What the Heart Wants (27 page)

His lips hovered over her mouth, just far enough away to increase her desire, yet close enough to stoke the passion between them. Each kiss infused an itch in her that only he could scratch. Her body begged for his touch, for him to satisfy the itch.

When he pressed into her, again, the lace on her panties brushed against her thigh in their descent. Her stomach knotted with anticipation.

He tugged.

She whimpered.

And then a knock resonated on the door.

No! Hell, no!

His body stilled against hers. She could feel how hard his lungs struggled for air. Could feel how fierce his heart pounded. He broke their kiss as his eyes met with hers. The look on his face mirrored the one she knew was on hers. Brows creased, nostrils flared, begging for air. Lips pressed tightly.

“I wonder who that is?” he asked in a whisper.

“I have no clue,” she said, trying to laugh quietly, “but their timing is horrible.”

In spite of his annoyance with whoever was at the door, he couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re right about that. Damn it!” he growled.

The knock came again, but this time a voice came with it.

“Dylan, are you in there?”

“Layne,” he grumbled. He dropped his head to her breasts and sighed. “I'd better go see what he wants,” he whispered, meeting her eyes, again. “He’ll barge in, if I don’t.”

Before he left their embrace, he gave her another kiss.

Heaven watched in silence as he dressed in a hurry. “Should I get dressed, too?”

“It probably wouldn’t hurt, just in case it’s something important,” he said, walking toward the doorway. She watched as he flashed a smile in her direction before disappearing into the other room.

The coolness of the hardwood floor soothed her feet. Not one inch of her body wasn’t on fire from Dylan’s touch. She found her dress sprawled out on the floor, just beyond the edge of the bed. She bent to pick it up and pulled it over her head. Her skin, still tingling from Dylan’s touch, made the cotton fabric feel more like sandpaper. The only thing that did feel good was Dylan’s skin next to hers.

She shook the thoughts from her mind, waiting to see if Layne was there for a certain reason. She hoped Faith wasn’t with him.

* * *

Dylan reached for the doorknob, but hesitated. He did a quick body check to make sure he hadn’t left any of his clothes on the floor. He’d rushed to dress and get to the door before Layne decided to come in. Dylan was surprised Layne knocked to begin with. This was where Layne was
supposed
to sleep last night.

But Dylan wasn’t complaining. Not with everything that had unfolded this morning.

He adjusted his shirt, double-checked that his jeans were buttoned and the zipper was up, and made one last inspection to make sure his intentions toward Heaven weren’t visible.

Nope. No erection. Thank God.

When he opened the door, he met his best friend’s curious eyes with a smile.

“Hey, Layne, what’s up?” Was he breathing hard?

Layne gave Dylan a quick glance over before staring at his face. “Were you still asleep?”

“No, I’ve been awake for awhile,” Dylan answered. Images of Heaven’s half-naked body shot through his mind. He swallowed hard.

Layne’s brows drew down. “I wouldn’t have bothered you, but Faith and Hope are in hysterics.” He stepped inside the door, sweeping past Dylan on his way in.

“Why are they in hysterics?”

“They can’t find Heaven anywhere.” Layne answered, working his fingers through his hair. “Have you seen her?”

Dylan fought the tug at the corner of his lips, but lost. “Yeah, she’s in the bedroom.”

“No, she’s not in there. Hope said…wait. Do you mean the bedroom here in the guesthouse?”

“Yes, so let her sisters know that she’s perfectly fine.” Would it be rude if he ushered Layne out the door?

Layne faced the bedroom. He looked as though he wanted to go inside. Maybe he didn’t believe Dylan. “Am I missing something?”

Dylan noticed the gruff sound of Layne’s voice. He wanted to know what was going on with his best friend and Faith, but not now. Not when he wanted Layne to go as far away as possible so he could get back to Heaven and finish what they had started.

“She stayed in the bedroom last night. There was nowhere else for her to sleep,” Dylan began, still noting the disturbed look on Layne’s face. “Hope and Scott were both passed out in—”

“Jerry has several sofas in the house.” Layne grumbled. “You didn’t think she could sleep on one of those?”

Dylan had never felt hostility toward Layne until now. He didn’t know what Layne’s problem was, but it was pissing him off. “Why let her sleep on a sofa when she could have a comfortable bed to sleep in? Hell, if you and Faith weren’t sleeping in the same room, she could have stayed in that bedroom with Faith.”

