She lowered her eyes and nodded, but didn’t say anything.
“What does that mean?”
“I didn’t feel pressured. You gave me an out, but I didn’t want it.” Johnny pulled her closer and she tucked her head under his chin. “But you are kind of screwing up my plan, you know.”
“Your plan?”
“Yes, my ‘concentrate on my kids and career only’ plan.”
“Sorry ‘bout that,” he said not bothering to sound sincere. “Maybe you need another plan that includes me.” He withdrew from the embrace, wanting to face her. “Ali, I’m not looking for a…” Shit. He rubbed his face and met her eyes again, not sure how to say what he needed to say without insulting her. “I don’t want this to be another one-night thing.”
“Johnny, I don’t either, but you need to understand my position here.”
He nodded, because regardless of what she said, he had pressured her. The least he could do was slow down a little and give her some space to get used to the idea. “I will try to understand.”
“I can’t jump in with both feet.”
“I know, sweetheart. I won’t pressure you. We’ll go slow…but just…stop acting like you don’t care. I don’t like that.”
“I care very much,” she whispered, running her fingers through his hair. “I’m sorry if I made you feel insignificant.”
They grew silent and he thought about what she’d said, realizing that he’d had a much longer time to get used to the idea of them together than she had. He knew the minute he’d decided to move that he’d be with her, but she’d been bombarded with his reappearance only a few days ago.
She sighed and the satiated expression on her face made him hard again. “I’m thirsty,” she whispered.
“And I left my beer downstairs.”
Ali laughed and the sweet sound made him smile. She rolled away so he could get up. He tugged the sheet and wrapped himself up, leaving her uncovered and naked.
“Sheet thief,” she said looking him up and down.
Johnny grabbed the robe draped over the chair and threw it to her.
In the kitchen, he picked up his unopened beer to replace it with a cold one. “What would you like?” he asked as he leaned into the fridge.
“After all that champagne, I think I should stick with water.” He grabbed a bottle of water and closed the fridge. When he turned, Ali was leaning against the counter watching him with a wide smile.
“What are you grinning about?”
“You’re mighty handsome in my purple sheets.” She giggled and her smile made him want to take her right there in the kitchen.
He threw the corner of the sheet over his shoulder. “Just call it a toga party, sweetheart.” He handed her the water then wrapped his free hand around her waist and pulled her to him. “You’re mama isn’t going to come in here and catch me in your sheet is she?”
“No, she’s keeping Micah overnight.”
“Oh, too bad.”
“Do you want my mother to find you naked in my kitchen?”
“No, silly, too bad about Micah.”
“Oh yeah…it’s really going to suck being able to sleep through the night.”
“What gave you the impression I’m gonna let you sleep?” He took her mouth and slid his tongue between her lips. She moaned as the water bottle slipped from her hand. “Ow,” Johnny said with a clenched jaw, lifting his foot and shaking it.
“Oops sorry.” Ali snickered as he leaned over and retrieved the bottle for her.
“It’s all right,” he said handing her the bottle. “Let’s go back to bed.” Snatching up her hand, he tugged her back toward the bedroom.
“Wait,” she said at the foot of the stairs. She walked over and held down the ‘stay’ mode of the alarm system until it beeped.
When they were back in her bedroom, Johnny stripped her of the robe and they wrapped up in the sheet together. The closeness and the touch of her bare skin had his blood heating again.
“Thank you for being here,” she said into the silence.
“There is no place I’d rather be.” He tried to focus on her face in the dark. “You’re not going to kick me out tonight, are you?”
“Not on your life. Unless you would rather we stay at your place.”
“I don’t own a bed yet, remember.”
“Right—why did Sarah take the bed? Mark has a huge bed.”
Johnny frowned, the reminder of Mark and Ali in bed together irritating him. “She had an antique bedroom set that belonged to her grandmother. She’s using it for their guest bedroom—and I don’t want to think about you in Mark’s huge bed, thank you very much.”
“Then don’t. I’ve never slept in that bed. He bought a new one after I moved out.”
“How about—I don’t want to think about you in any bed with Mark,” he growled.
“Okay, subject change. What are you doing tomorrow? Want to go shopping for a new bed?”
“If I get a bed…” He gave her a sly smile. “Will you occasionally sleep in it with me?”
Ali laughed. “Yeah—I’m sure you’d love to have my screaming baby keeping you up all night.”
“He can sleep over anytime he wants.” Johnny traced her lips with the tip of his finger. “I love being with you and Micah…and Jamie too.”
“You don’t have to say that, you already got me in bed.”
Johnny cleared his throat, trying to keep his tone light, but feeling her comment more than he wanted to admit. “That wasn’t a line, Ali.”
She stiffened next to him and rubbed her hand up and down his chest. “I’m sorry…that wasn’t meant the way it sounded.”
“Do you believe that’s the only reason I’m here?”
“I don’t know. You could be with any woman you wanted…why would you be here with me.”
