Free Spirits

by Linda Wisdom

  “Dad, if you dare say I told you so, I will find a way to make eternity miserable for you,” Alex said amiably. “And I’m sure Mom will be only too happy to help me out.”

  Patrick issued a long-suffering sigh that was more dramatic than sincere. “It’s a father’s prerogative to worry about his little girl.”

  “Except the little girl is now thirty years old,” she reminded him.

  “Don’t worry dear, he can’t do anything,” Marian assured her. “Besides, we’re only here to see you married, not to advise you on anything else. Even if I would like to see Jason Palmer ground into hamburger.” Her mother’s fierce expression brought laughter bubbling out of Alex.

  “I can’t believe how bloodthirsty the two of you are.” She shook her head. “Okay, I’m going to bury myself in my work until Michael shows up.” She headed for her office, but first quickly turned to her mother. “And don’t worry about fixing us dinner. I’d like to make something for him.”

  “Well, if you insist, but I had thought of doing something with that roast you have in your freezer.”

  Alex thought about the burned roasts she’d consumed during her childhood. She couldn’t hold back her shudder. “Honest, Mom, I want to cook,” she choked, adding what she knew her mother would love to hear. “Besides, it would make a good impression.” The pleased expression on her mother’s face told her she’d said just the right thing.

  She should have known her day would be full of interruptions, between phone calls and a visit from Beth.

  “I want to hear everything,” she informed her friend, breezing through the front door. “You’ve got a gem in Michael, Alex. You better hold on to him tight.”

  “Yes, but it’s playing havoc with both our lives,” she sighed, pouring cups of coffee for both of them.

  She eyed her speculatively. “Then you’ve decided to give him a chance.”

  “Let’s just say we’re going to see where it leads,” Alex murmured, concentrating on her coffee. “We’ve both been burned and we don’t care to go through it again.”

  “We all make mistakes and we just learn to bounce right back from them,” Beth pointed out. “Look at some of the losers I’ve dated over the years. And if you remember, I dated only two doctors.” She ticked them off on her fingers. “There was that landscaping contractor who turned out to be married. And that associate from Simon’s office who wanted to tie me to his bed with silk scarves.” She grimaced. “My best bet was that cop who fainted at the sight of his own blood, and while the chemistry was fine for me, it wasn’t for him. I really hated to give him up,” she sighed. “Good men aren’t easy to find. But I’d say you’ve hit the jackpot with Michael.”

  “I’m afraid of making another mistake,” she confessed.

  Beth uttered a low-pitched shriek. “Take a chance! You won’t know unless you dive in.” She looked closer at Alex. “And you have,” she whispered. “You and Michael—?” she burst out laughing in joy. “You have!”

  “You’ll have to repeat yourself, Beth. I don’t think the people in the next county heard you. Better yet, post it on the hospital bulletin board,” she grumbled.

  Beth scrambled off the stool and threw her arms around her friend. “You hardly let Jason stay in this apartment more than five minutes. You finally admitted what you felt for Craig was more lust than love and you and Michael have slept together! I’m happy for you, but I also want you to know that even though you’re my best friend I also hate you for snatching up one of the best men around. Find out if he has a brother, even a distant cousin will do.”

  “Beth, don’t get too excited just yet. We’re playing it cautious,” Alex burst out, stunned by her friend’s exuberance. “I admit I feel more for Michael than I’ve ever felt for any man, but I want to be sure it’s something lasting. Something real. Neither of us cares to be hurt anymore. Although,” she said slowly, “as far as I’m concerned, it’s very real. And I have a hunch Michael feels the same way.”

  “All I ask is one thing. If for some reason the two of you don’t work out, you’ll put a good word in for me.”

  Alex rolled her eyes. If Beth wasn’t her best friend, she’d cheerfully hit her. “Go home, Beth.”

  “Friends share, Alex.”

  “Go home, now.”

  “I’d do the same for you,” she added magnanimously.

  “Beth, home.”

