Red Lines (28 page)

She wiggled to the side just enough to ease on the blankets at their feet. Evan followed, taking her mouth again, this time at his own fiery pace. She felt all the hunger and the passion unleashed in his kisses.

“Tell me,” he growled. He pushed her back on the pillow.

Her chest rose from the pressure from his hands, and her breathing quickened. Above his head was a sky full of diamond stars.

“Tell me, baby.” He nuzzled against her neck, his teeth nipping at her ear.

“Take me,” she moaned.

His hands coasted over her hips and unclasped the button on her jeans. He sat upright, jerking on the jeans until they were in a pile next to the fire. She reached for his belt, desperate to do the same for him. The need to be a part of him, to love him just like he said was driving every fiber of her being. He wriggled out of the denim then focused on her lips again.

His kisses grew deeper and harder. Haven pulled on the edge of his shirt, sliding it over his arms. He had a new chiseled physique that glowed next to the fire. She ran her hands along the hard ridges of his arms and chest, pushing out thoughts of Dexter Red and Karina. He was hers. Only hers.

He braced himself on his palms and stared into her eyes. “It’s been too long since we’ve been together like this.” He settled on his heels and flicked open the first button on her shirt. “I missed every inch of your body.” He kissed the tops of her breasts.

She moaned under the contact. He slid the shirt from her shoulder, planting kisses along her collarbone. “Did you miss it when I did this?” His tongue glided along her stomach, stopping short of the lacy border running across her hipbone.

She nodded, watching his every move.

“What about when I did this?” He pushed her knee to the side, dotting kisses along her thigh.

Her back arched in response. “Mmm-hmm.”

“And what about this?” He planted a kiss between her legs, blowing a gentle, heated breath through the silky fabric.

She bit hard on her lip to stop the whimper hovering in the back of her throat. Instead, she grasped at his shoulders.

“Tell me,” he urged. “Tell me what you missed.”

She was sure it was the flames from the fire, but his eyes danced with a devilish expression.

“I missed you,” she breathed. “I missed your body too.”

Releasing the words unleashed a recklessness in her. All she could think about was being with him again, every part of him. She sat forward, pushing him on the other side of the blanket. She wiggled out of her panties, and then crawled toward him. As her hips straddled his waist, she kissed him roughly, feeling the sensation that was taking hold of her body as he pushed deep inside her.

She thrust her hips forward. “Oh, God, Evan.” His hands steadied her, guiding her back and forth until there was no going back. The sparks inside her coiled tightly. She rocked deeper taking him with her over the edge of a spell there was no breaking.

E
VAN’S FINGERTIPS
ran along her arm. She rested against his chest, watching the flames bounce around what was left of the logs.

“I probably should get up and throw another log on.” He leaned forward.

She shook her head. “No, don’t move. I don’t want anything to change.”

“But, darlin’, it’s going to get cold.”

Night had settled around them and the air was chilly. The only warmth was from the dying fire.

“Just another minute.” She clung to his arm, pressing her cheek against his chest. Like this, she could hear his heart pounding.

He settled back on the pillows, moving his hand to stroke her back. She closed her eyes. There had to be a way to make time stand still. To bottle this moment and keep it sealed forever. The minute she let him get up and throw another piece of wood on the fire was the minute the magic would dissolve. Decisions had to be made. Dammit, she didn’t want to decide anything but to lie here with him. Couldn’t that be enough?

“My leg’s falling asleep,” he whispered. “We can go inside, you know?” He squeezed her shoulder, adjusting her off his leg.

“We can’t go.”

“All right, but I need to get this going again, or we’ll freeze to death out here. That and I don’t want any coyotes creeping up on us.”

Haven sat up. “Coyotes?”

He chuckled. “Haven’t you heard them howling at night?”

“That’s what that sound is?”

He reached for a nearby log. “Yep. Fire seems to deter them.”

She looked at the camper. “I guess we can move inside.”

He draped a blanket over her shoulders. “Come on. I’ve got the heat on in there.”

He led her through the door and turned on a small nightlight. Neither was ready for bright lights. Their eyes were used to firelight.

She pulled the corners of the blanket across her chest, connecting them with her clenched fist.

“Evan, I—” She tried to think of how to start again. To tell him she loved him, but she was scared. All she could see ahead of them was more of the same problems in the press, more time apart because of their careers. But, God, she loved him more than anything. It hurt to think the words. How could she say them again?

“Baby, I know we have a lot to figure out…” His phone started vibrating on the table. He let it go.

“Don’t you need to check that?” She looked over his shoulder.

“No, there’s nothing more important than this.” He grazed her ear with his lips.

“Evan, wait.”

His phone vibrated again.

“Maybe you should see who it is this time,” she urged.

He shook his head. She could tell he didn’t want to, but they both knew whoever it was would probably keep calling.

He snatched the phone off the table. “Hello? Mama? Ok, Mama, slow down. What’s going on?”

Haven searched his face for an explanation. Something was wrong.

“All right. Is Anna with you? Ok, Ok. I’m on my way. I’ll be there tonight.”

He hung up the phone and looked at Haven with utter panic in his eyes.

“What’s wrong? What happened?”

He buried his face in his hands.

