No Wife Required!

by Rebecca Winters

  After a pause Greg said, “I’ll have to check with Annette.”

  “You do that, then give us a call. I’ll be here, even if Lacey’s still working.”

  Greg mumbled something noncommittal and left. Max closed the door and locked it. There was an ominous silence. He turned around with a triumphant expression on his face.

  “Your family friend has been needing a jolt like that for a long time. I actually felt sorry for the poor devil. But I think he got the point. Maybe now he’ll be able to get his act together.”

  On one level Lacey could hear what he was saying and basically agreed with him. But on another, she was too mesmerized by the sight of his virile, masculine presence to think clearly.

  His hair was attractively mussed from sleeping on the couch. The desire to smooth it from his forehead was almost irresistible.

  “It’s no good looking at me that way,” he murmured silkily. “Even if I were amenable to the idea, you’ve got a Sunday school lesson to get. Remember?”

  For a moment she had forgotten.

  Humiliated that Max could have such a potent effect on her, she dashed into the bathroom to start getting ready. A half hour later, the smell of frying bacon reached her nostrils as she walked into the kitchen dressed in a blouse and skirt, wearing a dark, tailored vest.

  “How do you like your eggs?” he called over his shoulder, which was covered by his robe. He looked very much at home, which wasn’t surprising since their condos were identical.

  “Scrambled.”

  To her delight he’d set the table and had made orange juice and cinnamon toast of all things. Considering the adventurous life he lived, unencumbered by a wife and family, he could probably take care of himself better than most people.

  She couldn’t help but wonder how he’d avoided marriage all these years, or more importantly, why. Her spirits plummeted when she realized that their living together wasn’t for real. She had no guarantees that the future would bring about a miraculous change in his feelings toward her.

  “A little food ought to cheer you up.” He placed bacon and eggs in front of her before sitting down to attack his own hearty breakfast.

  “Everything’s delicious,” she said minutes later, discovering she was hungry. “Thank you. No one’s fixed me breakfast in years.”

  “I can understand why.” Through veiled eyes he stared at her face and freshly washed black curls. “Food would be the last thing on a man’s mind waking up to you in the morning.”

  She crimsoned at his frank compliment and swallowed her entire glass of juice without taking a breath. “I’m going in the other room to work on my lesson. Leave the dishes and I’ll do them after church.”

  He wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin. “I think I can manage to clean up and still get ready for church on time.” His determination to keep an eye on her was nothing short of amazing.

  She thanked him again, then went to the hall closet for her bag. It contained her lesson materials and flannel board. Once she settled down to work, it seemed like she’d barely had time to review the lesson when Max announced he was ready to go.

  He must have slipped over to his condo in the interim. He wore a charcoal suit with a pearl-gray shirt and silk tie. Smoothly shaven, he looked devastatingly handsome. Every time she looked at him, her heart pounded out of rhythm.

  By tacit agreement they left the condo through her back door and went out to his Saab. This time when he helped her inside, she made sure her skirt covered her knees.

  The church she attended was located near the university, a block away from the home where she’d been raised. Her family had gone to services there for as long as she could remember. Everyone knew everyone, and they would all speculate like crazy when they saw her walk in with Max.

  Not only would he be the cynosure of every eye, but Lacey had never been to church with anyone outside her family, Greg excepted.

  When she suggested that Max go to a meeting for the adults, he said he preferred to watch her teach. With a smile she tried to hide, she told him he might be sorry as she directed him to a roomful of eleven noisy four-year-olds.

  They immediately wanted to know all about him and plied him with the usual embarrassing questions like, was he her husband? When were they going to have a baby?

  To her surprise, Max handled the children beautifully. One word from him and they settled down to listen to her lesson on being grateful for the growing things around them created by God.

  When it came time for them to color their autumn leaves and cut them out, Max got down on the floor with them. Her throat closed with emotion to see his dark head bent over the pictures with just as much concentration as the children. He was perfectly natural with them and would make a wonderful father.

  When it was over, Lacey ushered the children back to their parents who were going into the chapel for the main service.

  Max grasped her hand and led her to a pew in the rear. Everyone smiled and nodded, wanting to be introduced to the striking man at her side. In his charismatic way, he charmed everyone, and several people recognized his name as the famous radio personality.

  Lacey couldn’t hear what went on during the service. All she was aware of was the warmth of Max’s hand clasping hers, and the feeling of rightness associated with being here with him. Her heart swelled until she thought it would burst.

  As they left the church, Lacey seemed to view the world through new eyes. It was a glorious fall day, the air crisp and clear, the mountains majestic.

  “Lacey, honey? Wait a minute. Is this your new beau?” a voice called. It was Mrs. Taggert, an old family friend.

  Lacey swung around and hugged her. “This is Max Jarvis, a friend of mine. Max, meet Mrs. Taggert, a dear friend of my parents.”

  The older woman clucked in delight. “I know who you are. I never miss one of your shows. My eyes are so bad, I have to rely on the radio more and more.”

  “I’m pleased to hear you enjoy Radio Talk.”

