by Nita Wick
The furniture looked comfortable enough, but Michael led her toward the wooden table in the dining room on the left. He pulled out a chair. “Sit.”
Chapter Twelve
Haley crossed arms. His tenderness after their heated mating in his office had encouraged her to overlook his commanding, dictatorial behavior, but this was too much. “I am not your poodle.”
A heavy sigh pierced the air, and he dragged a hand over his face. “Point taken. Please sit down, Haley.”
She hadn’t expected the immediate capitulation, but the tick in his jaw told her he still struggled with his temper. Not wanting a return of the angry bear he’d been earlier, she nodded and sat in the leather padded dining chair.
He slipped off his business suit coat, draped it across the back of another chair, and sat facing her. “You should have called.”
“You were so angry. I didn’t think you’d want to talk to me,” she explained again.
“What was the last thing I said to you when Ed kicked me out of the room?” he asked, his tone almost patronizing.
Haley frowned. “You said I was like Sheila and Keith.”
His eyes widened. “No. I said, ‘This conversation is not over.’ That should have told you I wanted to talk to you.”
She thought back. He had said that. Why hadn’t she remembered?
“And I never said you were like Sheila and Keith. I didn’t mean it like that at all.” He grabbed both her hands and held them. “I’m sorry, babe. I was feeling like a fool, and I lost my temper. That was a low blow. It was uncalled for. Please forgive me.”
Haley swallowed. “I’m sorry, too. I was going to tell you. I—”
“I know. You were going to tell me that night. When we went to your house,” he finished for her.
She nodded. “You designed my house.”
He smiled. “Ed told me. And I’m guessing you didn’t tell me about it because I would know just how rich you are. That home wasn’t overly large, but it has to be costing a small fortune to have it built.”
She shrugged. “If you knew I had money, you might have realized that I was the famous interior designer. At first, I didn’t want anyone to know who I was. After I got to know you, I considered telling you, but I liked the way you treated me. Even if you were rushing things, I didn’t want your image of me to change. I liked the woman I was when I was with you. I’m not the Haley Preston from New York. I’ve changed. I didn’t want you think I was still that woman.”
He squeezed the hands he still held. “Haley, you’re lying to yourself now. You may have changed your lifestyle and moved to a slower pace. You took a break from your profession, and maybe you even changed your goals.” He lifted one hand to caress her cheek. “But you’re still the same woman.”
“No, I’m not. I don’t feel anything like the same woman,” she argued.
“You’re still the girl you’re father raised. Maybe you’re a little older, a little wiser, but you’re still Haley Preston, the best interior designer in the world.”
She smiled but shook her head. “A bit of an exaggeration, don’t you think?”
That adorable dimple accompanied his grin. “Nope. I knew you were damned good, but I’ve never seen anything so perfect as that proposal I saw today. Jesus! How do you do it?”
His words warmed her. He’d liked her design. The only person whose opinion had mattered to her in such a long time liked it. “When you have a perfect architectural design to work with, it’s easy.”
He sat back in his chair, surprise written in his features. “I think that’s the best compliment I’ve ever received.”
“It’s the truth.”
Michael watched her for a moment but grew serious again. “From now on, when you leave town, you will tell me where you are going, how long you plan to be gone, and you’ll leave me a number where I can reach you.” He paused before adding, “And you will damn well call me when you get there so I don’t worry.”
The abrupt change of subject shocked her for a moment. The dictator had returned and so had her irritation. “You sound like my father!”
He stood up, knocking his chair back several inches. “And that surprises you? He loved you. He worried about you. You were his girl!” He grasped the back of Haley’s chair and leaned down to bring his face close to hers. “Now you’re mine.”
Haley’s breath caught. His? He thought of her as his? While her heart rejoiced, warning bells chimed. This was all happening too fast. He hovered over her, dwarfing her, intimidating her. She shoved at his chest and stood, instant rebellion to the attack on her independence eclipsing the emotional trepidation. “Exact what does that mean? I’m yours? You think you own me now?” She walked across the room to stand behind the sofa and rested her hands on the soft, brushed leather.
Michael followed her and stood directly behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him. “It means I care about you, babe. I was crazy with worry this last week. Please don’t do that to me again. I don’t think I can take it.”
She melted against him, unable to fight such soft, pleading words. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Michael nibbled her neck. The hard ridge of his arousal nudged the crease of her bottom. Her body reacted immediately as always—her heart racing, blood singing in her ears, her sex pulsing with need.
His hands caressed her body, her breasts, her hips. “I can’t stop thinking about the fact that you’re not wearing any panties.” His touch and the timbre of his low, deep voice brought forth hot moisture between her thighs.
“Those were some of my favorite silk panties.” She pouted.
His hands slipped beneath her skirt and slid over the tops of the silk stockings she wore. “I’ll buy you some new ones.” His fingers found her center and stoked the slick folds. “And I’ll be more careful when I take them off.”
“I can’t think when you touch me.”
He chuckled, his breath warm on her ear. “Good,” he whispered.
She turned and sought his lips. His kiss, slow and tender, held none of the anger and hostility of his earlier kisses, but the passion remained. Haley sank into him and surrendered to her desire.
