Chapter Thirteen
Fairies were laughing and chatting and flying all around her. June wanted to touch them, but every time she came close to one, wings fluttered, and the tiny creature would disappear. Enchanted, she followed the flutter as they swung from the branches of the trees and played under the leaves.
Gradually the soft laughter and chatter of the fairies faded away and she became aware of other noises. Cars honking somewhere, birds chirping, and someone snoring. Snoring? Her eyes flew open to find Daisy standing next to her bed, looking at her.
For a stunned moment she lay perfectly still. The fairies were obviously only a dream, but was she still dreaming? An arm was cuddling her close to a warm body. Dylan. Without looking, she knew it was him. His familiar masculine scent filled the air around them.
When Daisy noticed her eyes were opened, she wiggled closer, licking June’s face. Ever so slowly, June lifted her arm and scooting to the edge of the bed, picked up Daisy and got up.
Frowning she looked around her. What happened here last night?
On her bedside table were an assortment of flu medicine, none of which she had bought.
She remembered canceling dinner with Ellie and Becket because she felt so awful, but then …
? Oh, yes, Dylan had arrived. He’d been the one who had helped her into bed and he’d stayed, given her water a few times.
And hadn’t Cooper been here as well? She vaguely remembered seeing him.
Her eyes roamed over a big body on her bed. He’d taken off his shirt, his boots were on the floor, and he was lying on top of the bedding in his jeans. And, oh, my … She sighed. Those abs. Swallowing a groan she turned away.
She was still wearing the comfortable shorts and top she’d put on before her nap yesterday afternoon.
Touching her head, she headed toward the kitchen, Daisy excitedly jumping beside her.
Thank goodness, the headache was gone and her throat wasn’t sore anymore.
She really was feeling much better. Whatever was in those meds had done the trick.
“I don’t have food for you, but let’s see what we can find.” She smiled as she walked down the stairs.
In the kitchen was another surprise—food and two bowls for Daisy. “Well, Daisy girl, either the fairies I dreamed about were real or Dylan left sometime during the night to fetch your things.”
“Cooper stopped by,” a voice behind her said. Dylan. Only his voice had the ability to send delicious shivers down her spine.
Without looking at him, she crouched down and put food into Daisy’s bowl. “Hi, thanks for babysitting me, but I’m fine now. I don’t know which one of all those meds helped, but I can’t believe how much better I feel today.”
“As I said, Cooper was here. He’s, among other things, a healer I’ve heard. He—I don’t know what he does or how he does it, but he wanted to see you.”
“I remember that Cooper was talking to me at some point.” As she got up she looked at him.
Big mistake. His hair was messy, the stubble on his face indicated he hadn’t yet shaved, and the shirt he’d put on was still unbuttoned.
Her eyes, of course, immediately zoomed in on those ridiculous abs.
The man was just absurdly handsome, damn him.
Quickly she moved to the coffee machine. “Would you like coffee before you leave? You’re probably in a hurry, I …”
A warm hand landed on her shoulder, and he turned her to face him.
Combing her hair from her face, he cleared his throat.
“I’ve hurt you, I’m sorry. I freaked out.
Watching you with Luke and thinking of you among the kids in the library made it clear you should get married, have kids.
You’ll be such a great mom. I’ve told you about my parents, I’m not the guy who can give you that.
I would like to spend time with you until you return to Seattle, though. If you’re willing of course and—”
While he was talking, his hand glided ever so slowly down her arm so by the time he stopped talking, she had goose bumps all over and her breath had hitched somewhere in her throat.
What she was feeling, standing here, drinking the sight of him in, had to be temporary, right?
Lust at best. It wasn’t anything real, anything sustainable.
She was a book editor from Seattle; he was a cowboy on a ranch outside a small town.
Their lives couldn’t be more different. Why didn’t she spend time with him until she left?
Maybe it wasn’t the wisest idea, but it was probably all she needed to get rid of this craziness inside her.
By the time she left, she’d have it out of her system.
“Tell you what,” she interrupted Dylan’s words.
“Yes?”
“I’m leaving at the end of the month. Let’s spend time together until then. And don’t worry, I don’t expect anything from you, no strings.”
His eyes widened. “You’re sure?”
She’s never been so sure of anything. “I’m sure.”
Grinning, he pulled her closer. “Then I have just one more question.”
Slipping her arms around his big, solid body, she pressed her face against his chest. “What?” For the first time since Sunday, her heart settled.
