Chapter 17

I can't believe a month ago
I was alone, I didn't know you
I hadn't seen or heard your name
And even now, I'm so amazed
It's like a dream, It's like a rainbow, it's like the rain

"Paul? Can you…….?"

Her voice fell away as Stephanie grimaced and she mouthed her silent apology to Paul who was sitting on the stool talking on his cell phone. His deep laughter at the conversation made her knees lightly tremble and when he smiled softly to acknowledge her presence, she felt that all too familiar fluttering in her chest. It really was just incredible how every little thing about him affected her so deeply. Honestly, she had to have been in serious denial to even think she could have ignored what was happening between them; either that or completely nuts.

Smiling to herself at that thought, Stephanie tucked her brown strands behind her ear as she opened the kitchen drawer and pulled out the small first aid box in the corner. She needed to replace the dressing on her hand after noticing how grubby the other one was while sitting in the hospital and eventually she had torn it off when they got back home. And although she felt a little guilty for leaving her mom alone so early in the evening, she knew there had been no point in staying by her bedside. Not when she was fast asleep with very little chance of waking up before morning. And the doctors had promised to call if there was any change in her condition so really she had no reason to worry. The trouble was though she was in the habit of worrying about her mother and it was hard to switch it off. But tonight, she was going to make the effort. Tonight she was just going to cut loose and enjoy spending some time with Paul.

Selecting a long, thick band aid from the box, Stephanie closed it over and that was when she felt the dressing being tugged from her fingers. She looked up and smiled at Paul who was now holding it.

"Sorry about earlier. I didn't realise you were on a call."

"It's cool. It was just work." he replied as he tore the protective backing off the dressing and reached for her hand. His fingers were lovely and warm as he turned it over inspecting the cut on the palm before placing the band aid carefully over her injury. "I was calling them to let them know I was taking an extra few days vacation."

Stephanie nodded thinking how nice it was to have him take care of her as she watched him press ever so gently down on the corners. "Were they were okay with that?"

"Oh I would say so."

She glanced up to see Paul smiling at her as he loosely clasped her fingers in his, his thumb lightly running over her knuckles.

"See, my boss has been riding my ass for weeks about taking some time off. Apparently I need the break."

"Well you know what they say. All work and no play can make Paul a very dull boy."

The corner of his mouth curved into a slow smirk and Stephanie felt her chest go weak.

"Is that so?"

"Uh huh."

"In that case, maybe you should come and play with me."

She let out a delighted giggle as Paul tugged her hard against him. She could feel his firm heat tightly pressed against her as his big hand swept back her hair from her shoulder and his mouth dropped to the creamy skin of her neck. Her smile faded into a satisfied gasp as he began placing wet open mouthed kisses along the slender column of her throat. Her whole body was a mass of delicious tingles as she succumbed and melted into his touch. God, this man undid her in so many ways it had terrified her at first until she realised the reason why. Quite simply, she was head over heels in love with him and she felt that love all the way to the tips of her fingers, making her come alive.

Stephanie's hand lifted to thread through the strands of his soft blonde hair when they were suddenly interrupted by a loud rumbling sound in the silent kitchen.

"Someone's hungry."

She felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment as she realised the noise had come from her own empty stomach. Paul's brown eyes twinkled back at her as he lifted his head to smile at her. She felt the skin on her neck still prickling with his kisses and she silently cursed herself. Talk about killing a perfect moment.

"When's the last time you ate?" he asked her.

"I'm not sure." she replied as her hand fell away to rest on his hip.

"Steph!"

"I know, I know but it's just been a little crazy that's all what with Mom and everything." she explained and she swallowed thickly as his hand lifted to brush back the hair from her forehead. His concerned brown eyes were watching her carefully and she was touched by how worried he seemed to be. She wasn't used to anyone caring about her like this and she found she liked it. In fact, she liked it a lot and this was something she knew she could quickly get used to and quite happily for the rest of her life.

"Yeah well you not eating won't help anyone now will it?" scolded Paul as he narrowed his eyes in her direction, his lips pressing and rolling together as he stared at her.

He looked so serious and Stephanie felt her lips twitch with her amusement feeling like a child who was being berated after wrongly stepping out of line. "Okay… Dad." she teased.

"Oh I'm not the one who is the parent around here, honey or should I say step-parent."

Her blue eyes widened at the reminder of their situation and a silence fell between them as Paul cleared his throat awkwardly and took a step back, raking his fingers through his hair.

"That wasn't really funny, was it?" he grimaced.

Stephanie quickly shook her head as her nose crinkled up. "I would say not especially considering our recent activities."

She watched his face wince as he licked his lips.

"In that case, how about we agree not to mention it again." suggested Paul.

"Agreed." she nodded.

"Good. So let's go."

"Go where?" asked Stephanie curiously as Paul tugged on her hand and led her through the kitchen.

"You'll find out when we get there."

She rolled her eyes at his cryptic reply but had to bite down on her bottom lip to disguise her smile as she followed him out of the house and to the car.

