Nodding, she rose to her tiptoes. As she kissed him, she felt the barriers fall away.
Swooping her up, he carried her to the sofa. His hands, so strong and confident, shook as he untied her robe and thumbed it open. “You’re wearin’ too much, darlin’.”
He eased up the hem of her nightgown, kissing behind her knees, up the inside of her thighs. When he uncovered her belly button, he flicked his tongue inside, and she arched up.
“Tucker.”
He raised his head. “You okay?”
“More than.” She slid her hands under his T-shirt and pulled it up and over his head, then nipped at his collarbone. A shaft of moonlight gilded his skin.
Tucker slid her nightgown over her head. “Oh, honey, you are magnificent.”
Elisa reached for Tucker’s waistband, but her hands trembled. “Help me, Tuck.”
He did, and in minutes they were skin to skin, tasting and touching, free to enjoy one another.
Elisa felt like it was her first time. She’d never been with anyone so giving, so careful to please her. Tucker took his time. He didn’t neglect a single inch of her body, and she felt both loose and as tight as a drum.
When they finally came, he groaned her name even as she called his. His body slumped over hers. “I’ll move in a minute, but I don’t think I’m capable of it right now.”
She grinned and kissed his neck. “Thank you, Tuck.”
He raised his head to look at her, then dropped a kiss on the end of her nose. Rolling to the side, he covered her with her robe.
They lay there, cuddled into each other, the night sounds of the house surrounding them and the music playing softly. No matter what happened, Elisa knew she’d never forget tonight, this moment. Every time a John Mellencamp song came on the radio, she’d think of Tucker.
“You’d better head up to bed.” He kissed the top of her head. “If we fall asleep and Daisy wakes up before us—”
She nodded and scooped up her nightgown. “Night, Tuck.”
“Night, Lissie.” Halfway up the stairs, his deep voice reached her. “Elisa?”
“Yes?”
“I think you were right. It is time for you and Daisy to leave.”
Wordlessly, she climbed the stairs.
She closed her bedroom door quietly and leaned against it as the tears fell. What had just happened?
By the time her daughter crawled into bed with her the next morning, the sun had inched above the trees. Elisa had barely slept a wink.
Daisy’s little-girl scent was balm for her shattered soul. “Are you hungry, sweet girl? Want some breakfast?”
“Tut gived me a Pop-Tart.”
“What?” She sat up. “When?”
“When I got up. He carried me downstairs, and we had breakfast. He said, ‘Shhh. Don’t wake Mommy. She’s tired.’” Daisy raised her little hand to Elisa’s face. “Why are you tired, Mommy? Are you gonna fall down again and go to the doctor?”
Elisa shook her head. “No, sweetie, I’m not.” She did, though, now own another black mark. First, she’d made a clumsy attempt to help Tucker last night, an attempt that had morphed into a wish to satisfy a need of her own, and she’d ended up making a fool of herself. Now she’d slept through Daisy’s waking, and Tucker had fed her breakfast.
A swift lick of doubt swept through her. How did Tucker feel this morning? Did he regret their late-night lovemaking…or his final words? Nipping at the heels of that came a sensation of warmth. For the first time since her grandmother had passed, someone was thinking of her. Taking care of her and making sure she got enough sleep.
Tucker might act all tough and gruff, but that façade hid a compassionate man. A man with Mama tattooed on his arm couldn’t be all bad, and Tucker had proven that quite a few times this past week—even if he wouldn’t admit it under threat of torture, or worse, under threat of damage to his prized Mustang.
But he wanted them to leave. Hadn’t she been the first to bring it up, though?
She looked down to see her daughter still watching her. “I’m okay, baby. Honest. I’m not going to, ah, fall down again.” Tossing back the covers, she said, “I should go downstairs and see if Tuck needs anything.”
“He doesn’t.” Her darling little girl, eyes solemn, said, “He told me to come upstairs ’cause he had to go earn his daily bread. I told him you’d buy some for him, but he just laughed.”
Elisa couldn’t hide the smile.
