by Anne
Megan didn't reply, but Sara felt a little better, Mike must have decided not to wake them out of consideration, not because he didn't care to say good-bye. It was too bad, but it was probably just as well. It would be easier on them all, with no tearful good-bye scenes. The pancakes came and the girls ate heartily while she picked at the food.
When Fred came back to clear the dirty dishes, Sara took the girls by the hand. "We are really sorry not to have the chance to thank Mr. Taylor himself for his hospitality," she told Fred. "But I hope you will convey our gratitude to him.'
He looked puzzled. "But you'll see him tonight."
She shook her head. "No, I'm afraid not. We have to be on our way this morning."
"But I understood from Mr. Taylor that you would be staying," Fred insisted. "In fact, he told me to get the Mercedes out for you to drive while you were here."
"I'm sorry if you went to any trouble." she said, "but Mr. Taylor was aware of our plans." Sara was back to being angry. As much as she wanted to be with him, she was tired of his trying to manipulate her. Why did he keep making decisions without consulting her? She turned on her heel and started back toward the guest house with the girls. "We'll just get our things together and be out of your hair."
"But you can't."
Sara knew it was not Fred’s fault, but he was getting a bit annoying. Just because Mike had told him they were staying longer didn't mean they weren't free to leave. She stopped and turned around.
"I'm sure that Mr. Taylor will understand," she assured him.
"But you can't leave," Fred repeated. "Mr. Taylor
asked me to get his things from the camper and I
took the liberty of sending your things to the laun
dry with his. " *
"You took our clothes?" He truly looked embarrassed and she found she could not stay angry with him.
"There was a laundry bag with dirty clothes in it," he said with a shrug. "But they'll be returned tomorrow."
She sighed, "I guess we could come back for them." Fred still looked uncomfortable. "Don't tell me, you sent the camper out to be laundered too?"
"No, no." he said quickly. "But it was leaking oil and Mr. Taylor agreed that it should be checked out."
Damn him, she fumed. "I guess we dont have much choice then, do we? We have to stay."
The girls were delighted, and even Sara wasn't as angry as she felt she ought to be. She wanted to see Mike again, perhaps even to know the ecstasy of his arms once more pulling her to him with passionate need.
Mike was back by five, but was disappointed to find that he had beaten Sara and the girls home.
He had been so anxious to see them again. After changing into shorts, he went out and sat by the pool to wait for them. He wasn't there long before they returned looking exhausted. Even the girls' mouse-eared hats seemed to be drooping slightly.
"Mike!" Karl cried, spotting him.
He got to his feet as the girls ran over to greet him. Sara followed more slowly. He couldn't tell if she was glad to see him or not.
"We went on a submarine."
"And in a haunted house."
"And drove cars."
Over the babble of the girls' voices, he smiled at Sara. He wanted to take her In his arms and caress away that weariness. He could bring a smile to those tired eyes if she would just let him, he thought tenderly.
"Can we go swimming. Mommy?"
She frowned at the girls. "I thought you were tired."
"Not anymore," they insisted. "Just hot."
She shrugged. "As long as you don't expect me to join you."
"Great," they cried, and ran off to the guest house to change.
As soon as the girls were out of sight, Sara was in his arms. His mouth came down on hers and he drank hungrily of her sweetness. His hands pulled her closer and closer to him until she protested halfheartedly.
"Mike, the girls might see us." And what if they do? Don't men and women kiss in Kansas City?"
"That's not the point."
His hand touched her cheek with gentle fondness. Just having her in his arms wasn't enough. His hands needed to be touching her everywhere, feeling her desire reborn. A current of raw wanting raced through him. Memories of the passion they'd shared last night flooded his mind, leaving an aching need for her in their wake.
He had missed her, he realized, now that she was secure within his embrace. Lost in the wonder of her lips, he could admit that the hours away from her had seemed long and tiring. He had grown used to Sara's presence In these last few days. She had a warm, comforting aura about her, and In one day she had turned his house into a home.
She pushed him away from her gently. "I really ought to be mad at you," she told him. To getting a little tired of having my decisions swept aside by your actions."
"What did I do now?"
"You know I only meant for us to stay one night. I told you I was going to find a campground today."
"So?"
"So that's hard to do when we don't have a camper to drive."
The girls came running out in their bathing suits and jumped Into the water. They splashed each other, laughing as they swam about. Mike pulled Sara over to two lounge chairs on the wooden deck so they could talk.
"What's the big deal about staying here?" he asked. "I've got plenty of room, most of it going to waste, not to mention the pool."
She sighed. "I just prefer to pay my own way," she said. "I don't like feeling dependent on anyone.'1
"I know," he said. "The budget book and no hot lunches or new clothes until Christmas."
She blushed and turned away from him. "How did you know about that?"
He didn't know what there was to be embarrassed about and held her hand gently. "The kids told me."
She still would not look at him. "That doesn't mean we need your charity," she whispered.
There's nothing wrong with saving for the things you want."
Why was she being so stubborn? he wondered. "Of course not, so why not save the money you would be spending if you weren't staying here? Buy yourself some new clothes with it."
