Chapter 14 Cross Too Many Lines
CROSS TOO MANY LINES
“When is Rory getting here?” her mother asked on Sunday afternoon. “I thought you would have come together.”
“I’m going to pick him up in a few minutes. I wanted to stop over and talk to you both first.”
“What’s going on?” her father asked.
They were in the family room and no one else was around yet. She was an hour earlier than she’d said she’d be here.
“Hold nothing back. I mean it. He can take it. I wasn’t sure myself, and he might pause and gather himself, but he’s tough.”
“Is this a working relationship or something more?” her mother asked. “You seem to be getting close to him.”
She didn’t know how much to tell her parents. Normally she kept her personal life private unless there was something to tell. For years there had been little more than a handful of dates and not even a lot of action in the sheets.
Damn, was she missing that.
After their parting kiss on Friday, she knew if she had asked him to stay he would have. But it wasn’t the right time. Not yet.
Would they get there? Yeah, they most definitely would.
“It’s not work. I’m not representing him and I don’t want to. I think that would cross too many lines.”
“Because there is more going on than you want to tell us?” her father asked.
It was that look that reminded her he was the father and she was the only little girl in the house.
She put her hands on her hips. “I tell you most everything. Do I think he’s handsome?
Yes. You’ll see when you meet him. Do I think he’s smart and can be charming and funny?
Absolutely. But I also know he’s here for a reason and he’ll do what he can to find his answers.
I don’t believe he’s using me, never think that, but if you want to ask him, go ahead.
He won’t take offense to it. But because I know people might think it, I’m smart enough to not get too deep either. ”
Her mother cleared her throat. “You’re an adult who makes good decisions.”
“Most of the time,” her father said.
She couldn’t dispute that. “That’s right. For now, I’m helping him and helping the community at the same time. What comes of it, who knows? He’s on no timeline, but he only has his place rented for a month and he’s been here a week already.”
“Do you think he’ll stay longer?” her mother asked.
“That would be up to him. He could work anywhere.”
Though it didn’t seem as if he was doing any work on his book. He’d told her he had time yet and could start and get it done without worries, but until he could clear his head, it wasn’t worth beginning. He had to get through the documents with Rene first.
“I’m looking forward to meeting him,” her mother said. “I know how you are when you get your teeth into something, but personally, I’d like to get answers. Not just for Rory and his family, but this community.”
“A lot of people would like to see that,” she said. “But there are some that might not. He’s had a few people tell him to watch his back. Kane McGregor made it a point to stop and talk to me at dinner on Friday when I was with Rory.”
“On a date with him?” her father asked.
“Dad. Dinner. Do you want to know if he kissed me? Sure, he did when we got back. Happy now? That’s why I’m not representing him and don’t want to. Moving on, Kane knew damn well who Rory was and had heard. It’s getting around town fast.”
“Like most things do,” her mother said. “But no one has said anything to me.”
“Not yet. Give it time now. My point is, Kane wanted to make his presence known. Rory isn’t afraid to ruffle feathers and I told him to watch how he goes about things.”
“That isn’t good for you,” her father said. “He’s going to leave and go back to his life and you still have a practice here.”
“I know. I trust he won’t do anything to cause problems for me.”
“Just being in your presence is enough,” her mother said. “But you’ve never been one to back down from anything before and if you think someone is pushing for it, you’re more likely to tighten your grip.”
“That’s it right there,” she said. “I’ve talked to Ford and he’s looking into things. He really has questions about the way it was handled by the police back then. Nothing will leave this house, I trust that. I want Rory to know he can trust us.”
“Telling him he can doesn’t mean he’ll believe it,” her mother said.
“No, but I think he trusts me and that’s good enough. I’m going to get him now unless you’ve got questions.”
“We’ll see you soon,” her father said.
She left and drove the fifteen minutes back to get Rory. She knocked on his door and stood there for a minute. After waiting a bit longer, she was ready to text him when the door opened.
His hair was wet and standing up in all directions, he had glasses on his face, his jeans were unbuttoned and there was a shirt in his hand.
“Whoa,” she said. “Did you just wake up?”
Her gaze swept over his chest, the defined muscles a pleasant surprise, before drifting lower to his flat abs. He was lean and toned, with a strength carved into him without the bulk or exaggeration of power. As if he was in perfect proportion.
“Sorry,” he said. “I had a late night. I’ll fill you in. I didn’t fall asleep until close to three. I thought I set my alarm to get up at noon but guess not.”
It was two now. She moved into the house and shut the door behind her.
“Here I thought you were trying to tempt me.”
“I heard the knocking the minute the water was off and yanked on what I could.”
Her finger came up to capture a drop of water, then rubbed it between her thumb. “This is going to be hard to forget.”
He laughed. “You can return the favor and answer your door the same way.”
“Something tells me if I did you’d tackle me to the floor.”
“I want to do that now with the way you’re looking at me. Or maybe you want to do that to me.”
“I’ve been known to tackle a male body before,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows. “Not in the same context and it’s been years, but you know, I bet I still have some good moves.”
“I’m positive you do,” he said, pulling his shirt on. “Come in. Sorry. I won’t be long.”
“Don’t worry about it. There is no rush. I was just at my parents and came back to get you.”
“Why?” he shouted from the bathroom. She moved closer down the hall to watch him put contacts in and comb his hair. He put some product in his hands and ran them through the wet locks and then was done. “I could have met you there.”
“I know, but I wanted to talk to them first.”
“Oh boy, about what?”
She smiled. “Just give them some background. Or more of one. I told them not to hold back and talk, that you could handle it and would ask questions.”
He frowned and went to step out, but she didn’t give him much space, causing him to brush against her. He winked and moved to his room to get a pair of socks and sit on the bed.
His jeans were still unfastened and she wondered if he knew that or not. She’d keep quiet on it for now.
There was an urge in her fingers to help him close it, just to touch, tease or tempt any part of him.
She’d never been this reckless before.
But was it really reckless when she was honest with her feelings? It wasn’t as if she was asking him to stay or make any promises to her.
“If I can handle what I have so far in my life, I can handle anything else thrown at me.”
“I told them that.” He was reaching for his sneakers to put on. “One more thing.”
“What’s that?”
“My parents asked if this was personal or professional. This thing with me and you.”
“Not professional,” he said. “I don’t want that. You know it.”
“I do, and I told them that.” She moved into his personal space, put her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. “I’m helping you but not binding ourselves legally. I won’t cross that line and never would. But I’m here for you too. I hope you know that.”
His lips applied more pressure to hers, their kiss deepened with the taste of him intoxicating to her blood.
When her hands released their hold on him and went to his waist, he stiffened as she moved to the opening of his jeans.
Only to button him back up, not push them down.
She stepped back with a grin and caught the roll of his eyes.
“I wasn’t sure what you were doing there for a minute.”
“Taking temptation away. But also testing myself at the same time. Next time I won’t be fastening them.”