Bonds Of The Heart Read online

  Erika stared at the mangled mess of her dinner. She definitely wasn’t hungry any more. So what if she was a little pouty? She didn’t want to spend any more time with Blake than she had to. Now her mom was insisting that he take her out for a picnic? Maybe he will refuse and she’ll be let off the hook. Maybe someone’s car would be so terrible it needed both him and Ben to fix it. She tried to sneak a glance his way, but failed and met his eyes. He had managed to clean his plate and was shifting his glass in a circle on the table—staring at her. Why was he staring?

  Blake wasn’t sure he wanted to be pushed into another date, though this was hardly a date with Erika’s mother there. However amusing the thought was, he wasn’t planning on anything more than just dinner with Erika—and the taste of her. Yet as the idea from her mother planted itself in his head, it appealed to him in a way he couldn’t yet understand. His lips curved. He saw that Erika wasn’t too thrilled with the idea either. He had watched her pick at her food before turning to him. His eyes locked with hers. He watched as they rounded when he leaned closer and reached out to touch the ends of her hair. His hand brushed the back of her neck and he felt her tremble.

  “A picnic.” His voice was low, deep, and sexy.

  Erika suddenly found it hard to swallow or breathe. Did mom turn off the air conditioning? “You don’t need to appease my mother. There’s no need for a picnic.” She managed to get the words out, even if they were a little husky and breathy.

  Because Erika didn’t want it, Blake wanted it more. “I’ll be here at noon.”

  “I don’t—”

  The kiss was gentle, more than she had expected it to be, more than she wanted it to be. His lips were soft and firm all at once. They moved against hers with familiarity. She couldn’t remember what they were talking about. His short stubble was surprisingly soft against her skin. She wanted to reach out and touch it, but couldn’t get her body to move. When she could, she reached up and cupped his face in her hand. She wanted to get lost in the feeling, wrap her arms around his neck. Desire was quick to flood her body and liquid heat ran to all points south.

  The smell of vanilla was strong and subtle on her. Her hair was soft in his fingers. When he pressed his lips to hers, they were just as soft. He didn’t know what possessed him to taste her now. He didn’t care. He teased her lips with his tongue and her mouth parted for him with a soft, rewarding moan. She invited him in, so he dipped his tongue between her lips pleasantly tormenting her. Her tongue danced with his, and something stirred inside him. He could feel the blood pumping through him and he knew he’d have to adjust himself before standing up. He silently prayed that wouldn’t be for a while. Fearing his control would slip, he pulled away but kept his eyes locked on Erika’s.

  “Where is your Jeep now, Erika?” Her mother’s voice chimed as she headed back toward the dining room.

  Blake swore silently to himself.

  Blinking, Erika had to try to find her balance just to answer the question. “Main Street,” were the only words she could strangle out. She blinked a few more times as she watched Blake sit casually back in his chair as if that life altering kiss hadn’t just happened. As if her world hadn’t just been turned upside down.

  Sweeping into the room, Brianne noticed the change in atmosphere around Blake and her daughter. Blake sat casually in his chair, but his back was noticeably stiff as a board. Her daughter, a blank look on her face as the only giveaway, moved slowly and too carefully as she gathered her dishes and rose from her seat with a knowing smile.

  “The Jeep will be safe there. I’m afraid I’m going to turn in early. I’ve got a lot to do tomorrow. Erika.” Brianne reached a hand out to her daughter. “There’s coffee if Blake would like some. You’re welcome to stay, no need to leave on my account.” She smiled at Blake, who stood from his seat.

  “I actually need to get back.” Blake picked up his plates but was stopped by Brianne’s hand.

  “Leave those.” Turning to her daughter, she pretended to sound sleepy. She would just read in her room the rest of the night and hope her daughter wasn’t too far gone to see what was right in front of her. “I have to drive to Quantico tomorrow morning early. Sleep in. You could use it.” And with a gentle touch to Erika’s arm, she left her daughter and Blake alone.

  “I actually need to get going,” Blake stated as he rose from his seat and headed toward the door.

