was probably in there naked. Naked and gorgeous from the front or the back and counting the dings and bruises on his body that she was directly or indirectly responsible for. Washing her scent off his body and planning the next home-repair project that would keep him busy and away from her dangerous, overenthusiastic, unwanted attentions.
Sex was one thing.
Commitment was something else.
Nate Kellison lived in California. He had family he loved there. He had an important job.
She was a small-town Texas girl with a baby on the way. She had a legacy to rebuild and maintain for her son. She had a single father who needed her. This was where she had to stay.
California. Texas.
Nate. Jolene.
Big trouble.
He was going to leave her.
Gripping the edge of the table, Jolene held on as fearful anticipation buffeted through her. She hugged her baby and blinked back the sting of tears. “Oh, Dad. I wish I could talk to you right now.”
She needed Mitch Kannon’s patient ear and fatherly hug and hopeful reminder that not everyone she loved left her.
But once the flood waters receded, once the state of emergency had been terminated, Nate would have no reason to stay. A few long talks and some amazing sex couldn’t erase all the arguments, or the injuries, or the impulsive mistakes, or the lack of experience with men that made her more of a project than a helpmate.
Wait a minute.
“Dad?” A new thought popped into Jolene’s head, momentarily putting the brakes on the downward spiral of her emotions. Could Nate think that he’d broken his promise to her father? That he’d stepped beyond the boundaries of taking care of her?
Was it possible that Nate’s polite withdrawal had more to do with the value of his word than with her?
He could be plain old tired.
He might feel guilty.
Things might be moving way too quickly for a thoughtful guy like Nate.
Or…she could be the problem.
Suffused with renewed energy, Jolene picked up the lantern and patted her tummy. “Let’s go find out.”
Hurrying through the familiar rooms in her bare feet, Jolene entered the master bedroom and crossed straight to the bathroom door. She had her fist raised to knock when she heard him moving around inside, knocking something over, muttering beneath his breath.
Maybe she’d better let him finish his business before she demanded answers. She pulled her hand back to her side and turned off the lantern. Patience really wasn’t her strong suit, but for this, she could wait.
Padding back across the carpet, she climbed up onto the blue and white quilt that covered her four-poster bed, leaned against one of the polished oak posts and planned what she wanted to say.
Her eyes had adjusted to the moonlit darkness by the time the bathroom door opened.
She popped up off the bed the instant Nate appeared.
“Can we talk about what happened in the barn?”
“Talk?” He froze in the doorway.
She stood close enough to see that he’d shaved. The two-day growth of beard was gone, along with a couple of nicks of skin. Apparently, he’d braved the cold water, disposable shaver route. But she didn’t ask if he’d found the shaving cream stored beneath the sink or borrowed some lotion to smooth the burn.
She looked straight into those whiskey-brown eyes. “Even if I don’t like your answers, I need to hear them.”
“I’m not dressed.”
Jolene followed his gaze as he glanced down at the white towel wrapped around his hips and held together with his fist.
She swallowed hard, feeling light-headed from a rush of heat. Wow, there was a lot of man showing there. And it all seemed to be leanly sculpted around one very fit body.
She took in the mean red cut on his shoulder and the neat white stitching that held it together. She noted the flat stomach and the indented belly button two or more inches above the edge of that terry cloth. And though his most vulnerable parts were covered, the towel slit apart and revealed a long, muscular thigh, misshapen knee and length of leg covered in a patchwork of shiny scars that caught and reflected the moonlight.
Jolene felt her heart clutch at the marks of so much suffering, even as it quickened at the sight of all that muscle and skin. “I didn’t see these this afternoon.” She reached out to touch one wound, to offer comfort. “Oh, Nate. I’m so sorry.”
“Whoa.” He put out his hand to ward hers off and jumped back a step. “Can’t we put this off for a little while?