He smiled. "How about a beer?"

"Great."

He handed me a cold Bud Light, which I imagined was probably the only inhabitant of his refrigerator, and we sat down on the couch. I took a sip. "So, what's up with the female touch in your decorating?"

John laughed, nearly spilling his beer. "Don't worry. I don't have a secret girlfriend stashed here and I'm not gay either. I rented this house furnished."

"Yeah, I was a little worried about a girlfriend stashed somewhere, but that would explain it." I twisted a lock of hair between my fingers.

John set his beer down on the end table and took my hand in his. His deep blue eyes searched mine. "Hanna, you are amazing. You are honest and straightforward."

Me honest? Shit, I was definitely gonna burn in hell for this. Lying, stealing-and God knows what other sins I was about to commit.

He leaned in and his warm lips covered mine in a heart-pounding kiss.

Maybe I was going to burn in hell, but I didn't care. I was Hanna tonight, giving myself permission to just go for it and take what I wanted from John. Life was too short to procrastinate. I wanted him bad. I wanted to run my hands up his sixpack abs that I just knew were under that shirt. But as I ran my hands over his chest, I could feel something, a thickness, under his shirt. What the hell was it? Who cared? I just wanted him now. The fire burned in me and I couldn't hold back. I couldn't pretend any longer, he was mine and I wanted him badly. My loins ached for him. This wasn't just a fling, a one-night stand. There was a promise here, a promise of something more, something greater than a one-night stand. But the doubt kept creeping back into my mind. Should I do this? Could I allow myself to give in? He could hurt me. He should just be a temporary fun vacation fling, but somewhere in my heart, I knew this guy could be trouble for me. He cast a spell on me and yet there was something he was holding back. Dani kept telling me that I should run for the hills, just get away, but Hanna said stay. Damn it, my heart said stay. But was I in over my head here?

I decided it no longer mattered. Hanna took over and I leaned in to meet his kiss, pulling him closer to me. His tongue caressed mine and he sucked on my lower lip as he pulled back.

He whispered in a throaty voice. "Come on." And he stood up from the couch and pulled me by my hand, leading me to the bedroom.

Once inside, he wrapped his arms around me and I jumped up, wrapping my legs around his waist as we twisted into another hot and heavy kiss. The blood pulsed through my veins. I heard his breath catch as he lifted me onto the bed. He tore my top and bra off in one fell swoop, over my head, and I fell back on the bed. He pushed himself up on me and shoved a hand up onto my breast as he probed me again and again with his tongue. My head was swirling and I could barely catch my breath.

I shoved my hand down to his belt and fumbled frantically to loosen it. He rose up on his knees, took my directive and ripped off his belt. As he knelt over me, he pulled off his shirt and tossed it aside. There it was. The thing I had wondered about, a bandage around his chest. I stopped, aghast. "What the hell is that?"

"I told you. I had a little accident while riding my bike, remember?"

"Oh yeah. Wait...are you sure you will be okay to continue?"

He chuckled. "What? Are you going to be that rough?"

"Well, I guess I could go easy on you this time," I teased.

My mind was flooded with endorphins as I reached out with my hand for the button on his jeans. I wanted what was inside those jeans, bulging, pressing against the fabric in an undeniably rock-hard erection.

Oh God, I wanted him so badly. My blood was boiling in my veins, and I could hardly breathe as I looked at his tight abs and the sculptured muscles of his body. All I could say was his name, "John..."

He leaned down and pushed his hand up my leg, starting at my knee and pushing slowly and deliberately up my inner thigh, up to my hot spot and lingering there, rubbing his thumb in a circular motion on top of my jeans.

I arched my back and moaned in response, it felt so delicious when he touched me. I wanted him to wander all over me, touching every inch of my skin with that hand.

He pushed both of my breasts up with his hands and swirled his tongue on each nipple, paying attention to each as he worked. The sensation of tingles stimulated by the areolas zipped like lightning down my body to the area between my legs. I reached a hand down to his crotch and grabbed at his hardness, pushing hard, rubbing my hand against him-wanting to give him some of the pleasure I was experiencing. He moaned in response.

There was still too much clothing in the way and I panted, "My jeans. Take them off."

He kissed his way down my stomach to my belly button and released the metal button to free me from my jeans.

