by Dorie Graham
He deposited his offspring in a grassy spot near Adam. The two scampered in a circle, then took off running across the wide expanse of yard.
Adam smiled. “I see why you need the fence.”
“They’re a handful, but worth it.” Rick beamed after his kids.
His pretty blond wife rounded the corner and they raced after her as she balanced a tray in both hands. The youngsters ran circles around her as she advanced to where Rusty and Manuel gathered together their tools.
The scene struck a chord deep within Adam that resonated outward, filling him with warmth. “You’ve got it made, you know.”
Rick smiled, a satisfied light in his eyes. “Yeah, I know.”
“Look how nice that turned out.” Miranda nodded toward the walkway as she set the tray on the corner of a nearby planter. “You men look thirsty.”
With murmured thanks, Rusty and Manuel accepted glasses of the cool beverage. Adam also took a glass. “Much appreciated, Miranda. I was just telling your husband how he has it made.”
“He does okay.” She pressed a glass into her husband’s hand as he swept an arm around her and tucked her against his side.
With their children darting around their legs, the two formed a picture of marital bliss. The longing inside Adam intensified. He took a long swallow of the tea.
“Oh, I played around with the design some. Let me get you the latest printout,” Rick said, straightening away from Miranda.
“As long as it doesn’t affect the walkway.” Adam gestured toward Rusty and Manuel. “Don’t think these two would care much to redo it.”
“No, not the walkway. I’ve adjusted the placement of the play area to better suit that slope. That means I had to shift the flower garden.” Rick waved toward the sunny patch to their left as he headed back toward the house.
“I tried to tell him from the start he needed to shift that garden.” Miranda lifted her daughter, resting her on one hip.
Adam shrugged. “It’s his vision. We’re just here to bring it to life.”
“It’s about time. All these years of working on other people’s houses, I’m so glad Rick is finally concentrating on ours.”
“It’s a great place you have here. He’s been tinkering with that design for some time. He’s certainly talked about it enough.”
“Oh, yes, he’s a big talker.”
“Uh-oh, do I sense trouble in paradise?”
“No, not really. It’s just that he’s been talking forever about hiring a nanny to help with the kids so I can go back to work part-time, but nothing ever seems to come of it.”
“You’re not happy staying at home?”
“I’ve been home for almost six years now. Sometimes…it just isn’t enough. I miss working.
“Don’t get me wrong. I love my kids. I love being here with them. I have days, though, when I just need to be around adults. I need to feel I’m doing something more meaningful—not that raising my kids isn’t meaningful. It’s just, I don’t feel like I’m doing enough for me. Does that make sense?”
Was that what Lauren feared? “I guess so. You don’t want to sacrifice your own needs for the sake of your family.”
“Exactly. I don’t want Christie growing up thinking she has to be self-sacrificing. I want her to be self-empowered.”
“I never really thought of it in that way.”
“There’s a balance, of course. I still feel the kids are my priority. But I’m not just a mother.”
He regarded her a moment. He’d always assumed Miranda was happy at home. Was it too much to expect a woman of today to want to give up a life of her own to concentrate on raising a family?
“So, it’s hard—this balance?” he asked.
“Extremely. I’ve been juggling family time with volunteer work I do for the community. If I go back to work, it’ll be even harder.”
“But you still want to do it?”
“Sure.”
“So, tell me, are you sorry you quit working to be a stay-at-home mom?”
“Honestly?” Christie squirmed and Miranda set her down. “Some days, I’m just not sure.”
“NEED SPICE, think Entice. Lauren Bryant here.”
“Hello, sunshine.” Adam’s neat baritone resonated across the phone line.
A shiver ran up Lauren’s spine. She smiled. “Hi. Sorry I had to cut out early this morning. You looked so peaceful, I didn’t want to disturb you.”
“You should have woke me. It would have been nice to start the day with you, instead of abandoned and alone.” He drew the last out in dramatic tones.
