“That’s when you’re most open to me—when we’re making love.”
“Being close to you then is very precious, Jess.” He pulled her into his arms and wrapped her tightly against his body, his hands moving up and down her back. His lips slid along her cheek, found her mouth. He brushed them back and forth against hers, then settled, drank more deeply. “I don’t think I can get along without you anymore.”
She sensed the promise in his mind, yet she needed to hear the words. “So what do we do?”
“Love each other.” His voice was gruff.
“Is love enough?”
“It’s supposed to be.”
“But for us?” she persisted.
“Jess, I think I’ve finally freed myself from the past. We’ll just have to work on the future together.”
He found her lips again, and for a few minutes they didn’t speak, both wanting to show the other how strongly they felt. But there was another question she needed to ask. “How would you feel about my working for Peregrine? Gordon’s asked me to be a consultant. I suspect that’s his way of easing me into it.”
“He told me he was going to speak to you. It would mean you’d have the right clearances. But I still can’t be sure how I’m going to handle it.”
“I know. I’ll worry about you when you’re out on assignments. But I won’t try to stop you from doing your job.”
“I told you once that you were an extraordinary woman.”
“You were trying to get rid of me then.”
“Not now, baby.” He looked at her and grinned. “At least you don’t know everything I’m thinking. I’m due a month’s leave and plan to head back to Texas to see if my ranch is still there. I want you to come with me.”
“I’d like that.” She knew the ranch was his alone. To be asked there meant he was letting her into his life. “But I do need to make a slight detour to Annapolis and see how my business is running itself.”
“Fair enough. Besides, I’d like to see where you live too.” A devilish expression came over his face. “Can you guess what I’m thinking right now?”
She moved her hips against his. “I don’t have to read your mind to guess that.”
“Uh-huh. I’m wondering whether to take you down into the woods and make love to you there, or whether we can sneak back up to bed without getting corralled by someone for another debriefing session.”
She grinned. “Let’s take the safest route.” She slipped her hand into his. Together they walked away from the house and toward the orange and gold of the autumn splendor.
ISBN: 978-1-4592-8365-7
In Search of the Dove
Copyright © 1986 by Ruth Glick and Eileen Buckholtz
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