Chapter 12
TWELVE
WEST
Imperfect but Perfect
I lied.
“You’re gonna get wet.”
“I am? Sh—”
I grab her hand and run. Or try to run. The borrowed jeans fit all right up until this moment.
Winnie outpaces me in seconds, looking back and laughing as the wind rips up the hillside.
The gusts blow her hood back off her face.
Wayward curls whip around her face, the short ends tangling about her shoulders and obscuring her eyes.
The laughter in them, that sparkle that’s all her, is the last thing I see before the heavens open and a sheet of gray blankets everything.
Winnie darts ahead of me, little more than a shimmering shadow through the sheet of rain.
I stumble on, cursing the ghost town’s owner and his skinny ass for skipping leg day too often.
The world is obscured, a snow globe decorated with rain instead of white confetti with me the floundering decoration in the center.
I head for the tree line and pray that she gets there before I do.
Water drips into my eyes as I duck under a tree branch in time to avoid decapitating myself on the damn thing.
“Winnie?” I call, swiping one hand across my face to clear my vision.
Everything blurs as I adjust to the dim light inside the forest that’s a whole lot drier than I expected beneath the interlocking branches. “Did I lose you out there?”
A warm bundle hits me at chest height, knocking me backward a few paces. I crown myself on the branch I ducked beneath earlier and groan, remembering belatedly to wrap my arms around the pocket rocket who appears to have thrown her entire weight at me, legs and all.
“Winnie?”
Her mouth catches mine in a searing kiss that I return despite the pain shooting across my head.
But pain and pleasure meld as her tongue slides between my lips, wet and warm and inviting.
It’s a kiss I’m into—right until I work out that her bid for intimacy is desperation for warmth.
A shiver wracks her body and I haul her closer.
“Hell, girl. I’m sorry. I had no idea it would come down like that.”
Winnie laughs at me, even as her teeth chatter.
The sharp scent of pine needles and her coffee from earlier wraps around me as I hold her tight.
“I don’t care, you great oaf.” She bats at me.
“It was worth it to see you lumbering about in Cord’s old jeans.
Seeing you peel those things off will be hilarious. ”
A reluctant smile curves my lips. “I love how you think… except I’m the bear in the jeans, aren’t I?” I hold her close and kiss her again, slower this time.
Winnie molds her body to mine, her legs wrapped around my waist. The softest sounds come from her as she rubs shamelessly against me. “Was this what you were going to show me?” she asks coyly.
“No, you little hell critter,” I mutter against her mouth. “Are you warm enough?”
“I can get warmer.” Her hands slide under my shirt, cold fingers pressing flat to my torso.
“Jesus. You are a special kind of ruin,” I gasp, pinning her hands to her sides. I walk her back to a tree and kiss her until she moans, and then detangle myself from her grasp.
A handful of heartbeats are all that stand between us, until a fat drop of water drips down my back.
Not that it’s the distraction I need right now.
Winnie pouts as she slides along the trunk.
Her boots touch the ground and she leans there, a few feet of distance between us.
I don’t close it, watching her for a moment, taking her in.
Christ. She’s mine. I itch to slam her back, rip that short onesie from her body and sink deep into her heat, but she won’t thank me for the mile-long nudie run through the rain back to my truck later. Instead, I hold out my hand.
“Come on, pocket rocket. Let me show you what I brought you out here for.”
Curiosity wins over the need lacing her blue eyes, their usually brilliant color matching the overcast sky that empties itself around us.
Her hand falls into mine. I lead her through the dripping forest, dodging low branches as I try to memorize the path we’ve taken.
It’s been a damn long time since I was out here last, and there’s no discernible trail beneath our feet anymore.
Winnie tucks tight in behind me, stumbling only once and swearing prolifically.
“There’s that mouth,” I murmur, keeping the smile that forms to myself.
Finally the forest opens out. By the time we reach my destination, the rain has slowed to a drizzle. I pull Winnie around into my arms, settling her back against my chest. “What I really wanted to show you. The ghost town was the bonus round.”
Winnie’s silence and her hands curled around my arms are all the gift I need as she stares out over the top of the waterfall that cascades into a wide emerald pool. The water sits in a crevasse of deep red stone that contrasts with the color of the water.
“That’s stunning,” Winnie whispers, leaning back into me. “How deep is it?”
I nibble her ear. “I have no idea. I’ve never reached the bottom.”
“Oh. West?”
“Yeah?”
“Is the water steaming?” Her breath hitches when I stroke my fingertips across her bare collarbone and linger there.
“You asked me for a date. I haven’t been on one for a while, but this is what I always imagined taking a girl out on.” But only with one woman.
“You’ve been planning this for… how long?” Her eyes never drag from the vista before us.
“Long enough. You’re about to get your wish, Winnie.”
“I thought I just did?”
I know her mind is going back to us running in the rain.
My laugh bounces off the mineral-rich rock face as I release her and strip my soaked shirt over my head. “Yeah. If I don’t fall over the edge of the falls trying to get these damn jeans off, you can laugh about it for years to come.”
Her lips twitch as she turns to face me. “Maybe I should have let you wear the hideous shorts.”
An hour later, trying to drag wet jeans back on, I’m inclined to agree. I pass Winnie a stash of thick yogurt granola bars I stocked up on, hoping she’d like them at some point, from my glove compartment before I reverse out the gate and lock Bilkhorn away from the world.
“This was amazing. Thank you.” My girl is fading fast.
