Real love.
And her mind spun and rejected that thought instantly because she hadn’t known him long enough. No man had held her heart like Reese did. As his mouth moved against hers, inviting her, cajoling, asking for entrance, Shay had felt her world move. It was the strangest sensation and yet, the most incredible feeling. She could still picture opening her eyes and looking up into his burning, narrowed gaze. There was no mistaking the look in them: Reese wanted to take her to bed and love her until she melted in his arms. Oh! Shay knew that if Garret hadn’t walked into the house, she would have done anything Reese had asked. He’d been so healing to her; she’d been vulnerable in a way she’d never been with another man. And it had allowed her to unveil herself, all of herself, her terrible lack of self-confidence, her fears, her hopes and dreams. Reese had held all of her and she could feel his warm, masculine protection dissolving anything bad within her and replacing it with lightness, joy, and most of all, hope. Shay had given up on herself. Her father had driven her so far down, she had nowhere else to go. Reese kissing her was like an invisible hand being held out for her to grasp and get pulled back on her feet. How much stronger she felt right now in comparison to before the kiss.
Reese had been gentle at first, testing her, asking her how far she wanted this to go. When she opened her lips to his, there was a powerful surge of need flowing out of him and into her. His kiss had deepened, become hungry, taking but also giving equally in return.
Reese knew how to love a woman thoroughly, there was no question. And as Shay dropped her hand to her lap, watching the play of sunlight through the lacy curtains, the soft breeze lightly moving the thin fabric, Shay knew. Knew that Reese would be a man who would pleasure her as much as himself.
What was Reese thinking right now? He’d asked her if she was sorry. Sorry for the kiss? Kissing him? The question had stunned her, but then, she was so wrapped up in the explosions going off in her body, lost in the male heat of his searching mouth, that her brain was still in park. What a question to ask! She rubbed her brow, trying to understand why he had asked it. It wasn’t one she was expecting, that was for sure. Frustrated, Shay warred between wondering if she’d made an utter fool of herself with Reese or had, in some way, embarrassed him by being so bold. He’d seemed surprised. As if it were the last thing on earth he’d ever expect from her.
Making a growling sound of unhappiness, Shay launched to her feet, pacing around her bedroom, emotion running rife in her. Now, she was questioning herself and what she’d done. The kiss, the act, had been so beautiful! Nothing had ever healed her so much as Reese wrapping his arms around her, making her feel safe, loved, and cared for all at the same time. Shay hadn’t expected that. What had driven her to kiss Reese was her own selfish need to feel loved. To feel wanted by someone. And deep within her heart, she knew Reese would be the man who would step up and do the right thing for the right reasons.
And then her heart dropped. Did he think her wanton? That she was just flirting with him? Terror seized her for a moment. Is that why he asked the question he did? Oh, God. Shay stood at the window, feeling the breeze, smelling the scent of grass. Heart plummeting, she swayed and caught herself. No! Reese couldn’t think that of her. Could he? It was possible, given his question.
Shay nibbled on her lower lip. All the hope she felt was dashed. What if Reese thought she was some kind of woman who toyed with a man to get what she wanted?
She needed to talk to him. To try to explain. Would he understand, without her talking about the morning with her father? How it had driven an icy stake through her heart? Her bleeding soul? That she needed someone . . . not just anyone . . . but Reese, to run to. Somehow, Shay knew Reese was the only man who could help her.
She had to find a time and place to sit down and talk to him alone. Without interruption. To try to explain her actions. Now, Shay felt like she was the defendant pleading her case. Only this time, Reese was the judge and the jury.
Chapter Twelve
“Where’s Shay?” Garret asked, bringing over the lasagna he’d made, placing it in the center of the table.
Reese was getting the buttered garlic bread out of the oven. “She’s in her room,” he said.
Glancing up, he saw the three wranglers looking at him. He placed the bread in a basket and brought it over to the table. The kitchen was filled with the smell of the Italian food Garret had made for them.