“Anna. Anna, wake up. Wake up, love.” The low whisper was punctuated by little kisses that covered her eyes, nose and cheeks.
She batted at him ineffectually with one hand.
“Wake up, baby, wake up,” he crooned.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t want to.”
The bed moved as he got up and Anna curled deeper into the quilt. Good. Now she could go back to sleep.
The quilt was unceremoniously hauled back and Anna made a sleepy protest that went ignored.
“Come on! Get dressed,” Jay said. Then he thrust her discarded clothes into her hands.
“No.” She stubbornly refused to open her eyes. “It’s the middle of the night, Jay.”
“Yes! Right!” he enthused. Then he proceeded to demonstrate that he was equally talented at stuffing her back into her clothes as he was at peeling her out of them.
“Maybe you didn’t hear me,” Anna groaned. She made another try for clearer communication. “The middle of the night. It’s the middle of the night, you madman.”
“I know! That’s the best time,” he informed her with truly despicable cheerfulness.
“For what, besides sleeping?” Anna demanded, opening one eye.
“For going where all roads in Maine lead.” He hauled her limp form up to stand her on her feet and eyed her critically. “Sweetheart, you look beautiful but your hair’s kind of a mess.”
Jay turned to rummage in a closet briefly. He came back with a baseball cap in his hands and stuck it on her head. Working quickly, he twisted her long hair and pulled it through the gap in the back to make a makeshift ponytail. Then a few quick strokes with the brush smoothed the length.
“There,” he decided, satisfied that she was ready. “You look adorable.” The grinning madman kissed the tip of her nose, took her by the hand and pulled her toward the door.
“Jay, what are you doing?” Anna protested as she followed him with dragging steps.
Then it struck her. Maybe this was lover etiquette, taking her home in the middle of the night. Maybe she snored. Maybe he didn’t like to share his pillows.
Well, if so, she didn’t think much of lover etiquette. If he didn’t want to sleep with her, why couldn’t he leave instead of rudely waking her up? She opened her mouth to tell him what she thought about his manners.
But he answered her question before she could speak.
“Honey, I told you already. Weren’t you listening?” He turned back to look at her and asked, “Where do all roads in Maine lead?”
Anna thought hard but it was the middle of the night and cartography wasn’t exactly her strong point. “Massachusetts?”
Jay stared at her, dumbfounded. “Hello?” He waved one hand in front of her eyes as if testing for consciousness. “Anyone in there? Sweetheart, you don’t get out much, do you?”
She didn’t know what to say to that, so she didn’t say anything.
Jay hooted. “I don’t believe it! You don’t know! You’ve lived here for three years and you really don’t know.”
The madman was getting back at her for laughing inappropriately at him earlier, she decided.
Two minutes later, Anna decided enough was enough. It wasn’t polite to laugh so long at her expense at such a sensitive time in her life. She kicked his shin again.
“Ow!” he yelped and gave her a wounded look. “Okay, okay. Pay attention.” He placed his hands on her shoulders, turned her to face him and eyed her seriously. “All roads in Maine lead to L.L. Bean.”
Anna moved her lips soundlessly, repeating the words, but no revelation struck her. What did a store have to do with anything? Maybe lack of sleep had made him unbalanced. Or too much sexual activity after too long a period of abstinence had shorted out his brain.
She said again, “Jay, it’s the middle of the night.”
He smiled broadly. “Right! That’s the best time. During the day, the place is full of tourists.” He continued to beam at her, as if he expected her to catch his enthusiasm any minute.
Anna stared blankly back, unable to put the facts together.
“Baby. Sweetheart. You’re a woman, right? Women like to go shopping, right?” Looking solemn, he prompted her patiently.
Anna considered that. She’d liked shopping for her new dress. “Yes.”
“So I am taking you shopping. Now come on, let’s go,” he urged and tugged at her hands with barely restrained impatience.
