A Hero for Tonight (13 page)

He ran his hand around his neck as four sets of female eyes turned their attention to him. “Krista’s right, if you don’t come, it will ruin Mom’s day. It’s always a full house, so don’t feel as if you’re intruding on some intimate family time.” Why had he used the word intimate and family together? Thoughts of how intimate he wanted to get with Krista again had nothing at all to do with his family, that was for sure. In fact, he’d rather not think about how close she was to his family. It made it awkward, and all he wanted it to be was fun.

Mary handed Brittany a bag of dried apples. “Gary and I weren’t blessed with more than one child, and since we’re both only children, our home would seem pretty empty if we didn’t have friends around.”

Melissa furrowed her brow. “Oh, I mean, I thought you and Krista were cousins.”

He heard Krista choke, and heat flooded the back of his neck. Images he couldn’t stop poured into his memory like a movie in fast forward.
Definitely
not cousin-like behavior.

“Her mother, rest her soul, was my dearest friend from childhood. I loved her like a sister, but no, our Krista isn’t related by blood, just by love.”

Krista tipped her head and grinned. “Yeah, the family is stuck with me because his mother loves me.”

Shane watched his mother look from one to the other and hoped she wasn’t picking up on anything.

“Blessed, not stuck. Anyway, not another word. We’ll see you Thursday.” Mary picked up the basket. “This is beautiful, Krista. Shane, can you go in the back and find a box big enough to ship this.”

He almost tripped over his own feet in his haste to get away. The back storage room was piled with empty boxes and he pushed some around, moved others, and finally found one that looked big enough for what they needed. Coming back to the front, he was surprised and excited to see only Krista.

“Where did they go?”

She didn’t meet his gaze. “Your mom wanted to show them the decorations your dad is putting up.”

He dropped the box and moved toward her. “So, no one’s in here but us?”

She didn’t look at him, but he didn’t let that put him off. He reached out to pull her into his arms, keeping one eye on the door. “I was so disappointed to find you gone this morning,” he said in a husky whisper.

Krista slipped easily away, and he frowned.

Hands on his hips, he stared. “What’s wrong?”

“Someone could come in.” She pulled the box he’d dropped toward her. “Isn’t there a bigger box back there?”

Not giving up, he tried again, this time grabbing her hand and pulling it off the box. “Come in the back and help me find something.”

He tugged her toward him, but Krista pulled from his grasp. “Stop it. I need to get this packaged before they come back.” She eyed the box. “Is this the only size there is?”

“That’s why you need to come in the back with me and make sure I didn’t miss any bigger ones.”

She snapped her head up, and he was rewarded by a red stain that filled her cheeks.

He wiggled his eyebrows. “I’d be happy to, um, satisfy you that I gave you the biggest package I could.”

But if he thought she’d give in and run to the back with him, he was disappointed.

Krista shook her head as if he was a pesky child. “Stop playing games. We’ve had a busy morning, and I need to get this done. Now, the basket is not going to fit in this box.”

Annoyed but not put off, he resigned himself to helping her with the project instead of having a little fun. If that was how she was going to be, he could wait. But if she thought he was going to give up the incredible sex they’d had last night, she was sadly mistaken. As soon as he got her alone, he’d remind her just how good it had been. For now, his best course of action would be to try to help.

He reached for the box once more. “It’ll fit. Give the basket to me.”

“You can’t jam it in there.” She pulled the cardboard out of his reach and muttered, “You can’t force something that doesn’t work.”

Was she talking about more than the Thanksgiving basket? Her gaze was on her task, and she didn’t seem as if she was thinking of anything other than this packaging dilemma.

“I know it’ll fit. Come on, just try.” He opened all the flaps on the box and held it steady.

Krista stepped next to him and held the basket over the opening. “It’s not right. It won’t work.”

She moved even closer as he attempted to help her shift the box this way and that to ease the basket inside. Her breasts pressed into his upper arm and a whiff of apple spice filled his nostrils. She must have put on the apple scented lotion they sold here. He inhaled deep, wondering if she rubbed the lotion everywhere or just on her hands? He’d love to kiss her neck and find out.

His jeans tightened, and he swallowed hard. “Sometimes you don’t know if it will work or not until you try.”

Krista raised her gaze and frowned. “Sometimes you have to be smart enough to not even try because something is going to get broke.” She moved the basket away again. “I’ve gotta go get a bigger box.”

She scurried to the back, and Shane watched her go. Her talk about things fitting had nothing to do with the Thanksgiving package; it
was
about them. He wasn’t that much of an idiot.

With a quick check to ensure himself that the others were still out by the barn, he followed Krista to the storeroom. She stood on a small stepladder, moving items on one of the shelves. He crossed the room, but she didn’t turn.

Stopping next to the ladder, his head was even with her chest. He was tempted to reach out and touch, but had a good instinct that he might lose a limb if he tried.

“What time did you sneak out?”

Krista continued to shove things on the shelf before shifting to another shelf and repeating the action. “I didn’t sneak out. You were sleeping. We were done, so I left.”

“Done?” He frowned. She made it sound like a one-time thing. Was that the problem? Did she think he only wanted her for one night?

He stroked his hand down her jean-clad backside. “You could have woken me up, let me know you were leaving. You know, kissed me goodbye or something.”

“Why?” She brushed his hand from her body. “The rain had stopped; I called a cab and went home. No big deal.”

She started back down the ladder, and he waited until she was even with his face, then grasped her waist and held her in place.

“I could have gone with you. Made sure you got home safe and sound.”

Her gaze was neither soft nor inviting, but he refused to back off. His instinct told him if he didn’t hang onto her now, it really was going to be just a one-night thing. He refused to explore why that idea was so bad.

