by Diana Palmer
“How ‘bout a cup of coffee first?” Worth asked, continuing to massage his prickly chin.
“Eva is the coffee brewed?” Ted called out from his place at the breakfast room table.
“Coming.”
Worth still didn’t know what the rush had been about to get over to his parents’ ranch. His mother had called earlier and said they wanted to talk to him over coffee ASAP. He’d just rolled out of bed, bleary-eyed from having drunk too much the night before, trying to forget Molly was down the hall and that he wanted her more than he’d ever wanted anything in his life.
Yet, she was off limits to him.
Someone who gave her word then went back on it was something he couldn’t get past or tolerate. Besides, he believed in the old adage that you can never go back and pick up where you left off. It almost never worked.
However, that didn’t stop him from craving the pleasure of Molly’s company in his bed. He nursed one particular whisker on his chin, letting his imagination run wild. If she were willing to have sex with him, what would it hurt? A good lay for old times’ sake?
Wonder what Molly would think about that? He knew. She’d tell him to go straight to hell in a handbasket, and he wouldn’t blame her. After all, he hadn’t exactly made her stay at the ranch a bed of roses. In fact, he’d been a thorn in her side at almost every turn.
But dammit, she’d deserved it, he kept telling himself. Still, that didn’t absolve his conscience, and he didn’t like that. Guilt was not even a word in his vocabulary, and he wasn’t about to add it now.
“Ah, thanks, Mom,” he said, peering up when Eva set steaming mugs of coffee in front of him and his dad.
“Hannah made some scones and blueberry tarts, your favorites.” Eva smiled as she leaned down and grazed her son’s cheek. “I’m warming them even as I speak.”
Worth shook his head with a frown. “Ah, Mom, thanks, but I’m not hungry.”
“Sure you are,” she said. “Or at least you will be when you smell them. I think they are Hannah’s best efforts yet.” She paused and smiled her confident smile. “And Lord knows she aims to please you. Above all.”
If only his mother would stop her prattle. If not, Worth wasn’t sure he could hang in for very much longer. His head was hurting like someone was beating on it with a jackhammer and his stomach was pitching. If he choked down even a morsel of food, and it stayed down, it’d be a bloody miracle.
But how could he tell his parents he’d gotten dog drunk because he wanted to sleep with a woman who had betrayed him, and whom they held in such contempt? He wouldn’t, mainly because it was none of their damn business.
“So tell us what you’re thinking.”
“Yeah, right,” Worth mumbled into his mug.
Eva’s eagle eyes honed in on him, before saying bluntly, “You look dreadful.”
He put his cup down and peered up at her. “Thanks.”
“Well, you do.”
“Thanks again.” Sarcasm lowered Worth’s voice.
“Don’t play dumb, Worth,” Eva said in a scolding tone.
He rolled his eyes. “Let it go, Mother. I’m not in the mood.”
“When are you ever in the mood?”
“What the hell does that mean?”
Ted waved his hands. “Hey, you two, time-out. We’re a family who’s supposed to be civil, right?”
“I’m going after the goodies,” Eva said, exasperation evident in her tone.
“Don’t pay any attention to your mother,” Ted said, his features scrunched in a frown. “She’s obviously in one of her moods. It’ll pass.”
“It had better,” Worth countered without mincing words. “I don’t like her in my face, Dad.”
Ted’s lean face drained of color. “I know, son. Just bear with her. She only wants the best for you, and she thinks that’s in politics.”
“What if I don’t agree?” Worth asked.
Eva walked back into the room and placed a plate of piping hot goodies in the middle of the table. Worth swallowed hard and tried not to look at them. Even the smell turned his stomach, but he decided to keep that to himself. Maybe later, he’d try a bite or two, to keep his mother off his back, if for no other reason.
“Want me to help your plate?” Eva asked with a smile, certain she’d won her son over.
