Now she wiggled her toes in the thick hiking socks hed left on her feet. Her bra had been cast aside, her panties at her knees. This is a sexy look, she ventured. I predict the Victorias Secret models will be walking the runway in their lingerie and knee-high camping socks at next years fashion show.
He grinned against her jaw, sliding a hand down her belly to tease her mound with his long fingers, then tucked them between her legs, resting them against the slippery petals of flesh. For the record, I find it a very sexy look. Much sexier than those stupid wings and New York fashion stuff they pile on them to detract from what us guys really want to see.
Mmm. She tightened her thighs on his fingers, rubbing her ass against his damp cock.
Stop that, he mumbled. Christ, youre going to kill me. Take a nap.
You know, women in their forties are just hitting their sexual peak. You better build up some stamina, sailor.
When he chuckled sleepily, she smiled against his biceps, pressed a kiss there. Then she became still against him, letting him ease into a light doze, content to be held by him as he slept. The current moment was all anyone was ever promised, after all. She wasnt going to waste it on worry about tomorrow.
Chapter Fifteen
What did you do to your fingers? Lucas asked, touching one of the Superman Band-Aids Janet had on the pads of two of her fingers. I like those, by the way.
She examined the design. Shed bought them to tease Max, but the way hed put them on her fingers, kissing them to take the hurt away afterward, had led to a different kind of teasing. Max showed me how to use a bow when we went camping this weekend.
Was there video? Id pay good money to see that. Ben slid a hip on her desk. He peered at the Band-Aids as well, shook his head. So did you take down a three-point stag? A forest ranger? Other campers?
I would never harm an animal for sport, she informed him loftily. And other campers only if they were annoying. No, we were target shooting.
Shed thought of snipers as men with fancy, high-tech rifles, but shed learned that high-powered bows were also used by SEAL snipers, to take out targets without the muzzle flash that could give away their position. He hadnt brought one of those, of course, but a basic, decent-quality bow they could use for practice. Theyd done that, gone hiking, eaten Gayles meals and enjoyed gorgeous scenery, special places Max knew from visiting the park before.
On the second night, when they were sitting by the fire, Janet had read to him. Shed brought a couple books, a Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child thriller, as well as a biography of Margaret Thatcher. Hed asked her to read to him from the thriller, stretching out on his side, teasing a lock of her hair, occasionally pressing a kiss to her hip where she sat on a log. When he noticed her shifting from the logs hardness, he changed their positions, putting her between his legs, becoming her chair on the soft forest floor, letting her lie back against his chest while he propped against the log.
He might make her a camper yet. It had been peaceful, in a very different, very pleasing way.
You will locate no YouTube footage of this trip, she informed Ben. And get off my desk. I have work to do.
He grinned and rose. I told Marcie what you said, about helping her with the wedding. Shell probably be calling soon. Why a wedding needs to be planned this far in advance, I have no clue, but Im leaving it to you women. You all just tell me when to show up.
Ill pencil it into your calendar, Janet said dryly. And add a weekly reminder, so you dont plan anything over it.
Good idea, Lucas snorted. The two men moved into Matts office for their morning meet. It would be a short one, because in an hour theyd all be at the airport, on their way to South America for the next three days to oversee the ownership transfer of a plant there. Max wasnt on schedule today, and she knew he was going to visit Amanda after dropping Dana off at her church. She wondered if hed come back by the office to have lunch with her, but Dana might pull him into doing some volunteer task at her place. Or maybe he had some other errands to handle, or something going on with Dale. Shed just spent several days with him, for Heavens sake. They werent at the point they were reporting schedules to one another, after all, and she was both amused and irritated at herself for thinking along those lines.
Get a grip, Janet.
Still, when lunchtime came, and the office was quiet without any of the K&A men around, she decided to take the trolley to Danas church. Ben and Marcie wanted Dana to officiate, so she and Janet could go ahead and discuss some early details. It was a gorgeous afternoon in New Orleans and shed enjoy the stroll from the trolley to the church, as long as she wasnt mugged in the dubious neighborhood where it was located. The Taser in her purse was there for backup, but usually her direct, icy stare told any idlers she wasnt an easy target.
