"It's not going to. You're stuck with me. For good."
"Is that a promise?"
"It's a promise," she whispered.
He lowered her to the bed and pulled the sheet down to their feet.
"No clothes," he murmured, running his lips along the line of her shoulder. "I like this."
"Yes, I noticed you had a little trouble with my clothes," Sharon replied, smiling.
He raised his head. "Are you suggesting that my technique was less than polished?" he said archly, then kissed the tip of her nose.
"Your technique was, is, wonderful," she answered, sighing as he rasped her nipple with his thumb. It hardened at his touch.
"Glad you appreciate it, because it's the only one you're going to experience for the rest of your life."
"Is that so, sir?" she said, closing her eyes as he moved over her, lifting her hips to his.
"That's so, madam," he replied, and gave her another sample of his technique.
* * * *
When Sharon awoke she could tell by the quality of the light that it was very early. She was alone in the bed and could smell something burning. She slipped into her own room to get a robe and then joined Tay in the kitchen.
He was barefoot, wearing only a pair of jeans, stirring something on the stove. Sharon came up behind him and kissed the back of his neck. He had showered and he smelled clean and soapy.
He turned and embraced her. "I didn't mean to wake you. I was going to surprise you with this."
"With what?"
"Breakfast." He looked back at the mess of runny eggs in the pan and said ruefully, "Or what should have been breakfast."
"What's burning?"
"The toast. I guess I should have waited for Rosa, huh?"
"I guess so," Sharon said, turning off the heat under the pan.
"I'm starving," he confessed. "I drank my dinner last night after you walked out with Pete."
"I remember."
"And I kind of worked up an appetite later," he added, nibbling her earlobe.
"I remember that, too. Vividly." She slipped out of his arms and said, "Sit down. I'll feed you. What would you like?"
"Pancakes?" he suggested hopefully.
She looked at him.
"Of course, if that's too much trouble," he added, shrugging, casting her a sidelong glance.
Sharon shook her head, smiling. "You are an operator, Mr. Braddock."
He sat at the table, sliding down onto his spine. "You want to keep my energy up, don't you?" he said slyly.
"I have never known it to be down," she replied crisply, looking for the flour.
"Not where you're concerned," he answered. He watched her moving about the kitchen and said, "This reminds me of the first time we met. You cooked for me then, too, remember?"
"Yes. You arrived looking like a road bum and proceeded to eat everything you could find until I made you an omelet."
"I thought you were awfully cute." He sighed. "But awfully young."
"And I thought you were challenging and interesting and... different."
"I'd been wearing the same clothes for three days," he said dryly. "That must have been different."
"Well, you were quite a change from the boys in my high school. You were..."
"What?"
"A man."
He regarded her fondly as she located the flour and reached for the measuring cups. "I was acutely aware of that fact every time I looked at you," he admitted. "You were always so clean and neat and pretty, with your tan hair hanging down over your shoulders like that princess in the fairy tale."
"Which one?" Sharon asked, indulging him.
"You know, the one where she's locked in a tower."
"Tay, they are always locked in towers. That's a staple of the fairytale market."
He shook his head. "No, no. The one where the prince comes and stands below her window and calls, 'Da-da-da, Da-da-da, let down your hair.' And when she does, he climbs it like a rope to see her."
"Da-da-da?" she said, teasing him.
"You know," he insisted.
"Rapunzel," she said, ending the suspense.
He snapped his fingers. "Rapunzel! You knew it all the time."
She put her hand over her heart. "I confess. I knew it all the time. The sugar canister is empty, do you know where Rosa keeps the big bag?"
"Under the silver drawer," he replied.
Sharon bent from the waist to get it. He watched as the action lifted her shortie robe and displayed a smooth expanse of creamy leg, stopping just shy of what he most wanted to see. His eyes narrowed to slits and his breathing quickened. Sharon held the position as she searched, unaware of his reaction until he finally stood abruptly, shoving aside his chair and covering the distance between them in two long strides.
