J. Robb - Bump in The Night

„We’ll take him back first thing in the morning.“ He continued to study the dog before turning to Grace with a strange look.

She placed a hand over his. „What were you just thinking?“

„How right everything is. Us. This cabin. A cozy fire. Even a dog. This is the exact homecoming I’ve been picturing in my mind for years. It’s been my secret wish.“

His words had Grace’s eyes widening. „Now that you mention it, that’s true for me, too. Except that in my secret wish, along with love I’d find my mother.“

„You have.“ He motioned toward the packet of letters. „In a manner of speaking.“

She sighed. „I hadn’t thought of it that way, but you’re right. I guess I’ll have to be satisfied with her letters to tell me what she was like, until I can ask Wyatt for more information. And at least now I know what she looked like.“

Josh seemed startled. „You didn’t know what your own mother looked like?“

Grace shook her head. „My father was so furious when she left, he tore every picture of her from his albums. There were no photos of my mother holding me or feeding me. My father destroyed all of them. He even tore their wedding picture in two. All I ever saw was my famer in a tuxedo, gazing solemnly at an empty space beside him.“

„Now that’s what I call bitter.“ Josh rounded the table and drew her close to press kisses to her eyes, her cheeks, the tip of her nose. Against her mouth he whispered, „That’s a lot of pain to carry around for a lifetime. I wish I could do something to erase it.“

„You have, Josh. Just being here with you has brought me so much peace.“ She wrapped her arms around his neck.

He trailed nibbling kisses along her jaw until he heard her sigh. It pleased him to pleasure her. He loved the expressive look on her face, as the shadows in her eyes lifted and her little frown turned into the languid look of a lover. Her eyes were open, and focused on him. Only him. It was as erotic as anything he could have imagined. Far more exciting than the thrill of adventure. And so much more rewarding than hearing the cheers from his adoring fans. With Grace this adventure had become deeply personal and intimate. There was something about this quiet woman that touched his very soul.

Forcing aside the need to take her quickly, he ran soft, feathery kisses across her shoulder, down her throat, burying his lips in the sensitive little hollow. When he moved lower still, her sigh became a moan. Still, he kept his touch light, his kisses soft as butterfly wings, as he ever-so-slowly took her.

„What’s this?“ Grace sat up, shoving hair out of her eyes.

„Nourishment. After the amount of energy we’ve consumed, I thought we needed sustenance.“

„Very thoughtful of you.“ She eyed the sandwich, cut into quarters. „Peanut butter and jelly?“

„And the last of the wine. Can’t have P, B, and J without wine.“

„Of course not.“ She laughed. „Makes perfect sense to me.“

„I’ve been waiting a lifetime to hear a woman say that. Now I know we’re compatible. Will you marry me?“ He settled himself beside her on the sofa, completely unconcerned about his nakedness.

„Only if you promise to make me this for a midnight snack at least once a month for the rest of my life.“ She bit into the sandwich and made little humming sounds as she devoured it.

„That will depend on just how you plan to express your… gratitude for this extravagance.“

„I intend to be… extremely grateful.“

„I love it when you purr like that.“ He set down his glass of wine and leaned over for a quick kiss. „I wasn’t joking when I asked if you’d marry me.“

She pulled away and sucked in a breath. „Josh…“

„I know. You told me you’re no good at relationships. Neither am I. But it’s different with us, Grace. There’s something special here that I don’t want to lose.“

„I feel it, too. But…“ The question she was about to ask died abruptly on her lips when she saw the fierce look in his eyes. „Oh, hold me, Josh.“

Suddenly the midnight snack was forgotten as they took each other with all the force of a hurricane.

Grace’s head was pillowed on Josh’s chest. She awoke to the strong, steady beat of his heart and thought it the most wonderful music in the world. When she opened her eyes, she found him watching her with a look of such intensity, it had her breath hitching in her throat.

„Good morning.“

He brushed a hand over her cheek. „Morning, sleepyhead.“

She actually felt herself blushing. „Have you been watching me sleep?“

„Yeah. Did you know that you wiggle your nose while you’re sleeping?“

„I do not.“ She started to sit up but his arm was around her, holding her close.

„I know what I saw. Don’t worry. You looked sweet while you were doing it. And I promise to tell no one. It’ll be our little secret.“ He kissed the tip of her nose. „In fact, I consider it a real turn-on.“

„After the night we’ve put in, you probably consider breathing a turn-on.“

„Depends on who’s doing the breathing.“ There was mat grin again, sending her heart into a series of somersaults. „There’s a fantastic sunrise outside our window. Want to walk to the dock and watch it?“

Even before she could respond, Barnaby walked to the door and stood waiting.

„Is he a mind reader?“ Josh held out his hand and helped Grace to her feet.

Within minutes they’d dressed and were padding barefoot along the dock, with Barnaby racing ahead.

„Oh, look at that.“ Grace pointed to the bright orange ball of sun on the horizon that seemed to be rising directly out of the lake.

„I wonder what the ancient people thought of that?“ Josh kept her hand tucked firmly in his.

„It would be easy to believe the sun slept in me lake after dark.“

He nodded. „Along with the spirits.“

Her head swiveled to study him closely. „Does this mean you’ve decided not to believe Wyatt Eagle’s tale?“

He shrugged. „I’m sure he believes it. But now that I’ve had some time to think it through, I’m not so sure.“

„What about the ghost you saw?“

He grinned. „Ghost? You mean that wisp of fog that blew in and spooked me?“

„Do you honestly believe it was fog?“

„I don’t know what I believe anymore. Not that it matters.“

„It matters to me. What about my photo shoot of the dancing light?“

„You came here hoping to find something mystical. I think what we’ve found together is mystical enough. No harm in getting some shots of starlight on the water though. Now that the countryside is alive with color, at least you’ll have some breathtaking pictures.“

While Grace mulled his words, they stood watching until the sun had completely risen above the water. Then, almost reluctantly they turned toward the cabin.

„Time to return Bamaby to his owner.“ Josh pointed toward their jackets. „We’d better bring those along, just in case there’s another sudden change in the weather.“

„Good idea.“ Grace picked up her jacket and followed him out the door.

Once outside, the big yellow dog trotted eagerly ahead of them, leading the way along a well-worn path through the forest.

They traveled for more than a mile before spotting a rustic cabin up ahead, almost hidden under a canopy of lush forest.

„There it is.“ Grace pointed, and they hurried to catch up with the dog, bounding ahead of them.

Josh caught her hand and helped her over a fallen log. „Looks like Barnaby is aware that he’s almost home.“

As they stepped into a clearing, they stared in surprise. Instead of the snug retreat they’d been expecting to see, this cabin looked deserted. The door was hanging by one rusted hinge. As they climbed the steps, Josh held up a hand.