FBI Agent's Reluctant Lover (7 page)

“Failure.” Chelsea let her forehead rest on his chest after making that admission.

“We can’t fail. We were meant to be together. We just have to take it one day at a time. Wear my ring, and move in with me. We can call the ring a promise between us that we’re going to do everything we can to make this work. If it doesn’t, then we’ll part as friends. If it does, we’ll spend the rest of our lives in each other’s arms.”

Chelsea snuggled against him again, she felt so safe in his arms and loved. Since her parents had died her sophomore year, she’d been living life day-by-day, not really looking much towards the future. When Rachel had married her high school best friend, Chelsea had thought that maybe their lives were going to level out and normalize.

That dream had disappeared with her brother-in-law’s death and the early arrival of her nephews. She had managed to get her nursing degree in between high school and those life changing events, but she hadn’t really found a place where she fit in.

Lying next to Seth, she found she felt like she was home. He completed her in ways she hadn’t known still needed put together.
Was this love? Could it really happen this fast
? According to popular fiction it did. Those stories had to come from somewhere, they couldn’t all be based in wild imagination. Maybe love could happen that fast. Maybe she was destined to be the poster child for love at first sight.

She drifted to sleep with a smile on her face and Seth’s arms wrapped around her. She was willing to give it a try. After all, she really had nothing to lose, but everything to gain. Maybe Seth was her destiny.

Chance drove Rachel home, trying to keep the atmosphere light to banish her worries. She had grown quieter the closer they got to her house.

“You doing okay over there?” he asked, reaching for and capturing her hand in his.

Rachel glanced at him, “Yes. I’m just anxious to get home.”

“It’s normal to be worried about your babies the first couple of times you leave them. If they were mine, I’d be worried as well.”

“How old are you?” she blurted out, the question having been in the back of her mind for the last hour.

Chance looked at her and smiled, “I’ll tell if you will,” he teased her.

Rachel smiled, “I’m twenty-seven. Your turn.”

“Twenty-nine. Does it bother you to be hanging out with an older man?”

Rachel grinned, “Definitely. Why, you’re almost old enough to be my brother!”

“I can assure you that what I feel for you doesn’t fit in the brotherly affection department.”

The tension inside the vehicle thickened and grew intense. Rachel blushed and hurriedly looked out the window. Swallowing, she attempted to lighten the mood once again, “So, I just wanted to thank you for your help earlier.”

“If this is your attempt to run me off, forget it. I’m not going anywhere for the next several days.” Chance didn’t try to sugar coat the truth or sweet talk her into letting him stay. He was staying and there wasn’t anything she could do about it!

“That’s very nice of you to offer…”

“I’m not offering. It’s a fact. When Chelsea and Seth get back we’ll figure something else out.”

“But, what about your job?” Rachel asked, anxious to find a reason for him to leave.
She couldn’t have him around twenty-four seven. Her hormones couldn’t handle that. She’d end up attacking him in his sleep!

“Shawn knows where to find me and you need my help. End of story. So, what would you like to do tomorrow? I was thinking we could take the boys to the zoo.” Chance met her eyes, daring her to continue arguing with him, not that it would do her any good.

Rachel tried to find another tact that would require him to leave but came up with nothing. “Aren’t they too young for the zoo?”

“You’re never too young for the zoo. Besides, the outing will be more for you than for them. Some fresh air will do you all some good.”

Rachel tried to think up any excuse, but admitted that getting out of the house sounded really nice. In the last five months, the only time she and the twins had left the house was for a doctor’s appointment. She hadn’t even been to the grocery store. Chelsea had been taking care of everything. Making up her mind, she took a breath and looked Chance in the eye, “A trip to the zoo tomorrow sounds fun.”

“Good girl,” he murmured, glad to see her backbone kick in. She could makeup excuses all day long, but life was there and just waiting for her to jump back in. He was going to be her self-appointed guide on the journey and just maybe, he would end up being her partner as well.