A few hours later she was sitting on the hood of her silver convertible admiring the full moon that shone brightly and the scattering of stars that seemed to wink at her from the black night sky. It was such a peaceful spot that the only sound was the whispering of the trees in the balmy evening breeze as it blew softly against the rich green leaves.

"It's so beautiful up here." sighed Stephanie as she took a sip from her bottle of beer and turned to Paul who was sitting to her left. He looked so handsome in the pale moonlight with his long blonde strands tucked behind his ears and the ends falling softly over his shoulders. All night she'd been admiring him, unable to take her eyes off him and not quite able to believe that he was really here. And not only that, he wanted to be with her despite the odds. And although she and odds had never really gotten along, with Paul she felt like anything was possible. He gave her hope. He helped her believe that they would find a way to be together. And after tonight, that was what she wanted more than anything; to be with him.

God, it had been so nice just spending time with him. She couldn't remember the last time she'd enjoyed herself like this or been treated so well. Paul had bought her dinner at a restaurant. He'd treated her to ice cream on the pier and held her hand as they took a walk. And when he'd suggested taking a drive instead of going home, she'd jumped at the opportunity not wanting the night to end. Being away from everything else and just being alone with him, she could forget the truth of their situation and just pretend that nothing else mattered. Tonight it was just them. They were Paul and Stephanie; just two people in love.

"What are you smiling about?"

Paul's voice lifted her out of her haze and lightly shaking her head, she shifted on the hood, moving a little closer to him.

"Oh, nothing really. I was just wondering how you found this place, that's all."

Paul's brown eyes seemed to sparkle even more vibrantly at her as he smiled back at her through the shadows.

"I used to come here when I was in high school."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah but it's not what you're thinking." he said, playfully nudging her with his shoulder.

Stephanie lifted her brow curiously as she tucked a wayward strand behind her ear. "And how do you know what I was thinking?"

"It's written all over your pretty face. You think I came here just to make out with girls."

"And did you?" she asked as she watched him take a mouthful of his beer.

As he swallowed, the corner of his mouth lifted and she felt her chest flutter at his cocky smirk.

"Can I plead the fifth?"

"Get out of here." she chuckled, playfully shoving his shoulder.

Her deep laughter carried in the wind and Paul's facial expression softened as he watched her, thinking that in that moment, he had never seen her looking so beautiful and so carefree. It was a sight that warmed his heart. The last couple of days had been tough on Stephanie what with her mother's illness and then of course there was her internal battle with her conscious.

See, he wasn't stupid. He knew Stephanie felt a tremendous amount of guilt over the whole situation with his father and the money he provided for her mother's treatment. And he understood that guilt. In fact, it was the mainly reason why he had tried to leave today. He knew how torn up Stephanie was about the whole thing and he hated seeing her so conflicted. God knows she had enough to cope with without dealing with that.

Still, he couldn't stay away. He couldn't leave the one woman who had touched his soul so deeply he knew he couldn't just walk away from her. He loved Stephanie. He loved her so much he was prepared to risk it all and find some way to work this out. There just had to be some sort of solution to all of this because facing the alternative just didn't bear thinking about. Living without Stephanie wasn't an option for him. Not any more.

So that left him with no other choice. He had to find a way to fix this mess – but it wasn't going to be tonight. Tonight had been close to perfect and he wasn't going to spoil it. Not for him and especially not for Stephanie. God knows she deserved some time to just enjoy herself and he was going to make sure that she did exactly that.

"But you know it's a pity."

Paul's brow crinkled with curiosity. "What is?"

"Well I'm starting to think that the reason you brought me to this place isn't the reason I was hoping for."

"It's not?"

"Nope."

Paul's brown eyes flickered with his desire as Stephanie's hand curled over his thigh and travelled slowly upwards as she watched him intently, her ocean blue pools pulling him in.

"So what exactly were you hoping for?" he asked.

"Well I was hoping I could come over there……"

Stephanie placed down her bottle of beer and she shifted over the hood. In one quick movement she had straddled him and a slow smile traced Paul's lips as her slender arms lifted to wrap around his neck. Her perfume was intoxicating and he breathed her in deeply as she tilted her head to his ear.

"And I could kiss you." she whispered softly.

Her lips brushed over his lobe and Paul's big hands cupped her ass pulling her closer to him as Stephanie's mouth trailed over his jaw and captured his own mouth in a kiss. Her hot tongue traced his lips and he parted them open inviting her in. As they explored and tasted one another, his right hand skimmed up over her back, reaching into her hair and loosely clutching the soft brown strands as he kissed her passionately. Yet there was nothing urgent in his embrace. He kissed her slowly and deeply like they had all the time in the world and Paul liked to believe they did. Because right here and right now, no-one else existed. Nothing else mattered except for Stephanie. She was the woman he loved. She was the beat of his heart and it was a heart that had only come alive the second he found her. It was like it had been waiting for her all this time and now that he had her, he sure as hell wasn't letting her go.