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Chapter 15

Lane

My stomach was turning, but I’d never been more sure of anything in my life.

I tucked Remy into bed and told my mother good night. Then I headed back to the living room, where Jo was waiting for me.

“Are you sure?” I asked her again. “We can postpone this.”

Jo shook her head. “I’ve been ready for a while,” she murmured, raising her hand to me.

I took it. How could I not? I sat beside her on the couch and ran my thumb over her pretty little fingernails. I’d dreamed of these nails more than once scraping down my sides or through my hair.

I ran my fingers up her arm. Her skin was so soft, the golden hairs so light. A shiver raced through her, and I grinned. If she was this responsive to me just touching her arm…

“You know, we’ve been together several weeks now,” she murmured, her eyes luminous in the light, “and I didn’t think we’d ever get here. You’ve been a little cagey about moving forward.”

I winced. I had hoped she hadn’t noticed. “I know I have,” I sighed. “I hesitate to bring up my late wife.”

“Why,” Jo asked, her brow furrowing. “She was a huge part of your life. You can’t erase your history.”

Something eased in me at her words. I scanned her expression, and she seemed heartfelt. I nodded. “Holly and I were together a long time. It’s been hard thinking about moving on. But it hasn’t been hard thinking about moving on with you.”

Her smile deepened, and she reached out to run her fingers along the buttons of my shirt. “Well, it doesn’t have to happen tonight. I’m not in a rush.”

The thought of NOT making love tonight rocked me back, and it made me realize how much I was looking forward to this. I maybe hadn’t expected it tonight, exactly, but Remy had set it up perfectly.

Plus, there was a glimmer of disappointment in Jo’s beautiful eyes. My conviction firmed. I cupped my hand over hers. “I feel like tonight is the perfect time.”

A smile slid into her eyes, then across her beautiful mouth, and I had to kiss her. Then her hand cupped my neck. Her fingers teased my skin, and I was a goner.

Tugging her up from the couch, I let her down the hallway into the bedroom. Luckily, the master was on the opposite side of the house from the other bedrooms. There was no chance my mother or daughter would hear anything out of line.

Jo kicked her shoes off just inside the door. I glanced around. I must have thought something might happen because the room was fairly tidy.

Jo was looking around as well. “What a nice room. Do you mind if I use the bathroom?”

“No,” I said. “Right through there.”

I watched her slip into the bathroom and close the door, and I was reminded of how intimate it was to be with someone again. To have someone in your space. I glanced around. There was one photo of Holly and me standing on top of a rock outcropping in Yellowstone. Should I hide it?

No. Jo didn’t seem threatened by my previous relationship, so I would leave it on the bookshelf. If she asked about it, I could move it.

I crossed to the nightstand and pulled out the drawer. I’d bought a box of condoms last time I went to Denver, and I was so glad I had. We would have been scrambling if I hadn’t. We’d talked about kids, but I didn’t think she was ready just yet.

My mind was whirling with chaotic thoughts and I sat on the end of the bed, breathing deeply. This was an important night. Normally, I was the steady one in the crowd, but my nerves were singing right now. My heart threatened to thud out of my chest.

Then Jo walked out of the bathroom, and the anxiety faded away. The soft light from the lamp lit her in a way that took my breath away. She was stunningly beautiful, and I was honored that she’d chosen to be with me.

When I didn’t say anything, she dropped her head, as if looking for courage. Then, very slowly, she reached for the bow tie at the side of her wrap dress. With finger and thumb, she tugged one loop free, and the dress started to slide open.

I was across the room in seconds. My hands went to the sides of the dress and I cupped her hips, looking down into her eyes. They were dark with arousal, and my body responded immediately. I’d already been humming with need, but as soon as I saw the dress sliding open, I’d gone hard.

There was a sweet curve to her lips as she looked up at me. “Why did you stop it?”

I winced a little. “Because I want to take my time with you the first time.”

She grinned, and I think she could hear how on the edge I was. She kissed me, then started tugging me toward the bed. Then, in this purely feminine way, she tumbled back onto the bed, her hair spilling around her. Somehow, the dress stayed closed, which made me happy. I wanted to unwrap her like a present.