A Touch of Passion (boxed set romance bundle)

by Uvi Poznansky

  “Is that why you never want to go into the pool?” His question demanded she answer.

  First she looked at her grams for help and when she saw that Rose also waited to hear her reply, she admitted. “It’s too deep. I’m scared.” Her pronouncement hung in the air and everyone held their breath.

  Anne broke the uncomfortable silence. “I was the same way when I was your age, Debbie. It took me a long time and lots of help to get over being frightened of the water. My father gave me swimming lessons, and that helped some. But it was because he stayed close to me, until he saw I could swim, that made the biggest difference. After that I lost my fear. ‘Cause then I knew what to do.”

  Max, being the trooper he was, pitched in. “Me too. My maman had to stay with me for a long time before I was okay by myself.”

  Debbie flashed a smile in his direction. “Can you swim now, Max?”

  Honest to a fault, Max admitted his secret in a strained voice. “Not so good without my water wings. I brought them with me. We can both use them if you want. Then your papa can teach you what to do.”

  Rose cut in and beamed at Clint. “What a great idea. The evenings are the best time, since it’s when house shades the pool. How about tomorrow night we have a pool party with a barbecue, and the whole shebang?”

  Anne lowered her head so she wouldn’t see Clint’s reaction. His life had been deviously planned. Unless he wanted to distress the two people he cared about the most, he had very little option.

  ❋

  Later, seeing that Rose looked exhausted, Anne offered to read bedtime stories to Debbie and Max together. When they entered Debbie’s pretty pink bedroom, Max looked around with a sneer. “It sure is pink in here.”

  “I know. My gram loves pink.”

  “Not me!”

  “Me neither. But I don’t want tell her and make her sad.”

  Awww!! Now that stroked Anne right in the mushy place that got affected whenever anything perfect happened. Could there be anything more perfect than seeing the love a child had for her grandmother? Not in Anne’s world. Seemed Max felt the same.

  He smiled his special, dimple forming grin which he saved for only the people he loved and asked, “If you could change your room, what color would you choose?”

  Debbie looked at him shyly. “I like blue.”

  “Me, too. Blue’s my favorite color.”

  Debbie added, her voice wistful. “My pa has blue eyes. So do you and your mama. And grams. I’m the only one in the family with ordinary brown eyes. I wish mine were like yours.”

  Anne leaned over and kissed the little girl’s cheek. “Chérie, you don’t have brown eyes. You have chestnut beauties that sparkle and shine like honey when you’re happy. They’ll never be ordinary. When you’re older, the boys will be falling all over themselves to get you to look their way.”

  “Maman, that’s gross.” Max crossed his arms and made a goofy face.

  Anne saw her ploy had worked when interest lit Debbie’s face and her grin widened. “Okay, let’s read. You each get one choice for a story. Girls first.”

  “No, Max should be first ‘cause he’s a guest.”

  “Yeah, Maman, I’m a guest”. He winked at Anne and she knew the thought of him getting the first choice tickled him to the extreme.

  After a lot of high jinx, with the kids enjoying the funny, interactive book Anne had bought as a surprise at the airport for Debbie, she settled them down with hugs and kisses and decided to turn in, too. She was still trying to acclimate herself, and tonight she’d thought to take a sleeping pill and force sleep; rather than being awake half the night and dragging her butt around all day.

  Just then, Rose stopped by the doorway to collect hugs and kisses from both the kids. “I’m off, Annie. Clint is still in his office working on his accounts and will probably be there half the night. That man works like a dog and won’t listen to a word I say about him hiring help; especially for the chores he hates—like doing the books.”

  “Do you think he’d like some help? I managed all my own bookkeeping for the shop in Paris. Even took a course to be more efficient.”

  “Try him and see. Can’t hurt.” Anne gave Rose a goodnight hug, the same as they’d always shared when Anne had lived here as a teen. She noticed that Rose seemed more frail, compared to when she’d visited in Paris. Sadness descended and she had to fight it off before going to tackle the stubborn rancher.

