Stormy Passion (44 page)

“
Lisa, will you take over
the front?” Brenna dragged her eyes reluctantly away from Taylor to
her sister. “I don't think we'll be having any more guests, but it
seems I have a dinner date I forgot about.”

Lisa took the flowers from Nell and frowned.
“Yuk, these must be from David then.” Brenna nodded but her gaze
went back to Taylor. She saw him tense, and she couldn't quite read
the expression in his remote eyes. Could he possibly be jealous?
No. Not in a thousand years.

“
Well, tell Mr. Personality
I said hello.” Lisa's sarcasm dripped from her voice as she left
the kitchen.

“
David isn't that bad,
young lady,” Brenna responded to her sister's rude comments. “You
shouldn't act so ugly around him,” she reminded her sister but
figured she was wasting her breath. She didn't take her gaze off
Lisa as she asked, “Is there anything you need me to do,
Geraldine?”

“
Nope. Ya go ahead and eat.
I'm hearin' lots of good comments about Taylor's fine sauce. We'll
chow down in here.” Geraldine took two clean plates from the
cabinet. “Just run along, honey. Ya don't want to keep yer fella
waitin'“

Brenna's brow raised a fraction at Geraldine.
Just what was she up too. “Well, if you're sure,” Brenna said,
wishing she could eat in the kitchen with them. “I can't wait to
taste the sauce myself.” Brenna glanced one more time at Taylor,
but he had turned his back to her. His silence left her a little
uncomfortable.

She felt guilty for having dinner with
someone else. Quickly, she reminded herself she was single and
could have dinner with whomever she pleased. Perhaps, Taylor just
didn't care. She turned and left.

Taylor stared at the swinging door.

“
I'll have to give it to
him,” Geraldine broke the silence. “That boy deserves an 'A' for
effort.”

An 'A' isn't exactly what I'd like to give
him
. Taylor jerked off his coat. He was irritated with himself
for being jealous. He should have known there was another man in
Brenna's life. She wouldn't have been waiting around for him to
come and get her, Taylor thought.
Because if she
wanted
me--she shouldn't have left
. It always boiled down to the same
question.

“
Does he come around here a
lot?” Taylor jerked his head toward the door.

Geraldine shrugged. “As much as Brenna will
let him.”

“
Do you think she likes
him?” Taylor snapped out the question.

“
Brenna likes everybody.”
Geraldine smiled. “Come on, let's eat some of this fine spaghetti.”
Geraldine licked the spoon before putting it in the sink. “Mmm,
good,” she praised him. “Ya know, somebody would be a pure fool to
let ya get away. Not only do ya look fine ... yer a damn good cook
to boot.”

Taylor smiled at her. He knew he wasn't going
to get anything out of good, old Geraldine. “I'm going to put some
wood on the fire. I'll be right back.”

And if that SOB is touching Brenna ... I
just might throw him into the fire, too
.

Chapter Nine

The minute Taylor saw Brenna and David
sitting at a corner table Taylor's jaw tightened. Brenna's laughter
floated all around him as he bent down and roughly shoved a log
into the fireplace, sending a shower of sparks into the air like
fireworks

That man wasn't her type. Brenna needed
someone strong, decisive. Someone she could lean on. Someone like
himself. And therein lay the problem. When she could have had him
to lean on after her parent's deaths, she hadn't. She simply left
town without bothering to say anything. What a fool he was where
Brenna was concerned. After years of driving her from his thoughts,
here he was in the middle of her life again, setting himself up for
the same hurt. Only this time he'd be the one leaving.

Replacing the fire screen, Taylor remembered
he had a dinner date of his own in the kitchen. Before he left, he
glanced one more time at Brenna to make sure David wasn't touching
her.

Brenna saw Taylor from the corner of her eye.
Even dressed in a blue flannel shirt and jeans, he possessed an
aura of strength that added to his masculinity.

David talked about his store, which seemed to
be the only thing he knew, but Brenna heard none of it. However,
she did overhear the two women sitting right behind her talking
about Taylor.