She laughed. “Poor Beast. I’m so sorry.”
His voice took on a seductive drawl. “You can always make it up to me.”
“I will. What can I do?”
“How about dinner? I’ll take you somewhere nice where you don’t have to cook. Then we’ll come back to my place for dessert.”
“I wish I could, but I promised to take Mom to dinner at Ippolito’s. You know how she loves that place.”
He gasped. “You mean you’re having Italian…without me?”
The memory of sucking spaghetti from his chest sent warmth to her cheeks. “You know I’ll be thinking of you the whole time.”
“Ah, I guess I’ll have to entertain myself then. Maybe I’ll whip up some of that salmon with truffles.”
It was her turn to gasp. “You wouldn’t. Not without me. According to the notes in that recipe, those truffles are a potent aphrodisiac. They drive male pigs to distraction. They simulate the female pig hormone or something.”
“Oooh, yeah, I can see what a turn-on that might be.”
She giggled. “It really did say that. That’s how they hunt truffles. They turn the pigs loose.”
“Hmm, well, who are we to argue with pigs? Maybe we should give it a whirl sometime.”
“I’m willing.”
“So, you could still make dessert tonight.”
She shifted in her seat, frustration welling. “I just can’t. I have so much to do. After dinner I have a pile of work that has to be done by tomorrow, ads to be approved—”
“It’s okay. Do what you’ve got to do.”
“I’m so sorry, Adam. I do want to see you, but I know I won’t finish until late.”
“And you need to get some rest. You didn’t get much sleep last night. I’m sorry I kept you up so late.”
“It was wonderful. I wouldn’t have missed a minute of it.”
“Me neither.”
Silence hummed across the line. She glanced at her computer screen, needing to get back to her current proposal, hating to say goodbye.
“So, how’s your day going?” she asked.
“Catch any big accounts?” he asked at the same time.
They both laughed.
She said, “You first.”
“Did a few inspections. That brother of yours does good work. He helped lay a brick walkway today. I think he prefers that to the flowers.”
“I’m glad he’s working out. With Rusty, it’s like always waiting for the other shoe to drop.”
“He’s doing a great job. So what about your day—I mean, aside from missing me and wishing you were with me?”
She smiled. “Signed with Morris, then Elliot and I had lunch with a potential client. A chain of lingerie shops. Could be big.”
“Sounds like a match made.”
“I hope so.”
Silence again hummed across the line. She closed her eyes, imagining the shape of his face, the hot urgency of his kiss, the feel of him deep inside her.
“Well, I guess I should let you get back to work. I just wanted to hear the sound of your voice.” He paused. “Say something sexy before you go.”
Her pulse quickened. She drew a deep breath. “I love the way you kiss me, the way your tongue strokes mine while you’re touching me between my legs, making me hot—making me come.”
“I love the way your skin’s so soft and the feel of your nipples beading against my tongue. God, I
love your breasts. I love how you get so wet when I slip my fingers inside you. I wish I was inside you right now.”
“I wish you were inside me, too.” She squeezed her thighs together against the sexual ache his words evoked. She slid her hand low, over her belly.
“Are you touching yourself?”
A loud knock sounded on her door. Without waiting for a reply, Elliot poked his head in. “I’ve got a few ideas for Secret Temptations. Want to come take a look?”
She straightened in her chair. “Sure, Elliot. Give me a minute.”
Speaking into the phone, she said, “I’m sorry, Adam. I have to get back to work. Maybe we could pick this up another time.”
“It’s okay. I have to run, too.” He chuckled softly. “At least I’m leaving you wanting me.”
“I do want you. I don’t know how I’ll make it until I can see you again.”
“Tomorrow night?”
“Yes. Tomorrow night.”
She hung up the phone, her heart thrumming in anticipation. Suddenly tomorrow seemed an eternity away.