"I don't need any new clothes," she informed him, getting to her feet and pulling her hand from his. "And when 1 do, I will work it into the budget without your help."
He stood up. "My Lord, will you stop being so damn pigheaded?" he snapped. "What do you think it's costing me to put you up? The only expense is the little bit of food you and the girls eat, and even that isn't much. I could have paid for your whole vacation and barely noticed it."
Damn. That had been the wrong thing to say. He could tell from the shuttered look that came over her face, and he wished he had bitten his tongue instead of speaking. But what else could he say? It was too soon to tell her he wanted them to stay. that he was beginning to feel they were the happiest part of his life.
"Sara, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that the way it sounded," he said softly. His hand gently turned her face to look at him. "It shouldn't matter that I have more money. It doesn't to me, why should it to you?"
"It's not just the money," she said stiffly. How could she make him understand that she wanted to hear him say that he really cared for her? "It's everything. Look at the way you live. What do you think the girls will think of me when we get back home and they see our tiny little town house? How do you think I’ll compare to you when there's no built-in swimming pool to jump into on a hot day?"
He just stared at her as he shook his head. "You aren't making any sense. Why should they love you any less because you can't afford a house this size?11
"We aren't talking about shoulds." We're talking about reality. They aren't going to get everything they want in their lives and it isn't too early for them to start learning that fact. There Is no Captain Wonder to buy them new dresses just because they want them. Captain Wonders don t exist in real life."
"I do too," he protested with a forced laugh. "Those tights I have to wear are quite real. I’ll have you know."
"
Oh, Mike, that's not what I meant and you know it. Sometimes I wonder if you know who you are and who your TV role is," she said impatiently, then sighed. Tm going to change my clothes. Will you keep an eye on the kids while I'm gone?"
"Have no fear," he called after her. "They shall be under the protection of Captain Wonder."
Her stiff back told him that his attempt at humor was not appreciated. The trouble was, he hadn't known what to say to her. He knew that someone must have hurt her terribly to make her so afraid to lean even a little on another person. He wished he had the words to make it all better, to soothe away all the pain she had suffered, but words like that didn't come easily to him. In fact. Just the desire to help her was a new feeling. New and a little frightening. He wasn't sure he wanted to share someone else's hurt. Laughter was easier, more comfortable.
He sat down on the edge of the pool, dangling his bare feet in the water. "So, kids, how do you like staying in Captain Wonder's house?"
Sara closed the bedroom door behind her and took a deep breath. She had to stop being so sensitive, she knew. She should just have thanked Mike politely for all he'd done and then said they'd be on their way. There was no reason to start an argument. All It did was make her look ungrateful and ill-mannered. In reality, she was neither of those things. She just wanted him so badly, she was terrified. Her mind told her to get away from him before she got hurt, yet her body commanded her to stay.
She took a quick shower, brushed her short, dark hair back from her face, and changed into a red and white sundress. The girls were drying themselves off when she got back outside.
"Great timing." Mike said. "We were just about to come and get you. Dinner's ready."
"You'd better hurry and change then, girls." she told them.
"We're just eating on the patio," Mike said. "I told them they could keep their suits on."
Sara smiled and said nothing more. This would be their last night here. It didn't matter if the girls ate dinner in their swimsults. What did matter was that Mike accept her decision this time. They were definitely leaving in the morning.
It was sunny and pleasant on the patio, and dinner was delicious. The main course was steak, accompanied by a cool fruit salad and lots of crisp, fresh vegetables. The wine was a pleasant addition, and Sara relaxed as the kids told Mike about their day at Disneyland.
"Where did you live as a child?" she asked Mike when the girls had run out of things to say. "Was it near here?"
"It was right here, as a matter of fact." He laughed and refilled her wineglass.
"Really?" The girls sounded impressed. "You ate dinner right here with your mommy and daddy?"
"Well, no," he said, shaking his head with a strange smile. "I didn't see that much of them. They both had big careers and had to be where their movies were being filmed."
"Who took care of you, then?" Kari asked.
"Oh, lots of different people. We had servants to take care of the house and nannies to take care of me."
It sounded awful to Sara. She couldn't Imagine leaving the raising of her children to someone else.
"Did you have any brothers or sisters?" Megan asked.
"Nope, just me." He grinned at them. "So when they brought home presents, I didn't have to share them."
"Lucky!" Both girls sighed with a glare at the other.
Sara decided to change the subject. "If you girls are done eating, you can carry your plates into the kitchen."
"Fredil do that," Mike said.
"The girls don't mind,' she assured him, ignoring the sour faces on her daughters. They got to their feet reluctantly.
"Who'd you play with if you didn't have any brothers or sisters?" Karl asked as she pushed in her chair.
"Sometimes other kids came over." he said. "Kids whose parents worked with my parents. Or else Id play with the servants."
"Who probably always let you win," Sara couldn't help remarking.
"Probably," he agreed with a shameless grin.
The girls seemed to be gone only a moment. "Can we play tennis now, Mommy?' they asked.
"Not right after you've eaten."
"Oh, Mom!" they began, but Mike interrupted them.
