WhiskeyBottleLover (16 page)

“Okay.”

She walked to the door, put her hand on the knob and
stilled. He didn’t move, simply sat there. Begging wasn’t her thing. If he
wanted to ride with her he would, otherwise he could do his vanishing bit and
follow in silence. Chance jerked open the door, slammed it behind her and
stomped toward her car.

Why the hell was he mad at her? He couldn’t possibly be
sulking because she used a wish to heal him. Why wouldn’t she? She had been up
front about not wanting anything for herself, that any wishes she did make
would be trivial. Then the opportunity to do something good came along and she
took it. God, what an evil bitch.

Chance jerked her car door open, slid behind the wheel and
jumped when Hayes appeared next to her. After her heart rate returned to
normal, she shoved the key into the ignition and started the car. They sat
there in silence as the vehicle warmed up. Should she say something to him?
Make idle chitchat? Hell no. He’s the one with the issue, not her. Let him stew
for as long he needed. No skin off her ass.

The drive toward town seemed to take an eternity. When she
neared the first red light she knew he would do his little vanishing act. Not
today he wouldn’t. Chance put her hand on his thigh—his hard, thick thigh—and
suppressed a shiver.

“Stay put,” she told him.

“People will see me.”

“No kidding. Let them.”

“I don’t understand. The last couple of days you’ve been
worried someone will see me with you.” He didn’t look toward her, only stared
out the window as he spoke.

“Yeah, well, I don’t give a damn right now.” Truth be told,
she could care less about everybody in this town at the moment.

He turned his head and frowned. “Are you sure you’re okay?
Maybe you should talk to your friend Jenny.”

“Jenny isn’t the one I want to talk to. The person I want to
talk to doesn’t seem to give a rat’s ass.” The light turned green and Chance
sped toward the next one.

Hayes grabbed a hold of the dash, bracing himself. When she
hit the brakes to stop for the next light he gave a heavy sigh but said
nothing. Fine.

As she pulled up in front of her shop she glanced over.
Hayes still had his fingers dug into her dash. “You can sit in here or you can
come with me. Your choice.” She all but leapt from the car, slammed the door
and didn’t look back.

When she entered the store she found several couples milling
around, inspecting her wares and murmuring. Normally that would inject a surge
of confidence in her. Not today. God, she didn’t even want to be in here today.

“You’re here early. I didn’t expect you ’til later,” Jenny
said, coming out from behind the counter.

“I popped in to see if you needed anything. I hate to do
this to you, Jenny, but I need some time away. I think I’ll take a drive this
afternoon.”

Worry filled the older woman’s eyes. “That’s fine.” The
small doorbell tinkled, drawing Jenny’s attention toward it. Her eyebrows
lifted. “Well, would you look at that?”

Chance turned her head and saw Hayes standing there with his
hands in his pockets, looking around. Every other woman in the place turned her
head as well. He didn’t notice and she didn’t expect him to. How could a man
who lived two centuries in a bottle understand that his mere presence stole the
female breath?

“What’s bothering you, Chance?” Jenny asked, her frail hand
reaching out and touching her arm. “Did something happen?”

Yes, no, everything, nothing. Right now it all seemed a
jumbled mess. Violent emotions swamped her as she stood there debating whether
to tell Jenny anything. “I can’t, not now, Jenny. I need to think. I need time.
Will you be okay here by yourself?” The need to run pounded at her.

“Of course I will. You take as much time as you need,
honey.”

Chance spared a glance back at Hayes. He hadn’t moved, only
stood there gazing at her with as much worry as Jenny. Too bad that’s all he
could spare for her, a sympathy gaze. Then again, she shouldn’t expect anything
more.

“Is that your young man?”

Chance turned back to Jenny. “Yeah, that’s Hayes.” She tried
for a smile but feared it came across rather sad.

“If he’s done anything to you, hurt you in any way, I’ll
make him wish he hadn’t been born.”

This time Chance gave a genuine smile. She’d never heard
Jenny talk like that, with so much venom in her voice. The woman actually
moved, placing herself protectively between Chance and him.

“He hasn’t hurt me, Jenny. He actually came to my defense at
great cost to himself.”

