Home to Hope Mountain (Harlequin Superromance) (22 page)

“We’ll stick to slow dances.” Humming a Latin beat, he led her in a mangled version of a tango. Her breasts felt warm and resilient pressed against his chest and he pulled her hips in close to his, letting her feel just how much he wanted her.

Then he slowed and stopped and took her mouth in a long, deep kiss. He wanted her badly, not just in his bed but also in his life. Dancing in the kitchen, making love in the moonlight, watching her eyes open at sunrise, seeing her smile just for him. Finally he pulled away and kissed her nose, her cheeks, her eyes. “We’d better stop before I forget I have a young daughter in the house and drag you upstairs to my room.”

Hayley laughed breathlessly, her lips swollen and red, her eyes huge and luminous as their gazes held for a long wordless moment. “I should go get ready.”

“I should let you.” He kissed her again, his hand sliding up under her shirt to feel her warm skin, up further to cup her breast through her soft cotton bra. Her nipple hardened and he tweaked it between his fingertips. With his other hand he opened her shirt and pressed his mouth to the curving top of her breast, drawing down the bra to slip her nipple into his mouth. He sucked, eliciting a moan and he pressed his aching groin into her hips.

A noise upstairs made Hayley draw back and this time push Adam’s hands away. But before she turned for the stairs she gave him a heated look and whispered, “Tonight.”

* * *

H
AYLEY
DESCENDED
THE
staircase, a little wobbly in her high-heeled sandals. Her hair fell loose past her shoulders, curling slightly. In her new dress she felt like a princess.

Adam waited at the bottom looking incredibly sharp in a dark suit jacket over an open-neck shirt and tan slacks. Freshly shaven, hair combed, he was as hot as a model from the pages of a magazine. Simply wow.

“Don’t watch or I’ll stumble,” she said. “Jacinta made me buy these stupid shoes.”

“If you fall, I’ll catch you. At the risk of sounding sexist, those shoes make your legs look amazing.”

“Thank you.” She made it safely to the bottom, her cheeks warm from the intensity of his gaze. Self-consciously she twirled, letting the full skirt of her new dress flare out. “What do you think?”

“You’re beautiful.” He held out his arm. “Summer’s in the car, waiting impatiently.”

Outside, Hayley slipped into the passenger seat next to Adam. Summer was sitting in the back wearing a short skirt and a stylish but modest blouse. She’d stopped dressing to shock, Hayley noticed.

“You look very nice,” Adam said to her.

Summer beamed at him. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” He started down the driveway. “What do you call a psychic little person who has escaped from prison?”

“Oh, Dad, don’t ruin it.”

“A small medium at large.”

Hayley chuckled.

“See, someone appreciates my jokes.”

Hayley gave Adam instructions to Jacinta’s house and ran inside to get her friend when they arrived. Jacinta piled into the back with Summer.

“Cute outfit,” Jacinta said to Summer, then added to Adam, “Thanks for the lift. I’ve heard so much about you.”

Adam met her gaze in the rearview mirror. “Hayley’s been telling stories, has she?”

“The whole town has. Apparently you’ve single-handedly financed the rebuilding of the community center.” She gave him an arch glance. “But I notice you haven’t gotten a library card yet.”

“Jacinta!” Hayley winced. “Adam, turn left at this next street to park in back of the school. It’s closer to the gym.”

“Zoe and I helped decorate,” Summer piped up. “It looks awesome. The band is from Healesville, and they’re playing for free because it’s a fund-raiser.”

Hayley, Jacinta and Summer got out near the entrance and Adam went to park in the gravel parking lot. Hayley waited for him outside. Together they walked into the gym.

Murals of the forest and the town the way it had been before the fires had been painted on huge canvas cloths lining the walls. The lights had been dimmed and there was a bar, in addition to a table with nonalcoholic drinks. A band was setting up onstage. Tables ringed the perimeter of the room, enclosing a dance floor.

“Summer’s gone to sit with her friends, and Jacinta’s finding us a table.” Hayley scanned the room and then waved. “There she is. Oh. Molly and Rolf are at the next table.”

“Is that a problem?”

“No, it’s just that...” She bit her lip. “This is the first time I’ve been out with another man since Leif died. It will be tough on Molly, especially.”

“Would you rather sit somewhere else? You can find another table and I’ll go get Jacinta.”