When she entered the church through the office area, the church secretary told her Dana was in with the minister. But if you want to wait in the nave, Ms. Albright, Ill send her to you when she comes out of the meeting. Probably about fifteen minutes.
Janet nodded. Is Max Ackerman here?
No maam. He was out at the basketball court earlier, but I think Dana said he had to run an errand.
Janet nodded, then followed the hallway to the main body of the church, taking the side door into the cool chamber. As she moved down the aisle between the pews, she absorbed that universal hush, the sense of peace, that all churches seemed to contain. It made her think about their birch forest, how similar the two places were.
Shed never considered herself much of an outdoorsy person, but there was something to be said for camping with a man who knew how to care for a woman, cushioning her from the more unpleasant aspects of outdoor living. Hed had bug spray, toilet paper, wine, homemade lasagnathe man was a treasure.
She slipped into the second pew from the front, studying the altar. The wooden crucifix had been carved by one of the parishioners, primitive and moving at once, the stretch of Jesus arms, the agony of his lean body, contrasting with the acceptance on his face. If a person chose to believe the story, hed seen both the good and evil in mens hearts and loved all of them anyway.
She thought of Jorge, the things hed done to her, to others. The world hed inhabited had been a world of violence and blood. Yet at one time, hed been a baby in some mothers arms. Had his mother hoped for good things for him, the way Maxs mother had hoped for her son? What would Mary have done if the angel had told her the whole story? Yes, her son would bring hope to the world, but hed also be betrayed and crucified. Hed die an excruciating death when he was barely in his thirties, because of the message of peace and hope hed brought.
What would Jorges mother have done if she was told the baby in her arms would beat a womans legs into broken kindling, smash her face, all to keep her with him?
Rising, she moved to the altar. While Danas church wasnt Catholic, shed suggested the tradition of having candles available so people could light them for loved ones, to add to the strength of their prayers. Peters wife didnt hesitate to mix religious traditions to capture the interest and needs of her parishioners. Janet picked up the taper, put it in the flame of one of the lit candles. Her hand was trembling, she noticed, her chest tight, but she firmed her grip, took a breath and touched the taper to an unlit candle.
All these years, and shed spared no thought to Jorge, blocking him out of her mind, trying to get ahead of the horror hed inflicted upon her, trying to keep it contained. Perhaps they were right, that love opened unexpected rooms in ones heart, because for the first time, she gave an ounce of her compassion to the man he might have been. To the mother who bore him, the hopes shed harbored for him. She also lit the candle as hope that maybe thered be a day when every heart would embrace love over hate.
She couldnt go further with it than that, but it was far more than shed ever given. She also asked forgiveness for taking a life. She couldnt have done it differently, wouldnt have, but she could feel regret over the act itself.
Im sorry, she murmured to the still air. Sorry could cover a lot of things, and it felt better saying it, as if a small weight was lifted off her heart. Yes, falling in love could suck. But it could also bring better things.
Janet?
Swiping away the small tear that had escaped her eye, Janet turned to see Dana at the entrance to the sanctuary, her fingertips resting on the doorframe. Im here.
Dana came down the aisle, sweeping her cane ahead of her, comfortable enough with the surroundings that it appeared mostly a precaution. This is an unexpected surprise. Were you getting too much work done without them underfoot? You needed spiritual counseling to handle the shock?
Pretty much. Janet laughed. No, I thought it was a nice day to be out, and I figured Id stop by and
See if Max was here. Since hes not, youll tell me you came to talk about the wedding so he doesnt find out youre stalking him.
You know, Im starting to understand why Rachel pinches you all the time.
Dana grinned, gesturing to the pews nearest them so they could both take a seat. Max was here earlier this morning, repairing the basketball goal, but he headed out about midmorning. One of the kids said the goals not fixed yet, so I assume he needed another tool and got tied up with something else. Since hes picking me up this afternoon, hell likely come back in time to finish the goal and take me home.
Most likely. Yet Janet glanced down at her phone, her brow furrowing. Max often sent her texts throughout his day. She hadnt had one since hed left her bed this morning. Shed gotten busy with the guys, had thought about sending him one on the trolley, but figured if she was going to be seeing him She admitted part of the reason she hadnt sent one was she enjoyed the messages he devised to coax her to text him back.