  Confused as to why she would kiss and run, Erika felt her skin burn. And it wasn’t from the heat between them just a moment ago. Without a word, Blake walked out. She could hear the start of his truck engine outside and was tempted to open the door and throw a shoe at him. Instead, she leapt up and turned off all the lights hoping it would make him think she wasn’t affected at all by his kiss. Ironically, as she moved through the house all she could think of was his lips on hers.

  Nine

  ***

  Erika only got a few hours of sleep between tossing and turning in her bed. She had been up most of the night working on the manuscript that was due next week. No. She wasn’t working, she was pacing. She couldn’t focus on anything when her thoughts would drift to the kiss she shared with Blake. She barely got through the first chapter without thinking about it, about him. She didn’t want to think about him. She didn’t want to think about the kiss.

  Ah hell, it was all she could think about.

  When his mouth had touched hers, she refused to admit she enjoyed it. She even tried to deny that she didn’t want to enjoy it again. That she could force herself to go without touching the stubble on his chin even though she had dreamt of it. Erika reminded herself that Blake Hamilton was arrogant, rude, impersonal, and overconfident. She didn’t want to admit he was also sexy, attractive, and undeniably irresistible.

  She could have pulled away from the kiss, she told herself.

  She could have stopped it before it began…

  She had lied to herself. Once their lips met, there was no pulling away or stopping. There was the need to go deeper and further—together. She had wanted to; her body craved it—craved him. He'd stirred feelings deep inside her that she hadn’t felt before. Feelings she’d never felt them with any guy.

  Shaking her head to try and erase the thoughts from her head, she inspected herself in the mirror.

  A picnic. Her mother was right, it was a beautiful day. The weather had warmed up enough from the passing storms a few days ago that she didn’t need a jacket or sweatshirt. Erika chose the pale aqua sundress she brought from California. It was that or her battered shorts that had dirt on them from helping her mother garden. She wasn’t ready to wear the yellow dress she had planned on wearing for her daddy’s return.

  “Mom,” she breathed. She fingered her hair into soft, loose curls. Her mother had set her up.

  She would appease her mother, but Erika had no intention of this being a date or going any further than today. Brushing on the neutral shadow, some liner, and adding mascara, she intended to enjoy the nice weather. She would make sandwiches. Bring juice. Make a picnic. For herself. Blake would just be along for the ride. It wasn’t a date, she repeated to herself as she headed downstairs to the kitchen to start those sandwiches.

  ***

  Pulling up to the house, Blake drank the last of his coffee. He didn’t sleep well at all last night. He thought the one taste would be enough. He thought he’d be able to satisfy his curiosity and then push any thoughts of Erika out of his mind. He sat for what seemed like hours in his truck, in his driveway, thinking about that kiss last night.

  Damn, was he ever wrong.

  The few hours Blake had slept, he had dreamt of Erika. He had gone out in the middle of the night to tow her Jeep back to the garage. When he returned, he couldn’t get back to sleep. He roamed his house thinking of Erika. He could still feel the softness of her hair in his hands, the taste of her on his lips, how she trembled at his touch. He wanted to taste her again.

  He had argued with himself as he paced his living room the ni
ght before. Erika Gibbons was stuck up, stubborn, rude, and couldn’t appreciate a helping hand. She was also delicate, soft, vulnerable, and, he had to admit, damn attractive. Jared had married a woman with similar features and personality, though his brother and he had never been drawn to the same type of women. Jared liked the feisty, stubborn type. Blake appreciated the sophisticated and cultured.

  During his time in D.C., he had dated a handful of women who liked the opera, the theatre, and the occasional elegant night out at one of Washington’s prestigious restaurants. The women he had dated were…predictable. He had known exactly how to court them and what he felt about them.

  So why was he drawn to Erika Gibbons, who was none of those things? She wasn’t afraid to get dirty fixing her own Jeep. She didn’t care if her jeans were full of mud when she was out in public. She didn’t dress to impress. In fact, she almost purposefully dressed comfortably down. She wasn’t predictable at all.