“Not right now,” Worth responded. “I’m still enjoying my coffee.” Which was a lie. Right now, all he wanted was to go back to his ranch, shower and hit the sack.
“So back to what I asked earlier, son, have you made up your mind?”
Worth heard the anxious note in his father’s voice and sighed. His mother, for the first time was quiet, as if holding her breath until he answered. “Nope.”
Both gave him a stunned look.
“I can’t believe you’re still dallying,” Eva said, anger deepening her voice. “Even though the rally was only yesterday, you still should make a decision.”
“It’s not that easy. For me it’s a huge decision and a huge commitment.”
“Why should that bother you now?” Ted asked, his brows drawn together in a frown. “You’ve never backed down from a challenge yet.”
“You know my heart’s really in expanding my horse business,” Worth pointed out. “Both would be a bit much to tackle at the same time.”
Eva flapped her hand. “The chance to breed horses will always be there. Your political chances won’t.”
“I’m well aware of that, Mother.”
Eva’s face took on a pinched look. “Are you also aware that if you don’t hurry up and marry Olivia you might lose her?”
That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Worth lunged out of his chair, which caused his parents to jump. “I’m not marrying Olivia.”
His mother’s hand flew to her throat. “What?”
“You heard me.”
“Not ever?” Eva asked, her voice coming out in a squeak.
“Not ever,” Worth responded in a tired voice.
Silence filled the room for a moment while Eva and Ted stared at each other, their faces registering perplexity and dismay.
“It’s her, isn’t it?” Eva asked in an acid-filled tone.
Worth folded his arms across his chest. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Like hell you don’t.”
“Eva,” Ted said, glaring at his wife.
“Well, it’s the truth. He hasn’t been the same since Molly came back.”
“Leave Molly out of this.” Worth’s tone brooked no argument. “And while we’re on that subject, stay away from her. I know both you and Olivia took your shots at her at the barbecue.” Worth transferred his gaze to his dad. “That goes for you, too.”
Ted flushed while Eva ground her teeth together.
Finally Eva said, “We have every right—”
Worth cut her off. “You don’t have any rights when it comes to speaking for me. Neither does Olivia.”
“Worth, you’re upsetting me,” Eva said, “making me fear things that I shouldn’t have to fear.”
“If it has to do with Molly, you can stand down. Trust me, she hates me and can’t wait to leave here.”
Eva released a huge breath. “Thank God for small favors.”
Worth drained his cup and put it down. “Thanks for the coffee.”
“You mean you’re leaving?” Eva demanded, wide-eyed.
“That’s right. I’ll talk to you later. Meanwhile, try to stay out of my life.”
He didn’t turn back around, but he knew both their mouths were gaped open.
Molly tiptoed into her mother’s room that same afternoon and saw that Maxine was sleeping. She stood by the bed for a second and peered down at Maxine, feeling herself smile. Her mother was definitely on the mend.
The shots the doctor was injecting into her back had worked wonders. Of course, Maxine hadn’t been released to do any housework yet. However, her mother was up and walking, alternating between a walker and a cane
, which was a praise. It wouldn’t be long now until Molly and Trent could leave.
Thinking of her son sent her to the window where she peered outside. She expected to see Tammy and Trent playing, and she did. What she didn’t expect to see was Worth.
Only there he was. With them.
He was dressed in old jeans riding low on his hips, hugging his powerful legs and an old cutoff T-shirt that exposed his washboard belly and his navel. In truth, he was a gorgeous specimen.
And the effect on her was galvanizing as she watched the scene play out before her. Worth had brought a colt from the stable and was letting Trent rub on it. But it was Worth on whom she was concentrating.
As soon as possible, she had to get out of this house, out of his life for good, which meant she never intended to set foot on this ranch again. Her mother would just have to come and visit her.
Deciding the panacea to her tormented thoughts was work, she turned her back on the window. When called for, Molly could be a lean, mean, cleaning machine. Today was one of those days. Cleaning things, polishing things, making things sparkle not only occupied her mind, but her hands, as well.
