by Brenda Novak
“You can’t leave the girls, I know. And I don’t mind the walk,” he said. Then he was gone.
* * *
WHEN ISAAC LET HIMSELF into Reenie’s house, everything was quiet and dark. Moonlight streamed through the front windows, throwing the furniture in shadow; he could hear the clock ticking on the wall.
Feeling a heady dose of anticipation, he moved quickly and quietly to her bedroom, where he found her standing at the window, staring outside.
When the floor creaked, she turned. “Hi,” she whispered.
He closed the door and locked it behind him. “Hi.”
She was wearing a pair of men’s-style pajama bottoms with a tiny tank top. No bra. Her hair fell down her back in a thick, wavy mass, and the light drifting in from outside lit her eyes. He could hardly look at her without immediately touching her.
Crossing the floor, he stood in front of her, but kept his hands at his side. “Where’s the puppy?”
“Spike?”
“Is that his name?”
“According to Angela. She named him after the pet lizard in her class.”
“We might have to make a few other suggestions.”
“That’s what I was thinking. Anyway, I put him in the mudroom for the night so he wouldn’t make any noise.”
“Good idea.”
“I guess.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m a little scared,” she admitted with a soft chuckle.
“Of what?”
“I’m not sure I want to be so…out of control.”
“Out of control isn’t all bad,” he pointed out.
“That’s the problem. But it’s more than that. I’ve never had a secret affair.”
He wanted to pull her into his arms, to reassure her immediately. But he waited, so he could be sure she wanted the same thing. “The secret part was your idea.”
“I know. I don’t see any reason to freak everyone out, especially since…since you’re leaving.”
He understood, which was why he hadn’t argued with her. There wasn’t any reason to broadcast their relationship when it could make things more difficult for her after he left.
“If I could’ve stayed away from you, I would have,” he admitted.
She licked her lips nervously. “I don’t have any birth control.”
“I do.” He allowed himself to raise one finger and trace the strap of her shirt. “But I’ll go if that was meant as a dodge.”
She shivered when his finger drew near her breast, then closed her eyes and guided his hand under her shirt. When he felt her soft flesh fill his palm, he knew there was no going back for either one of them. With a groan, he found her lips.
* * *
REENIE CLOSED HER EYES as Isaac kissed her purposefully, expertly. He smelled of clean laundry and warm skin. She brushed her lips against the pulse at his throat, and he began to peel off her clothing.
When he tossed her shirt and pajama bottoms on the floor, she stood only in the thong she’d put on just before he arrived.
He drew her into the puddle of light near the window. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” he said.
Reenie hadn’t felt so attractive in years, so alive. Lowering his head, Isaac nipped at her neck and shoulder as his hands ran over her, rubbing, squeezing, admiring.
“This is far better than the supply closet,” he said. “Now I can take my time.”
Reenie hadn’t been able to catch her breath since he’d started touching her. But she didn’t care. She only knew that the dizzying sensations he was creating with his hands had to continue. It seemed as though her whole life had led up to the promise of his hard body joining with hers. “Don’t…stop,” she murmured.
“I can’t stop,” he admitted with a helpless chuckle. “I’ve never been so desperate for a woman in my life.”
With a smile, Reenie pulled off his shirt and took in the sight of his big shoulders, the light sprinkle of hair on his muscular chest, the intensity of his expression. Goose bumps stood out on his skin as she explored him the way he’d explored her. She smiled when she heard his quick intake of breath as she touched a particularly sensitive spot.
“You like that?” she murmured.
He didn’t need to answer. She could feel the tautness in his body, see the feral gleam in his eyes. Pulling her to him, he kissed her more deeply, touching her tongue to his, bending her slightly over his arm.
She tightened her grip around his neck. “I need more of you,” she whispered. “I can’t wait any longer. I’ve been waiting all day.”
He swept her into his arms and carried her to the bed. But he didn’t rush their lovemaking. He kissed every part of her body, used his mouth in ways she’d never experienced. She felt she was melting into the mattress, burning up from the inside out. And then, when she thought she was too sensitive to tolerate another stroke of any kind, he was finally there inside her.
“That’s good,” she whispered breathlessly. “That’s so good.”
“Not half as good as it’s going to get,” he promised.
* * *
WHEN ISAAC WOKE, it was five o’clock. A naked Reenie was still lying across his chest, sleeping. He lifted a hand to fondle her softness and felt his body stir. But he hesitated to disturb her too much. She needed the sleep. And they were running out of time.
Later, he promised himself. Tonight. Right now he had to leave. The girls would be getting up soon; he and Reenie had to teach.
After gently extricating himself, he sat up and rubbed a hand over his rough jaw, trying to come to full awareness. Then he gathered his clothes.
“Isaac?” Reenie murmured.
“Hmm?” He turned to see her looking up at him.
“Evidently, I’ve been missing out all these years,” she whispered with a sexy smile.
“What do you mean by that?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been made love to as well as that.”
He chuckled. “Don’t start, or I won’t get out of here before the girls wake up.”
“What time is it?”
