Authors: Roseanne Dowell
I'd half expected to see him at the
airport this morning. In fact, I was surprised when he wasn't on my flight.
Probably just as well. At least I didn't have to make excuses to not see him.
No doubt I'd see him soon enough at
Gladys's house. It seemed only reasonable we'd run into each other. I'd have to
go back and take more measurements of the new rooms, order different lighting
and flooring.
Shoot, I hadn't thought to ask Gladys if
she wanted to stick with marble floors and area rugs. Hell of a lot more space
to fill up that's for sure. More than likely she'd want to. She'd been adamant
about the marble.
I wished she'd chosen a warmer material
or at least a warmer color marble. Even hardwood, especially now that she
decided to open it up. What a vast space to fill with marble. Hopefully it
wouldn't look like a museum.
The blues and purples were cold enough. I
had to do something to warm up the room. I'm sure I'd come up with something.
Gladys had given me carte blanche. I could choose whatever I wanted. Couldn't
I?
I set the mail back on the table and
picked up my plans for Gladys's room. All scrap now. No more browns and greens.
Already, I began to plan the room in my mind. Vivid blues in the living room
and royal purple in the dining room.
The richness of the upholstery had to
compliment the wood on the table. No, not wood, glass. That's it, a large glass
topped dining room table with pewter wrought-iron legs or maybe antique brass.
Brass would warm the room up a bit.
Square or round? I'd have to decide that once I saw the openness and size of
the room. I leaned toward round, but this room might need oblong. Bar stools
around the counter. I'd have to wait to see how big. I wonder how Bill would
feel about a half round top.
What kind of fabric on the chairs? Maybe
Damask, velvet, or brocade. Brocade, definitely brocade. And glass and brass
end tables and maybe a coffee table in the living room with a couple of love
seats and over-sized couch.
I'd set up several seating areas.
Definitely one around the fire place. A couple of fireside chairs were a must.
Velvet or cut-velvet on the couches. Something nubby on the chairs for more
texture. Chenille, that's it.
The phone rang, interrupting my thoughts.
Who knew I was home? Probably a telemarketer. I grabbed the phone off the stand
in the corner. "Hello."
"Hi, do you miss me?"
Bill's sexy voice sent an electrical bolt
through me. I smiled. I couldn't help it. "Haven't had time to." I
lied. No way was I going to tell him the truth. Let him wonder.
"Where are you?" I almost hated
to ask, but I needed to know. Needed to prepare so I could avoid him, make
excuses why I couldn't go out with him.
"Still in Florida. My flight leaves in an hour."
"I see." Safe for another day.
Think, I told myself. I needed a good excuse in case he asked me out. Busy,
yeah, busy doing what. Working? No, he wouldn't buy that. Wouldn't allow it. A
date. That's it, I had a date.
"So, how would you like to pick me
up at the airport? My flight arrives at eight fifteen."
"Tonight?" That caught me off
guard. I hadn't expected that. He wouldn't fall for the date excuse. He knew I
just got home. Shoot.
"Yeah, tonight. You don't have a hot
date, do you?"
I let out my breath. Damn, damn, damn. I
hadn't counted on seeing him this soon. Yet part of me wanted to say yes.
Wanted to see him. Hell, my body ached for him. Dare I pick him up? Phew. What
to do?
"Wendy, are you there?"
"I'm here. I'm thinking."
"This isn't rocket science. It's a
simple yes or no answer. Besides, I'd like to discuss Gladys's house with
you."
I sighed. "Okay, what time?"
"My flight lands at 8:15. Probably
8:30 give or take."
"Okay, see you later." I hung
up before he said anything more. Why had I agreed to this? Already heat burned
in my stomach. Part of me, granted a very big part, looked forward to seeing
him.
I put the phone back in its cradle and
went to the bathroom to freshen up. A quick run through with the flattening
iron was definitely in order. I reached in the cabinet for it and remembered it
was in my luggage. Thankfully, I had been able to retrieve my luggage when I
landed.
* * *
I pulled into the airport at eight-thirty
on the dot. My stomach turned somersaults. Just the thought of seeing Bill
again caused my insides to tremble. I knew this was silly, but I couldn't help
it. The rational part of me tried to deny these feelings, but my body and
emotions played havoc with me.
None of it made sense. It wasn't as if
we'd made mad passionate love or anything. Yet the memory of his kisses burned
in my mind. No, we hadn't made love. Yet. But, I knew it wasn't far off. I
couldn't resist him much longer. Even though my brain said no, part of me
wasn't sure I wanted to. I felt like I was being pulled in two.
The logical part of my mind told me to
get out, run away. This wasn't good for my career plans. But the other part,
the irrational part told me to run forward, grab what happiness I could and see
what happened.
Not like me, not like me at all. I never
rushed into anything. I always studied everything, weighed the pros and cons
before I made a decision.
Yet, hadn't I been doing that ever since
I met Bill? Weighing the pros and cons? Studying the idea of sleeping with him.
Everything about this told me it wasn't a good idea. A relationship didn't fit
with my lifestyle.
Unfortunately, my body, as well as my
heart, betrayed me. I wanted him with all my heart and soul. Wanted to get to
know him better, wanted to spend time with him.
And, dear God in heaven, I so wanted his
body.
Even now, sitting here waiting, I ached
for him. I closed my eyes and imagined what it would be like to make love to
him. Gentle, yet passionate, so very passionate, how I knew I had no idea. But
I knew it'd be wild and sexy and...
Someone tapped at my window. My eyes flew
open and my cheeks flamed. Bill stood there with that silly grin that turned my
brain to mush.
"Hey," I finally found my voice
and popped the trunk for his luggage. "Good trip?" What a dumb thing
to say, but I guessed it was better than nothing. No one ever made me feel as
tongue tied as Bill.
