Hometown Star (15 page)

Tears filled Destiny’s eyes. “I’ve screwed up again, haven’t I, baby?”

Star sighed. She’d heard it all before, the self–pity, the apology that came whenever her mother broke up with another man.

“No, Mom.” Star geared up for her usual pep talk. “You’re right to step back. Absolutely right.”

Destiny smiled. “Really, baby?”

“Really. Now go to sleep. Everything will be better tomorrow.”

“Promise?”

“I do.” Star crossed her heart. “Now, sleep.”

Destiny snuggled under the covers. Star sat with her mom until soft snores came, slow and steady.

Some things never changed. She was still the mother and Destiny was still her child. The thought saddened her and brought on a melancholy she wished she could shake off.

A soft knock sounded on their door. Star left the bed and opened the door.

“Everything okay?” Cade asked, but his eyes said, come with me. I want you.

Star glanced at her mother. “I should stay with Mom. She’s a mess.”

“Live your own life, Star.” He touched her cheek, his touch tender. “Destiny will land on her feet. She always does. Come with me.”

A painful longing squeezed her chest. “I don’t know.”

Cade took her hand, giving it a tug. “Come on, Star. Come out and play.” He smiled.

Star caved. “Okay.”

Cade pulled her into the hall and closed the door.

“Are the twins asleep?” Star asked.

“You just can’t help being responsible, can you?” Cade asked with wonder. “The kids are fine. Ron will keep an ear open for them and for Brad.”

Cade was right. She was responsible to a fault. For once, she wanted to be the irresponsible one. What did irresponsibility feel like? Was it liberating?

Cade tugged her down the stairs and out the front door. They ran all the way to the truck. Star giggled, feeling like a teenager, like being with Cade was forbidden.

Once in the truck, Cade did a U–turn, and then headed down the driveway. He flashed her a sexy grin, a grin filled with the promise of forbidden sexual delights. Desire rushed Star, flooded her, and she couldn’t stand not knowing another second. She wanted an end to her virginity now.

“Pull over.”

“What?” He glanced at her, and he must have seen the desire on her face because he practically skidded off the road. He threw the truck into park, cut the engine, and reached for Star, dragging her across his lap.

And Star knew. The wait was finally over.

Star couldn’t get her clothes off fast enough.

Cade helped, lifting the hem of her T–shirt up and over her head.

“Beautiful,” he murmured when he caught sight of her lacy white bra, his hands bracketing her waist.

Star sat on his lap, facing him, the steering wheel at her back, yet she wasn’t uncomfortable; she was way past that. It were as if a fever had overtaken her body; hot all over, she burned from the inside out.

Cade separated from her slightly and shucked his own shirt. The minute he was free, he drew her to him, kissing her, scattering what was left of her inhibitions.

Her bra disappeared. Her shorts were magically unzipped.

She unbuttoned Cade’s jeans and he lifted his butt to free his sex.

Star couldn’t look away. She’d seen men naked in pictures, but never like this, nothing like this. Unable to help herself, she touched him.

He jerked as if she’d scorched his skin.

“Sorry,” he rasped. “Feels too good.”

Star had no idea why he’d be sorry about that. She smiled. Cade helped her get her shorts off, and for a second she caught the mental image of how funny they must look, twisted together as they fought the shorts and her panties.

Before she could right herself, Cade lifted her, setting her back on his lap so she straddled him, facing him. He kissed her lips, her neck, her breasts, the sensations exquisite.

And Star kissed him back. Devoured him. Let him touch her any way he wanted to.

“You brought protection, right?” Star asked.

“Of course.” He shifted her again and removed a condom from the front pocket of his jeans. Star watched, fascinated, as he rolled the protection on. Suited up, he settled Star back in his lap.

She expected pain the first time, but prayed she wouldn’t have any. Surely the barrier of her virginity was long gone. Briefly, she wondered if he’d be able to tell she was a virgin, but as quickly as she had the thought, she discarded it. She didn’t care.

Star braced her hands on Cade’s shoulders. Waited as he tried to enter her, and when he did, she couldn’t stop the small gasp that came from her throat. She tensed, her nails digging into his shoulders.

Cade stilled. He knew.

“Star?” he said.