He embraced her from behind just as she straightened with the bag in her hand.
"I bet I can make you drop that," he said softly, untying the sash of her robe.
He was fully aroused, and Sharon leaned back into him, closing her eyes.
"No bet," she replied, letting the bag fall into the sink.
He pulled the robe off her shoulders and released it, cupping her breasts in his hands as it slid to the floor. She rotated her hips, pressing and rubbing against him, and she was rewarded by his deep moan of pleasure.
"Temptress," he said in her ear.
"I'm trying."
"Seductress."
"I hope so."
He released her long enough to unfasten his jeans and step out of them, then pulled her to him again, spinning her around and bracing her against the counter.
"Just…lift," he said, grunting as he held her up and she locked her legs around his hips. He entered her standing and they raced to a swift conclusion that left them drained and panting. Sharon let her head fall to Tay's shoulder, and it was several seconds before he realized that she was laughing.
"What?" he said.
"I can't believe we just did that," she said, looking up at him.
"Why not?"
"What if Rosa had walked in?"
"Knowing Rosa," Tay said, kissing her damp temple, "she would have applauded and said, 'It's about time, no es verdad?’”
Sharon giggled. "You're probably right."
Tay stepped back and Sharon put her feet on the floor. "So, what about those pancakes?" she said briskly, reaching for her robe.
Tay snatched it out of her grasp. "You won't be needing this," he said, tossing it into a corner.
"I thought you wanted breakfast," Sharon protested as he took her hand and began leading her back to the bedroom.
"Breakfast can wait," he replied. "I just remembered what I'd rather do.''
"You don't feel weak or faint or anything, do you?" she said as he dragged her through the door. "From lack of food I mean?"
He picked her up and tossed her, squealing, onto the bed.
"If I pass out, just slap me a few times and I'll come around," he said, sprawling on top of her, catching his weight on his hands at the last second.
"I'll keep you awake, Braddock," she promised, scrunching down in the bed and planting a row of kisses on his hip, working inward.
"I'm awake, I'm awake," he said huskily, turning to accommodate her.
They both fell silent and he proved to her that he was indeed awake.
* * * *
When Rosa entered the house an hour later, she found Sharon's robe crumpled behind the kitchen table and Tay's jeans on the floor in front of the sink. She stared for a few seconds, and then, grinning to herself, picked the clothes up and folded them neatly.
Sharon emerged from the bathroom minutes later, wearing her terry beach coverup, her hair wet from the shower. She stopped short when she saw Rosa standing in the kitchen, putting the flour back in the cabinet.
"Hello," Sharon said sheepishly.
"Well," Rosa greeted her, "it looks like a few things have changed around here."
"Can't fool you, huh?" Sharon said
.
"The clothes on the floor were my first clue," Rosa said dryly.
"Oh. We forgot them."
"Obviously. And I also noticed the ingredients of…something scattered around the kitchen. Never got around to cooking it, huh?"
"I was going to make pancakes. I was... interrupted."
"I'll bet. Where's Tay?"
"Sleeping."
"I'm sure he's tired,'' Rosa said solicitously.
"Stop looking so superior, Rosa, this is what you wanted."
"No, it's what you wanted," Rosa replied, plugging in the coffeepot.
"Is that coffee?" Sharon said, sitting down and trying to change the subject.
"No, it's beer. Don't change the subject. May I ask how this miracle came about?"
Sharon sighed. "It's a long story."
Rose spread her hands. "I have nothing but time."
Sharon faced the inevitable. "Last night a friend of mine from Philadelphia showed up here to see me.''
"A friend?"
"A man I had dated, someone I work with at the office."
"I see."
"Tay got upset."
"I would think so."
"Especially since Pete—that's the friend—announced that he wanted to marry me."
Rosa turned to look at her.
"Yeah, it was pretty bad," Sharon agreed.