Her pink tongue darted out to wet her bottom lip. Was his closeness affecting her?

“How many times do I have to tell you, I don’t need a hero. I’m a big girl; I can take care of myself just fine.”

She moved as if to get away, but he held her still. “I think several times last night you liked me taking care of you just fine.” He let his gaze drift down her body.

Her hand slid to his chest and shoved. “It was a weird night, Shane. There was the weather and the wine—”

“Ahh! I knew you’d blame it on the wine or accuse me of getting you drunk.”

She narrowed her gaze. “I’m not blaming anyone. I’m saying it was a weird night. Under normal circumstances, what happened would never have happened and you know it. I know it. You can’t stand me, Shane. I can’t stand you. Now, back off and let me get back to work.”

He would have gladly stepped back except for one thing. The hands on his chest that at first had been shoving at him were now flattened against his shirt and a red stain filled her cheeks. Unless he was completely off base, she didn’t really want him to back off.

Taking a huge chance, he lowered his head. “I will if you give me one kiss.”

“Seriously?
Kiss me and I’ll let you go?
Don’t seventh-grade boys do that to torment the girls?”

He chuckled and continued his slow descent toward her lips. “Not like that. Kiss me so we can both see if it was the wine, or the rain, or whatever...and not something else.”

Her breathing was so rapid, he could hear it, and he pulled her even closer, letting their bodies touch. Pausing when his lips were just above hers, Shane waited for her to close the gap. She had to come to him.

“This is stupid,” she whispered, but leaned closer and pressed her lips to his.

As soon as they connected, he heard the low murmur of satisfaction from deep in her throat. Her lips parted, and he slipped his tongue inside to taste her.

When she slid her hands up his chest to link around his neck and kissed him back, Shane’s erection sprung up hard and fast. There was no way she couldn’t have felt it. He moved one hand up under her sweater. Through her thin bra, he brushed his thumb across her nipple. He continued to explore every inch of her mouth as her tongue danced with his. Krista shifted against him, and he wondered if the ladder rungs at her back were bothering her, but afraid she’d bolt, he didn’t dare move. Instead, he focused on reminding her of what last night was all about.

His fingers slipped under the cup of her bra, releasing her breast to his touch. Krista moaned as he kneaded the soft flesh and rolled her nipple between his fingers. When she tore her mouth from his, he kissed his way to her neck and nibbled her ear as her hand slipped between them lower and cupped him over his jeans.

“Agh,” he growled, longing for her hand on his naked skin.

“This is crazy,” she muttered.

He had no idea if she was talking to him or to herself and didn’t really care. All he wanted to do was rip her sweater off and bury his face in her bared cleavage. He longed to hear her beg him like she did last night. Even so, he wasn’t so far gone that he wasn’t aware they weren’t really alone.

“Come back over tonight,” he invited. “After you’re done working. Come over or text me, and I’ll come to your place.”

“Shane.” She took her hand away from his crotch.

He kissed her again, hard and brief. “We owe it to ourselves to find out what’s happening. No wine, no rain, just you and me.” He removed his hand from under her sweater. “I’m working three to eleven tonight. I’ll text you when I’m on my way.”

Her eyes searched his, but he held his gaze steady, telling her without words how much they needed to be together, alone. He watched her throat as she swallowed hard. Just when he thought she would hold strong, she gave a brief nod.

Shane let out the breath he hadn’t even realized he’d been holding. Before he could say anything else, she was gone, and he was alone in the stockroom. Which was good, because in the physical condition he was in, he was going to need a few minutes before he could walk back into the store.

Before entering the main shop, Krista paused at the closed door of the kitchen to brush back her hair and adjust her bra. Hopefully, she didn’t look like she’d just been felt up in the storeroom. Pushing through the doors, she wet her dry lips and headed toward the center of the room. She frowned as she watched Mary close the tabs on the box Shane had originally brought out.

“The basket fit in that one?” she asked, moving to the counter.

Mary smiled “Nice, snug fit. Perfect for not doing any damage in the long run.”

Krista didn’t want to dwell on that statement. Not after she’d been trying to tell Shane earlier that things would never fit. Unfortunately, the fluttering in her belly and the moistness in her panties told her that she knew exactly how well he fit with her.

“Thank you so much.” Melissa picked up the package. “Now I can run to the post office and hopefully get it to my parents before Thursday.”

“Hang on. I’ve got some packing tape in the back. Let’s seal it up good, and then Shane can carry it to your car for you.” Mary looked around as if wondering where her son was.

Melissa took her daughter’s hand and moved toward the door. “No really. This is fine. I’ve got tape at home and a few more things to mail anyway. I’ll be fine. See you Thursday!”

Krista waved as the two left. Had Shane slept with the other woman? Wouldn’t that be cozy—her and Melissa and Shane around the Thanksgiving table.
All the more reason to end this insanity of whatever had happened last night...and this morning in the storeroom
.

With the customers gone, she turned to speak to Mary, but one glance at her friend’s pale face and she rushed to her side instead. “What’s wrong? What’s the matter?”

Mary eased herself into a chair by the counter. “Don’t fuss. It’s just a little dizzy spell. I’ll be fine. Let me sit for a second.”

Krista whirled around and pulled a bottle of water from the little cooler to the side of the register. Unscrewing the top, she handed it to her mentor. “Did you eat today?”

Mary took a sip. “I had breakfast with Gary as always.”

“You mean you cooked breakfast for Gary, and you probably had about six cups of coffee.” Krista reprimanded. She was about to call for Shane when he appeared.

She met his gaze and watched his face go from curious to concern.

“Ma?” He rushed to her side. “What’s wrong? What happened?” He glanced back at Krista.

“I don’t know. Right after Melissa left, she headed for this chair. She says she’s dizzy.”