Like it or not, she was his.
Michael ended the kiss, scooped her up, and took her to the bedroom. There he removed her shoes, skirt, blouse, and bra but left her stockings and garters in place. “So sexy,” he mumbled against her skin as he trailed kisses over her body.
She spent the next couple of hours in a haze of pleasure. Michael made love to her with a slow, methodic precision, caressing and kissing every inch of her flesh. Nothing remained untouched. Though the passion reached equal heights, this coupling was nothing like the rough, frenzied mating at the office earlier in the afternoon. He filled her, all of her—body, mind, heart, and soul. Sated in every possible way, Haley laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.
* * * *
She awoke to a loud rumble. It took a moment to determine if the sound had come from her stomach or Michael’s. Lifting her head, she looked into Michael’s sleepy eyes.
“Sorry,” he murmured. “I didn’t have lunch today.”
Haley’s gaze found the digital alarm clock on the nightstand. “Goodness. It’s after seven already.” She stretched. “I’m starving. I thought it was my stomach that woke me.”
He chuckled. “Let’s shower and find something to eat.”
She slipped out of the bed and took a few steps toward Michael. He stood with his hand extended, waiting for her to join him. With a start, she noticed stickiness on her thighs. She stopped short. Turmoil bubbled inside her belly. “You didn’t use a condom.”
Surprise registered in Michael’s features. Raking his hands through his hair, he took a deep breath. His cheeks puffed up, and he blew it out slowly. “Christ,” he mumbled. He dropped his hands to his side. “I’m sorry. It never even crossed my mind.”
Haley couldn’t fault him for that. Never once had birth
control entered her thoughts. “You didn’t use one this afternoon in the office either.” She wrapped her arms around herself and tried to keep her rising panic at bay. “What if I get pregnant?” she whispered as she stared at the floor.
When he didn’t answer immediately, she lifted her gaze to his. He appeared to be mulling over the options. He shrugged, and a grin played around his lips. “Then I guess we’ll have a baby.”
His happy-go-lucky attitude did little to calm her panic. “You mean I will have a baby. You’ll just—”
A long finger covered her lips, and he gave her a sharp look. “No,” he growled. “We will have a baby. And don’t think for a second I will let you make decisions about our baby’s care without me.”
Haley sighed, relieved that she wouldn’t be raising a child alone if she were pregnant. If she were pregnant. “The chances are low that I’d get pregnant after only a few times. We’ll just have to remember to use a condom until I can call my doctor and get the pill.”
“Don’t you want kids?” His question hung in the air.
“Yes, someday. Not now,” she hedged.” And certainly not until after I’m married.”
“We can fly to Vegas tonight and take care of that.” His green eyes twinkled as he wrapped his arms around her.
“Ha. Ha. Very funny.”
Michael stared down at her in silence.
Haley tensed. “You are kidding, aren’t you?”
He shook his head. “No.”
She didn’t like the course this evening had taken. Babies? Marriage? “Let go of me.”
“I won’t let go, Haley. Ever. You’re mine. Remember?”
She looked into his eyes. The emerald depths reflected no doubt and, surprisingly, no irritation. They held only a tender, possessive love. Love? Haley drew in a slow, deep breath. A warm, calming emotion teased her senses. She fought it. “This is too fast. I’m not ready.”
“Then I’ll wait.” He brushed a lock of hair from her face. “Babe, I know you’re scared. I know you have doubts. But I don’t.” His hands moved to her shoulders. “Don’t expect me to pretend otherwise. I’ll try to be patient, and I will try not to push you. But I won’t hide how I feel about you.”
“How can you be so sure? You haven’t known me that long.”
“Tell me something.” He lifted her chin with his finger. “How did you know it was me this afternoon in Ed’s office?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“There weren’t any mirrors. The blinds on the windows were partially drawn, so you wouldn’t have seen my reflection there. How did you know it was me?” he pressed.
Haley admitted defeat. He obviously knew the answer, but he wanted her to confess it aloud. “Fine. I knew because I felt you there.”
“You felt me?”
She sighed. “Yes, damn it. I felt you.” Just how far did he intend to take this confession? “I don’t know why, but it’s like I have some kind of radar where you’re concerned. I get this…feeling, and I know you’re near. I can’t explain it so don’t even ask.”
He nodded. “I know that feeling. I have it every time you enter the room, too. It can be a little unsettling, don’t you think?”
Shock stole her breath. He felt it, too? “Yes. I…It’s strange.”
He smiled. “Strange? I think it’s cool. Special. And that’s how I can be so sure, Haley. I feel it.”
How did a woman fight that? In surrender, Haley laid her head on his bare chest. She needed a change of subject. Her empty stomach rumbled, and she seized the opportunity. “You must not feel too strongly about me if you’re willing to let me starve to death.”
His laugh shook them both. “Let’s hurry up and get that shower. Then we’ll raid my fridge before we both expire of hunger.”
The shower had taken a bit longer than expected with Michael insisting that he help her wash. Truth to tell, she’d very much enjoyed helping him wash, too. And if the hunger pains hadn’t driven them out, Haley had no doubt they would still be in the shower instead of sitting at the table finishing ham and cheese sandwiches and potato chips. She wore one of his T-shirts. It hung to her knees, and the picture of domestic contentment did not escape her.