  He forced himself to remember this wasn’t a date. He’d have the picnic with her and find a way to end it so that he could do what he had planned. He’d find a way to have Ben be there when she picked up her Jeep. He’d forget his ache to taste her again, to touch her.

  Exiting the truck, he didn’t notice Erika waiting on the porch, basket in hand. When his gaze finally swept up, his step faltered and his breath caught in his throat. His world stopped.

  If you asked him if he left his truck running or turned it off, if he left the door open or if he closed it, he wouldn’t remember. If you asked him if it was sunny or cloudy, he wouldn’t be able to tell you. If you asked him if the birds were singing or if a car had passed by on the road behind him, he couldn’t remember that either.

  All he could see was Erika.

  The blue dress fell just above her knees exposed her long, slender legs that seemed to rival the Sears Tower. It hugged the curves of her hips and left her shoulders bare, except for two small straps. A silver chain around her neck plunged into her chest. Lucky chain. Her hair bounced around her shoulders and there were hints of copper in the deep brown locks. The wind had drifted her sweet vanilla scent to his nose. Everything he'd just told himself was gone. He was lost to her.

  Without a word, Blake reached for the basket Erika held. She let it go without protest. He gave her another quick survey before turning back to the truck. Erika followed. He didn’t trust words at the moment. Hell, he didn’t trust himself at this moment. If he spoke he may say something he wasn’t ready for.

  Erika had wanted to get this picnic over with before it could even begin, but when Blake stepped out of the truck her heart stopped.

  His plaid, button down shirt was rolled at the elbows allowing his tanned, golden skin to reflect the sun. The top few buttons were undone. She wanted to touch the small patch of hair just beneath. He wore snug jeans that carved out his long, lean, muscular legs. The sandy blonde hair was still unruly, but glistened in the sun with hints of pure gold. In that moment, she forgot her plans for the picnic and his company. She was lost to him when he strolled over to her.

  “I packed sandwiches.”

  I packed sandwiches? Idiot! Did she really just lose all comprehension of speaking and conversation? And why wasn’t Blake saying anything? Maybe he didn’t want to be there. Surely two adults could get through one afternoon, right? She let her frustration with Blake take over. It was easier. After all, it seemed he was determined to be rude.

  Blake shrugged and secured the basket into the bed of the truck. Rounding the front, he opened the door for her. She hesitated, waiting for him to say even a hello to her. When he didn’t, she got into the cab of the truck and placed her hands in her lap.

  How the hell was he going to get through one afternoon with her looking and smelling like that? Not even a hello, just a mention that she made sandwiches. Maybe she wanted to be stubborn. Or maybe she didn’t want to be there with him. Blake scowled as he opened the door and got behind the wheel. He placed the key in the ignition but didn’t turn it.

  “Well?”

  He blinked, staring at his hand on the key. “Well.”

  She huffed and turned to face him. “Not even a hello? Must you really be that rude to me? Hasn’t anyone ever—”

  His mouth crushed hers, preventing any more words being said. The kiss wasn’t as gentle as it had been the night before. It was demanding, needy. When she gasped, his tongue plunged to slide across hers, to dance and tease. When she responded and tilted her head, he deepened the kiss. His hands found their way into her hair, that soft feeling between his fingers. Same as it had felt the night before. Her hand came up to touch the stubble on his chin, the other drawing him closer.

  He wanted just one more taste. He’d give himself just one more taste and let her go. Damn it all to hell if he did not want to let her go. He wanted more, so he took when she willingly gave. Control wasn’t something he gave up easily, but he could for her. He wanted to touch her, to feel her pale skin against his. He wanted her.

  She fell into the kiss. Slowly, deeply, with everything she had. Desire pooled in her belly. She’d give up control to him. Let him have his way with her right in the cab of his dirty old truck. It had been too long and her girl parts were screaming at her now. As if the big neon signs in her head proclaiming they were ready weren’t a big enough clue to begin with. When the kiss broke, she fought for air. She’d very much like to do that again. She noticed he wasn’t all that composed either.

  “Hello.” He whispered against her lips, fighting to catch his breath himself.

  Her eyes were heavy and hooded, and she struggled to calm her breathing. She looked delicate, Blake thought. He slid his hands from her hair and caressed her cheeks as he withdrew.

