She didn’t retreat, but she narrowed her eyes, feigning skepticism. “In what way?”
“I would hope in every way,” he replied and lifted her chin with one finger as he lowered his head.
He was going to kiss her. Serenity felt a moment of panic. She hadn’t been touched by a man in a year and a half, since before she found those stomach-churning files on Sean’s computer. And this was Sawyer, Sean’s stepbrother. He was off-limits, wasn’t he?
Or...maybe her mother was right. Maybe he wasn’t off-limits anymore. After what Sean had done to her, she didn’t owe him anything. She didn’t owe Sean’s family anything, either.
She was divorced, a free woman.
She assumed Sawyer was unattached, too, or he wouldn’t be doing this.
Still, she was afraid it would be weird—until his mouth covered hers and all she could think about was the delicious taste of him. He’d always been so determined and tough and demanding. That was the perception she’d had of him, anyway.
But he wasn’t the least bit overbearing right now. In fact, she felt him tremble slightly as he pressed his hand against the bare skin at the small of her back. And his kiss... God, it was good. There was no force behind it. It was an invitation, a sample of what he was willing to offer.
As his lips moved over hers lightly, gently, she got the impression that he was being careful not to spook her. He was giving her just enough physicality to determine whether she’d accept and respond.
So when she slid her arms around his neck and clenched her hands in his hair, she could tell he was surprised—but not unpleasantly so. She heard him groan as she opened her mouth and their tongues met, turning the kiss into something far more powerful and satisfying.
Several seconds later, as they both gasped for breath, he pulled her up against him again. And this time she could feel his rock-hard erection.
“I—I made dinner,” she managed to say.
It was her one and only attempt to turn the world right-side-up again. But that didn’t deter him.
She would’ve been disappointed if it had. She was so aroused all she could think of was how desperately she wanted to feel him push inside her—to fill her completely and, if only for a moment, stop the ache of loneliness and heartbreak that had pursued her for so long.
“I have everything I want right here,” he said and slid his hand up under her sweater.
As soon as he touched her, she let her head drop back and closed her eyes. It was then that she realized why she’d left Lorelei, Lucy and Reagan behind and gone to so much work before he arrived.
She’d wanted this all along.
* * *
lorelei
Finn was away for the night. He’d driven around to the south side of the lake to meet a friend who’d moved from LA to Sacramento last year. He’d invited her and Reagan, but Lorelei knew that they were planning to go to a casino, which wasn’t any place she could take a child. And Reagan wasn’t feeling well. She hadn’t been throwing up, but she’d been sleeping all day and, when Lorelei went to check on her, she refused to eat.
“Can I get you anything?” Lorelei asked, still holding the rejected tray of soup and crackers she’d brought to Reagan’s room.
“No, I’ll be okay,” Reagan mumbled without lifting her head. “I just need some rest.”
With the blinds drawn so tightly, the room was pitch-black even though the sun hadn’t yet gone down. “But you’ve been sleeping since before Serenity and I went over to Finn’s last night, and I don’t think you’ve eaten anything. Should you see a doctor?”
“There’s nothing a doctor can do.”
“How do you know? What are your symptoms?”
After a slight hesitation, she said, “It’s just...”
“A migraine?” Lorelei guessed when Reagan couldn’t seem to come up with a good description of what was wrong.
“Yeah. A migraine,” she replied, seemingly relieved that Lorelei had made the answer easy for her.
“Those can be terrible. One of Mark’s sisters is bedridden for days whenever she gets one. Are you sure you don’t need a painkiller or something?”
Reagan responded but her words were so muffled Lorelei couldn’t make them out.
“What was that?”
“Already took some,” she repeated, her voice louder and more distinct.
“Oh. Okay. I’ll let you rest, then.”
After closing the door behind her, Lorelei carried the tray of food back to the kitchen, where Lucy was coloring at the table. “Where’s Aunt Reagan?” she asked as though she’d expected Lorelei to bring Reagan back with her.
“In bed.”
“Why?”
“She has a headache.”
“Where’s Aunt Serenity?”
“She’s at her other house.”
“What other house?”
“The one she normally lives in. This house is just a place where she comes for vacation, remember?”
Lucy put down the blue marker and picked up the red one. “When is she coming back?”
“Tomorrow.”
Lorelei was about to offer to let Lucy watch a movie when she was distracted by a text from Finn.
Reagan feeling any better?
Lorelei sank into the seat next to Lucy while she answered. Not really.
What’s wrong with her?
Migraine.
That sucks.
Have you met your friend yet?
Just waiting for him to arrive.
She wished she could’ve gone. She missed Finn already. Although they’d only known each other for a week, they’d spent a lot of time together. He was so easy to be around.
When will Davis be here tomorrow? she wrote.
Nolan isn’t exactly an early riser, he responded. Not unless he has to be. I’m guessing they won’t make it until dinner.
I’ll cook for everyone.
You don’t have to do that. I can manage.
You’re out tonight. It’ll be easier for me. And that will give you a good excuse to bring him over, so we can meet him.
I doubt he’ll be willing to leave the house. Can you all come to my place? If you’ll make the meal, I’ll get the wine and the dessert.
Sounds good.
She was sliding her phone back into her pocket when it buzzed with a text from Francine.