The Family Gathering (Sullivan's Crossing #3)(45)

“Compound femur. Four surgeries. Infection, growth plate issues, a year out of school. But as you can see, both legs are the same length—I’m lucky. I think that’s the year that drove me into myself, when I became very shy and turned to books. I had a great tutor. And I also became very self-conscious. I had a lot of pain. I limped a little from pain and weakness. I couldn’t really run and play so I became studious.”

“It’s certainly not holding you back now,” he said.

“It’s ugly,” she said. “One thigh is thinner than the other.”

He kissed her. “You are so beautiful. These are the greatest legs I’ve ever known.” He frowned slightly. “Sid, you’re not paying attention to the guys in the bar—the cops, the firefighters, the locals. Their eyes light up when they see you. They’re all grins. I know you’ve been asked out...”

“They’re just being nice,” she said. “And we are all friends.”

“You don’t go out with customers...”

“I made an exception with you.” She raked his beard with her fingernails. “I’m glad I did.”

“Because I’m great in bed?” he asked hopefully.

“Because Sister Mary Jacob likes you.”

He kissed her forehead. “Excuse me for a second,” he said. “I’ll be right back.”

Dakota visited the bathroom. He suspected Sid’s ex-husband had not been a good person. He couldn’t believe she didn’t think of herself as pretty.

He dimmed the bathroom light so it wasn’t shining brightly and went back to the bed. He reached for her hand. “Come with me, sweetheart,” he urged. “I want to show you something.” He pulled her along with him to the bathroom. He stood her facing the mirror and thought, Dear God, what a sight. Her golden hair was crazy from making love, falling over her shoulders to cover her breasts. Her eyes were bright, her cheeks pink.

He stood behind her, a head taller, his big hands on her upper arms. “Look,” he said. “You’re one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen. Certainly one of the most ravishing I’ve ever held in my arms.” He pulled her hair over one shoulder, baring her neck. He bent to put his lips here. One of his hands slid down her torso, past her flat belly, covering her pubis gently. His other hand slid around to cup a breast. “You’re sexy enough to bring me to my knees. Something tells me you weren’t told that often enough.”

Her eyes closed.

“I want you to look. Look at us.” He kissed her neck again. “Not bad,” he said, grinning at her in the mirror. He turned her in his arms so he was holding her close. “Want to go back to bed now?” he asked. “We can talk.”

She stood on her toes and kissed his lips. “We can talk later,” she said.

*

It was about 2:00 a.m. when Sid asked Dakota if he’d take her home. “I know you have an early start. It’s Monday morning.”

“Monday’s my day off,” he said.

“Oh, that’s right! And I don’t start until one.”

“I have a feeling I’ll have plenty of energy. You know where to find me if you get restless.” He held her close a moment longer. “Did you have a good time?”

“Hmm, the whole thing. I loved the wedding, the evening with your family, this. But I think we should be discreet.”

“Are you ashamed of me?” he asked.

“Oh God, no!” she insisted. “We just wouldn’t want people making a lot of assumptions about us, wondering if we have future plans, that kind of thing.”

“God forbid,” he said. “Don’t worry, Sid. I won’t embarrass you. You don’t have to tell anyone you’re knocking boots with a garbage collector.”

“Oh, Cody, that’s not it! I just mean... I don’t know what I mean. Let’s take it slow. Except when we’re naked. Then we can do what we want. Okay?”

He grinned at her and slapped her ass playfully. “You’re okay, Sid. I’m not going to advertise how I know you’re a real blonde. But damn, you’re hard to let go of. Maybe we should see if we’re still great together in bed. Once more? Just to be sure it’s as amazing as I thought?”

She shook her head. “All right,” she said, playfully nipping at his lip. “Even though I’m sure...” she said.

“It’s nice to be with you like this,” he said.

Until he showed up in Timberlake she was quite sure she’d never share intimacy like this with anyone again. On the one hand, she was relieved he seemed to know what to do, how to be in a relationship like this. On the other... “Have there been a lot of women?” she asked.

“I guess if you started counting with the first one...” he said. “I guess there were. I wasn’t looking for a permanent relationship every time I met a woman I really liked, but I wasn’t opposed to the idea.”

“Have you been in love?” she asked.

“I have,” he said. “Have you?”

“I’m no longer sure,” she answered honestly. “I thought I loved my husband. I assumed he loved me. When I reexamined that relationship, I’m a little embarrassed that I couldn’t see it for what it was. Obviously I was wrong about many things.”