“Why would I be with any other woman when I can have you? I remember the first time I laid eyes on you.”
“I remember too,” she whispered.
“You have no reason to trust me.” He kissed her lightly. “But soon you’ll realize that I’m never going to let you down.”
“What about trusting me? With my history what makes you so sure of me?”
“I wish you would stop being so down on yourself.”
Her eyes darkened and that pissed him off. “You’re a good person and a terrific mother.” He pinched her nose, hoping to get a smile, but she just stared at him as if he had told her a dirty joke. “Repeat that,” he said. “I want to hear you say that out loud.”
“What?”
“Repeat after me ‘I’m a good person and a terrific mother’.”
Ali shook her head and lowered her eyes from his.
“Yes…say it. ‘I’m a good person and a terrific mother’.” Johnny couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Her eyes watered. He had made her cry with a compliment. “Are you crying?”
“No…stop,” she said, her voice wavering.
“You stop—say it now!” His voice was elevated and he was squeezing her. “You made some mistakes—don’t let those mistakes define who you are.”
Tears spilled over her lids. It was the first time he’d seen her cry. After everything she’d been through over the past few months and everything she had faced that day with Carl, she had held back the tears and stood strong. It killed him that this single act of admitting she was a good person would break her. “Say it, sweetheart.”
“I can’t say that and you don’t know me well enough to say it either.”
“You’re wrong! I know you as well as I know myself.” Johnny tangled his hand in her long hair and gave it a tug, pulling her head back so he could see her face fully. “Say it, Ali.” He gritted his teeth, all the tenderness gone from his voice.
“Say it now!”
Ali squeezed her eyes shut and sobbed out, “I’m a good person and a terrific mother.” Johnny covered her mouth with his, devouring her as her chest heaved with her sobs.
“It’s true…damn it…Ali.” Johnny grated out as she settled into his kiss.
She tried to shake her head and disagree, but he held her in place with his hand still tangled in her hair. His other hand moving down her body and slipping between her legs, massaging her until she moved with him and toward him. “Damn you,” Johnny said through gritted teeth again, pressing against her. “You’re driving me crazy.”
“—Johnny,” she cried out, arching off the bed, seeking more of his touch.
“That’s right…sweet, goddamn, beautiful person and a mother to be envied. Every single person in your life is blessed to have you…I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you.”
He kissed her again as she squirmed under him, pushing against him. When she tensed and shuddered, he slipped inside her. She clenched his shoulders, her nails piercing his skin, as her body lifted higher, meeting his and taking more of him.
Chapter Eight
Johnny woke up to the sound of a blaring alarm that made him jump out of his skin. He looked around to Ali, who sat up too, with stark fear on her face.
“Is that the fire alarm?” Johnny shouted.
“The burglar alarm.”
“Oh shit!” He vaulted out of bed and grabbed his jeans, his eyes scanning the room, from the window, to closet, to closed door. “Do you have a gun?”
Ali scrambled out of bed, not bothering to throw any clothes on. She rushed into her closet and came out a moment later carrying a snubnose .38 revolver.
“Is it loaded?”
“Yes, full round.”
“What’s the code for the alarm?”
“Zero four zero eight,” she said loud in his ear.
“Keep that, close the door and lock it behind me.” He turned and walked out of the bedroom, but she grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
“No! You take the gun.”
He shook his head and reached for the door handle. “Lock this, okay.”
Ali thrust the gun into his hand, pushed him out and closed the door before he could hand it back. Johnny cursed under his breath and tried the knob.
“Ali?” She didn’t answer. “Damn it to hell, woman.” He turned and went from room to room, checking one at a time, keeping an eye on her bedroom door. He didn’t like leaving her unprotected.
When he got to the bottom of the stairs, he stopped and held the gun pointed and steady. The front door was ajar.
His eyes darted from the front door, to the living room entry, to the dining room. There were no signs of movement. He stepped to the alarm pad and punched in the code. The blaring, high pitch screech stopped and he held still, listening for noise. When the phone rang, he shifted and pointed the gun toward the living room.
Ali dove across the bed to reach the phone. “Seth,” she shouted it just as the alarm went silent.
“Password?” Seth said through the line.
“Seth, I think someone is in the house.” Now she was trying to whisper.
“Safe password, Ali!”
“Monopoly,” she said.
“Are you okay?”
“I don’t know. I was sleeping when the alarm sounded.”
“Where are you?”
“Locked in my bedroom”
“I’ve called the police. They’ll be there in a few minutes. Do you have a weapon?”
“I’m not alone. Johnny Bennett is here with me, he’s downstairs with my gun, checking out the house.”
“Hold the line, I have to let the cops know someone is with you—don’t hang up.”
Ali waited for a few seconds and she could hear the police sirens as they approached the house.
“Ali?”
“Yes,”
“You still okay?” Seth said coming back on the line.
“Yeah, fine.”
“Okay, don’t hang up until I tell you, hold the line,” Seth said.