  Sure enough, he was surrounded by files everywhere, even stacked on the floor. Papers were strewn in piles on every corner of his desk and the table behind. His computer, one that should have been retired years ago and replaced with a new model, seemed to be the focus of his anger.

  She stood in the open doorway and watched him plunge his fingers through his messy hair and grip hard. “Having trouble?”

  “You got a gun handy? I’m thinking I want to commit computercide and to hell with the consequences.”

  Laughing, she moved closer. “You can’t blame the tools, especially when they should have been put down a long time ago.”

  Zeroing in on her enjoyment, he leaned back in his office chair. “So, what do you know about computers?”

  “I know yours is outdated and the program you’re using is much more difficult than what you need. I took classes when I opened up my own business. Best thing I ever did for myself. By knowing what to do and how to do it properly, it made all that accounting a whole lot easier.”

  “Well sugar, pull up a chair, sit yer pretty self down here next to me and spill the beans.”

  “Clint, what if I take over these chores for you while I’m here? I can organize the files and bring your accounts up to date. Then I’ll show you what I’ve done so you’ll be able to do it yourself when we go back home.”

  Clint’s eyes narrowed and a frown wrinkled the smooth skin on his forehead. “You’re planning to leave?”

  “I haven’t moved here, Clint. I only promised Rose I’d stay with her until the end and help Debbie deal with her passing. After that, I have a life and a business I need to get back to in Paris.”

  He leaned forward, his hands clasped between his knees. He rubbed them together and stared at them as if they held the secrets to the world. Finally he glanced up and asked. “You have a man waiting for you in Paris?”

  She nodded. “Uh huh.”

  “Someone special?”

  “Very special. I’ve known him all my life.”

  “Then why haven’t you married him if he’s so gol darn important to you?”

  “It’s against the law—at least where I come from.” She broke into giggles. “I was talking about my father.”

  “You’re not funny, you know that?” But he laughed, too, and she wondered if she'd actually heard relief, or had only imagined she’d heard it.

  He waved his hand over the desk and grimaced. “You serious about taking on this mess?”

  “Of course. I’ll need your help from time to time, and an updated computer; but once I have the new programs set up, I promise it’ll be a lot simpler for you.”

  “Hell, Annie-girl! You might be cute as a possum, but sure’nuff, I’ll fess up; you also have brains. That makes you worth a saddlebag full of gold nuggets in my book.” He played up the southern slang, and Annie loved hearing him as he reverted to his earlier role as a younger man. “You buy whatever you need for office equipment and just put it on my tab. I’ll give you my credit card so you won’t be out of pocket.”

  The twinkle in his eyes teased away her normal reserve. “You trust me with your credit card?”

  He leaned forward, put a hand on each side of her face and looked deep into her eyes. “I’m beginning to think I’ll be trustin’ you with a hell of a lot more than that.”

  To say she melted would've been the understatement of the century. Like a pool of liquefied butter, she slid closer to the edge of her chair and prayed he’d take her up on her blatant invitation.

  His lips approached hers slowly, taking h
is time, waiting, hesitating, until finally, he dropped a light kiss on them and pushed away. Clearing his throat, his tone gruff, he stood. “It’s time to turn in.”

  Not realizing his intention, she stood at the same time, and their bodies brushed against one another. Touching seemed to be the spark that lit the fuse.

  He moved to put his arms around her body.

  She moved to be inside his circle.

  He kissed her, drawing her very soul from the place it had stayed hidden for almost nine long years.

  She kissed him back, begging him to remember their magic. Ecstasy reigned until he threw her away from him and stalked from the room, slamming the door. Then she sunk to her knees and cried.

  Chapter Fifteen

  All the next day, Clint fought the recollections clawing at his memory. Those wonderful times he’d had with Annie while he’d played at being big brother to a girl who’d dazzled him with her gentle kindness and her loving nature.

