The Wrong Woman

by Linda Warren

  Suddenly the bedroom door opened and Ethan stood there, his left arm bandaged and in a sling. She blinked; she had to be seeing things. It couldn’t be Ethan. He was on his way to Junction Flat by now. But he was still standing there and he was smiling.

  “Ethan?” she said tentatively.

  He walked farther into the room. “Yes, it’s me.”

  He looked much better. His color was back and… Her eyes narrowed. “What are you doing here?”

  “I wanted to apologize in person.” His voice was low and filled with so much emotion that her heart wobbled crazily inside her.

  “You said that loving means accepting people the way they are, so I’m assuming you’re willing to accept me and all my faults, even my pigheaded pride.”

  Serena was sure she was dreaming, because nothing he said was making sense. But she enjoyed every word coming out of his mouth.

  “You were right that I didn’t want you to see me in that condition,” he went on. “I felt weak, incapacitated, and I want to be strong for you. But I’ve finally realized that’s not always possible. From time to time I have to bend and let someone I love care for me, fuss over me.” He took a deep breath. “That’s not easy for me to admit.”

  Her heart was beating so fast she had trouble thinking, but she had to be clear on one thing. “Someone you love,” she repeated in a trembling voice. “Is that anyone I know?”

  “Oh, yeah.” He walked close to her and gazed into her eyes. “She’s standing in front of me.”

  The breath she’d been holding solidified in her throat. She moved into his right side and he slipped his arm around her. “Ethan, I love you so much it’s making me crazy.” She kissed the warmth of his neck. “I’m sorry I got angry this morning, but I felt so hurt.”

  Everything in him suddenly relaxed, and he held her close. “You had a right to be angry. I was a jerk yesterday.”

  She raised her head and he kissed her gently, softly, but soon a driving need took over and the kiss deepened. She threw both arms around his waist as his hand cradled the nape of her neck. “Serena,” he groaned, “I love you and I’m sorry for hurting you. Yesterday I couldn’t face another injury, a long recovery. It made me feel less of a man.” He shook his head. “You’ll have to help me when my pride gets in the way.”

  They stood holding each other, savoring the moment. Ethan swayed slightly and Serena drew back to look at his face. She saw happiness and joy, but also strain. “Ethan, you shouldn’t even be out of the hospital.” She led him to the sofa.

  He sat and rested his head against the cushion, while Serena sat on his right side. “Better?” she asked.

  He caught her hand and held it. “Much better. Because you’re here.”

  She watched the strong lines of his face soften, and all she wanted was to be with him—but there were questions clamoring in her head. “Ethan?”

  “Uh-huh?”

  “What are you doing in this room? Mr. Hudson from the Diamond Store gave me this room number. Someone who bought my great-grandmother’s earrings is supposed to be here.”

  “I know,” he replied, and let go of her hand. He reached for the bag on the coffee table and pulled out a small box.

  She recognized the box immediately; she’d never expected to see it again. With his thumb he popped open the lid and the diamonds sparkled at her. “Oh, Ethan! You bought the diamonds!”

  “Yes.”

  “How did you know where they were?”

  “You told me that first night we spent together in Dallas.”

  “Oh, and you asked Mr. Hudson to send me here.”

  “Yes.”

  “Why, Ethan? Why would you do that?”

  His eyes melted into hers. “Because I want you to wear them on our wedding day.”

  “Oh…” Tears trickled down her cheeks.

  “Sweetheart, please don’t cry.” He brushed away her tears with his thumb.

  “I can’t help it,” she sniffed. “This is the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for me.” She hugged him carefully, trying not to jostle his injured arm. “Can you afford this? I mean I don’t want you to—”

  He placed a finger over her lips. “You never cashed that check I gave you, so I decided to spend it on something that would make us both happy. Besides, I get a good pension from the government. So, yes, I can afford it.”

  “Are you…asking me to marry you?”

  “Yes,” he answered without taking a breath.

  “Oh, Ethan.” She curled her arms around his neck again and kissed him until they were both breathless.

  “I’ll take that as a yes,” he said, grinning.

  “Yes, yes, yes.” She punctuated each word with a kiss, then snuggled against his side, her heart about to burst with happiness.

  She picked up the diamonds and they glistened with every color of the rainbow. Finally she’d found her rainbow and it was Ethan—just as she’d known. She removed the earrings and put them on. “How do they look?”

  Her hair was up, so Ethan could see them clearly. “Beautiful,” he murmured, gazing raptly into her eyes. “I thought our daughter might wear them one day, too.”

  She sat perfectly still. “You don’t have to say that. I know how you feel about children and I’m fine with it.”

  “But I’m not.”

  She didn’t know what to say.

  “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking since I left here,” he explained. “It’s all I’ve been doing. For so long, I was focused on Ryan’s death, but I began to remember his life—what joy he brought me and how much I enjoyed being a father. I wouldn’t have missed that for the world.” He paused. “I’d like to experience it again…with you.”

  “Ethan.” Her voice was hesitant. She didn’t want him doing this because he thought it was what she needed. All she needed was him.

