Summer Kisses (234 page)

She winced at the thought of him exchanging places with Gary, having to fight for his life. The silent thank you she sent to God that Will hadn’t been the one in the car…well she knew it wasn’t right, but she couldn’t help herself.

She grabbed his forearm. Beneath the coarse hair, his strong muscles trembled.

“Don’t do this.” Nicole scooted her chair closer to him until her knees brushed against his leg. She squeezed his arm. “You can’t blame yourself for what happened. This is Gorgon’s fault, and mine. Not yours.”

“Don’t ever put this on your shoulders, Nicole. It’s not your fault.” Will pounded his fist on the table and the dishes clattered in response. His eyes bore into hers with such a fire, Nicole snapped her hand away. “I’m the one Sharon, and Gary’s kids, and his whole fuckin’ family can blame for what happened to him. If I wasn’t throwing a pity party for myself over the last three weeks, I would’ve been focused on our surroundings. I might’ve picked up on a clue, something, and been able to stop Novokoffs’ men from getting to Gary. Instead I was thinking about—”

Will’s knuckles whitened as he gripped the table’s edge. His gaze tore from hers and fell to the floor, seemingly embarrassed at what he’d almost let slip.

Nicole sat on the edge of the seat. What had Will been thinking about? What caused his guilt over his partner’s condition?

“Instead of what, Will?” she prompted him softly.

He snatched up the mug and took a chug of coffee like he would a few fingers of stiff whiskey before he looked at her again. “You.”

“Me?” She pointed to her chest, surprise widening her eyes.

Before she could blink, Will sat the mug down with a thud and trapped her hand between his warm ones. “Yes. I was kicking my ass for telling you to go out with other men. Why did I when all I want is to keep you for myself?”

The thunder of her blood racing through her veins made Nicole wonder if she’d heard him right. Her brow furrowed, while her heart was doing cartwheels. Will wanted her.

The rough pad of his thumb brushed across the backside of her hand, sending tingles up her arm.

“You were thinking about me?” she said again, still not believing what she’d heard.

“For the past three weeks, I did everything to keep my mind off you, but nothing worked. Gary pointed out to me last night what an idiot I am.”

“Gary said that? The two of you talked about
us
?” She pointed from herself to Will.

“Yes. He told me I was a fool to let you get away. He said I’d better get my act together before some other guy came along and snatched you up. He didn’t know I’d already told you to date other men, and I didn’t tell him about the teacher you’ve been seeing.”

Her spine straightened. Did Will have someone else watching her while he was gone, or had he followed her and Erin himself? Had he seen Erin kiss her goodnight? Heat rose to her cheeks. “You know about Erin?”

“Yeah.” His fingers tightened around hers. “This is a small town. Sara told me.”

“Sara? Where did you see her?”

“I stopped by the shop. You weren’t there. When I asked about you, she told me how happy you were—that you were seeing a teacher. I had to check him out.”

She pulled her hand from his grasp. “For heaven’s sakes, why?”

“You’re under my protection. My job is to make sure you’re safe.”

“Wait.” She raised a finger while shaking the confusion from her head. “You told me to go out with other men, but you neglected to tell me you would need to check them out and spy on us.”

“I—” His gaze jumped around the room like he was trying to decide which exit would be his best bet.

The veins in her temples throbbed. Will suddenly went from someone she pitied to someone she might kill. She stuffed her fists onto her hips. “How could you forget to share that bit of information? Tell me, Will. Don’t you have a memorized list of what you need to tell a person you’re protecting? Some sort of Miranda type thing. I mean, it is your job.”

“I—”

“Oh, stop mumbling.” Her chair toppled as she jumped up. She reached down and Will grabbed her hand. Their faces were inches apart. Nicole’s blood zinged through her veins. They were reliving the cotton candy scenario all over again and she had a feeling this scene was heading in a different direction.

“Don’t see him again.”

“What?” Her knees weakened under the desire she saw in Will’s stare and she fumbled for the chair.

The chair Will sat upon scraped the vinyl flooring as he pushed back and stood. “You heard me. Please don’t see him again.”

