Hidden Summit (Virgin River #17)(30)

People hadn’t acknowledged her hurt; they’d wanted her to move on. People did that because they get tired of hearing about it. No one ever knew what to say or how to help. He’d gotten a lot of sympathy after Samantha, but then they’d divorced, she’d gone into a treatment facility in another state, and in the mind of his few supporters, it had been time for him to let go before he made them any more uncomfortable.

He and Leslie shared another trait—he, too, wondered how badly he’d been lacking that his wife had needed others, so many others. He hadn’t revealed that to anyone and probably never would, but it made a man wonder. He would have given her anything she wanted, everything she wanted.

But no more. Now he was all for getting past it and hoped Leslie felt the same about her situation.

He was holding in his arms one of the best reasons to move on he’d rubbed up against in a couple of years. And it surprised him that he had absolutely no doubts about her. He wasn’t the least bit afraid that he’d come home someday and find her bouncing up and down on the cable guy. In fact, Leslie was so different that he instantly knew if he’d met her first, his entire life would have been different.

In fact, he wanted her like he’d never wanted a woman, including his wife. But he’d be very good to her, and when the time came, he’d tell her the truth about his dilemma and leave because he valued his life. And the lives of his sister and nephews.

She turned in his arms, facing him, burrowing her face into his neck.

“I woke you,” he said. “I didn’t mean to, but I have to get up.”

She made a protesting noise and snuggled closer.

“I have to drive to my cabin, shower and change. It’s Monday morning.” He pushed her curls away from her eyes. “Maybe you should call in....”

She giggled a little. “Call in what? Orgasmed to death?”

“You did say you were dying at least once,” he reminded her.

“We’re putting framers on the new construction today. I have to go.” She lifted her head. “When will I see you now that we’re not working on the same site?”

“When do you want to see me?”

“Will I scare you off if I say soon?”

“I don’t scare easy. Want me to sleep with you tonight?” he asked, running a hand down her spine.

She nodded. “I’ll make us dinner. I’ll even buy a six-pack to keep in my refrigerator.”

“What if you make me too comfortable?” he asked. “Could be as bad as feeding a stray cat.”

“If you’re worried about getting too involved…”

He shook his head. “I don’t think we can get too involved—we’re both in this weird place, trying to overcome having been in even weirder places. But I’m not worried about it. When I first saw you, I knew you were special.”

“You thought I was involved with a married man!”

“I’m jaded. Cynical sometimes. I apologized for that, didn’t I?”

“Yes, quite nicely, I think. So…? Dinner?”

“Yes, tonight. I have to get up now.”

She slid a leg over his hip, wiggling closer. “It doesn’t feel like you want to leave me yet.”

He smiled and gave her a kiss. “I didn’t dare ask. Now lie back and let me make you really late for work....”

The next night, very unlike the way a typical man thinks, Conner was relieved that they made love only once. Superbly, but once. He had serious reasons to be suspicious of a woman who would take it to the obsessive level.

And a few nights later, because she had mentioned she liked it, he found himself stopping in Fortuna for Thai takeout to bring for dinner to her house. It was Conner’s intention to have a serious talk with Leslie over dinner—

But he was barely in the door before that plan changed. She was standing in the doorway wearing a pair of snug jeans, a blue chambray shirt opened almost to her waist with a little white tank under it. He caught that scent—soap and flowers. Her hair was all those dark blond, streaky curls that made her look so cute, and her cheeks were flushed, which made her look already ravished, and he said, “Oh, my Jesus…”

“What?” she asked.

“God, you turn me on. Just seeing you.”

“Is that the same as hello?” she asked with a smile.

“I don’t know. How fast can you get naked?”

“Conner,” she said and laughed. “Wanna tell me what’s in the bag?”

“Thai. It’s for dessert....”

“And the main course?”

“I’m thinking mustache rides.”

“I guess that means you missed me,” she said. And she took the bag off his hands, and no sooner had she deposited it in the kitchen, than she headed straight for her bedroom. He caught her there, spun her around and fell with her on the bed, covering her mouth in a searing kiss.

It was an hour before they could get to the Thai takeout, and when they finally did, they sat on her sofa. He had pulled on his jeans and T-shirt, and she wore a robe. She put the cartons on a tray between them, and they ate directly out of them—she using chopsticks while he had to have a fork.

“I can teach you to use chopsticks,” she offered.

“Why would I do that? Nah. But I wanted us to talk.”