Pulling into the driveway, Rachel exited the car and headed for the front door. She was greeted by both Shawn and his wife Janet, their arms around each other and if she wasn’t mistaken, Janet had the look of a thoroughly kissed woman. She gave Rachel a secret smile as she snuggled into her husband’s arms, “Welcome back. The boys went right to sleep and have been sleeping ever since.”

“Thank you so much for watching them,” Rachel offered, trying to sound sincere and realizing that she was. Chance had been right to force her to get out of the house and she would find some way to thank him later.

“I’m just going to go peek in on them.” Rachel hurried down the hallway as the three other adults softly discussed the upcoming welcome home party for Faith Coldwell.

“She seems really nice. And the babies are adorable,” Janet told Chance.

He smiled at her in agreement, “Yeah. They’re something else.”

“So, are you going to bring her to Trent and Brianna’s?” Shawn wanted to know.

Chance nodded, “I’m thinking about it. We’re going to take the boys to the zoo tomorrow, so I’ll wait and see how that goes. She’s only taken them to doctor’s appointments. She’s been holed up here in this house since the boys came home from the hospital.”

Janet looked for Rachel’s return, compassion in her voice when she said, “It sounds like she could use some good friends. Please bring her. I would love to get to know her more and I’m sure she’ll be a hit with both Brianna and Maria.”

Chance nodded, his thoughts having taken the same trip. “I agree. She needs to make some friends in this town. I’ll see that we’re there.” Changing the subject, he directed his question to Shawn, “Any word on Marco yet?”

Shawn shook his head, “No. Nothing. I’ll know when he comes back on US soil. The minute his plane lands and he clears customs, I’ll know.”

“I can’t say I’m sorry any of this happened. As hard as it is to say, both Seth and I owe Marco thanks for having brought two wonderful women into our lives.”

“Save your thanks for someone who truly deserves it. You didn’t see how crushed Brianna was. No one deserves to be put through that kind of emotional trauma. Marco needs to pay.” Shawn’s voice was hard and his wife wrapped her arms around his waist, attempting to calm the anger she could sense rising to the surface.

“It’ll all work out.”

Rachel walked back into the living room, a smile of relief on her face and feeling lighter in spirit that she had in months. “They’re sound asleep.”

“Good. Come say goodbye to Shawn and Janet. They’ve got a long drive ahead of them and are anxious to get home.”

Shawn took the hint and turned to Rachel, “Thanks for letting us watch your boys tonight. Feel free to call us anytime you need a sitter. We really don’t mind.”

Rachel nodded and shook his hand and then Janet’s. “Thanks again.”

Chance shook hands with Shawn and gave Janet a hug before watching them exit the house, shutting the front door behind them. Turning to Rachel, he gave her one of his enigmatic stares that had butterflies starting to flutter in her stomach, and her heart racing a little faster.

Chanced tracked her across the room, a devilish gleam entering his eyes when she started to back up and attempted to put the couch between them. “Where are you going?” he purred softly.

“Uhm.. no where… maybe I should go check on the boys again,” Rachel said, turning towards the hallway.

Chance stopped her by lightly grabbing her arms and pulling her inexorably towards him. “The boys are sleeping, remember? You just checked on them two minutes ago.”

Rachel tried not to meet his eyes, but was drawn to them like a magnetic was to iron. Meeting his gaze, she felt herself falling into the promise she found there. One of comfort, of safety, and passion. It was the passion she saw in his eyes that gave her pause.

Chance watched the emotions cross her face, not liking the scared look that entered her eyes and seemed to linger. “Rachel, are you afraid of me?”

Rachel watched for long moments before answering, “It’s not you really. Maybe it’s me. I don’t know.” She sounded thoroughly confused.

Chance smiled, “Let’s try this then. If I were to kiss you would that make you fearful?”

Rachel shook her head, watching his lips as he bent down and placed them upon hers. Closing her eyes, she gave into the feelings his touch elicited. His lips were gentle at first, but as they continued to kiss, she found herself needing more. More contact with him. More than the gentle kisses he was giving her.