Nicole’s pulse kicked into overdrive as he pulled her to him and his strong arm slid around her waist. She clamped her lips closed. She’d broken off her short-lived relationship with Erin last weekend. Erin was nice, but when she was with him, all she did was compare him to the man holding her right now. The one making her heart pound so hard it was a wonder he didn’t hear the thump.

Erin hadn’t measured up to Will, not one bit, but she wasn’t going to tell Will any of that. She loved the way he was clinging to her, hoping for the same thing she’d wished for herself ever since he held her in his arms after she’d broken into Gorgon’s house. “Well, we have a date next Friday night. He’s taking Luka and I on the Halloween hayride.”

“Break the date. I’ll take you.”

His thumb made tiny circles over the small of her back, sending heated charges to her womb. She licked the want from her lips before she asked, “What about me going out with other men.”

“No. No more.” His voice grew huskier. “I was a stupid, stupid man. Please forgive me.”

Before her happiness showed on Nicole’s lips, Will lowered his head and his lips moved softly across hers in a sensual dance, whispering promises.

Hospitals gave Will the willies. The air was thick with suffering. Sobs seemed relentless. Even the cushion under Will moaned as he leaned forward. He placed his elbows on his knees and dangled his bottle of water from his hands. He glanced out the large window and swore he saw a couple snow flurries dance by on the blustery October wind. Tonight was going to be cold.

That thought was followed by another. One that made him shift on the seat again as he imagined Nicole fitting perfectly under his arm and cuddling up against him for warmth, while they’d lay together under a blanket. He checked the clock on the wall next to the door. It was a few minutes past noon. The hayride was tonight and he was to pick Nicole and Luka up at seven.

The crack of a bat brought his attention back to the game he watched with Gary. Will stared up at the small flat-screen television as the ball flew over the second base man’s head to the outfield, only to be caught by the center fielder at the wall. The baseball pennant race was in full swing and their team was in deep shit.

“Ahhh,”
Gary moaned between clenched teeth. His jaw was wired to minimize movement. The doctors who cared for Gary had stated more than a dozen times how he was damn lucky. Three inches higher and the bullet that had cracked his jawbone and exited through his right cheek would’ve entered Gary’s brain at his temple, killing him instantly.

Gary grumbled as he grabbed the side rail and with effort inched himself, and the cast on his left leg, further up on the bed. “Damn. Carlos always goes for the high balls.” At least that was what Will thought he’d said. His friend’s grumble sounded more like a foreigner’s gibberish.

“He should’ve seen it coming.” Will kept his eyes focused on Gary’s eyes and not the bandages covering his right cheek. Will sat his bottle down on Gary’s bedside table. “Relax, the game’s not over.”

In the bottom of the ninth, two men stood on first and third base with two outs and the Phillies pitcher was up to bat. They were down by two against the home team, The Yankees.

“Umph, relax he says,” Gary mumbled, but Will got the meaning.

“We’re coming to the top of the order. You want a sip of water?” Will slid Gary’s Styrofoam cup to the front of the lap table.

Gary waved the cup off. “Beer. I’d like. And—” He drew a breath and took a second to muster his strength. “To go to the john instead of using a freakin’ pan.”

“Hey! The doctor told you not to overdo the talking,” Sharon said as she walked into the room. She flashed a smile at Will, letting him know she was happy to hear her husband complain.

She dropped her purse and coat on the hardback chair in the corner and rounded the bed. Squinting, she waggled her finger between them. “I heard the two of you grumbling about the game the moment I entered the wing. You know, if you keep acting up, they’re going to sedate you and throw Will out. Then, neither one of you will see the end of the game.”

“Will.” Gary tapped the bed railing and then wiggled his fingers. “Gun? I need protection.” He coughed while splaying his hand over his chest.

“I mean it. Stop talking.” Sharon bent over the rail and planted a kiss on Gary’s forehead, marked with cuts from the flying glass.

Will looked away, giving them a bit of privacy. He really had never envied Gary, but he did now. If he was lying in the hospital bed, instead of Gary, who would be here to adjust his pillow like Sharon was doing right now for his partner? Who would take care of him when the time came to go home? Both questions brought Nicole’s beautiful smile to mind.

