He had sent Ernie out that day, but now he didn't know when a replacement would arrive. Leslie had told him not to worry about it, but with a humph Frank had said that "a little thing like her couldn't go without sleep." Leslie couldn't help but smile. Frank was still equating size with stamina, but she was beginning to have a sneaking hunch that he believed women should be coddled.
The conditions outside were awful. Leslie squinted, her long lashes shielding her eyes from the driving snow that whipped against her face. It was drifting so badly that she could barely see the indistinct outline of the trailer units through the ominous whirlwind. Bending her head against the freezing, slicing wind, she watched the silver crystals slither along the ground, creating the illusion that the earth was shifting beneath her feet.
By the time she was inside and had closed the door of her trailer, her cheeks were stinging from the freezing wind. The temperature had dropped that morning, but now the windchill factor plunged the temperature even lower. She didn't envy the men working on the rig. The canvas skirt that protected the rig floor helped to break the wind, and there was a fair amount of heat generated by the equipment, but it would still be terribly cold.
She had a warm shower, then made herself a cup of hot chocolate. The wind was beginning to moan with a melancholy lament that left her feeling strangely sad. It seemed to compound her feeling of apprehension about the future.
She was still awake, thinking dismal thoughts, when she heard a soft knocking at her door. She glanced at her clock radio as she slipped into a fluffy pink housecoat. One-thirty. There must be trouble at the rig.
A blast of arctic air swirled around her when she opened the door. Steve McRory, his face shadowed by the hood of his parka, was standing before her.
"Steve!"
"I saw your light on, so I thought you might still be up."
Leslie caught his arm and pulled him inside, shivering as she closed the door against the blinding blizzard. Steve took off his parka and hung it on the hook by the door, then slipped out of his boots.
Her eyes registered her alarm as he turned to face her. He looked nearly frozen and ready to drop from exhaustion, but he never gave her a chance to speak. Whispering her name, he pulled her against him, holding her like he would never let her go.
He was shivering violently, and she could feel the cold and fatigue radiating from him as she wrapped her arms around his waist. Easing herself slightly away from him, she looked up at him in concern. "You're nearly frozen, Steve."
He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against hers, his arms tightening around her. "I had to walk the last couple of miles. The road was blocked solid." He sighed wearily and he cradled her against his chest. "I had to get back tonight. With that wind, I knew it might be days before they could clear the road, and I'd have gone crazy waiting."
Alarm filled her. Walking that distance in weather conditions like these was a risky dangerous move. No wonder he was shivering so—he was probably suffering from hypothermia.
"Come on, you're not standing out here in this drafty hallway." Her chin was set with determination as she led him through the kitchen and into her bedroom. "You are going to get into bed and I'm going to make you something hot to drink.''
"Les, I can go back to my own—"
"Shut up, Steve."
He tried to smother a smile at the firmness in her voice, then shrugged slightly, his voice filled with suppressed amusement. "Yes, mother.''
She grinned at him, then brushed past him and straightened the covers on the bed. "Would you like some soup?''
He gave her a very dry look. "As long as it isn't banana soup."
She laughed and made a face at him, then left the room. When she returned, Steve was in bed, his eyes closed. She could tell that he was trying to control his shivering. She set the tray on the bedside table, then sat down on the edge of the bed and tenderly smoothed his tousled hair.
He opened his eyes and smiled at her. "Are you mothering me, Miss Kairns?"
"Of course—for the time being." She bent over and gave him a light fleeting kiss. Before he could respond, she lifted her head and handed him a steaming mug. "The only canned soup I had in my Mother Hubbard's cupboard was tomato."
She could tell that his normal reserve of energy was nearly spent. He had to struggle into a sitting position and wearily ease himself back against the pillows. Leslie placed the tray across his lap. "And I made you a toasted tuna-salad sandwich that would make Essie cringe in horror."
Steve laughed. "I'm so cold and hungry I'd eat dog food right now."