FRANK SINATRA CROONED an old tune over the soft murmur of the Ippolito’s dinner crowd as Lauren waited for her mother that evening. They’d planned this outing to their favorite Italian restaurant weeks ago and Lauren couldn’t bring herself to cancel, even though she was watching her budget and she was so tired, all she wanted to do was crawl into bed.
She took a long swallow of water, willing away the soreness that had crept into her throat. The last thing she needed was to get sick.
Elliot had given her a file of marketing ideas for one of their accounts. She’d also started a rough draft on a proposal for the Craigs, but thinking back on their lunch, she wondered how hard it would be to pin them down to another meeting. She’d stuffed Elliot’s folder, along with her notes, into her briefcase to look over should she need to kill some time.
For once, though, she couldn’t bring herself to work.
The throbbing in her head had steadied to a dull ache. Her eyes felt dry and gritty. She couldn’t keep burning the candle at both ends. Something had to give, but she couldn’t see giving up either her work or Adam.
Closing her eyes, she let the memory of their lovemaking flow over her. When she was with him, she felt vibrant and alive, but was she getting in way over her head with him? He believed she’d eventually come around to his way of thinking. If only she could be so sure.
Delores Bryant, a petite woman with fading blond hair, swept through the entrance, lines of worry etched in her forehead. Lauren waved to her mother and Delores’s expression eased as she made her way through the crowded restaurant.
“You look like you need this as bad as I do, dear.” Her mother sank into the seat opposite Lauren.
“I do.”
The long-buried desire to lay all her troubles at her mother’s feet rose up in Lauren. Her mother had been through the struggle of child rearing. Certainly she’d understand Lauren’s reservations.
“My property taxes are due, Claire’s been laid off, I won’t be able to count on her coming up with her share of the bills, and this new district manager is driving me nuts,” Delores said in one long breath.
With a sigh, Lauren tamped down her own worries. “Okay, let’s take these one at a time.”
Their waiter, clad in a green apron, stopped by to take their order. After they’d requested a couple of the specials, Lauren turned back to her mother. “If I remember correctly, your taxes should be paid out of your escrow account. Check with your mortgage company to make sure they received the bill.”
“Oh, that’s right. I’d forgotten we set it up that way. I just got the bill in the mail and panicked.”
“Have you spoken to Claire about her situation? Maybe she has some funds set aside for an emergency.”
“She has some money saved, but it won’t last long.”
“Does she want to look for another job?”
The worry lines deepened in Delores’s forehead. “She’s like me. Never went to college and depended on her husband for way too long. What a pair we are. How I made it to management level at the store still eludes me.”
“You worked hard and proved you could do the work.”
“Sometimes I miss the old sporting-goods store. Things were so much less complicated there.”
“You’ve moved onward and upward.”
Her mother nodded, the lines of worry still etched in her face.
“There are several personnel agencies that will place her with their fee paid by the employer. They’re easy to find. She can look in the Yellow Pages or online. She may want to start looking for temporary work. That might lead to something permanent if the layoff goes on. She does secretarial work and that should be easy enough to place.”
“Good idea. I’ll suggest that.”
Their waiter returned with a basket of rolls. Lauren pinched a bite from one, savoring the pungent garlic taste. “So, things aren’t going well with the new district manager?”
“He’s set up home base out of our store.”
“How’s that working out?”
Delores’s gaze shifted to her iced tea. “It’s unheard of. They have offices downtown for that, but sales are up forty percent. Corporate is thrilled.”
“You don’t seem so impressed, though.”
“The man is impossible, really.” Her cheeks flushed. She took a long draw from her tea. “He’s always underfoot wanting to know what I’m doing every minute I’m there. I can scarcely turn around and he’s breathing down my neck.”
“Well, it’s good that the store is doing well.” Lauren cocked her head. “If he’s really paying attention, he’s seeing how your hard work is contributing to that.”
“I suppose. He did like my suggestion for implementing a friendlier sales-training program. I just cannot tolerate pushy salespeople. I’m so glad you encouraged me to mention it. I’m outlining some of the resources you told me about.”
