One to Keep (One to Hold 2)

“Sounds like you have a problem with the law.” I gently poked her ribs.

She relaxed again. “I just have a problem with being ordered around.”

“A sign of latent criminal tendencies.” Her elbow came back sharply into my side and I grunted, “Violent criminal tendencies.”

“Patrick!” she cried, and I laughed.

“No, I understand. It was your life, your future.” She was still leaning against me, and my hand was on the bare skin of her upper arm. “Trust me, I’ve never responded well to taking orders.”

“That from a guard?”

“There are different types of orders. And different sources delivering them.”

“I couldn’t have said it better.” She sat forward and turned to me, reaching for my hands. “Let’s walk some more.”

I let her pull me up and we started down the path again. After a few moments, her hand moved to my arm, which I bent to hold it. “So what’s so bad about being a lawyer?” I asked.

She sighed. “Nothing. It just wasn’t what I wanted to do.”

“You wanted to teach.”

“I didn’t at first, it was the only thing I knew to do. Then the more I did it, the more I loved it.” She shrugged as we continued. “Every year, I had a new group of kids I fell in love with, that I watched grow and learn and become more confident. I wish some people understood that.” Her tone was irritated again. “It’s not about the money or the recognition, it’s about making a difference. Insisting you’re right all the time and bullying people won’t change anything. You have to do something, be a part of the solution.”

I stopped, and she stopped as well. Her green eyes met mine before she blinked down quickly. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize! It’s impressive how much you love your work. It sounds like you’re the best kind of teacher, and I’m sure whoever you’re thinking about probably knows it.”

She stepped forward and kissed my cheek. “Thank you,” she said. “Now I want to know more about you! You have an older brother?”

“Stuart, yes,” I nodded. “And he’s exactly what you’d expect.”

She laughed. “My older brothers all spoiled me.”

“That is not the kind of relationship we have. If you ever encounter the big brother versus little brother stereotype, Stuart is the model for it.”

Her hand was back in the crook of my arm as we walked. “But it was character-building, right?”

“No.”

She laughed again, and it made me laugh, too. “See?” She cried. “You’re laughing. You know I’m right.”

All I knew was the sound of her voice made everything that was wrong with me feel right. The calm was back, and I felt like I could talk to her and listen to her speak and hear her thoughts all night. We walked some more, then we took a place by the fire again. She told me about her brothers and her favorite aunt—her dad’s younger sister who had moved in with them after her mom left. She talked about growing up with Melissa and about living on the coast.

We sat with our bodies touching, and we sat apart, with her feet in my lap. But that never lasted long before we were back to bodies touching again. Finally, I looked around at the deserted patio and realized how late it was. I could see she was tired, and I stood, holding out my hand to help her up.

“I’ll walk you back to the spa.”

She nodded slowly. We didn’t speak the entire way, and all I could think about were her lips and covering them with mine. I’d been thinking about it all night, but I wanted to handle this one differently—right for a change.

Stopping at the entrance, I paused, lightly cupping her cheeks. Her green eyes met mine, and she smiled. In a flash I kissed her, opening her mouth, finding her tongue for the first time. My arms moved to her waist, pulling her closer. Our bodies molded together and a little noise escaped her throat. The sound sent a blaze of desire racing through me, focusing directly below my belt. But I wasn’t rushing that. Not this time.

“Goodnight.” My words should have parted us, but I held her closer.

Her arms held me tightly as well, and I knew this was different from anything I’d experienced before. All of this was tectonically different.

Forcing myself to let her go, I stepped back. I couldn’t look in her eyes or I’d never do what I had to do right now.

“I hope I’ll see you tomorrow.” An ache was in my throat.