by Marilyn Lee
“It was not a caress! I only came in here to see if you were still feverish. I couldn’t very well do that without touching you, could I?”
He released her hand, looking and sounding amused. “Why didn’t you say so?”
He perplexed her and twisted her emotions into a confused knot. Why did that amuse him? He was nothing more than an unfeeling brute! “I would have, if you’d given me half a chance!” she snapped, rubbing her wrist. “But you just...pounced on me like some...big bully!”
His eyes widened. Then, before she could stop him, he’d reclaimed her hand, holding it in both of his. “I forgot about your wrists. I’m sorry! Did I hurt you?”
If she said no, he would probably just release her hand. If, on the other hand, she said yes, he might be contrite enough to try to kiss it better.
Shame washed over her. Was she so desperate for his attention that she’d stoop to lying to get it? “No,” she admitted and found herself bitterly regretting her honestly when he immediately released her hand unkissed. So much for honesty being the best policy.
“That’s a relief.”
She waited for him to say something else, but he just sat there, staring at her with those too blue eyes.
She looked away. “Since you’re all right, I’ll go start breakfast. You must be hungry.”
“For food?”
She didn’t dare look at him. “Oh, Reed, don’t!” she pleaded, feeling as if she were at the breaking point. She couldn’t bear it if he were going to flirt with her, lead her on, and then cruelly remind her that he belonged to Taylor. Not after he’d kissed her with such passion.
“I’m sorry!” he said quickly. “Forgive me. I didn’t mean to be...immodest. Actually, I’m starving.”
“About last night…”
“What about it?”
So he didn’t remember. “Never mind.” She flashed him a quick smile and backed away. Once safely outside his bedroom with the closed door between them, she leaned her forehead against the wall.
He knew how she felt! He had to. Why else would he have warned her off with that talk about friendship? When she left on Monday, she would never, ever under any circumstances, set foot in his bedroom or his house again. No matter who asked, begged, or cried.
Chapter Seven
Forty–five minutes later, he walked into the kitchen. He’d shaved and his hair was damp. He wore jeans and a tee–shirt, which revealed his rather impressive biceps.
She turned back to the range. “Coffee’s ready.”
“Thanks. It smells great.”
She heard him pour himself a cup. Then, instead of taking it back upstairs with him, or even going to sit at the table, she saw, he joined her at the range.
Great. Just what she needed. Him, up–close and personal.
“You know you’re staring at that bacon as if you expect it to jump out of the pan and run away if you take your eyes off it for a single moment,” he said.
He sounded amused. Again. At her expense. She swung around to face him. “And you’re staring at me as if I were an insect under a microscope! Why are you hounding me?”
She didn’t know how she expected him to react. Maybe with a flash of irritation of his own. Or dismay at her outburst. What she didn’t expect was to have him put down his coffee cup and take her hands in his.
She tried to suppress a shiver of delight. “Don’t…”
He tightened his grip. “I’m sorry, Annalise.”
“For what?”
“For everything.”
What did everything include? She wasn’t sure of anything except that she longed to press into his arms and bury her face against his shoulder. It would be wonderful to feel his arms around her as she admitted she loved him. Loved him. Loved him. Loved him.
“The bacon will burn,” she said instead.
He shrugged, rubbing his palms against her hands. “No problem. I like crisp bacon.”
“Well, I don’t!” She tugged at her hands.
He released them. Instead of moving away, he remained close.
She was very aware of him as she lifted the sizzling bacon strips from the pan and put them on paper towels lying on a warming tray to drain before adding more bacon to the pan.
Oh, why didn’t he just go away and leave her in peace? “Would you do me a favor?” she asked when she could no longer stand the silence or his unflinching stare.
He inched nearer and her breath caught in her throat. “Anything.”
“Go away. Now. Please.”
“Why?”
She didn’t dare look at him. She didn’t need to. She knew he knew why. “Do I need a reason?” She challenged.
