Her Millionaire, His Miracle

by Myrna Mackenzie

  “How’s that?” she asked Donald, her voice shaking.

  This time he smiled. She must be all of one foot off the ground. “You’re doing just fine, Eden. I don’t know why you’re doing this, but…are you done yet?”

  Yes, her cowardly brain commanded. But she hadn’t achieved her goal yet. She looked toward the window where Jeremy’s office was situated, then quickly looked away. Thinking of him would only make her more nervous and frightened.

  She reached for another handhold. Another. Deep breaths. Deep breaths. Don’t freeze. Don’t get sick. Her head was swimming, but still she kept going. She clutched at the next handhold, her stomach lurching, her mind panicking.

  “Donald?” she asked, her breath completely shaky and shallow now. “How am I doing, do you think?”

  “You’re doing absolutely perfect for a woman who’s deathly afraid of heights.” Jeremy’s cool, deep voice sounded below her and for a second Eden shrieked and lost her grip. She dangled in the air, Jeremy holding the belay line firmly as nausea slapped at her.

  She looked down at the ground, which seemed incredibly far away. In truth it was only about a dozen feet but…

  “I didn’t mean to go this far. What was I thinking?” she said.

  She expected him to laugh. Lots of people would have. There was probably no reason at all to be frightened. But Jeremy wasn’t laughing. “I have you, Eden, and I would never let you fall. Just slowly reach out in front of you and grasp the next handhold. Don’t look down. Look at your hands. Look at the rock.”

  That was the last thing she wanted to do. She wanted to go down, not up. But she was the one who had started this whole thing, and she had had a darn good reason, too.

  “Do you hear me, Eden? Grasp the rock.”

  “Can you see it?” she asked.

  “No, it’s a blur, but I know it’s there, and I can see enough to manage my part. You need to find a handhold and a foothold. Grasp the rock. Do it.”

  “Yes.” His voice compelled her as it always did. She took the next step and did as he said.

  “Now another step up.”

  She did it. A sense of exultation began to come over her. Jeremy was holding the rope, giving her slack when she needed it, but exerting control the whole time. He wouldn’t let her fall.

  “One more,” she said, and she thought she heard him laugh, but he gave her enough slack to ascend one more step.

  “I’m there. I’m up,” she said exultantly.

  “Fantastic,” he said. “Now, let’s get you down from there.”

  Within moments she was back almost on the ground. Jeremy caught her in his strong arms the minute her toe touched the grass and he turned her around to face him. “Imagine my surprise when through my window I heard you tell Don you were going up. Feel a strong urge to leave the ground today?” he asked.

  Eden felt her face flame. He knew it wasn’t true. She raised her chin. “I felt a strong urge to see my boss’s face. I was out of work.”

  “Ah,” he said with that smile she had missed. “I guess I’d better find more things to do to keep you from risking your neck.”

  “Donald has had training,” she explained.

  “But you haven’t and you don’t like heights. When people are afraid they sometimes do foolish things.”

  Oh, didn’t she just know all about that? “I was perfectly safe, I’m sure.”

  He smiled but it was a sad smile. “Tell me again why you did this when it was so obviously not on your list of things to do in this lifetime?”

  She crossed her arms and leaned closer. “You disappeared. I didn’t think that was healthy.”

  “How did you know I would come?”

  “It’s who you are.”

  He opened his mouth. To protest, Eden guessed, so she shook her head vehemently, so that the gesture couldn’t be missed. “I hoped you would show up, and you did.”

  “Because you needed work?”

  “And…the other.”

  “Oh, yes, you think I’m not taking care of myself.” Jeremy’s voice was a low caress. He reached out and gently brushed his knuckles across her cheek. Then he took off her helmet, her dark hair falling free. “You did this because you wanted to help me, but I’m not one of your students, Eden.”

  Eden looked up, straight into Jeremy’s eyes. He was so close, so warm. “I know that,” she somehow managed to say. “But after you heard about the child…”

  He waited, leaned closer, much closer. She felt his hands in her hair.