Leslie grinnpd at him as she reached across him and tucked the comforter around his naked shoulder. Curling up beside him, she remained silent while he ate. He looked so tired She chewed her bottom lip anxiously as she wondered if something had gone wrong.
When he had finished the sandwich she lifted the tray and set it on the floor. Her eyes were solemn, reflecting her concern. "Steve, has something gone wrong? You look like you haven't slept for a week."
He took another sip of soup, then shook his head. "No—all our problems have been miraculously solved. We'd lost the financial backing that we thought was solid, and it was really worrying me. Another company in Vancouver is coming in now, though." He wrapped his hands around the mug and smiled ruefully. "If I didn't know better, I'd start believing that I had acquired a fairy godmother."
Leslie suddenly felt like something was caught in her throat, but she somehow managed to suppress the urge to cough. She didn't even want to think about what Steve's reaction would be if he realized he was in his good fairy's bed. She clasped her hands in her lap and stared at them, preoccupied with her uneasy thoughts.
She didn't look up when Steve leaned over and placed the empty mug on the night table. When she finally lifted her head, she felt as though someone had pulled the plug on her world. Steve was holding the leather folder that framed his photographs. The damned pictures! She hadn't even thought of them when she'd brought him into her bedroom. Disconcerted, she closed her eyes and bowed her head. Damn! Damn! Damn! Why hadn't she thought of them...?
His hand caught her chin and forced her head up. "Leslie, look at me."
She made herself meet his gaze, her eyes filled with distress, her face ashen. He laid the folder on the bed beside him, then separated her tightly interlaced fingers with his hand. His voice was low and husky when he spoke.
"You said I look like I haven't slept for a week— that's not far from the truth." He carried her hand to his lips and kissed it softly, then looked at her, his eyes deadly serious. "Ever since I left here on Friday, I've had one hell of a time focusing my attention on anything. All I could think about was getting back to you. As soon as Uncle John arrived in Vancouver to take over the business negotiations, I bolted for Redwillow."
Releasing his grasp on her hands, he picked up the photographs and studied them. "Leslie?" he asked at last.
There was such a warm irresistible tenderness in his voice that it brought tears to her eyes, and a fierce ache of longing swelled in her breast, unleashing her secret dreams. Maybe he cared for her more than she thought. Please let it be so, she pleaded silently.Please let it be so.
She swallowed, her voice a tremulous whisper. "Steve, I—I don't know where to begin."
He set the pictures back on the.table, then took her hands in his again, his touch reassuring, his words gentle and encouraging. "Why don't you start at the beginning?"
She took a deep shaky breath as she tried to blink away the tears that were suspended on her lashes. She was risking everything. "I...I didn't know what hit me after I met you...I didn't know what was happening to me. I was so...so awed, so overwhelmed by you. Then after that day in the park " Leslie closed her eyes as she fought to control the frightening immobilizing need to cry. She looked at Steve, her mouth trembling, her eyes beseeching as tears coursed down her cheeks.
Steve whispered her name as he pulled back the covers and drew her down beside him. A warm
weakness invaded her when she realized he was completely naked except for his white cotton briefs. He groaned hoarsely as he molded her body tightly against his, holding her in an embrace that was as protective as it was powerful, as tender as it was fierce. "Oh, Leslie, it feels so good to hold you—to feel your body warm and soft against mine. There have been so many times that I ached to hold you like this. I feel so damned empty when I'm away from you."
He caught her by the back of the head and pressed her face against the curve of his shoulder. The painful contraction in Leslie's throat eased a little, and she closed her eyes as she savored the beautiful sense of security that enveloped her. Nothing could harm her when he was holding her; nothing mattered except that he cared.
He held her until the raw emotions in her ebbed, then he eased her beneath him. Raising himself on one elbow, he captured her face with his hand. With infinite gentleness he covered her mouth with his, his kiss warm and vital as he cradled her against him.
Her heart was racing and her breathing labored when he finally lifted his head and softly kissed her eyes.
He took a deep measured breath as he combed his fingers through her hair. "Leslie, I need you to talk to me. I want you to tell me what happened after that day in the park."