  He took her hand again and answered her unasked question. “I’m not saying that because I feel it’s what you want to hear.” He rubbed his thumb over her palm. “Did you wonder why I was here yesterday?”

  “Sarah and I talked about that last night.”

  “I’d already made up my mind that I wanted a life with you. I was packed and ready to go when Daniel called and told me about the situation. I had to get to Dallas as fast as I could, so I flew, instead of driving. I got here just in time.”

  She leaned her head on his chest. “I’m glad you did.”

  He caressed her neck. “I love you so much that it almost killed me when I hurt you last night. That pain was worse than my arm.”

  “Then don’t do it again.”

  “I promise.”

  He became quiet and she raised her head to look at him. His eyes were glassy, and she sensed that he was in pain.

  “Ethan, what is it?”

  “The surgeon gave me a prescription for pain medication. I took the pills a little while ago, and now I feel like I’m fading out.”

  She stood and clasped his hand. “Then we should get you to bed.”

  He smiled. “Ah, I like that.”

  When he’d clambered to his feet, she placed an arm around his waist and together they walked into the bedroom.

  Serena paused at the big round bed, but only for a second. “In your condition, all you’re going to do tonight is sleep.”

  “Oh, I don’t like that.”

  She helped him off with his shirt, then removed his boots and socks. As she worked on his jeans, he said, “I like this.”

  “See, it’s not so bad to let someone help you, is it?” she asked as she pulled the bedspread back.

  “No,” he agreed as he crawled into bed, feeling woozy. “Damn, I shouldn’t have taken that medicine.”

  Serena quickly shed her clothes and slid in beside him. He reached for her with his right arm and took the clip out of her hair. “I prefer it down.”

  “I noticed.” She ran her hand over his bare chest. “You’ve finally found the piece that completes the puzzle.”

  He grinned. �
��You’ll have to tell me what it is because I’ll be damned if I know.”

  She sighed. “It’s unconditional love. Every woman wants that.”

  “And every man wants unconditional sex.”

  “Ethan.” She nipped his chest with her teeth.

  “Oops. Must be the medication.”

  “Go to sleep, Ethan. We’ll talk in the morning.”

  His lips curved into a peaceful smile and in a few moments she knew he was asleep. She kissed his forehead and let the events of the night wash over her. She’d been feeling so low, and now she was so high she didn’t think she’d ever come down. Nor did she want to. She just wanted to spend the rest of her life with this man. It didn’t matter that they were different in so many ways; the differences between them only enhanced the love they shared.

  She snuggled against him—and suddenly her eyes flew open. She’d forgotten about Sarah. She had to call and let her know what had happened. Easing out of bed, she reached for the phone.

  Sarah picked it up before the first ring stopped. “Serena, is that you?”

  “Yes, it’s me,” she whispered, not wanting to wake Ethan, although she didn’t think there was much danger of that.

  “Why are you whispering? Are you in trouble? What happened? Gran and I are worried sick.”

  “Calm down. I’m fine. Ethan was the one who bought the earrings and he was here waiting for me and…”

  “You made up,” Sarah guessed.

  “Yes, and it was wonderful. I called to let you know, so you wouldn’t worry. I’ll phone again tomorrow. Good night.”

  Serena went into the living room to get the roses. She set them on the nightstand and breathed in their fragrance, thinking that her life was exactly as she’d always hoped it could be. She had a sister and they were forming a bond as strong as if they’d known each other all their lives. The financial crisis was resolved. And she had Ethan. That was the best of all. She slipped back into bed, snuggled against him again and drifted into the rainbow of her dreams.

  SERENA AWOKE feeling blissful, and she stirred to see Ethan coming out of the bathroom. Naked. Her stomach fluttered with excitement.

  He sat on the bed and stared down at her. “Morning,” he murmured.

  She sat up. “Morning. You look better.”

  “I am better. Much better.” His eyes lingered on her face and disheveled appearance, then traveled to her breasts.

  “What are you doing up so early?” she asked.

  “I have to be at the hospital at ten to get my arm checked,” he told her. “I’ve already shaved and I was going to shower, but I need help.”

  “Why do they need to check your arm?” she asked anxiously.

  “They’re just making sure I have good blood flow to my fingers and that there isn’t any excess bleeding—minor stuff. I’ll begin my therapy in two weeks.”

  “Oh.” She pushed the hair away from her face. “What can I do?”

  The diamonds sparkled on her ears, but they didn’t match the glow in her eyes. “Kiss me,” he said.

  “That can be arranged.” Smiling, she leaned over and met his lips eagerly.

  “Mmm, that’s nice.”

  “What else?” she asked.

  He pointed to a piece of plastic lying on the bedside table. “I have to wrap that around my arm so I won’t get it wet in the shower. It’s difficult to do with one hand.”

  “So that’s why you don’t have your sling on.”

  “Yes.”

  Her smile broadened. “There’s a big tub, so why don’t I fill it and we can take a bath together.” She made to crawl over him, but he caught her around the waist. “Tempting as that sounds, I want to talk first.”

  “About what?” she asked. Then he began to kiss her back, and her senses hummed with delight. “Ah, oh…” Each kiss was an erotic tease.