“No. Of course not,” he said quietly.
She turned to face him. “Then why are you still here?”
His gaze settled on her face. “Because I want to ….”
“You want to what?” Her voice was barely above a whisper. He was going to kiss her. She could see it in the blue fire of his eyes. This time there would be no doubt he knew what he was doing and who he was kissing.
He sighed, briefly closing his eyes. “Some things are better left unsaid. Undone.”
Why did that have to include kissing her when there was no doubt he meant it? “Fine.” Get lost.
“I’d better go before I...I wouldn’t want you to think that I....”
“What wouldn’t you want me to think? That you’re tempted?”
He raked a hand through his hair. “You have no idea how I feel.”
“I will if you tell me.”
“There’s nothing that I have a right to say to you.”
“Why don’t you let me be the judge of that?”
He shook his head. “Because I don’t think you’re thinking any clearer than I am.”
That was true enough.
“And I...I have to go.”
She shrugged. “So go.”
He went.
She turned back to the stove. His absence gave her time to pray and regain some of her equilibrium. Half an hour later, Ria and RP charged into the kitchen, demanding breakfast. Reed followed more slowly. “Morning.”
“Good morning.” She flashed a quick, meaningless smile. “Breakfast’s done, but the bacon’s a little crisp.”
“I like crisp bacon,” he replied.
Ria and RP threw themselves at her.
She bent to allow them to cover her face with kisses. Glancing up, she noted Reed watching with a cold look in his eyes. Did he resent the warm bond between her and his kids?
She straightened and moved to the stove to put breakfast on the table.
An hour and a half later, she sat beside Reed in the front of his car heading for Sunday morning service. The subject of the sermon that morning was the need for church members to maintain Christian qualities in every aspect of life.
“Friends, that includes all aspects,” the minister said. “In deed as well as word. We must live up to our calling as Christ’s brethren. We must control our thoughts. Keep them clean and Christ like.”
It seemed to Annalise that the minister looked directly at her as he spoke. Almost as if he knew of her impure desire for Reed.
It was all she could do not to squirm in her seat. She turned her head to steal a glance at Reed. She was startled to find him looking at her instead of the minister. Their eyes met briefly before she looked away.
After the service, he introduced her to the minister. James Daily was a middle–aged man with kind but piercing blue eyes. “I’m glad to see that Reed has finally found someone to stay with Ria and RP,” he said warmly, enveloping her hand in both of his.
“I’m just here for a few days to help out.”
“Oh? That’s unfortunate. I couldn’t help noticing how Ria and RP seemed to cling to you during the service.”
So he had been looking at her! “They’re very sweet and I’m very fond of them. I found your sermon very inspiring. Thanks.”
“Come again, young lady.”
“Thank you.” She smiled and left the church. Ria and RP followed her. Not waiting for Reed, they headed for the parking lot.
“Why can’t you stay with us, Annie?” RP asked, slipping his hand in hers when they stopped by Reed’s car.
She looked down into the blue eyes so like Reed’s and wanted nothing more than to stay. “I wish I could, RP.”
“Who’s stopping you?”
At the sound of Reed’s voice, just behind her, she turned to him with what she hoped was an airy smile. “What?”
“Why don’t you stay?”
“What?”
“He said why don’t you stay?” Ria said helpfully.
“The night? I already said I would. Deb will be back some time tomorrow afternoon. I won’t leave until then.”
“No. I meant why don’t you stay beyond tomorrow?”
“You mean until Tuesday or Wednesday? Oh. Well, I suppose I could stay until then.”
“That’s not what I meant either.”
“Then what did you mean, RP Senior?”
He ran a finger along the inside of his collar, as if it were suddenly too tight. “I thought that...since you’re not working, you might be persuaded to stay a little longer.”
Despite her earlier resolve, her heart thumped at the thought of staying. “How much longer?”