Anna tried for a good look at his house over her shoulder as he hauled her along. Nice, from what she could see. Neat and clean. Earth tones in the color scheme, that gave it warmth in spite of the amount of white he seemed to like. Although actually the white was sort of nice. Bright. Anna thought it would always look sunny in here, even on the short, dark winter days.
She could see a lot of books and CDs on shelves and wished she could take a closer look. She’d like to know what his tastes ran to. For all she knew, he listened to everything from Mozart to Motorhead. Read legal thrillers. How would she know? She didn’t know the first thing about the man who’d just become her lover.
Well, no, she amended silently. That wasn’t exactly true. She knew all kinds of things. She knew he was overly fond of the sound of his own voice. Loved to laugh and joke. Was kind to shell-shocked redheads who didn’t know how to act after passion burned itself out.
Actually, he’d been more than kind. He’d been gentle, careful with her body and her emotions and concerned about her welfare.
Still, there were many unexplored depths to the man she’d mistaken first for a serious man, then for a shallow buffoon when he opened his mouth and destroyed the dark and dangerous image.
While she mused over the mysteries of the man, he was busy stuffing her into his car. When he climbed behind the wheel, he turned to grin at her like the raving maniac he clearly was.
“If you’re good I’ll buy you a canoe,” he promised, cajoling her.
“What would I do with a canoe?” Anna asked cautiously.
“What would you do with a canoe?” Jay stared at her, then leaned his head out the window and shouted to the sky, “I love this woman!”
He pulled his head back in and took her hand to kiss it.
“What you would do with a canoe, angel, is nothing. Which is why I would buy you one. So I can use it,” he explained patiently, as if she should have known that immediately. “But in your case, I think you should keep an open mind about some recreational things,” he continued. “You don’t know how you’ll feel about something until you try it, right? After I’ve paddled you a few times, you’re going to love it.” Assurance rang in his voice.
Great. She’d just known spanking was going to come up sooner or later. “I don’t think so, Jay.”
“You didn’t think you wanted to become lovers with me, either, and you’re glad you kept an open mind about that, right?”
Well, Anna hated to admit it but he had her there. It was hard, being in the dark about so many things. He had the edge on her. He had all the knowledge and experience. It left her at a distinct disadvantage. Anna silently determined to catch up, pronto, so she could gain some equal footing on these things.
“Right,” she agreed cautiously but with a total lack of enthusiasm.
“Trust me.” He kissed her hand again and returned it to her lap with a pat.
Trust him. Oh, sure. Right.
“I’ll paddle you first. Then I’ll show you how to do it and you can paddle me. You look strong enough. It’s good exercise and it’s fun, I promise,” Jay continued with cheerful enthusiasm.
“Great.” Her voice said it sounded like anything but.
“Just keep an open mind, okay? Some scientist you are. How do you expect to discover anything with a negative outlook like that?”
Anna sighed inwardly. Well, maybe it was fun. She wouldn’t know until she tried, would she? She could try to work up a little enthusiasm. She had wanted to try everything at least once, she reminded herself. The
fun things twice. If it wasn’t fun, that would be it forever.
“Well, okay. But I think you should be happy I let you tie me up and quit pushing,” she informed him grumpily.
Jay stared at her for so long that she started to get nervous about the car staying in the right lane.
“Baby! You mean you want to try it in a canoe? With me?” A broad smile broke over his face. “I knew it. You are one adventurous woman. I knew you were something else. Sure, why not, if that’s what you want? Only we’ll have to be careful. Lots of the rivers around here are pretty dangerous even for experienced canoeists. We’ll pick a safe spot to tie up. Then we’ll do anything you want to.”
She’d missed something somewhere, Anna realized. She tried to back up cautiously and find out what. “You want to have sex in a canoe?”
He winked joyfully at her. “No, you do. And if you do, I do.”
That kind of answer didn’t clarify anything.
“You were the one who brought it up,” she pointed out, since it was really possible his brain might have gotten shorted out from their highly combustible antics. “You said you wanted to paddle me. You said I’d love it.”