“You would, wouldn’t you, Mommy?”
“I certainly would.”
“I almost forgotted.”
With that, Daisy raced downstairs.
“Slow down, Daisy Elizabeth.”
“’Kay.” When she returned, she danced back into the room holding a paper bag. “Here, Mommy.”
“What’s this?” Red and yellow crayon flowers covered the bag.
“It’s pretty. Tut helped me. See?” She pointed to one of the red flowers. “He colored this one.”
Elisa swore her heart pinched. Opening the bag, she pulled out a note.
You know you want me.
Doctor Wylder and Nurse Daisy
Laughing, she pulled out a protein bar and a plastic container holding a hard-boiled egg.
If he was truly sorry they’d made love last night, if he really regretted it, would he send her an egg in a bag with a red flower?
“You’re ’posed to eat them, Mommy.”
“I will. Afterward, why don’t we get dressed and take a ride?”
“A ride? Oh boy!” She jumped up and down, clapping her hands. “I love rides.” Her smile disappeared. “But not long ones.”
“No long rides today.” Even as she said it, her heart hurt. Soon, they’d have to take the rest of that ride to Charleston, away from Misty Bottoms and Tucker Wylder. Despite what he’d said, last night hadn’t changed anything.
* * *
Brant leaned in the office doorway, a hubcap in his hand and a scowl on his face. “What crawled up your butt, brother?”
“Not a thing.” Tucker slammed the filing cabinet drawer closed with his foot.
“Then where’d the wrecking crew go? There’s enough slamming and banging out here for ten guys with sledgehammers.”
Tucker dropped into the chair and tossed a file holding the month’s invoices onto the desk. “I’m fine. Why don’t you find something to do?”
“Huh-uh. That’s not how this works. You’re not in the desert anymore, and thank God for that. You’re here now, with your family. That means you’re safe, but it also means you’re not an island. Family shares—both good and bad.”
Tucker sent his brother a glare when he realized he didn’t intend to back off. “Okay, you want it? Here it is. The good and the bad all rolled into one. They’re driving me nuts.”
Brant frowned. “Not following you.”
“Good. Then that makes two Wylders who are confused.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s Elisa. The woman’s enough to make a grown man cry. To make him get down on his knees and beg.”
One side of Brant’s mouth kicked up in a lopsided grin. “She’s beautiful, all right.”
“She’s more than that, Brant, and last night—”
Brant straightened. “You didn’t hurt her, did you?”
“Physically? Nah. I wouldn’t—I couldn’t do that. But there are other ways to hurt someone. I was cold. I, well…” He couldn’t share everything that had happened, not even with his brother. “Let’s just say I froze her out.”
“You’ve gotten pretty good at that.”
“Guess I have, but Lissie doesn’t deserve it.”
“Lissie?”
“Elisa,” Tucker growled. “She mentioned it might be time for her and Daisy to go.” He raised his eyes, stared into his brother’s, and knew his own hurt showed
. “I told her I agreed.”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah.” He closed his eyes, then opened them again. Hell. “That was after…well, after.”
“What?”
Tucker held up a hand. “The first time we almost went there was my fault. But before you chew my butt about it, last night was hers.”
“Of course it was. I’ve seen how aggressive that woman is.”
“Cute, Brant, real cute. I understand sarcasm when I hear it.”
“I sure hope so. Tell me, what did this wanton woman do that had you lusting after her?”
“I couldn’t sleep last night. Nothing new there, except that I’m not alone anymore. I thought my music was low enough not to wake her or the kid, but I should have known better. Elisa’s a light sleeper, and I guess that comes from listening for Daisy at night.”
“And?”
“She asked me to dance with her.”
He saw the grin his brother fought back.
“That’s practically a criminal offense, isn’t it?” Brant asked. “Let me go ask Gav. He’d know.”
“You say a word about this and you’re a dead man. I’ll tell Mama you had an accident.”
“She won’t believe you. Then you’d lose your status as favorite son.”
Tucker snorted. “Fat chance of that, since I only held it for one year. Once you came along, she barely looked at me.”