He pulled them down over my hips, underwear and all, and threw them on the floor to the side of the bed.

"God, Hanna, you're so beautiful," he said, hovering over me.

I rolled up to a sitting position and worked on the button of his jeans. Once his jeans were open, I reached in and grabbed his hard cock with my hand. Sitting on his knees, he threw his head back and let out a gasp.

As he knelt over me, his cock in my hand, I knew what would please him. I put my warm moist mouth around his hard erection and sucked. He groaned, "Ahhhh, Hanna, baby..." I sucked harder, bobbing my head up and down. "That feels so good, baby," he purred.

I stopped long enough for him to take off his jeans. I wanted him inside of me, to feel the full commitment, to go all the way to the top of the mountain and over the edge. There was something magical about two people sharing that kind of experience, something special when two people are so close that they are inside of each other, emotionally and physically. I wanted that emotion to bond us, to meld us together now and...shit, maybe forever.

What the fuck was I thinking? I just wanted to bang this guy and have sex. Stop already with the stupid "forever" talk. Just enjoy.

Once we were both naked, he leaned back for a moment and drank in the length of my body.

He then pushed his hand through my hair, kissing me again and again on the lips. I got lost in the heat of the moment, my head spinning, my desire building as he reached down and stroked me with his fingers between my legs. I moaned and arched my back, feeling the tension building, the explosion mounting with every kiss and swirl of his fingers. Before I could comprehend what was happening, he thrust inside of me, pushing through my moist folds. I gasped at the sheer power and girth of his manhood. He filled me completely and I cried out his name in ecstasy. He pulled back and thrust again and again, grunting and growling with each advance. I dug my nails into his back over the white bandage and met each of his thrusts with fervent expletives.

He thrust and I gasped. We continued with heightened excitement until we both crashed over the top at the same time. Panting and breathing into my neck, he shuddered inside of me.

We lay still for a few moments until our breathing slowed and he pushed off of me, rolling to the side.

He pulled my body close into the curve of his and nuzzled into my hair as we lay on the bed together. He just held me that way for a while in silence. I wondered what he was thinking. If he knew the truth about me, would he kick me out of this bed? Would he think I was a crazy woman? I pushed the thought aside. I didn't want to deal with that right now.

A warm glow filled my body. I felt safe with John and I wanted to learn more about him. "I want to know you better." I heard myself say. Could I have said something more stupid? He would want to get to know me better too, and where would that lead us?

"Me?" He rose up onto his elbow and looked at my face, lightly tracing a finger along the edge of my jaw until he stopped at my lips. For a moment, he paused and in that instant, I thought I saw darkness in his eyes, as if there was something there beneath the surface. It vanished as quickly as it had appeared and then he smiled at me with half-hooded eyes.

"There's not much to know about me. I'm a pretty boring guy." With his fingers paused at my chin, he ran his thumb across my lower lip, then kissed me as if he didn't want to talk anymore. I didn't resist. Hanna wasn't about to let Dani ruin this moment with cerebral conversations. I pressed into his kiss and wrapped my arms around his neck. I was in the tattooed arms of a handsome, motorcycle-riding hard-body and I wasn't going to waste this poignant moment of my life.

Chapter Fourteen.

"Someone got home late last night. How was it?" Emma said as she poured herself a cup of coffee. That was the one thing in the kitchen she made to perfection.

"How was what?" I yawned. I needed a cup of java, strong and black.

"Your date. Judging by how you look this morning, it must have gone well." She sounded amused and I laughed in response. "I guess you could say that." I propped my chin in my hand and raised my eyebrows. "He's really a nice guy and well, pretty damn hot too." I smiled dreamily in remembrance of last night.

"Really? So when am I going to meet this sex god of yours?"

"Just let me know and I'll bring him over."

"I have a better idea. Why don't we all go out Saturday night? I can get a babysitter for Michelle. I could sure use a night out and some man-loving." She laughed. "Actually, there is this guy who has been asking me out. We could go on a double date."

"That sounds fun. I'll ask John if he can make it," I said as I poured a cup of hot coffee, grabbed a doughnut, and headed to my bedroom.

I ran through most of the morning as if I were floating on a cloud, not sure if it was because of the sex endorphins that had been brought to the surface last night or if I was just exhausted. I had better snap out of it. I had a busy day ahead of me.

