by Diana Palmer
An armoire occupied the other side of the bedroom. The sitting area where the chaise resided held a desk and chair. No doubt, it was a place where she could be comfortable for a long period of time. But even if her job allowed that luxury, it wouldn’t work.
Because of Worth.
Suddenly Molly felt tears fill her eyes, and that made her mad. Lunging off the chaise, she curled her fists into her palms and strengthened her resolve. She wouldn’t let her emotions get the best of her again. She had indulged herself before she’d arrived, and that had to be her swan song. Otherwise, she wouldn’t get through the quagmire that was already threatening to suck her under.
Yet seeing Worth again so soon after her arrival seemed to have imprinted him on her brain, and she couldn’t let go of that image. What an image it was, too. She had never thought of him as handsome, only sexy.
Now he seemed both. He was tall and leathery thin, but not too thin, having toned his muscles to perfection riding horses and branding cattle—the two loves of his life. His short brown hair still had streaks of blond, but she could almost swear that some gray had been added to the mix. His face, with its chiseled features, was definitely more lined.
Neither change, however, was a detraction because of those incredible black eyes, surrounded by equally incredible thick lashes. They were by far the focal point of his face and his best asset.
And he knew how to use them. He had a way of looking at her like she was the only one in existence. And that was a real turn-on, or at least it always had been for her.
Until today.
When she had practically run into him upon her arrival, she’d seen none of that sexual charisma reflected in his eyes. Instead, she’d seen pure hostility and anger that bordered on hatred. Another shiver darted through Molly, and she crossed her arms over her chest as if to protect herself.
From Worth?
Possibly, because he was someone she no longer knew. More noticeable than the physical changes in him, were the changes in attitude. From the first moment she’d met him that fateful summer, she remembered him as having been rather cocky and self-assured for someone who was just twenty-nine years old. But she’d taken no offense at that attitude; actually that was one of the reasons she’d been attracted to him.
While both cocky and self-assured still applied, other adjectives now fit his personality. He appeared bitter, cynical and completely unbending. Though she didn’t know the reason for such a radical change, she didn’t like it, especially since it was directed at her.
After all, he’d been the one who had betrayed her. If anyone had an ax to grind, it was she. Admittedly she did, but she wasn’t about to show her bitterness to the entire world.
Maybe she was just the one who continually brought out the worst in him. Around others maybe he was a kinder and gentler soul. That thought almost brought a smile to Molly’s face. Worth Cavanaugh was a man unto himself, having carved an empire for himself in his early thirties. Kinder and gentler didn’t make that happen. Hard and tough-skinned did.
Suddenly a sliver of panic ran down Molly’s spine. What was she doing here? It wasn’t going to work. She hadn’t even been here one whole day, and thoughts of Worth had her by the jugular and wouldn’t let go.
Molly swallowed convulsively as she eased back onto the chaise, vivid memories of the last time they were together rising to haunt her. If her recall served her correctly, she’d been in the barn that day, looking for Worth most likely.
The why actually hadn’t been important. Once there, she’d climbed into the loft and plopped down in the middle of the hay. She remembered closing her eyes, taking a catnap during which she dreamed about Worth. When she finally opened her eyes, she was taken aback to find him leaning against a post, watching her with unsuppressed desire further darkening his eyes.
Since it had been summer and the temperature sizzling, she’d had on only the barest of clothing—a pair of blue jean shorts, a tank top without a bra and flip-flops. The way he’d stared at her, she might as well have been naked.
Heat pooled between her thighs as their eyes remained locked.
She saw him swallow with effort, causing his Adam’s apple to bob up and down as he slowly, but surely pushed away from the post and made his way toward her, his fingers busily unzipping his jeans.
All of that seemed to take place in slow motion as she lay unmoving, her heart pumping so loudly she could hear it in her ears. By the time he reached her, Molly’s eyes were no longer on his face but rather on the juncture at his thighs where his erection was thick and hard.
She couldn’t speak; her mouth was too dry. She could only watch him lift his arms and pull off his T-shirt, then toss it aside. A gasp slipped past her lips as her eyes covered every inch of his big, beautiful body, settling on his erection that seemed to be increasing by the moment.
Blood pounded from her heart into her head at such a rapid rate that it made her dizzy. Yet she couldn’t have removed her eyes from him if someone had threatened her life with a gun. It wasn’t as if that had been the first time she’d seen him in the buff, either.
It hadn’t. Far from it, actually.
Since her arrival that summer at his ranch, she and Worth had become an instant item. It had been lust at first sight.
When that lust had turned to love, Molly couldn’t say. Maybe it had been after he’d taken her that first time. From then on, he hadn’t been able to keep his hands off her and vice versa. With summer coming to an end, nothing had changed. Every time Worth looked at her, or came near her, her bones melted.
That day was no exception.
“You’re a beautiful man,” she said in her sultry voice that now had a crack in it.
He merely grinned, then knelt beside her and promptly removed her clothing.
“Not nearly as beautiful as you,” he rasped, his gaze now covering every inch of her flesh.