Jay eyed her up and down in clear suspicion.
“You don’t know anything at all about canoeing, do you? And you’re not from around here, are you?”
“No, I don’t. And I’m from L.A.”
He threw up his hands. “Well, that explains it.”
It did? Explained what, exactly? Anna frowned and wondered just how bad her communication skills really were. She’d thought she was improving. “Explains what?”
“Explains your warped ideas about paddling. Honest to God, angel, why would I want to spank you?” Jay demanded in amazement that she could even consider such a thing.
“How should I know? You’re the one with all the experience. You’re the one who wanted to tie me up,” she pointed out indignantly. He was making her sound like some kind of pervert. Just because she didn’t have the benefit of his expertise.
“Hey, you loved that, admit it,” Jay shot back defensively.
“Yes, I did. You were right. So how do I know a little paddling isn’t fun, too?” Anna demanded.
Jay stopped as if to consider that. Finally, he answered her.
“Okay, honey, listen. I’m a fairly broad-minded guy. I’m into variety. I’m willing to experiment. But there are some things…” he trailed off into silence. “All right, if you want me to spank you, I will. But I’d rather teach you to canoe,” he finished on a resigned note.
The light dawned slowly but it did eventually dawn.
“You want to teach me to canoe?”
“Yes. It’s fun. I think you’d like it, okay?” He gave her a sideways glance. “Look, maybe I’m not like the sophisticated guys you knew in California but obviously I appeal to you more than those alfalfa sprouts ever did because I’m the one you waited for. So I think you could at least give it a try.” He paused then added, “If those are the kinds of weirdoes you knew, no wonder you wanted to wait. Sheesh.”
Jay reached for her and gave her a one-armed hug. “I can’t tell you how glad I am you escaped from that crazy place in one piece,” he continued fervently. He shuddered as if considering all the horrors that might have befallen her in the heathen outlands beyond Yankee country. “So I’ll buy you a canoe and we’ll go paddle together, okay, honey?”
That sounded reasonable. Certainly better than what she’d originally feared he had in mind.
“Okay,” Anna agreed meekly.
He smiled warmly at her. “That’s my girl.” He dropped a quick kiss on her cheek as an added reward.
The car turned down a seemingly endless strip of colonial-style outlet stores. Anna looked in amazement at the decorative wooden signs that named every designer known to man or woman.
Jay saw her reaction and laughed. “Welcome to Freeport, angel.”
“This is it?”
“This is it,” he agreed. “No neon signs allowed by town ordinance. Neat, huh?”
It was. A shopper’s paradise of modern convenience and historic charm in one irresistible package. It was certainly unique and she hadn’t had a clue that anything like it existed so close to Portland. No wonder he’d laughed. No wonder he thought she was an idiot for not knowing what he was talking about.
She really didn’t get out much.
They parked and Jay pulled her out to walk the last block.
“This is it? L.L. Bean?” Anna asked as they approached the tall white building with green awnings. Outside the world-famous country store, a manmade waterfall cascaded over rocks beside the wide concrete steps.
“This is it,” Jay confirmed. He was grinning like a fool at her reaction, black eyes shining with humor and anticipation. He kept her hand in his as he led her up the steps. “Isn’t it great?” He beamed at her and Anna thought again that he had a peculiar air of innocent joy. She couldn’t help catching his enthusiasm and smiling back.
“Yes, I think it is,” she agreed, meaning more than the trip to Freeport. She was beginning to think that maybe, just maybe, he was great.
He had a zest for life that was infectious. He was handsome, fun, gainfully employed and a respectable, tax-paying adult. If he had any major personal flaws like compulsive gambling, drinking or drugs, they were remarkably well-hidden. He was wonderful as a lover, enthusiastic and passionate. He’d made her first experience a good one with his gentle care. And afterwards, he’d been just as considerate and loving with her as he made sure she was unhurt and comfortable.