  She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, noting the heady, seductive scent of Jeremy’s aftershave, of his skin. “What…what are you doing?”

  “I’m seeing you better. I’m touching you and breathing you. Now what was the problem you were telling me about?”

  Automatically her eyes flew open. She reached up and grasped his hands. “You’re trying to distract me.”

  He smiled, that seductive smile. “No, I’m trying to distract me. I don’t want to discuss the child. Yet. I’ve spent the past few days trying to imagine the best and the worst, trying to pray and fearing that my prayers would go unanswered, that it was already too late. In the end, all my attempts were futile, because until we find the child, I can’t do a thing. I can’t help or protect him or her. You were right to distract me. I was getting morose, although…”

  “What?”

  “Jonathan DeFray is going to have the best computer communications system possible. The job was a great time killer.”

  “That’s good. The man is already singing your praises. Now he’ll really be excited about doing business with you.”

  But it appeared that Jeremy wasn’t listening. His attention was on her and then back on the climbing wall. “This cost you,” he said.

  “I was safe.”

  “Yes, but there’s safe and then there’s safe. Most spiders won’t hurt humans, but plenty of people have a dreaded fear of them. You’re afraid of heights, and knowing that, I would never have asked you to tackle this wall. Yet you did, because you thought I needed to be shaken out of my hole.” His fingers dipped down to caress her cheek. His lips followed.

  “Don’t let me change you or hurt you, Eden,” he said, his mouth so close to her ear that the warmth of his breath feathered across her skin.

  “I won’t,” she said, hoping she was telling the truth but afraid she was lying. She battled for air and sanity and control as he touched her and her body trembled. What was happening? Why did she want to lean closer when she knew she should move away? Frantic, she struggled for a way out.

  “And we’re going to find the child,” she finally blurted out, desperate to stop thinking about how much she wanted to move closer to him. “As soon as possible. I’m helping Barry.” The words helped. She pulled away and stepped back.

  “You’re helping Barry? Barry who has a thing for you?” Jeremy frowned. Then he blew out a breath. “You’re right. That’s probably a good thing. Thank you. I owe you so much. Now, let’s get you out of this gear and go inside.” He turned…a little bit too far to the right.

  Eden glanced at him and realized what she hadn’t before. She could see those fierce amber eyes clearly.

  “Jeremy, you’re not wearing your sunglasses.” She frowned. He never went outside without them.

  Grinning, he playfully touched her nose with one finger. “I was in a hurry.”

  Because she had been dangling on a wall ten feet in the air, perfectly safe but afraid.

  “The sun…” she said. “It’s exceptionally bright today. What can you see today under these circumstances?”

  Then, even though he had moved away from her, he took two steps closer and swept his hand up her side from her thigh, dipping into the curve at her waist, up her torso, over the neckline of her shirt. His fingertips brushed her earlobe, sending a shiver of need through her entire body. Somehow she managed to keep breathing.

  “You’re wearing dark jeans, a light-colored knit shirt with a scoop neck, sm
all earrings shaped like bells. And—” he leaned closer “—you smell like cinnamon toast.” He slid one hand around her waist and pulled her closer, kissing her lips. “You taste like cinnamon, too, and your lips are warm.” He kissed her again.

  His lips were warm, too, and firm and commanding. Eden wanted more. “The scent and taste of cinnamon isn’t something you can see,” she said weakly.

  “They are when you’re nearly blind,” he whispered, touching his tongue lightly to her lower lip. “This is how I see you. You look good, Eden. You look…beautiful. Stay off that wall unless I’m with you. And if you need to see me and I’m not around, next time just knock on my door. You have the right. By the way, Eden…”

  “Yes?” She looked up at him, waiting.

  “You were pretty spectacular up on that wall. Scared or not, you tackled the thing with an amazing spirit.” And then he turned and left her there wondering what she had been thinking when she decided to entice Jeremy outside. Had she really worried about the man? How silly, when she was the one whose heart was clearly at risk and whose heartstrings were being played by a master who would move on to the next set of lips very soon.

