“Are you beginning to have feelings for Keelan?”
“Well, I...well, yes, but I really don’t want to talk about it.”
“Does he care for you?”
Nataleigh nodded.
“Oh, isn’t that wonderful?”
“No!”
“Oh,” Janice responded, blinking in surprise at Nataleigh’s outburst. “I’m sorry. It definitely sounded like a good thing to me.”
“Well it isn’t,” Nataleigh retorted with a sniffle. “Darn it, I’m a wreck. I have to get to work before I totally lose my mind.”
“If you decide you want to talk about it, I’ll be happy to offer up an ear. Truth be known, I’m dying of curiosity.”
Nataleigh frowned, giving a slight shake of her head.
“All right then, off to work we go. Oh, there’s a manicurist from an exclusive pet grooming boutique coming by this morning to do Precious’s nails.”
“What?” Nataleigh replied, her eyes widening.
Janice laughed. “It’s true. There was a message on the answering machine when I got in this morning.”
“You have got to be kidding me. That’s ridiculous. That dog has gourmet dog food from a fancy restaurant, real gems on her collar—and now she’d having her nails done by an overpaid manicurist?”
Janice shrugged. “Her owners can afford it.”
“That’s not the point. Janice, I met a couple of student’s this weekend that plan to marry after they graduate from high school. Leena, the bride-to-be, said that someday, maybe, she and Germaine might actually have their own furniture. Even as Leena said it, her tone was wistful, as though she knew it might not happen.”
Janice frowned. “What does that have to do with Precious’s meals, her nails?”
“It’s just do out of whack or something,” Nataleigh muttered, pressing her fingertips to her now throbbing temples. “Yes, pets are members of a person’s family, but…did it ever occur to people like Precious’s owners that there are deserving souls out there who need some help to make something of their lives?”
“It’s not our place to question how our clients spend their money, Nataleigh. You’ve never expressed such a judgmental attitude before. You laughed yourself silly a few months back when the violin player came to serenade the sulking Shar Pei we were boarding. Goodness, just what did happen to you over the weekend?”
“I dealt with people, instead of pets,” Nataleigh stated quietly. “Living, breathing people, with hopes and dreams. I touched their lives and they touched mine.”
“And one of those people was Keelan Robinson?”
“Yes,” Nataleigh whispered. “One of those people was Keelan.”
* * * *
Keelan put the piece of paper that Curtis Griffith handed to him in his pocket as the two of them stood in Curtis’s office at Carter. “Thanks, Curtis. I appreciate the help.”
“No problem. She is a really good Realtor. I’m happy for you, Keelan. It’s about time you get yourself a decent house.”
“You knew, didn’t you? You knew that the students here at Carter thought I was crazy to live in this neighborhood.”
Curtis nodded. “There was no purpose to be served in telling you. I heard your stand on the subject enough times to realize that I’d be wasting my breath trying to get though to you.”
Keelan grimaced. “Yeah, you’re right. I wouldn’t have listened.”
“Well, thank goodness for Nataleigh Brown,” Curtis responded with a smile. “You’re actually going to have a life outside of Carter which is the way it should be.” He paused and raised his eyebrows. “Could it be that the infamous Bird Lady is going to be a part of that new existence?”
Keelan released a pent-up breath. “Who knows? But I’ll tell you this, Curtis. If I don’t get some answers soon to the questions hammering at me, I’m going to go right out of my mind.”
“Ah, women.” Curtis chuckled. “They can cut the biggest, strongest guy right off at the knees, even when they don’t mean to.”
“Nothing about this is funny, Curtis. My mind is mush.” Keelan shook his head and turned away. “I’m going to go and try to figure out what sort of dog food I should buy my dog before I blow a fuse in my brain.”
Curtis chuckled as Keelan left the office. It wasn’t until Keelan arrived back at his classroom that he realized why Curtis had laughed at him. He didn’t have a dog yet. Keelan groaned and rubbed the back of his neck. Nataleigh had him so confused, he didn’t know up from down. He was definitely going down for the count.
