Vivian Arend: Rocky Mountain Haven

“God, you’re driving me mad.” He rolled the sensitive tip between thumb and forefinger and a piercing flash shot straight between her legs.

“More.” Beth ached. It wasn’t enough to have confirmation she could be touched. She wanted to come, and she wanted Daniel to be the one who brought her over the peak. It had been too long, and something in this man made her think he’d understand if she told him what she truly needed. Why.

“Get a room!”

Laughter burst behind them. Daniel twisted, covering her with his body, protecting her from the giggling girls exiting the bathroom and traipsing back onto the dance floor.

A cold flush descended. What was she thinking? Groping in a hallway with a stranger. All the passion she’d felt, the sense of being truly alive, drained away like air from a balloon. She struggled upright and fumbled to put herself back in order—her bra, her blouse. He helped, his hands remaining careful and slow, redoing the buttons that had slipped open, tucking her hair behind her ear.

“Beth. Don’t. Don’t start thinking this was a mistake.”

She glanced up in astonishment. “How did you…?”

He brushed a hand over her cheek and she stilled again, her skin burning hot. “Your only mistake was thinking a short encounter in a back hall would be enough. I’m not that type.” He shook his head, his eyes fixed on hers. “I don’t think you’re that type either. Not really.”

She hesitated, then nodded with reluctance. He deserved that much honesty. It was all she was willing to give.

“Let me get to know you better. We’ve got the chemistry. I’d like to find out who you are when you’re not trying to be someone else.”

Every word drove another nail into her guilty conscious. “Sure. Let’s go back to the table. Darleen must be wondering where I am.”

He kissed her once more and she took it eagerly. Trying to store up the memory of his taste, the way he tugged his fingers through her hair just right. None of the fear she’d expected was there. When he drew back, she had to fight to keep tears from falling. He had no idea, but he’d helped remind her she was free. Samuel had tied her in knots, and Daniel had cut some of the remaining cords that held her bound.

They headed to the table, but their previous space was filled with strangers. Beth spotted Darleen waiting beside the bar door, wearing a frown so deep it was almost comical.

“Shoot. Looks like there was trouble in paradise.”

Daniel pointed to the far side of the room where Jesse and Joel tossed back beers at the long bar counter. “Double shoot. Jackasses. I’ll whoop their butts if they—”

She shook her head. “Knowing Dar, it’s just as easily her fault. It’s only a night out on the town.”

He turned her in his arms. “It’s more than a night on the town for me. I like you, Beth. There’s something about you…”

His gaze traced her hair and she flushed. She hadn’t intended the evening to finish this way.

Daniel pulled out his wallet and handed her a card. “It’s for the family business, but my contact numbers are on there. You can email me, or phone.” He handed her an extra card. “Write your number on the back for me.”

He pulled her close, and she used his chest as a solid base to scribble her name. Beth Jackson. Jotted down a number. He took the card and tucked it away, his dark gaze burning a hole in her conscience. “I’ll call you a cab.”

She held up a hand, refusing his offer. “We have a car. We’re fine.”

Dar flounced out the door and Beth rolled her eyes. With the rest of her dilemmas, she had no energy to deal with her temperamental little sister. She took one last look at her cowboy, wishing things could be different.

“Thanks, Daniel. It was great meeting you.”

He brushed her cheek with a kiss. “I’ll call you in the morning. I’d love to take you for coffee.”

She smiled and stepped away, the relentless noise and the situation making her head and heart hurt. “That would be great,” she lied.

The cool night air brushed her face, refreshing after the heat of the bar, and she sucked in a calming breath. Dar brought the car around, and Beth manoeuvred herself into the passenger seat, the leg brace frustrating and cumbersome.

“Where the hell were you?” Darleen griped. “I’ve been wanting to leave forever.”

Beth dropped her head against the rest and groaned. She was sexually frustrated, her leg ached, and she really didn’t want to listen to whining right now. “I thought you were busy. With two guys.”

Darleen had the grace to look embarrassed. “Yeah, well, they were nice enough. Then one of the Stampeders asked me to dance. I mean, one of the linebackers from the professional football team? I had to say yes, and when I got back, the guys had left.”

Stupid child.

“You went and danced with someone else and expected them to wait for you?” Darleen didn’t say anything. Beth rolled down her window and let the sounds of the city streets soothe her soul. “Can’t have it all, girl.”

Darleen flicked a hand in her direction. “Whatever. It was still fun, I guess. How about you? Their older brother was hot. Did you hit it off with him?”

A lingering pulse beat between her legs. Did they hit it off? Oh sweet Jesus. “Yes.”

“You going to see him again?”

Beth stared at the card he’d given her. She’d been clutching it like a lifeline. The dark expression in Daniel’s eyes scared her yet gave her hope, and for one moment she hesitated.

No. It was time for a total break. She tore the card into tiny little pieces so she wasn’t tempted to try and recover the numbers. “Nope. I’m leaving town with the boys in two weeks. Making a new start, and I don’t need any baggage in the shape of male stalkers, thanks very much. Been there, burnt the T-shirt.”

“Guys aren’t all like Samuel, you know. There are good ones out there.”

Was Daniel one of the good ones? Beth dropped the scraps into the trash bag and adjusted her leg. “Enough. I want to go home. Mom’s bringing the boys back in the morning, so it’s not as if we can sleep in.”

She stared out the window and wished more than anything Daniel were the one taking her home and tucking her into bed.

Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, August

“What do you mean I can’t get keys to the apartment? I’ve got one week to settle in before school starts. I need the key.”

The owner of her rental complex leaned back on his beat-up truck and shrugged in slow motion. Beth wanted to scream. She wanted to kick something. Most of all she wanted to start unloading the boxes she’d brought with her from Calgary before she completely ran out of steam. Her boys had crawled into the front seat of the moving van, three sets of eyes gazing down as they waited in silence.

“Sorry, ma’am, but see, that’s what I’m trying to tell you. There was a fire a couple of nights ago. Far end of the complex, but the fire marshal shut down the whole place until the wiring can be inspected.”

She tapped her good foot. If he would talk a little faster, the conversation might be done by the end of the weekend. “Are there any other apartments for rent in town?”

A slow shift of the shoulders. “There were. Until yesterday. All the other occupants of the apartment house had to find alternative arrangements too. I think just about everything available got snapped up.”

The throbbing in her temples couldn’t be good. She rubbed her fingers against her forehead. Now what? Head back to Calgary and beg her parents to let her stay with them again? Drive three hours twice every day to get to school once her teaching position began?