  She let her hands fall to her lap. She was at a loss for words so she just smiled and nodded.

  Blake turned the key, shifted the truck into gear, and backed out of the driveway. They didn’t say much for the entire drive. Neither one of them could find the right words. Just what could be said once the world exploded?

  Blake was struggling with feelings he'd never had before, for a woman he didn’t realize he wanted, or needed, so much.

  He never wanted to dance with desire as much as he wanted to with Erika. Blake knew the feeling, and had often joked with his brother over it. They had compared girlfriends and women over beers at the garage or in the backyard of Jared’s house when he would come back to visit. Jared had told him once that when he met Lori, his world had stopped. He knew from that moment on she was the woman he was going to marry. They married two months later. So when Blake’s world stopped that afternoon, he didn’t even register the thought of love or marriage.

  Erika tried to fight emotions that could lead to heartbreak, though she knew she wouldn’t be able to.

  She thought of her father and placed a hand over her heart and the dog tags. She wished she could talk her dad now. She had always been able to talk to her father about boys or men. What would you think of Blake, Daddy? Would you like him? Would you chase him away with your shotgun? Erika smiled. Her father had given her great advice over the years about who to avoid and how a man should treat a woman. He told her to always follow her heart and that was what she had done all her life. So when she felt the flutter around her heart now with Blake, she never would have guessed love could be the cause.

  Ten

  ***

  Pulling into the county park, Blake steered the truck along the gravel road toward the end of the lane. They stumbled through small conversations about music and sports. Nothing overly personal. At the clearing toward the end of the road was a small meadow on the left, trails to the right for walking or hiking, and a small manmade pond where some kids were trying to catch fish.

  Throwing the truck into park, Blake exited. He grabbed the basket and a blanket he had brought along. Erika took a deep breath and opened her door. Blake was waiting for her, hand outstretched. She took it. She was still a little weak from their kiss. She didn’t really trust her
knees to move her legs. Blake didn’t release their joined hands until they had found a spot under a large maple tree.

  Blake opened the blanket and Erika helped smooth out the fabric over the grass. He placed the basket to one side and frowned at it. “I’ve never been on a picnic before.”

  “No? Not even as a kid?”

  Blake shook his head and stuck his hands in his back pockets. He narrowed his eyes at the blanket and basket and looked around. What were they to do on a picnic? She had a few ideas of her own after that kiss.

  He looked lost, she thought. That was new. He always looked so sure of himself. She had expected—no, she didn’t know what to expect.

  “Sit.” She pointed.

  He blinked only once but did as was directed. Erika sat next to him and pulled the basket to her side. “It’s simple, really. Two people have a small meal in the outdoors on a blanket.” She opened the basket and began to take out its contents.

  “Really? I didn’t know,” he said sarcastically.

  “Do you always have to be so rude?”

  “Do you always have to be so condescending?”

  “Condescending?! I am not! I’ll have you know—”

  He silenced her with a brief kiss, bracing her face with one hand. He didn’t pull back until he felt her relax. “I don’t want to fight with you, Erika.”

  Those lips! “We shouldn’t do this,” she whispered, thinking of heartbreak, of leaving him to go back to California.

  He pulled back to look at her and arched that damn sexy brow of his with a smirk. “Do what? Have a picnic?”

  She shook her head. She couldn’t start something with him. Her heart would only be broken when she stepped onto that plane and out of his life. “That’s not what I meant.”

  “Well, since I’ve never been on a picnic, I’d like to have one. What kind of sandwiches did you pack?”

  How could he just dismiss their kiss in his truck? How could he sit there, kiss her again, and then talk about food? Men! She would make it a point to bring the topic back up for discussion. For now, she’d enjoy the picnic. She took out a container of grapes and apple slices, the sandwiches, and a bottle of white wine she didn’t know her mom had slipped in for their enjoyment. “Just some finger sandwiches. Why haven’t you ever been on a picnic?” She figured the question was a much safer topic than the beating‒‒and eventual breaking‒‒of her heart if she didn’t protect it.