The flashing lights from the police cruisers glared into her bedroom window, blinking red and blue like a strobe against her half open curtains. She quickly pulled on some jeans and a t-shirt while she waited for Seth.
“The cops are outside talking to Bennett. You should stay locked in your room until they check out the house or until he comes to get you. Where are the kids? Are they locked in the room with you?”
“No, Jamie went with Mark and Sarah, Micah is at my mother’s.” When a knock sounded at the door, she stiffened and whispered, “Someone’s knocking on the door.”
“Don’t move until they identify themselves. It’s Officer Reed or Bailey.”
“Ali…” Johnny called through the door crack. “Are you okay in there?”
“It’s Johnny,” she said into the phone, moving toward the door.
She cracked it open to find Johnny leaning against the doorframe, stress lines digging into his young face.
“Call me when you’re ready to reset the alarm,” Seth said.
“I will, thanks, Seth.” She hung up and pulled the door all the way open. “Was someone in the house?”
He nodded. “Yeah.”
“I’m glad you were here,” she said, her voice broken from the relief.
His glare softened before he took her hand and pulled her closer. Johnny cradled her head to his chest and took a deep breath. “Me too.”
“Here,” he handed her the gun, “Put this back, but keep it accessible.” Ali took the gun and carried it back to her closet then followed Johnny down the stairs.
Police officers were examining the front and back doors. Ali went to the kitchen and grabbed another bottle of water and drank almost the entire thing.
When she went into the living room, Johnny and the two officers were talking. Right…he’s a cop too. She’d forgotten until she heard that tone…that cold static cop’s voice she’d heard so many times from other men.
God, Ali, you just had sex with a cop. She plopped down onto the sofa and sipped her water. What was she doing with him? As much as she liked him, she hated his profession. Being married to Mark when he was on the force was always so stressful. The nonstop worrying, the late nights, she could never justify it in her mind. The job didn’t seem worth it.
“How you doing, sunshine?” Johnny said, stroking her hair from behind the couch.
She looked up at him and tried to smile. “I’m fine. What’s going on?” She turned and at the same time, Shane entered the front door. “Shane—what are you doing here?” She stood and rounded the couch.
Shane pulled her into a bear hug. “I came to check on you,” he said. “Where’s the baby, is he all right?”
“He’s with Mother,” she stuttered, fighting to hide her surprise.
He pulled out of the hug, his eyes traveling her face and neck. He grinned and nodded. “Hum…nice.”
Ali frowned not sure what he meant, but said, “You didn’t have to come over. I’m fine.”
“I’m going to change the locks. Were there any broken windows?” he asked, looking at Johnny.
“No. And I can change the locks,” Johnny said not able to hide the irritation in his voice.
“Um…Johnny, this is Shane. He’s an old friend…from school.”
Johnny nodded and said, “Yeah, and Mark’s number one security agent. We’ve met.”
“I got the locks covered,” Shane said, holding his hand out to shake Johnny’s. “Already got what I need in the truck. No worries.”
When the phone rang Ali snatched it up. “Hello.”
“Ali? You okay?” Mark asked.
“I’m fine. Oh hell, did Seth c
all you too?”
“Of course he did. I’m sending Shane over to change the locks.”
“Yeah, he’s already here. Mark it’s the middle of the night, they didn’t have to bother you on your vacation.”
“Ah, yeah they did. Don’t be stupid. I’d kill Seth if he didn’t call me. I can have Shane stay until Brian can figure out who’s trying to break into your house.”
“Mark! No! I don’t need Shane to stay with me.”
“It’s no big deal. He’s not working a job right now and he’s worried about you too.”
“Mark—damn it! I’m not alone.” She rubbed her forehead trying to push away the headache coming on. The line went quiet and they sat in silence for a full minute before he said anything.
“You’re not alone now or you weren’t alone when someone tried to break into your house?”
“—both,” she said frustrated.
“Oh, okay…” His voice went cold. “Please tell me you’re not there with Carl.”
“Uh—no!” She rolled her eyes. “Johnny Bennett is here.”
“Did you say Johnny Bennett?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“So…Johnny huh—wait.” He chuckled and she heard the smile in his voice when he asked, “Did you two get together at the wedding?”
Ali had to wait for her smile to fade before she answered. “Yes.”
Mark laughed. “Sarah said she thought…why would I ever doubt my wife?” He chuckled again and said, “Okay, well, I guess he’s capable of watching out for you—try not to give him too much trouble.”
“I guess you approve,” she said, not able to hold back her smile this time. She was relieved he didn’t sound hurt.
“He’s a good guy, Ali. I wholeheartedly approve. How’s Micah, I bet that alarm scared the crap out of him.”
“He’s not here. Mother took him for the night.” As she said this, she heard another familiar voice. She turned to see Brian Hammel talking in a circle with Shane and the uniformed officers. “Oh my God…how did Brian find out, did you call him too?”