The Hero's Redemption

Only because it’s been so long.

Uh-huh. Sure.

He should say something, but what? That was fun, babe? It’ll make a really fine memory? So fine I may never be able to enjoy sex with anyone else again? He didn’t remember what he’d said to previous sex partners. Had he said anything at all?

He was making too much of this. He liked Erin. He could love her, if he dared to let himself. Of course, that made sex better. And it’d been his first time in so damn many years he should have expected to go off like a rocket. Easy explanation. The next time wouldn’t be so explosive.

He finally turned his head so he could see her. She was staring up at the ceiling, looking as shell-shocked as he felt.

“You okay?” he asked.

Erin blinked a couple of times. “I…think so.”

“That was…really good.” To his own ears, he sounded drunk.

He wasn’t the only one. Her “Yes” was a mumble.

Cole groped around until he found her hand. He felt better when she returned his clasp.

Good. He wouldn’t blame her if she was insulted. Why hadn’t he said staggering? Mind-blowing? Astounding?

But she squeezed his hand. “Yes, it was. This was one way to start the day.”

He actually laughed. At least, his chest vibrated. If only he could start every day like this.

No, this was temporary. Thinking otherwise wasn’t smart. “Damn.” Was that a tingle in his feet? He hadn’t been sure he could feel them, far less wriggle them. Or stand on them. “Del’s going to be wondering where I am.”

“Well, this is one place he won’t look for you,” she said practically.

Cole mulled that over. “I don’t know. You don’t think the neighbors are suspicious?”

Erin went so still he turned his head again. “I hope not!” she exclaimed a moment later.

Feeling a stab to his gut, he started to sit up. Erin gave a hard tug that had him half rolling to face her instead.

“Quit being so sensitive. I didn’t mean that the way you took it. Only that…they’re my grandmother’s generation. She’d be shaking her head at me right now.”

“You so sure about that?” From what Erin had said about her grandmother, he had the impression of a pretty feisty lady. “You don’t think she enjoyed sex in her day?”

“Yes, but I doubt she ever had sex with anyone but Grandpa.”

“Really? Nobody in—what?—the forties ever had premarital sex?”

“Well, maybe she did with him.”

Laughing at her dubious tone, he did sit up. His body had rebooted, thank God. “I’d better go head off Del.”

Erin sighed. “I swore I’d paint the last bedroom today. I am so tired of painting.”

Cole pointed upward. “Should have done the ceilings first.”

“That’s a mean thing to say.”

The light conversation made it possible for them both to get dressed, for him to give her a quick, hard kiss, say, “See you at lunch?” and leave.

Walking down the driveway, his mood turned bleak. Mind-blowing? What he really feared was that making love with Erin could be slotted into the life-altering category. Which meant repeating it was dangerous, and even this one memory should be forgotten, not carried everywhere he went.

But he also knew damn well that he’d spend every minute he could in her bed.

* * *

SITTING ON THE porch eating lunch with Cole was so much like every other day that Erin felt as if she was having an out-of-body experience. Were those two people she was looking down at faking it? Or had they simply relieved some tension and figured it was all good? What was he thinking? What am I thinking?

Thinking wasn’t exactly what she was doing. Feeling was more like it, and she was better off not acknowledging emotions until he was gone. Whenever that would be.

“I talked to Lottie,” he said, as if reading her mind. “I’ll put the second coat of paint on Del’s porch railings and uprights this afternoon, then start her ramp tomorrow. The lumber should be delivered today.”

Erin’s relief was huge. He wasn’t going right away. He’d be here for another couple of weeks at least.

The longer he stayed, the more she’d miss him when he did leave.