“Thanks, no. I need to face Molly sooner or later.”

“Okay, but if you need to escape give me a signal and we’ll find an excuse to leave.”

Crossing the gym took a while. Hayley stopped to say hello to people who congratulated her on her speech that morning and expressed their condolences. And, no doubt, to eye up her escort for the evening. Adam seemed to know quite a few people, too. Mort, the Realtor; Belinda, from the grocery store; Leanne, from the garden center; members of the fencing crew; Tom, the school principal; and a man Hayley didn’t know—Adam told her was a forestry research scientist whose acquaintance he’d made in the line at the liquor store.

Finally they arrived at their table. Hayley was about to sit down when Molly called her over. “Join us. There’s plenty of room.”

She glanced at Adam. “I don’t see how I can say no.”

“It’s fine. I’ll get us drinks. Wine for you and Jacinta?”

“Thanks.” Hayley waved Jacinta over. Her friend made a discreet eye roll, but she picked up her purse and joined them.

“It was nice of you to let Adam come with you,” Molly said to Hayley, subtly fishing for information. “Although I’m not sure why he’d be interested in our little dance.”

Hayley stifled a sigh. There was no point in pretending anymore. “We’re here together on a date.” She touched Molly’s hand and added gently, “I know it must be hard for you to see me with another man, but I like Adam. He’s a good man.”

“Hayley, my dear, it is hard for me, but I always knew in my heart it was going to happen someday. I have nothing against Adam. I’m sure he’s a perfectly fine person. But I don’t want you to get hurt. From what I understand he won’t be in Hope Mountain much longer. Mort was telling me he’d been out to Timbertop to take photos so he could list the property.”

“I know about that. Adam told me himself. But he can still enjoy Hope Mountain while he’s here, can’t he?”

And there was no reason she couldn’t enjoy his company while she had him. If she’d learned anything from the fires, it was that life was short and you had to find your happiness when and where you could. Deliberately going into a relationship knowing it wouldn’t last wasn’t her way, but maybe she needed to jolt herself out of the past by doing something out of character.

“I know you, Hayley Sorensen.” Molly tapped the table for emphasis. “You don’t give your heart lightly—I remember how long Leif pursued you in high school—but once you do, you’re loyal to the end even when—”

“What?”

Molly drew back, mouth pursed. “Nothing.”

How much did her mother-in-law know about her and Leif’s marriage? It was on the tip of her tongue to ask but she just couldn’t. “You’re right, Molly. I don’t give my heart lightly and I haven’t given it to Adam. That’s why I’ll be okay when he leaves. But we are leaving the future open to possibilities.”

“That’s a fancy word for a whole lot of nothing, if you ask me.” Molly shook her head. “He’ll take a loss on the property, no doubt, trying to sell in a hurry. I heard his ex-wife ran off to Sydney and isn’t coming back.”

“Diane’s taking care of her mother, who’s had open-heart surgery.”

“Oh, I didn’t know that. Speaks well of her, I suppose,” Molly said grudgingly.

Onstage, the band had finished setting up and began to play a snappy country-and-western tune. A few people got up to dance. Jacinta was jiggling her crossed leg, scanning the room for prospective dance partners.

“Ask Tony,” Hayley suggested, pointing out the handsome vet standing by the bar. “Nope. That redhead beat you to it.”

“Damn. Oh, well, who needs a partner? I’m going to dance by myself.” Jacinta got up. “Want to come?”

“In a minute.” Hayley wasn’t ready to dance, content to watch for a while—the dancers, the band, her friends and fellow townsfolk. The music was lively, the atmosphere upbeat. Laughter and conversation competed with the band. After the emotionally wrenching memorial service, everyone was ready to throw off their sorrow and kick up their heels.

Adam’s dark head was bent toward Rolf as they talked earnestly, the older man gesticulating with a rough hand at frequent intervals. Whatever they were talking about was clearly absorbing. And now the conversation was winding down.

Adam clapped a hand on Rolf’s shoulder and rose, coming around the table to Hayley. “Dance?”

“Love to.” She put her hand in his and together they walked onto the floor. Heads turned their way but Hayley decided to ignore the inevitable wagging tongues. She deserved to enjoy herself.

