sleep.” Not that sleeping was going to make her problems go away, but she’d had all of this day she could take. She plastered on what she hoped was a convincing smile. “I’ll call you when I wake up.”

Grant brushed her hair back and pressed a kiss onto her temple. “I’m taking a house key. If I haven’t heard from you by five o’clock, I’m coming back over.”

The corners of her lips turned up. Those were not the words of a man only interested in getting her in bed. If only she knew for certain Jackson’s concerns were off-base.