“Nearly five-thirty.”
Groaning, she rolled onto her back and flung an arm over her eyes. “Already?”
He laughed at the disappointment in her voice. They’d made love three or four times last night. He’d be exhausted later, but he didn’t care. Their night together had been well worth any future discomfort. “Yeah.”
“I have to get up, too.”
“What for?” he asked as he finished dressing.
“I have to feed the animals and milk Jersey.”
She sat up and swung her bare legs over the side of the bed, but he pressed her gently back onto the mattress. “I’ll do it.”
“Really? You know how?”
He smoothed the hair out of her eyes. “I’ve picked up some skills over the past few months.”
“Okay.” She grinned dreamily. “See you at school.”
He smiled back at her. “Will you have lunch with me?”
“I can’t. Someone might see us, remember?”
“So, meet me in the supply closet.”
“Who’s bringing the sandwiches?”
“I’ll come up with something.”
“Chocolate’s always good,” she suggested with a yawn, and started drifting back to sleep.
“Anything you want,” he said softly. Then he kissed her temple and went out to see about the animals.
* * *
WHEN REENIE ARRIVED at school, she found a vase of hand-cut roses on her desk.
“Who gave you those, Mrs. O’Connell?” Sheila, one of her first-period students, asked in obvious admiration. Most of the other girls were gathered around the flowers, too.
There was no note, but Reenie knew it had to be Isaac. She’d found a small ivory elephant next to the flowers, which she’d slipped into the drawer of her desk. “A secret admirer, I guess,” she said mysteriously.
“Who?” they breathed, press
ing closer.
“I don’t know. They were sitting on my desk when I arrived.”
“They’re beautiful!” Sheila said.
“Thank you. Now, if everyone will sit down, we’ll get started. We have a lot to cover today.”
There was a general shuffling as the students found their seats. Turning, Reenie wrote the day’s assignment on the board. “Does anyone have any questions about last night’s homework?” she asked.
Several hands shot up, but before she could call on anyone, she saw something move in her peripheral vision and glanced up to find Isaac watching her from the supply closet. His gaze felt like a physical caress, as if he could undress her from there simply by looking at her.
Several students from the front row noticed him when she hesitated. “Mr. Russell, did you see Ms. O’Connell’s flowers?” Sheila asked before Reenie could continue the lesson.
Although he had his own class in the other room, he stepped out where everyone could see him, crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. “They’re nice,” he said, eyeing them. “Who’re they from?”
He was teasing her, of course. Reenie arched an eyebrow at him. “Actually, they’re probably from my father.”
Everyone groaned. “You said it was a secret admirer,” Sheila said, her voice heavy with disappointment.
“My father admires me.”
“Your father must be one heck of a guy,” Isaac said, his grin hitching up on one side.
“Mr. Russell? We’re finished over here,” one of his own students called through the supply closet.
He shoved off the wall. “Good thing the mystery’s been solved. I have to get back.”
Reenie watched him go. She couldn’t believe he’d risked bringing her flowers. Fortunately, she’d been able to handle the situation in such a way that their existence on her desk wouldn’t mushroom into a problem. But she realized that keeping her relationship with Isaac a secret wasn’t going to be nearly as easy as she’d thought.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
LIZ STARED at the phone. She was nervous and self-conscious, but determined. Isaac had been seeing Reenie for a whole month. When Reenie had the girls, he slipped out late at night and returned a few hours later. On the weekends when Keith had the girls, Liz didn’t see her brother from Friday night to Sunday morning. Isaac and Reenie spent every minute they could together. But at least they were being discreet. Liz had seen her brother’s truck parked in a variety of places but never in front of Reenie’s farm. And whenever Reenie and Isaac bumped into each other in town, they were very restrained.
Of course, anyone who was really looking couldn’t miss the signs. Liz had witnessed the way their eyes devoured each other, the way they seemed to stop breathing when they met. But no one else seemed to notice. And for that, Liz was glad. Isaac had heard from Reginald Woolston just last Monday. His grant would be available in June. Since it was already mid-May, there wasn’t any need to involve Chris and Mica, or Keith and Reenie’s friends and family. The affair would have to end soon.
Isaac would be moving on, but Liz would remain in Dundee. Her house had already closed escrow in California. Because the balance of the mortgage was so high, she hadn’t netted a lot of money out of the deal. But, as she’d expected, it would be enough to help her through the next year, when she’d no longer have Isaac’s support. Keith had agreed to let her keep the whole amount, too. She was grateful for that, because he wasn’t able to pay much child support right now. She was sure he’d eventually hire on with another computer company and make more than he was currently earning. He had the talent. But he’d told her he wasn’t ready to start traveling again. Liz suspected he was still holding out some hope that Reenie would come back to him.
The thought of how hard he’d tried to save his first marriage stung, because he’d let go of his second so easily. But Liz was trying to get beyond all that. If Isaac liked Reenie so much—and she could tell that he did—there had to be something special about her. And if Reenie’s feelings for Isaac were half as deep as Liz suspected, she was going to miss him terribly when he left. Liz wondered if he’d told her about the e-mail from Woolston. He didn’t seem to be focusing much on his impending departure.