* * * *
During the next two days as Nataleigh waited to hear from Keelan, she began to form a plan that would save her waning sanity. On Wednesday evening, while indulging in a leisure bubble bath, Nataleigh put the last piece of the puzzle of her plan into place and nodded. She leaned her head back on the rim of the tub and sighed with self-satisfaction. She was all set, she mused. She’d sifted, sorted and mulled to her heart’s content and was now calm and in control.
The Plan, which she now envisioned in her mind as having a capitol P, was brilliant, if she did say so herself. Yes, okay, she’d admittedly borrowed a bit of Keelan’s philosophy, his statement that emotions not nurtured just faded into oblivion. Fine. She had two choices. She could refuse to see Keelan again or she could go along with his plan.
“Does he see me as a capitol P, as well?”
She contemplated the idea as she burst soap bubbles with one fingertip. Regardless of what he thought of her, she’d made her decision. She’d agreed to go house hunting and furniture shopping with him. As a matter of fact, she’d spend as much time as feasibly possible in his company. As his buddy. His friend. His pal.
The more times she was in that role, the faster the romantic memories of Keelan…the kisses, caresses, the soft smiles and wonderful lovemaking would fade. Not nurtured—the emotions stemming from those special, beautiful moments would disappear. When his mission of finding a nice, middle-class home and nice furniture to buy were completed, she could walk away from him and his new life without a broken heart or backward glance.
Right? Right.
“There’s some good in all of this,” she said aloud. “I even get to help Keelan pick out a dog. This is going to be fun.”
Yes, the Plan was good, very good. It would be much easier to obtain, and maintain, the status of Keelan’s friend while in his never-touching-her-again presence. To attempt to forget him in solitary confinement could very well result in sensuous memories nibbling away at her resolve to forget him.
“Well-done, Nataleigh. Okay, Mr. Robinson, I’m ready to go house shopping. Bring ‘em on. Call me on the phone and say you’re ready to go.”
At that exact moment, the telephone rang, causing her to jerk upward in the bathtub at the sound of the sudden noise she’d just demanded to hear. She pulled the plug in her bath, then stepped out onto the mat on the floor, reaching for a towel at the same time.
Wrapped in the towel, dripping water and shivering, she hurried into the bedroom to snatch up the receiver to the telephone on the nightstand. “Hello?” she said breathlessly.
“Nataleigh, its Keelan. You sound out of breath. Did I interrupt you?”
“No, not really, I was taking a bubble bath.”
“Oh,” he murmured.
She paused at his tone. Was that something she should share with a friend? She didn’t see anything wrong with it. Besides, she was certain he wouldn’t play fair. It would serve him right if he imagined her in nothing more than a towel at this exact moment. He definitely wouldn’t be off the mark.
“Well, I won’t keep you long. I wouldn’t want you to catch a cold.”
“I am a little chilled,” she retorted. His voice was so rich, deep and masculine, and it bugged her. She loved the timber of his voice, could listen to him talk for hours on end. And when he laughed or chuckled? Simply put, her bones dissolved. A shiver travelled through her and she clutched the damp towel tighter. If Keelan was there, she wou
ldn’t be cold for long. No, she’d be very warm, very hot, very quickly.
Stop it before you get yourself in trouble, Nataleigh.
“Nataleigh?”
“What? Oh. Yes, I’m here, Keelan.”
“The Realtor I contracted has lined up three houses for me to see on Saturday. Will that work for you?”
“Yes, it’s fine.”
“Great. I’ll pick you up around noon. We have an away game Friday night and won’t be back until late.”
“When is the next home football game? I’d like to go. I had such a good time at the one I attended, and I could see Germaine and Leena again and—”
“No.”
“No? I can’t see Leena and Germaine? Why not?”
“No, you can’t come to the game. The game following this one is back at home and it is down the street from Carter. I don’t want you in this neighborhood alone. Absolutely not.”
