The young man behind the counter grinned. “We do, yes. They come in blue or white.”
Jock looked at her with a raise of brows.
“You are not getting me those.” She put her hands on her hips.
He smiled, the smile really, really sexy. His dark black hair was windblown and a bit shaggy. That strong jaw just did something to her insides. Damned sexy man.
She sighed.
“Isn’t she cute when she’s bossy?” Jock asked the kid.
“Jock, I’m serious.”
“Kaitie lass, so am I.” He crossed his arms. “Which of us is going to win?”
“Me. I can come get these tomorrow, with my own money.”
He looked at the kid, then back at her. “But he’s got a job to do and he wants a sale, so he’ll sell these to me. I’ll give them to you. What you do with them after is up to you.”
She looked at the kid. “Can I return them?”
“God, you’re stubborn,” Jock said. Then to the clerk he said, “She’s cute, if aggravating, when she’s stubborn, too.”
She started to say something, but Jock held up his hand. “I get you are an independent woman, admire you for it even, but I’m getting you these art supplies.”
Kaitlyn glared at him, then grinned. “Are we arguing?”
Jock leaned against the counter and looked again to the clerk. “You are witnessing our first disagreement. I’ve no doubt we’ll kiss and make up.”
“Jock Kinncaid!”
The young man behind the counter laughed, Jock grinned, and Kaitlyn couldn’t help but smile.
“Hardheaded man.”
But she wouldn’t lie to herself. He’d bought her art supplies. He knew she wanted them, that they were important to her, or maybe he didn’t know the latter, but he’d just gotten them. Part of her was irritated as hell that he just took over like that. She was tired of letting a male run her life. Yet, she was also honest enough to know Jock’s way of doing things wasn’t because he was trying to look better, or wanted anything out of it. Or he didn’t seem to.
She watched as the clerk rang up the sale, bagged the supplies, and passed them onto Jock. He frowned, pointed to an area behind the counter.
“How much is that camera?”
The clerk turned. “Which one?”
“The Kodak Instamatic.”
“Oh, the 126?” the clerk asked Jock, who nodded.
“Ring that up too.”
Kaitlyn didn’t say a word. Then again, if she ran hotels, she could probably buy anything she wanted as well.
She held out her hand but Jock pulled the bag away. “Nope, I get to carry them. You didn’t want them.”
Kaitlyn felt her cheeks warm. “You’re right, that was rude of me, but I’m used to taking care of myself.”
They walked down the sidewalk and she felt his gaze on her. “Yes, I can see that.”
The sarcasm wasn’t lost on her.
“I can take care of myself. I did it for years just fine before I met him.”
“Hmmm.”
She took a deep breath. “Thank you for doing something nice, and I apologize if I seemed ungrateful.”
He transferred the bag to his right hand and took her hand in his left. At his car, he tossed the stuff into the back and said to her, “I want to go back to the bluff tomorrow.”
“All right.”
“You could bring your art stuff and I’ll bring the camera.”
She tilted her head. “All right, why?”
He paused, the passenger door open for her, her behind him.
He shook his head, his gaze running over her face. Softly he said, “You really don’t know, do you?” He grinned. “So will you go?”
“Probably, if you’ll tell me why.”
He leaned in and kissed her on the forehead. “Maybe I’ll tell you some other time.”
They were both quiet as he drove her to her cabin.
The day had been . . . easy. Easy and fun and . . . wonderful. It had been wonderful. She’d been herself all day long. She didn’t remember having to watch what she said, or how she said it. She hadn’t worried about what she was wearing, if it was appropriate or if Jock would think she needed to change. She hadn’t worried about what she told him, or didn’t tell him.
He’d given her a wonderful, beautiful day and she’d been rude to him when he’d bought her a gift.
Kaitlyn swallowed. Her parents raised her better, Grammy did as well. Not looking at him, she took a deep breath and said, “Thank you, Jock.”
He turned into her driveway. “For what? I had a great time today. I made you smile. I made you laugh. I even riled you.” He smiled. “It was fun.”
She couldn’t help but chuckle.
He slowed as he pulled up to her cabin, which looked nothing like his. The porch roof sagged so the house looked like it was smiling.
“Is this place even safe?”
Kaitlyn shrugged. “I assume. They gave me the key. It’s some old family place and they were nice enough to let me stay. Floor’s sound, walls don’t creak.”
He glared through the windshield. “Not the floor or walls I’m worried about.”
She laughed as she reached into the backseat to get the bag of art supplies. He turned so they were looking at each other.
“Thank you. I don’t suppose you’ll let me pay you ba—”
“Nope.”
“You could at least let me finish.”
“Could, but figured it was wasted breath, so I’d save you the trouble.”
“Hmm . . .”
He glanced back at the house and she grabbed her bag, reaching over to open the door.
“I’ll get it.”
Kaitlyn waited for him to walk around the car and open her door. He’d done that all day. Opened the door for her, waited for her, she wasn’t used to it.
He held her hand when she climbed out but didn’t let her go when he shut the car door. They walked to her porch and he looked around the shadows. “Your place is really back off the way.”
The teasing was gone from his voice.
“I’ll be fine. I was fine last night and the night before.”
He looked around, a frown between his brows. “All the same to you, I’ll see you safely inside and make certain no one is waiting on you.”
She looked to the door and shivered, then nodded. “Thank you.”
Kaitlyn reached for the lock, holding the key she’d pulled from her pocket.
Jock held out his hand. “If you don’t mind?”
