Temptation Ridge (Virgin River #6)(67)

He covered her lips with his. “Not soon,” he whispered. “But don’t worry. I’m going to be good to you.”

Luke took her home in the truck. The motorcycle would have been too hard on her tender parts. When he pulled up in front of the general’s house, she leaned toward him. He cradled her jaw in his big hand and pulled her lips to his. They were all going to know. Her face was branded with his love. Her cheeks were aglow, chafed from his beard. Her lips were bruised bright pink from hours of kissing and the look in her eyes reflected a whole afternoon of the finest love he’d ever made. “You should hide all the guns and sharp objects,” he whispered against her mouth.

“You worry too much,” she said. “I’m an adult.”

“When am I going to see you again?” he asked her.

“Soon.”

“I just want to keep you flat on your back for a month.”

She laughed at him. “Luke, don’t ever let anyone tell you you’re not romantic.” She gave him a peck on the lips and got out of the truck to go inside.

No one seemed to be around, which suited her. She really didn’t feel like walking into dinner in progress with Vanni, Paul and Uncle Walt. In fact, there was no activity in the kitchen and she wondered if everyone had gone to Jack’s. She went to her room, pulled off her jacket and boots and flopped on the bed. She stared at the ceiling dreamily. After about ten minutes, she heard a door open down the hall. Vanessa, looking sleepy, peeked into Shelby’s room. “I thought I heard someone come home.”

“I didn’t think anyone was here,” Shelby said.

“Oh,” Vanni said through a yawn. “Matt’s having an extra-long nap and I kind of shared it with him.” She rubbed her eyes, then looked at Shelby. “Oooohh,” she said. “It happened.”

“And happened and happened and happened,” Shelby said and laughed as she kicked her legs on the bed.

Vanni came into the room and sat on the side of her bed. “Welcome aboard,” she said with a soft smile. “How do you feel?”

“Like I’ve had sex all afternoon with a brand-spanking-new vagina. I might have to take a long soak in the tub.”

“Was it okay?”

“Indescribable. Like I’ve never really been alive before today. Vanni, he was so good to me…”

“You aren’t falling in love with him, are you?” Vanni asked. “Because I get a sense about Luke, that he might go a little hard on the heart.”

“Yeah, he gave me that talk. He doesn’t like to commit or get tied down.” She laughed again. “The least of my worries,” she said.

“Oh, baby, see—I was afraid of that. I don’t know if you’re up to that.”

“You wanted me to be a virgin forever? If he makes me cry, I’ll get over it, but I have to tell you, he doesn’t treat me like a man who’s going to break my heart. Besides, if he does, haven’t you and I already been through way worse and recovered?” she asked.

“Yeah, we sure have,” Vanni said. “He treated you right, I guess.”

“Don’t tell anyone and ruin his reputation, but he’s the sweetest man I’ve ever known. He’s afraid Uncle Walt is going to shoot him.”

“Daddy sure worries the boys.” Vanni laughed, remembering when Paul was afraid of the same thing.

“Where is everyone?” Shelby asked.

“Paul’s not home from work yet and I don’t know where Daddy is. I’m thinking of starting dinner. Have any ideas?”

“Yeah,” she said, sitting up. “I’m going to soak in the tub for an hour, and then I’m going back.”

“So soon?”

“I can’t help it. I just have to. You and Paul are great company, but I want to be next to that man.” She grinned. “You think Uncle Walt will have a fit?”

“Don’t worry, he may not even be home himself,” she said, shaking her head. “He’s pretty savvy about this kind of thing. He didn’t say too much when Paul was sneaking down the hall into my room. You slip out if you want to. I’ll handle the home team.”

“Thank you, Vanni,” she said.

She had to go back. Not for more sex; she couldn’t take any more. She wanted to know how he’d receive her. Would she be welcome? Was he done with her now, at least for today? She had many curiosities about his world—he warned her not to count on him, then treated her like a queen. He hadn’t promised to love her, but he said such tender, lovely things to her—that she was beautiful, that he’d never had a sweeter experience, that he didn’t want her to leave. Could he say those things and not care?

After a long soak, she went to the kitchen where Vanni was at the stove and Matt was in his high chair. Paul sat at the kitchen table with the newspaper spread in front of him. He was still in his dusty work clothes; she’d been tying up the bathroom. He looked up at her and his smile of greeting changed slowly into a look of surprised recognition, his mouth open slightly. She must be beaming.

She poked through the wine rack and pulled out a bottle. “Think Uncle Walt can part with this?” she asked Vanni.

“Sure. Take it.”

“Don’t wait up,” she said.

“Shelby,” Paul said. He stood up from the table and went to her, draping an arm around her shoulders. “You know if you need anything, anything at all, you can call me.” He dropped a kiss on her brow.