There was an aura of uncertainty about her as she touched his face with her fingertips, her eyes soft and luminous. Her voice was tremulous as she whispered, "I had to admit to myself that I was in love with you, Steve. I didn't know how to cope with the intensity of my feelings...and it frightened me."
His arms tightened around her, and he trailed his mouth down her neck, his lips moist and tormenting as he murmured, "Why did it frighten you?"
Shivers of excitement coursed through her as he caressed the sensitive hollow beneath her ear with his tongue. He bracketed her face with his hands and looked at her with gentle questioning. "Why were you so frightened?"
She closed her eyes and took a deep shaky breath. "You devastated all my emotional barricades with that first casual kiss. I felt so vulnerable—"
His voice was low and provocative. "Leslie, that first kiss was anything but casual.' '
She glanced up at him and flushed. "But I thought it was intended to be...that.''
He caressed her lips with a tormenting feathery touch, then laughed huskily. "Not even remotely. You had one hell of an impact on me the minute I laid eyes on you—then you smiled, and I was completely lost."
She stared at him with amused skepticism. "You acted like you wanted to strangle me when I left the restaurant that day, Steve McRory, and you know it!"
He grinned. "Am I really that transparent?'' He shook his head and smiled wryly. "I did feel like strangling you. I wanted you to stay. But you were so aloof when you refused. I was so certain that I would never see you again if I let you get away from me. You gave me some very bad moments, you know."
"I didn't."
"You did. That night I asked you to do the preliminary research for Redwillow. You were suddenly so remote..."
"Oh, Steve...I wasn't remote. I was so horrified, so appalled by what you had told me about Luther Denver."
"I realized that later, but I sure in hell didn't at the time. Then, when you stormed out of the office that day, I really thought I had blown it for good."
Leslie couldn't help but laugh at the rueful tone in his voice. "Poor Steve."
"Yes, poor Steve—you had me going in circles." His face sobered abruptly, his eyes changing to a smokey gray. "Why did you run from me that night at Bob's and Anne's? I put in one rotten night, trying to figure out what had happened. Did I frighten you?"
She shook her head as she took his face in her hands, her eyes dark and solemn. "No...well, yes...in a way. I never dreamed that I could respond the way I did. It scared me that I was so...so out of control. But that isn't the reason I left. I thought you were trying to warn me not to get involved..."
Steve lightly covered her mouth with his fingers. "I was warning you, my love. I'd known you less than a month, but I knew what my feelings were toward you. I was afraid that I was rushing you too fast, and I wanted to give you some time.''
Leslie slipped her arms around his neck and closed her eyes as he kissed the curve of her shoulder. He gathered her against him as he turned onto his back and snuggled her closer. She smiled contentedly as he pulled the covers over her and held her close.
"Steve, why didn't you tell me you were a geologist?"
There was a slight pause, then he heaved a sigh. "I didn't want you to find out about that. I could have strangled Ted when he told you.''
"Why didn't you want me to know?''
He sighed again before he answered her. "Because I thought you'd start questioning my reasons for offering you the job as project geologist.''
Leslie smiled and smoothed her hand across his bare chest. "And what were your reasons?''
Steve gave a throaty laugh as he squeezed her against him. "Are you sure you really want to know?''
"Yes."
"Are you going to get in a 'twist' if I tell you?''
She laughed. "I promise I won't."
"All right, the prime reason I hired you was that I didn't want to leave you behind in Calgary. I didn't think I could stand not seeing you for weeks on end.''
Leslie struggled free of his embrace and stared down at him. "Steve McRory, how can you put that on an employee evaluation report?''
He laughed and drew her back down against him. "I don't know. But I can honestly say that you're efficient, conscientious, dependable..."
"Stop! That sounds far too businesslike and very boring. Personally, I liked the first reason better."
