Randy. Her dead husband had been a taker. He’d never had the desire to do more than ram and demand she give him what he wanted,
“Dana, you’re driving me crazy.”
“Good or bad.”
“Both.” He clasped her hands and stared into her eyes. His blues darkened. “I want what you want to give me.”
“I hear a but in your voice.”
He groaned. “This isn’t the right time.” He pressed his forehead against hers, released her hands and drew her closer.
She felt insecure. She wanted to tell him her dreams of yesterday had taken fire again. She couldn’t. The fragile moment could shatter in an instant. ”Then where do we go from here?”
“I need to learn where I want to go next. My life is a mess. No job. No home.”
“What about Matt’s offer?”
“I haven’t heard what he wants.” He released her. “I’m not sure I can work with someone as my boss.”
She slid away. “Will you at least call me and let me know how you are?”
“I promise not to leave you in the dark again.” He cupped her face and kissed her lightly. Then he rose and went to the cradle.
Dana waited beside the couch until her returned to her side. “I need to make this appointment with Matt.”
“Good luck.” She wanted to ask him to stay and couldn’t.
Simon pulled her into his arms and kissed her. A moment before the kiss became explosive he released her and opened the door.
Dana stood in the open doorway for a moment before pushing it shut. Tears threatened. She bit her lip. She wouldn’t cry until she felt sure he wouldn’t return. As long as there was hope she would keep her tears inside.
Drawing a deep breath she returned to the family room and booted the computer. She had a new business to operate and a daughter to raise. Simon would call. He had promised.
Chapter 6
Simon sat behind the wheel of the rental car and sucked deep breaths of air. He willed his body to relax. What he really wanted to do was return and take what Dana had offered. He couldn’t. Wouldn’t be fair to her or to promise something he couldn’t give. She had been willing to return to the teenage years of heavy petting and more. He wanted her but not in that way. When and if they went beyond kisses that set him burning there had to be the chance for both of them to be consumed by fire.
He grasped the wheel. The answer to his refusal to accept her offer startled him. He wanted to offer her a life where they could form a family. For the past year he’d been undercover. Slinking through dark alleys in his role as a homeless vet had made him cautious. He’d avoided the few women he’d dated before becoming a covert operative. Stepping out of his assumed persona had meant danger. Though he thrived on taking chances, staying alive had been his goal.
He started the car. Walking away from the police force had been a life-saving move. Danger had lost the stimulating effect. Had he grown up? Seeing Dana again had made him think of dreams he’d cast aside. Being with her had raised the old emotions of wanting her; of losing her of learning she’d married Randy.
When he’d heard the news of the wedding he’d considered a trip to Fern Lake to stop the ceremony. How? He’d been gone for years and never reached out. Believing Dana had forgotten him had frozen the impulse. Instead he’d gone undercover.
Why had she married Randy? He had to know.
Simon backed the car from the driveway. He hadn’t asked that question. From the little she’d said the two years of marriage hadn’t been wonderful. How could he blame her for seeking love? Until he’d joined the force and called Aunt May no one knew where he could be found. Dana had been free to live her life. What had he been trying to prove?
Guilt flooded his thoughts. Today Dana had given him hope. Until his path was settled and he had answers to his
“Dana, you’re driving me crazy.”
“Good or bad.”
“Both.” He clasped her hands and stared into her eyes. His blues darkened. “I want what you want to give me.”
“I hear a but in your voice.”
He groaned. “This isn’t the right time.” He pressed his forehead against hers, released her hands and drew her closer.
She felt insecure. She wanted to tell him her dreams of yesterday had taken fire again. She couldn’t. The fragile moment could shatter in an instant. ”Then where do we go from here?”
“I need to learn where I want to go next. My life is a mess. No job. No home.”
“What about Matt’s offer?”
“I haven’t heard what he wants.” He released her. “I’m not sure I can work with someone as my boss.”
She slid away. “Will you at least call me and let me know how you are?”
“I promise not to leave you in the dark again.” He cupped her face and kissed her lightly. Then he rose and went to the cradle.
Dana waited beside the couch until her returned to her side. “I need to make this appointment with Matt.”
“Good luck.” She wanted to ask him to stay and couldn’t.
Simon pulled her into his arms and kissed her. A moment before the kiss became explosive he released her and opened the door.
Dana stood in the open doorway for a moment before pushing it shut. Tears threatened. She bit her lip. She wouldn’t cry until she felt sure he wouldn’t return. As long as there was hope she would keep her tears inside.
Drawing a deep breath she returned to the family room and booted the computer. She had a new business to operate and a daughter to raise. Simon would call. He had promised.
Chapter 6
Simon sat behind the wheel of the rental car and sucked deep breaths of air. He willed his body to relax. What he really wanted to do was return and take what Dana had offered. He couldn’t. Wouldn’t be fair to her or to promise something he couldn’t give. She had been willing to return to the teenage years of heavy petting and more. He wanted her but not in that way. When and if they went beyond kisses that set him burning there had to be the chance for both of them to be consumed by fire.
He grasped the wheel. The answer to his refusal to accept her offer startled him. He wanted to offer her a life where they could form a family. For the past year he’d been undercover. Slinking through dark alleys in his role as a homeless vet had made him cautious. He’d avoided the few women he’d dated before becoming a covert operative. Stepping out of his assumed persona had meant danger. Though he thrived on taking chances, staying alive had been his goal.
He started the car. Walking away from the police force had been a life-saving move. Danger had lost the stimulating effect. Had he grown up? Seeing Dana again had made him think of dreams he’d cast aside. Being with her had raised the old emotions of wanting her; of losing her of learning she’d married Randy.
When he’d heard the news of the wedding he’d considered a trip to Fern Lake to stop the ceremony. How? He’d been gone for years and never reached out. Believing Dana had forgotten him had frozen the impulse. Instead he’d gone undercover.
Why had she married Randy? He had to know.
Simon backed the car from the driveway. He hadn’t asked that question. From the little she’d said the two years of marriage hadn’t been wonderful. How could he blame her for seeking love? Until he’d joined the force and called Aunt May no one knew where he could be found. Dana had been free to live her life. What had he been trying to prove?
Guilt flooded his thoughts. Today Dana had given him hope. Until his path was settled and he had answers to his
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