One Summer in Santa Fe - By Molly Evans Page 0,53

humbled by Piper.

Driving home, though only ten minutes away, was one of the longest drives he’d ever made in the pre-dawn. He let himself in and walked to Alex’s room first. Still clothed, the boy was sprawled on the bed, his mouth slack with sleep. Taylor knelt on the floor beside him as emotions he’d kept at bay for too long finally overcame him. “I’m sorry, Alex. I’ll take better care of you from now on. I won’t let you down.” He stroked the dark hair, then left the room.

Piper lay curled on her left side on the couch, a spare blanket half on, half off. She must be exhausted after working her shift, then helping him. He’d been unfair, asking her.

Something behind his heart shifted a bit, piercing something that had lain hidden and dormant until now. Until Piper. Despite everything, could he be falling for her? Locking his heart away had been a priority in his life. He hadn’t needed anyone. Hadn’t wanted anyone in his life. Until Piper had breezed into it.

Something had begun to change. He’d begun to change. She sighed in her sleep and adjusted her position. The blanket slid off, revealing her long, long legs. She wore only one of his T-shirts that fell halfway down her bare thigh. Desire flared hot and heavy in him. Emotions raw, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to his room.

“Taylor? What’s going on?” she asked, her voice rough with sleep, and she blinked like an owl. Her arms slid around his shoulders. “Is Caroline stable?”

“Yes.” He placed her in the middle of his bed and sat down beside her. This was where he had wanted her for a long time. And now that she was here, he just wanted to hold her.

“I’m so glad.” Blinking sleepily, she moved closer to him and pulled him against her for a tight hug. “I’m so relieved.”

“Yeah, me too.” Words wouldn’t come, they lodged in his throat. The night of emotion had left him devoid of function, and he just wanted to hold her against him for what was left of it. “Will you stay with me? Let me hold you while I sleep a while?”

Piper’s hand clutched the back of his neck, and she pressed her forehead to his. “Yes.”

Taylor pulled the covers back, and settled with her against his side. The security of having her in his arms and the bliss of sleep overwhelmed him in an instant.

In the moments before becoming fully awake, Piper turned toward the heat source at her back. The cobwebs of sleep faded, and the events of the evening rushed back to her. Taylor. She was in his bed. The place she wanted to be above all others, but the circumstances that had led her to this place were unfortunate. As she tried to ease away from him, the touch of his hand on her hip made her pause. He turned into her back, bringing her against him. Waiting a moment, she hoped he’d settle back to sleep so she could escape, but as she tensed, waiting, she realized he was tense and waiting, too.

“Where are you going?” he whispered.

“I thought you were asleep.”

“Until you moved.”

“Sorry. Go to sleep, and I’ll head home.”

“Stay, please.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek, her nose, her lips. “I need you, Piper. More than I ever have.”

A tremor of responding need swept through her at his words. She’d needed to hear them. Without answering, she turned to face him. The desperation in his voice, the raw emotion vibrating off him, the tremor in his touch lured her closer to him. Like the proverbial moth, she was going to get burned, but the light proved irresistible.

As she opened her eyes, the dim peach glow of the desert morning crept over the windowsill and bathed the room with its soft light. As she reached out to Taylor, she knew it was all over for her. She’d fallen in love with him.

Expecting his hands to be bold and demanding on her body, his gentle touch surprised her, unfurling soft petals of desire. Slow, drugging kisses and hands meant to tease and please roamed over her with tenderness, rousing her more than fast and urgent moves.

“You are so beautiful, Piper.”

She returned his kisses with all the love she had in her. She might not be able to say the words aloud, but she could show him with her kiss, with her body, exactly how she felt about