Whispering Rock (Virgin River #3)(41)

He saw their bodies as if from above—her pale, ivory skin against his tan Mexican hide, his large hands pressed against her perfect white bottom, holding her tight. Close. Although he watched from above, he could feel every sensation—the light touch of her fingers threading through his black hair, her lips on his neck, his chest, his shoulder. He tasted her skin, crumbled handfuls of her soft honey hair against his face. He was inside her, her knees raised and her pelvis tilted to bring him deeper, and he rocked with her in a gentle but intense pace. Her sighs filled the room; he whispered love words in her ear, encouraging her, telling her how much he wanted to please her.

He saw her small hands running up and down his back, his shoulders broad once again, restored. And as he told her he loved her, adored her, could never have a life if she was not part of it, she returned his words of love in Spanish. “Estas en mi corazón.” You are my heart. “Te quiero.” I want you. “Te quiero mucho, Miguel.” I want you so much Miguel…Mike.

He heard her cries, felt her close around him with a hot, tight power so awesome his whole body shuddered convulsively. As she called out his name again and again, he exploded into a cl**ax too grand, more fabulous than he remembered from his earlier life.

He woke suddenly, panting, his heart hammering, sweat drenching him so that the sheet clung. Alone. But not alone; she’d been with him, beneath him in that nocturnal fantasy turned bliss. And he thought, Oh God! I’m not dead after all!

His immediate next thought was that he was so grateful that hadn’t happened to him while he slept with her at the cabin. It would have scared her to death.

Brie rose extra early; three people jockeying around one shower had its challenges. By the time she was toweling off, she could hear Mel and Jack in their bedroom, talking softly in response to the baby’s gurgles and giggles. While she was in the loft dressing, the shower turned on again and again—Mel and Jack getting up for the day. David was back in his bed for an early-morning catnap when she met Jack at the coffeepot. Brie already had a steaming cup in her hand.

Jack looked her up and down, taking in the skirt, blouse and vest—not her usual country attire. She was dressed for a date. It ate at his gut. He slowly poured a cup of coffee. “Mike mentioned he was taking you over to Mendocino,” he said.

“Yes,” she said. “We’re going to be tourists for a day.”

“Listen, Brie, there’s something you should know about Mike. He’s been married twice.”

“I know,” she said.

Mel migrated into the kitchen in time for that last exchange. She plucked a cup off the counter, lifted the coffeepot and glared at her husband with a deep sigh. Jack completely ignored her.

“He’s known for… Well, for being on the move a lot. Where women are concerned.”

“I know that, too,” she said.

Jack put down his cup. “Listen to me. I’ve known the man forever. He has a reputation with the women.”

“Oh?” She laughed. “Has he been hustling the good women of Virgin River and breaking their hearts?”

Jack scowled at his sister. “He’s been on hiatus healing up. He’s healed now.”

“Jack, stay out of this,” Mel warned.

Brie just laughed at her brother. “Relax, Jack. I’m fine with Mike. He’s been a good friend. We’ve talked a lot since June. We even met for lunch a few times. He’s been very supportive through some of this mess I’ve been through.”

The look on Jack’s face was one of pure shock and it appeared as though the air was briefly sucked out of him. “What?” he asked.

“He called to see if I was doing all right, we talked, we talked some more, he drove down to the city to get me out of the house for an afternoon, and believe me—it made a difference. We have some things in common, you know. We’re both victims of violent crimes.”

“And no one told me this?” he asked, clearly stricken. Betrayed.

“There were things about what I’ve been going through that Mike understood. That it would be hard for anyone else to understand,” Brie said.

“Why would no one tell me about this? He’s my friend. You’re my sister.”

She shrugged. “Maybe no one wanted to deal with one of your outbursts.”

“Dad knew?” he asked, disbelieving.

“Jack!” Mel warned again. “Leave this alone!”

“Of course Dad knew,” Brie said. “I wouldn’t leave the house without telling him exactly where I was going. And God knows, I don’t answer the phone!”

“Brie, listen, I’d trust the man with my life, but not necessarily with my sister,” he said earnestly, desperately.

“You wouldn’t trust the pope with your sister,” she said. “What do you suggest, huh? If it weren’t for Mike, I’d still be lying on the couch, watching the soaps, scared to go out of the house in the middle of the day!”

“I told you if you needed anything, anything at all…”

“That my big brother would come racing down to Sacramento to rescue me,” Brie shot back. “What makes you think I knew what I needed? I’m pretty grateful Mike had a clue!”

Mel wandered onto the porch with her coffee cup and stood there, not entirely grateful she could hear the argument going on inside. In five minutes they’d have the baby awake. And in thirty minutes or less, she was going to kill Jack.