The Hero (Thunder Point #3)(36)

And then, too soon, the music stopped.

“Thanks,” he said. “That was nice.”

“It was. I’m going to see if I can help before heading home,” she said. And with that she walked right over to Carrie, who gave her a brief hug and shook her head. It looked as if they were just about done with everything they had to do tonight. Once the food and trash was gathered and stowed, everything else would wait until morning.

Spencer went to where Devon had been sitting with Scott and picked up her flip-flops. He stood there at the edge of the party area holding her shoes, waiting. It seemed just about everyone was gone; Cooper and Sarah stood on the deck with his parents, saying good-night. Mac and Gina were halfway across the beach. The band was packing up their equipment. And he had an overwhelming desire to wait them all out, to wait until it was only himself and Devon on the beach, under the twinkling lights.

She was beside him again. “Thanks,” she said, reaching for her flip-flops. She slipped them on her feet and they began walking toward the marina. “What a nice wedding. I admit, I cried a little bit.”

He said nothing.

“I think the little kids would’ve liked it, but I’m glad they weren’t there. I would’ve spent the whole night chasing them. And I haven’t been to a grown-up party in so long, I can’t remember when.”

He stopped walking and looked down at her. “Devon. You and the doctor?”

“Huh?”

“Are you with the doctor? Are you seeing him?”

“Scott?” she asked on a laugh. “Oh, my gosh, no!” She laughed again. “I’m sharing his babysitter so I can work for him, that’s all. He’s been wonderful about that—but of course I do pay Gabriella. But seeing him? Spencer, I can’t be dating my boss! I can’t be dating anyone!”

“You can’t?”

“I’m a single mother! I have a lot of responsibility! I can’t—”

He stopped walking. He slipped his arm around her waist, pulled her up off her feet and planted a kiss on her, cutting her off midsentence. He moved over her mouth and decided immediately that the taste and texture were perfect. But her arms hung limp at her sides. He lifted his lips from hers. “Me, either. I can’t get involved with anyone, either.”

“You have a very strange way of demonstrating that, Mr. Lawson....”

“Kiss me back,” he said. “Come on, can’t you see I can’t help it?”

“Seriously?”

“You’re beautiful. You smell so good. You taste like heaven.”

“And I’m not dating!”

“We’ll be friends,” he said. “Very good friends. While we figure out if we should date. I haven’t been on a date in years.”

She laughed at him, shaking her head. “Are you drunk?”

He let go of her, let her drop to her feet. “No, I’m horribly sober. So you don’t want to kiss?”

“I think it would be a bad idea. I only kiss boyfriends and I haven’t had one of those in...forever.”

He shook his head. “You have no idea how much we have in common....”

“Come on,” she said, taking his hand. “I’ll give you a ride home. And behave yourself.”

They were almost to the marina when he said, “Devon, we should...I don’t know...spend some time or...” He stopped walking again. “Do you need someone to cut your grass? Help you paint something?”

She shook her head. “What’s up with you?”

“I’m very helpful by nature.”

She began walking again. “I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you.”

When they got to the truck, she asked, “Do you want a ride?”

“I think I’ll walk. It’s just a few blocks. And I should clear my head. I’m not usually so...” He shrugged. “I don’t grab and kiss women like that. And I could tell you didn’t like it. I think I should probably do some chores for you or something. Prove I’m not rude...”

She put a hand on his arm. “That’s all right, Spencer. It was just the twinkling lights and the wedding. Made you feel a little reckless.” She tilted her head and he really wanted to dig his fingers into that messy, willful short hair of hers. So he put his hands in his pockets. “Will you be all right?” she asked him.

“I’m fine. Be careful driving home.”

Nine

Oh. My. God.

Devon sat in the truck, in the driveway of her duplex. She felt a slight trembling in her extremities and it was not from cold or fear or embarrassment. It was from that very alien feeling of desire that rippled through her arms, br**sts, toes...and lips. He’d kissed her. Really kissed her right off her feet. He’d stunned and paralyzed her and it made her want to kiss him back.

Instead she’d scared him away. Which was probably for the best. The last time she’d felt anything like that, it had been for Jacob, much older, much more practiced in seduction, much more dangerous. At least she thought that’s how Jacob seemed compared to Spencer.

It had been so long. Of the seven women she’d lived with at The Fellowship, only three of them were regularly sharing Jacob’s bed—Charlotte, Pilly and Lorna. Devon had foolishly believed he had fallen for her—the new girl. And the others didn’t tell her, warn her, didn’t explain that all the children were his. When she’d realized the truth, she’d wanted to run for her life, and then it was the women who convinced her to stay. “You don’t have to accept his advances and we’ll take care of you. He might try with you, but he would never hurt you or force you—you’re safe,” Reese had said. “You’re pregnant and have nowhere to go—just stay close to me and you’ll have everything you need.” By which Reese meant food and shelter and friendship. So at first she stayed because there was nothing else for her, then she stayed because she felt it was safe for her and Mercy. It didn’t take long to realize what Jacob was—a manipulative liar who liked having his harem, his kingdom. He was omnipotent and as long as he believed himself to be the Divine Ruler, he was manageable. But she was never his lover again and she could tell it made him angry. Reese made him angry as well, but he needed her medical skills in his camp.