“
Look over there.” One of
the women evidently punched the other because she dropped a
fork.

“
Wow! Isn't he good
looking?” the second lady whispered. “And get a load of those broad
shoulders. He must be one of those rugged, mountain
men.”

They both laughed and then one asked, “I
wonder if he comes with the room?”

Brenna tensed. She was just about to turn and
tell both of them Taylor wasn't available when he looked at her
with a sensual stare that melted her heart. His attraction was
lethal. She wondered how many women he'd been intimate with over
the last three years. Had he replaced her the minute she'd left
town? Surely, he hadn't. Their love had to have meant something.
Taylor was probably very angry because she hadn't contacted him
directly, and she couldn't blame him. She'd have felt the same way,
too. But she had been given little choice. Taylor's mother had
driven a hard bargain, striking when Brenna had been the most
vulnerable.

Regrets ... Unfortunately, she would have to
live with her decision.

“
You didn't hear a word I
said, did you?” David said then glanced in the direction in which
Brenna gaped.

“
I'm sorry.”

“
Who's that? Hired help?”
David asked. “I've seen him around town this past week.”

“
His name is Taylor
Rothschild. We grew up together,” Brenna explained. “He's helping
me out until I can get back on both my feet.”

David took her hand in his. “I would have
been glad to help you.”

“
I know, but you have the
store.” Brenna smiled, thinking he really was a nice person.
“Taylor is working out just fine.”

David wiped his mouth and placed the cloth
napkin on the table. “That was a great dinner. Geraldine really
outdid herself again.”

Brenna didn't bother to explain that Taylor
had cooked the meal. Instead, she suggested, “Would you like to
retire to the living room for coffee?”

After they reached the empty room, Brenna
made the mistake of sitting on the couch, and David quickly sat
down beside her, draping his arm over her shoulder.

She should tell him she was tired, but she
did the polite thing and listened to him talk about anything and
everything, and nothing at all. She nodded ever so often, so he'd
think she was listening. Brenna tried to picture herself twenty
years down the road married to David, but decided they wouldn't
make it past ten because she would die of boredom.

Taylor entered the room, frowning. He took
the dishtowel he held in his hand and slung it over his shoulder.
Evidently, he'd been helping Geraldine, and Brenna's heart twisted
just a little.

“
Are you tired,
Brenna?”

It was all she could do to keep her
heavy-lidded eyes open, and her head felt like a medicine ball
perched upon a stick. But she managed to lie, “A little.”

“
I thought so.” Taylor then
looked at David. “This is her first day up, and it appears she's
overdone it. I think it's time you went home.” The authority in
Taylor's voice left no room for argument.

David pulled his arm from around Brenna and
reluctantly stood. “Can't the lady speak for herself?”

Taylor's brow raised a fraction, but he
remained calm as he said, “Apparently not. You're still here.”

“
Taylor! Don't be so rude.”
Brenna couldn't believe the animosity in Taylor's voice. He
actually appeared to have a strong desire to punch David. She
wasn't sure why Taylor had such dislike for her friend, but she
didn't want to create a ruckus in her house. “He's right. I'm very
tired, David.”

He stared at her. “I'm sorry. You should have
said something earlier,” David murmured. “You don't have to walk me
to the door,” he added then bent over and kissed her on the lips.
“I'll check on you in a few days.”

“
Good night,” she mumbled,
shocked by his action.

David didn't brother to look at Taylor who
stood like a guard with his arms folded across his chest as he
leaned against a table.

After David left, Brenna shifted her eyes to
Taylor. “You could have been a little more tactful,” she scolded.
“He is a friend.”

“
I noticed. Even the
village idiot could see you're tired. That joker should have left a
long time ago.”

Brenna attempted to stand, but her arms were
so sore from using the crutches that she sank back down.

Taylor rushed over and gently pulled her up.
Her heart skipped a beat the minute he touched her. Brenna depended
on his strength more than she should, but she hadn't had anyone to
lean on for such a long time. She looked up at him. “You've done so
much for me. I feel like a burden to you.”