“Are you really okay?”
Instead of answering him, she pressed her lips against his warm skin. Definitely not wise but damn, it felt so good. Besides, there would be enough time later to berate herself. Right now, she was going to enjoy what was offered to her.
Groaning, he picked her up. “Daisy, stay,” he said as he walked toward the stairs. “This time, I’m taking you to bed,” he grinned.
“Don’t you have to go back?”
“Later.” He ran up the steps with her in his arms without even changing the rhythm of his breathing.
Oh, my. The man had stamina. Good to know.
*
Dylan put her gently down on the bed before he quickly stripped off his clothes. Leaning on her elbows, June watched him, her eyes following his every movement. As he removed his jeans, they widened, making him feel ten feet tall.
Scooting to the other side, she patted the bed next to her. “Come here, cowboy. I’ve missed you.”
As his heart sighed, he joined her on the bed, pulling her into his arms. “You’re still dressed,” he mumbled as his lips trailed over her face.
“Well, do something about it,” she demanded.
“Yes, ma’am.” Taking his time, he slowly pulled down the shorts she was wearing, his fingers skimming her skin as his hands moved down her body.
Her breath hitched, those blue eyes darkened as she lifted her hips to help him.
Before he could return to her top, she was pulling it over her head. No bra. Exhaling slowly, he bent down, scraped his teeth over her breasts before he feasted on their lusciousness while his hands moved down her body, exploring every sexy line, every soft curve.
Her hands were in his hair, egging him on, her body arching into his touch. She sighed and whimpered, every sound heating his blood until it was just about boiling.
Daisy’s bark penetrated his lust-filled mind and he lifted his head. With a groan, he got up. “Daisy. Give me a minute to take her out.”
By the time he got back, June had turned on her side and was sleeping. Slipping beside her on the bed, he gathered her close. She’d been sick. They still had time.
*
When Dylan was finally ready to leave late on Tuesday morning, it was nearly lunchtime. June’s phone bleeped as they walked to the front door.
“It’s Ellie. She probably wants to know how I’m feeling.” As she read Ellie’s text, she smiled. “I’m invited for dinner tomorrow night. Great. I had to cancel Sunday night and haven’t had a chance to talk to Becket yet.”
Just then Dylan’s phone also bleeped. “Well,” he grinned, “I’m invited as well. I’ll pick you up.”
“It’s silly for you to come all this way, I’ll meet you there.”
“May I please pick you up?”
Rolling her eyes, she laughed. “Those baby blues are not always going to work, but okay, thanks.”
“What about tonight? We can go for a pizza …?”
“I have book club tonight.”
He frowned. “But what about us?”
Smiling, she slipped her arms around his body. “Tuesday nights are for book club. You should know that by now.”
Sighing, he gathered her close. “I’m going to miss you.”
“You’ll see me tomorrow night.” She smiled as she dropped her arms. “Drive safely.”
“Damn it, woman …” Pulling her into his arms, he kissed her again.
Within seconds she knew this wasn’t going to be just a kiss. The urgency in his touch, the way his hands molded her body had only one message—he wanted to be a part of her again before he left.
They’d already showered, but she’d just hastily put on shorts and a T-shirt to see him off. Within minutes, his jeans were unbuckled, and her shorts were pooling at her feet. It was quick and electrifying and only took a few seconds before gasping and laughing, they fell against each other.
Pulling up his jeans, Dylan shook his head. “Damn, June, you’re killing me!” Whistling, he called Daisy. With a bark, she jumped off one of the couches in the living room.
“Let me get her things …” June said as she pulled on her shorts.
Dylan opened the door. “Leave it here, we’ll be back.”
As June watched them from the front door, she became aware of cars driving past. Oh, dear. By nightfall, the rest of Marietta would probably know about Dylan’s truck parked in front of this house overnight.
Hugging herself, she walked back to her room to get dressed, her body still humming. She was happy and even though whatever this was between them was only going to be for a short while, she was keeping this bubble in the air for as long as possible.
*
As June walked toward Ellie’s shop from her car on Tuesday evening, her phone rang. It was Abby. She really hadn’t wanted to talk to her friend, because she knew Abby. If she got so much as a whiff that June hadn’t been feeling well, she’d be here tomorrow.
“Hi Abs, I’m on my way to a book club meeting.”
“Seriously?”
“Oh, yes. We’re reading Shirley. You okay?”