"Is the friend still alive?"
"Tay... explained to him that we were already married. In a manner of speaking."
"I'm so sorry I missed this," Rosa observed, removing cups from the dishwasher."
"I wish I could have missed it."
"Did this Pete think you wanted to marry him?"
"He conceded that he wasn't thinking much at all. I told him my situation with Tay and he accepted it, but his arrival sort of brought things to a head between Tay and me."
"I can imagine," Rosa murmured.
"We had a big fight."
"And a bigger reconciliation."
Sharon nodded, coloring.
"And you both admitted that you had loved each other all along."
Sharon nodded again.
"Well, it's about time."
Sharon grinned.
"What?"
"Tay said you would say that.''
Rosa removed the incinerated remains of Tay's toast from the toaster and fed them to the disposal. "I haven't exactly made a secret of my feelings on the subject. But you two have been as obstinate as mules since you got here. I never saw such foolish behavior in my life."
"That's because you weren't here last night when Pete arrived," Sharon said, wincing. "It wasn't Tay's finest hour."
"Taking my name in vain?" said the man himself, coming into the kitchen. He was wearing the sweater Sharon had removed the night before and a fresh pair of jeans.
"Good morning!" Rosa said, beaming. "My, don't you look relaxed."
Tay glanced at Sharon.
"She knows,” Sharon said.
Tay flushed slightly, walking past Rosa to the coffee pot which was bubbling to a noisy conclusion.
"Isn't that cute?" Rosa said to the air. "He's embarrassed."
Tay poured himself a cup of coffee and turned to face them. "You're a riot, Rosa," he said darkly.
Rosa smiled and flicked her dish towel at him. "I've been waiting a long time for this," she said. "You can't blame me for enjoying it."
"I enjoyed it," Sharon piped up, and Tay choked.
Rosa slapped his back. "Take it easy there," she said.
The phone rang.
"I wonder who that is," Sharon said, reaching for it.
"Probably George, checking on the horse," Tay said. Then he slapped his forehead. "The horse! I was supposed to look in on her last night."
"I'm sure she understands that you were busy," Rosa contributed.
"Hello," Sharon said into the receiver.
"Hi, Sharon, it's Pete."
"Oh, hi, Pete."
Tay looked up, his expression guarded.
“Are you okay?'' Pete asked.
"I'm fine," Sharon responded.
"More than fine," Rosa corrected.
“You said you were going to call me."
"Oh, Pete, I'm sorry. I forgot."
"I was worried."
"I'm sorry that you were worried, but I'm perfectly all right. Really."
“Is your... husband still there?"
"Yes," Sharon answered carefully. Tay was listening to every word.
"I wanted to come over to say goodbye," Pete said.
Sharon glanced nervously at Tay. "You want to come here?"
Tay watched her.
"I don't know if that would be such a good idea," Sharon said hesitantly.
"Let him come," Tay said indulgently, draining his cup. "I'll be good."
"He'll be good," Rosa seconded.
Tay shot her a dirty look.
"I won't cause any trouble. I just want to see you before I leave," Pete said.
"All right," Sharon agreed. "What time?"
"I can leave right now, be there in about twenty minutes."
"Okay. See you then."
"Goodbye."
Sharon hung up the phone to the heavy silence in the room.
"He'll be here soon," Sharon announced.
"I've got work to do," Tay replied. "I'll make myself scarce."
"I'd appreciate it," Sharon said gratefully.
"He doesn't threaten me anymore," Tay said, putting down his cup. He walked over to her and kissed her cheek. "I got the girl."
"Hurray!" Rosa said and threw her dish towel into the air.
"Give me that thing," Tay muttered, grabbing for it. Rosa danced out of his reach, laughing.
"I'll be down in the foaling barn if you need me," Tay said to Sharon.
She nodded.
"For anything," he added, grinning wickedly.
"Get out of here," Rosa said.