She felt him smile against her forehead as he ran his hand slowly up her back. "It's true, though—and that's the second reason I took you on staff. You're a fine geologist, but you didn't have much confidence in your ability. I was certain that you only needed some field experience to gain that. You made a comment once, that confidence is a very real part of contentment. That really stopped me in my tracks and made me think, I can tell you. I wanted you to be happy, Les—and I realized then that I had to give you some time. I had to give you a chance."
"And you regretted that the minute that Frank Logan and I collided."
Steve groaned. "I wanted to punch Frank, and shake you..."
"Yes, I know."
He shifted slightly so he could see her face, his eyes grave. "I was angry because Frank's comments were too close to the truth. I was feeling so guilty about exposing you to such a rough, harsh existence just because I was selfish enough to want you here with me. Then after you and Frank clashed, I realized that I would have to stay away from you completely or he would make your life miserable. That's why I wanted you to go back to Calgary. But Ted talked me out of that."
He closed his eyes, his jaw rigid as a spasm of pain flitted across his face. "That was the worst ordeal I've ever experienced in my whole life. I hated having that rift between us; I hated watching you struggle along on your own. But I knew if I went near you even once, I would never be able to stay away." He opened his eyes and looked at her with such burning intensity that Leslie felt as though she had been drawn into a whirlpool.
"I love you, Leslie...and I need you like I've never needed anything or anybody before in my life."
For a suspended moment of time, Leslie's heart stopped beating. Then a golden bubble of joy burst within her, filling her with the most glorious happiness she had ever known. All the love that she had kept locked away in her heart came pouring out with a power that was almost frightening with its force.
Steve took her face in his hands, his own expression twisted by a grimace of anguish. "I love you, Leslie, and I want you. And heaven knows, I need you—I need you so damned much." He crushed her against him as he captured her mouth with a scorching kiss, one that sent her senses reeling as their mutual desire became a fierce all-consuming flame.
Leslie was tossed into a tumultuous sea of emotions, was burned by a sc
alding agonizing hunger. Steve's mouth was savagely seductive as it ravished hers, his embrace paralyzing as he held her closer and closer against him. He moved his body against hers as if he were trying to absorb her, to fuse their two beings into one. Her yielding was complete, an impassioned surrender.
He groaned as he caught her hair and tugged her head back, then buried his face against her neck, his breathing ragged. He shuddered as Leslie clung to him, her own body trembling uncontrollably. There was such a storm of denied desire within her that she could barely breathe, but the heated weight of Steve's body on top of hers soothed the throbbing ache.
With a massive effort, Steve reluctantly eased his weight from her. Her arms tightened around him as she whispered tremulously, "Don't, Steve. Please don't go..."
She heard him grind his teeth together as his body tensed; he was fighting for control. He supported his weight on his elbow and grasped her face in his shaking hands. His eyes were smoldering as he gazed down at her, his face taut. Then, gently, he brushed back a wisp of hair that was clinging to her cheek, his voice low and tortured. "I can't be trusted around you."
Tenderly she combed her fingers through his hair, her own voice husky with a deep longing. "I want you, Steve...I want you to love me."
His breathing was rough and labored as he continued to gaze down at her, his desire blazing in his eyes, drawing her beneath him in a desperate embrace.
With a low groan he raised his head and covered her moist parted lips with his mouth, and Leslie felt as though every cell in her body was aroused by the molten surge of passion that pulsated through her.
She felt the muscles in his back bunch beneath her hands as he raised his weight and fumbled with the tie at her waist. A tremor quivered through her as he brushed back the folds of her housecoat, his touch like fire against her sensitized skin.
He slid his hand beneath her hips, binding her body against his in an embrace that was unrelenting. Their skin was soldered together, Leslie's breasts flattened against Steve's chest as he pressed his naked muscled thighs between hers. His tongue plundered her yielding mouth, and his body moved against her with an agonizing deliberate slowness that drove her into a realm of blistering sensation, robbing her of coherent thought. Every detail of his aroused masculine form was imprinted on hers with a heated desire, so wild, so intense, so beautiful that it lifted her beyond reality.
Hold Back The Dawn Page 20
