Without Connor at dinner, the hours seemed to move in slow motion. Jillian made a tuna casserole from one of Gram’s old recipes. Joe claimed it was the best he ever had. Sunnie swore it was the first she’d ever had and Reese, who was late to dinner, simply said he didn’t like tuna so he only ate two helpings. The guy could eat more than a family of six. His folks were probably doubling his college fund by sending him over to the Larady house to eat.
She’d saved Connor a plate, but when he finally made it home, he didn’t seem interested in eating. He had something on his mind, and no one asked for fear of hearing every detail of the city’s business.
When Reese had offered to drive Jillian home, Connor nodded, and for the first time seemed to become aware that she was there.
He stood and pointed Reese toward the kitchen. “While you say good night to Sunnie, Reese, I’ll walk Jillian out.”
Reese started to say he was ready, but Sunnie jerked him into the kitchen so fast, Reese looked like the world’s largest rag doll trailing behind her.
Jillian wanted to roll her eyes at the whole group. From Joe to Sunnie, they were all trying to give Connor a chance to be alone with her. Like whatever was between them might last if they just had a few more minutes.
As always, Connor opened the door for her. She thought about telling him the kindness wasn’t necessary, but she guessed he wasn’t doing it because he had to, or needed to. The small gesture was done simply because he wanted to.
Once alone on the shadowy porch, he didn’t move close to her like she hoped he would. He just stood looking out into the night, lost in his thoughts.
When she touched his arm, he turned toward her and smiled. “I’m sorry. I’ve got a lot on my mind tonight. A new business venture if I’m lucky. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow. Maybe we can have lunch together and talk. Just me and you for a change.”
“I’d like that.”
“But tonight I need to tell you a bit I learned after doing some research on the town about thirty years back.” He brushed her shoulder with a gentle touch. “Something important maybe.”
“Can it wait until tomorrow?” Anything that involved research could wait.
“It could, but...”
She ended the discussion by leaning in and boldly kissing him. He might want to talk, but she simply wanted to feel tonight. If they only had a moment of time, she wanted it to count and as far as she was concerned, any discussion was over.
Pressing close, she molded her body against his in invitation, hoping for a memory that she could hold on to all night. In the stillness, the sound of his heartbeat echoed against hers. She loved the lean strength of him against her. He fit like a glove, a match, as no one else ever had. The feel of him. The smell of him. The taste of him. All were like deep cell memories she’d known a hundred lifetimes ago. The one person, one mate that was just right.
He took her bold invitation without hesitation. As his kiss caught fire, his hands moved along her sides, not touching, not caressing, but feeling her through the cotton blouse she wore.
She wanted skin on skin, but this was as close as she could get, and he wasn’t shy as he explored. The shadows blanketed them in a cocoon, and for a moment she could relax against his warmth and simply feel.
When he moved his lips away from her mouth and began tasting his way down her neck, she knew she’d won. “I’ve wanted to be this close all day.” Her mouth brushed his ear. “I want to melt into you until for a moment there is no me, no you, just us. It feels so good when you’re this close.”
He threaded his fingers into her hair and pulled her mouth to his once more. With words brushing against her lips, he whispered, “I want this, too. I want you, Jillian, like I’ve never wanted another. All day. All night. I have this ache inside of me as if something’s always been missing.” He kissed her hard and added, “It’s you, Jillian. It’s you next to me that was absent. It’s you against me.”
His deep kiss brought every sense alive. She’d kissed men who were practiced. Men who were bold. But none were right. Connor’s kisses, his touches, weren’t dances or games he was playing; they were basic needs. Like food and water and air.
His hand covered her breast and she straightened, pushing softly against his palm. Neither moved for a moment, then he leaned slightly and kissed her so tenderly, she forgot to breathe.
The door opened behind them, and both took a step backward. Both gulping for air as they returned to the real world.
In the shadows his fingers laced with hers. Holding tight for one more moment. They both wanted the same thing and whether it was once or every night until she left, Jillian knew he’d be the lover she’d always remember, always dream of, always measure every other lover by. This gentle man had a passion in him that might drown her if she wasn’t careful, but for this one time she had to drink her fill.
“I didn’t mean to...” he started.
“I did.” She smiled and he gave up apologizing.
He grinned. “If we’re ever truly alone again, I don’t know what will happen. I’m crazy about you.”
“I know exactly what will happen. The question is, Mayor, are you ready for it?”
His words came out in a breath. “I think I’ve been waiting all my life for you to come along.”
Sunnie and Reese bolted out the door like two wild colts. She was beating on him for calling her “honey,” and he was laughing so hard he kept tripping over his own feet.
Finally, he locked Sunnie in a headlock, kissed the top of her striped hair, and said good-night.
She turned back to the porch, mumbling death threats.
Connor looked at Jillian and shrugged. “What can I say, love’s complicated.”
“It’s not love,” Sunnie screamed.
“Hell,” Reese yelled back. “I’m not sure it’s even like, honey.”
He darted to his truck for self-preservation as Connor opened the passenger door for Jillian. “You sure you want to ride home with him? He doesn’t even have a license, and I’m not sure he’s got any brains since he’s dating my daughter.”
“I’ll live dangerously for a few blocks.” She winked at Connor, telling him what they’d shared in the porch shadows had fueled her spirit.
Connor was still standing at the curb when they disappeared around the corner. She was already feeling cold inside without him. What they’d just done would keep both of them awake, she guessed.
She could tell herself that it was only a kiss. Only a touch. But deep down she knew it was far more.
They’d crossed an invisible line. From “if something might happen” to “when” and both knew it.