And Never Say Goodbye: A Town of Destiny Novel Read online

  ***

  In the car, they both yawned, laughing as they caught each other in the act. She leaned her head against the back, feeling his eyes on her. Knowing he still wanted answers from the earlier ride, she pulled out her laptop and avoided him.

  “I’m really proud of you.” He grabbed her hand on the seat after glancing at Mike to be sure it was safe.

  She smiled. “I am too.”

  “There you go.” He leaned against the headrest, still holding her hand. “Now you don’t need me in there anymore.”

  “I wouldn’t say that.”

  He chuckled and then turned serious. “We need to talk about earlier.”

  “I know. Just not now. My brain is fried.”

  Glancing at the front to see if Mike’s eyes were on the road, he unbuckled his belt and slid closer.

  She spoke out of the side of her mouth. “A little risky.”

  “I don’t care.”

  “Aren’t you still angry at me?” She fought the grin that played on her lips.

  “Yes, but I’m willing to forgive you.” He caressed her bare arm, tickling her and sending chills throughout her body.

  She crossed her legs as the warmth radiated down to her feet. “Stop.”

  Mike’s voice cleared before he said, “Who’s going to the office?”

  Mallory shoved him back to his seat, giggling under her breath. “I thought you knew. One of the other coordinators is taking the organs back. You can just drive us home.” She shook her head at Gallagher’s expression.

  “Uh, drop Mallory off at my house and I’ll drive her home.”

  Mike nodded. “Got it, boss.”

  The driver glanced in the back as Mallory felt the blood pool in her face. She lowered her head to the computer. Tilting her head toward Gallagher, she said, “What are you doing?”

  “You know damn well what I’d like to do, but we need to talk first.”

  “Aren’t you exhausted?”

  “Wide awake now with questions swimming around in my head.”

  She sighed. “Fine, but keep your hands to yourself, Wolf.” She grinned, focusing on her screen.

  “I will unless you have other plans for them.”

  Her toes dug into her shoes, curling until it hurt. God, what he did to her. She rocked her knees back and forth, her laptop swaying on her lap.

  Again, that chuckle of his. “Is there a problem, McShane?”

  “Not at all.” She forced her knees to stay put and unrolled her toes. She shifted in her seat, trying to get comfortable.

  “Need a bathroom break?” he asked, laughing.

  “No.”

  “Awfully squirmy over there.” He laughed again under his breath.

  “Maybe I do have to go. Yep, that’s it. I do.”

  “Yeah, right,” he murmured.

  “I do. Mike, can you find an oasis, please?”

  “Sure. Mind if I get something to eat while we’re there? I haven’t had dinner yet.”

  She gave Gallagher a smug look. “Of course.”

  At the next exit, Mike found a stop and parked. “I should be back quickly.”

  Mallory opened her door before she felt his hand on her arm.

  “I’m going with. You’re not walking around here this late. Sorry, not happening.”

  “Fine.”

  They all walked into the bright oasis that had every fast-food restaurant you could think of. Mike chose McDonald’s as they walked farther to the restrooms.

  “I got it from here,” she said, putting her hand up.

  “I’ll be in the men’s, but meet me out here.”

  She shrugged and pushed the woman’s door open.

  ***

  As soon as she got into the van, he slammed his door and pulled her to him. “What if Mike comes out?” She pushed at his chest playfully, not really wanting him to stop.

  “I really don’t give a shit anymore.” He pressed his lips to hers, softly at first, running his fingers over her face. He stopped and gazed into her eyes before crushing his mouth against hers, his tongue invading, probing, devouring.

  Her hands scratched down his back, pulling him more into her. She wrapped her leg around his, needing to feel him against her, every ounce of him. Panting against his mouth, she murmured his name, causing him to go wild.

  He rolled her on top of him, straddling her legs around his hips as his head bent to her breasts through her T-shirt. “What you do to me.” His breath grew more ragged as they ground their bodies against each other.