All week I had been trying to call and set up the arrangements for my grandma's treatments. I honestly thought doctors deliberately make you wait so they can seem more important. Once again, I was on hold for twenty minutes before I was connected with the doctor in charge. Finally, some good news. They would be able to start next week, the doctor told me. As part of the advanced treatments for her kidneys, Grandma would have to go to the clinic and receive special dialysis treatments three times a week. A hassle for sure, but the benefits were tremendous. Right now, she was so weak, she needed an electric wheelchair to get around. The doctor told us that once she received those treatments, she would regain ninety-five percent of her original strength and be able to walk again. This was a new experimental treatment that would be a miracle for her, and it sounded amazing. The only reason she wasn't already on the program was because of the outrageous cost, three thousand dollars per month. None of that was covered by Medicare. And she would need this for the rest of her life. It was a sum of money that was out of reach for most people, my grandma included. But we could afford it now-thanks to illegal wagers and a briefcase full of money. Who says money can't buy happiness? Some people are motivated by fear, some by the need for power. My motivation was to see my grandma walk again.

My tasks for the day were not quite done yet. I still had to make a transfer at the bank for the first series of Grandma's treatments. I wanted to rent a safe-deposit box at the local bank. After nearly losing my suitcase last week on the bus trip, I couldn't take any chances. I wasn't comfortable carrying that much cash around either, so this was the best solution.

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard a familiar sound from my phone telling me that I had received a text. I pick it up and smiled. It was a message from John.

"Had a great time last night. Miss you already."

I replied back. "So did I. Hope you are free Saturday night. We are two hungry ladies in need of a good time out."

To my surprise, he didn't question it. He just replied, "Looking forward to it," adding a smiley face.

I checked the time on my phone. Already twenty minutes past three. Better get to the bank before they closed.

Living in New York meant I was used to foot transportation, so the half-hour walk to the bank was nothing. I had never owned a car, but it was something I definitely wanted to get soon.

The walk went quickly, and five minutes before closing, I stood in the isolated room of the safety-deposit boxes. Looking at all that money still made me feel anxious. It had been a big risk taking the briefcase, and if I had known it was crooked money inside, I wouldn't have done it. But still, it was worth it, for Grammy. I owed it to her. This, and so much more.

I took out a neatly folded stack of hundred-dollar bills. I counted out three thousand dollars for the first month's treatment, along with an extra five hundred for my day-to-day expenses. I put the remaining money into the metal box and placed it back in the lockbox. After arranging the wire transfer, I found myself walking down the main street of Summerville again, looking for a decent place to eat. My stomach was making noises and I realized I hadn't eaten since that donut at breakfast. The nice thing about a vacation town is that there are all kinds of small sandwich shops, and it didn't take long to find one.

Just as I sat down in a chair outside the deli, I heard a familiar high-pitched voice that speared through me.

"Oh my God! Is that you, Dani? What are you doing here?"

Nails on a chalkboard would be like music to my ears compared to that voice. It belonged to the most annoying woman I had ever met, Nina, my high school lab partner. She was one of those people they called "a leech." All through high school, she tried to latch on to me and be my best friend, when all I wanted to do was to be left alone. What the hell was she doing here?

"Nina. My gosh. You are...here, in Summerville. How lovely."

Without so much as an invitation, she pulled out a chair and sat down across from me. "Dani, how long has it been? Like, three years?"

"I don't know. Something like that, I guess."

She wouldn't stop babbling, and her annoying voice pierced to the core of my eardrums. "Are you here on vacation? Don't you just love it here?"

I went into defensive mode and tried to tune out the tone of her voice, but it was a losing battle. This was one of the few times I wished I were eighty years old, so her high-pitched frequency would be out of my hearing range.

She grabbed my arm. "I just had this amazing idea. Are you here in town with somebody?"

"No, I'm alo...I mean..." Oops, I messed up. She's gonna want to do something together.

"Perfect. I'm here until Monday, so we can hang out the entire time. Oh my God, I'm so excited." Her face was glowing.

My mind was in turmoil. I couldn't do this. I would slit my wrists if I had to spend the next three days with Nina, plus she could blow my cover. Then everybody would find out my real name and that I wasn't actually from Boston and that I had lied to everybody. What would John think of me once he found out I had lied all this time? I had to get rid of her.

