Home to Stay by Terri Osburn Page A

V-neck collar of her Dempsey’s T-shirt.
    His entire body clenched at the thought of licking that drop off her skin. Son of a bitch, this had not been his intention when he’d returned to the bar. Yes, he’d wanted to talk to Will. To break more ground on getting to know her, making her more comfortable around him. Randy hadn’t expected her to melt in his hands, then look at him with that kind of desire in her blue eyes.
    As if she’d take him right there behind the bar.
    All that from one compliment. One touch. If he ever got more of her, she might burn him alive. There was something exciting about playing with this kind of fire. The adrenaline rush was better than jumping out of a perfectly good airplane.
    “Band-Aid on,” she said, holding up the injured finger but not making eye contact.
    He let her shuffle some papers beside the register, then tear off the tape and fold it neatly before sliding it into a ledger book. Letting her take the lead, he kept quiet, watching her stilted movements. Once she’d run out of busy work, her shoulders rose and fell, as if she’d taken a steadying breath.
    Will turned to face him, stepped up to the bar, and said, “About what just happened…”
    Randy considered apologizing but waited to see what she would say next. He didn’t expect the words that followed.
    “I’m not sure what that was, but it can’t happen again.”
    At least she hadn’t apologized, which meant she wasn’t sorry it happened either. He could work with that. “Why not?”
    Will’s pretty mouth opened, then closed. Opened, then closed again.
    “I can’t think of a reason either,” he said.
    “It would not be good.” Will was shaking her head, still not meeting his eyes. “Definitely not good.”
    On that she was wrong. “It would be better than good. But you’re probably right.”
    What the hell was he saying?
    “There’s too much you don’t know about me.” Blue eyes faded to a deep gray as she held his gaze. “Too much I can’t tell you.”
    “I’m not asking for your secrets, Will.” And he wasn’t. Randy could guess at enough to know he wanted to help her forget whatever kept her so on edge. Take her out of the past, if even for a little while. “It’s been a while for me, that’s all. Maybe too long, judging from how hard it is to sit on this stool right now.”
    He’d planned on complimenting her. Getting to know her a bit. Jumping into bed with her hadn’t been on his immediate list of things to do. Though he was a guy. Sex was always on the list.
    Will looked around as if to make sure no one could hear them. “It’s been a while for me, too.” The blush that colored her cheeks made him want to touch her even more.
    “So we have something in common. Couldn’t hurt to help each other out.” Right now, not following where that brief encounter was leading was the painful part.
    “You make it sound too easy,” she said, doubt and need warring in her eyes. “It can’t be that easy. Not for me.”
    “You’re right,” he said. Of course she was right. She’d only recently begun to relax around him. What the hell was he doing bringing up sex?
    “This won’t make tomorrow awkward at all, will it?” The smile she flashed was unexpected, but encouraging.
    She seemed to be considering the offer, and he enjoyed watching every thought travel across her face. The arguments for and against. What she wanted versus what she feared. When she shook her head while a tiny smiled crept across her lips, he knew which way she was leaning.
    Meeting his eyes, she asked one question. “Why did you stay out here with me instead of going back to the poolroom with your friends?”
    “Because I like you,” he said, going for the truth. “I like the way you look, the way you move. Your confidence and capability. But honestly, because I can’t resist the challenge of trying to wipe that hurt and fear out of your eyes.”
    She didn’t run or flinch or show a hint of anger. All