  CHAPTER TEN

  “YOU idiot, Fulton,” Jeremy said the next day. Eden didn’t deserve to have him toying with her or caressing her, but darn the woman, every time she was near him he forgot about all his good intentions and seemed to be losing more than his sight. His mind, his emotions and definitely his self-control were in jeopardy, as well.

  A groan escaped him. Eden had actually climbed the wall to entice him outside. Could he do any less than answer the call?

  “Darn woman,” he muttered, but he was smiling when he said it. “Donald,” he said later. “Saddle up the horses.”

  “Sir? Mr. Fulton?”

  Jeremy winked. “I’m going to tempt Eden out on a bicycle. The poor woman needs some fresh air.”

  Donald chuckled. “Sure thing, Mr. Fulton. I’m sure I can find one her size.”

  “And, Donald?” Jeremy continued.

  The man waited.

  “Thank you for making sure she didn’t get hurt yesterday. Next time call me.”

  “She’s spunky, Mr. Fulton. I don’t think she would have taken no for an answer.”

  Jeremy sighed. “You’re probably right. I’m beginning to see how I drove my aunt crazy, always plunging ahead with no thought to how it would worry others.”

  “Eden did it for you, Mr. Fulton.”

  “I know. I don’t deserve it. And you don’t have to say the polite thing here, Donald. You’ve worked for me long enough to just let me mumble on.”

  Donald shook his head and smiled.

  “So…where do you think she is, Donald?”

  “Working. She’s always at that computer of hers, working.”

  “Mmm. She definitely needs fresh air.” Jeremy pulled out his cell phone and called the line to Eden’s office.

  “Eden Byars,” she said, and her low, musical voice sent a tremor right through Jeremy.

  “Meet me by the garage. Wear comfortable, casual clothes.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m following your directions and getting out. I need…company.” He just couldn’t use the word help. Not with Eden.

  “Company’s coming,” she said. The phone went dead.

  Within minutes they were on the road. “You be the navigator,” Jeremy said.

  “Do I know where we’re going?”

  “No. And neither do I. Just ride.”

  She laughed. “I haven’t been on a bicycle for years, but…just ride? That I can do.”

  Outside the gates, there was traffic, which necessitated the two of them riding single file. “I’m turning right,” Eden called to him. He could see her turn, but judging when to make his own turn was a bit more complicated. The combination of motion and traffic was energizing but also a bit disorienting, and the curb he had to round wasn’t visible. “Two seconds, one, now,” Eden said quietly, then continued down the road.

  “I love this!” she said a few minutes later as they found a path along the lake. “I never realized what fun it was. I didn’t get to do much of this when I was young.”

  “Too many responsibilities?” Jeremy asked.

  “Partly. And the fact that I had no bike,” she confided.

  “Your uncle could have afforded one,” he mused.

  “Yes, but he thought we would start thinking we deserved more than we did if he provided us with luxuries. Eventually my brother earned enough money working at a fast-food place to buy one, and he let us share now and then.”

  While he could have had five hundred bikes if he’d wanted them, Jeremy couldn’t help thinking.

  “Jeremy!” a voice called. He turned in the general direction but there was traffic and masses of people. He couldn’t tell where the sound was coming from.

  “Five o’clock,” Eden said, giving him directions. “Gorgeous, long, curling red hair, big brown eyes, very shapely. Likes very feminine clothing if the ruffles at her wrists and throat are anything to go by,” she said softly.

  “Leslie Minnival,” Jeremy said. “Has to be. Is there a dog?”

  “A little one. White.”

  But by now the woman was rushing up to them. “Jeremy, where have you been? I’d heard you were back in town for a while, but I haven’t seen you around. Did you get tired of traveling the world?”

  He saw Eden move to the side. She turned toward him, and he could practically feel the questions rolling off her. Ah, so Ashley hadn’t told Eden that he’d been traveling until he had gotten the bad news about his eyes.

