She leaped to her feet, searching desperately for a phone so she could call for help. The saw screeched, driving her crazy, but she didnt have a clue how to turn the thing off.
Cindy
She found the phone base, but the portable was missing from it. Dammit. Whipping around, she searched the cluttered countertop, ready to run out into the street screaming for help if the phone didnt materialize.
Cindy
It took her a minute, for she still wasnt used to that horrible name, and on top of that, the saw still roared.
Cindy
The weak voice finally penetrated her panic. It was Stone.
Racing back, she hunkered down, wrapping an arm around him for support. Dont move, she ordered, wishing she knew more first aid.
Stone slowly pulled himself up to his hands and knees-one hand clutching his stomach.
Stone? Propping him up with her shoulder, she bore most of his weight. With her free hand she cupped his face and tilted it up, waiting until his eyes fluttered open. They were glassy-oh God, didnt that mean something bad? A concussion? Im calling an ambulance, she told him. Soon as I find your phone.
The glistening in his eyes got stronger. His face, looking drawn and tight with pain, flushed. No.
He wheezed when he breathed. Under her hand, his bunched back muscles flexed. She could feel him tremble. Oh, this is ridiculous! she cried. Where is your phone!
His jaw set determinedly, which in a calmer moment she would have recognized as pure stubbornness, but panic had taken over. Stone!
He glared at her. Over thereon left side of the saw
Leaping up, Jenna looked and looked, but on the left side of the saw she saw nothing but a black switch.
Hitit. Turn offthe damn saw.
Exasperated, she hit the switch as hed requested, and the shop fell blessedly silent.
Stone sank back to the floor, silent and still, and Jennas heart stopped.
Terrified, she skidded back around the counter and again dropped to her knees beside him. No, she whispered, draping herself over his broad back and hugging him tight. Just touching him like this, holding his big warm body, had memories slamming into her: Stone laughing, Stone making her laugh.
Stone caring for her, when no one else did. What if she had lost him now, before she told him the truth? No, she whispered again, squeezing him hard, fear overriding all else.
He groaned. Dont, he gasped in a strangled voice when she inadvertently squeezed again. He pushed himself away from her and back up on his knees.
He didnt want her to touch him, and forgetting for a minute that he had no idea who she really was, Jenna felt a deep self-loathing; she couldnt blame him for not wanting her to be near him. Im sorry, she whispered.
Grimacing, he wrapped his arms around his middle. You dont understand.
Yes, I do. You dont want me to touch you.
He laughed shortly, then winced, trying to hold both his head and his belly at the same time. God, that hurt. That damn two-by-four kicked back at me with enough power to stop a locomotive. He wobbled a minute, then pushed himself to a standing position and groaned again. Never even saw it coming. Carefully, as if testing, he drew a breath. Apparently satisfied, he pierced her with his gaze. Now come here.
Not waiting for her to move, he snaked a hand out and grabbed her wrist, tugging her close. He ran his hands up her arms, then slowly back down. Grasping her hips, he pulled her closer, then closer still, until they were only a fraction of an inch from an embrace.
Gruffly he said, I didnt mean I didnt want you to touch me. I want that, Cindy. I want it badly. He rubbed his ribs. But I hurt like hell, and much as I regret asking you not to hug me, you were squeezing too hard.
She closed her eyes in embarrassment, but she was just so relieved he was okay. Oh.
His eyes gleamed with something far more than pain. There was warmth and affection, just waiting for her to take it. As she watched, it deepened into something more likehunger. For her. She would have taken a step back from what she saw there, but she had to be able to breathe to move, and at the moment, she couldnt draw any air at all.
Im feelinga bit better.
Im glad, she managed. His hands on her hips were making her knees weak again, and she couldnt hold back the memories of other times, other places, when hed had those big knowing hands on her, how hed made her feel like the most important woman on earth.
He was doing it again, with little to no effort, and this time, for the first time, her head was in the right place. She could only imagine how wonderful it would be now to make love with him.
He ducked his head a bit to stare into her lowered gaze. That thought you just had, the one thats making you blush. He arched his brows. Mind sharing?
Her face felt hotter. I dont think so. No.
He ducked his head a bit to stare into her lowered gaze. That thought you just had, the one thats making you blush. He arched his brows. Mind sharing?
Her face felt hotter. I dont think so. No.
Chicken.
All right, if you must know, I was thinking about how scared I was, watching you crumble like that.