He threw his luggage into the trunk and
opened the passenger door. "Was okay. I enjoyed the trip there
better."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, this time an old bald guy sat
next to me. Not half as pretty as you." Bill laughed, leaned over and
kissed my cheek.
Just the slight touch of his lips set me
on fire and drove me crazy with desire. I longed to feel his lips on my mouth,
wanted to feel his tongue slide in and claim mine.
I put the car in gear and tried to focus
on driving. This wasn't going well. All I had to do was drive him home, drop
him off and get the hell out of there.
"Which way?" I asked when we
came out onto Route 237. "Where do you live anyway?"
"Turn right. Actually, it's just
down the street, in Berea."
"Really? That's convenient."
"It is. To everything, actually.
Turn right here."
I followed his directions into a
neighborhood filled with old homes. Many of them Victorian.
"So you're renovating an old
house" Dumb, I already knew that. Why was it so hard to talk to him all of
a sudden? Maybe because of my amorous thoughts? Amorous, ha, more like
passionate thoughts. I couldn't seem to get the image of him in his snug shorts
out of my mind. Those muscular legs did something to me. I wanted to see more.
Lots more.
"Pull in there." Bill pointed
to a large Queen Anne Victorian.
I pulled into the drive. "Front or
back?"
"Back." Bill started to
unbuckle his seat belt.
I pulled to the back and put the car in
park.
"Aren't you coming in?"
"Uh, no. It's late. I have to
go." That's all I needed. With those thoughts running through my mind, I'd
never get out without doing something foolish.
"I thought you'd want to see what I
need done." Bill sat there, his door half opened.
"About that. I'm not sure I can work
on your house." Not work, and stay focused anyway. Best to cut the ties
here and now.
"Look, if you're worried about my
intentions, I guarantee they're strictly professional. It's hands off, I
promise."
I looked at him. It wasn't him I was
worried about. Oh, I had no doubt he'd take what I offered. That was the
problem. I wanted to offer way too much. I wanted to take. No, this wouldn't
work. I'd fall for him and then what. "I just don't think it's a good
idea."
"Look, just come in. Take a look
around. See what you think. At least give me some advice." He put one leg
out of the car and looked at me. "At least come in and meet Leo."
He had me there. I did say I wanted to
see his dog. Terrific! Now what was I going to do? I turned the key and pulled
it out of the ignition. "Just for a minute, then I really have to
go." I followed him into the house.
"Welcome to my disaster area."
Bill motioned me to go ahead of him when he opened the door and flipped on a
light.
"Disaster, you've got to be
kidding." I stood in the center of the kitchen. "This is
fantastic." I couldn't resist running my hand along the cherry cabinets
that went from floor to ceiling. "You are keeping these, aren't you?"
Bill laughed. "Absolutely. Make
yourself at home. I'll put these away and get Leo."
"Where is Leo?" I wanted a tour
of the whole house, but that would have to wait. Especially the upstairs.
"He's in his crate in my room."
"In a crate? He hasn't been there
the entire time you've been gone?"
"Good grief, no. My neighbor had
him. I called before I left and told her to bring him home. I didn't want to
wait until morning to get him."
I sighed. "Sorry."
"Honest mistake. Go ahead look
around. Feel free to turn on the lights." He headed through the doorway.
"Living room's in here."
I couldn't resist. I loved Victorian
homes. Queen Anne especially. Obviously the house needed work. Sections of
faded wallpaper were missing from the wall.
I walked around the large room until I
came to the front parlor. My heart pounded in my chest as I looked up the
circular staircase. Shivers went up my spine.
I pictured a young woman coming down that
staircase, ready to meet her beau. Me. It was like I'd been here before.
Instinctively, I knew there were pocket doors between the rooms. Oak. I checked
and sure enough, I slid the rich oak doors closed. A cold breeze brushed past
me, and I jumped. I had the weirdest feeling I was being watched. I hurried
back to the kitchen in search of the other stairway. The clicking of nails on
the bare floor caught my attention, and I turned to meet Leo.
Before I said anything, Bill held up his
hand. One rule. "Don't look, don't talk, and don't touch. Just ignore
him."
I backed off. I was just about to reach
out and pet Leo.
"I'll explain in a minute." He
opened the door and let Leo out, waited a minute, came back in, and went to the
refrigerator. "Cola?" Leo followed him like a little puppy.
I nodded. "So, why the rule?"
"For one thing, Leo's still a little
shy. But mostly, it shows him whose boss. You know the Alpha thing."
"I'm not sure I follow you." I
set my keys on the table and sat in the chair Bill pulled out for me.
"It's part of his training. If you
make a fuss over him, he gets excited, then he starts jumping, and next thing
you know he's in charge not you." Bill sat down, and Leo lay at his feet.
"I see." Made sense to me.
"My mother's dog could use some of that training. Dumb thing jumps all
over everyone when they come into the house. Won't leave you alone, until you
give him a treat."
"Ah, see, he's the alpha in that
house."
"You can say that again. My mother
spoils him rotten. Worse than a baby. Except when the grandkids come over, that
is. They take priority."
"How many grandkids are there?"
"Five right now."
"Sounds like fun. So, what,
brothers? Sisters?"
"All sisters. Two older, one
younger. Tell me more about your brothers and sister. Older, younger?" I
unbuttoned my jacket and slid it off.
"Here, let me take that." Bill
grabbed my jacket before I could refuse. "I already told you I have two
brothers and a sister older, one brother younger. Greg, the oldest has four
kids. All boys, Jeff, Sam, T.J. and John. Are you sure you want to know all
this? I already told you most of it."
"Absolutely." Anything to keep
the conversation rolling and keep my mind off his body.