Stowaway (32 page)

“Maybe I’m just a foolish woman who succumbed to his charm. One of many, I’m sure.”

“If he has so many, why bother with a reluctant one?”

She’d asked herself the same question numerous times. “Maybe it’s the challenge or the thrill of the chase.”

“You really believe that?”

Keri ran both hands through her hair. “No.”

“You love him?”

She averted her gaze. “Yes, but…”

“There is no but, baby girl. It’s not something you toss aside because you’re afraid. You give it a lot of thought and then a lot of effort and then more effort. True love is worth a lifetime of nurturing.”

“How in the world are you supposed to know if it’s true love?”

“You feel it with all your heart and soul.”

Toward the end of a twelve-hour shift the following Friday night, Keri stood at the nurse’s desk checking patient charts. She heard the grind of the automatic doors as they opened but didn’t look up until Edie nudged her with an elbow.

“Your husband’s here.”

Tired and distracted, Edie’s words didn’t register until Keri glanced toward the late arrival. She watched Nick Lamanto stride through the doors and forgot all about the day’s frustrations and exhaustion. Her breath hitched as weariness gave way to excitement. The sight of him delighted and re-energized her. Happiness blossomed within her as their gazes met. She gave him a slow, wonderful-to-see-you smile.

Nick searched her features intently as he narrowed the distance between them. His perusal made her heart pound and her nerves jangle. His jeans, shirt and jacket looked rumpled, but he still oozed sex appeal.

Suddenly self-conscious about her stained uniform and disheveled appearance, she wiped the smile off her face and tried to appear more professional.

“Lamanto,” she greeted him as he stepped up to the desk.

“Merritt,” he replied with a nod.

His hair had grown, the thick waves more pronounced. His cheeks bore the end-of-the-day shadows. His dark eyes glittered as they locked with hers. For a long time they just stared at each other. Neither moved nor spoke but soaked in the sight of each other, cataloguing every minute detail until Edie broke the silence by clearing her throat.

She shot a glance at her friend.

“Take your time,” said the older woman. “I can handle things for a while.”

Keri motioned for Nick to move around the nurse’s station. She stepped through the opening, and he took hold of her arm. Heat rushed through her body at his touch. Just being close to him brought her unimaginable pleasure.

Nick leaned close and whispered in her ear. “All the hospital shows on TV have a maintenance closet or boiler room where couples can make out. Got one of those?”

She didn’t look at him but smiled at his impatience. “You want a little privacy?” she teased.

“I want a lot of things, but privacy’s a good start.”

The hospital had a tiny staff lounge with personnel lockers, an aging dinette set and a narrow bed. Keri led him there without another word and turned the knob of the door. He followed her inside the darkened room, quickly closed the door and leaned against it. Then he pulled her into his arms and gathered her close.

He studied her upturned face for several long heartbeats as she snaked her arms up his chest to his shoulders. She returned his steady gaze, wanting his kisses more than her next breath. He brushed his lips back and forth across hers, teasing and tasting.

“Damn, I’ve missed you,” he whispered gruffly.

Impatient for more of him, she rose on tiptoe and captured his mouth with hers, sinking her fingers into his hair and kissing him with all the pent-up hunger simmering inside of her. Nick made a rough sound of matching hunger and thrust his tongue into her mouth. He tightened his hold. She wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning into the kiss, pressing her whole body against his.

They strained to get closer as one kiss led to another and another, deeper, hotter, harder. She sucked his tongue hungrily until his body bucked with desire. He gripped her hips and lifted her until their bodies aligned perfectly.

“Here. Now.” His gruff command had her reaching for the snap of his jeans, but he stalled her by tugging her tunic over her head. While her trembling fingers worked at his zipper, Nick slid her bra straps off her shoulders, uncovering her breasts. She’d just freed his erection when he dipped his head and took a nipple into his mouth.

Her low moan echoed around the room. She grasped his head again as the pull of his mouth on her breasts echoed to the core of her body.

“Bed,” she gasped.

“Too far,” he replied, tugging her uniform pants and panties down her hips. Keri toed off her shoes and shimmied out of her the rest of her clothes.