"I've got a better idea. I just happen to have a copy of every Captain Wonder show ever made. What do you say we go inside and watch your favorites?"
"All right!" the girls cried.
Sara was less enthusiastic. "Oh goody."
Mike laughed and led them inside. Sara expected him to put the show on a video recorder, but Instead he took them to a real projection room.
"Boy, your very own movie room," Megan murmured in awe. "It's out of this world."
There were only a dozen seats in the room and the girls settled down in the middle, staring at the huge blank screen in front of them.
"Any requests?" Mike asked. "Or should I play my favorite?'
"Your favorite," they agreed.
"Okay. You sit tight. Your mom and I have to go into the next room to put the film on."
He took Sara by the hand and led her into a tiny room in the back. Once the door closed behind them, she was in his arms again, clinging to him just as tightly as he held her. Their lips met and the fire exploded once more between them. His lips, his hands, his whole body fueled the flames of her passion.
"Still mad at me?" he whispered after a moment.
She had some pride left, even if she was melting disgracefully into his arms. "Yes."
"Mmm, you taste good when you're mad.'
His lips came down on hers again, harder this time and more demanding. She responded with equal desire; his kisses made it difficult for her to remember her name, much less her anger. She pulled away from him after a few breathless, heart-stopping minutes, then looked around the film library as If it fascinated her. After a moment she regained her sanity.
"Was this room here when you were a child?" she asked.
"A slightly less modern version," he told her. He took a tape from a shelf and slid it into a machine. After a few seconds she heard the Captain Wonder theme coming from the other room, then the sound of the girls cheering. "My mother would bring home movies I wanted to see, along with her current lover. They were a bribe for my silence."
"How awful!" Sara cried, feeling drawn to him, wanting to soothe away the hurt that he must have felt.
He only shrugged and sat on the edge of a table. "My father knew all about them. He had his mistresses. I'd meet them when I visited him on his movie sets. My parents each just thought they were being terribly discreet."
"Why did they stay married?"
"Divorce wasn't as acceptable then as it Is now, and I guess they were happy in a fashion.1'
"Were you?*"
He smiled. "Sure, I was spoiled rotten."
She frowned at him. "That's not being happy."
He got to his feet and moved closer to her. "Do I hear sympathy in your voice?"
She was suddenly back where she wanted to be. In his arms. But rather than meet his lips, she leaned her head against his chest. "It sounds like a terrible kind of childhood. This is such a beautiful house. It should be filled with warm, happy memories, not lonely ones."
"I don't think the house has anything to do with it," he pointed out.
She could hear the smile in his voice and did not care if he was laughing at her. So he'd had more money than she had, even as a child; his childhood sounded bleak compared to her own. She had always been surrounded by love. Too much love, shed even thought at times.
"Besides,1' he went on, "it's not as if this is a dismal place. Haven't you and the girls liked it here? I mean, truthfully."
Was that why he wanted them to stay? she wondered. To fill the rooms with laughter instead of his lonely memories? "Yes, it's been very comfortable," she admitted slowly.
"Just comfortable?"
She pulled away from him and leaned back against the cabinet. "Physically, it's a marvelous place. I'd have to be crazy not to like it. But on another level, it fri
ghtens me/'
He frowned at her, obviously not understanding. Yet now that she had her chance to explain things, she wasn't sure what to say.
"You see, I grew up in a very different way," she told him. "We had a tiny house and I shared it with my parents and two brothers. I was the youngest and that was part of it, but I was also the only girl and therefore to be protected from the world. I was my father's little princess, and he doted on me. I was given pretty dresses and a dollhouse while my brothers were being taught how to survive in the world. If someone picked on me at school, they fought my battle for me."
"Sounds like a good life," he said.
She nodded angrily. "Just like what you have here actually,' she said. "And it really hurt me in the end. I left my fathers protection for Tom's, expecting that he would take care of me the way my father took care of my mother. Only someone forgot to tell him the rules, The girls were born prematurely and were in and out of the hospital for the first year of their lives. Tom was only around for the first four months, but he found them a drag. And he didn't find me much fun either. I think it offended him to have fathered less-than-perfect children."
She was caught up in her own bitter memories and wasn't aware of him until his arms reached out to comfort her. His hands brushed her back. soothing and caressing her as she rested her head against his chest. She felt tears come to her eyes and blinked them back. How wonderful it would be to have someone to lean on. someone who would always be there. It was so hard having to be strong all the time. She felt herself begin to relax.
"Want Captain Wonder to go beat him up?"
The mood vanished. She wanted Mike, not Captain Wonder. The real person, not the comic book hero. I don't think you have to bother,' she said. "He's not worth the trouble.'1
"Hey, you guys, aren't you gonna watch the show?" Megan asked suddenly,
Sara was already moving from Mike's arms when she saw her daughter in the doorway. Megan didn't seem shocked to have seen her mother in a mans embrace, but Sara felt her cheeks redden anyway.
"You're missing all the good parts," Megan went on.
"Oh, I don't know about that," Mike said, laughing. He put his arm around Sara, and they followed Megan back into the little theater. Karl turned around as they came in, while up on the screen Captain Wonder was locked in fierce combat with a grizzly bear.
