Spirit Warrior (6 page)

“Have a great night, Allie,” Glenda murmured as she walked through the double doors.

“You too, Glenda,” Allie replied.

Allie stepped out into the cool, clear night. She walked over to her truck, pressing the unlock button on the remote. Pausing with her hand on the door latch, she glanced up at the sky. Brilliant stars glittered with an intensity that took her breath away.

For a moment they blurred as tears of relief and sadness clouded her vision. They were back. Life did move on, no matter how hard she tried to make it stop, it kept going. Chris was right. Life was too short to stop living it.

Jacob lay on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. It was very late and Allie still hadn’t returned. Throwing the covers back with a curse, he sat up and ran his hands through his hair.

His eyes flickered to the bright glow of the numbers on the clock by the bed. It was almost one in the morning, if it was correct. Rising, he walked over to the window. The faint flicker of lights coming up the driveway caught his attention.

“About damn time,” Jacob muttered as he watched Allie’s silver truck pull slowly up to the side and the lights turned off.

Turning on his heel, he grabbed his pants and quickly slid them on. He didn’t bother with fastening them as he pulled open the door to his room. He didn’t know what he was going to say, but he needed to know that Allie was alright.

He stepped silently down the stairs, reaching the bottom step as the front door opened. He paused as Allie quietly stepped inside and closed and locked the door behind her. Relief poured through him as she turned to shrug out of her jacket. A low muttered curse drew him forward to help her when her hand became stuck in the sleeve.

“What the...?!” She hissed as she jumped, startled at the feel of another hand.

“Here, let me,” Jacob murmured.

“What are you doing up?” She demanded in a low voice. “It’s late.”

Jacob carefully tugged on the end of her sleeve, pulling it free and holding the back of the jacket as she slipped her other arm out. He wasn’t sure how to answer her question, so he focused on hanging her coat on the coat stand next to the door.

“Well, are you going to answer me?” Allie asked.

“Where were you? Like you said, it's late. Where did you go?” He asked instead, turning to look at her.

His narrow gaze swept over the soft curve of her cheeks before lowering to her lips. He didn’t know what it was about her. All he wanted to do was kiss her, hold her, and see if she fit against him as perfectly as he suspected.

“I went to visit a friend,” Allie responded in a quiet, sad voice.

Jacob reached out and cupped her cheek when he saw her eyes darken with sorrow. He could hear the pain and resignation in her voice as she spoke. His hand slid along her cheek and threaded through her hair. He applied a slight pressure so he could draw her closer.

“Come here,” he ordered in a gruff voice.

“Why? What are you doing?” Allie asked, suddenly sounding very young and confused.

“I don’t know, but I need to hold you and you look like you could use a hug,” Jacob admitted as he pulled her into his arms.

A shudder ran through her slender figure before her arms slowly circled his waist. The feel of her hands against his cool skin felt good. He bit back a silent groan and bowed his head until his cheek rested against the silky strands of her hair.

"I do," she whispered as she rested her head against his chest. "Need the hug, that is."

A soft chuckle escaped him as he held her against his body. So far, two of the questions in his mind had been answered. She did feel good in his arms and she fit perfectly against his body. Now, he only needed to know if she tasted as good as he imagined.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Jacob asked.

A sigh escaped her as she slowly pulled away from him. Jacob wanted to kick himself in the ass when he felt her stiffen and withdraw from him. He reluctantly dropped his arms to his side as she gave him a crooked smile and tilted her head back to stare at him for several long seconds.

"Yeah, I think I finally do want to talk about it," Allie replied, surprising herself with her admission. "Would you like some hot chocolate?"

"Chocolate?" Jacob repeated as his eyes lit up with delight and a boyish grin crossed his face. “I had a piece of chocolate once when I was back East.”

He ignored Allie’s quizzical expression as she glanced at him before she turned away and headed for the kitchen. His fists clenched at his side for a moment as the desire to pull her back against him and kiss her swept through him again. Drawing in a deep breath, he followed her as they wound their way through the living and dining room.