Stepping into him, she wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed herself against his chest. Feeling the hard points of her nipples dig into his chest sent a moan bursting from her throat at the same time he took the kiss to an entire new level.

Chance had tried to take things slowly, but at the feel of her body pressed against his, he lost control and devoured her mouth. Bending her head to the side for a better angle, he discovered all of the secrets hidden within the recesses of her mouth. The sounds of her moans exciting him even further.

Breaking the kiss, he pulled her with him as he sat down on the couch, bringing her down to straddle his thighs in the process.

Rachel opened her eyes when they started to move and was mildly alarmed to find herself sitting astride his lap. Straightening her upper legs, she kept her center from pressing down upon his. The intimacy of their positions almost too much for her brain to process.

Chance felt her hold herself above him and ran his hands up and down her back, soothing her nerves and urging her to relax against him. After several minutes, he felt her muscles relax and she lowered herself carefully upon his lap, gasping as their bodies made contact through their clothing.

“God, you feel good,” he murmured, once again fastening his lips to hers in a soul-stealing kiss.

Rachel couldn’t even remember feeling this turned on in her life. Sex with Sam had been good, but she had a feeling that it wouldn’t even be in the same league as sex with Chance. She let her mind drift as she gave into the touches and kisses. Sam wouldn’t want her to be miserable. He would have wanted her to be happy.

Chance could sense the wheels of her mind working overtime and raised one hand up to mold her breast, teasing the hardened nipple and loving the way she melted into his touch. “Rachel, do you want me to stop?” he softly whispered in her ear.

He wanted to see their interlude to completion, but he also wanted to give her plenty of time to process what was happening between them. No regrets! He didn’t want her to wake up in the morning hating herself or him.

Rachel heard his question and struggled to find the answer. “I don’t know,” she mumbled, placing her lips against his neck and inhaling his intoxicating scent. The answer was honest. She hadn’t had enough time to figure out what she wanted. Things were moving so fast.

Chance heard the indecision in her voice and groaned as he realized he was going to have to find some measure of self-control tonight. She wasn’t ready to take the next step with him and he wasn’t willing to risk their future by pressing too hard too fast.

Placing his hands at her hips, he pushed her backwards; just enough so that she was still sitting on his thighs, but her center wasn’t pressed up tight against his own. Using his hands to keep her there when she would have scooted forward again, he gentled her rising passion with sweet, simple kisses. Once he felt her desire bank into a simmer, he lifted his head and waited until she met his eyes.

“We can take this as slowly as you want or need. The only thing I ask is that you’re honest with me and yourself. This has nothing to do with your late husband, and everything to do with you. I want you, more than I want my next breath. I want to pick you up and carry you down the hallway to your bedroom and show you just how good it could be between us.”

He used one hand to brush her hair back from her face, “But, I also know that you’re not ready yet. I’m not going anywhere and we don’t have to rush or meet anyone’s time limit but our own.”

Rachel was so relieved and her feelings towards him blossomed as he showed her his true character. The man was amazing. A true knight in shining armor! He actually cared about her feelings and was thinking about the future, not just the present. “Thank you,” she told him sincerely, hoping that her feelings were adequately conveyed in the simple words.

Chance grinned at her, kissing her on the tip of her nose before rising with her in his arms and then letting her down to stand on her own. “You are very welcome. Now, I believe we have a big day planned for tomorrow, so I suggest we both get some sleep.”

Rachel nodded and headed towards the hallway, turning back she met his gaze one more time, “Thanks. For dinner. For helping with the boys. For slowing down.”

Chance nodded at her, saying nothing. No words were necessary. They had something special together and he was going to protect that at all costs.

The trip to the zoo was chaotic, full of laughter and a day that Rachel knew she would remember years from now. The boys hadn’t really cared about the many animals, but their eyes had been full of wonder at all of the new things they had experienced.

Chance had been a perfect gentleman, holding the door for her, helping her manage the babies, and making the day perfect for her. Added to that were the little caresses he bestowed upon her, the hand he kept upon her lower back as they walked through the zoo, the simple way he took her hand in his throughout the day.