Relief filled Shamus as he opened Cyndi's door again. She stared up at him, confusion on her face. “Patrick said that you can't take the car yet. They're not finished with it."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I should have thought of that."
Patrick surprised him by reaching out and gently touching Cyndi's shoulder as she climbed back out of her car. “It's not surprising you're rattled. It's been a hell of a week or so for you."
"The groceries. Can I get the groceries from the trunk? I have perishables in there."
"I'll bring the truck over and transfer them,” Shamus said when Patrick nodded. As he walked back to his truck, his sister fell into step beside him. “Should I ask what you're doing here?"
"I came to get groceries, and when I saw her car, I stayed to talk to Cynthia.” Dani reached out and placed her hand on his arm.
He stopped beside his truck. “Her name is Cyndi."
"Shamus,” Dani began tentatively.
"No.” He pulled open his truck door as he turned to face his sister. “I don't have time to get into this right now. Cyndi's had a shock and it probably isn't safe for her to be this exposed. Someone wants to drive her away from Jamesville. She's already been physically hurt once, and I don't plan on letting that happen again."
He climbed into the driver's seat, but didn't close the door yet. “Look, if you want to talk later, call me or come out to Cyndi's place."
"She invited me to stop by.” He could sense his sister's bewilderment.
"I keep telling you that Cyndi is a good person. When will you believe me?” His gaze went back to her, and he was satisfied that Patrick was keeping her close. “She could be making a hell of a lot of trouble if she wanted to, demanding I not see any of you. But instead, all she does is worry about my relationship with my family. Think about that."
Dani looked so upset. He reached out and gave her a brief hug. “Everything will work out. Don't worry."
Her arms tightened around him. “Be careful."
"I will.” He released her and she stepped back.
"Love you."
"I love you too, sis.” He closed the door and drove over to park beside Cyndi's car. It only took him two minutes to transfer the groceries and get Cyndi settled into the passenger seat beside him.
As he pulled out of the lot, he glanced in the rearview mirror. Patrick had his arm wrapped around Dani as they both watched his truck until it disappeared from sight.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Both she and Shamus were silent on the ride home from the grocery store. When he parked in front of the house, she slid out of the truck and, before he had time to object, grabbed several grocery sacks, carrying them inside. They worked side by side, putting everything away, neither of them speaking. When that was done, Shamus told the workers to pack up and go home for the day, for which Cyndi was grateful. She just wanted to be alone with him.
Boiling the kettle, she made herself a cup of tea, but it sat untouched on the kitchen counter as she peered out the window. The garden was more barren than when she'd first arrived, many of the leaves were now scattered on the ground. The trees looked desolate and cold. Cyndi shivered, rubbing her hands over her arms for warmth.
Picking up the teacup, she forced herself to take a sip. She wasn't really hungry or thirsty, but recognizing that her body had had a shock, she knew the sweet tea would help.
The front door closed heavily, the sound echoing through the mostly empty house all the way to the kitchen. She could measure how close Shamus was to her by the sound of his footsteps on the hardwood floor. She laid her cup aside and watched the door.
He filled the doorway, his face set like stone as he watched her. She wasn't quite sure what to say. There was a tension between them that hadn't been there before. Cyndi's body began to tremble. She didn't know why she was reacting like this.
Shamus swore and came toward her, scooping her into his arms. “I don't know what's wrong with me.” Even her voice sounded fretful, which wasn't like her at all.
"Shock."
She buried her face against his shoulder, wanting to get closer to him. Shamus was always so warm and she wasn't sure she'd ever feel that way again. Another shiver took her by surprise as he carried her up the stairs and down the hallway.
He set her down on the edge of the bed. “I'm going to run you a hot bath.” He paused to crank up the thermostat before he went into the bathroom.
"Okay.” She stared around the room at nothing when he left. As if she'd had one upset too many, her brain was having a hard time processing everything. She'd been through so much these past weeks.
She'd been shocked when she'd first gotten news of her father's death. Finding out that he'd left everything to her had been overwhelming. The decision to come home to Jamesville and face her past hadn't been an easy one to make, but she'd been determined.
Things hadn't gone quite as she'd planned. Never could she have anticipated a relationship with Shamus O'Rourke or the trouble that would bring to his family. Then there was the discovery of her father's illegal dealings. Add to that the emotional drain of disposing of the contents of the house and the fact that someone out there hated her enough to shoot at her, slash her tires, and send her threatening letters, it wasn't any wonder she'd finally had enough.
Still, she was made of stronger stuff. Forcing herself to stand, she leaned against the bed, supporting herself with one hand as she toed off her sneakers. Methodically, she stripped off her jeans, shirt, and socks, leaving them in a pile on the floor. She wandered into the bathroom just as Shamus was heading back into the bedroom. He said nothing as he stripped off her bra and panties and helped her into the tub.
The hot water swirled around her and she closed her eyes, sighing with pleasure. Heat sank into her stiff muscles, soothing them. Her eyes popped open when the water swirled around her. Hard hands shifted her.
"There's room for two.” Shamus picked her up and arranged her on his lap, his arms adding their warmth to that of the water. When the tub was full, he leaned forward and turned off the taps before settling back against the side.
"About what happened today,” she began, but Shamus cut her off.
"All that matters is that you're home and you're safe.” She could feel the hard length of his erection pressing into her lower back, but his touch was soothing rather than arousing. Still, her body responded to his nearness. Her breasts grew heavy, her nipples tightened, and an ache grew between her thighs.
When he helped her out of the tub twenty minutes later, she was both relaxed and aroused. Shamus patted her dry, dragging the towel across his chest and legs, before lifting her into his arms again, and carrying her into the bedroom. It was if he didn't want to let her go.
Laying her on the bed, he reached into the nightstand and pulled out a condom. Quickly, he sheathed himself and came down on the bed beside her. The air in the room was warm thanks to the fact he'd turned up the heat earlier. Her skin was rosy from the hot bath and the desire pumping through her veins.
There was no foreplay this time. Only raw need. Without preamble, he reached between her thighs and spread the slick lips of her sex wide. With his other hand, he guided his shaft to her opening. Their eyes met and held as he pressed into her. She was hot and ready and took him easily. When he was buried to the hilt, he lifted her legs, draping them over his shoulders and began to thrust, slowly at first, but quickly gaining speed.
He went so deep and felt so large, she wasn't sure she could take him. Yet she did. Easily. Their bodies, in tune with one another, undulated in a dance of passion. Shamus reached between them, stroking her distended clitoris. Cyndi cried out, rolling her hips to meet his thrust.