He sat down on one of the stools at the bar and watched her as she bent to pull the milk and another container out of the ice box. The bright light lit up the area around her and he couldn’t help but admire the shapely curve of her ass and long legs. He flushed when she turned around and caught him.

“I…,” he started to say before he cleared his throat. “Sorry, I couldn’t help it.”

Allie’s low chuckle echoed in the kitchen. She just shook her head and reached into a nearby cabinet. He watched in fascination as she poured the milk into two large mugs and placed them into another machine he had never seen.

She pressed a few buttons that beeped as she touched them. A moment later, a light came on in the machine and he could see the cups turning around in a circle. She opened another cabinet and pulled out a brown bottle.

His eyes flashed back to the machine when it beeped three times before shutting off. He knew his mouth had dropped open when she opened it and pulled the two cups out. Steam rose from them.

He blinked in amazement as she poured the chocolate out of the brown bottle. A frown creased his brow when she shook a tall, narrow cylinder before pressing the top. White foam came out as she twirled it around the top of the steaming cups. She topped her creation with more of the brown liquid.

“What is this called again?” He asked as he stared down at the delicious smelling concoction.

“Haven’t you ever had hot chocolate before?” Allie asked as she replaced the milk and whip cream.

“No,” Jacob replied in a soft voice as he carefully picked up the cup. “I had a piece of chocolate at the General Store in Boston a few years ago. It was expensive, but I wanted to try it. What is the white stuff?”

“Whip cream,” Allie answered, pulling the stool next to him out so she could sit down beside him. “I love it, especially when I’m sad.”

Jacob watched as she stuck her tongue out and licked the creamy mixture. He felt his body respond to the unconscious, sensual act. He almost groaned aloud when she followed the movement by licking her lips.

Instead, he did the same thing. His eyes flew to her vivid blue eyes when he heard her emit a soft moan. Pleasure washed through him as the sweet cream, mixed with chocolate touched his tongue.

That’s not the only reason I’m feeling good,
he thought as her eyes followed the movement of his lips.

“You were going to tell me about your friend," Jacob reminded her in a husky voice.

He regretted reminding her when she withdrew behind an invisible wall, as if to protect herself against the pain he had seen in her eyes. Her gaze shifted to her cup and she wrapped her hands around it, as if trying to absorb the heat. He didn’t press her, but waited patiently until she was ready to talk.

*.*.*

Allie stared blindly at the cup of hot chocolate in her hands. She wondered if she was acting out of character because of the emotional release she had felt this evening combined with exhaustion. To say she had been startled when Jacob had touched her in the hallway was an understatement. All the way home, she had fought with a mixture of emotions ranging from relief, to sorrow, to acceptance, and back again.

She didn’t understand why she was suddenly ready to move on. Or at least, she hadn’t been until Jacob touched her again. Confusion swept through her, making her wonder what in the hell was going on inside her head.

She had just met the guy today. Hell, she didn’t know a damn thing about him and she was about to spill her guts to him. As out of character as it was for her, something told her it was the right thing to do. He would be gone soon enough. Maybe it was because of that, she felt like she could talk to him. He would ease the pain and take it away with him when he left.

“I fell in love almost two and a half years ago with a really awesome man,” she whispered, not looking at Jacob’s face. She could feel him stiffen beside her, but refused to stop. He’d asked her if she wanted to tell him and for some reason, she did. “He was a friend of my younger brother, Taylor. Chris was a rising star on the rodeo circuit. Unlike a lot of the guys, namely Taylor, he was more focused on building his career instead of just finding a different girl every night,” she joked in a cracked voice. Releasing a sigh, she lifted the cup to her lips and took a sip of her drink. Her head bowed as she set it back on the bar. “The first time we met, we talked half the night away before we knew it. Soon, we were talking every day.”

“You went to see this… Chris, tonight?” Jacob asked, calmly.