I just had the air knocked out of me, thats all. And thats not what you were thinking.
Okay, I was thinking of getting you to a hospital.
His sharp gaze told her he didnt believe a word of that excuse, either. I dont need a doctor, but thanks.
Yes, you do, your head
Its fine, he assured her, rubbing his chest But this hurts. What do you have for this?
I thought it was your stomach.
His gaze deepened, his body, his big, warm body, leaned closer. It was. But my heart hurts like hell. What are you doing to me?
Oh, she couldnt face this. The tenderness, the caring it was going to tear her apart. She didnt deserve it, and he deserved so much more.
Your ribs, she said desperately. You might have cracked something. You need-
You, he said. I need you. And he kissed her, a deep searching kiss.
Chapter 5
Jennas response to Stones kiss was primal and instinctive, because she needed him, too. Needed him with everything she had. Her eyes drifted closed, and though her fear for him didnt fade, she loosened her grip on him enough to lightly touch his chest. He was okay. She drowned in the knowledge, and a swirling heat that worked its way from deep inside her, spreading to her limbs until she thought she would spontaneously combust. Youre really okay.
Yes.
She hadnt realized shed spoken her desperate worry out loud until he reassured her.
Stones hands fueled the fire as they slid up her body, over her ribs, grazing the sides of her breasts, then cupped her face. Tilting her head for better access, he nibbled her mouth, making her whimper for more.
His body went rigid for the briefest moment, and Jenna panicked. He knew! Hed kissed her, and somehow hed discovered the truth.
Frightened, she opened her eyes to find him studying her with a keen probing gaze, as if he was trying to see deep into her soul.
Chicken, hed called her, and he was right. How could she have lost herself like this? How did it happen that she hadnt told him the truth but was still in his arms?
Last chance, she thought. Last chance to hold him, because once she told him, he wouldnt want to touch her ever again. Oh, shed miss this. To be surrounded by his arms, to hear him groan at her touch.
For so long shed been on her own, with no one to share her fears and secrets. Shed allowed no one close, not friends, not co-workers, no one.
Now she had this man, the man shed loved since the first moment shed seen him years before, and he wanted her. It felt so good to be held like this, so good that she became dizzy with the unexpected luxury of it.
Its all right, he murmured, wrapping his arms around her when her legs threatened to buckle. Tenderly, lightly, he nuzzled at her neck. Ive got you.
And he did. She reveled in that, and in being able to count on him. Shed give anything to give that much back and have him accept what she could offer. Tell him. Tell him.
He kissed her again, a questing sensual kiss that had her mind floating along where nothing mattered except his mouth, his tongue, that thrilling low moan he made deep in his throat when she pressed closer.
His muffled oath had her jerking back, startled and dazed.
She leaned against the counter for support and concentrated on dragging air into her lungs. But even breathing didnt dispel the memory of the pleasure hed created when shed been plastered against his heavenly, warm and gloriously hard body.
He hadnt said a word, was probably horrified at how shed flung herself at him. Im sorry, she said, staring at her clenched fingers.
He was silent.
Her new determination to face life directly made a mockery of her. Chin up, she looked at him. I dont know what came over-Stone?
Braced against the wall, he was white and visibly trembling.
See? she demanded, rushing to him to support him the best she could. You see? Dammit, I told you. A doctor. Now.
There was a smile in his voice and surprising strength in his arm as he wrapped it around her, careful to keep her to the side of him, away from his clearly aching middle. No, no doctor. Im fine, but Im enjoying this bossy side of you, so please feel free to continue yelling at me while I catch my breath.
Youre impossible, she said, bewildered by him as she led him to a chair. Dumping the files on it to the floor, she gently pushed him down and put her hands on her hips. Tell me where your phone is or Ill
Youll what? He was clearly enjoying himself despite his pain. Youll kiss me again?
He looked so hopeful, while at the same time so dreadfully miserable, she didnt know whether to laugh or cry. Hed broken out in a sweat, his eyes were glassy with pain and she had no idea what to do.
Stone. Jenna sank to her knees before him, unable to stop herself from hovering. Please. Youre hurt.
Taking her hands in his, he shook his head.
And stubborn as ever.
Just as he narrowed his eyes in question, she realized her blunder. What is it about men that make them this way? she asked. Like they know it all?
Fear.
Fear?
Closing his eyes, he drew a careful breath. She tried to rise, but he held her hands tighter now, as if needing her closeness, and loving the feeling of being needed, she stayed. Stone?