Stranger in Town (Dundee, Idaho #5)(43)
Author: Brenda Novak

Somewhere in his mind, dimly, he knew his reaction was half-wild. Even Lazarus, who stood barking at them, seemed to feel it. But Gabe was looking through a different window on the world than ever before. He could no longer treat a woman as casually as he once had or take making love, or any of the other good things in life, for granted. Breathing meant more than ever before. Hell, all the simple things he’d barely noticed for more than thirty years suddenly held significant meaning.

Hannah’s fingers delved into his hair, pulling tight as she made a fist. The abandon he sensed in her as her tongue met and moved with his tempted him to let go of all restraint. She tasted like a bubblegum-flavored snow cone, and she kissed far better than he would have imagined—had he ever allowed himself to imagine kissing the adult Hannah Price. He wanted to suckle the br**sts he’d studied at every opportunity through her shirt last night, take her in to his room….

But he knew she’d do anything to absolve her conscience. And having sex with him was one thing he would never ask.

WHEN GABE PULLED AWAY, Hannah grabbed for the support beam. She felt almost too weak to remain standing on her own power. She also felt robbed. She wanted to draw him back to her, to touch him everywhere, to feel his breath on her skin as his lips moved down her neck…. She didn’t know how much of her response had to do with her need for reassurance that he was going to be okay, but she knew she’d never kissed a man like that before. And yet, she was far from satisfied.

“I—” She felt compelled to break the awkward silence but didn’t know what to say. “I didn’t mean to do that. I’m sorry if it made you uncomfortable.”

“Uncomfortable?” He chuckled humorlessly. “Hannah…”

“What?”

“Uncomfortable is definitely not the right word.”

She was having a difficult time catching her breath, slowing her racing pulse. “What then?”

“Bottom line, I don’t think it’s smart for you to be out here. You shouldn’t be cooking my meals or doing my windows—”

“Why not? You’re trading me a chair that would probably cost two thousand dollars in a gallery. I’m coming out way ahead. And the windows…I don’t mind helping out.”

“But you don’t owe me anything. Do you think I’ve never passed a car by crossing a double line? It was an accident. It could have happened to anyone. Why don’t you understand that?”

“Maybe I’m here because I want to be, Gabe. With all the women who’ve thrown themselves at you in the past, certainly that shouldn’t come as a surprise.”

“Bullshit. You’re here because of the accident.”

Right now, she wasn’t so sure. The accident, his injury…it definitely figured into her emotions. But she was certain there were other issues at play. “I don’t think…It’s not that simple.”

“Exactly. Nothing’s simple anymore. My emotions are all over the place. One minute I’m mad as hell. The next…” He shoved a hand through his hair. “What if I hadn’t stopped just now?”

Hearing the challenge in his voice, she met his gaze squarely. “What if?”

“We’d be inside, in my bed.”

His comment nearly stole her breath. “Making love?” she said softly.

His eyes swept over her as though her words brought back the hunger of their kiss. “We sure as hell wouldn’t be sleeping.”

“Would that be so bad?”

He gaped at her. “Hannah, you don’t know what you’re getting into. You don’t really know me.”

Maybe they hadn’t spent much time together. But Hannah’s crush on Gabe after high school had lasted for years. And he’d been on her mind almost every waking moment since the accident. She followed anything anyone ever said about him, prayed for him daily, worried about him constantly. She even remembered cringing for him when she’d learned about Garth and the affair. Somehow he was as much a part of her life as Kenny and Brent. “We grew up in the same small town, went to high school together, kissed at a graduation party twenty years ago. I know your family, many of your friends. I know you better than you think.”

“I’m getting out of this chair someday, Hannah,” he said. “I’m not looking for a comfy relationship where I can sit back and lick my wounds or let someone else take care of me.”

“I won’t offer to take care of you. I don’t plan on introducing another man into my family life. There’s too much to consider.”

From his expression, she couldn’t tell if he was happy about this or not. “You’re making yet another sacrifice for Kenny and Brent?”

“I’m making a safe, well-informed decision.”

“Well, while you’re making well-informed decisions, there’s something else you should know,” he said.

“What’s that?”

“My body could fail me. Making love could turn out to be ugly, humiliating, frustrating. You’d be a fool to get involved. And I’d be a fool to let you. Hell,” he said, rubbing his jaw, “I haven’t even touched a woman since the accident. I have no idea what might happen.”

“That doesn’t scare me, Gabe.” Dimly, she thought it probably would if all she felt for him was regret and pity. But she didn’t want to isolate and identify her other emotions. Falling in love was not an option.

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. He seemed about to override all his objections. But then he shook his head. “Stop. You don’t know what you’re asking for.”

There was a dangerous quality about Gabe after the accident that hadn’t been there before. Despite her brave words and her desire to help him, he made her a little nervous. If she was finally going to sleep with someone, she thought she could probably find a lover with whom she could maintain some objectivity. But no one excited her like Gabe did. The jittery, out-of-control feelings he elicited were part of his allure. “Who are you afraid can’t handle what might happen, Gabe? Me? Or you?”

The frankness of her question seemed to surprise him. He stared at her for several seconds, then a gleam she wasn’t quite sure she could trust came into his eyes. “That’s it,” he said. “Come here.”

Oh boy…. Hannah’s heart hammered against her ribs as she stepped forward. At least neither one of them could find a partner more discreet, she told herself. She wouldn’t have to worry about her boys finding out; he wouldn’t have to worry about seeing the details of their encounter splashed on the cover of the latest tabloid.