“Now?” he coaxed roughly.

In response, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and let him lift her onto his straining flesh. As they made the most intimate connection, they groaned in unison and locked gazes again.

“I’ve missed you like crazy,” he declared with sexy, passionate sincerity.

The declaration thrilled and scared her. Instead of returning the words, she locked her mouth onto his and kissed him deep and hard. Her hungry impatience destroyed what little control he had on his desire. He thrust into her with urgency. They strained for harder, deeper contact.

Their breathing grew loud and rough as their bodies moved in rhythmic demand. His fingers dug into her hips, pulling her still closer, squeezing her harder. She rocked against him with urgent thrusts, matching his pace and fervor. In another few minutes, Keri stifled a cry of satisfaction. He found completion with one final thrust, and then muffled his triumphant howl in the curve of her neck.

The sound of their ragged panting reverberated in the otherwise silent room. For a long while afterward, they held each other as their bodies gradually calmed from the physical high. Nick nibbled on her neck until their breathing settled to a more comfortable level. Keri eventually unwound her legs from around his waist and dropped her feet to the floor.

“I so needed that. Needed you,” he told her.

“Me too,” she confessed, planting kisses on his whiskered jawline. “Thank you very much.”

“You’re very welcome. I could really get used to this bareback stuff,” he teased, flashing a rakish grin. “It’s a first for me.”

Keri stroked a finger down his cheek, brushing her thumb over his lips. “A little messier on my end,” she noted.

“Sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t think of that.”

“No need to apologize. I’m sure not complaining.”

Nick’s grin deepened. “Glad to hear it.”

He reached for the light switch, but she stalled him, suddenly feeling too naked and exposed.

“First dibs on the bathroom,” she said, bending to gather her clothes before darting toward the lavatory door. His wicked chuckle followed her.

“Hey, I don’t mind. I like the rear view!”

“You’re so bad!” she charged, laughing as she closed the door between them.

It only took her a few minutes in the bathroom and then Nick had a turn. She walked across the room, flipped the light switch and went to the refrigerator. When he came back into the lounge, she offered him a cold bottle of water. Keri started to take a seat at the table but he redirected her to the bed.

“I like you close,” he explained as they sat side by side on the squeaky mattress. Grasping her free hand, he entwined their fingers as they drank thirstily. She loved that he was such a sensual man. Loved that he liked touching her.

Keri could hardly believe how much comfort and pleasure she found just holding his hand. The connection, any connection with him, made everything seem right in her world. What in the hell was she going to do about it?

“Am I keeping you from work? Do you have a limited break time? I don’t want to cause any trouble here at the hospital.”

“The staff already labeled you troublemaker of the year,” she teased, but his thoughtfulness pleased her. “I’m fine. It’s been a slow evening and my shift’s over at midnight.” She glanced at her watch. “Another few minutes. Edie said she’d cover for me, but I do need to go sign off on my charts.”

“What then?”

“Normally, home to bed. What did you have in mind?”

Nick frowned. “I hoped to spend the weekend. It’s the first free one I’ve had in weeks. But I got a call from Brice while I was renting a car in Knoxville. He needs some help tomorrow morning, and I couldn’t say no. I owe him.”

“He didn’t know you’d flown up here?”

“No.”

Keri wanted to argue. She wanted to tell him to let Brice find someone else to help him. But she knew the favors Nick owed were probably because of her.

“So you just have tonight?”

He glanced at his watch. “A couple hours. I scheduled a return flight for first thing in the morning.”

She brought his hand up to her mouth and pressed a kiss on his fingers. “We can hang out on the couch at my house, but I have to be back here by noon tomorrow.”

“And you need some rest.”

“If I want to be able to function at all. It’ll be the third of three twelve-hour shifts.”

“Well hell,” he said.

Keri finished her water and tossed the bottle in the recycle bin. Nick did the same. Then he turned to her again.

“Do you still have a week’s vacation coming to you?”

She nodded, wondering what he had in mind.

“My sisters are planning a thirty-fifth wedding anniversary party for Mama and Pop. The last weekend in October. Can you come and spend a few days at the villa?”