Molly had just changed into some grungy jeans, and a T-shirt without benefit of a bra to encumber her efforts. She had pretty much cleaned the downstairs yesterday until it glowed. She felt the upstairs was entitled to the same treatment.
Suddenly, Molly paused in her thoughts, wondering if Worth had decided to run for office, or not. Of course, she would be the last to know unless he confided in her mother, which was possible.
She was delighted Worth and Maxine had such a good rapport. When the time came for her to leave, it would be with a clear conscience, knowing Worth would never let her mother want for anything.
Worth didn’t like many people, but to the ones he did, he was loyal to a fault. She was grateful Maxine fit into the latter category.
She just wished she did.
“Can it,” she spat out loud, then cut her gaze to the bed to see if her outburst had awakened Maxine. It hadn’t. She turned then and went back to her room. The instant she walked in, her cell phone rang.
Surprised but glad at the caller, Molly said with enthusiasm, “Why, hello, Dr. Nutting.”
“Hey, kiddo.”
His familiarity was just the balm she needed for her battered senses. While he was the consummate elderly doctor in looks, with a thatch of white hair, delving blue eyes and an ever-ready smile, that wasn’t his only claim to fame. He was one of the best and most renown doctors in the south, especially when it came to cardiology.
She’d been thrilled and honored when he’d chosen her as his head nurse. Now that he was willing to send her to school to become a physician’s assistant, she was humbled and even more eager to please.
“I’m so glad to hear from you, Doctor.”
“Same here, young lady.” He paused. “So how are things?”
Molly gave him a quick rundown of her mother’s condition.
“Ah, so you may be returning sooner rather than later.”
“Sounds like you miss me,” Molly said in a teasing tone.
“You have no idea. I’ve come to depend on you too much, I think.”
Instantly Molly felt a bout of homesickness come over her. “Is everything going okay? I hope my absence hasn’t created undo hardship in the office.”
“Nah, but it’ll be good to have you back.”
“It won’t be long now, I promise. I’ll keep you posted.”
Dr. Nutting chuckled. “I guess I just wanted to hear your voice and hear you say that. Now, I’m feeling much better.”
“Me, too,” Molly said with a smile and tears on her cheeks. “Thanks for calling. I’ll be in touch.”
Once the cell was flipped closed, Molly wiped her face, dashed to the laundry room, grabbed her tray of cleaning supplies and headed to Worth’s room. Usually, Kathy maintained his space, but since Kathy was off ill and had been since the barbecue, Molly felt she had no choice but to tackle it herself.
Besides, it was a wreck. She’d passed his room earlier, paused and took a quick look inside, having no idea what possessed her to do such a thing. Maybe it was because Worth’s bed was a mess, like he’d wrestled with a bear and lost.
Whatever, the room needed attention, and she was the only one available. With her Sony Walkman attached to her jeans and her earplugs in, she cleaned his bedroom proper, then moved to the bathroom.
After everything was shining there, with the exception of the shower, she stepped into it and began scrubbing. Although she didn’t get wet, she came close to it, her T-shirt anyway. It got damp and, therefore, clung to her breasts like a second skin.
After finishing that job, she removed her ear plugs just in time to hear a sound, a sound she couldn’t identify, though she panicked. Surely it wasn’t Worth having come back in. She was positive she’d be in and out of his room before that happened.
Brightening, she told herself she was just hearing things. Still, Molly didn’t see any reason to tarry any longer. That was when she opened the door and stepped out, only to freeze in horror.
“You.”
She wasn’t sure if she spoke the word out loud or not, so shocked was she to see him naked as the day he was born, standing in front of her, staring at her with fire leaping from his widened eyes.
For a moment, they both just stared, him at her breasts with their rosebud nipples thrusting forward and her at his huge, beautiful, growing erection.
