Where There's Smoke (7 page)

Sure, she could have called Logan, but what fun would that be?

Chuckling, she aimed the flashlight toward Ben’s house then removed and replaced her hand.

Short. Long. Short. Short.

Dot. Dash. Dot. Dot.

Morse code for “L”.

The signal had always made her think of Gotham City paging Batman. In a lot of ways, Logan had been her superhero. Maybe still was. He’d swooped in and improved her life both back then and again recently. When she’d needed him most, he had her back.

It’d probably take a while to draw his attention from the task at hand—ripping out the toasted bones of the cabinetry. Or at least, she’d thought it would. A gasp escaped when he spun to face her window immediately. She repeated the signal. From that distance she could barely make out his broad smile when he realized what had caused the glint.

He held up his palm, then lunged for his battered toolbox, presenting her with a view of his gorgeous, jeans-clad ass. In less than five seconds, he’d returned.

Dash dash. Dot dot. Dot dot dot. Dot dot dot. Pause. Dash dash. Dot.

“Miss me?”

Arrogant prick. And right on the money. Damn him.

Dash dot. Dash dash dash.

“No.”

She could have sworn she spied him laughing when he sent his next message.

Dot dash dot dot. Dot dot. Dot dash. Dot dash dot.

“Liar.”

No use in denying it.

Dash dot dash dash. Dot. Dot dot dot.

“Yes.”

She’d barely finished the last letter when he sent her the invitation she’d been hoping for.

Dash dot dash dot. Dash dash dash. Dash dash. Dot. Pause. Dot dot dot dot. Dot. Dot dash dot. Dot.

“Come here.”

Kyana flashed one last note, both agreement and her closing initial, before wrapping her gossamer robe around her and sprinting for the door.

Dash dot dash.

“K.”

She shouldn’t have been surprised when the beam of his light intersected hers from his spot on Ben’s deck. Even back in high school, he hadn’t allowed her to make the miniscule voyage solo. Heaven forbid she twist her ankle or cross paths with a startled squirrel. Tonight she appreciated his supervision.

As she neared, she scrambled for something to say. Maybe she should have thought beyond the thrill of sharing some time and space with him. “So… How’s it going?”

“You tell me. I’m sure you could monitor my progress from your perch by the window.” He winked. “How long were you going to lurk there and peep?”

“How did you spot me?” Mortified, she pressed her fingers to her flaming cheeks.

“I didn’t. But I could feel your stare on me.” He buffed his arms. “You’re distracting me, Ky. I nearly smashed my thumb with that last cabinet.”

“Sorry,” she stammered.

“I liked it.” He tugged her into his grasp. Even perspiring, he smelled clean and manly. She had to stop herself from sinking her teeth into the tight pec in front of her lips. “I need a break anyway. It’s hot as hell in there. If I add you to that sauna, the windows will steam up for sure.”

“Yeah, right.” She glanced away.

“I’m serious, Ky.” He nudged her chin up with his thumb and index finger. “You’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever met. At least now I don’t have to feel like a perv for thinking so.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” She tilted her head, dragging his fingers across her chin.

“When I visited, I liked to imagine Ben and Rose and you were my family.” He shrugged then rubbed at the spot he’d touched as though wiping away some imaginary stain. “When I started to have other feelings, I freaked. The first time I had a dirty dream about you, I couldn’t talk to you for two days. It seemed wrong to go from thinking of you as a little sister—hanging out with you, keeping you out of trouble and giving you noogies to… Well, you know.”

“Not really.” She took his hand in hers and started to amble down the private walkway in the direction of the woods behind their houses, tugging him along with her. “I mean,
if
there had been something more between us, don’t you think most of our foundation would have stayed the same? We’d still be friends first, right?”

“I guess. But that’s a more mature rationale than I was capable of then. I couldn’t stop thinking about how I’d kick my ass if I were anyone else trying to put moves on you. Though hell, I never was much good at the keeping-you-trouble-free part. You’re just too damn good at finding shit to get into.”

“Ha. I don’t find it.
It
finds
me
all on its own. Remember that blue T-shirt with the sparkly iron-on Ben bought me after we crashed our toboggan into his shed during winter break? It said so.” She liked that their steps synchronized without effort.

“Right.” He shook his head and laughed. “You loved that damn thing. But yeah, even all this time later I still want to hang out with you, see movies, grill on nice nights, play board games when it rains and bake you a birthday cake every year. All the crap we did when we were younger. Those were the happiest times of my life, Ky. Maybe this go around I could even spring for a nice dinner when it’s in my budget.”

His frown spurred her to go for broke. If they didn’t iron out some of their wrinkles, they wouldn’t have a chance at making it long term. A fling with him didn’t interest her. It would only screw up everything else they shared. A friendship she wasn’t willing to risk. Not when she’d just found it again.

“Why don’t you let
me
take
you
out sometime?” She gnawed on the inside of her cheek, hoping he’d trust her and grow just a little.

“I don’t know…” He looked like he was grinding his teeth for a minute before he sighed.

“Money is worthless if I can’t enjoy it. Spending time with you, eating fine cuisine and maybe sharing a nice bottle of wine sounds like a perfect evening. Would you keep us both from experiencing it just to salve your pride? Who picks up the tab doesn’t mean anything, Logan. Not if we’re talking about you and me trying to be an
us
. Is that what we’re discussing?”

“Damn, you really did grow a pair. A bigger pair, I guess. You always were bold.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “I like this new Kyana. You’re turning me on.”

“You didn’t answer my question.” She would have tapped her toe if they had been standing still. If he left her hanging now, all her sudden confidence would melt away.

“Only because you’re diverting the blood flow from my brain.” He scowled before taking a funny stride to give his junk more room in the confines of his ripped jeans. “Yes. I’m doing my best to charm you into dating me. Is it working?”