  “How do you feel about living in Junction Flat?”

  “I, ah, I can’t think when you do that.” His lips continued to the base of her spine.

  “Do you know you have freckles on your lower back?” His tongue gently touched each one, and her brain went haywire.

  “Yes, I know,” she answered in a small voice.

  He stopped and brought his mouth to her shoulder. “How do you feel about living in Junction Flat?” he repeated.

  “Will you be there?”

  “Of course.”

  “Is there a school?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then I don’t have a problem with it.”

  “Are you sure?” he asked as he pushed her hair away and kissed her neck. “You’re just getting to know your sister, and I thought you might not want to leave Fort Worth.”

  As his lips traveled to her ear, she had trouble speaking, but she managed. “Sarah and I are old enough to understand that our lives will go in different directions. We’ll never lose touch, but my life is now with you.”

  “Oh, Serena.” He kissed her lips briefly. “How do you feel about renovating an old ranch house?”

  “Sounds like fun.”

  “The house has needed renovating for a long time, and I decided to let Molly work on it, hoping it would cheer her up, but she has other interests now. She and Bruce are getting back together.”

  “That’s great!”

  “Yeah, they both realized they still love each other.”

  “True love never dies.”

  “I believe that now,” he replied. “But before I get completely sidetracked, I have to tell you that my father lives with me. Pop gave the ranch to his kids and I bought out Travis and Molly because they weren’t interested in ranching.”

  “I have no problem with that, either, but I have to tell you that my grandmother and Sarah will be visiting from time to time.”

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He ran his hand through her hair. “I want you to be sure about this. I’ve lived all over the world and I can adjust to living in Fort Worth if that’s what you want.”

  She touched his face. “Thanks for offering, but let’s try Junction Flat. You love it there and I love the outdoors—and you.”

  “Oh, Serena, I love you,” he whispered, and they kissed deeply, passionately, until primal needs emerged.

  She felt his arousal against her hip. “Ethan, we shouldn’t do anything strenuous,” she breathed in an uneven voice.

  “They said exercise was good for me.”

  She laughed softly. “I don’t think this is what they meant.”

  “I want you.” He kissed her breasts. “So bad.”

  She tried to still the need inside her, but she couldn’t. “Me, too,” she murmured. “But we have to be careful.”

  “I don’t want to be careful. I want to make mad, passionate love to you.” His lips found hers again and for a moment silence mingled with pleasure.

  “Okay,” she moaned raggedly. “I’ll make love to you.” She’d never done this before, but with Ethan she was sure it would come naturally, like everything else she’d experienced with him.

  “Serena…”

  She put a finger over his lips. “Your pride is getting in the way.”

  He grinned, accepting everything she was offering.

  “Just let me love you,” she said as her lips slid down his chest and lower.

  And he would…for the rest of their lives.

  EPILOGUE

  One year later

  SARAH WELCH scribbled notes and attached them to her date book. She’d just returned home from counselling people on the Crisis Hotline, where she did volunteer work three times a week. She wanted to check with this person again tomorrow. The woman was in an abusive relationship, and Sarah needed to make sure she had all the facts and understood all the options open to her. It was so hard not to just say, “Get out and don’t look back,” but she’d been trained to let people make that decision on their own, with a little guidance if necessary. Sarah wondered if she was equipped to give such guidance. She’d studied for years and had finally received
the masters degree she’d been working on, but at times she felt inadequate to deal with such problems. That stemmed from her own life, of course. She’d endured so much and still…

  She stood up and walked over to the window, which faced the landscaped backyard—a yard that needed regular maintenance, as did the pool. It cost so much to live in this house, but she couldn’t bring herself to sell it. Maybe she would eventually, but for now she needed to be here—where she should’ve been as a child with Serena and Gran. She was still sorting through a lot of emotion from the past, and she knew that soon she’d have to make some decisions about the future. But today she wasn’t analyzing her life anymore. Today Serena and Ethan were coming home for a visit, and Sarah was excited. She hadn’t seen them in a month.

  “Sarah,” she heard Serena calling a moment before she burst into the study with a big smile.

  Sarah ran across the room and they embraced. “I’m so glad you’re home,” Sarah murmured.

  “Me, too,” Serena said as she stepped back.

  “Where’s Ethan?”

  “In the den with Gran. I wanted a few minutes alone with you.”

  Sarah stared at her sister’s smiling face. “Okay, what gives?”

  “I couldn’t tell you on the phone,” Serena said in a rush. “I had to tell you in person.”

  “You’re pregnant,” Sarah guessed, smiling, too.

  “Yes.”

  “Oh, Serena.” Sarah hugged her again. “I’m so happy for you and Ethan.”

  “Thanks.” Serena’s smile broadened as they sat down. “I can hardly believe it. I’m going to be a mother.”

  “So Ethan finally talked you into it.”

  “I had to be sure he really wanted another child, and I also wanted this year alone with Ethan. I’ve even adjusted to living in Junction Flat, because the people are so nice and the kids don’t have that hardness they do in the city. They’re fresh and eager to learn and I have some great art students.”

  “You’re so happy that it’s—”

  “Infectious,” Serena finished for her.