“I’m glad it’s working out for you.”
They paused awhile as their waiter reappeared and served their entrées. Lauren savored a bite of linguini smothered in a marinara sauce with shrimp and scallops.
“So, you never did say. What’s going on these days with Adam?” Delores asked.
Lauren paused with her fork halfway to her mouth. A memory of licking marinara sauce from Adam’s chest swept over her. She set down her fork.
“Um, we’re…dating.”
Her mother’s eyes rounded in excitement. “I knew it. Rusty’s probably thrilled—his two favorite people hooking up.”
“I don’t think he knows yet.”
“Oh, he’ll be thrilled. I am. So, everything’s going well then?”
Lauren forced a smile. “Sure. Everything’s just peachy.” Before she could say another word to dispute that statement, she took another bite of pasta and forced herself to chew.
Her mother had enough to worry about. There was no sense in burdening her further. Lauren would find a way to work out her own problems. Just as she always had.
8
ADAM PULLED UP to the curb beside the newly replanted entrance to one of Roswell’s newer subdivisions. His conversation with Miranda earlier had increased his feeling of unease. He knew his notion of a stay-at-home wife might be somewhat dated, but he’d always thought most working mothers worked as a matter of necessity. With today’s economy, sometimes it took two incomes to keep a family afloat.
In his case, though, that wouldn’t be necessary. If only Lauren wasn’t so tied up in her work.
He blew out a breath and got out of the car. Since Lauren was seeing her mother, then working at home, he wouldn’t be seeing her tonight. He was too restless to go home, though.
He glanced around the elaborate stone marker emblazoned with the name of the subdivision. Pansies in purple, burgundy and white hues winked at him from their fresh bed of soil. A car rolled past him, heading toward the first row of brick-fronted homes.
He waited for
the car to pass, then crossed to the island where Rusty and Manuel worked. “Hey, Rusty, it’s quitting time. I’ll buy you a beer. You, too, Manuel.”
Rusty closed the tailgate on the truck he’d been loading with the plants he and Manuel had apparently pulled. He walked slowly toward Adam. “I don’t know.”
“Thanks, but I’ve got to get home.” Manuel slipped into the loaded truck. “You guys have a good time. I’ll see you tomorrow.” With a wave, he headed out of the subdivision.
A dark car turned the corner, before sliding to the curb behind Adam. Rusty straightened, his eyes shifting to the young redhead behind the wheel. “Uh, I’ve got to go, Adam. That’s my ride.”
“Rusty, wait.” Adam followed him back to the new arrival, his internal alarm sounding. “Why don’t you bring your friend along?”
“Hey there, hot stuff.” The redhead slipped from behind the wheel. She wrapped herself around Rusty, who glanced apologetically at Adam.
“Adam, meet Sherry. Sherry, my boss.”
“Sherry. Nice to meet you.”
Smiling, she acknowledged Adam with a nod, but kept her hold on Rusty. “I’ve heard lots about you. It was really great of you to take Rusty on and help him get his place. My daddy was just terribly unfair. I’ll never forgive him for forcing Rusty to leave like that.”
“Your father?” Adam threw Rusty a questioning glance. Had the girl followed him all the way from Texas?
“Uh, Sherry, we’ve got to run, sweetie.” Rusty tried in vain to pry her arms from around his waist, but she seemed to cling even tighter.
“Hey, bro, could I see you a moment?” What kind of trouble had Rusty brought to town?
With a pout, Sherry loosened her grip. Rusty cupped her cheek reassuringly and gave her a quick smile before following Adam a short distance away.
“Look, Adam, I swear I didn’t know she was coming. She called and said she needed to borrow some money, so I sent her a wire. The next thing I knew, she was knocking at my door, with her bags in hand. What was I supposed to do?”
“Send her home?”
“I…couldn’t.”
“How old is she?”
“Eighteen.”
“You’re sure?”