"Nina, I really wish I could, but I'm leaving town first thing in the morning. I'm taking the bus to Charleston."

"No, you can't leave. Stay a few more days and we can hang out. I'm dying here, stuck with my aunt. All she wants to do every day is boring sightseeing stuff."

Oh no-her aunt, Mimi? I remembered her clearly. She was, if possible, even worse than Nina.

A pang of pity for Nina struck in my heart. "Listen, I can't stay because I already booked a hotel in Charleston and I don't want to lose my deposit, but we can hang out tonight if you'd like." I sighed. We would just have to go someplace where we were certain not to run into John.

Her eyes lit up. "You're the best girlfriend ever, Dani. So what do you want to do?"

"I have a couple of things I need to do first, but why don't you tell me where you're staying and I'll come pick you up when it's time for dinner."

She hesitated. "Okay, I'm staying at the Hampton Inn. I'll have to sneak out without Mimi noticing, so don't ditch me or I'll have to search every bar and hotel all night, asking for you."

Oh, she really would. "Why would you think I would ditch you? I'd never do that to my old lab partner. Go, Panthers." I waved an imaginary pom-pom in the air. "I'll pick you up at seven. It'll be a fun night out, just like old times."

I managed to convince her that I would be there to pick her up, and minutes later I was walking home, contemplating how best to handle this sticky situation. How to avoid Nina and me crashing into John, Emma, or anyone else who knew me as Hanna.

It was unusual chilly that same evening. Normally the warm sea kept the evenings and nights at a decent temperature, but tonight I was cold. I pulled my cell phone out of my purse to check the time. It was exactly seven p.m., and I was waiting for Nina across from the Hampton Inn. She wanted to meet across from the hotel so her aunt wouldn't be suspicious. I was grateful for that. An evening out with both of them would have been pure torture.

After a few minutes, Nina showed up huffing and puffing as she crossed the street. She actually looked great. I hadn't noticed, until I saw her from a distance, that she had lost a considerable amount of weight since high school, at least twenty pounds. She looked sharp in her black skirt and lace top.

"You look cute. I like that top. Where did you get it?"

She laughed, pulling at her top. "This old thing? I think I got it at Neiman Marcus."

I was impressed. A week ago, I wasn't able to afford shopping at Target, let alone dream about buying anything at Neiman Marcus. Even on sale, a simple top like Nina's would cost about $150. "For an old thing, it looks pretty damn hot on you."

"Thanks, Dani. That really means a lot to me coming from you. You were always the pretty one."

I shook my head. She was being silly. I had never considered myself pretty. "Come on. Let's go eat."

We went to a small restaurant that was located a little off the main road. No chance of running into anyone who knew me as Hanna there.

I gazed at Nina sitting in front of me. She really looked radiant, so much more confident than I had remembered. "I can't believe how much weight you've lost. You look really good. Honestly. How'd you do it? The soup diet? Or just no carbs?"

"I've lost thirty-five pounds since high school. I think getting away from my aunt really helped me." She laughed, trying to make light of the situation.

However, I knew it was no joking matter. As I recalled, her aunt had always had some serious control issues with Nina. Her parents had died in a car crash when she was young and her uncle and aunt adopted her after that. The aunt already had two other children whom she had spoiled rotten. The dysfunctional family setting stole away what little confidence Nina had left, no doubt. I remembered that her aunt had very strict rules about hanging out with friends, so she was never allowed to go out in the evenings. As a result, she was never at any of the parties we had in high school. Sadly, I never paid much attention to her back then. I had enough messed-up emotional baggage in my own life and I didn't have time to deal with anyone else's.

"That's amazing. Wow, it sounds like your life is so much better now that you moved out. When did that happen?"

"Well," she picked at her salad. Maybe this was too personal.

"Go on," I said reluctantly.

"It was right after graduation. Remember my uncle and aunt got divorced in ninth grade?" I nodded but I honestly didn't know about her uncle. I thought the aunt had always been divorced.

"He has a new wife, Margaret, and she told me at my graduation that if I ever needed a place to stay I could come live with them."

"So she knew about your situation, how you were treated by your aunt?"

Nina nodded. "Margaret is wonderful. She's like my real mom. She doesn't have any other children so there's no competition there," she chuckled.