He bent over and latched onto an already burgeoning nipple and sucked it until she couldn’t keep still. Finally releasing it, he moved to the other one and did likewise. Only after he left her breasts and began to lick his way down her stomach did she take action, latching onto his erection, rubbing her thumb in and around the opening.
Worth let out a loud groan as he nudged her legs apart and gently inserted two fingers inside her.
“Oh, yes,” she whimpered, her hips going crazy.
“Baby, baby, you’re so wet, so ready.”
“Please, now. Don’t make me wait.”
Propping himself on his hands, Worth leaned further over her, then entered her with unerring accuracy. For a moment he didn’t move, seemingly to enjoy the way she formed a tight sheath around him, his eyes burning deeply into hers.
Then he pumped up and down until the fiery explosion hit them at the same time. Moments later he lay limp on her with her arms clasped tightly around him.
“Am I too heavy?” he whispered at last, his breath caressing her ear.
“No.”
“Oh, but I am.” He chuckled, then rolled over so that she was now on top of him.
She leaned down, kissed him, and said in an awed voice, “I can’t believe you’re still inside me.”
“Me, either, especially since all the lead’s gone out of my pencil.”
She giggled and kissed him again.
Suddenly his gaze darkened on her. “Know what?”
“I know lots of whats,” she said in a teasing voice. “One of them is that I love you.”
“I love you, too, so much that I got carried away and didn’t use a condom.”
For several seconds, silence fell between them.
“Are you mad at me?” he asked.
“No,” Molly responded, feeling her brows gather in a frown. “It takes two to tango, as the saying goes.”
“Right, but I should’ve been more responsible.”
“Shh. It’s okay. It’s not the right time of the month for me.” Molly paused. “At least I don’t think so.”
�
�I’m sorry.”
“Don’t you dare say that. I loved every minute of it. There’s nothing to be sorry about.”
It was the thought of those words that jerked Molly out of the past back into the present. Back to reality. To the pain and hurt that had resulted from that passionate afternoon of lovemaking.
Knowing her face was drenched with tears, Molly went into the bathroom and wet a washcloth with cold water. Though the cloth felt like ice against her skin, it did what she’d hoped it would and that was clear her fogged mind.
She couldn’t change what had happened between her and Worth. All she could do was change how she reacted to him now. Though the aftermath of their affair had left deep and lasting scars, she wasn’t sorry because out of it had come the blessing of her life—her son.
For that she would never be sorry.
It was then that Molly suddenly heard the sound of an engine. Hurrying to the French doors, she walked onto the porch where she saw Worth sitting in his truck. She was still standing in the cold when the taillights disappeared.
With her teeth chattering, she went back inside, not stopping until she was in her mother’s room, facing her son’s animated face.
“Mommy, Mommy, come see what Granna gave me.”
Squaring her shoulders, Molly shoved the past back under lock and key deep in her soul.
Four
“Oh, Doctor, thanks so much for returning my call.”
“Not a problem,” Dr. Roy Coleman responded. “I know you’re concerned about your mother and well you should be.”
Molly winced under the doctor’s direct words, but then she was a nurse, for God’s sake, so she shouldn’t be surprised. Most doctors nowadays didn’t tiptoe around the rose bush. They called the problem as they saw it and let the chips fall where they may. Her boss Sam Nutting was cut from that same bolt of cloth.
Somehow, though, she was reluctant to hear the truth because it was her mother, who had always been Molly’s lifeline and still was. Her dad had died from heart failure when she was young, leaving them without ample resources. Hence, Maxine had had to work her fingers to the bone for other people in order for them to survive. However, she never forsook her daughter; Maxine always found time to spend with Molly no matter how exhausted she was, or how much she had to do.
“Are you still there, Ms. Bailey?”
The doctor’s crisp voice brought Molly back to the moment at hand. “Sorry, I was woolgathering about Mother, actually. Now that I’ve seen her and the condition she’s in, I’m really concerned.”
“As I said earlier, you have good reason. She took a nasty fall, which did major damage to her back, as you already know, of course. The main plus, however, is that she has no fractures.”
Even though Maxine had slipped in the hallway two weeks ago, it seemed much longer to Molly because she hadn’t been able to leave work and come immediately. Her mother had insisted that she not, making light of the accident.
Only after Dr. Coleman talked with her, then sent copies of the MRI did Molly know the extent of the damage to her mother’s back. Ergo, she lost no time in rushing to Maxine’s side.
“I appreciate you keeping me posted at every turn, Doctor.”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way. As I told you, Maxine’s special, a rare breed. I know she’s in pain, yet she suffers in silence.”
“Only that’s not good.”
“You’re right. It’s not. I don’t want her in pain. But Maxine is one of—if not the most—hardheaded patients I have.”
“That’s why I’m here, Dr. Coleman, to see that she does like she’s told and behaves herself.”
He chuckled, and Molly liked that. Although she’d never met him, they’d had countless phone conversations. Each time she was more impressed with his sense of humor and his care of her mother.
“I’d like to get another MRI soon, so we can see if the severely strained muscles are beginning to heal on their own. Meanwhile, I’ve ordered a corset for her to wear. In fact, I don’t want her even sitting on the side of the bed without it, much less walking.”