Brant hooted. “Boy, you’re playing the sympathy cards today, aren’t you?”
Tucker shrugged. “Why not? Besides, you are the favorite son—but only because of Molly. You showed up on our parents’ doorstep with her, and Gav and I might as well not exist. You’ve given Mama a second daughter.”
“I did, didn’t I?” Brant tossed him a smug smile. “My bride is one in a million.”
“She is that.”
“Elisa’s not chopped liver. I think Mom and Dad—”
“Don’t even go there.” His hand came up, brushed the ever-present key. “I’m not fit for anybody. Now get back to work. If we’re gonna keep the doors open another month, I have to send out these bills.”
Chapter 12
Even after last night, Elisa couldn’t wipe the grin from her face. It felt so good to go where she wanted, when she wanted. Fantabulous!
The overhead bell tinkled when she and Daisy stepped inside That Little White Dress. A sigh escaped her. Oh yes. Molly Wylder’s wedding boutique epitomized every female’s dream come true. The large front window was a nod to autumn and its brides, while the inside of the shop exuded femininity and whispered classy. The pale blues and whites wrapped themselves around her. In the corner, a wonderful papier-mâché tree dripped with wisteria and twinkling white lights. Lacy-looking birdcages hung from its branches.
“Look, Mommy. Birdies.”
“I see.”
“Will they fly away?”
“Not these ones, honey. They’re pretend, but aren’t they wonderful?” When her gaze moved to the collection of incredible, once-in-a-lifetime dresses, she sighed again. She’d married Luke in a simple white cotton dress. No splash, no frills, no magic—except the love she’d imagined they’d had for each other, a love that had proved to be one-sided and had died under the harsh demands of reality.
Yet the dream still tugged at her.
“Hey, Elisa.” Molly, dressed for work and looking like a million bucks, stepped out from the backroom, several honeymoon-worthy nighties draped over her arm.
“Molly, your shop is every bit as mind-blowing as Tansy said, and then some.”
“Thanks. There are still mornings I walk in and think I must be dreaming.” Molly hung the nightgowns, then crossed the room, dropping to one knee to kiss Daisy. Running a hand over the ruffled sleeve of the little girl’s dress, she said, “Pretty!”
“I picked it out.”
“Good job.”
“Mommy taked me to see the river.”
“Did she?”
“Uh-huh.” She dug the toe of her shoe into the carpet and did a little pirouette. “And I saw some duckies. They was hungry so we gived them some bread, but only little pieces so they didn’t choke.”
“Yellow rubber duckies?” Molly teased.
Daisy frowned and looked at her mother. “Were they, Mommy?”
“No, that’s the kind that swims in your bathtub. What color were the ones we saw? Think hard.”
Daisy closed her eyes. “Black.” Her baby-blues popped open, and she looked at her mother for confirmation.
“You’re right, pumpkin. They were black.”
“Tut gived me a Pop-Tart.”
“Did he?”
Elisa saw the look of speculation in the other woman’s eyes. “They were both up before me this morning.”
“That doesn’t surprise me. The man rarely sleeps.” Molly’s smile faded. “I’m so glad you stopped in. You look a world better than the last time I saw you. How are you feeling?”
“I feel great. I think that was a one-time deal.”
“How are things going in general?”
She stared up at the ceiling. “It’s time for me to move on, Molly.”
“Why?”
“Why?” Daisy stood at the window, watching cars pass.
Dropping her voice, Elisa said, “I’m a single woman living with a single man. We’re not related, and I’m not his housekeeper or nanny. People are bound to start talking—if they haven’t already.”
“Jeez!” Molly settled onto one of the soft blue chairs and waved at Elisa to do the same. “I hadn’t given much thought to that.”
“Well, I have, and I’m pretty certain I’m not the only one who has.” Elisa perched on the edge of a chair. “Every time I’ve mentioned leaving, Tucker’s had an argument for why I should stay a few more days. Last night he didn’t. My car’s running again, so it’s time I finish my trip to Charleston. As much as I hate moving into my mother’s, and as much as I love Misty Bottoms, I think that’s best.”