  “I do now that you’re on.” She spoke loudly. “It’s about time they brought in someone who has lived in another place besides Utah. We’re a little ingrown here, you know.”

  Max grinned, his gaze locking with Lacey’s. She smiled back. She couldn’t help it. For an infinitesimal moment she enjoyed the heady sensation of laughing silently with him over something that was still a bone of contention between them.

  “I like Utah,” he said, directing his attention to the older woman again. “In fact, I’m thinking of settling down here permanently.”

  His admission stunned Lacey. She had no idea his move to Salt had ever been temporary.

  Mrs. Taggert beamed. “Well, you know what Mr. Prentiss said on the radio. The prettiest girls in the world come from Utah.”

  “As it happens, I’ve lived in many parts of the world and I have to agree with you.”

  “I tell you—” She reached for Lacey’s arm. “I like him a lot more than Greg.” Though she’d said it in a whisper, Max couldn’t have helped but hear her.

  Greg? Had everyone thought she and Greg were a couple, except her? Lacey questioned inwardly.

  Deciding to ignore the comment, she said, “It’s nice to see you again, Mrs. Taggert. Now I’m afraid we have to be going.”

  They all said their good-byes and Max ushered her to the car. After they’d pulled into the mainstream of traffic he confided, “I understand more than ever why Greg’s fiancée feels less than secure.”

  They hadn’t been in the car two minutes and already the tension was building.

  “Mrs. Taggert has always thought Greg would get together with me or Valerie. But she didn’t understand that he was like a brother to us. Neither of us had those kinds of feelings for him.”

  “On your part, maybe,” he conceded, “but Greg definitely has a problem.”

  “Can we get off the subject of Greg?” she asked heatedly.

  “Don’t be angry with me because everyone in the world knows Greg is in lo
ve with you except you. Between that and your frustration level brought on by deprivation, I think you need a change of scene.

  “To show you my heart is in the right place, we’ll drive into the mountains and eat dinner along the way. Your lesson has put me in the mood to enjoy the growing things around us.”

  Inexplicably pleased by his last comment, Lacey relaxed against the seat, opened the window and settled down to enjoy the living, breathing male seated next to her.

  Two hours later, after a filling lunch with strawberry pie for dessert, Lacey found herself looking down at Max who’d stretched out next to a mountain stream. The sunshine gilded the blonder highlights of his hair. He was a breathtaking man.

  “Now that you know everything about Perry the liar, don’t you think it’s time I learned why you never married?”

  Because his eyes were closed, she thought maybe he hadn’t heard her. “Max?” she prompted.

  “There’ve been several women in my life, but the idea of marrying any of them never occurred to me.”

  She blinked. “Did you live with any of them?”

  “No. Only you can claim that distinction.”

  Her heart gave a funny kick. Swallowing hard, she ventured, “Are you saying that you’re among that small percentage of men who just aren’t interested in being tied down?”

  “No. Otherwise I wouldn’t be living with you.”

  Before she knew how it happened, he’d pulled her across the top of him and began kissing her the way she’d been wanting him to do all day.

  “But you know what I mean.” She gasped the words when he allowed her a breath of air.

  Through his lashes, the blue of his eyes had darkened to pitch, and his grip on her was tighter than he probably realized. “Marriage isn’t right for everyone. My parents are a living testimony of that fact, but I don’t want to talk about them or their divorce. I much prefer enjoying the taste of your strawberry mouth. It’s fast becoming my addiction.”

  Content to have gotten that much information out of him, Lacey nestled closer in his arms, addicted to the very scent and feel of him. Once more she found herself giving him kiss for kiss until she lost complete control.

  Max chose that moment to break free of her passionate embrace and stand up. Registering a moan of disappointment, Lacey more or less staggered to her feet. Her body was trembling so hard, she had to cling to him or she would have fallen over.

  “All good things have to come to an end,” he whispered before gently biting her earlobe. “Besides, the sun is setting and it’s getting cold.” He reached for the blanket and her vest, which had somehow come off during their halcyon interlude. Together they walked to the car with their arms around each other’s waists.

  “I’ve never seen the mountains this alive with color,” she murmured, still filled with a euphoria she’d never known before.

  He helped her into the car, then leaned down to kiss her lips as if he couldn’t help himself. “I’ve never seen eyes as green as yours. They defy description.” The huskiness in his voice revealed the measure of his entrancement. It was something to hug to herself on the drive back to the condo.

  Like clockwork, the phone rang the minute they stepped into her kitchen. Max reached for the phone first, said hello, then proceeded to ask who was calling. After a moment, he put his hand over the receiver.

  “It’s Cameron Morgan. He’s at a convenience store around the corner and wants to know if he can come by tonight to talk to you about a new problem with his accounts.”

  “Let me speak to him.”

  Max passed the receiver to her, but stayed planted near the phone.

  She turned her back to him, the better to concentrate. When she finally said good-bye, Max replaced the receiver. Judging by the lines marring his features, something was wrong. She couldn’t bear it. Not after the joy of this day.

  “Before you start in on Cameron,” she said, jumping in first, “let’s get something straight. Without clients like him, I couldn’t make a living. I have to work out of my home, and occasionally I have to conduct business late at night and early in the morning.

