Need You Now

Of course, rounding out her enjoyment was Lucas, and that distant enigmatic expression of his. She’d seen it twice now, and goodness, it wasn’t easy keeping the naughty fantasies at bay. She refused to guess at his dark thoughts or imagine him as a teenager. He would’ve been one of those brooding guys the girls whispered about to their friends and dreamed about at night. The type of guy who’d always been and would always be out of reach for a quiet, sensible woman like her.

She realized she’d sighed out loud when he looked up and caught her staring at him. Quickly she cleared her throat. “We should go. We don’t have much daylight left,” she said, feeling even more awkward standing next to Candy Cane and peering down at him as if he were one of her pupils.

A lazy smile curved his mouth. He arched back, stretching out his arms, then pushed to his feet with the agility of a teenager. “You’re right. I’ve monopolized enough of your time.”

“No, it’s not that—I assumed you’d want to get on the road before nightfall.”

“I’m not leaving yet,” he said and scooped up the blanket. “I figured I’d spend a few days here.”

“Oh.”

“Is that a problem?”

“No.” She nodded. “Maybe.”

“Which is it?” The corners of his mouth twitched, which she saw quite clearly since he’d sidled up next to her. “Give me a hint.”

“Okay, smarty.” Inwardly cringing at using the silly word, she resisted the urge to move over. “Did you drive through town?”

“Yes,” he said, “and judging by your smug expression, I assume I missed something.”

It wasn’t easy being this close and feeling the heat from his body. Part of her wanted to lean into him; the other part was already yanking her shirt backward. “Did you see any motels?”

He kept looking at her, his right brow lifting. “A place called the Boarding House.”

“It’s not a motel. It really was a boardinghouse about ninety years ago.”

Lucas frowned. “There were cars parked out front.”

“Someone just bought the place and is making it an inn.” She tried to look innocent. “I doubt it’ll be finished by tonight.”

He let out a laugh. “I underestimated you.”

“I’m sorry—I shouldn’t be teasing.”

“So there’s really no lodging in Blackfoot Falls?”

“None.”

“The closest place to get a room would be—where? Kalispell?”

“That’s right,” she said, not feeling the least triumphant. She wanted him to stay longer. “There is one other possibility,” she said slowly, trying to think it through.

She could call Rachel at the Sundance. The dude ranch was usually booked months in advance but there was a chance they could somehow make room for Lucas. She’d ask as a personal favor if she had to. Or was she being foolish?

“Melanie?”

She met his expectant gaze.

He waited and after a few moments said, “If you’re offering me your guest room—”

Her gasp interrupted him. “Me? No, I don’t have— I mean, I do have a spare room, but I live in town. I have neighbors.” She felt the heat sting her cheeks and there was nothing she could do about it. “Very nosy neighbors, and it’s not that I care about what they say. It’s just— Well, no, I do care but—”

“Melanie.” He touched her arm to stop her rambling.

After taking a deep breath, she managed a smile. It felt brittle and fake. “Sorry, that came out wrong.”

His hand moved to her face. Her burning-hot face. Just in case he needed proof of her embarrassment.

Oh, Lord.

“Don’t be sorry,” he murmured. “I was teasing you, and it was inappropriate. And even if you offered, I wouldn’t take you up on it.”

Her humiliation sank to another low. “No, of course not. We just met. Why would you?”

Lucas looked as if he was trying to control a smile. “Having just met you doesn’t bother me. Small town, you being a teacher. No matter how innocent the situation, I know it would be bad for you. I wouldn’t want that.”

She searched his eyes, unsure what she was looking for, and he eventually lowered his hand. It wasn’t relief she felt but disappointment. Dammit, she wanted him to kiss her. She wanted to kiss him. She knew it would mean nothing to him, if he even responded, and she didn’t care.

He turned away to deal with the blanket, struggling to roll up the bulky wool, and she started to lose her nerve. And then it occurred to her that she’d never initiated a kiss. Not once. Ever. She’d been willing plenty of times when a date had taken the lead. But here she was, twenty-seven, two semi-long-term college relationships behind her, and she’d never kissed a boy first. Wow, that was kind of sad.

“Lucas?”

He looked over and automatically smiled.

Swallowing back a lump of nerves, she moved closer. “Need help?”

“Sure.” He’d brought two corners together. “Take this end.”

Melanie obliged, gripping the blanket, spreading her arms wide and moving backward while he scooped up the lower corners. If he’d guessed at her cowardly gear switching, he didn’t let on. She hadn’t given up on the kiss yet. Just looking for a more organic way to swoop in.

Oh, who was she kidding? It would be awkward for her no matter what. She was still willing to try, though. Nervous as she was, it was clear this was one of those times she’d regret being harmless as a pet rabbit, as her grandfather used to say.

“You have to stop.”

She blinked. “Stop what?”

“Moving.”

“Right.” She laughed when she realized that he’d had to move along with her or lose his grip. “I was daydreaming. Sorry.”

The light seemed to be slipping quickly all of a sudden. Before long the twilight shadows would start playing tricks. Already Lucas’s seductive eyes had turned a deeper shade of blue as he walked the few feet to join her.

“You can let go,” he said, taking her corners.

About to protest they could do better as a team, she closed her mouth and watched him fold the more manageable half into thirds, then smaller. He finished the task with startling precision. Very neatly he slid the compacted blanket into the saddlebag.

“Were you in the military?”