Molly tried to remain upbeat, but under the circumstances that was becoming more difficult by the second. “That sounds like she’s going to be incapacitated for a good little while.”
“Because of her osteoporosis, she will be.”
Molly’s heart sank. “So we’re looking at long-term recovery instead of short-term.” A flat statement of fact.
“Not necessarily. Maxine is so determined that she could rebound much quicker than most, I suspect.” Dr. Coleman paused. “However, work of any kind is out for now.”
“What about physical therapy?”
“That’s coming, but it’s too soon. The corset is enough for now.”
Molly fought back the unknown fears that were festering inside her. For the moment, the picture was dismal. What if her mother never regained the full use of her body? Maxine had always worked, had always been full of energy. She didn’t believe in resting on her laurels, she’d told that to Molly all her life. An honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay had been Maxine’s philosophy.
“You’re going to have to help me convince her that she can’t work, Doctor. So far I don’t think you’ve gotten that across to her. She thinks she’ll be mopping floors next week.”
“Someone will be mopping floors, but it won’t be Maxine.”
“Thank you for being brutally honest with me.” Molly’s sigh was shaky. “Now, I have to be brutally honest with her.”
“If you want to wait, I’ll drive out to the ranch. We’ll gang up on her.”
A doctor who made house calls? No way. Yet he had offered, though Molly wasn’t about to take him up on that offer. She could handle Maxine, but it wouldn’t be easy. No matter. Her mother had no choice but to comply.
“Thank you for your kindness, but let me have a go at it first. If she bucks me, you’ll be the first to know.”
“Call me any time.”
When the conversation ended, Molly held the receiver for a few moments longer, then replaced it, feeling as though she was moving in a daze.
She had dreaded having this session with the doctor because she knew it wasn’t going to be encouraging. Since her arrival yesterday, she had come to realize her mother was indeed in dire straits, with no easy fix.
Now this morning, she had the unpleasant task of breaking the bad news to her mother. Molly was just thankful Trent was with Maxine. Bless his sweet heart, he had rarely left Maxine’s room since they had arrived, seeming to have forgotten the horses and cattle with which he’d been so fascinated. But then Maxine had played with him non-stop. Knowing Maxine was exhausted, Molly finally had to call a halt to their togetherness.
Putting off the inevitable wasn’t going to make things any easier, Molly reminded herself. Squaring her shoulders with resolve, she left her room and headed toward Maxine’s, though not without first taking a furtive look around. While she certainly didn’t expect Worth to be lurking in the shadows waiting to pounce on her, she still found herself somewhat rattled every time she left her room.
She had no idea what time Worth returned home last night, but she knew it was late, having heard him open the door to his room. It didn’t matter where he went or what he did. Their relationship was past history and she had no right or reason to care about his whereabouts. Her aim was to avoid him at all costs.
Only problem with that, she was staying under his roof.
Pushing that unsettling thought aside, Molly knocked lightly on Maxine’s door, then went in, only to pull up short. Her mother was asleep while Trent lay sprawled beside her, coloring in his coloring book.
“Hi, Mommy,” he said in a soft voice. “Granna felled asleep.”
“It’s okay, honey.” She reached for him and lifted him off the bed, then gathered the books and colors. “I want you to go to our room and color there for a few minutes, okay?”
Trent made a face. “I don’t want to.”
&n
bsp; She smiled. “I know, but again, it’ll only be for a few minutes, then I’ll come and get you. I want to talk to Granna alone.”
“Why can’t I stay?” he whined.
Molly gave him a stern look. “Trent.”
With his bottom lip poked out, he took the stuff, and without further ado, made his way to the door.
“Don’t go anywhere else. Stay put in our room.”
“Okay,” he mumbled.
Molly stood watch until he was down the hall and the door closed behind him. He was so precious. Rarely did she ever have to scold him, but she didn’t want him to hear this conversation she was about to have with her mother. She feared Maxine’s reaction would not be favorable.
“Mom,” Molly said, gently touching Maxine on the shoulder.
Her mother’s eyes popped open and for a moment, she seemed completely disoriented. Then when she apparently recognized Molly, she smiled in relief, only then to frown. “Where’s Trent?”
“He’s in our room. He’ll be back shortly.”
“What time is it?” Maxine asked, her frown deepening.
“Almost noon.”
“Oh, dear. I can’t believe I even went to sleep, much less for that long.”
“It’s okay, Mother. You need all the rest you can get.”
“No, what I need is to spend time with my daughter and grandson before I go back to work.”
Molly was quiet for a moment, her mind scrabbling for a way to tell her mother the truth without breaking her heart. “Mom—”
“You’re going to tell me I can’t go back to work any time soon, aren’t you?” Maxine’s eyes were keen on Molly.
“That’s right,” Molly declared with relief.
“No, that’s wrong.”
Molly’s relief was short-lived. “I—”
“I’m going to be just fine. I know I pulled some muscles in my back—”
“That you did,” Molly interrupted flatly. “And according to the doctor, your recovery won’t be quick or easy.”