  Every so often, she’d look out the window to make sure Mike wasn’t coming. When there was no sign, she’d return to kissing his face and throat, back to his mouth. “What you did in that hospital blew me away,” she said in a hoarse voice.

  He licked and sucked on her lips as his hand slid down the front of her pants. She arched her back to give him freedom, feeling his fingers work their magic. Loving fingers that cared for people. Fingers she wanted desperately inside of her.

  She moaned and bucked against them as she stared into his eyes, her lips parted, still searching outside for Mike not to be seen. “Oh, Lawson.” She started to shake, closing her eyes against the lava that erupted in every pore.

  “I love you, Mallory.” He pulled his hand out and cupped her face.

  “You can’t,” she said, still breathing hard.

  “Why? Why can’t I love you? Is it because of Scott?”

  Panting, she leaned her moist forehead against his before sliding off him and back to her side.

  He looked up at the roof. “It’s too late, McShane. I already do, probably always have but was too stubborn to admit it.”

  “There’s just too many reasons why it won’t work.” She dropped her laptop into the bag and sat back.

  “Name one.”

  “Well, we both couldn’t stay at Hope of Life.”

  “I’ll leave then. I can go anywhere.” He tried to grab her hand, but she pulled it away.

  “It’s not that easy. They need you. And I’m not a nurse, so I can’t go anywhere else and make the same money.”

  “What’s the other reason?”

  “That’s a talk for another time.”

  The front door opened. “Hey, kids. Sorry I took so long. Saw an old friend in there.”

  Gallagher whipped his seat belt on. “No problem, Mike. Just drop us off at my house.”

  “You got it.”

  She stared at his profile, trying to get him to look at her. “What if I don’t want to discuss anything tonight?” she whispered in a rough voice.

  He leaned over. “Who said anything about talking. I’m taking you to bed.”

  “I thought you didn’t have sex when you’re tired.”

  “Who said anything about sex, doll face?” He hid a grin under his cupped hand, but she could see it. “And what do you think we just did here? Shake hands?”

  She snickered and looked out the window until her eyes closed.

  The next thing she knew, someone tapped her on the shoulder. “McShane, we’re here.”

  “How long…oh, okay.” She felt disoriented and opened her door after throwing her bag over her shoulder. She followed him, allowing him to take her cart, rolling both down the sidewalk.

  Songs of bullfrogs and crickets dominated the June night. Someone must have had a bonfire—the strong burning smell floating in the air. No wind or threat of storms. Just sweet, sweet Midwestern summer.

  “I never thanked Mike.”

  “He said goodnight to you, but you were out of it. I thanked him for you.” He lifted the carts up the steps and unlocked his door.

  “I feel bad.”

  “Don’t.”

  Still groggy, she stepped inside and felt a cold, wet nose against her. “Hi, girl.”

  He ruffled Sadie’s hair. “Let’s go out.” Gallagher turned on the hall and kitchen lights to open the patio door. “Now, that makes me feel bad, seeing her run like wild to a tree.”

  “Well, if
we get caught at work, I can always move in and stay with her all day.” She smiled, rubbing her eyes.

  “Hey, I love that idea.” He pulled her to him and kissed her. “Oh, I’m definitely waking up. Not tired in the least.” He grinned down at her.

  “Yeah, I can feel it. Keep it in your pants, Loverboy.” She swatted his behind and tried to pull away.

  “Uh-uh. You’re mine.” He thrust his tongue into her mouth after prying her lips apart. “You taste so good.”

  She ran her hand over his stubble. “Enough there for tickling?” She giggled, tugging on the little hairs.

  He nodded. “I’ll tickle you whenever you want.”

  Sadie barked at the door, breaking their challenge.

  “Better let her in.” Mallory sauntered away and up the stairs to his room.

  “Better be naked in my bed.”

  She laughed.

  “I’m not joking, McShane.”