Another crack of the bat resounded through the room followed by Gary’s bellow. His fist shot into the air while his face beamed with excitement. If Gary could get up, he’d be spinning Sharon around the room, but for the next two months he would be wearing that cast, until his femur and several other things mended.

Applauding their team’s win, Will rose and high-fived his partner. “I told you. Didn’t I tell you? Never doubt your team, buddy.”

Gary winced, after a chuckle.

“Well, this is totally unexpected. What’s all the cheering about in here?”

At the sound of her voice, Will’s past fell on his shoulders with a thud. The floor seemed to open up and their camaraderie, which had brightened the room, slid into hell.

No. Not Laura.
His hearing was playing tricks on him. She lived and worked in Virginia. As far as Will knew, Gary and Sharon hadn’t spoken to her in years.

Staring at Gary’s wide eyes, his grin disappeared and the hair on the back of his neck bristled. Why the hell was Laura here?

Gary’s eyes shifted several times between him and the woman who stood behind him. Finally, his partner shrugged with some effort, affirming he had no knowledge of Laura’s visit.

Will shifted his eyes to Sharon who looked as guilty as anyone could holding a smoking gun in their hand.

While ignoring Will’s glare which asked the question, ‘What in the hell was his ex-fiancée doing here?’ Sharon gave Gary one of those I-didn’t-mean-for-this-to-happen looks. “I...”

Sharon’s strained smile should’ve told Laura to run, but Will didn’t hear any steps of retreat.

“Laura heard what happened and called me last night,” Sharon quickly explained, while stoking Gary’s arm. “She wanted to stop by and see you.”

Will snatched Sharon’s gaze for a second as she looked from her husband to Laura. The second was all he needed to let her know that he was pissed beyond being pissed.

A quick dash of her tongue crossing her lips told him she clearly got his message.

“Come on in, Laura.” Pasting a cordial smile on her face, Sharon waved. “These two were just celebrating. Their team just knocked off the Yankees.”

“Go, Phillies,” Laura cheered as if she was still part of the foursome who’d go out together whenever all their schedules allowed.

Will remained standing, much like a statue, with one hand curled into a fist and the other still pointing ‘YEAH, MAN’ at Gary. Feeling Laura’s stare boring into the back of his skull, he dropped his hand to his side. They hadn’t seen each other in three years — ever since she had walked out on him for a lousy career move. She hadn’t thought the job was lousy. In reality, the opportunity had been a great career move, but it had been lousy in his book, since she had to decide between the job and him. His heart had shattered into a million pieces when she had chosen her career.

Over the years, he heard bits and pieces about her or her work. The most recent, being that she’d received another promotion and was now head of some task force for the Virginia senator’s security detail. She was a big wig, working closely with the Secret Service, since Virginia and D.C. shared so many faculties.

Her exotic scent wafted over his shoulder, tantalizing him. She still wore the perfume he’d purchased for her while they’d vacationed in the south of France.

Will stiffened his spine and pushed aside the flood of memories causing his pulse to dance—especially those memories of Laura’s naked body silhouetted against a moonlight night. With every ounce of willpower, he focused on his plan of action to get the hell out of there.

Rumors and stories were easy to brush off and walk away from, but Laura in the flesh couldn’t be ignored. He had no choice but to turn and face the woman he thought he’d love forever and who had stomped on his heart until it resembled chopped liver.

“I need to get going. I have that thing tonight,” he said, grabbing his ski jacket from the back of the chair and slipping his arms into the sleeves.

“Don’t be late. A good thing.” Gary pulled his lip up in a lopsided smile and winced in the process.

Will smiled, thinking of the way Nicole looked up at him last Sunday night, all starry-eyed while he held her in his arms and kissed her. He could’ve made love to her then, but he hadn’t. He wanted more than sex. She needed to trust him. “Yeah, I think you’re right. You rest, buddy. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Will had intended to pin Sharon with a glare, but her expression filled with remorse changed his mind. How could he not pity her? He knew exactly what happened. Laura called, insisted on seeing Gary for just a few minutes and hadn’t taken no for answer.

Without a glance over his shoulder to check where Laura stood, Will walked around the bed, nudged Sharon’s upper arm with his fist and then planted a kiss on her cheek. “You make him behave. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”