Jenny turned, raised both eyebrows and waited for an
explanation.

“Maybe I’ll be able to tell you about it tomorrow, right now
I need to get out of here. I’ll try to be back in time to pick you up and take
you home.”

“No need.” Jenny crossed her arms over her chest. “I’ll call
my friend Louie.”

“Louie?” She’d never heard that name before.

“He’s got his eye on me. Maybe tonight I’ll give him a
taste.”

Shock had Chance’s mouth falling open. “Jenny!”

“I’m old, honey, not dead. Go. Do what you need to do. Know
this though. If you need me, I’m only a phone call away.”

“Thank you. You have no idea how much that means to me.”
Chance wrapped the woman in a gentle hug, kissed her cheek and then all but ran
for the door.

Hayes opened it as she approached, letting her rush though
before following behind. More tears wanted to come but she didn’t allow them.
Hell, she didn’t even know why she wanted to cry. There were too many reasons
at the moment.

The rising panic didn’t diminish until she found herself on
a two-lane road in the country. Nothing but fields filled with cows, horses and
sheep. The mountains that surrounded the area were bright with the changing
leaves, the exact reason she loved this time of year. So much color and beauty,
nothing hateful to mar it.

Hayes never said a word, simply admired the scenery. A few
times Chance checked to make sure he hadn’t pulled a disappearing act. It
appeared he’d gotten lost in the beauty of his surroundings, much like her.

“It’s gorgeous, isn’t it?”

“I’d forgotten,” he said with awe in his voice.

“Would you like to take a hike? See it up close and
personal?”

A quick smile spread across his face but vanished in a split
second. “This is your day, Chance. Do what you want.”

She fought the eye roll and made a turn toward the state
park. Fifteen minutes later they were driving beneath full, heavy trees loaded
with vibrant orange and yellow leaves. Chance parked the car in a designated
area and they both got out.

“There’s a trail to follow so we won’t get lost. Come on,
Hayes.”

It didn’t take long for the weight of her troubles to melt
away. How could anyone be unhappy in such a beautiful environment? Chance
leapt, hopped and powered her way up the side of the hill and allowed her legs
to run freely as she headed down the other side.

The smell of the woods, the natural sounds, they were what
she needed today. Hayes kept pace behind her, muttering every once in a while.
In her haste to outrun the troubles following her, she came too close to a
drop-off. Her foot slipped and before she could even screech he had his arm
wrapped around her middle, pulling her close to his body.

“Do me a favor?” he asked, looking down into the ravine
she’d nearly tumbled into. “Take it a little slower.”

“What’ the matter, Hayes? Can’t the old man keep up?” She
pulled away from him, buried the regret of not staying in his arms longer and
continued on her way.

She could hear a babbling brook in the distance and she
wanted to see it. Chance kept moving, her feet slipping on rocks. Occasionally
she got slapped in the face with thin, straggly tree limbs. She didn’t care.
Even the brisk air felt good right now.

As the fast-running stream came into view Hayes grabbed her
hand and jerked her back to him. His fingers stabbed into her hair at the side
of her head. His other arm snaked around her waist. He looked down at her, his
eyes dark and his face tense.

“I may be old but you know damn well how my body works.”

Chance frowned and then smiled. “Why, Hayes, I do believe I
hit a nerve with that comment.” It seemed some things didn’t change as time
progressed. Men still didn’t like being reminded how old they were.

He sighed, leaned down and rested his forehead on hers.
Chance’s heart fluttered at the innocent yet tender contact. When he allowed
himself to feel and didn’t fight it, he was the most romantic, giving man she’d
ever met.

“I’m afraid all my nerves are shot today.”

“I know what you mean.” Chance pulled away, walked the short
distance to the stream and sat on the ground.

Hayes joined her. “I like it here,” he whispered. “Peaceful,
normal.”

“When I was younger and things got to be more than I could
handle, I’d go for long walks. One family that took me in for a while lived in
the country and I’d explore, wandering around in the woods for hours. I always
left a trail I could follow back though.”

“I guess you’ve always been overly intelligent.”