  “All right, you don’t have to tell me more than once,” Beth said, amused she had gotten her friend’s goat. As she reached the door, her expression sobered and she turned around. “Alex, you haven’t told anyone about seeing your parents, have you?” she asked delicately.

  “My resident ghosts, you mean?”

  She winced. “Alex, please don’t do this. Most people just aren’t going to understand what you’ve gone through and they might take it the wrong way.”

  Alex couldn’t help but feel a little hurt that her closest friend didn’t believe her.

  “No, Beth, I haven’t told anyone else. Only someone who has a ghostly relative living with them could understand what I’m going through. I don’t think that’s someone I can meet through the personals columns, do you?”

  Beth looked uneasy. She knew Alex wasn’t one to make jokes like this about her parents, but the idea of them coming back just because there was the chance she might have married Jason and they wanted to see her married to someone else? Still, stranger things had happened. Deciding silence was more than golden on that particular subject right now, she smiled and hugged Alex.

  “If you’d like, I’ll give you that cop’s number,” she offered. “He’s really cute if you like the Mel Gibson type in a beard.”

  The tiniest of smiles cracked her face. “Goodbye, Beth.”

  Afterward, Alex noticed that her parents had also disappeared. And for the first time, she felt more than a little unhappy at not having them around.

  “I must be getting used to them,” she murmured, hoping this time she would succeed in hiding away in her office. “I wonder if there’s a strip in visiting the great scandals of the world.”

  Michael was bone-tired. While he appreciated busy shifts more than slow ones, his body ached due to the increased activity. While a part of him wanted nothing more than to crawl into his bed and sleep for the next week, he knew he wouldn’t rest easy until he saw Alex. Funny how important she had become to him in such a short period of time. Where she was concerned, his usually cautious nature was taking a nosedive. ache

  Even now, as he twisted his neck from side to side to relieve the throbbing muscles, he was climbing out of his car and heading for Alex’s apartment building front door instead of his own.

  He yawned widely as he leaned on her doorbell.

  “You look terrible,” was her greeting after she threw open the door.

  “Actually, I feel like something a steamroller ran over,” he told her. “I hope you looked through the peephole before you opened the door.”

  “Of course, I don’t let just any degenerate inside.” She steered him to the couch and with a light pressure on his chest pushed him onto the cushions. “Sit down and relax. I’ll fix you something to eat.”

  He smothered a yawn. “Actually, if you don’t mind, what I’d really like is a long, hot shower.”

  Alex smiled. “The hot water is more than plentiful. But are you sure you can remain awake long enough to take one? You can barely stand now.”

  His head bobbed once. “Oh, yeah.” His first attempt at pushing himself away from the cushions failed.

  She swallowed a chuckle. She crossed her arms at the wrist and held them out. “Grab on and I’ll pull you up.”

  With help Michael was able to stand up, swaying only slightly with fatigue.

  “There are clean towels,” she informed him, steering him through the bedroom. “You’re out of luck for clean clothes, though.”

  “I’m glad to hear that. Unless, of course, they’re mine.” He walked into the tiled room and started to c
lose the door, then halted, calling Alex’s name. She reappeared with a questioning look on her face. “I forgot something.” He dipped his head and kissed her about as thoroughly as a very tired man could. “That’s better,” he murmured, closing the door.

  Alex stood at the door, pressing her throbbing lips with her fingertips. “If he knows better, he’ll take a cold shower to wake himself up.”

  After deciding a light meal would be better for Michael, Alex waited about ten minutes, then fixed an omelet and dropped bread in the toaster. When the food was finished, she realized she couldn’t hear the shower running anymore and decided it might be a good idea to investigate.

  “You didn’t drown, did you?” she asked lightly, walking through the bedroom doorway. It only took a second to find the answer to her question. A sound-asleep and naked Michael lay sprawled on his back across her bed with the covers tossed down to the end of the mattress.

  She bent over and carefully arranged the sheet and blanket across him. The faint hint of peppermint emanated from his skin. Alex never knew her handmade soap could smell so sexy. As she drew back, she watched Michael mutter something unintelligible and turn over onto his stomach.