She frowned. “Excuse me? In case you weren’t aware, Mr. Robinson, you are not my protector.” Or my lover. Not anymore, which was such a depressing thought. “As my friend you may offer your opinion, which I may or may not choose to agree with.”
“You’re being difficult,” he murmured. “Use some common sense. You wouldn’t be safe in this neighborhood at night. You would be safe in broad daylight. Seeing that you are familiar with the area, you don’t need me to tell you that.”
She paused. How could she refute that when it was the truth? “Tell you what. Give Leena and Germaine my telephone number and ask them to please call me. I’ll arrange to meet them somewhere, take them with me to the game. That way you don’t have to worry about me going to the game by myself.”
Keelan exhaled deeply. “Okay. You win.”
“I hope the Cowboys win the away game this Friday. You’re still undefeated. That’s great.”
“We should do okay this Friday, but the team we’re playing next Friday is tough. They have a quarterback who has been All American since his freshman year. Not to mention he is six feet four. The only saving grace is that he gets called for quite a few false starts, especially in the first quarter before he gets settled.”
Nataleigh laughed. “I guess I have my work cut out for me then. You know, keeping the referees informed about when they should throw a flag on a penalty. I got so excited at the last game, I went a little crazy. I wouldn’t blame Leena and Germaine if they don’t want to sit with me again.”
“Oh, I’m sure they’ll be happy to see you. I…well, I enjoyed catching glimpses of you giving your all at the game myself. I was glad you were there, Nataleigh. It was nice to have your support.”
“Thank you, Keelan,” she stated softly. “I was glad I made it to the game as well.”
Neither spoke for a long moment. The silence on the telephone line seemed to crackle with yearning.
Keelan cleared his throat. “Yes, well you must be freezing. I’ll pick you up at noon on Saturday. Goodnight, Nataleigh.”
“Goodnight,” she replied, then realized she’d just bid the dial tone farewell. She replaced the receiver, then stalked back toward the bathroom. “Buddies, friends,” she chanted, in time to her marching feet. “Friends, buddies.”
* * * *
Keelan dropped the telephone receiver into place, then glowered into space. So far, so good, he thought. Nataleigh was going to go along with the plan to help him find a house. What he needed to do was get a grip on his libido. Just hearing her voice and imagining her wrapped in a skimpy towel had caused heated desire to tie him in knots. Her skin had probably been moist, dewy and had the aroma of some enticing, feminine bath fragrance.
He gave himself a mental shake. Lust, he decided. It would be there when he was in close proximity to Nataleigh because he was a normal healthy man and Nataleigh a very desirable woman. He’d simply have to maintain control over his raging testosterone when he was with her. Lust had nothing to do with emotions, with the unanswered questions he had.
“Lust? Lust?”
Man it was a tacky word. It was so single-minded, cold and crude. It just didn’t fit the image in his mind, the memories, of making love with Nataleigh. Emotions had been intertwined with the physical when they’d made love…incredible love, really sensational.
Nataleigh was a very passionate woman who gave of herself in total abandon. While in his embrace, she trusted him completely, making him feel protective and possessive.
And caring.
A little too much.
He lunged to his feet and started forward, nearly stumbling over a packing box he’d forgotten he’d put in the center at the floor of the small living room. He went into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, stared unseeing at the offering within, then slammed the door closed.
“All right, Keelan,” he muttered, rubbing a restless hand across the back of his neck. “Think this through. Just stay calm, in control and think.”
If he admitted to himself that meshing his body with Nataleigh’s had not been basic lust, had not been merely sex, but had been making love, was that important? Was there an answer, somewhere in that information, to one of his questions regarding the depths of his feelings for Nataleigh?
If a man was acutely aware that he had made love with a woman, did that indicate that he was falling in love with said woman?
“Well, hell,” he grumbled. “I don’t know. Why don’t I know?”
All he’d managed to do was add another question to the towering stack already plaguing him.
