Second Chances (17 page)

"So you need to be exhausted from work, worried about Ian and waking from a nap."

"You missed the most important point. I need to wake up hungry."

"Christ!"

Karina laughed and slid out of the car. Had she pushed him enough for now? She was having so much fun playing, it was hard to stop. "I'm going to go in and have a long hot soak in a bubble bath. Maybe you should have a cold shower, yourself."

As they walked up the front steps, he paused for a moment, then said calmly, "As much as I love seeing this part of you, the next time she pops up, I'll take her up on her offer."

Karina contemplated his words for a moment. That was fair. She was almost ready to take the next step in their relationship, but not yet. This teasing was fun, but it wasn't fair unless it was enjoyable for both of them.

"Thanks for the warning. The next time it happens, know that it will be an invitation."

"I'll be waiting. Let your sensuality out, let your passion ripen and when you can't stand it anymore, come to me and we'll both go up in flames." His passion-filled eyes darkened even further.

Fiery images penetrated her mind, pinning her in a place of enthrallment. Karina shuddered with need. He'd only awakened and heightened the images that already lived in her mind. Her breath hitched, only to raggedly start again as some of the intensity drained away.

Their passion would burn them, consume them and unite them. God, she couldn't wait.

***

The days passed in one continuous span of time, virtually unnoticed by Ian.

He waited patiently, letting Brian and Karina live their lives, innocently unaware of his constant presence, of his watching their every move. He'd followed them home from the store to Brian's lovely house on the beach where they cozied up nice and safe. Or thought they were safe.

They never noticed the car that always sat in the small lot beside Karina's store or even him as he strolled past several times a day. They never connected him to the gray vehicle that shadowed their every trip, no matter how short or insignificant.

Now Brian had moved her into his house. How convenient for Brian.

How convenient for Ian.

Every day Brian drove Karina to work. Every evening he picked her up. Sometimes she was alone at work, but not very often and not for very long. She was never alone at his house, unless Brian went for a walk. Interesting.

And so simple.

T
he next few days fell into an easy pattern.

Even though they'd picked up her car, Brian continued to drive Karina back and forth to work, not wanting her to be alone at any time. For the balance of the day, they worked on their budding relationship.

By the weekend, with no further sign of Ian, Karina wondered if they'd blown the situation out of proportion. She still woke nightly, only Ian was no longer the reason. She felt safe with Brian. But with the safety factor having removed the nightly fear, other issues rose. Like her feelings for Brian. Their relationship remained platonic. Friendly, caring even but definitely hands-off.

And that was her fault.

She knew exactly what she could do about it, but fear was stopping her from taking that next step. And that was just stupid.

The phone rang when she was making lunch. "Hello?"

No answer. Spotting the notification that they'd missed a call, she clicked through to listen to the message, but there was nothing more than a dial tone. She shrugged and returned to the salad preparation, promptly forgetting about it.

Until it happened again.

Brian delivered fresh coffee outside later that afternoon. "The phone just rang but there was only a dial tone. Must have been a wrong number."

Uh oh
. "That happened earlier. Twice, in fact." she said. "I missed a call when cleaning and there was only a dial tone." She looked at him sharply, the threat constantly over their heads prodding her. "Do you think it could be Ian?"

"Anything is possible." Brian frowned. "I don't know why he'd call, though."

"To see if anyone is home, maybe?"

"Doubtful. Chances are it wasn't him." Brian shifted closer to her and pulled her into his arms. "We'll stay vigilant and hope it had nothing to do with him."

Sounded good…in theory. She wondered how much of this mess he'd shared with Mark. "When is Mark back?"

"On Wednesday, I believe. Why?"

"With him being gone these last couple of weeks, he doesn't know about me living here with you."

"Yes, he does. I sent him an email updating him." Brian squeezed her warmly then released her again.

Karina looked at him sheepishly. "Good. I honestly didn't know what to say."

"Still bothered by it all?" There was a touch of disappointment in his voice.

"Yes, to a certain extent." she admitted. "I want my life back to normal. I've been here a week but I'm caught in limbo."

"We don't have many options at this point. Maybe the goal now is to come up with a new 'normal'."

"I know..." she broke off, unnerved, as the phone rang. She stared at Brian.

"I'll answer it." Brian headed into the kitchen.

Karina held her breath until she heard voices, then relaxed back into her chair. She turned her attention to the meal she'd offered to cook tomorrow. Sandra and the twins were coming over for a BBQ. No amount of control could keep her mind on dinner, though. Instead it returned repeatedly to other appetites of a more carnal nature—namely hers.

Sexual tension sat always just under her skin. Oddly enough, one of the worst times for her was when he was in the shower. God, she wanted the freedom to join him.

Reality rudely disrupted her sensual musings.

"That was Officer Markham on the phone." Brian ran his fingers through his short hair, irritation radiating from his body, before sliding his palm down his face. He slumped into his chair, facing her.

"Problems?"

"There was no one on the phone when I answered. I tried dialing *69, but couldn't get a number. So I called Markham."

Karina winced. She was glad that he'd called the officer but hated the thought that Ian might be behind this latest trouble. She couldn't dismiss the thought as irrational fear if he was also concerned. "What did Markham say?"