He’d held her, washed her, brushed her hair and complimented her and then seduced her all over again, making the second time just as good as the first although in a different way. True, he did have a somewhat bizarre sense of humor. But he was also everything she could have asked for and she’d come frighteningly close to discarding him because he happened to claim he was in love with her.
She stopped and said tentatively, “Jay?”
He looked at her expectantly. “What?”
Anna gave him a slow smile and leaned forward to kiss him sweetly and thoroughly. “I think I’m going to like canoes.”
Her amethyst eyes glowed with warmth and happiness as they met his ebony depths.
Jay wrapped her in a bear hug and swung her off of her feet. “Glad to hear it, pumpkin.”
She frowned. “No pet names referring to my hair. I’ll put up with honey, baby, angel and so on but there will be no pumpkin, carrot or flame-top cracks.” Firmly, she asserted herself. Even if her feet were dangling off the ground.
His eyes sparkled with wicked glee. “Oh, honey. You know there’s one name I have to call you.”
She eyed him suspiciously. “What?”
“Jessica Rabbit.” He said the name in reverent, worshipful tones that she had to laugh at. And she did bear some resemblance to the voluptuous redhead from Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
“You do know who Jessica Rabbit is, don’t you, love?” Jay added in an insulting drawl. “You do know what movies are, don’t you? Pictures that move and talk?”
She bit his lower lip in mock revenge for that crack. “I do get out sometimes, you know. I don’t spend my whole life in my lab. Jane makes me go see movies with her.”
“So do Jessica for me,” he begged, teasing her.
Anna considered his request. Well, why not? He’d certainly done a lot for her and she hadn’t known enough to do the same for him. She had a lot of catching up to do. Meanwhile, if it made him happy, she’d do her best cartoon impersonation.
In a breathy, sexy voice, she indulged him. “I’m not bad. I’m just drawn this way.” For good measure, she batted her eyelashes.
His eyes told her that she was bad and just how much he liked her that way.
“I like the way you’re drawn,” he informed her in heartfelt tones. “You’re some piece of, uh, art.” The euphemism and his wicked smile told her exactly how he felt about her body.
Anna
appreciated the sentiment. Not only was it nice to hear positive things about this new area she was venturing into, she returned the feeling. He was pretty wonderfully bad himself.
“So tell me why this place is always open,” she prodded as he pulled her into the store’s lobby.
“Because you never know when you might suddenly need to buy a canoe.”
Anna had to admit that the store was an experience at any time of the day or night. It wasn’t crowded but they weren’t the only ones doing some midnight shopping. Roaming through every department with them were shoppers of all ages and from all walks of life. Anna saw everything from tailored suits to well-worn examples of the store’s outdoor clothing. The only thing these people might ever have in common was a sudden need to shop for outdoor gear.
Somewhat like herself and Jay, Anna thought soberly. They were about as different as the tweedy matron and the hulking bow hunter ahead of them. What did they really have in common?
They both worked for Frontier. They both sat on the wrong end of Lyle’s dreaded lectures. They both lived in Portland. But their areas of interest and expertise couldn’t be more vastly different. The same gaping differences extended to their personalities. While she was focused and serious, Jay didn’t seem to take anything seriously except birth control. She hid a smile, remembering his uncharacteristic lecture.
Well, maybe that was what she needed in a lover. She was only looking for a playmate, not a partner. She needed to have some fun. She’d been working too hard for too long. Some spontaneous shopping and earthshaking erotic discoveries were exactly what she’d been missing.
And considering how much she was enjoying herself, she was determined not to miss anything else.
“Come on, slowpoke,” she urged, tugging playfully at Jay’s hand. “I want to look at canoes.”
Her new playmate grinned back. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Jay wrapped a long arm around her waist and continued, “Since you didn’t have flowers, candlelight and violins, the very least I can do for you is buy you the canoe of your dreams. With accessories,” he added generously.
“Accessories?” Anna wondered how one accessorized a canoe.
When Sparks Fly: Love and Rockets Page 9