  As she entered his room, she undressed and slid under the covers, waiting for him. The talk would be postponed for another time. Tonight, she wanted to bask in his love, even if it were only temporary.

  Chapter Eleven

  When Lawson crawled into bed after shedding his clothes, his hands found what they wanted—what they craved. Her skin. Mallory McShane’s glorious huckleberry-smelling skin. The only thing wrong with this fantasy was that her eyes were closed and a soft whistle coming from her parted lips.

  After soaking in her pale beauty and falling deeper in love with this familiar yet mysterious woman, he leaned in and kissed her forehead. He then pulled the blankets up and lay next to her, wrapping his big arms around her small frame. Cradling her in his arms, his free hand grazed her soft belly and envisioned the flatness being more rounded with his baby. He snatched his hand away as if it were on fire. What the hell was he thinking? Baby? Hell no.

  No, no, no, no.

  He tilted her face towards him. “What have you done to me? What spell did you cast?”

  Her pink lips puckered in response like a baby in her sleep.

  With these feelings, he knew what came next. Meeting his family. He actually wanted her to meet them, unlike all the others who had begged him. Always keeping his family life separate from his dating life was his way. Until now.

  She stirred in her sleep again, curving more into him, giving him quivers at the touch of her breasts brushing against his chest. Her hand flew to his jaw. “You’re awake?”

  Stretching against him, she smiled a lazy smile. “How could I not be with that against my leg?” She rubbed her thigh against him, making him shudder.

  “Sorry, but it wants you. I want you…so damn much.” As her thigh continued to graze him, he leaned over her with labored breathing and traced her lips with his tongue before dipping it inside her warm mouth. So help him God, he was crazy about this woman.

  She panted against his mouth. “Then show me how much.”

  His knee spread her legs and was inside her in one swift move, causing her to sink her head into her pillow, dig her nails into his back so hard it made him wince, and a look of pain in her eyes. He paused. “Did I hurt you, honey?”

  “No…I mean, it’s a good hurt. Don’t stop.”

  Her wish was his command and he obeyed, thrusting, sometimes stopping just to feel her surround him with closed eyes, wondering if this was another dream. How’d he ever win the heart of a woman like Mallory McShane? He wanted to shout it from the rooftops. She was his and he was hers. No matter what her ridiculous agreement she made ten years ago was. He’d always belong to her.

  In a breathy, irritated voice, she said, “Why are you stopping?”

  “Look at me.”

  “I am.”

  “I mean really look. I want this moment to last forever.”

  “But they don’t,” she said, shaking her head, a sadness coming over her.

  His voice grew hoarse. “Why not?”

  In a dreamlike state, she said, “They’re all illusions, what we want to see. But I love feeling you inside me, filling me up with more than blood and skin. It makes the illusion easier to believe.” She cupped his face and kissed him.

  A kiss of death.

  Her words burned him, sizzling in his veins. With hooded eyes and feeling intoxicated, drunk on her bubble words, he continued his journey to a place of illusions or unicorns jumping over rainbows, whatever the hell she was talking about, his premature pleasure mounting. He wanted to meet her there, take her hand and run through the cotton candy clouds. But he was way ahead of her, extending his hand to her. He knew she was so close. No waiting for her. It was impossible. The look of ecstasy written on her face, in her grimace, her creased forehead, her mouth opened in silence.

  His control was normally strong and intact, something he had as a gift to women, but not this one. Nope. She had cast her spell and spun a web. “I’m sorry, Mallory.” He moved faster, groaning to the tidal wave working its way up his tightening body.

  Right before he got there, she pushed at his chest, pulled him out, and rolled over, as he finished onto the warm sheet. “What the hell was that?”

  Fighting for her breath, she said, “No condom.”

  As he lay in his own fluid, he grabbed her hip and turned her toward him. “Right now I don’t care about that, but may I ask why you’re not on birth control if you’re so worried?”