She should be hardening herself to Adam’s departure. Instead she was looking forward to tonight. Summer and Zoe would be in the barn. She and Adam would be alone in the house. Tonight wasn’t about commitment and the future. She’d grown up over the past weeks. She could have a relationship without expecting it to last forever. She could make love to Adam and enjoy it, no strings attached.

“Did Molly give you a hard time about being here with me?” he asked.

“She’s worried I’ll be heartbroken when you leave.” Hayley smiled to show she wasn’t worried. “What were you and Rolf talking about? It looked very deep.”

“We made a stab at football and cars, two ordinarily failproof guy-talk subjects but those didn’t pan out. Then we found common ground in a topic dear to both of our hearts.” Adam paused, a grin quirking his lips.

“Well?” Hayley demanded. “What topic is that?”

“The best way to stack firewood. Rolf is a ‘bark up’ kind of guy, just like myself.”

She laughed. “Firewood. I don’t believe it.”

“Cross my heart. We bonded over the intricacies of wood cutting and stacking. Norwegians—and their descendants—can talk about wood for hours. He’s going to show me a good place to chop down trees for firewood. The supply I’ve got isn’t going to last a whole winter.”

“You’re not going to be here next winter.”

“Oh, well, it’s good to stock up anyway. You never know.”

That was true. Hayley smiled.
You just never know.

* * *

H
AYLEY
SAT
ON
the bed and slipped off her high-heeled sandals while Adam popped the cork on the champagne. Tiny bubbles of excitement rose in her just like the fizz in the sparkling wine. Candles glowed, freesias poured forth their heady scent, chocolates and strawberries were at the ready. Adam had gone to a lot of trouble just for her. She felt precious and wanted and, dare she say it—loved?

“I hope you don’t think I’m trying too hard,” he said, pouring the bubbly liquid into flutes. He’d taken off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves. His forearms and neck glowed, tanned and dark against his pale shirt.

“It’s wonderfully romantic.” She accepted a glass and shifted a little when he sank onto the bed beside her. “Cheers.” They clinked glasses and drank. “Summer and Zoe safely in the barn?”

“All tucked away in their sleeping bags in the hayloft with flashlights, snacks and magazines. I told them they could use the cottage bathroom if they needed it.” He met her gaze and smiled. “We won’t be disturbed tonight.”

He kissed her lips in a gentle brush of his mouth, sweet and cool. Tiny kisses in the corners of her mouth, beneath her jaw, then back to her mouth, this time a little more insistent, subtly demanding entry. She opened to him readily, wanting this, wanting him. She longed to let go of the past and move into the future, whatever it held.

The kiss deepened, intensifying not just her physical response but her emotions. Now she held nothing back in a sensual merging of lips, breath and tongues, a mindless swirl of heat and sensation. She put her arms around his neck and pressed her body against his, seeking more contact.

To her relief, there was no repeat of the doubts that had marred their encounter by the stream, no cooling of the blood when things got hot.

But a drop of cold liquid on her neck made her aware she was still holding her champagne glass. With a breathless laugh she broke apart to set it on the bedside table.

When she turned back to Adam, he was unbuttoning his shirt. He paused, his eyes dark and intent. “Before we go any further, are you sure about this?”

Hayley nodded. Oh, she had questions—about his job and promotion, how long they would have together once he sold the house, how often they might see each other when he was back in Melbourne—but there would be time later to talk. For now she would enjoy the fantasy that he was hers.

She slid her hands up his bare chest, feeling the smooth skin and ripples of hard muscles beneath her palms. He undid the clasp holding her halter top together and the two sides of the bodice slipped down, exposing her bare breasts.

“No bra. I knew it,” Adam said. “You’ve been driving me crazy all night.” Reverently he cupped one breast and lowered his dark head to kiss and lick and suck gently on the nipple.

Hayley tipped her head back and shut her eyes, letting out a tiny moan as the pressure increased and the electric sensation shot from her breast to her pulsing core.

His hands moved over her as he greedily sucked first one, then the other breast. Her skin heated beneath his caress as
her
touch became more urgent. She pushed his shirt off his shoulders. He had broad shoulders and flat pecs, a tapered torso and a smattering of dark hair across his chest that ran down to his waistband and disappeared, leading her eye lower to the hard bulge in his pants. As she looked at him, his gaze roamed over her, from her tousled hair to her flushed cheeks to her bare breasts to her waist with the bunched dress still around it. For a long few seconds they simply drank each other in by candlelight.