Layne’s body stiffened. “How did you know about that?”

“Heaven told me. Faith mentioned it to her last night. Probably when they went into the house together.”

“I didn’t know that Faith told her we were sharing the room.” Layne clenched his jaw. His eyes went to the floor. “Heaven must think I’m a pig.”

Wasn’t Layne a pig? He used women for personal gratification. Hell, he’d been sleeping with Faith since the wedding. What was Layne’s deal? He was pissed one minute, then worried the next. It didn’t make sense.

“She didn’t say anything.” Dylan answered. Layne’s eyes shot back to his. His shoulders released their tension. “Why would it matter what Heaven thinks? If you and Faith are happy with the arrangement, it’s no one else’s business. Heaven knows her sister.”

“So, what did you guys talk about?”

Dylan knew what Layne was getting at. The dreams. Layne wanted to know if he had told Heaven about them. He shook his head feverishly, hoping Layne wouldn’t mention anything else. “We watched some TV before going to sleep.”

“How was the sofa?” Layne asked, tilting his head in the direction of the furniture. “Was it as comfy as you thought?”

“I didn’t sleep on the sofa. Heaven and I fell asleep watching TV in the bedroom.” Dylan knew he was stretching the truth, but it wasn’t any of Layne’s business what went on between him and Heaven. Something would definitely have been going on this moment if Layne hadn’t come to the door.

“I see,” Layne said. His face tightened

Had Faith broken things off with Layne or had Layne had his fill of Faith? Dylan knew something was up. “Are you okay? I mean, things are still good with you and Faith, right?”

Layne hesitated. He looked back to the bedroom door once more. “Yeah, everything is cool.” He swept the hair from his face as he glanced back at Dylan. “She’s just worried about Heaven. So is Hope. I think their edginess is rubbing off on me.” Layne’s laugh sounded more like a cough. Dylan knew he’d forced it.

It was time to call the bullshit card. Layne needed to talk. Or get the hell out.

“I guess I'd better go ease their minds,” Heaven said as she walked their way.

Dylan’s skin prickled at the sight of her. Even fully dressed, he could see every curve of her body. Could remember how hot her skin felt against his palm. Or how her salty skin made his mouth water.

She barely acknowledged Layne as she passed him. Dylan smiled at the thought. For once in their lives, a woman wasn’t falling all over Layne. Heaven’s eyes focused on one body…his.

“Hey, there,” Dylan said as she walked over to him. She laced her fingers through his, stood up on her toes, and leaned in for a brief kiss.

“I’m going to the house to let Faith and Hope know I’m okay.”

“I’ll be there in just a few.” Dylan smiled. Her fingers lingered a moment before she pulled away and went toward the door.

Every view of her was breathtaking. Even the rearview.

“Good morning, Layne,” she said on her way past him.

“Morning, Heaven,” Layne replied. His eyes trailed after her.

Even Layne had a dumbstruck look.

Dylan laughed. And Layne had given him shit about staring with his mouth wide open…Okay, Layne could stop staring now.

* * *

Layne waited until Heaven was out of sight to look at Dylan. What the fuck just happened? She slept in the same house with him? Scratch that, she slept in the same bed? Did they?

“Dude, what is going on with you?”

“Mm—me?” Layne stuttered. “Are you going to tell me what I just walked in on?”

Dylan shook his head and grunted. He leaned against the armrest on the sofa. “Nothing.”

“Bullshit. You can’t play a player, dude. You know me.” Layne jabbed a finger in his chest before pointing to Dylan. “And I know you. That you’ve been dreaming of her for the last six months. Obsessing. You’re going to tell me that you slept in the same bed with her and nothing else happened?”

“Yes, because nothing did. Only one thing happened.”

“Oh? What would that be?”

Dylan shook his bangs from his face. “We…we’re together. You know. A couple.”

They agreed to be a couple, slept in the same bed, but didn’t have sex? Why did Dylan feel the need to lie to him?

“So it’s official?” Layne asked. He walked past Dylan to the kitchen, trying to put some space between him and his best friend. His heart pumped so fast, it echoed in his ears.

“Yeah, it’s official,” Dylan answered. He came to the edge of the room but didn’t enter the kitchen.