He shrugged, not quite meeting her gaze. “Well, I thought maybe a couple of…..”
“What? Days?”
He brought his blue gaze back to hers. “Actually I was thinking in terms of weeks...months even.”
“Months? Have you lost your—”
“I didn’t mean to clean and cook,” he said quickly. “I’ve already contacted a domestic service for someone to keep the house clean. And I’ll hire a cook, if you like. I was hoping you’d consider staying just to be with Ria and RP. It would mean a lot to them.”
She felt a tug on her hand and looked down into RP’s upturned face. “Please stay, Annie. We need you.”
It wasn’t fair of Reed to ask her to stay in front of Ria and RP. “We’ll talk about it later, RP.” She turned to Reed. “And as for you, Reed, I’d be careful what you wished for,” she said sweetly. “You just might get it. At a price.”
His gazed searched hers. “What price?”
She shook her head. “One you’re not prepared to pay, so don’t start anything you can’t finish, Reed.”
“Daddy can finish anything he starts!” Ria said.
“That’s enough, Maria,” he said firmly. “Okay, you two. Hop in.” He opened the back door and secured Ria and RP in their seats. Annalise didn’t wait for him. She slipped in the front passenger seat and put on her seat belt.
He got into the car and turned to look at her. “What price?” he asked softly. “Tell me and let me decide if the price’s too high.”
“I’m not staying. I can’t stay.”
“Why not? They like you and I think you like them too.”
“I more than like them and you know that. But don’t try to use my feelings for them against me. I can’t stay.”
“Why not?”
“Believe me when I tell you, RP Senior, you don’t want to know why not.”
Just for a second, she thought he would press the issue, but after a moment, he sighed and started the car. “Okay, Annalise. Have it your way.”
“I wish,” she muttered and turned to stare out the passenger window.
At the house, she went straight to her bedroom and took off the dark blue calf–length dress she’d worn for the service. She tossed the dress onto the bed. A fat lot of good it had done her. Reed hadn’t seemed the least inclined to let an old–fashioned wolf whistle fly at the sight of her in it.
She pulled her hair back into a ponytail and slipped into another pair of oversized sweats.
Instead of going back downstairs, she sat in front of the vanity mirror, staring at her face. Even with makeup, the face that stared back at her was cute at most. Her eyes weren’t deep or mysterious. Her mouth wasn’t particularly full or sensual. There was nothing remarkable about her nose or chin. In short, there was nothing about her strong enough to entice Reed away from Taylor. That she even wanted to after sitting through that morning’s sermon didn’t say much for her spirituality.
Although there was clearly some attraction on his part, it surely didn’t override his feelings for Taylor. Why hadn’t she attended that morning’s service? Annalise shook her head. Her time would be better served worrying about her own spirituality instead of Taylor’s. As far as she knew Taylor wasn’t trying to steal anyone else’s man.
Forgetting Reed shouldn’t be so difficult. Most of the men she’d met during the last four years had turned out to be interested in nothing more from her than friendship. A woman with less confidence would have developed a complex.
Still, she wondered if she were destined to be a perpetual bridesmaid, but never a bride. Not that feeling sorry for herself would help.
She rose from the vanity and headed toward the door. She wasn’t going to hide in the bedroom to avoid Reed. If he could face her, she could face him.
Reed sat on the back porch, watching Ria and RP playing on the playground behind the house. As usual, thoughts of Annalise filled his head. He’d never met anyone quite like her. He didn’t know what to make of her. One moment she behaved as if she thought of him as a big brother. The next she was in his bedroom, caressing his face, bringing him flowers and telling him she was there to take care of him. Making him believe it. Making him want it.
Why was life suddenly so complicated? There was Taylor, the woman he’d discussed marriage with and had been ready to propose to until he’d met Annalise. Annalise. Delightful. Captivating. And making no secret of finding him attractive.