Rolling her eyes, though silently relieved, she gave him the key and let him open the door. Her cabin was small, all open floor plan, so it didn’t take but seconds to make certain she was indeed safe here.
He silently turned in a circle, studying the windows, then the roof, and finally shook his head.
Kaitlyn set her art things on the table.
The fall days were cooler and she shivered, realizing she’d need to start a fire.
Jock opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again.
She waited.
He closed his lips, the frown still in place.
Kaitlyn walked up to him and he turned to her, gave her his undivided attention. Maybe that’s what it was with him.
“Jock, you can go now.”
He thrummed his fingers on his thigh. “I did have a great time today. More fun than I’ve had in a long, long time.”
She smiled. “Me too.”
“I don’t like leaving you here by yourself.”
Kaitlyn cupped his jaw, running her fingers along the hard line, noting he had more dark stubble than he’d had when she’d met him by the lake.
“I’ve a feeling you are a good man, Jock Kinncaid. I’d almost forgotten what those were like. Thank you for my art supplies. Thank you for lunch and for the hike and for a wonderful day.” She looked at his chest and swallowed. “Thank you for being my friend when I didn’t know how very badly I needed one.”
His own hand held hers to his chest.
His sigh ruffled the top of her hair. “Ah, Kaitie.”
She looked up just as his head lowered. His other arm wrapped around her back, pulling her closer just as his lips met hers.
The man kissed like he did everything else with her—he was clearly in charge, but yet, waiting on her.
She leaned into him and felt the change in him instantly, the muscles beneath her hand tightening. Kaitlyn opened her mouth and ran her tongue along the seam of his lips.
He made a noise in his throat and pulled her closer, his hand going from holding hers at his chest to skimming up her arm to cup the back of her head as he took over and deepened the kiss.
The kiss warmed her, melting her stomach to flutters and summersaults even as tingles danced down her spine and over her skin.
Jock kissed her open mouth, demanding yet waiting. She wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on tiptoe to kiss him even better.
Another growl.
His arms tightened as he lifted her, still kissing her. She wrapped her legs around his trim waist and realized again how wide the man’s shoulders were.
Her back hit the wall or the door, though his hands covered her spine. She gasped as his body pressed hers even more, breaking the kiss.
He trailed kisses over her chin, her jaw, to her ear, where he kissed just beneath it. Kaitlyn shivered.
“A soft spot. I love finding those,” he whispered, his mouth kissing and licking over her neck.
Kaitlyn titled her head back against the door.
Jock Kinncaid was a dangerous man. He made her feel. Feel more than she probably should.
His mouth trailed lower to her collarbone, where the tip of his tongue burned along the curve. She shivered again.
“Another one.”
She’d never felt like this. Not ever before.
She’d heard of women wanting. Simply wanting.
A want that tempted.
A want that burned.
A want that could consume.
One hand left her back, caressing softly beneath her sweater. When had he removed her sweater? She realized it was hanging by one arm. Her shirt was no match and she assumed he’d dive right in, or tug it from her pants.
Instead, his hand simply caressed along her rib cage. Up and down, up and down, slow and easy from her waist to under her arm, grazing the side of her breast.
He growled again and eased back. His eyes were a deep indigo, a muscle bunched in his jaw. “I should go.”
“I should let you.”
His eyes bore into hers. “I don’t want to leave you here, alone, far from everyone.”
She licked her lips, her heart racing.
She’d been a good girl all her life.
All her life.
For the first time, other than wishing her parents were alive, or wanting med school, she wanted something with everything in her. Wanted to be daring. And stupid. And rash.
She started to ask him to stay, but he spoke first. “Come with, Kaitie. Come back with me so I know you’re safe.” He glanced above them. “And I know the roof won’t collapse on top of you.”
Kaitlyn smiled, bit her lip and finally nodded. “Okay, Jock. I’ll come with you.”
His grin lit his eyes. “Grab your things. Let’s go. Your place is cold.”
She did as he asked and threw her things into her knapsack, not that she’d brought very much.
“That’s it?” he asked, glancing around.
“Well, and my purse.” And a book she’d bought at a bookstore.
He tilted his head and looked at the knapsack, an old canvas one that had belonged to her father.
“You, Kaitlyn . . .” His voice trailed off and he frowned.
“O’Reilly.”
“You, Kaitlyn O’Reilly, are not like any other woman I’ve ever met.”
“I bet.” She slung her purse over her shoulder and followed him out the door and back to his car. Once there he helped her in. As he climbed in, he didn’t immediately start the car. He turned to her.
“I don’t want you to feel like you have to come,” he said softly. “That wasn’t what I meant. I just don’t like the idea of you here alone. What if he—I can’t just—Damn.”
Kaitlyn licked her lips. “I don’t . . . Well, it’s been a lovely day and I’m sure you have lots of things to do and I don’t want to impose—”
He leaned over, his hand going behind her head to nudge her forward. “You are
not
imposing. I asked you to come with me.” He kissed her again.
When they both came up for air, she thought that maybe she’d only have this one weekend. One weekend for something bright and beautiful.
One weekend to feel special.
To feel cherished.
She pulled her bottom lip in and nibbled on it. Looking at him from beneath her lashes, she said, “Thank you. I don’t really want to be alone.”
His eyes darkened, narrowed, then he nodded once and kissed her forehead.
As they drove back down the curving road, he said, “I should warn you, Kaitie lass. I always get what I want. And right now, what I want most is you, but you just came out of a bad relationship and—”