“Molly,” he said in a voice that sounded like he’d been gutted, then he reached for her.
But she was too fast for him. Before he realized what was happening, she turned and ran out of the room.
“Molly!”
She ignored the plaintive cry she heard in his voice and kept on running. Out of harm’s way.
Fifteen
Out of sight; out of mind.
She wished.
Worth had been gone for three days, and the thought of seeing him when he returned gave Molly the weak trembles. Realistically, there was no way to avoid the inevitable, and she knew it. He’d at least told Maxine he was going to Dallas to look at some horses. She hadn’t expected him to tell her, of course, nor was she complaining. The less she had to do with Worth, the better.
Still, she found herself jumping when she heard a door open or close, which was ludicrous. On this ranch, someone was coming or going all the time.
But she knew from past experience she would look up, turn a corner or walk into a room and there he’d be.
In the glory of his magnificent manhood.
Only clothed, she prayed.
Whenever she thought about that encounter in his bath, she almost lost it. Her breathing turned labored, her limbs trembled and her mind spun.
None of which was good. Or sane.
In fact, since that incident she’d been a basket case. Oh, she’d done what she was supposed to do, probably to perfection because she was so determined to concentrate. She’d taken care of the house, her son and her mother. Yet she’d felt as if it were someone else doing those things—as if she existed outside herself.
Right now Molly found herself pausing and leaning against the cabinet for support, feeling slightly dizzy. Stress. That was all it was. She was under so much pressure that she felt her insides might explode at any second, which was horribly unfair to her son and to her mother.
She had let Worth get under her skin. Again.
The sight of him naked had made her crazy with an aching need that wouldn’t go away. Although she knew it was wrong to want him to make love to her, she couldn’t control her mind. It seemed to have taken on a life of its own.
She didn’t know what to do; that was the problem. The more she was around the ranch, the more under Worth’s spell she fell. She couldn’t leave. Not yet. But soon.
Meanwhile, she would continue to remind herself what Worth had done to her, how he had ripped her heart out and trampled on it. Now that she had Trent, she coul
dn’t dare let that happen again. Even though he had denied it, she felt sure he would eventually marry Olivia. And she was yearning to make love to him.
What kind of woman had she become?
Since she couldn’t bear to answer that question, Molly went back to polishing the piece of silver. She was just about finished when Trent rushed into the room.
“Mommy, Mommy!”
“What, darling?”
“Mr. Worth’s back.”
Molly’s heart took a dive, though she kept her tone even and cool. “That’s great, honey.”
“He wants to take me riding.”
Molly panicked. “Oh, Trent, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
He scrunched up his face.
“You’ve never ridden a horse, and Mommy’s afraid.”
“I’m not,” he responded with belligerence. “I’m a big boy. You’re always telling me that.”
“You are a big boy.”
His eyes brightened. “Oh goodie, I can go.”
“Whoa, cowboy. I didn’t say that.”
“Mommy! You’re being mean.”
“Trent,” she responded in a stern tone.
“What’s going on?”
If she hadn’t had such a tight grip on the piece of silver, she would have dropped it at the sound of Worth’s voice. The time she’d been dreading had come. He was back, and as suspected, in full sexual glory, sending little tremors of shock to her chest.
“Mommy says I can’t go,” Trent said to Worth, his lower lip twice its normal size.
“I—” she began.
“I won’t let anything happen to him, Molly.”
She didn’t want to look at Worth, especially with him standing in front of her, staring at her through eyes that were thankfully unreadable. She just hoped she could do the same thing. She’d rather die than to have him know she’d been thinking about how awesome he’d looked naked.
“Molly.”
Feeling like her face had just caught on fire, she drew a ragged breath then forced herself to meet his gaze.
“I said I’d take care of him.” While his voice had a gruff edge to it, his eyes didn’t. They seemed to have suddenly ignited with heat that told her he wasn’t as cool and in control as he appeared, that he, too, was remembering the episode in the shower.