“Evan, what is it?” She thought about picking up his phone and calling Patty back.

“It’s Dad. He’s in the hospital. I have to go.”

“Oh my God. What happened?”

“They think it’s a heart attack.” His eyes scanned the camper. He looked lost.

“Ok, I’m going with you. Wait right here.”

He didn’t move. Haven raced out of the camper and gathered their clothes next to the fire. She dared a coyote to come near her.

She darted back through the door, and shoved the clothes in his lap. “Put these on. I’ll call Bud to come get us.”

Looking at Evan, she doubted he could drive right now and she still had no idea how to navigate out of this secret clearing.

She tapped the head of security’s number on Evan’s phone and explained the urgency of the situation. Next, she called Marta and asked that she pack bags for both of them. They would need to leave the house in fifteen minutes. She glanced at Evan. He was dressed, but his expression hadn’t changed.

“Bud will be here in ten minutes, ok?” She pulled her shirt on over her head.

“I can’t believe it.” Evan’s eyes misted with tears. “He’s strong. He’s healthy. I can’t believe this would happen to him.”

Haven took both of his hands. “We will get there. If your father is half as strong as you are, I know he’s going to be ok. We’ll be there.” She didn’t know what else to say.

She saw the golf cart lights through the window, and tugged on Evan’s hand. “He’s here. Come on.”

Twenty minutes later, their bags were in the back of the car and they were pulling out of the garage. Evan seemed to snap out of his zombie state. He was on the phone with the hospital, trying to get the latest information on Joe. He was already talking about having premiere cardiologists flown in. It seemed to give him something to focus on.

Brees, Texas, was just like Evan had described it—two stoplights and fifty churches. They drove through the center of town on their way to the next city over where the closest hospital was.

Evan parked near the front entrance and ran through the doors. Haven struggled to keep up. Cardiology ICU patients were on the fifth floor. If the elevator hadn’t opened fast enough, she had a feeling he would have started running five flights on his own.

Anna and Patty were in the waiting area. Evan hugged them both.

“Darlin’, I can’t believe you got here so fast.” Patty looked at her son. Haven recognized the worried look in her eye. The same one hadn’t left Evan’s face.

“What are they saying? What’s going on?”

Haven stood next to him, not wanting to butt in, but desperately wanting to help.

Anna took over. “They said it was a mild heart attack. They are putting a stint in right now, and he should be out any minute. We’re just waiting on an update from the surgeon. They told us to wait here.”

“Mild? What’s mild about a damn heart attack?” Evan raised his voice.

Haven grabbed his arm, trying to calm him. Everyone in the waiting room was looking at them.

Patty laughed. “You know you sound like your father right now.”

Haven felt a bit of the tension ease from her shoulders. If Patty could make light of what was happening, then Joe must not be in imminent danger, or maybe having her son nearby was a comfort to her.

“Haven, thanks so much for driving up here.” His mother pulled her into an embrace. Haven squeezed her tightly, hoping to absorb some of the worry from her. She felt so helpless watching them.

“I wouldn’t be anywhere else.” She looked up at Evan. “Why don’t I go get drinks or coffee for everyone, and you can talk for a bit?”

They all nodded. Haven left in search of the cafeteria. In the frenzy to make it to the fifth floor, she thought she remembered signs for it in the elevator. She didn’t know what they would serve in the middle of the night, but it looked like the express section was open. She grabbed four cups and filled them to the top with coffee, then placed them in a cardboard carrying case. She added a few pastries to a white paper sack and checked out.

By the time she returned to the fifth floor waiting room, everyone was smiling.

“What did I miss?” She handed out the goodies.

Patty beamed. “Good news. The surgeon just gave us an update. Joe is in recovery and everything went just fine. I’m headed back now to see him.”

“Oh, that’s great news.” Haven sat next to Evan, trying to read his expression. The worry lines had faded. He looked stunned.

“It sure is.” Patty squeezed her shoulder as she walked past them. “Evan? Anna? You coming?”

Haven looked at Evan. For a second, he hesitated and she wondered if she should offer to go with him.

“Yep, we’re coming.” He leaned over and kissed Haven on the cheek. “Thank you for being here. I’ll be back soon.”

“I want to be here. Take your time. I have an entire bag of croissants to eat. Don’t worry about me.” She grinned.

She watched him follow his mother and sister through the ICU doors, as she bit off the end of the flaky roll. The moment they were out of view, exhaustion hit her all at once. From the idea that she and Evan weren’t meant to be together, to the incredible campfire makeup sex, to the mad dash to drive four hours to be at the hospital thinking Evan’s father could die, she was wiped out. She had scaled every emotion possible in one day.

She let her eyes close under the fluorescent lights and waited for Evan.

H
E DIDN’T
look the same. He looked small and pale lying in that hospital bed. Evan let his mother go in first. Anna stood next to him outside the window.

“Do you know what happened?” he asked his sister.

“Mama said they were getting ready for bed when he fell. She called 9-1-1, and they brought him here. She called me on the way. That’s all I really know.” Anna looked tired. Hell, they all looked tired.

“I just can’t believe it.” He watched his mother fuss over her father. Joe smiled up at her weakly, and she kissed his forehead.