“I’m fine, what about you?”
Sighing, June stopped. “I met someone, but,” she said, touching the necklace Dylan had given her and added quickly, “we’re just having fun. He’s made it clear he’s not interested in anything more.”
Silence. “What about you?” Abby asked after a few seconds.
“Oh, Abby, what do I know about relationships and love? Besides, my life is back in Seattle. Look, I’ll call you again, I’m at the yarn shop where we have our book club.”
Abby chuckled. “A book club at a yarn shop? Yarn shop? Don’t tell me you’re knitting as well now?”
June laughed. “I am actually. Ellie is teaching me. I know, it’s hard to believe. I go to a book club in a yarn shop in a small town and I knit. Since my first visit to Marietta, though, my whole mindset of how things are supposed to be like has been changed.”
“My friend June is knitting. Well, now I’ve heard everything,” Abby giggled. “I think I’ve been transported to a different reality!”
“When you come to visit,” June said, “you should join me. Call you soon!”
She quickly ended the call as she opened the door of the yarn shop.
All eyes turned to June as she entered.
“Come on in!” Ellie hugged her. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“And look at those bright eyes,” Rose chuckled. “You look happy. I assume that has everything to do with Dylan?”
“Yes, I’m happy,” June said as she sat down, “and yes, Dylan and I will spend time together. But please, this is only for as long as I’m here. My life and work are back in Seattle.”
“That’s what I said,” Rose smiled.
“And I was supposed to only stay for a while as well,” Ellie grinned. “But then Becket and I fell in love and everything changed.”
“Well, see,” June said, “that’s the whole thing. Nobody is talking about love.” As the word love left June’s mouth, the whole room tilted. Catching her breath, she put out a hand to steady herself.
“You’ve fallen in love with him?” Vivian asked gently.
“Of course not,” June said quickly and emphatically. “It hasn’t even been two weeks since I met him. It’s ridiculous to even think it’s possible.”
“Only took me a minute,” Annie giggled.
Riley laughed. “I like to think it took a while for me to fall in love with Mitch, but actually, I lost my heart the first time I saw him snarling at my brother and cousin.”
“And I fell hook, line, and sinker,” Laura smiled, “the moment an angry cowboy knocked on my classroom door.”
“I didn’t listen to my heart,” Janice said. “I missed my chance in life to get a happy ending. Looking at all of you, I’m so glad to see you’ve been brave enough to grab onto love. What about you, Arlene?”
Sighing, Arlene rubbed her neck. “I knew straight away. But for me to be happy, I had to break someone else’s heart.”
Willow inhaled sharply. “Mom …?”
“No,” Arlene interrupted quickly, looking down at the book in her hand, “you don’t get to read my mind. Not now.”
“Talking about reading minds,” June said quickly, sensing Arlene’s near panic. “Tell me about what Cooper does. I was feeling so poorly on Monday, that’s why I canceled dinner with Ellie and Becket. I had a fever, my throat was sore, but when I woke up Tuesday morning, I was completely fine.”
Rose smiled. “He’s a healer. I can’t tell you how he does it, but he has the gift.”
“As Mom has told you, we got it from our grandma,” Willow said. “It’s not something you can explain. Coop chooses to channel his instincts toward healing animals, but he can connect with humans as well—if the person allows us, of course.”
“Okay, people,” Ellie laughed. “Let’s dive into Shirley before the stories about our weird and wonderful family send June packing.”
Everyone opened their books, and as the discussion of Shirley’s and Caroline’s romances with Louis and Robert swirled around her, June exhaled slowly.
It was probably all the talk about love and happy endings that had her seeing things that weren’t there. Besides, neither she nor Dylan was interested in forever.
It was nearly ten when she drove home. As she neared her house, the butterflies in her tummy woke up, her heart skipped a beat. Dylan’s truck was in the driveway.
As she parked her car, Daisy barked and came charging down the steps. Dylan was waiting for her. Bending down to get Daisy to settle down, she exhaled slowly. She was so happy they were here.
As she got up, Dylan walked closer, his hands in the back pockets of his jeans.
“Hi.” Just his voice was enough to melt her down to a puddle.
“Hi. You want coffee?”
He moved a few steps closer to her. “Nope.”
“Tea?”
He was right in front of her, touching the stone of the necklace. “No.”
“So what do you want?”
“You.” Picking her up he walked back toward the house with Daisy yapping at his heels.