  “I have my reasons.”

  “You know there’s still a chance, right? I mean do I have to explain to you it’s not just the…”

  “Oh, I know how it works. I wasn’t thinking. Got caught up like a horny teenager in heat.” She lay back against her pillow and pulled the covers up.

  “I make you horny?” He grinned, sliding his arm under her head and holding her.

  She smiled. “Please.”

  “No need to beg. I can go again. You make me horny too, doll face”

  “Ugh. Don’t call me that. Makes me think of Louise, which makes me think of work, which makes me think of losing my job…”

  He laughed. “I get it.” He played with her hair, loving the silky strands in his fingers. “Why are you so afraid of getting pregnant?”

  She turned to look at him. “What gives you that idea?”

  “McShane, I can smell your fear. Don’t you want to have kids?”

  “Do you?”

  “Sure, some day.”

  She nodded.

  “Does this have anything to do with your promise to Scott? Did you promise you’d never have kids with another man? Because that’d be crazy…”

  “No. Can we stop now? I’m not talking about this in bed after having sex. It’s not right.”

  His heart raced. He sat up and peered down at her. “What hold does this man have on you? How much did you love him that you promised him something life-altering before he died? And, by the way, how did he die?”

  Shaking her head, she said, “Way too many questions for one night. Too tired. Let’s just get some sleep and I promise I’ll tell you everything, okay?”

  “Well, at least I know you keep your promises.” He lay back down next to her. Pouting was not his thing, but dammit, it was becoming that way with her.

  “I do keep them, and I will.”

  “Is it something you’re afraid I’ll leave you for? Because I won’t. There’s nothing I’d leave you for. Nothing.”

  She closed her eyes. “For this, you might…and with every right.”

  Sighing, he said, “I want you to meet my family. Does that sound like a man who’d leave you?”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. They’re a little dysfunctional, but they’re okay. You’ll love my sister and her husband. My mom is gone, but my dad and his wife will be there.”

  “I’d love that, Lawson.” She curled up against him, stirring feelings he wanted to go away.

  He grasped her hand, holding it in the air. “Why do you sometimes call me Gallagher and sometimes Lawson? Pick one.”

  She shrugged. “I really don�
��t know. What do you want me to call you? Wolf?”

  “Absolutely not.”

  She chuckled. “Ok—what then?”

  He gave a crooked smile. “Your man.”

  “Okay, you’re my man. Happy?”

  He grinned like a schoolboy with a hard crush. “Call me Lawson, because if I ever marry you one day, it’ll be strange since that’ll be your name, too.”

  She glanced up at him. “Marry? Oh, Lawson. You’re scaring me now. Let’s just go easy and date. I’ll meet your crazy family and go from there.”

  “First of all, I never said crazy. The word was dysfunctional.” He kissed her nose. “And second of all, fine, but you will one day.”

  “I will what?”

  “Marry me.”

  She rolled her eyes and slapped at his chest. “One day at a time.”

  “So when you wanna meet them?”

  She smiled. “Whenever.”

  “Great, I’ll set it up. Maybe on your next day off-call. I’ll take PTO.”

  “You’ll take a day off? Oh, they’ll definitely be on to us.”

  “I’ll say I’m sick. I can be sick.”

  “You’re never sick.”

  He coughed. “I’m already coming down with something. You hear that? Not good.”

  She giggled, brushing her hand against his chest hair. “You’re nuts.”

  “About you.”

  “And whipped.”

  “You know, I used to say that to the married or engaged guys who’d run home to be with their women, and they’d shake their heads at me in pity. I don’t mind being called that, McShane. Feel like I’m in the club.”

  She laughed. “Hey, why do you call me McShane still?”

  “You’re right. I need to work on that myself. Mallory and Lawson. Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”

  “Sure, if you say so.” She yawned against his chest. “The sun is already coming up. I swear there’d better not be anything on the board today.”