  Too bad he’d been warned she was a kid. His ol’ man had given him the “keep your rotten hands to yourself” lecture, and he’d listened; even if there were times he’d wished there’d been no restrictions. But he’d respected his parents, and her, too much to take advantage. He’d known she had a crush on him back then. What man worth his salt couldn’t figure out that when a girl lit up like a neon bulb, every time he came near, she might be interested?

  Now she was back and the chick had the same power over him. He didn’t like it one little bit. After all, he’d been through the mill with one rotten wife. And though he knew without a doubt Annie could never be like Cathy: Why take any chances? Why hand that kind of power to someone else who could rip his life apart?

  Forget it! When he needed a woman, there were plenty in town willing to service him for a night or two. They knew he’d give them the kind of lovin’ that was hard to get from other pursuers out there on the prowl.

  Wipe it outta your mind! It ain’t gonna happen!

  And her kid—something about the boy tugged at a place inside him that he didn’t want opened. Better to keep him at arm’s length—not let him get attached. Not that he was an easy man to like, Clint knew. Thing is, he worked at it. Better to keep people away than go through all that hassle of having to pull yourself out of the stinking pit of pain he’d lived in before. Shudders attacked and left him jumpy. Too friggin’ hard!

  Just thinking about letting anyone get close to him again made him bristle. So, he’d play the good host. Accept Annie’s help with the house chores and his bookwork. Let her love his daughter and bring peace to his dyin’ mother. And then, first chance he got, he’d wave goodbye to her and the boy. If only he could shut off the niggling voice that was pissing him off.

  Sure you will!

  That one!

  ❋

  Towards evening, the kids ran to meet Clint as he returned to the house for supper. Max stopped about a foot away from him, but Debbie kept coming and reached for his hand. A surprising move, and one guaranteed to bring him to a stop and have him kneeling. He smelled the coconut scent of her suntan lotion and couldn’t stop himself from tugging playfully at her ponytail. “Hey, sweet-girl. Did you have fun today?”

  “Uh huh!” She nodded enthusiastically and it lightened his heart to see her so full of spirit. “’Cept we’re all waiting for you by the pool. Grams said we couldn’t eat until you grilled the hamburgers.”

  Dagnabbit! He’d forgotten about the plans he’d agreed to yesterday in a moment of nostalgia. “I’m sorry, Deb, I have a lot of work…”

  Max cleared his throat and caught Clint’s attention. The kid had a stormy frown on his face. If eyes could talk; his were warning Clint that he was about to make a big mistake.

  Acting like such an ass in front of his mother, his daughter and his guests wouldn’t have happened when Clint was younger.

  Thing is—it was you who agreed. His courteous, Clint-conscience piped up, reminding him of what he wanted to forget.

  “No, you’re right. I promised, didn’t I?”

  When he saw Debbie furiously blinking away her tears; he felt like the lowest, pond-scum-sucking dog in history. Max wouldn’t look at him. He’d turned away, but Clint saw that his small shoulders had relaxed.

  “Give me five minutes to change, and I’ll come out and cook you the best dang hamburgers you’ve ever tasted. Hold it!” He waited for the kids to stop running back to the pool area and turn to see what his command was all about.

  “First you have to promise me that you’ll eat one if I cook them.”

  “I will.” Max stuck out his little-boy chest.

  Debbie looked at him, saw his bragging stance, and dammed if she didn’t copy the boy. “Me too!”

  A little later, when Clint approached the pool, Annie walked out from the kitchen with a plate of corn-on-the-cob. He almost sunk to his knees in supplication. How could one dainty woman pack such a body under her clothes? Endowed with breasts that made his tongue swell; this sleek female was everything a guy could desire. He stared and couldn’t force his eyes away. Her tiny waist and proportioned hips were enough to satisfy any love-starved man. And then she turned. Her ass had always looked good in tight pants but in a tiny bikini; she became a woman who could have him crawling through broken glass, just to get his hands on those plump cheeks.

  Now how the hell was he supposed to fight this attraction? “God—not fair!”