Michael had pulled on a pair of jeans but opted to skip the shirt. He drained the last of a glass of milk and sat back. “Well, it wasn’t steak and lobster, but it did the trick. Feel better?”
“Mmm hmm,” Haley mumbled around another potato chip. She reached for her milk. “Much better, thank you.”
Michael stood up, grabbed their plates, and put them in the sink. He turned toward the bar and reached for something. He brought it over and laid it before her.
Haley stared at the key, unable to speak.
He sat down next to her. “I want you to have it. You know, just in case.”
“In case of what?” she whispered, not certain she wanted to hear his answer.
“In case you accidentally leave something here and need to get it. In case we’re meeting here, and you get here first.” He smiled at her.
She searched his eyes.
“In case you want to move in,” he added with a shrug.
There they were again—alarm bells clamoring away, warning her to run for dear life. Haley tore her gaze from his and looked back at the key. Hot on the heels of an unsettling discussion of babies and marriage, a new conversation of moving in together was not what she’d expected. She forced herself to move past her knee-jerk reaction to any mention of long-term relationships and consider her options.
Flashes of the past week without him reminded her of how much she’d missed him, how much she’d come to care for him. Would it really be such a big mistake to move in with him? It’s not like she couldn’t leave whenever she wanted.
“Hey, babe.” He reached over and grasped her hand, giving it as squeeze. “Don’t freak out on me, okay? I like waking up next you. That’s all. And I wouldn’t mind doing it every day.”
Haley nodded. She could get used to waking up next to him, too, but she wasn’t about to admit it right now. Nevertheless, it was a tempting prospect. “I saw Meg before I came to your office.”
Michael’s brows furrowed in confusion. “You did? Why? Where?”
“I stopped by your mom’s house to drop off the keys and security card for my apartment.”
He clenched his jaw. “Your house can’t be ready to move in yet. I was there last week looking for you.”
She stood and wandered over toward the living room. “No, I was thinking I’d just stay in Brentwood until it was finished.”
His chair scraped the floor and only a moment passed before his hand was on her arm, spinning her around to face him. “That’s not going to work.” His low, quiet voice told her he didn’t like the idea. “I can’t commute almost three hours one way to work every day.”
Haley stifled a grin. He wouldn’t even consider being separated from her, and he had immediately assumed he’d be spending the nights with her. The man would not be denied. She took a long, deep breath. “Maybe I shouldn’t have offered her the keys without talking to you first.”
“No. It’s fine. Now you’ll have to move in with me.” The tension in his jaw disappeared, replaced by a smug satisfaction.
Haley shook her head. “Meg wouldn’t take the keys. She said I needed to talk to you.”
He gave a short laugh. “My sister knows me too well.” A frown marred his features. “I wish she’d taken the keys, though. She’d have been doing me a favor.”
She bit her lip and fought the foolish desire to throw caution to wind. As tempting as it would be to move in with him until her house was finished, fear and uncertainty wouldn’t let her take that leap of faith.
“Haley, you’re shaking.”
With a nod, she smiled. “I tend to do that when I’m scared.”
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “Scared of what, baby? I’m not pushing—”
“I know.” She pulled back t
o look up into his face. “I’m just not ready. I’m sorry.”
He stared down at her, tenderness and a hint of disappointment in his gaze. “It’s okay. But I want you have the key just in case.”
“Just in case I change my mind?”
He chuckled. “Yeah. And all the other reasons I mentioned.” He caressed her cheeks, suddenly serious again. “All my cards are on the table, babe. No aces up my sleeve. No hidden trump cards. It’s all out there for you to see. No more secrets between us, okay?”
The pressure of committing to a relationship eased. Warmth spread through her veins, and the uncertainty receded. The alarm and voice of warning quieted. “No secrets, huh?”
“None.”
“Hmm. Well, then, I guess I should tell you that I can’t cook.” Haley hung her head in mock shame.
His laugh rumbled through the room. “Neither can I, but I know where all the best restaurants and take-out places are. And I make a mean ham sandwich. We’ll manage.”
Haley seized the opportunity to tease him further. “Okay. I snore when I have a cold, and I never balance my checkbook.”
“I can sleep through just about anything, and your checkbook does not figure into this relationship.” He crossed his arms, daring her to argue.
The reference to his lack of interest in her money sidetracked her train of thought. She’d sought to lighten the mood, steer the conversation away from the gravity of contemplating a long-term, serious relationship. He wouldn’t let her.
Michael cupped her face in his hands. “I know you’re scared. I know how hard it is for you to trust anyone. But don’t expect me to avoid the subject altogether. I can’t help wanting to have you around all the time.” He paused. “Permanently.”
A fist gripped her heart. Despite his promise not to push her, Haley felt cornered again.
Michael must have felt her tension. “Hey. I’m just letting you know how I feel. That’s all.” He winked at her. “Stay here tonight. We can find a movie to watch. I’ve got microwave popcorn. Butter flavor.”
