Solid as Steele (16 page)

“Were you?”

His fists clenched as he gave her a fierce look. “Yes. But I never would have done anything about it while Craig was alive.”

“Oh, Mack.” She reached for him, clasping her arms around him, holding him tight, pressing her head against his shoulder. It was wonderful to hold him again. Wonderful to know that he belonged to her now. “I love you. So much.” She blinked back tears that stung her eyes. “It's hard to say the rest of it, but I'll do it. I was attracted to you for a long time. And I felt guilty about that, even though I never would have—”

“I know.”

“But that's why I had so much trouble admitting that it was all right to love you.”

“Jamie.”

His arms tightened around her, and they clung together.

Her breath hitched. “One more confession. Maybe I fell in love with Craig because I wanted to. I mean, partly
because I knew he could take me away from Gaptown. I feel guilty about that, too.”

“Don't second-guess yourself.”

She nodded, then raised her head, looking him in the eye. “I've got to ask. Do you still think my dreams are weird?”

“No. I know they're part of who you are. And they saved our lives. We never would have gotten out of that funhouse if you hadn't had some idea of what to expect.”

He dragged in a breath, then laughed.

“What?”

“You smell like a smokestack. But that gives me an excuse for taking you to the shower and washing you off.”

“You think you smell like petunias?”

Smiling, he reached for her hand and led her into the bathroom, where he turned on the water, and they faced each other, each removing their own clothes.

“This stuff needs to go in a plastic bag,” she said.

“Or the trash. Later.” He adjusted the water, and they stepped into the tub together, reaching for each other. Under the running water, they clung together, swaying in each other's arms. The mood turned quickly from happy to erotic.

Her hands stroked his strong back and shoulders, then his butt and powerful thighs. She touched him everywhere she could reach.

“Thank you,” she said in a throaty voice.

“For what?”

“For not giving up on me.” For pushing past the barriers that she'd erected between them.

“I couldn't. Even when I didn't know how it was going to come out.”

“Thank you,” she said again. He ended the conversation
by covering her mouth with his. They clung together under the pounding water, his erection wedged between them.

Reaching behind her, he grabbed the soap, slicked his hands and began running them over her skin, sending tingles over her body.

He handed the bar to her, and she lathered her own hands, sliding them over his skin. Her pulse quickened as she felt the effect on him.

“You are wicked,” he muttered.

“I'm trying to be uninhibited.”

“Yeah. But we'd better get clean, before we forget what we're supposed to be doing.”

They washed quickly and when neither could wait another minute, he braced his back against the wall and lifted her up in his arms. As he held her he entered her, slowly yet commandingly.

Heat infused her with each thrust and she rode him in wild, frantic movements. All too soon he brought both of them to a rocketing climax.

When he eased her feet back to the tub, she leaned against him, her breath coming in hard gasps.

“Thank God I've got you,” Mack whispered. “I was scared spitless when he took you.”

“I know. I never should have gone out alone.”

“He studied you. He knew how to lure you somewhere he could grab you.”

She nodded against his shoulder, then sighed as reality invaded.

“What is it?”

“We've got to go back to Mom's and make sure she knows I don't blame her.”

“We will. After I get some more quality time with you.” He stroked her shoulder and dropped kisses on her face.

“You need to know it was Landon who went after you in
the parking lot. He said you didn't belong up here, and he was trying to chase you away.”

She winced. “He's not real nice. Or real smart. I mean, trying to run me down was a pretty stupid move.”

“Well, he was loyal to your mom. When he came in and found her tied up and me standing over her, he thought I'd done it and attacked me.”

Jamie gasped. “Oh no. I didn't know about any of that. I can't imagine what you must think of my family. That first visit with Mom was bad enough.”

“I told you, mine's not real conventional either.” He dragged in a breath and let it out. “We both had it tough as kids. Which is why we're going to make our marriage work.”

“Marriage?”

He went still. “I guess I'm getting ahead of myself. Jamie, will you marry me?”

“Yes,” she breathed. “Oh yes.”

He held her tighter. “I want that. I want to share my life with you.”

“Oh yes!”

She leaned up for a kiss and when she could breathe again said, “When we go over to Mom's, don't beat up Landon.” She smiled at Mack.

“I won't. He's a creep, but he's not all bad.”

“You picked an odd way to find that out.”

“Just tell me we don't have to spend the holidays with them.”

She laughed. “The holidays? No way. You wouldn't want to eat my mom's burnt gravy. I think we're going to make our own holiday traditions.”

“Lots of traditions,” he agreed.

She clung to him, so thankful that her life had taken
this turn. Mack Steele had given her a second chance at happiness, and she was going to make the most of every moment they had together.