“Nice going, Keelan,” he muttered. “Hell of a fix you’ve gotten yourself into.”
* * * *
Friday dragged by slowly for Nataleigh. The days at the clinic the since she talked to Keelan Wednesday night had seemed endless, as she found herself glancing often at the clock on the wall. A clock, she was certain had stopped ticking.
She was moody, had to bite her tongue to keep from making derogatory remarks about the attention she was expected to lavish on the pampered pets being boarded at the Sanders Veterinary Clinic. The only highlight of the day, the phone call she received from Leena, who said that she and Germaine were really looking forward to attending the football game with their new friend Nataleigh. She made arrangements to meet Leena and Germaine at a convenience store several blocks from the school next Friday.
Late Friday afternoon, Nataleigh rolled her eyes in exacerbation as she read a book for the fifth time in a row to a Tabby cat. Had anyone ever read to Leena or Germaine when they were little children, she wondered. Had anyone tucked them in at night, made them feel safe and loved? Did parents who were struggling to survive in the hood have the physical and emotional energy for such things as stories and hugs at the end of the day?
“My word, Nataleigh,” Janice said, coming into the room. “I’ve never heard that story sound so depressing. You’re going to give that poor cat nightmares.”
Nataleigh frowned and snapped the book closed. “Janice, this is ridiculous. I’m reading a story to a cat for goodness sake. I have much more to offer than this. I’ve worked very hard for my degree, have skills that—oh, I’m sorry. Please ignore me and forget I said that.”
Janice pulled a chair close to Nataleigh and sat down. “Nataleigh,” she started, concern evident in her voice and on her face, “you’re not as happy working here as you once were, are you?”
Nataleigh traced the letters of the title of the book in her lap with a fingertip, then finally met Janice’s troubled gaze. “No, I guess I’m not. Suddenly I’m having a difficult time justifying the excess lavished on some of these animals by their owners. There are so many people in this world doing without, that I’m finding it harder and harder to see the humor in what these pets are continually given.”
Janice nodded slowly. “Are you going to leave us?”
“I don’t know. I’m very confused about a great many things right now. Besides, I can’t just think of myself. My brother and sister are counting on the financial help I give them.” Nataleigh managed to produce a small
smile. “You pay me very well to read stories to cats.”
“Emmitt and I don’t want to lose you. You’re a part of the family here. Let me talk to Emmitt over the weekend and see if we can come up with a solution of some kind that will work out for all of us. Okay?”
“Yes, of course. I apologize if I upset you any.”
“There’s no need to apologize. I’m glad we have this talk. Now, go home and have a wonderful weekend. Do you have anything fun scheduled?”
“Tomorrow is jam-packed. Will it be fun? I don’t have a clue.”
* * * *
By the time Keelan was due to arrive the next morning, Nataleigh had given herself so many stern lectures regarding the necessity to distance herself emotionally from Keelan while she was with him that she was thoroughly worn-out from the sound of her own internal voice. “Just be quiet and keep your act together.”
Keelan’s knock on the door came at exactly noon.
Nataleigh answered the summons with a bright smile while ignoring the swarm of butterflies whizzing around in her stomach. “Hi,” she murmured, stepping back to allow Keelan to enter the living room. She struggled to remain calm. Keelan Robinson looked delectable in jeans and a green knit shirt, looking so male and magnificent it was sinful. She cleared her throat, hoping she would not sound like an idiot when she spoke. “How are you this afternoon?”
“I’m fine. Are you ready to go?”
“Yes.” She picked up her purse. “I’m all set.”
“We’re meeting the real estate agent, Mary Wickers, at the first house on the list,” he informed her as they left the apartment.
“And she still has three houses for you—us, to see?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Just great, she thought, as Keelan backed out of the parking spot. Now what did they talk about? She was suddenly afraid to start a conversation in fear of addressing a subject that was beyond the boundaries of Nataleigh-and-Keelan-are-buddies. This was very complicated and so stressful.
Hard to Resist Page 13