“Yes, I go just about every day if I can,” Allie replied. “After a few months, things started to get really serious between us. He asked me to marry him and I said yes.”

“So, you married him?”

“No,” Allie said, finally looking at Jacob. His face was calm, but she could see the taut line of his jaw and the nerve pulsing in his cheek. “He wanted to wait until he could prove to my dad that he was marrying me because of me… not because of the Whitewater name. He was close to sealing a deal with several really big sponsors. He had already won one National Championship. If he had another one under his belt, he would be in the big league.”

“Something happened,” Jacob guessed.

“Yes, something happened,” Allie whispered as she remembered that night. “He was in the last round of competition. I knew the moment he came out of the chute something was wrong. He was struggling to stay on the horse he was riding. As the horse twisted around, the strap on the saddle broke, throwing Chris. The horse kicked out, striking him in the head as he fell. He suffered severe head trauma. The doctors tried to control the internal bleeding and swelling. By the time they got it under control, it was too late. Chris had suffered severe brain damage that left him in a vegetative state.”

“Where is he now?” Jacob asked quietly.

Allie glanced at Jacob again. This time, compassion and understanding was reflected in his eyes. She gave him a watery smile.

“In a nursing home,” she replied. “I talked to the nurses earlier today. One of them is a friend of Aleaha, so she tells me more than some of the others. She said the doctor came in early this morning…” Allie glanced at the clock and her lips twisted when she saw it was a little after two. “Yesterday morning. He said that Chris’s body is beginning to shut down and that he sent in an order for a nurse from Hospice to come in. They can’t give a specific time, but she warned me to be prepared. That Chris wouldn’t be… that he wouldn’t…”

Jacob stood up and drew Allie into his arms when it became impossible for her to speak. He rubbed her back as her salty tears dampened the skin of his chest. This woman amazed him. Her devotion, her compassion, her strength, and her passion drew him to her.

“Life sometimes gives us great challenges,” he murmured as he held her tightly against him. “But, it can also bring us many great rewards. Chris is a very fortunate man to have found you, Allie Whitewater.”

Allie didn’t respond to his softly spoken comment. She just turned her face into his chest and closed her eyes. It had been so long since she’d let down her guard and let someone else help shoulder the weight.

“Allie,” Jacob whispered, sliding his hand up to cup her chin so she was forced to look at him. “I mean it.”

“I know,” she replied in a husky voice.

Allie’s eyelashes fluttered as Jacob lowered his head. Her lips parted as he pressed his over them. Her hands moved on their own up his chest until she wound them around his neck. An explosive hunger gripped her as she opened for him.

Their breaths mingled as the chemistry in their kiss pulled at both of them. Allie’s fingers tightened in Jacob’s shoulder length hair as she rose up on her toes to get closer. It took several long seconds before she ripped her mouth away from his and pulled back.

“Don’t you dare,” he interrupted before she could speak.

Allie’s mouth compressed on the denial she had been about to make. He was right, she had wanted… needed the kiss as much as he did. Turning, she scooted around the chair, suddenly needing to be alone.

“Goodnight, Allie,” Jacob called behind her in a soft voice.

Allie paused at the doorway leading into the dining room. Her back was stiff as she placed her left hand on the door frame to steady herself. Drawing in a deep breath, she didn’t look back as she responded.

“Goodnight, cowboy,” she said in a husky voice before escaping.

*.*.*

Jacob stared at the empty doorway for several long minutes before he sat back onto the stool. He turned and picked up the cooling cup of hot chocolate. Draining it, he licked his lips as a smile curved his lips. It reminded him of Allie. She tasted like chocolate.

Reaching over, he picked up her cup. She had barely taken more than a sip out of it. It was too good to waste. Sipping on it, he thought over what she had told him. He knew she was hurting. Yet, there had also been the sound of acceptance, along with a touch of defiance, in her voice.

“Perhaps what you need, Allie, is a new place to start over,” Jacob muttered as he looked down into the empty mug. “A place that is as wild and untamed as you.”