Across the shop, a woman stepped from the dressing room and cleared her throat.
“Ohhh. I didn’t realize you had a customer. I’m so sorry.” Elisa turned from Molly and met the woman’s eyes. “I truly am. I—” She spread her hands.
“Don’t you worry, honey. Sounds to me like you’ve found yourself a barrelful of trouble.”
“Unfortunately, yes, but—”
She wagged a finger. “’Spose you think you need to handle it alone. You don’t. I think I can help you shovel some of that trouble right out of the way. Maybe lighten that barrel some.”
Like Molly, her customer was dressed in black. However, that was where any and all similarity ended. While Molly’s simple long-sleeved black dress was decorum itself, the other woman wore a peasant-style long-sleeved blouse adorned with bright blue Western embroidery. Her full skirt was calf-length and covered the tops of cowboy boots. A black Stetson rested on her head, and a chunky turquoise squash-blossom necklace nestled in her ample cleavage.
It was totally over the top and, surprisingly, totally appropriate for this buxom, outgoing, larger-than-life woman. A silk nightgown and robe in rich scarlet were slung over her arm.
Before Elisa could gather her wits, Molly’s customer crossed the room, her ring-bedecked hand extended.
“Desdemona Rosebud Hamilton. I’ve been away, so I missed greeting you when you came to town. Been living in Colorado the last couple of years with husband number three.” She gave her head a disconsolate shake. “I was very, very fond of that man. The good Lord took him home this past spring. After rattling around in that monstrosity of a house for a while, I decided it was time to come home. So now I’m banging around in a ridiculously enormous house here.” She laughed, loud and uninhibited.
A slightly intimidated Daisy crawled into her mother’s lap, eyes huge as she studied thi
s new person.
“Mind if I take a load off?” Desdemona asked Molly.
“No, please.” Molly waved to the unoccupied chair to Elisa’s left. “Would you like coffee? Tea?”
“Tea with lemon would be just the thing. By the way, Molly, I’m taking these. They’re perfect.” She laid the sensuous garments on the arm of her chair and studied Elisa. “Maybe a cup for my new friend, too, with lots of calorie-laden honey in it. I swear if a good wind comes along, we’re likely to find her hell and gone to Atlanta.”
“One minute.” Molly hopped up and headed to the backroom where an older woman stood in the doorway, making absolutely no attempt to look busy.
Desdemona spotted her. “Well, Lettie Dowmeyer, how the heck are you?”
“I’m keepin’ out of trouble.”
“Heard your hubby finally sold his business.”
“He did, and that’s why I’m here. Molly needed a seamstress, and I needed an excuse to get out of the house a couple days a week now that he’s retired. I love the man, but darned if I can be cooped up with him day after day.”
“Men!” Desdemona chuckled and slapped her hand on her knee. “Gotta love ’em, but you’re right. Can’t take too much of a good thing.”
“Frank sold the station to the Wylder brothers. Brant, the middle one, married our Molly here. The man’s a real looker. So are Tucker and Gaven. Those boys have turned Frank’s place into a shop to fix old cars and motorcycles.”
Molly, carrying a tray with fancy little teacups, tsked. “They restore vintage cars and motorcycles, Lettie.”
“Ain’t that what I said?”
Elisa wondered if she’d fallen down Alice’s rabbit hole.
Lettie, bless her heart, changed the subject. “I was real sorry to hear about your Mr. Hamilton, Desdemona Rosebud.”
“I appreciate that, Lettie. I had a real soft spot for Reginald. He had a wicked sense of humor and a lust for life. The old coot lived a good life and a full one. He turned ninety-four August before last.” Then she jerked a thumb sporting a turquoise ring surrounded by diamonds big enough to count as solitaires in Elisa’s direction, talking as if she were no longer in the room or didn’t have ears. “What are we gonna do about this one?” Desdemona took a sip of tea and rolled her eyes. “Mmmm. Good. Mint?”
I've Got You, Babe (Must Love Babies) Page 14