Second Chances (14 page)

"Hi Karina! Did you get any new toys at the store today?"

"Do you want to play Nintendo with me?"

"Can Max come out and play with us in the yard?"

"Hi guys! To answer your questions, no we didn't, I'd love to play, but it might have to be tomorrow, and yes, you can take him out for a bit." Finally escaping the rambunctious pair, she let Max out to play with the boys then cuddled the cats for a few minutes. She wandered into her bedroom, refusing to look at her comfy and inviting bed. If she lay down, she'd be out in no time. She walked to her closet to hang up her sweater instead when it hit her.

The room looked…different. But how? She turned in a slow circle, nerves dancing on her spine. No, it had to be her imagination. She might have left her nightie on top of the comforter, instead of tucking it under her pillow, like she usually did. She tilted her head, considering. She
had
been rushed this morning.

That had to be the answer. It was just Ian and his crap throwing her off balance and making her paranoid.

Which was exactly what he wanted. Taking a deep, calming breath, she pulled herself together and headed out to the kitchen to do a quick tidy. Thankfully, she'd just finished wiping down the counter when there was a knock at the door, accompanied by the delicious, unmistakable aroma of Chinese food.

She smiled in greeting. "Hi there. I thought we'd eat outside if that's okay with you?" She grabbed the plates and cutlery she'd set aside and led the way to the back yard.

Brian nodded. "That works. This is nice here. You have a huge lawn and lots of privacy."

"The apartment is on the smaller side, but that doesn't really matter. There's lots of space outside, yes. Privacy…" She laughed. "Not so much. The twins have become a large part of my life. They have a babysitter at home for afterschool, but they're usually waiting for me when I get home. Then they come feed the cats and play with Max. So there's not much privacy—at least until the kids have gone to bed."

"Kids, cats and a dog. Well, it certainly didn't take you long to get settled in, did it?"

She looked around the green trees and flowering shrubs. "It felt like home right from the beginning. It's a nice feeling."

She started to unload the foam containers from the bags onto the patio table.

"My goodness, how much did you bring?"

"A lot. I didn't know what you liked, and I wasn't sure if the twins were going to be joining us for dinner."

"If I'd told them you were bringing Chinese food, then they probably wouldn't have given us a choice. However, I kept that bit of information to myself."

They smiled conspiratorially at each other.

"We can always share," suggested Brian.

Her mouth full of succulent chicken, Karina shook her head emphatically. When she could, she replied, "Later. If there's any left."

Indeed, it was much later that they dropped off the leftovers to Sandra and the boys as they headed to the park to walk off dinner. Karina looked around in appreciation. "This was a wonderful idea. I hadn't realized how beautiful it is here. The smell is fresh, not heavy like in the middle of summer, but green and new."

"Are you still happy that you came?"

"Definitely," she answered instantly. "Already, I feel more at home than I ever did in Vancouver. It was a nice enough place, but with my old company going under, my best friends and I were all on the verge of needing to make big changes. I'd have ended up alone, lost and floundering, if I'd stayed there. Here I feel like part of some big family. And speaking of friends and family, I haven't heard back from Mark. Have you spoken to him recently?"

"Mark's brother was in a car accident and he's flown to New York to be with him and his pregnant wife. Sorry, I should have mentioned it earlier. He did ask me to tell you but with everything else going on, I forgot."

She stopped in her tracks, stunned. "Oh no! How terrible. Here we're all so worried about a silly note and Mark is in the middle of a family crisis. I'll send him an email in the morning."

Brian wrapped an arm around her shoulders, urging her to continue walking. "I'm sure he'd appreciate that."

"I hope his brother will be okay. It must be difficult for him. I feel so involved with everyone here. After the weekend seminar, it was hard to go home. I felt like a stranger. As if I'd suddenly outgrown my life and needed to move on."

"Which of course, you did." He grinned at her. "In a big way."

This whole scene—the sunset, the walking together, being in his arms, the peaceful setting—could have come out of any romantic movie. Karina suddenly felt intimately connected to the exclusive world of lovers.

Brian took everything in stride. Karina both admired and envied him for that. There were so many new things happening in her life right now that she often felt off balance. Like now.

She wanted him, here, in this instant and forever. Nothing had changed in the last ten years. At least not as far as her feelings were concerned. She couldn't imagine that ever changing. Yet, she also needed to know that he was as involved as she was. Did he know how she felt?

Her steps slowed at that possibility.

Brian stopped and tugged her around into the circle of his arms, to stare down at her thoughtful face.

"What's the matter?" His lips feathered gently across her temple. "Tell me." He tilted her chin up for better access, sliding his lips across her cheeks, stopping for a moment to caress the tip of her nose before gently heading off to explore the other side of her face. "Talk to me." His whisper fluttered down her spine.

Pleasure washed through her. Eyes closed against the tender onslaught, she leaned into him. His arms tightened, pinning her firmly against him from hips to breast. Not that she wanted to escape; she was where she wanted to be.

Those teasing kisses were tempting, testing, and arousing but not satisfying her hunger. They were on a mission of their own, exploring, nibbling, tasting. It was an exquisite torture, one she didn't know how much more she could stand. Not much.

Strong fingers slid through her curls, massaging and stroking her head, holding her a willing captive for his gentle ravishment.

A soft moan escaped on a sigh. She sank deeper against him. Never had she felt so cosseted, so loved.

Loved?

Was she ready for that? There was so much power in that word. She knew it was the basis for this churning emotion, but hadn't said it out loud. Hadn't acknowledged it. Hadn't dared. What if he didn't feel the same way? And what if she said it…and he walked away again? She didn't think she could handle that. Not a second time.