  “You and I may have an understanding, but if you take exception to the people who’ve retained me as their CPA, then it will destroy the business I’ve spent several years building.”

  The whole time she was talking, he was studying her mouth. Unexpectedly his hands cupped her flushed face. “Now you’re the one jumping to conclusions. Even after having you to myself for an entire day, I still don’t feel like sharing you with anyone else. But I’ll learn to live with it as long as I can do this whenever I want.”

  He lowered his head, seeking and finding her avid mouth until they were once again consumed.

  For a minute, Lacey lost cognizance of her surroundings and didn’t want to stop what they were doing. It was humiliating to realize that Max was always the one to pull away first.

  “When Cameron gets here, I promise to be on my best behavior,” he murmured against her mouth.

  “Cameron!” He’d be arriving at the condo any second now. “I need to get things ready for him.”

  “What can I do to help?” Max offered pleasantly, while she was still reeling from the emotions he’d brought to life.

  “Stay out of the kitchen while we work,” she admonished, dashing to the hall closet for her briefcase. She heard the doorbell ring as she spread a ledger on the kitchen table.

  By the time Max had shown Cameron inside, the two of them were having an amicable discussion. When Max said he’d leave them alone so they could get their work done, Cameron urged him to stay. Max had a way of winning anyone over when he wanted. He made coffee and joined them.

  It didn’t take long for them to conclude their business. Cameron knew the law well, but he wasn’t an accountant, and she’d been able to spot the trouble in a second.

  Now that the problem was solved, she was anxious to be alone with Max and got up from the table, expecting Cameron to leave. To her surprise, Max had engaged him in conversation, and the two of them more or less ignored her.

  Feeling left out because she’d had Max’s exclusive attention for the last twenty-four hours, she went into the other room and turned on the TV. When she’d told Max to be nice to her clients, she hadn’t expected him to go this far.

  By the time Cameron thanked her for her outstanding work and said good-night, she was practically asleep on the couch. Max saw him out, then locked up and turned off the TV.

  “Time to go to your own bed, sleepyhead.”

  “Not yet.”

  “Up you come.” After brushing her lips provocatively with his own, he scooped her into his arms and carried her to the bedroom, depositing her on the queen-size bed.

  Her green eyes opened and she stared at him through sooty black lashes. She wanted to tell him what this day had meant to her. “Max—”

  A tremor shook his powerful body. “Go to sleep, Lacey.” Suddenly the room went black and she heard the door click.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  LACEY could smell coffee while she was getting ready for work the next morning. She thought Max would sleep till ten, but was glad he was up because she was so much in love, she didn’t want to miss out on a single moment with him.

  Last night he’d shown amazing self-control when he’d put her to bed. More than she had...

  “Good morning.” He greeted her with a melting smile as she walked into the kitchen. To her surprise he was dressed in a T-shirt and Levi’s, reading the morning paper while he drank the hot brew. “Your breakfast is in the oven staying warm.”

  “You shouldn’t have gone to the trouble, but I’m glad you did. I’ve been wanting to talk to you about yesterday.”

  “I know what you’re going to say,” he interrupted her, putting down the paper. “It was a good day for me, too. We’ll do it again soon.”

  Happiness filled her to overflowing. “Promise?”

  He favored her with one of his penetrating glances. “Come here
, Lacey.”

  Something in his voice sent her heart tripping over itself. She closed the expanse between them and was pulled onto his lap. His mouth closed over hers and they clung to each other in a long, deeply satisfying kiss.

  “Um...this morning you taste of mint. What a shame you have to go to work,” he murmured before putting her gently but firmly away from him to pour himself another cup of coffee.

  As usual, he’d been the one to bring their kiss to an end. Flushed and out of breath, Lacey reached in the oven for her breakfast. Bacon and pancakes. He was spoiling her rotten and she’d never been so happy in her life.

  The trick was to overwhelm him with so much love, he’d propose marriage and they could live this way forever. But first, she had to win his complete trust.

  After eating everything on her plate and thanking him for the delicious breakfast, she went over to the end of the counter where she kept pad and pencil.

  “I’m making you a list of all the places and phone numbers where I’ll be today in case you need to get in touch with me. I realize we could be having company tonight, but I’m afraid I won’t be home much before six. Dr. Gerard is fitting me in at the end of the day for the last in a series of hepatitis shots Lorraine had me start before I began tending George. I’m writing down his number, as well.”

  “Don’t worry about Greg and Annette,” Max inserted. “If they decide to come over, I’ll take care of dinner. When you get home from work, you won’t have to lift a finger.”

  Yes! Her plan to keep him informed of her every move was off to a perfect start.

  Acting on a burst of heady emotion, Lacey walked back to the table where he was sitting and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Thank you for being so wonderful,” she whispered against the side of his jaw.

  At first she didn’t understand when Max got abruptly to his feet. That is until she caught the fleeting glimpse of desire igniting his eyes before they were hidden by shuttered lids.

  In his effort to reform her, it seemed he’d forgotten about his own needs. The knowledge that he wasn’t as in control as he would have Lacey believe, filled her with elation.