02 Unforgivable - Untouchable (25 page)

“
Sure,” I lied. I wasn’t prepared to argue the issues of who should be in which bed. I immediately felt a big difference between the thick pillow top queen mattress and the thin, uncomfortable twin that Ryan was now settling onto. “That bed isn’t very comfortable; sleep up here, but you don’t need to hold me.”

I didn’t have to ask twice as he rose and pulled back the covers, stretched out and sighed, “Much better. Good-night, Leese.”

“
Good-night.”

I lay on my side watching the bedside clock tick by.

“
You aren’t asleep, are you?” came a whisper in the dark.

I thought about ignoring him, but I finally whispered back, “No.”

His body came up behind me, warmth flooded my skin and his tattooed arm wrapped around my waist. I didn’t expect the kiss on my neck that sent shivers through me.

“
Get some sleep.”

I really needed to be asleep
before
he attempted to replace Micah. It seemed though he found sleeping with me to be relaxing enough that he drifted off and within fifteen minutes, I could hear his deep, steady breathing, just short of trying to snore.

I laid there and wondered if Micah was sleeping right now? I cried silently. My heart ached to hear his voice, to feel his touch, and to taste his lips against my own. I was ashamed to be lying here in Ryan’s arms, knowing I wanted to roll over and let him have his first experience with a woman, but I couldn’t make that fatal mistake. It wouldn’t prove fatal to my physical body, but my heart and soul wouldn’t recover from the betrayal. Somewhere around four in the morning, I managed to fall asleep and, once asleep, I was comfortable and safe in Micah’s arms.

Chapter Twelve

There was a knock at the bedroom door around eight in the morning as Naomi’s voice came through saying that breakfast was ready. It scared me bad enough that I jerked upright in the bed, almost pulling Ryan with me.

“
Yes, I will,” he blurted out as he coiled back into the covers.

“
You do say funny stuff when you wake up,” I chuckled.

“
It can’t be morning yet,” he whined.

“
Sorry Sunshine, but it’s breakfast time.”

He moaned and sat up, “It’s gonna take a quart of coffee to get me awake.”

I sat back on the bed beside him and leaned over and kissed his cheek.

His eyes fully opened as he looked at me, “What was that for?”

“
Are you awake now?”

He blinked a couple times, “Yeah.”

“
Good, let’s go have breakfast before Andy and Ty eat it all.”

He grinned and we left the room.

We were enjoying bacon and eggs when someone knocked at their door. I jumped hard.

Ryan’s hand immediately touched my arm, “It’s okay.”

Ty was already in motion toward the door when Ryan asked him to make sure he knew who it was before he opened it. That earned him a strange look.

“
Who is it?” Ty asked.

“
Candace, you idiot. Open the door.”

Now it was Ryan’s turn to jump. The front door opened and in walked a young woman about my age. She was shorter than me, maybe 5’6” with straight, sandy blonde hair and brown eyes, slim built, but she definitely had me beat when it came to bra size. I was a healthy c-cup, but she had to be a double-D.

“
Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you had company,” she paused and then recognition hit her. “Ryan? Oh, my God. I don’t believe it!”

Ryan rose and met her half way of the living room as they gave each other a hug.

“
What the heck are you doing back in Colorado Springs? It’s been, what? Five or six years? You look great.”

“
Thanks. You, too. I can’t believe you’re still here? I thought your dad shipped to California?”

“
He did and then he fell off a flight deck and broke his back. He’s okay, but the military gave him a medical discharge and we moved back here. Miss Naomi, why didn’t…”

That was when she looked around Ryan to the table and saw me. I was smiling, but I could see she immediately assumed I was someone significant to Ryan.

“
Oh… Hi, I’m sorry, I didn’t know anyone else was—”

“
Candace, this is Leese. She and I are—”

“
Good friends who flew in yesterday,” I finished for him. I got up and she met me part way to shake hands.

“
Nice to meet you…” she let the words trail as she looked at me as if she knew me, “Did you grow up around here? You look so familiar to me.”

“
No, I’m from Florida.”

“
I swear I’ve seen you before,” she continued.

She was figuring out who I was even with the new hairdo.

“
So, you grew up with these guys?” I said, hoping to get her to stop staring at me.

“
Yeah, but Ryan of course was only here from like fifth grade to seventh, but he left quite an impression on all the girls with those pretty eyes of his. He was considered the hot ticket in middle school,” she laughed.

“
Now I’m the hot ticket,” Ty spoke up flexing his bare chest.

“
No, you’re pretty much still an idiot,” she stated, deflating him, “but you’re an idiot that I need at the moment. I came over because I need a ride to work; my car won’t start. I think the alternator is out on it again.”

“
We can give you a ride,” I offered, remembering how terrible Ty drove yesterday.

“
Sure,” Ryan added.

“
I don’t want to impose,” she started to say when Ty frowned.

“
You don’t mind ‘imposing’ on me!”

“
That’s because riding with you isn’t imposing, it gives you another chance to figure out how to drive.”

I liked this girl; she could put those boys in their place and, more importantly was the reaction on Ryan’s face when he saw her.

“
Come on,” I said touching Ryan’s arm and waking him from his daydream. I grabbed my purse and the three of us went out to the car.