Keri hesitated. Spending time with him was one thing. Meeting his extended family was a whole different kettle of fish. “You’re living there now? Full-time?”

“At least ’til the end of the year. I’ll pay airfare and expenses. You just have to show up.”

Remembering her dad’s lecture about cowardice, she gave him a smile and said, “I’ll request vacation before I leave tonight.”

Nick’s obvious relief made her feel guilty. He gave her a heart-melting smile and dropped his head for a kiss. Their lips just touched as a sharp knock came on the door accompanied by Edie’s voice.

“Squad just called. Car wreck with multiple victims. Five minutes out.”

“I’ll be right there,” said Keri. She sighed and gave Nick an apologetic smile. “Duty calls and it doesn’t sound like I’ll be getting out of here anytime soon.”

“No problem,” he brushed a finger down her cheek. “You’ll need sleep after that. I can head back to Knoxville and catch a few zees at the airport.”

“I hate that we don’t have more time. You should have let me know you were coming. I could have juggled my schedule.”

“I didn’t have enough time, but I got what I needed.”

The comment annoyed her. She’d needed him too, but it irritated her to think he’d wanted her body more than spending time with her. “Pretty expensive sex.”

“That sex was great, but not what I came for.”

That gave her pause. She studied his features. Nick gave her a slow, sexy smile, his eyes glittering with intensity.

“Then what did you want?”

“I needed to see your gut reaction when I showed up unannounced.”

Keri didn’t blink. “And?” she prodded, remembering the thrill she’d felt at the sight of him.

“And your face lit up like a woman in love,” he said, cupping her head in his hand and drawing her close for another long, deep kiss. His tone went husky when he continued. “The sex was a bonus,
la mia infermiera d’angelo
.”

Chapter Twenty-One

After a week of cold, dreary fall weather in Thornsbury, Keri welcomed Miami’s sunshine. According to her pilot, the heat and humidity of the summer had given way to near-perfect temperatures and perfect blue skies. Keri stepped off the terminal ramp and into the clusters of people awaiting friends and family, wondering if he said that every time he landed.

Then the sight of Nick stripped all other thought from her mind. She dropped her carryon case and pocketbook to the floor as he swept her into his arms. They hugged tightly and kissed deeply despite the beehive of activity moving all around them. Phone sex and regular conversations just didn’t compare to the feel and scent and taste of the man.

“I’ve missed you so much!” she confessed on a laugh when he finally allowed her feet to touch the floor again. She stroked his cheeks, smoothly shaven for once, and stole another kiss.

“I’ve missed you more,” he declared, his gaze scouring every inch of her face. “I’ve spent the better part of the month sitting in court rooms, bored out of my mind. The image of you is all that kept me from going ballistic.”

“So did the gangbanger brother get a life sentence?”

“He did,” Nick said with satisfaction. “Along with a couple of his cousins. The McDowell gang is permanently retired.”

“Glad to hear it.”

“Glad to be done with the legal end,” he said. “Do you have bags to claim?”

“One big one,” she said, grabbing her pocket book as he shouldered her carryon. “Are we heading straight to the villa?”

He gave her a wicked grin. “I thought about renting a motel room and having my way with you for the rest of the day.”

She squeezed his arm. “Hmm…I like the sound of that.”

“But Brice just called to let me know he brought the ’copter to the city. He’s loading groceries on the other side of the airport, and we can hitch a ride with him in an hour or so. We only have time for lunch if you want.”

“Lunch sounds good. I’m hungry, but please tell me we’ll have a little privacy once we get to the villa.”

He gave her a wink and another kiss. “The folks won’t be home until this evening. We’ll have the place to ourselves all afternoon.”

“And then I’ll get shifted to the guest side of the villa?” She didn’t like the idea of sleeping so far from him in that great big old mansion.

“Nah, I did some bargaining with Maria. She and her brood will be using another suite so you’ll have the room next to mine. The one you used last time.”

“Your family’s okay with that?”

“The family is so happy to have me living at home they don’t argue about anything I want.”

“You are so spoiled!” she teased, bumping shoulders with him as they made their way to the baggage claim. It felt good to be near him, close enough to touch him and see his amazing smile instead of just hearing it.