“Don’t stop now,” Star said. “The worst is over.”

“You’re a virgin?” he asked, his eyes filled with questions. “How is that possible?”

“The usual way.” Again, Star wished for darkness. “Do we have to have this conversation now?”

“Yes.” He’d quit moving, but was still inside her, every bit as aroused as he’d been moments before.

“Oh, come on.” She shifted a little, testing for pain, but found none.

“Stop it, Star.”

“No.” She moved some more. “I’ve waited a long time for this, and you’re ruining it for me, O’Brien.” She shifted again, then leaned forward and whispered in his ear, “Show me what I’ve been missing. Make it worth the wait.” She kissed his neck, letting her tongue linger against his skin.

His fingers tightened on her hips and Star knew she had him back.

From that point forward, things moved so fast Star could barely hold on. She struggled to keep up, to match Cade’s rhythm, then suddenly, he stilled. Was that it? There had to be more, didn’t there?

“Sorry,” he said, the word rough and filled with need. “I tried to hold back, to wait, but you feel too good.”

“What do you mean?” she asked, not sure she understood.

“You didn’t finish.”

“I didn’t?”

He glanced away from her, then back. “You’d know if you had, Star.”

All her doubts, all her insecurities assaulted her. She’d done something wrong. Maybe she
was
broken inside. Good grief, could she be the one woman in her family that wasn’t good at sex? And worse, she was pretty sure she had the imprint of the steering wheel on her back.

He smoothed the hair from her forehead. “What are you thinking, Star?”

“That I have no idea what I’m doing,” she said, sounding completely forlorn.

He smiled. “I can teach you, but not here in the truck. You caught me off guard. I’m sorry your first time wasn’t everything it should have been.” His hands moved up and down her back, soothing.

“You mean I’m not broken?” A measure of relief filled her.

“Baby, far from it.” He grinned. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t think it was important.”

“It was important to me,” Cade said. “Star, we’re in a truck. Your first time should have been somewhere special.”

“It’s not about the place,” Star said. “It’s about the person. I don’t care where we are.”

He sighed. “At least we used a condom.”

“I’m not that stupid,” she said. “I’m not about to get pregnant. I brought my own condom just in case this happened. Plus, I’m pretty sure it’s not the time of month when I can get pregnant.”

“I hope you’re right.” Cade lifted her from him and set her back in the passenger seat. “The last thing we need around here is another pregnancy.”

“I agree.” Star started to shake. Pregnancy wasn’t an option. Yet, she’d let the moment sweep her away without giving much thought to protection. What if something had gone wrong? How dumb was she? Star searched for her underwear. She shimmed into her panties, put on her bra. Cade passed her T–shirt to her.

The silence in the truck grew thick as they dressed.

Cade reached into the back seat and handed her a jacket. “Put this on.”

“I don’t know why I’m shaking. It’s warm out.”

“Trauma.”

“There’s been no trauma here,” she assured him. “I’m a big girl. I’m fine.”

“Are you, Star?”

She leveled a look at him. Her spine stiffened. “I’m fine. People have sex all the time. I’m a big girl. I can handle it.”

“Next time will be better,” Cade said with conviction. “I promise.”

Star nodded. She wanted a next time, wanted to have as many next times as she could before she left him behind.

She really was a Cosmo girl after all.

* * *

Cade let himself into the house and crept up the stairs. He went into his bedroom and closed the door.

Holy crap
.

He plopped down on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands. Star. A virgin. Who would have guessed? Not him, that’s for sure. She always seemed so arrogant, so in control, so big city. He figured she’d be the same way in bed.

What now? Should he marry her? Cade fell back onto the bed. Where had that stupid thought come from? They weren’t living in the 1800s for cripe’s sake. Any marriage between them would be sure to end in disaster. She would never stay here in Seward, and he wasn’t about to leave. Was he habitually attracted to city girls? What the heck was his problem? Plus, she didn’t want kids. Great.

Wait, they weren’t talking about marriage. This was about sex. He’d let her take the lead. More than anything, he needed another shot with her. He needed to make love to Star again.

And this time, he’d make sure that she knew she’d finished.