Breaking the kiss, Brian gazed back at her, as if searching for answers in her eyes. His own darkened, responding to whatever confused signal she was putting out.

Never able to lie verbally she hadn't a hope of hiding her feelings, especially not now. Not when a fire ignited in his, sparked by something he saw in her. His lips came down hard, possessing hers, taking her over the edge of want into the depths of need. He stole her breath, yet gave her life. A cycle of taking and a giving that followed the natural rhythm of life.

Feeling mindless, boneless, she accepted him deep into her soul. An invitation he honored. He took them both further in, entwining their emotions to match their bodies. Minds that needed no help to leap the remaining distance slipped into oblivion.

Children's laughter burst out from the green space on the other side of the trees.

The childish shrieks of delight, combined with dogs barking, shattered their passionate bubble, dropping them instantly back into their surroundings, both of them still shaking with unspent passion.

They were in a public park, for God's sake. Anyone could have seen them. How mortifying! Karina buried her face against Brian's broad chest and snuggled deeper in his warmth.

Now
that
was a kiss.

***

"Karina should be here soon, shouldn't she?" Mark asked, snapping open the clasp on his briefcase. They'd been working all morning, prepping for the next seminar, and now everything was set. They'd been working together so long that they'd established a casual, yet efficient rhythm that allowed them to make these preparations in record time. Brian nodded, looking outside the bay window for what had to be the twentieth time in the last hour. It felt like he'd been waiting for her for forever.

"Good." Mark straightened and sent a knowing look at Brian. "You need to make this relationship move along."

What the hell did that mean? Brian stared at his friend. "Why? And how do you suggest I do that?"

Mark busied himself closing up his briefcase. "I don't know. But you have to do something." He turned around to face the front door. "That girl is special."

From the sound of Mark's voice, it appeared there was more than a little interest on his part. And that wasn't good. Brian wanted them to be friends, but not more than that. He frowned at Mark, then said cautiously, "Meaning?"

"Treat her right or I'll step in and give her another choice," Mark said bluntly. "So far, I've left the field wide open to you. But if you ever hurt her, then she's fair game."

No way in hell that was ever going to happen. Brian's hackles rose. "In all the years we've been friends we've never once fought over a woman. Don't start now." He stood up slowly. This was not the time to back down. "Know this my friend, in truth she's already mine and has been for a long time. She just doesn't know it and I was too big a fool to do anything about it before." His gaze hardened. "I'm not now."

His friend's reaction stunned him.

Mark, in the true fashion that had preserved their long friendship, laughed uproariously. His face turned red and he collapsed back down on the chair. Finally he gasped out, "Oh that's great." He chuckled a little more. "Glad to know it. Body language doesn't lie. Right from the first weekend, her body said she was yours. But I wanted to make sure that you knew where you belonged."

Brian glowered at him, but long after Mark left, still chuckling, all Brian could think about was his comments.

***

Ian watched as Karina pulled out of her driveway and disappeared down the street. The upstairs occupants had left earlier. Churchgoers, he thought. Perfect. That would give him at least an hour to do what he wanted to do.

He waited another few minutes, in case she'd forgotten something and had turned around to come back, then got out of his car and walked casually to Karina's side-door entrance. He'd already copied the spare key she'd hidden under the flowerpot. Such a ridiculous place to keep her spare. Even if the point was to let the boys get at the dog, it was still stupid. He shrugged. Well, it made his job easier.

He slipped inside and bent to greet the dog. He'd come by several times already to get to know him. They'd made friends very quickly. "Hey, Max. How's it going, buddy?"

Max had a great personality. Lousy watchdog but from what he'd seen the dog was a good friend for the twins. Should be the twins' pet, actually. All boys needed a dog. And Karina left the poor thing alone all day.

Not good for the animal. With that thought in mind, he opened the door and let the dog out. "Go, Max. Enjoy some time outside."

The dog could use a good run. He'd be sure to call him back in before leaving. He didn't want him to be locked outside until the princess felt like coming home to him.

Grinning as Max raced over to the flock of sparrows on the lawn, Ian turned his attention to the rest of Karina's apartment. By now he knew it well. He liked being here, except for the damn cats. He hated those things. But then they must have sensed his dislike, as they'd stayed out of sight since his first time in the apartment. What's with that? He'd never hurt the dog but if he got his hands on the cats now…that would be a different story.

As though he'd summoned one, a flash of fur tore across Karina's tiny living room floor. Ian smirked. Yep, one pain in the ass pet to take care of. "Here kitty, kitty, kitty."

E
arly Sunday morning, Chelsea raced to open the door as Karina arrived. The toddler threw her arms around Karina's legs with loud belly-laughs of delight. Karina grabbed the adorable child and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Well, hello, sweetheart! How are you?"

"Good. K'rina's here, Daddy! Look, K'rina!"

"I see that," Brian answered with a chuckle.

In a moment of true Karina abandonment, she tossed Chelsea high in the air, pausing only to blow raspberries on the girl's silky belly. Chelsea loved it. Chortling and giggling, the two of them didn't even acknowledge Brian's presence.

Brian watched as the two important females in his life bonded on a level that he couldn't access. A level that gave him insight into another side to Karina he'd yet to see. Bemused, he continued to watch them interact throughout the rest of the day. Although the activities changed—from dolls to storybooks to drawing with crayons—their connection didn't. While cuddling outside in a chaise longue, tummies full of a delicious, simple lunch, Chelsea slipped into a light sleep.