Long-Lost Mom Read online

  She swallowed hard, but didn’t object when he stepped closer, still holding her hand. He seemed so big, so powerful... so unbearably sexy, and he was doing nothing but looking at her, but it was that look, the one that made her knees weak.

  Anyone could walk by and see them, see the sexual tension flickering between them like electricity. Heat flooded her face, but Stone appeared unconcerned. And he would be, she thought ruefully, for Stone was not a man to worry about what others thought, not as long as he was doing what he felt was right. He’d always been incredibly strong-willed that way. Even coming from the conservative background he had, Stone Cameron had always marched to his own beat, and it appeared he still did.

  Their clothing brushed, clung, and he tipped his head down a bit. “We might as well explore it,” he said huskily.

  As they once had. She remembered so well—too well.

  And suddenly she was there, back in time, back to when Rand Ridgeway had nearly raped her. He would have, if her mother hadn’t come home, but instead of sympathizing, she’d hit Jenna for telling lies.

  Jenna had been in her tree by the beach, high above the ground, crying and holding her aching jaw when Stone had found her.

  He’d come looking for her, just as he always did when she needed him most.

  What’s wrong? he’d asked.

  I’m an awful person.

  No. Never. Tell me what’s wrong.

  She’d refused, but he’d stroked her bruised jaw, his own tight with anger. Shame had filled her, for she knew he would hear soon enough how she had allegedly seduced her mother’s boyfriend. Her own school principal.

  Lies, all of it.

  But no one would believe the words of a troubled angry girl. No one but Stone.

  She remembered he’d whispered her name before brushing lips across hers that first time. She remembered how he’d waited patiently for her to try to shove him out of the tree as she had before, but she didn’t. He’d kissed her again and she’d responded with every inch of her betrayed heart.

  She’d cried and he’d held her, then coaxed her down from the tree. He’d brought her to his house, empty of anyone but them, and there, in his moonlit room, they’d held each other for a long time. She could remember the feel of his strong hands holding her possessively to him. Could remember the low huskiness of his voice as he tried to reassure her. Could remember the taste of him on her lips as their comforting embrace turned into something far more sensual, and soon deeply out of their control.

  They’d touched. Explored. Pleasured. And then touched some more, until Jenna had thought she would die of the wondrous feelings shattering her. They’d fumbled their way out of their clothes, stopping for long involved kisses that had left her panting and crying for more.

  Then they’d made sweet powerful love, using protection that had gone with the rest of Jenna’s luck and failed. Still, no man in her life since had ever compared to Stone, and no man could. As a result, her heart had forever belonged to him and the lovely product of their passion—Sara.

  “Cindy.”

  Jenna winced at that now, the use of the awful fake name she’d given. She couldn’t do this, couldn’t continue the lie. “Stone,” she whispered, coming to the impossibly difficult decision. “Oh, Stone.”

  “Daddy, Daddy!”

  Oh, how Jenna wanted to tell him. The lie was eating at her. But not like this was all she could think, not with their daughter barreling toward them.

  Stone glanced at the child heading his way, then back at her. “I’m sorry, Cindy. I didn’t realize how late it was.”

  “Don’t apologize for being a great dad.” She hesitated, torn between disappointment and eagerness to learn all she could about Sara. Her curiosity about her little girl was killing her.

  “She gets dropped off here.” Stone again turned to Sara, who was nearly upon them now, book bag flying out behind her, hair tangled, sweater off one arm, a blissful expression on her face—all because she’d seen her father.

  Jenna knew exactly how the girl felt. What she herself would give to be able to so freely show it!

  Without hesitation Sara flung herself into Stone’s arms, laughing and squealing as he easily caught her up against him.

  “Hey, princess.” He hugged her tight, and as he did, his expression lost most of its intensity, switching into easy loving father mode.

  Jenna watched the two of them, her stomach twisting uncomfortably with... Oh, God, it was jealousy of Stone, for having Sara’s unconditional love. Jealousy of Sara, for being able to put that happy carefree expression on Stone’s face with just her presence.

  What kind of monster was she to feel such jealousy of these people who deserved so much more?

  “How was your spelling test?” Stone set Sara down. When she didn’t answer, he tugged on a hopelessly mussed lock of dark hair.

  “Fine,” she muttered.

  “Sara.”

  Jenna smiled through the pain in her chest as she pictured what life for these two must be like. Laughter, understanding and togetherness were important. She could see that hair grooming—for both of them, she decided as she glanced at Stone’s slightly too long, also wild hair—was a low priority.

  But apparently love topped that list, and that was all that mattered. How had she ever imagined she could live without this? Without them?

  “How good is ‘fine’?” Stone asked Sara.

  “I got an A-, because I missed one. But don’t worry,” Sara was quick to add. “I didn’t stick my tongue out behind Ms. Miller’s back like last time.”

  “Good decision, and great job.”

  “I didn’t wanna have to write my name on the board.” The girl looked at Cindy speculatively. “Hi.”

  “Hello, Sara.” Jenna could hardly breathe. The child looked so good, so healthy, so absolutely perfect. “How are you?” she asked when, in fact, she wanted to know much more than that. Do you like ice cream? Do you love the rain? Do you play with a Barbie?

  Are you happy?

  Is your life as perfect as it can be?

  Do you miss me?

  So many questions, none of which would satisfy Jenna’s insatiable need to know everything.

  “Why are you here?” the little girl asked directly.

  “Sara,” Stone said quietly. “That’s rude.”

  “Well, it’s not pizza night, Daddy. There’s not even a game today. Why is she at your office?”

  Ah, Jenna thought. Jealousy was a two-way street. It was one thing when Sara invited Jenna to have pizza with the entire town present. It was another thing entirely for Jenna to show interest in her father, for Sara clearly believed Stone belonged exclusively to her.

  And didn’t he?

  For as Jenna could see all too well, Sara had no intention of sharing him. It made her smile, this show of fierce possessive love.

  But it made her ache, too, for she was beginning to understand fierce, possessive love. She was feeling it for Sara, a girl she hardly knew, all because that girl was her daughter.

  “Actually, this is my office.” Jenna pointed her front door out to Sara, a door still empty of a sign. “I’m opening a business here.”

  Sara looked decidedly not thrilled. “Oh?”

  Jenna had once been the Queen of Attitude herself, so she understood perfectly. And seeing the first flash of herself in her daughter was an unspeakable thrill. “A temp business, which means I help people find work.”

  “But this is where my Daddy works.”

  “Yes, a few doors down. And it will be where I work, too.”

  All friendliness died in Sara’s eyes. “Oh,” she said again, a wealth of information in that one syllable.

  Stone took Sara’s hand. “Excuse us,” he said to Jenna. “We need to have a chat, then do some homework.”

  Jenna saw the firmness of his jaw, knew he was unhappy with Sara for being what he considered rude. She opened her mouth, wanting to protest, naturally coming to her daughter’s defense.