“
Pearly’s car? Did you buy this?” she was clearly impressed.

“
Yeah, yesterday. But Leese actually—”

“
Worked out the deal,” I finished for him. “But it’s Ryan’s car.”

Candace started to go into the back seat, but I told her to sit up front so she could show Ryan the way to where she worked.

Ryan’s brow furrowed as he watched me slip in the back seat.

I noticed that Ryan remembered Pearly’s instructions as he hit the gas once and then turned the key. I stayed quiet and let them talk as she pointed the way to the JC Penney’s in the Citadel Mall.

“
So did you graduate high school?” Ryan asked.

“
No, this is my senior year, but we go back after Labor Day. We were in the same grade. Did you graduate?”

“
Not yet, I mean we will, but that depends on where we decide to stay.”

I was wishing he hadn’t said it that way because she became noticeably quiet.

“
We are just friends, though. Nothing more,” I added from the backseat. “He’s been really great to help me get settled somewhere before he moves on with his life.” I got another nasty glance in the rearview mirror from him. “Hey, Candace,” I continued, “Do you know of any places around here for rent?”

She twisted in the seat to look at me, “Are you looking for a house or an apartment?”

“
I prefer a house, but anything at this point would be good.”

“
There are some houses near the historic district that they recently renovated. I’d love to live over there; all the shops and restaurants are within walking distance.”

“
That sounds perfect. Do you have some paper so you could write us some directions?”

“
Yeah sure.” She pulled out a small note pad from her purse and drew a map to show how to get there from the Citadel. “I could show you guys around there after I get off work at three today, if you’d like?”

“
You’re going to need a ride home anyway, right?” Ryan finally spoke up.

“
That would sure save me from having to bum a ride from someone at the mall.”

“
Great. Then we’ll pick you up at three,” I said, leaving no room for an argument as we pulled into the large parking lot and drove around to Penney’s.

Candace thanked us for the ride. I climbed out of the back seat and into the front.

“
What are you doing?” Ryan snapped.

“
What?”

“
Don’t ‘What?’ me—you—you’re trying to put me and Candace together, aren’t you?”

“
She’s adorable and I saw your face when you heard who was at the door. I’m betting you had a thing for her at some point.”

“
Yeah, Leese, I did—when I was twelve! You haven’t given yourself enough time yet for me to know if we have a chance.”

“
Hey, you promised I was not going to be what holds you back from finding the right girl.”

“
But, that doesn’t mean you get to play match-maker. Okay?”

“
Okay, but—”

“
No buts!”

“
I was just going to ask if you find her attractive,” I said, putting out the bait.

“
I don’t like discussing that with you.”

“
Do you find me attractive?” I’ll start with small bait.

“
You know I do. If you asked me right now to—”

“
Then what’s wrong with telling me if you find her attractive?”

“
You can be relentless, you know that? Yes, Leese—I had a huge crush on her in middle school. When we moved, I…”

“
What?”

“
Never mind,” he snapped.

“
You know I’m going to bother you until— Ryan, pull over!” I said as I motioned to a gas station coming up.

“
Why?”

“
I’ve—I’ve got to get to a bathroom—now!”

He whipped the car swiftly off the roadway and into the station, as I grabbed my purse and ran around to the ladies room.

I had been expecting this, but I was trying to mentally will that it wouldn’t happen, now that it had, I was caught off guard.

I came back to the car ten minutes later; I didn’t have myself together. I didn’t realize how hard it was going to hit me and I couldn’t stop crying.

Ryan’s face was pale as he watched me clutching my abdomen. “Leese,” he said softly, “are you okay?”

I handed him Candace’s paper and just asked that he drive there, I wasn’t ready to talk. He made it to the historic district and located where the developer had a section of homes remodeled. We found the office as I dried my tears and tried to open the door to the car.

“
Tell me what’s wrong, please,” Ryan pleaded, gripping my arm and preventing me from leaving.

“
I’ll tell you, but I can’t do it now or I’ll never make it through talking with these people and, as much as I like Naomi, Andy, and Ty, I don’t want to stay at their house any longer than necessary.”

“
All right, but you promise to tell me before the day is over, okay?”

“
I will,” I stated as I took a ragged breath and opened the car door.

There were about fifteen houses left to choose from and it only took a glance for me to decide which one I wanted to see. It was a two bedroom, two and a half bath stone house with a 1,700 square foot open floor plan. It came with all new appliances, including a washer and dryer and was available for immediate occupancy. The sales woman drove with us the block and a half to unlock it so we could go inside and look around. It was clean and crisp with new hardwood floors and fresh dry wall. The kitchen was a rich cranberry with deep mossy green granite counter tops. The bedrooms were each designed to be suites with their own bathroom. The bathrooms were a little smaller than I liked, but they were new and private. The half bath was situated just off the living room so company didn’t have to traipse through the house to get to it.

“
It’s only two blocks to one of the area’s best little sidewalk bistros and there is a farmer’s market just a little further down from there every Saturday morning,” the woman explained.

“
It’s perfect. We’ll take it.” But then I rethought my statement, “Wait—I’m so sorry,” I said, touching Ryan’s arm and getting his attention as he was looking around the room smiling, “I didn’t even ask if you like it.”