  “Did you say something, Clint?” She stopped sashaying over to the table and turned his way.

  “Nope, just wondered if you were cold.”

  Her light laughter caught him in his solar plexus, and he forced his body not to bow from the effect. “Not when it’s ninety-seven in the shade.”

  Was that a knowing gleam in her eyes? Better not be! “Time to get in the pool, kids.” Before he embarrassed himself in front of everyone he cared about, he waved the kids over to the stairs. “Let’s go swimming.”

  “Yeah!” Max ran to the side and jumped in, obviously showing off.

  “Carry me, Daddy.”

  “Okay, princess.” He picked her up and liked the feel of her arms around his neck.

  At first, Debbie wouldn’t leave his protection. And as cool as it was to have her clinging to him, like she had as a toddler, he knew she had to try her wings. And he didn’t mean her water wings.

  “Sweetheart, let Daddy put you on the stairs and take your hands. Then you jump forward and I’ll pull you while you paddle with your feet. Okay?”

  “I can’t.” He voice threatened tears while she shook her head back and forth. She clung to him tighter, her whole body trembling.

  Before he could say anything, Max moved to the step next to them, and in a very serious manner, he said, “It’s kinda scary at first. Look I’ll show you what you need to do. Then it won’t be so bad. Okay?”

  First Debbie looked at Max and then at Clint. Her voice sounded weepy but her answer had them all breathing again. “O-kay.”

  Max took his position and waited. Reaching for those little-boy hands put an unexpected lump in Clint’s throat that almost choked off his airways. Realizing that he was keeping the boy in suspense, he looked up and saw the embarrassment that the kid was too young to cover up. What the hell was he doing? Quickly, he took the hands that had begun to fall. Then he grinned into the boy’s startled face. “Come on, Max. Let’s show our little porpoise how it’s done.”

  Clint could see that Max played it up for Debbie a lot more than he needed to. In fact, he suspected that the boy could take off the plastic blow-ups and perform like the goldfish in his office tank.

  Once they did their routine, Clint let Max go and swung to Debbie. “See? Did it look scary?”

  “No-o! Do I have to do the same as Max?”

  “Sure, honey. Just kick your feet. For today’s lesson, that’s all we need to accomplish. Are you game?”

  She looked at Max first and he nodded and passed over his water wings. Then he helped her put them on. During this t
ime, he refrained from coaxing. Smart kid! Then Debbie looked at Clint as if she was still debating on whether she trusted him or not.

  Annie had come to sit on the edge of the pool to watch their lesson. Next, Debbie checked Annie’s reaction. The shrewd woman just smiled encouragingly but said nothing. It was totally Debbie’s choice.

  Slowly her hands came up. She held them out towards Clint. The celebration going on inside his chest never got released, but he experienced such an imaginary high-five that he was sure the smile he couldn’t suppress said it all.

  Carefully, he took her hands and very slowly, began to pull her through the water. “Kick your feet, baby, that’s right.”

  If the truth were known, he’d never seen two small legs pumping so hard, and it made him prouder than he had any right to be.

  Chapter Sixteen

  After working most of the afternoon in the kitchen, preparing her delicious hamburgers, and her specialty mango tarts as a dessert; Anne couldn’t wait to have a dip in the pool. But first, she arranged all the food for the cookout in the outdoor kitchen area so Clint would have everything on hand when he came down.

  The kids were waiting for him to show, but she wanted to get into the water first. Last thing to carry out was the corn-on-the-cob. Too late! He’d seen her.

  In Europe, they had a much different attitude toward nudity than they did in the States, something she’d forgotten when she’d packed her swimsuits. Both were very revealing. But she had no choice. Wear the less skimpy of the two, or forgo the pleasure of a swim.

  Ooh la la! Clint as a younger man had melted Anne’s insides more than once, but as a grown man, filled out with all the muscles that a hard worker had earned; Anne could have sat down and bawled her disappointment. After all, he’d never be hers, and she wanted him so much she had to clench her teeth to hold back the whimpers.