What was it about her he found so irresistible and worth risking his relationship with Taylor for? He got up and moved off the porch to look up at the house. His gaze rested on the back bedroom window.
They needed to talk. He needed to know where they stood. As he started up the back stairs, a car came to a stop in front of the house. He went back down the back steps and started around the side of the house.
Moments later a tall, beautiful woman with short auburn hair and blue–gray eyes came around the side of the house. Her face lit with a smile when she saw him. “Reed, darling!”
He stifled a sigh. She was the last person he wanted to see now. Still, he walked forward and took her hands in his. Mindful of Ria and RP watching, he avoided the lips she offered him and pressed a quick kiss against her cheek. “Taylor! This is a nice surprise,” he said.
Slipping her arms around his waist, she leaned up and kissed him full on the lips. “Now that’s better,” she said, grinning up at him. “Isn’t it?”
He sucked in his breath. When he looked up, he saw Ria and RP standing on the porch. They stared at him with wide eyes and open mouths.
Taylor followed his gaze and looked toward the porch before looking up at him. “What’s with them? You’d think they’d never seen you kissing a woman.”
The comment annoyed him. He pulled away from her. “I’m not in the habit of treating them to public displays of affection.”
“Oh, come on, darling. I’m counting on being the only woman in your life.” She smiled up at him.
He moved away from her and walked over to the porch to touch Ria and RP on the top of their heads. “Close your mouths,” he said lightly.
Ria stared up at him. “Why did you let her kiss you like that, Daddy? Was that a Christ like kiss?”
He was going to have to have a heart to heart with Taylor. “We’ll talk about that later, sweetie.”
“But Daddy! I want to talk about it now!”
“And I said we’d talk about it later, Maria. Do you understand?”
She made a face. “Yes, sir.”
He smiled and tweaked her nose. “Thanks, sweetie.”
“Hi, Maria. Hi RP.” Taylor came onto the porch and smiled at the kids.
>
“Hi,” RP said.
“Hello,” Ria said.
Reed sighed inwardly as he noticed that neither of them smiled nor shown any inclination to fling themselves at her the way they were inclined to do with Annalise.
Apparently not bothered by their lack of warmth, Taylor sat on the swing and patted the seat next to her. “Join me, Reed?”
He went, after giving her a warning look. Although she moved close to him when he sat beside her, she made no move to touch him. Instead of returning to the slide, Ria sat on the porch close to the swing. RP sat next to her.
“Don’t you two want to go play?” Taylor asked.
Ria shook her head. “Nope. RP and me like it right here with you and Daddy.”
“Right here with you and Daddy,” RP echoed.
“How nice for us.”
Reed winced at the dryness in Taylor’s voice. He was fast losing all hope of her and the kids ever growing closer.
“Where were you yesterday, Taylor?” Ria asked.
“I had lot of things to do at home. Did you miss me, sweetheart?”
He wasn’t surprised when Ria shook her head. “But Daddy was so hot and sick he couldn’t get up.”
Taylor half turned to look up at him. “You weren’t feeling well? Why didn’t you let me know, darling?”
Before he could point out that he hadn’t been in any shape to call her or anyone else, Ria spoke again. “It’s all right. We went and got Annie and she made everything all right. She bought Daddy flowers and sat with him in his room and held his hand and sang to him and made him all better. Look at him. Doesn’t he look all better?”
Reed felt his face flood with heat. How was he going to explain that scene in his bedroom to Taylor without her thinking there was something between he and Annalise?
Taylor turned to stare at him. “Please tell me Annie’s your elderly, maiden aunt.”
“Daddy doesn’t have an elderly—” Ria began.
“That’s enough, Maria,” he said firmly. “You and RP go back to the play area.”
“Okay, Daddy.” She smiled sweetly at him before she danced off the porch. She’d deliberately told Taylor about Annalise being in his bedroom, no doubt in hopes of driving a wedge between them. He was going to have to have a long talk with Ria.