So if Liz didn’t reach out to Reenie, who would? She was the only one who knew how much Reenie was about to suffer—again.
Flattening the scrap of paper she’d stuffed in a drawer the night Isaac had given it to her, she dialed before she could change her mind. Then she blinked in surprise when Reenie said, “God, I miss you. When will you be here?”
“Um…” Liz cleared her throat. “This isn’t Isaac. It’s Liz.”
Dead silence. Liz imagined Reenie pulling her foot out of her mouth and managed to smile. “Are you still there?”
“Yes. I’m—”
“Shocked?”
“I was about to say sorry. I—I thought—”
“I know what you thought.”
Another strained pause.
“If you’re looking for…your brother—” Reenie’s voice dropped on those two words, making Liz wonder if one of the children was around “—I’m afraid he isn’t here.”
No, he wouldn’t be there for another four hours at least, after the girls were asleep. Liz knew that, but she didn’t say so. “Isaac’s here, mowing the lawn. I’m not looking for him. I called because I was wondering—” she curled her nails into her palms “—if you’d like to go to lunch with me sometime.”
“You want to get together?” Reenie said, her words sounding strangled.
“Why not?” Liz was gathering confidence as she spoke. The hardest part had been identifying herself. “We seem to have a lot in common. For one, Angela and Mica have become pretty close friends.”
“I know, but…did Isaac put you up to this?”
“He gave me your number several weeks ago.”
“Why?”
“Because you were losing your dog, and he felt you could use a friend.”
“But you waited to call.”
Liz took a deep breath. “Put yourself in my shoes, Reenie. It’s not easy approaching the woman my husband loved more than me.”
“I’m sorry for what Keith did, Liz. To both of us.”
“I know,” she said softly.
“So…where do you want to eat?”
Liz’s heart beat a little faster. Could they really get beyond what had happened? Maybe even build some type of friendship? No one would believe it. “The restaurant out at the Running Y serves a nice Sunday brunch.”
“Sounds good. Do you want to go this weekend?”
“Sure. Noon okay?”
The door opened and Isaac walked into the living room. “It’s getting too dark to see,” he complained, stripping off the leather gloves he’d worn while mowing. “I’ll have to do the edging tomorrow.”
Liz put up a hand to let him know to be quiet.
“Noon’s fine,” Reenie said. “Do you want me to bring the girls? It’s Keith’s weekend, but he’s working on Sunday, so he’ll have them back by then.”
Liz could hear Mica and Christopher playing Ping-Pong downstairs, shouting and laughing when one of them missed, which was often, and contemplated making it a group outing. There wasn’t any need to arrange babysitting, was there? “Why not?” she said. “I’ll include my kids, too.”
“Great. See you there,” Reenie said, and disconnected.
“Who was that?” Isaac asked.
“Reenie.”
He halted mid-stride on his way to the kitchen and pivoted to face her. “You were talking to Reenie?”
“Yes.” She smiled. “I called to invite her to have lunch with me. We’re meeting for brunch on Sunday.”
“Can I come, too?”
“I thought you and Reenie didn’t want to be seen together.”
“With you and all the kids, it should be okay. I enjoy seeing her children. Reenie doesn’t let me have anything to do with her girls.”
“Why not?”
/>
“She doesn’t want them to get attached.”
Maybe Reenie was being careful where her kids were concerned, but she certainly wasn’t looking out for herself. “If that’s the case, she might not be happy if I bring you along.”
“I don’t think she’ll mind. Brunch is harmless.”
Liz considered it. Maybe Isaac’s presence would make things easier, more natural. “Okay.”
* * *
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN you can’t come?”
Reenie barely heard her mother’s voice on the phone. She was too busy staring at her computer screen, grinning at Isaac’s latest Instant Message. You free tonight?
He’d been over last night, and the night before, and the night before that. If they weren’t careful, they’d get caught simply because they were spending so much time together.
She was happier than she’d been in years, happier than she’d thought possible. But working all day and making love with Isaac all night was starting to take its toll. She stifled a yawn.
“Reenie, are you listening?”
“Sorry, Mom. What did you say?”
“Why can’t you come over on Saturday for dinner? Your dad would like to see you before he heads back to Boise.”
She wanted to see her father, too. But this weekend was Keith’s turn with the girls, which meant she could relax when she was with Isaac. Those lazy days together were very precious to her.
“I’m afraid I have too much to do.” It was a lame excuse, and Reenie knew it. She’d already used work and the farm half a dozen or more times to avoid get-togethers over the past month. But what else could she say? I’ll probably be naked and in bed with Liz’s brother, and I can’t give that up?
Spike came trotting out of her bedroom, carrying her slipper in his mouth. “Come here,” she said to him, snapping her fingers.
“What’s going on, honey?” Celeste asked.
Her dog gave her a sheepish look because he knew better than to chew up any more shoes and hesitated halfway across the carpet. “Spike’s ruining another pair of slippers.”