  “So much for best-laid plans,” she laughed softly, closing the bedroom door when she returned to the living room.

  Michael’s face scrunched up in a frown as he slowly awakened in the dark room that he hazily recognized as Alex’s. He was relieved to know he wasn’t so tired he didn’t know where he was. Exhaling a sigh, he rolled over and opened one eye. Two bright blue eyes that appeared to glow in the dark stared unwaveringly back at him.

  “Hi, cat.”

  He was unsure whether Suzi Q growled or purred her reply. She remained in her crouched position watching the intruder who dared to use her pillow.

  “Alex.” The word came out husky. He cleared his throat and tried again. “Alex!”

  The door opened, allowing a slice of light to streak across the bed. “How was your nap?” She walked in and sat on the end of the bed.

  Michael didn’t take his eyes off the cat who appeared all too interested in his throat.

  “Would you please tell it what a nice guy I am,” he requested in a soft voice.

  “So that’s where you’ve been, you naughty kitty. I’ve been looking all over for you,” she cooed, picking up the Siamese and draping her over her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Suzi Q is perfectly harmless.”

  “They said the same thing about Cujo and look what happened there.” He moved cautiously, even though the cat was restrained by Alex’s stroking hand. “You didn’t see the way she stared at me as if I was gourmet tuna.” He winced at the high-pitched yowl.

  “Suzi Q hates tuna,” she explained, shifting the cat to her other shoulder. “The word is enough to send her into a kitty tantrum.”

  Michael sat up, leaning back against the pillow, pushing the other one behind him to add additional bolster. “Sorry I flaked out on you. The shower took what little energy I had left. I barely made it to the bed.”

  Alex reached out and covered his hand with hers, feeling his body heat radiate upward. “It’s natural you’d fall asleep. You looked dead on your feet when you arrived. Do you see me minding?” She accurately guessed the reason. “I’m not her, Michael. Considering your profession, it’s understandable there’s times when you’ll be so tired you’ll fall asleep before you can say more than hello.” She grinned impishly. “And who says I mind if you fall asleep in my bed?”

  He turned his hand over, lacing his fingers through hers. “You’re one scary lady, lady.”

  She arched an eyebrow. “Moi?”

  His fingers tightened on hers. “You’re too understanding.”

  “Not really.” She withdrew her hand and stood up. After depositing Suzi Q outside the bedroom door and closing it securely, she turned around. The dim light in the room only allowed Michael to see Alex’s outline.

  “I thought you were going to feed me dinner,” he said huskily.

  “Oh, I will. Eventually.” With a cross-armed motion, she pulled her sweater over her head and dropped it to the carpet. Her jeans were unsnapped and the zipper slowly lowered. Shedding them provided Michael with a show of hip action and shimmy he grew to enjoy more by the moment. With a saucy smile on her lips and twitch of her hips, she stepped out of the jeans. Now only wearing a lace-trimmed bra and a narrow lace triangle at her hips that shimmered in the dim light, she stepped forward and placed one knee on the edge of the bed.

  “Is…” He coughed to remove the constriction from his throat. “Is this where you begin the seduction?”

  “Are you of a mind to be seduced, Doctor Duffy?” Her throaty voice promised untold pleasures as she stalked her way across the bed.

  Alex straddled Michael’s lap, with a knee on either side, and curled her arms around his neck, giving him an open-mouthed kiss that promised even more dark ecstasy. Michael murmured something about having died and gone to heaven. Alex twitched her hips again, feeling his erection push upward.

  “Dr. Duffy,” she breathed, “when I get finished with you you won’t think about dying because the living part will be too much fun.” She ran her nails down his arms, which now encircled her waist.

  Michael kicked at the restraining sheet and blanket, wanting Alex as close to him as possible. It was sheer agony to have, her teasing him like this, but he knew he wouldn’t have it any other way.

  “Is this another way of showing me what I’ve been missing?”

  “Yes, I guess you could call it that also.” She was busy nibbling his ear and trailing her mouth down his neck. “Umm, perfect spot for a hickey.”