* * *

“I should probably go,” Star said, passing baby Will back to Brandi. They’d just spent an hour visiting, with Star filling Brandi in on Destiny’s exploits. She didn’t, however, tell Brandi anything about the night she’d spent with Cade. She couldn’t bring herself to talk about something so private and personal. “I have to stop by Evan’s.”

“He’s sweet on you, you know.” Brandi took Will from Star, cradling the baby against her chest. “Evan Jenson wants you, Star.”

“He’s a flirt, for sure. But I’m not the one he wants. I think he’s hot for Vivienne.”

“Vivienne? You’re way prettier than the French pop tart.” Brandi moved Will to her other shoulder. “Talk around town is Evan’s great in bed.”

“Yuck. I’m not that kind of girl.”

Brandi laughed. “No, you’re definitely not that kind of girl. Any forward progress with Cade?”

“No,” Star lied.

“I still think you should give Cade a chance.”

If Brandi only knew
. “I’m fine with things the way they are.”

Brandi gave her a skeptical look. “Call me if you need anything, sis.”

“I will.”

Star leaned down and kissed Will’s soft cheek. “Bye, baby.” Then she kissed Brandi. “See you later.”

Star left Brandi’s and drove the six miles to Evan Jenson’s cabin. She had some samples to drop off, and she wanted to take a couple more still shots for Vivienne. The designer had sent her a list, via email, of questions about Evan. Did he have a girlfriend? What was he like in person? What could Star tell her about him? Star wondered about the questions, but she’d emailed back her answers. Something was definitely up between Evan and Vivienne. Maybe Evan had made his love connection before the show even aired. A match between Evan and Vivienne would boost ratings considerably. Frank would love it.

Evan met her in the driveway, and Star had to admit Brandi was right. He was a handsome man: big, tall, and all muscle. But he wasn’t Cade. Cade had wormed his way into her life a long time ago. She knew the worst parts of him, and oddly enough, she trusted him now.

Evan met her at her car, opening her door.

“Hey, pretty lady.” His velvet eyes twinkled. No wonder women loved him.

Star got out of the car. “I’ve got those samples.”

“Great.”

Star unloaded the book of swatches Vivienne had sent. “I’ll bring these in if you get the tile and granite samples.”

“Sure thing,” Evan said as he easily lifted the samples from the trunk.

When they were inside, Star spread everything out on the counter. “Look through all of this. Vivienne will be in touch.”

“Oh, we’re in touch.” Evan grinned, the kind of grin you get when you have a delicious secret.

Star’s antenna went up. “Exactly what is going on between the two of you?”

“A little long distance flirting,” Evan admitted.

Evan flirted with everyone. Vivienne flirted with everyone. A match made in heaven, or in hell? Who knew? Hormones were hormones. She couldn’t control what happened between Evan and Vivienne any more than she could control what happened between Cade and herself.

“Coffee?” Evan asked when she caught him staring at her.

“I should get going,” Star said. “I’ve been gone all day and my mother is in the middle of a meltdown.”

He laughed. “One cup of coffee? Come on, Star. I’m a lonely guy. Take pity on me.”

He really was a nice guy, and so far he’d been a good sport when it came to Vivienne’s ideas. Star caved. “Okay.”

They took their coffee out on the deck, and Star was again struck by the beauty of the place. His plane rested next to dock, like a bright white bird against the startling blue of the water.

“You know,” she said. “You should get prepared for the offers of marriage you’re going to get once the piece airs. You’ve got a little slice of heaven here.”

He spread his arms wide. “Bring them on. They are part of my master plan.”

“Your master plan?” she asked, not understanding.

“How else am I going to make the lovely Vivienne jealous?”

“Jealous?” Star sipped her coffee.

“She has a wild side,” Evan said. “And I like ‘em wild. You know what they say, there’s someone out there for everyone.”

“I wonder,” Star said.

“There’s a guy out there for you, Star.”

“I don’t know about that.” She smiled wistfully. “I’m more into my career.”

“Really?” Evan squinted at her. “I don’t see it. You’re an Alaska girl. A hometown star. You fit here.”

She laughed. “This is the last place I’d fit.”

He shook his head. “Nope. You belong here, in the wild, in this town.”

As Star drove home from Evan’s she couldn’t shake his words. She didn’t fit here. She didn’t want to fit here. She hated Alaska.