  “Something like that, yes,” he agreed.

  “It’s so good running into you. Things have been incredibly boring around here, and you always provide some spice. Hey, ladies, come see who’s here.”

  Jeremy heard a shriek and the sound of his name being uttered. He wasn’t even sure where to look as he abandoned the bike. But suddenly Eden was beside him. “Tonya Hilding,” she said quietly. “It’s nice to see you. And Rebecca Darien. It’s been forever. Charlotte Wills, hello. I’m Eden Byars, Ashley’s cousin.” As she called out the women’s names she unobtrusively ran a finger over Jeremy’s hand. L, C, R. Left, center, right.

  “Eden, of course we remember you,” one of the women was saying and sounding very much as if she didn’t remember at all. “It’s so good to see you again.”

  But Jeremy knew this group had been part of Miriam’s entourage. Eden wouldn’t have been one of their favored friends.

  “Eden…are you dating Jeremy these days?” another woman asked, an incredulous tone to her voice.

  Jeremy felt Eden’s body go stiff beside him. He knew what that trio would think; that he would never have dated someone like Eden.

  “Oh,” she said. “No.”

  “Yes,” he said suddenly, snagging her hand and drawing her to him. “Eden, sweetheart, I know we decided to stick to the employee story, but these are our friends. They’ve known us a long time. And they can see that I’m completely mad for you.”

  She raised her hand and cupped his jaw, but he could sense her discomfort. Her pretty face blurred a bit more as she came closer. “You’re sweet to say so, but I am your employee.”

  “Yes, love, but you’re also much more,” he said. He slid his palm to her waist and tugged her against his body, savoring the contact as her soft flesh molded to his. He felt Eden’s shock at his sudden, personal possession, but she quietly played along and melted into him.

  The woman on the left, Tonya, had moved in at the right angle for him to see her. She was eyeing Eden as if wondering if she was the same Eden who had attended high school with her.

  “Always on the move with the women,” she said, laughing.

  “Well, not so much anymore,” he told her. “Eden is special, and I’ve grown more sophisticated in my taste as I’ve gotten older. I’ve learned to look beneath the heavy makeup, the hair extensions and the um, surgical enhancements.
She doesn’t need all that shallow stuff, and Eden has something that other women just don’t have.”

  Eden was all but squirming beside him. He splayed his fingers wider, touching more of her. She stilled, despite the tension radiating from her body into his fingertips.

  “Oh, well, yes,” Rebecca said. “I’m so glad that’s working out for you.”

  “Thank you,” he said.

  “Jeremy, we’re having a party two nights from now,” Charlotte was saying. “It’s a charity thing, for children. We sent you an invitation and you turned us down, but we’d just love to have you. The Fulton name would mean so much.”

  Until some woman gazed into his eyes and realized he couldn’t see all of her attributes. “Two nights from now? I’m sorry, no, but I’ll send you a check,” he said.

  “You’re sure? Eden could come, too, if you want.”

  Now he really was sure. No one begrudgingly offered Eden a space at the table. “A large check,” he said. And he said his goodbyes and drew Eden away.

  Without discussing it, they turned their bikes around and rode home.

  “You could have gone. They’re your friends.”

  “They were never my friends any more than they were yours.”

  Eden seemed to study that. “You’re right. They’re not as deep and caring as you.”

  He nearly choked. “Me, deep and caring?”

  She stared him down. Then she reached out and touched his arm. “Don’t try to pretend you’re just a handsome face and a lot of muscles. I know you really will send that check, just as I know that their charity ball probably spends most of its money on food, wine and decorations and gives very little to the children. And with all the research I’ve been up to, I also know that you have several genuine children’s charities you contribute to. One you even started yourself recently.”

  He frowned. “Not an unselfish move. If it were, I would have started it years ago.”

  She laughed. “Jeremy, probably the majority of the charities in the world began when personal tragedy struck someone and they felt a need to do something. That doesn’t make the giving any less genuine. You do good.”