  He closed his eyes, wishing he could find the breath that had been slammed out of his chest when Alex’s mouth covered one nipple while she used her tongue to tease it to erection. By the time her mouth drifted its way across his belly, he didn’t care if he never breathed again.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “No more! Give me a break, Alex, I can’t handle any more! This is not fair.”

  “Of course you can, Michael.” Her purr vibrated across his nerve endings.

  Come on, just one more. For lil ole me.”

  “You’re killing me! Besides, I know very well one more won’t be enough for you. You’ll just keep on asking for more.”

  “Now don’t whine. Come on, darling, for me?”

  Michael suspiciously eyed the bowl Alex held in her hands. “I’m already in sugar shock.”

  She pretended to pout. “You told me you’d help me finish this fudge-ripple ice cream.”

  “Only because I thought you only had a few spoonfuls left. Not an entire half gallon.” He held his stomach and groaned. “I need protein!”

  Alex spooned up more of the frozen concoction and carried it to her mouth. She smacked her lips as the rich fudge and creamy vanilla slid over her tongue and tickled her taste buds.

  “Now, this is heaven,” she cooed, closing her eyes.

  “I thought we already discovered that place about an hour ago.” Michael took the spoon out of her hand and scooped up some ice cream for himself. “I’m probably inhaling at least a thousand cavities.”

  Alex shook her head, chastising him at the same time. “That’s a doctor’s mentality for you. For once, forget about cholesterol levels and hardening arteries. Think about the moment. About what’s so good you’re willing to risk anything for it.”

  He leaned over and brushed a lingering kiss across her lips. “Just as I’m risking my sanity being with you,” he murmured.

  Her lips parted slightly, inviting a deeper investigation which made them forget about the ice cream. By the time they returned to the present they found only a soupy mess in the bowl. Alex got up to carry it into the kitchen.

  “I think you’re right—it’s time for something a bit more substantial,” she said. “How about toasted cheese sandwiches?”

  Michael stretched out on the couch, pulling a couple of throw pillows behind his head. “A
nything that isn’t one-hundred-percent sugar sounds good to me.” He yawned. “Want any help?”

  She looked over the breakfast bar. “Considering the way you look, I doubt you could stand for more than five seconds. It’s as if your nap didn’t help.”

  “Oh the nap helped, all right. It was what happened after the nap that took all the starch out of me.” His eyes gleamed with devilment.

  For a woman who had been so brazen less than an hour before, Alex’s cheeks turned a surprisingly bright pink. She ducked out of sight. “Yes, well, it seemed like a good idea at the time.”

  “Do you hear me complaining?”

  Alex pulled the electric frying pan from the cabinet and put out bread, cheese, bacon, mayonnaise and butter on the counter. She quickly assembled the sandwiches and set them in the heated pan.

  “I guess it’s a good thing we left for a while.”

  She gasped and spun around, pressing her hand against her heart. “Don’t you ever do that again!” she panted, wide-eyed. “You almost scared me to death!”

  Marian smiled and eyed the shirt Alex wore. The same shirt Michael had worn when he’d walked into the apartment earlier. “Is it safe to go into the living room? What I mean to say is, is he properly clothed, even if he’s without his shirt?”

  Alex’s eyes grew even wider. “You have to get out of here, right away,” she whispered harshly.

  “Alex, he can’t see us.”

  “Dad! Oh, my God. Dad will do something horrible, I just know it!” she moaned, pounding the counter with her fists. “Why did I have to turn thirty now? Why did this have to happen?”

  “There’s a half-naked man in Alex’s living room and I won’t tell you what the bedroom looks like.” Patrick suddenly appeared next to Marian.

  In all her agitation Alex didn’t notice that her father wasn’t as upset as she expected, considering the circumstances.

  “I used to have such a normal life!” she wailed.

  “Alex, is something wrong?” Michael called out in a sleepy voice.

  She muttered a curse under her breath. “No, I usually talk to myself while I cook.”