“Not like you have to try very hard. Probably never have had to do more than crook your finger to get a woman. But if we’re going to have a real shot, we have to fix the things we did wrong last time. We can’t rewind but we can redo. I’m trying to be brave here. So don’t say no.”

“I hate it when you make sense,” he grumbled.

“I’m not a kickass lawyer for nothing. Logic is my business, buddy.” She poked him in the side. “So it’s a date?”

“Hell yeah.” He turned to her with a grin. “Things on my new and improved list to try… Number one, let my sugar mama take me out for a juicy porterhouse and get sloshed on fancy-pants booze. Now, about those noogies. Hmm… haven’t done that to a girl in a while.”

She yelped and dodged his swipe, shaking her hand free of his.

He humored her by letting her trot ahead down the illuminated path. The solar lights Ben had installed on either side of the river rock would glow softly for hours yet. When her breath came in short pants and her robe fluttered behind her, she slowed. Right on her heels, Logan grabbed her around the waist and tugged her backward into his chest.

“I remember this. Playing. Laughing. Effortless enjoyment. Carefree joy when we were together,” he whispered in her ear, not the least bit winded. “I’ve missed this. You.”

Kyana angled her head enough to grant him permission for more. He accepted the offer.

Cupping her cheek in his palm, he guided her to his mouth. Gently, they exchanged a soft kiss before separating with a sigh. It was as if he had the same idea she did. The same destination in mind. If there was anything she wanted a repeat performance of—a chance to rewrite—it was the night they’d done
almost
this. They started down the path together again, allowing a buffer between them to keep them from ripping each other’s clothes off where they stood.

After a few seconds, Logan cleared his throat.

“Remember how we used to help Myrtle gather her leaves every fall? We’d pile them so high we could jump off her porch railing into the mess before she’d chase us off and scoop them into the burning barrel.” He sighed. “At least you always took the plunge. I was jealous as I got older and watched from the sidelines.”

“I wouldn’t have judged you for acting like a kid.” She hugged him with one arm as they rounded a bend beneath the canopy woven from the green shoots of old trees, which reminded her of the new season of her relationship with Logan. It had been a hard winter for them both.

Fall seemed like a long way off, but soon enough the same plants would be red and gold and crispy. Perfect for frolicking in. A mental note would remind her to force Logan to join her this time.

“I know, you never looked down on me like a lot of the other kids in school when I didn’t show up wearing anything that had been fashionable in this century and my lunch got paid for by the state. I guess I just learned to fend for myself with my mom never around and it got harder to let go of the tough-guy act. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to give up the luxury when I had to survive on my own again.” He groaned. “I sound like some nutcase on
Dr. Phil
.”

“You don’t watch that shit, do you?” She cracked up.

“Hell no, but you get the point.”

“I do.” She nibbled at the corner of her mouth as a structure coalesced from the shadows. The dock at the edge of the pond. Thank goodness the moon was bright. Or maybe if it had been dimmer she’d have more nerve.

“Are we really going to do this?” He rubbed the sensitive skin between her thumb and forefinger. “Are you sure you’re ready?”

“I never was the kind of person to dip a toe in. If we’re going to do this, let’s make a splash. Okay?” She squeezed her eyes closed as she waited what seemed like an eternity for his response.

“Shit, yes.” He sped up, dragging her along. “Only this time, I want to do more than swim with you, Ky. A hell of a lot more.”

“Thank God.” She kicked off her sneakers mid-stride as they reached the first weathered planks.

“One thing though…” He stopped mid-stride. “I, uh, don’t make a habit of carrying condoms on me. I didn’t expect you to step out of my fantasy tonight.”

“Oh.” She blinked. “Damn. I’m not on the pill or anything. It’s sort of been a while for me.”

“I’m not going to lie.” He smiled. “I like the sound of that. Don’t worry, Ky. I can still take care of you. I always will.”

Tripping seemed like a very real possibility when Logan flicked open the button on his jeans and spread the fly wide. A trail of fine, dark hair drew her gaze downward.

“If your eyes get any bigger, babe…”

“Bigger? Not in this lifetime.” A well-placed smack on his tight abs echoed through the stillness.

Logan grabbed her wrist and used it to draw her near. “Now, that wasn’t very nice.”

She fought half-heartedly against his grip. “What are you going to do about it?”

“Maybe I’ll spank you later.” He growled. “But for now I think this will do.”

A squeak escaped her parted lips when he shoved the robe from her shoulders then grasped the hem of her silk tank and whipped it over her head in one lightning-fast move. Her matching boyshorts didn’t last much longer. And before she could panic, he’d stripped her naked.

“Damn, you’re beautiful.” He sank to his knees at her feet.

Kyana shifted, awkward in the beam of his attention. It shone brighter than her flashlight had earlier, exposing all her flaws.

“Why don’t you believe me?” He grasped her hips, his thumbs stroking maddeningly over the curves of the bones there while he kissed the soft swell of the belly she couldn’t erase no matter how often she worked out. Probably because she had a weakness for cupcake-flavored ice cream. How could she resist the veins of icing and sprinkles swirled inside it?

She’d loved it since she’d been a child.

Some things never changed. Like her feelings for the man in front of her, whom she was pretty sure she adored even more than ice cream.

“It’s not that I don’t feel good about myself.” She buried her fingers in his hair to keep upright when his wandering caresses invoked dizziness. “It’s just that you’re…perfect. You should be dating a supermodel or something.”

He laughed so hard the pattern of his touches stuttered.

She punched his shoulder lightly. “I mean it.”

“You have a way of making me feel like so much more than I am.” He grew still as he peered up at her from his place at her feet. “I love the way you do that. Pump me up. Always have. Thank you.”