"I'm going," he said, holding up his hand. On the way out he grabbed two of the sweet rolls Rosa had brought with her and popped one into his mouth.
"I guess that's his breakfast," Rosa said resignedly.
"He'll make up for it at lunch," Sharon said.
"Don't you think you'd better get dressed?" Rosa said pointedly, examining Sharon's sketchy outfit.
"Right." Sharon stood and headed for her bedroom.
"I'll make you something to eat," Rosa called after her.
"Don't bother, I'll get a sandwich later," Sharon answered.
"I don't know what I'm doing here, nobody ever consumes any food in this house," Rosa muttered to herself.
Sharon dressed quickly and was waiting for Pete when he arrived. Rosa withdrew discreetly to do the laundry.
"You look lovely," Pete said to her as they sat in the living room.
"Thank you."
"Where's Tay?"
"Down with the horses."
"Avoiding me?"
"I don't doubt it."
"So I guess you made it up with him last night," Pete said.
"How can you tell?"
"You're glowing, just like the advertisements say. Except I don't think it's face cream, is it?"
"No."
Pete sat forward and clasped his hands. "Well, the way things were going, I figured he'd wind up either killing me or making love to you."
"I'm glad he chose the second alternative.''
"Are you happy?"
"Yes. Very."
He nodded. " I could see that, but I had to ask."
"Pete, I'm sorry about the way things turned out for you."
"Don't be. I know when I'm beaten. Even when you were furious, I could tell by the way you were looking at him that you were crazy about him."
"We've caused each other a lot of pain,"
"That goes with it sometimes."
"So what are you going to do now?" Sharon asked, trying to get him to talk about himself.
"Finish my vacation. Then go back to Philly and resign."
“Real
ly? You've made up your mind? "
He nodded. "I've got to do something for my future, I'm just spinning my wheels with Desmond."
"I hope it works out for you.''
"Do you think you'll be staying here?''
"Yes."
Pete stood. "Well, I guess that does it." He kissed Sharon's cheek. "Be happy."
"I'll try."
As Pete was turning for the door it opened, and Tay walked into the room.
The two men confronted each other and Sharon tensed.
Tay wiped his palm on the thigh of his jeans and extended his hand to Pete.
"I wanted to see you before you left, and I noticed your car was still here," he said. "Please accept my apology for the way I behaved last night. I was a little drunk and a lot jealous. I'm sorry."
Sharon watched in amazement as Pete took Tay's hand and shook it.
It seemed that no one was immune to Tay's charm when he chose to exert it.
"Forget it," Pete said. "I was barging in where I didn't belong, I realize that now."
Tay nodded .
"I was just concerned about Sharon," Pete added.
"I'm glad she has such good friends."
Why don't they kiss each other, Sharon thought dryly, suspecting that they were overdoing it for her sake.
"Goodbye, Sharon," Pete said, turning to her.
"Goodbye, Pete. Have a safe trip.''
After Pete left Tay said, "He isn't such a bad guy."
“Last night you wanted to vivisect him.''
"That was last night," he replied, moving closer and putting his arms around her. "Before you declared your undying love for me."
“And demonstrated it.''
"Very capably.”
"How is Sandpiper?'' Sharon asked.
"Okay, no thanks to me. Miguel looked after her." Tay held her off and looked down into her face. "I had an idea."
"Another one?"
"Don't get smart. Remember that Italian place we went on your birthday, the night Rae and your father were at the auction?"
"How could I forget? The dinner didn't go so well, but you took me for a hamburger later that night and I started to fall in love with you."
"Because of the hamburger?" he said teasingly.
"Because you were so nice to me."
"Was I?"
"You didn't treat me like a kid, although I'm sure I was acting like one."
He shook his head. "No, I thought you were very mature. That's why it was so hard for me to remember your age sometimes." He traced her nose with a blunt fingertip. "I thought we could go back to that restaurant tonight if you like, do it right this time."
A Marriage of Convenience Page 18
