Garret moved to the hook near the stove where he pulled the apron off the hook, wrapping it around his waist. “It’s that time,” he agreed, giving them questioning looks.
Reese could feel Garret’s stare on his back as he walked to the sink to wash out the cups. He saw Shay leave and hurry down the hall to her bedroom. His heart was still trip-hammering. Garret knew something had happened. The vet didn’t say a word, but he didn’t have to as he came to the sink to wash his hands.
“Everything all right?” Garret demanded.
“Yeah.”
“Noah told me earlier Shay looked really upset.”
Nodding, Reese put the cups in the dishwasher. “Her father,” was all he said. Straightening, he walked out of the kitchen and out of the house, needing time to think and clear his head.
*
Shay sat on the edge of her bed, bent over, hands pressed against her face. She reveled in the power of Reese’s kiss, her mouth still tingling. The terrible ripped-up feeling in her heart stopped the instant he’d returned her daring kiss. What had driven her to do that? It was crazy! What must he think of her now? She’d screwed this up so badly. She wasn’t supposed to fall for one of the vets.
Dragging in a jerky breath, she sat up, wiping her cheeks with trembling fingers. Never had a kiss felt so healing, so grounding and wonderful. He’d been so tender and gentle with her and God knew, that’s exactly what she’d needed after being run over by her father’s scarring words this morning. Something told her Reese would understand. She’d always felt protected when he was nearby. The sensation rolled off him like sunlight against a granite rock. It radiated off him. And just now, she’d lapped it up like she was dying. And if he hadn’t given back to her, she didn’t know if she would survive or not; it was that vulnerable a feeling deep in her soul.
But Reese had sensed her, knew her needs without her saying a word. She had just been so desperate for the least little bit of human kindness, a little love, that she’d taken the bold step to lean up and kiss him. And his response shook her universe. The man was incredibly tender, as if realizing she felt so destroyed and in need of healing, in need of love. And he had loved her with a man’s gentleness toward his woman. In those sweet moments, Shay had felt him pulling her back together, gluing her ragged, torn, and frayed emotional edges, salvaging them, soothing them, bringing her back home to herself. Lifting her chin, she stared blankly out the curtained window, thunderstruck by Reese’s innate sensitivity. Rubbing her brow, eyes closed, Shay felt tears beginning to fall down her cheeks again.
She’d been so raw from this morning. Walking into Reese’s arms was like turning from death’s grip and embracing life instead. It was that dramatic. That stark. That hauntingly, soul-beautiful to her. My God, the man could kiss! Every movement of his mouth against hers, Shay could feel herself knitting back together again. She could feel her injured heart respond and then gallop to the utter joy as his mouth slid confidently against hers.
Shay felt so different right now, she could barely think, much less comprehend what had happened when Reese had returned her kiss. He was pure magic! She sat there feeling the heat continuing to nudge her lower body, coals of fire coming back to glowing life, reminding her she was a woman.
Slipping her fingers across her abdomen, she closed her eyes and absorbed all the flames licking hungrily through her, reminding her of how long it had been that she’d gone without love. It was more than just about sex. Shay wasn’t built for one-night stands. She needed a deep, serious relationship for a long time before she would commit her body, because when she did, her heart was fully involved.
As she sat there, slowly running her hands up and down her thighs, Shay still felt enveloped within Reese’s strong, caring arms. His kiss had been so healing. She was afraid to say it was love, but it felt like love.