Chapter 10

Dean took a moment to simply enjoy the feel of her against him. He'd forgotten just how well she fit in his arms. "I didn't mean to make you cry," he finally whispered against her hair.

Much to his disappointment she pulled back but still managed a small smile as she looked up at him. "They're tears of happiness," she replied.

So she was happy to see him. That little admission sent joy coursing through system. He'd been a bit concerned about showing up unannounced and intruding on her personal crisis. In fact from the moment his plane landed, he'd began to question the wiseness of his decision to come. He'd then debated with himself during the entire hour and half drive from the airport to her house, making good arguments on both sides of the coin. Knowing she was glad to see him removed his remaining doubt.

Still, seeing her cry, even if they were tears of happiness made him uncomfortable. He lifted a hand to her face and wiped the moisture from her cheek with his thumb. "No more tears."

Her hand came up to cover his, stilling his motion. For several seconds she stared at him, as the air in the room changed, growing heavier with emotion. The sudden need to taste her lips overwhelmed him. It was a totally inappropriate move considering his unannounced arrival and the overall situation. Still, he'd never been one to follow etiquette or do what was right. Gauging her reactions, he moved slowly as he closed the distance between them. His heart did a little flip in his chest when instead of pulling away she turned her face toward him. "No more tears," he whispered again a split second before his mouth came down over hers.

Her body went pliant in his arms as he gathered her close a second time. A whimper escaped her, but she didn't pull away, didn't show any signs of fear he'd seen before. Instead she slipped one arm around his neck then lifted her other hand to his face, her fingers feathering over his cheek as she turned her head to the side. Her lips parted in invitation and he accepted, delving in, taking the kiss deeper until he thought he just might drown.

God he hadn't realized just how much he missed this, how much he'd missed her. How in the hell had he allowed himself to get attached so quickly? Normally, whenever he realized a woman was starting to steal his heart he'd end the relationship and move on. Not this time. No, this time he desperately wanted to take what they had to the next level and then on to the next. This time he wouldn't be satisfied until she wore his ring on her finger, until everyone knew to whom she belonged.

Hell! He was getting so far ahead of himself...of where they were right now. As much as he didn't want to, he had to slow down and proceed with caution. The last thing she needed was him adding additional weight of relationship pressures to her already overburdened shoulders. When he finally pulled back he looked down at her and saw something in her eyes he couldn't quite identify staring back.

He took her hand still cradling his face, pulled it away and pressed a kiss to her palm. "So I'm guessing by that kiss, you really are happy to see me."

She smiled despite the tears still trickling down her cheeks. "You have no idea."

"Um Zoey?"

Carla's voice broke through the moment and Zoey turned to look at her future sister-in-law, then she looked back at Dean. Wow! Way to totally lose control Zoey! Had she really just revealed her feelings to him in front of Carla?

"You want to introduce me to your friend?" Carla asked.

Zoey nodded as she quickly gathered her focus. "Um...Carla this is Dean-." She looked back at him, ready to introduce him as her friend only to stop mid-sentence. Somehow in such a short time he'd become so much more to her than just a friend, but was he her boyfriend? Had they reached that stage of placing labels on what they shared? Chickening out she simply proceeded without labeling him as anything. "Dean, this is my brother's girlfriend, Carla."

With a mischievous grin, Carla extended a hand to Dean. "Nice to meet you Dean."

"You too." He shook her hand.

Carla pulled back, tucked her thumbs in her front jean pockets and rocked back on her heels. "So..." She grinned at Zoey then turned her attention back to Dean. "Zoey never told us she had a boyfriend."

Zoey's eyes widened in horror. She'd made a point not to use the B-word only to have Carla interject it into the conversation within the first two minutes of meeting Dean. God! At that moment Zoey would have loved nothing more than to crawl under a rock and hide. She cut her attention to the floor as heat flooded her face. How could Carla go there? Mortified she couldn't bring herself to look at him.

Dean's hand slid beneath Zoey's and he laced his fingers through hers, giving her a gentle squeeze. "I'm sure with everything going on here it probably just slipped her mind," he replied as if he'd expected the comment.

Shock filtered through her as she lifted her head to venture a look at him. He met her gaze and smiled. "Right, honey?"

Thankful for his willingness to play along and not force some long explanation she agreed. "Um...right."

"Well-" Carla waved a dismissive hand. "Regardless, it's nice to meet you. I hope you'll be staying for a while?"

He cut a quick glance at Zoey. "I'll be here for as long as she needs me."

"Great," Carla replied apparently oblivious to the heat now building between Zoey and Dean. "I'm sure with your bad knee lugging your bags in would be hard. I'll get Zane to do it when he gets home from work."

"Thanks," Dean replied even as he continued to stare at Zoey. "I appreciate it."

"No problem. Well...I have dinner to finish." Carla motioned toward the kitchen. "Zoey, you'll need to introduce Dean to mom."

Zoey nodded. "I will."

She waited until Carla was out of earshot then turned back to Dean. "I'm sorry for that boyfriend comment."

"I'm not," Dean replied, as he snagged her by the hip and pulled her against him. Heat flared low in her belly as she pressed a steadying hand against his chest and looked up at him. The look on his face, the desire in his eyes only served to fuel the sudden all-encompassing need coursing through her.

"Good to know," she finally whispered as her brain scrambled to maintain focus. "Especially since you'll now have to play the roll the entire time you're here."

He grinned as he stared down at her. "There's only one problem, sweetheart."

"What's that?" she replied, damn near breathless.

His grin widened as he slowly lowered his mouth to hers. "I won't be playing."