“It’s exhausting, huh?” I’m far from tired, but I remember the first time I explored out here. I drove back home, struggling to peel my eyes open, and forced myself to focus on the road.
“Just a bit.” Winnie pulls open the wrapping to one of the granola bars with enthusiasm.
The plastic pops. Suddenly I’m encrusted with oats and dried fruit as well as stuffed into jeans that shrink with every damn breath.
Winnie sneaks a look sideways at me, though I recognize the fear that lies beneath her sass.
I can’t help the bark of laughter that tears from me as I dust myself off, shaking my head.
The asshole might have done damage to her in the past, but it’s my job to chip away at that hurt until she’s confident she can be her messy, natural self without being scared of my reaction.
If it takes a lifetime… A tiny giggle escapes her that she muffles fast.
“Come here.” I tuck her into my side as best I can, wrapping a towel from my back seat around her.
The heat is too much for me but enough for her. Rolling down my window fixes that problem, and the chilly evening air as I drive back to her home in Cloakton. Winnie drowses the entire time. Her granola bar lies half-eaten, the remnants forgotten on her lap.
Swimming with her was easier than I thought.
Her confidence when she stripped her wet clothes off is the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.
But after I endured her amusement while I peeled the wet denim from my skin, she simply held my hand and found a path, tiptoeing barefoot carefully to the water’s edge, and slipped in.
Watching her glide beneath the water’s undisturbed surface left me breathless. We spent the better part of an hour in silence. Drifting about, kissing. Other times, touching briefly. Nothing… heavy. We were just—
There. Together.
And it was enough.
I shared the perfect day I planned with her, and she showed me something even better in return. I swore my heart would burst from my chest as she let me help her dress, water sluicing from her skin as I pressed kisses to the hollow of her neck.
Then we walked back to my truck in the dimming light as the first stars studded the evening sky.
Cloakton closes around us, its lights too bright as I drive through the city to Winnie’s townhouse. I understand why Cord has pushed her to move, and even though I don’t disagree, I’m not stupid enough to shove her on the issues. As her brother, he can get away with a whole lot more than I can.
Sometimes.
“Winnie?” I pull up outside her home, running a critical eye over the shadows either side of the row of houses and finding nothing amiss. “Beautiful?”
Winnie snores softly in the passenger seat.
Laughing to myself, I pack her granola bar away and climb out of the truck, walking around to her side. Her key is tucked into the door—not the best place, but I know some of her habits. I grab that and then unbuckle her seat belt, sliding my arms around her body.
That rouses her. She nuzzles into my shoulder as I lift her. “We’re home.”
“You—what are you doing?” She blinks at me, dozy and confused and as gorgeous as a girl can be in my arms, and freezes.
“I’m taking you inside. To bed. Your bed.”
She frowns, her body stiff against mine. “You’re not coming inside.”
“Not to bed, Winnie.” I cant my head to one side. Hell, the date really did wipe her out. “I’m gonna put your legs down now so that I can open your door, okay?”
Winnie breathes out slowly. “’Kay.”
I work her lock and hold the door open. “There you go. Shower?”
She edges inside, out of my hold. A coldness drifts between us as she wraps her arms around her body. “Yes. I can… shower.” Her gaze darts between me and the entryway.
“Easy, girl. You’re home.” She’s disoriented as I press the key into her palm. Her fingers close over it as she steps inside and kicks the door shut. With her on one side and me on the other. “Uh. Winnie?”
“Yeah?” Her voice comes from her side of the door.
“My foot is in that. And I’m still here.”
“Then move your foot.”
It’s my turn to frown as something jabs my boot. I give the door a gentle push open and stare down at Winnie, who’s crouched by my foot, shoving it backward. “What are you doing?”
“Moving your foot. The door needs to shut.” Her breath comes heavy, as though she’s holding in tears.
I press my palm to the barrier she’s placed between us, but don’t push. “Preferably with me on the other side.”
“Uh-uh.” Through the sliver of space, there’s movement.
She shakes her head, gives my foot a shove that actually does move it, and stands, victorious.
“Sally comes home tomorrow. This has been fun, but it’s one and done, West. Thanks for the date.
And the key. Night!” Winnie kicks the door shut, with me still on her doorstep.
“What the hell—”
A moment later, a light flickers on, a glow reflected around the curtains from the inside of her townhouse. I stare at the heavy door that’s shut in my face as water runs on the other side.
At least she got her shower.
We had the perfect day. The perfect date. I rake my fingers through my hair, still staring at her door. Christ, did I hurt her getting her out of the car? Scare her, rush her? Panic at the thought deluges me for a solid three minutes as I count every godforsaken second.
Incredulity slaps me like a secondhand sucker punch. What in the hell just happened, and how on earth do I fix it?
Then realization hits.
Answer: It’s her choice, and I can’t.
Either she’s running from me because it’s too much or… she doesn’t want me. My heart refuses to believe the latter, and I’m terrified of the first option.
No amount of protesting on her doorstep will earn me the resolution that I want. Winnie said one and done. So after my perfect day and her perfect words of not twenty-four hours ago…
I guess we’re done.
Still shaking my head and glancing back over my shoulder at her townhouse, I walk away, sitting my stunned ass in my truck. My heart hasn’t really caught up with the program just yet.
And I wait. Until her lights turn off for the night and silence descends over her quiet street. That’s it. We’re done.
Really done.
Still sitting in a cloud of disbelief, I pull away from the curb and head for my apartment.
We’re done.