Lowering himself, he circled her breast withhis velvet tongue before pulling her in with a deep caress with hismouth. Her gasp not so soft now, her eyes flashed open in sensualshock, her arms releasing him. Nipping the side of her breast, hepulled away now that she’d unlocked him from her unbreakablegrip.
“See you on the trail.” He hopped out of bedand dashed to the bathroom before things got carried away. Slippingon his running shorts and shoes, he was out of there before shecould retaliate.
Sophie made good time; they crossed at abouttheir usual spot at his favorite lookout. He should stop there moreoften. Maybe they could have one of her favored picnics there oneof these days. Or even set up camp.
They didn’t stop to talk, as was theirroutine. Instead, they flashed each other a satisfied grin and kepton their way. Today, he made it back first.
After a quick shower, he threw on some cargoshorts and a NAVY t-shirt per his usual. Bringing their coffees outto the deck, he only had to wait a few minutes before she came outthe sliding glass door.
“Morning,” she greeted with a contentedsmile. They sat in silence for several minutes, enjoying the peaceof the morning.
Neither said anything about last night. Notyet. They’d hashed and rehashed the nuances of their situation morethan either cared to. Both hated keeping secrets, but both knewPippa would be thrilled once she understood they were in it forgood.
He sort of assumed Sophie was in it for thelong haul. She was, wasn’t she? It would be a painful, sweetrevenge against him if Pippa’s friend dumped him and left himbroken hearted this time. Rubbing a gnawing ache under his sternum,he tried to shake off his self-doubt.
Finally, he remembered the awful run-in withher aunt to give him something else to focus on. “I know you wantto deal with it yourself, but do you mind if I speak with Larsonabout your aunt?”
Poor timing, as usual. If he’d thought beforespeaking, he might have realized the topic was a bad choice. Footin mouth, as usual.
She adjusted in her seat, her spine ramrodstraight. “I don’t want to involve anyone else in this justyet.”
Crap. He didn’t want Yvette to get ahead ofthem and ruin Sophie’s chances of success in her new venture.Mostly for her, knowing how much she was hanging her dreams on thisopportunity. But he didn’t deny the not-so-small amount ofselfishness he felt in her settling in locally.
If she left Foothills, he didn’t know whathe’d do. If she’d let him follow. He didn’t tend to plan aheadwell, but damn, when he found what he wanted, he didn’t hesitate.He knew. And he knew Sophie was his future.
“I get that, I really do. I don’t trust thatwoman.”
Sophie drained the last of her coffee withswift finality and stood from the chair. “Neither do I, but I’m notgiving her the satisfaction. I’m sick of defending myself, ofsuffering her lies. If she tries anything, I’m facing ithead-on.”
Knowing when to pick his moments, he bit hischeek before he said anything to upset her any more than he alreadyhad. “Okay.” She headed for the door while he remained glued to hischair, feeling absurdly helpless. “Sophie… if you need anything,I’m here. Don’t hesitate to ask for help.”
She offered him with a glum smile. “Iknow.”
“Really. I know you hate asking, but I’m inthis with you.” If only he could tell her just how much he had herback. Not yet; not when she was turning inward. He was terrifiedthat she’d disconnect further.
Hesitating, but otherwise not acknowledging,she left him alone on the blindingly sundrenched deck.
Angry at himself and his poor timing, hestalked into the kitchen and made a quick piece of toast.Impatient, he snatched the barely warm piece of floppy whole wheatfrom the toaster and stuffed the dry bread in his mouth on his wayto the garage. If he just had the right words, the right approach,maybe he could make this a little easier on Sophie. Her aunt wouldinevitably make her life a living hell for years to come, as she’ddone since Sophie was just a kid.
Waiting for the painfully slow rise of thegarage door, listening to the familiar clanking of the metal gears,he stared at his truck as it came into view. The engine had beenrunning oddly yesterday, occasionally missing. Worse than usual.Something wasn’t right, but he couldn’t figure it out. Since he’dbeen back from that awful last deployment and the engine quit thefirst time, he’d poured weeks of repairs into the damn thing, butevery time he managed to get something fixed, something else wentwrong.
Sliding beneath the engine, then looking fromup top, fiddling with every bolt and cap, then inspecting even thedamn axels and tires, he couldn’t find anything wrong. Couldn’tcome up with anything that might be nonfunctional. Connections weresecure, nothing rusted through, nothing leaking.
He hopped in the driver’s seat and crankedthe engine. It fired up no problem. Okay. It’s okay.
Just when he was about to shut it down, heheard the sound again. Not exactly missing, more like a systemicweakness. The rumbling started to slow.
Gently pushing on the gas, he managed tobring a little life to the engine. Removing his foot again, itslowed again. Again, it revved a little with a little gas, but notas strong this time. Fucking death rattle.
Revving the engine with the pedal pushed tothe floor, he poured all of his hopes and frustration into thedying engine. Not now, dammit. Not one more loss.
Screaming, the engine tried to cooperate withthe influx of fuel. With a final, pathetic puff of black smoke fromthe exhaust, the engine slowed and came to a quiet stop. He turnedthe key again. Nothing. No activity.
A fierce growl rose from deep under hisdiaphragm, filling his chest, his arms, with fury. Desperate,helpless, that energy funneled into his fists and he slammed intothe dash, the steering wheel, again and again, until his knucklesbled.
Leaning forward, his forehead met thesteering wheel and stayed. An aching, burning sob rose from hischest.
The passenger door opened. Glancing to theside, his forehead glued to the wheel, he saw Sophie sliding inthrough his glassy vision.