This wasn’t going to end well if he kept avoiding eye contact. Dylan was already grimacing. Layne opened the fridge and grabbed a beer. Fuck it. Morning or not, he needed a drink, now.

As he popped the top, he walked back toward Dylan. “I’m sure you’re high on life right now.” He really was happy for Dylan. But damn…he just…he wanted the chance to…if only he’d…

Fuck…

“I think I’ll take her to see Mom, soon.”

“And then what? What’s the next step in Dylan-and-Heaven-ever-after?”

The crease between Dylan’s brows deepened. He sank back into the arm of the chair and folded his arms across his chest.

“I’m going to let that comment slide. And as far as what’s next, we’re going to do what any other couple does.”—Have wild, crazy sex?—“Get to know each other.”

“And what about when she leaves in August? Then what?”

That wiped the huge grin off Dylan’s face. Layne’s stomach clenched. Guilt was a bitch, but he had to bring Dylan off his high. Heaven would leave in August. He didn’t want his best friend getting screwed over.

Dylan cleared his throat. He stood, gave Layne a meaningful look, and walked over to the door. “I hope she will stay here.”

“But if she doesn’t?”

Silence filled the air. Then Dylan sighed. “At this point, I would follow her wherever she went.”

What the…

Layne’s mouth flew open. He fell against the oak door, disbelieving what he had heard. “You gotta be kidding me?”

Dark eyes turned on him. “No. I’m not. I won’t stop until she’s my wife.”

Layne’s voice faltered. He stared. Blinked. Gaped his mouth so wide, he could fit a snare drum in it. Where had his best friend gone? Had aliens abducted him? Had someone cut off Dylan’s nuts, because he’d sure gotten in tune with his girly side.

No, it wasn’t even that. Layne could understand wanting a woman. Hell, he’d even considered giving his heart to one girl. But she…she wasn’t available. And common sense slapped him on the backside of his head. Women were great. Great for bringing his body complete satisfaction. But for marriage? For love?

Well…maybe. Maybe the one girl who’d touched his heart. Even if it was for a split second. But he’d never let Dylan know a woman had affected him like that.

Especially now.

“That’s…um…deep, dude.” Layne kicked around a coaster that had fallen on the floor. He’d like to kick Dylan’s ass, instead. “You’ve barely spent time with her. Now you’re willing to give up everything to marry her?”

“Are you finished giving me shit?”

“I’m in shock. You wanna marry her. But you haven’t even sampled the menu? Unless you’re lying about what hap—”

“Nothing happened last night!” Dylan gritted his teeth. “Why is this so important to you?”

“Just looking out for you. I don’t want you to rush into this with blinders on.”

“What Heaven and I have…it’s different. We’re connected.”

Layne sent the coaster flying across the room with one swift kick. He met Dylan’s glare with one of his own. “Do you really believe that?”

“Yes, I do. It’s like reading minds, but with emotions.”

“Is that why you’ve been acting like a chick?”

Dylan’s eyes narrowed. He clenched his fists. “Screw you, dude. I’m outta here.” Dylan hit the screen door as he stormed out.

“Dude, come on,” Layne said. He waited to see if Dylan would stop. But he didn’t. Layne walked to the archway, “I was only joking,” he shouted.

Dylan flipped him the bird.

Well, fuck…

* * *

Heaven gazed into the eyes of a demon. Better known as Faith. Her sisters were sitting at the table, coffees in hand. Hope’s fingers slid across her phone as she typed what Heaven assumed was a text message. Faith was sitting across from her, hands folded on the table, legs jiggling ninety-miles an hour.

Great. This was going to be a blast.

She opened the storm door and stepped inside. The stench of leftover liquor and beer assaulted her nose as Faith and Hope’s eyes locked onto her.

“Where the hell have you been?” Faith shouted. She was on her feet in less than a heartbeat. She fisted her hands on her hips, green eyes glaring.

“Good morning to you, too, Faith,” Heaven snapped back.

Hope placed her phone on the table and made her way to Heaven. She wrapped her arms around Heaven, crushing her to her chest. “Hev, where were you? I’ve been really worried.”

Heaven slipped out of her embrace and walked toward the coffee pot. She grabbed a cup from the cabinet and poured the rich contents from the pot.

“Look,” she said, placing the pot back on the base. “I’m sorry you guys were worried about me, but you are partially to blame for not knowing where I was.”