“No,” she chuckled. “Anything but. I just knew that if I
didn’t take care of myself no one else would. I could have been lost for days
in the woods before anyone noticed.”

“I doubt that, Chance.”

“Seriously. The man worked twelve-hour days and the woman,
she spent all her time on the phone and watching television. I quickly
discovered I could do anything I wanted and no one noticed.”

“How do you do it?” he finally asked after long moments of
silence. “How do you look back on all that loneliness and keep a vibrant and
happy outlook?”

Chance leaned back on her elbows and kicked her legs out. “I
learned that nothing good ever lasts, so when I had it good I cherished it,
made every second of it. Why throw away that opportunity, there’s plenty of
time to wallow in misery later.”

Another peaceful jag of time passed. Hayes tossed rocks into
the water. She absorbed the serenity and let it heal those ragged wounds Bill
had inflicted. Some women went shopping for therapy, she ran to places like
this.

“Chance?”

“Yeah?”

“Can we call a truce?” He kicked his legs out, crossed his
feet and leaned back, mimicking her position.

“I don’t know. Can we? I’m not the one pouting.”

He shook his head and chuckled. “I don’t pout.”

“Have it your way.”

“Seriously. I don’t like this awkward silence between us.”

She didn’t either. “Okay, let’s talk. Tell me what’s got
your boxers in a twist.” As if she didn’t know.

“Boxers?”

The curious look on his face made her smile. When she
thought he couldn’t get any better looking, he’d give her another unique
expression, sinking her heart again.

“Boxers, you know, men’s underwear.”

“Oh I don’t wear those.”

Her mouth went dry as her gaze dropped to his groin. She
should know that. She’d stripped him out of his jeans a couple times now.
Suddenly her blood heated knowing thin denim separated them. It also brought
nerve endings to life. How did he keep doing this to her?

“Anyway,” she said with a hoarse, breathy voice. “What’s
wrong?”

“You used a wish on me.”

That’s it. That’s all he said. Irritation flared in the pit
of her stomach. “I get that much. What I don’t get is why it ruffles your
feathers. They are my wishes, right? I get to use them for anything I want,
right?”

“That’s the point. You use them for you, and damn it,” he
snapped, “you have no idea what could have happened. Hell, I didn’t know what
would happen.”

“Now we do. You’re healed, I’m happy.” When he opened his
mouth to protest she shook her head and put out her hand. “You knew exactly
what would happen when you interfered with Bill’s actions and still you chose
to protect me. That’s gold fucking star material in my book.”

His eyes rounded and his jaw went slack at hearing her use the
foul word. It took everything she had to hold onto her irritation and not kiss
that goofy look off his face. Chance drew up her legs as she faced him. “In
fact, I can’t think of a better way to use a wish than to help someone you care
about.”

He turned his face away as if embarrassed by her actually
saying it out loud. “And that’s what this is all about, isn’t it? You keep
warning me not to care, but you know what? It isn’t going to happen so you
might as well deal with it.”

“I don’t want your pity,” he mumbled.

“Good, because I don’t pity you. Do I feel for your
situation? Yes. I also think you’re a remarkable man for not turning bitter and
evil after all these centuries.”

Hayes jumped to his feet, jammed his hands down in his
pockets and strolled toward the stream. Chance closed her eyes with a sigh. She
didn’t feel like arguing about all this right now. Distraction is the reason
she took the day off, and no way in hell would she allow herself to be
sidetracked by his stubbornness. Ready to leave, Chance got to her feet.

Hayes whirled around with that eerie green glow shining in
his eyes along with a whole lot of heat. Chance whimpered out loud as her body
turned into one giant, turned-on muscle. Hayes came toward her, each step
deliberate, as if stalking prey. When he stood in front of her he took her face
in his hands and pressed his lips hard against hers.

“Every time I think I have this under control, you plow
through it,” he grumbled against her mouth, at the same time backing her up.

A tree pressed into her back as he continued to ravage her
mouth, forcing his tongue between her lips. Chance gave as good as she got.
Their tongues slid against each other in a seductive dance. Hayes lowered one
hand, released the snap on her jeans and jerked the zipper down. Before she
knew it he had his hand tucked inside, cupping her wet, hot pussy.