Janet Evanovich - Full Bloom

"I have a friend running checks on several people. So why don't you try not to worry, and let me handle it?"

Annie lay there quietly, wondering who else Wes thought might have killed her husband, but she was tired of thinking about it. All she did these days was worry; now she simply wanted to enjoy being held. Her mind drifted; the real world with its problems soon felt very far away. The only thing she was conscious of was the man beside her, his chest beneath her cheek, his steady heartbeat, and the way his long legs felt against hers.

Annie placed one hand flat against his chest, enjoying the sturdy feel of him. She ran her hand slowly across Wes's stomach, found it hard and flat. His muscles tensed beneath her fingertips. He pressed his lips against one temple. She raised her head, and he kissed her chin, the tip of her nose. He pulled back slightly, and for several seconds neither of them moved, even though Annie knew his mouth was only a breath away. Somehow she knew that Wes was waiting on her to make the next move. If she played it safe, closed her eyes and went to sleep, he would simply lie there for as long as she needed him.

But she had played it safe all her life, and look where it had gotten her.

Exactly nowhere.

Besides, who was she fooling? There was no way in hell she was going to fall asleep with Wes Bridges lying beside her.

She shifted on the bed and very tentatively touched her lips against his. They bumped noses, laughed softly. Wes's lips parted, and she tasted him.

Wes rolled to his side, and Annie found herself on her back. The kiss deepened, and Wes slipped his tongue inside, found hers, and their tongues mingled. How long they kissed, Annie couldn't have said, but it felt as if their lips had somehow fused together and she no longer knew where hers began and his left off. What had started out as tender and sort of dreamy, a kiss that she had wanted to sink deeply into and rest her tired soul in, had turned hot and urgent.

Wes pulled off her nightgown and smiled at the sight of her breasts in the moonlight. "Pretty," he whispered. He explored lower with gentle fingers. He covered her with his mouth and tasted her. Annie was almost certain her eyes crossed when he slid inside.

Afterward, he held her. Annie closed her eyes and slipped into a mindless sleep. When she opened them again, the room had lightened and Wes was nuzzling her throat. Their lovemaking was unhurried as they touched and explored and shared heated sighs until they finally shuddered in each other's arms.

* * * * *

The next time Annie opened her eyes, the sun shone through her bedroom window and the birds, which had mistaken the warm winter for spring, chirped and sang. Downstairs she heard someone, most likely Theenie, searching through the pan cabinet, probably in the early stages of preparing breakfast. Annie could not remember when she'd slept so soundly, and it almost didn't matter that she had awakened late. She smiled and stretched.

And froze when her leg brushed against another leg.

Her eyes popped open. Holy cow! She turned and found Wes beside her, a satisfied grin on his face.

" 'Morning, Red."

"Omigod! You're still here."

He cocked one brow. "Am I not supposed to be?"

"No! The others might find out."

"Afraid they'll get jealous?"

"That's not funny. I mean, what will people think? And believe me, news spreads fast in this town. Everyone already thinks I'm a murderer; they'll think I'm loose as well."

"You are loose, but that's a good thing."

She blushed. She was no longer Wild Woman; she was Annie Fortenberry who ran a respectable bed-and-breakfast. She heard footsteps on the stairs and bolted upright on the bed. "You have to get out of here. Now!"

"Only if you'll let me come back tonight."

Annie tried not to stare, but it was damn difficult.

He grinned. "Like what you see?" He dropped a kiss on her forehead and started for the door.

"Wait!" she said. "You can't go out that way. Somebody might see you."

He paused and looked at her. "What do you suggest?"

Annie frantically searched for the gown and panties that Wes had removed the night before. She found them crumpled at the foot of the bed. She dressed quickly, feeling a bit self-conscious under his watchful eyes.

"Sexy," he said.

She didn't feel sexy; she felt desperate. She pointed to the pair of French doors that led to her balcony. "You'll have to go out that way."

"In my underwear?"

"Yes!"

Wes sighed and shook his head as he pulled the doors open and looked out. "Did you forget there aren't any stairs leading down?"

"You can climb from my balcony to yours," she said.

He shot her a look of utter disbelief. "You're kidding, right?"

"They're only about three or four feet apart. You can easily make it."

"This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard, and I've seen some pretty dumb things in my life. It's downright crazy, Annie. Are you sure all that hot sex didn't jiggle your brain?"

Annie joined him on the balcony. "Piece of cake," she said.

He stood there for a moment, studying the situation as though gauging the distance. "If I don't make it, I want to be buried with my Harley."

Annie heard voices downstairs. "Hurry!" she whispered. She held her breath as he climbed over the wrought-iron railing and planted his feet on the narrow ledge on the other side of the pickets. Taking great care, Wes held on to the wrought-iron banister and had started to step across the three-foot gap to his own balcony when a section of iron leaned toward him, yanking bolts from the stone base and taking Wes by surprise.

Annie watched in horror as the iron gave way completely. Wes twisted around and reached for the railing on his balcony, missing it by several inches. Annie screamed as he fell, landing in the thick holly hedges below.

She darted inside, raced from her room and down the stairs, almost slamming into Theenie and Lovelle, who'd obviously heard her scream and were on their way up.

"What happened?" Theenie asked.

"Wes just fell from my balcony."

The three did a little dance on the steps, trying to get out of one another's way. Annie managed to get past them. Her hands trembled as she turned the lock in the door and flung it open. She took off in a dead run.

Theenie and Lovelle looked at each other.

"What do you suppose the man was doing on Annie's balcony?" Theenie asked.

"Oh, wise up, Theenie," Lovelle said.

Annie found Wes struggling to get out of the hedges, cursing each time the spiky leaves jabbed him. Finally, he rolled out and hit the ground, giving a loud grunt.

Annie knelt beside him. The fact that his eyes were open had to be a good sign. "Are you hurt? Should I call nine-one-one?"

Wes pushed himself into a sitting position, glanced at all the pricks on his arms, and shook his head. "I think I'd like to take a hot shower."

Annie winced at the sight of his face and arms where the tiny pricks were already beginning to bleed. "I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't know about the balcony."

Doc suddenly appeared in his bathrobe, a newspaper tucked beneath one arm. "What's all the racket?" he demanded in a cranky tone. His eyes widened at the sight of Wes. "Uh-oh." He looked at Annie. "You didn't clobber him again, did you?"

In response, she pointed to the balcony outside her room.

Rounding the corner of the house, Theenie and Lovelle came to a halt. "Is he okay?" Lovelle asked.

Annie nodded.

Doc gazed down at Wes. "You need to find another place to live, son. I need to find another place to live. It was so much quieter at my daughter's house, even with four kids."

"What are you doing back so soon?" Theenie asked Doc. "I thought you were going to stay with your daughter while she recuperates."