Page 66 of That One Heartbreak

She practically sprinted to the window.

As soon as she pulled the curtains she could see him standing on the porch below. She opened the window and leaned out.

“What are you doing?” she whispered.

“Hoping you’d be awake.” He gave her the most delicious smile. Before she could say anything else, he launched himself at the wall of the house, his hands grasping onto the drainpipe as he climbed up it like some kind of monkey, his movements so sure it took her breath away. In less than thirty seconds he’d reached her window, his fingers curling around the sill, his feet firmly planted on the brackets of the pipe.

“Can I come in?” He didn’t even sound breathless.

She stepped back, trying so hard not to watch as his thick thighs scissored over the opening of the window, his running shoes landing with a thud on her carpet.

And then, as though he was some kind of polite visitor dropping in for dinner, he took his shoes off and lined them up neatly on the floor.

Her mouth dropped open. “Did you really just climb up to my window like some kind of Romeo on acid?”

“Romeo never climbed up to the balcony,” Marley pointed out. “He just stayed on the ground like an idiot.” He strode up to her, brushing the hair from her face, then kissed her softly. “Hi.”

“Hi.” She felt herself go stupidly weak at the knees. “Do you know I’m thirty-five years old and nobody’s ever climbed through my bedroom window before?”

He grinned and touched his brow with the tip of his fingers. “Happy to be your first, ma’am.”

“I heard the sirens earlier.” She looked him over almost subconsciously, checking for injuries.

“I figured you did. And I might be a little cocky, but I assumed you might want to know I’m okay.”

“I do.” She nodded quickly. “What kind of call out was it?”

“Barn fire. Twenty minutes away.”

“Anybody hurt?” she asked.

“No.” He shook his head. “Had to save some little calves but that was it.”

And now she was picturing him carrying baby cows out of a blazing barn. “I was worried,” she admitted to him. “I didn’t like hearing the sirens.”

He cupped her face with his palm. “I know. And I’m sorry. It must bring back bad memories.” Their eyes caught.

“Not really.” She shook her head. “I was just… I like to know you’re safe.”

He took her hands in his. Pressed them against his face. Then moved them down to his chest, his side, his hips. “I’m okay,” he promised. “No broken bones, no bruises. Just a burned out barn and some homeless baby cows. That’s all that happened.”

This time.She didn’t say it, but it was always there. She didn’t know any relative of a first responder who didn’t think that way.

“Haveyouever climbed into a girl’s room?” she asked him, suddenly curious and wanting to change the subject. She was so aware of how big he felt standing in front of her. She’d designed the room around her own tastes. It was dainty. Pretty. Flowers and soft carpets and more scatter cushions than most men could bear to see.

His lip quirked. “Nope. It’s my first time, too. Be gentle with me.”

“It’s like we’re both going through our teen years together. If it helps, my parents are here to make it even more authentic.”

He laughed. “We’d better be quiet then.”

Her mouth dropped open. “We’re not doingthat.” Though being in his arms was making her body heat up.

“I know.” He winked. “I told you before. The first time isn’t going to be rushed. But teenagers make out, right?”

“Right.”

He brushed his lips against hers. “I very much want to make out with you, Kate.”

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