“
Nonsense.” He placed a
finger over her lips. “I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to
be.”

Brenna stared at him as if she needed to
memorize every line of his face. She had seen it often enough in
her dreams. Without warning, a chain of memories of long ago
flooded her head. They had had wonderful times together. They both
enjoyed sports and spent fun times at ball games, but her favorite
times had always been the quiet moments she'd spent in his arms.
Enough of this silly thinking. “My underarms hurt. I hate to ask .
. . but will you carry me?”

He took the crutches and placed them by the
end of the couch, then lifted her into his arms, brushing her lips
gently. Brenna thought she'd faint as she swung an arm around his
neck.

“
You know I like it when
you're tired. You're more like a kitten than a tiger,” he
said.

Brenna managed a smile. “But I still have
claws.”

Taylor chuckled as he walked to the landing,
stopping only a moment to flip on the light switch. “I've developed
some good arm muscles over the last week carrying you up these
stairs,” he teased her.

“
I'll be just as glad to
get this thing off my foot as you will.” She rested her head on his
shoulder, suddenly feeling melancholy. “I guess you'll be going
home before long?”

“
I guess so,” Taylor said
quietly. He entered her bedroom and closed the door with his foot.
“Probably in a few weeks.”

Once inside the room, he let go of her legs,
and she slid down his body, but she didn't move away from him as
she usually did. Instead Brenna shut her eyes and cursed herself
for letting Taylor back into her life.
A few weeks
. How was
she ever going to say goodbye?

This
definitely
wasn't the way, Brenna
convinced herself. She prepared to step away from him. That's when
she felt his arms tighten around her. She jerked back. Her eyes
opened. And her gaze immediately focused on Taylor's face, and for
a fraction of a second, she stopped breathing, “Taylor, I--”

“
Shh,” he hissed and pulled
her head under his chin, enfolding her within his arms. “Just let
me hold you for a little while.” His words were sweeter than any
caress. “If nothing else, I can have this,” he whispered more to
himself than to anyone.

A little of Brenna died at his softly spoken
words. She slid her arms around Taylor's waist and snuggled next to
him contentedly listening to his heart thumping beneath her ear.
His tortured voice had touched her deeply, and she knew he
struggled within himself. If life hadn't interfered, they would
have been married, and he'd be holding her like this forever.

Taylor began massaging her back with his
fingertips, letting them glide leisurely over the curves of her
body. Brenna felt so safe, knowing he'd never let anything hurt
her. He'd proven himself over and over again. Yet, she'd hurt him
by never divulging the truth. She wanted to. Oh, how she wanted to
bare her soul, but she couldn't tell him everything. There was
always the threat over her head.

“
Taylor, there was never
anyone else,” she whispered, desiring to give him something to ease
his hurt.

Taylor kissed the top of her head then laid
his cheek on her silky hair. Was she telling the truth? At the
moment, he didn't care. She smelled so fresh and clean and
wonderful. How was he going to leave her? There were so many things
they needed to settle between them, but Taylor knew at this very
moment he loved Brenna. He had never stopped loving her. He wasn't
sure what the future held, but she was as much a part of him as
were his arms, his hands, his fingers. Slipping his palms lower, he
drew her closer and molded her body into his, which he realized
wasn't the smartest thing he'd ever done. His mind exploded at the
intimate contact, taking all logical reasoning with it.

“
Brenna,” Taylor whispered
into her hair and waited for her to look up at him. Those
beautiful, emerald eyes stared at him with such passion that his
thumb shook as he traced a line just under her bottom
lip.

She shivered but she didn't glance down, nor
did she pull away as his hand moved to the back of her head where
his fingers tangled in her hair. But this time his need for her
increased and intensified until the outside world ceased to exist.
Slowly, he leaned down and kissed her, softly at first.

Brenna had felt ugly with this cast on her
foot, but her whispered name had curled her toes and overwhelmed
her with tenderness. Every logical fiber of Brenna's body said she
should move away from him.