Part 30 (1/2)
He lay down beside her, breathing hard, tugged her against the length of his body, and covered them with a sleeping bag.
She rose up on one arm and pressed a tender kiss to his cheek. ”For me, that was the very first time. I've never felt anything close to what I experienced with you.”
”After all these years, yes, this is our very first time.” He swept Lauren closer, hardly able to believe the love of his life was in his arms in the bed of his pickup on Lovers Leap. And yet, he felt as if this was exactly the way his life was meant to be.
She snuggled against him and then shrugged her shoulders. ”You know what, I'm really hungry.”
He grinned, pus.h.i.+ng her damp hair back from her face. ”Ready again?”
”Food.” She laughed and sat up. ”Where's that barbeque when a gal needs it?”
He groaned and sat up, too. ”Is there no satisfying you?”
She shook her head. ”Not if that little session is what you've got in store for my future.”
”I've got that for you. And a whole lot more.”
”Good. I want to try out your big bed next.”
”You got it.” He leaned over, picked up the sack of barbeque, and handed it to her. ”For now, this'll have to do.”
She pulled two Styrofoam containers out of the sack, gave one to him, and opened the other for herself. ”Oh yum, this looks good.”
”Simple chopped brisket sandwich and fries so it wouldn't be too messy.” He watched as she took a big bite of her sandwich and moaned in pleasure. That simple act sent his mind to imagining other pleasures. But he set that thought aside for later, pulled out his sandwich, and bit into it. She was right. It hit the spot.
They ate silently, except for a few moans and groans of pleasure, until the food was all gone. He quickly slipped the containers back into the sack, set it aside, and pulled the drinks out of the cooler. While they slurped from straws, he glanced around the area. They were as alone here as if they were at the top of the world. Maybe they could stay the night. He'd always wanted to spend long hours with her, and this was just the beginning of building a treasured life.
Lauren handed her mostly empty drink back to him, giving him a come hither smile that beckoned him closer. And that was more than fine with him. He set their cups back in the cooler and turned to her.
”I think it's time we got those jeans off you,” she said in a husky voice. ”I'd like a little show.”
He chuckled as he realized her mind had gone exactly where his thoughts had gone a moment earlier. She wanted to be here with him all night long, too. He reached for the waistband of his jeans. He'd be happy to shuck them for her.
As he stood up so she'd get the full effect, the sound of chirping crickets filled the air. Startled, he glanced around to see if a cricket had leaped from the oak tree down onto the truck.
Lauren sat up fast, appearing alarmed as she looked toward their pile of clothes.
”What is it?”
”That's my phone. I can't help but worry something might have happened to Hannah.”
He quickly turned serious and zipped up his jeans, looking about at the same time for her phone. He walked over to the clothes and tossed each piece aside until he found Lauren's jeans. He pulled out her cell and carried it over to her.
She grabbed the phone and swiped it open. ”h.e.l.lo.” She listened for a moment, appearing more and more concerned, and then nodded. ”I'll be right there. Yes, Ruby, I'll bring Kent.”
”Is Hannah okay?” He felt suddenly cold with dread at the thought that something could have happened to her.
”She's okay, I think. Ruby said Hannah awoke from a bad dream. She's crying and won't stop.” Lauren started putting on her clothes. ”I thought maybe now that she's here those nightmares would stop.”
”Nightmares?”
Lauren jerked her T-s.h.i.+rt over her head. ”She dreams her daddy is gone and she can't find him.”
”That's terrible.”
Lauren nodded, sighing. ”It's my fault. I shouldn't have left her alone with only Ruby tonight.”
Kent enfolded Lauren in his arms. ”Don't blame yourself. Blame me. I lured you up here. I didn't know about Hannah's nightmares.”
”How could you?” She hugged him hard. ”Listen, let's don't blame ourselves. Let's just go home and comfort her.”
”How do you get her past her fear?”
”So far, nothing works. She'll eventually wear herself out and fall asleep. All I can do is hold her and be there for her.”
”Then let's go home and comfort our daughter.”
Chapter 35.
When Kent cut the engine of his truck in front of Twin Oaks, Lauren felt a great sense of relief, as well as a sense of loss. She'd be able to comfort Hannah, but she worried that what she'd just shared with Kent might slip away. They'd confessed their love years ago and still they'd lost each other. She didn't want to think that could happen again, but their reconnection was still so fresh that it felt fragile. But she mustn't let that possibility weigh on her mind, not when Hannah needed her.
”Do you want me to go on home?” Kent asked in a voice tinged with concern. ”I don't want to intrude or cause problems.”
She gazed at the warm lights glowing inside the house, but she felt no answering warmth, only chills. To feel so helpless to stop her daughter's emotional pain was almost more than she could bear, but she must be strong for Hannah.
”Lauren?” Kent squeezed her hand. ”I'll support you any way I can.”
She shook her head to clear out the cobwebs. ”Normally, I wouldn't want to chance upsetting Hannah with extra people in the house.”
”That's fine. I understand. She hasn't been around me very much. I'm still a stranger to her.”
”That's just it. Hannah doesn't view you as a stranger. And Ruby asked for you to come in the house.”
”Okay. I'll come inside, but I'll hang back till we get a lay of the land. If it looks like my presence causes more trouble, I'll quietly slip back out the door and go home.”
”Thanks.”
”But if that happens, please call me as soon as she's settled down so I'll know she's okay.”
”Of course, I will.” She squeezed his hand in return, feeling the welcome power of his warmth and strength, then opened her door.
She was down, out, and headed for the kitchen door before Kent had a chance to round the front of his pickup. She jogged up the brick steps and paused with her hand on the doork.n.o.b. She took a deep breath and gave him a quick nod before she opened the door. She stepped inside and smelled the tantalizing aroma of fresh-baked brownies, so she knew Hannah had been having fun earlier in the day. She glanced downstairs and saw Ruby sitting in her recliner with Hannah curled in her lap, softly sobbing.
”Hannah, sweetie, I'm here,” Lauren called as she quickly walked across the kitchen.
”Mommy!” Hannah cried as she leaped out of Ruby's lap.