"He didn't like it. But there's not much he can do about it. He reminded us to be careful and to keep tabs on these calls." Brian took her hand and tugged her gently forward and onto his lap. Karina buried her face in his shoulder and snuggled in close against his chest.

She breathed deeply, trying to let the tension inside of her go. Held close in Brian's arms, it was easier to believe that everything would work out fine.

***

The twins had a blast on Sunday. They brought Max, and between the dog and the beach, they wore themselves out. Sandra teased Karina and Brian most of the afternoon. Karina cooked hot dogs for the twins and steaks for the adults. Later, they collapsed on the patio chairs, savoring their wine. Full of food and the added treat of ice cream and soda, The boys reacted oppositely. They revved into high gear, running around the beach with Max and a soccer ball where the adults could see them.

That game turned into exploring the driftwood and checking out what the ocean had washed ashore. Excited voices grew louder over some find in the clump of bushes.

Karina laughed, enjoying the boys' adventure—until the boys raced over with their find—a stainless steel coffee mug.

"Hey, Mom. Look what we found. Can we keep it?"

"Where did you find it?" Brian asked curiously.

"Over there." They pointed toward a thick patch of scrub brush not far from the house. "Someone must have been sitting there for a long time. The whole place is packed down."

"Yeah, maybe they were hiding in the bushes, spying. That's so cool. We should go spy on someone, too." Daniel spun around as if to find a close enough neighbor to play their espionage games on.

"Can we keep it, mom?"

"
Please?
"

"First off, no spying. That's not cool. And as for the mug, I think it should be Brian's. It's his place and we don't need one of those. Besides, it's more fun for you guys to just keep hunting," Sandra said. "So why don't you go look and see what else you can find, and leave that one here."

Excited about the possibility of finding more treasure, the boys took off in a different direction.

Karina hadn't said a word. She stared suspiciously at the mug while a yawning black pit opened in her stomach. She looked over at Brian. He seemed relaxed, unconcerned. Of course, it was a public beach. People were allowed to walk or sit essentially wherever they wanted. But then, why there, next to Brian's house, in the bushes?

None of the adults referred to the cup again. The next time Brian rose to go into the kitchen, he casually took it with him. He returned with the bottle of wine, filling Karina's glass.

Sandra refused more. "I'd love some, but," she said, standing, "it's time to head home. David, Daniel, it's time to go, guys. You have school tomorrow."

Loud groans echoed over the sand.

"Mom, why did you have to say that? We were having so much fun and then you had to wreck it." This last came from David, the oldest by one hour and the self-appointed leader.

"Yeah, Mom, like, why remind us?"

Karina shook her head at the pair. Too cute to resist, she got up from her comfortable seat to hug them both.

"There's still some fruit custard left. Do you want to take home the leftovers?"

"Could we finish it now?" David asked.

"No, you can't." Sandra stepped in. "Tomorrow, when you get home from school you can both share it, but no more food tonight. It's late. Say thanks and let's go."

After they left, Karina felt loneliness close in on her. She'd enjoyed the kids' visit. She only wished that Chelsea could have joined them, but Marly had already made plans for the two of them. Her brain cycled back to the mug.

"Brian. That mug the boys found in the bushes…?"

He slipped on arm around her shoulder, steering her toward the roses. The scent was strong in the evening, but the heavy sweetness was tempered by the tang of ocean air. "Yes, I think it's probably Ian's. But we don't know that for sure."

She hated this uncertainty. Frustrated anger coiled deep in her belly. "Will you call Markham?"

"I will, but I doubt he can do much with it." Brian ran his hand through his hair. "There aren't likely to be any useable fingerprints left on it at this point, especially considering most of us handled it after the boys found it, but that will be up to him to determine."

Frustrated and depressed, Karina stepped away and started back towards the front stairs. "I hate thinking that he might be watching us." Faint tremors edged into her voice despite every attempt to stay in control. "I'm going to bed. I just hope I can sleep."

"You can always come into my bed if you get scared," he said, his voice deepening, darkening with heat.

Shivers slid down her spine. And this time Ian had nothing to do with them.

Spinning around, she looked up at him. Heat arced between them.

Slowly, as if giving her time to run, he reached for her, searing her with the heat of his kiss. Fear, confusion, loneliness and intense need tangled together. Joining forces, they surged into a passionate force that refused to be denied. Warm fingers slid under the hem of her T-shirt, caressing her breasts. He squeezed and rolled the tight buds of her nipples, before finally palming each breast.

His tongue explored her mouth, stroking her bottom teeth, caressing her and suggesting so much more. Tenderly, he dined on the sweetness of her mouth, showering his loving attention on first her bottom lip and then on the upper one. Her senses melted with the heavy scent of roses, ocean air and man. She didn't know where one started and where one stopped. She didn't care. She burned.

Her mind tumbled with sexual images, of being filled by him, loved by him, of being his. Of him being hers.

Images. Pictures. Movies. Watching.
Ian

Ice cooled the molten lava, as her mind wrenched her back to reality. Revulsion burned in her gut. She whispered hoarsely, "What if he's here—watching us right now?"

Shuddering, he squeezed her against him, his heavy breaths warm against her hair.

"He isn't."

"But we don't know that, Brian. I can't stand this," she wailed. Panicked, she bolted into the relative safety of the house, and her bedroom. But the suffocating darkness followed.