Sultry

by Mary Lynn Baxter

  Tim rolled his eyes. “Funny.”

  “There’s nothing funny about any of this.”

  “You’re right, Dad, there isn’t.” Tim rubbed his clean-shaven chin. “Are you sure she’s pregnant? I mean, is she sure?”

  “That’s what she said, and I have to take her at her word.”

  “I hear you.”

  “I’m at my wits’ end as to what to do with your sister. It seems as if she’s gone totally off the deep end.”

  “Ah, come on, that’s not fair. As far as her mental stability’s concerned, she’s never been better.”

  Cooper’s eyebrows shot up. “Really? You call getting knocked up out of wedlock ‘stable’?”

  “You know what I mean. She’s not depressed and in that funk like before.”

  “Well, she should be depressed. I sure as hell am. And humiliated. And the list goes on.”

  “Well, I’m not exactly jumping through hoops myself.” Tim paused, his eyes narrowing. “Do you think she’s considering an abortion?”

  “If she won’t marry Peter, then I hope she does. In fact, I’m going to insist on it.”

  “Peter’s not the father?”

  “No.”

  “Then who?” Tim frowned. “I had no idea Lindsay was involved with anyone else.”

  “Me, either.”

  “Did she tell you who he is?”

  “No, but I know.”

  Tim’s jaw went slack. “You do?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, tell me.”

  “It’s not necessary that you know.”

  “I beg to differ. It affects the entire family.”

  “Not for long. This man is someone I will not allow her to marry—under any circumstances.”

  “For chrissake, Dad, you can’t control the world.”

  Cooper’s expression turned fierce. “When it comes to my children, I can.”

  Tim’s face drained of color. “Was that a direct slap at me?”

  “After that escapade at dinner the other night, you’re damn right it is. I don’t know what’s going on with you and Eve or your finances, but you’d best get it all straightened out.”

  High color crept back into Tim’s face. “I’ll have you know everything’s under control.”

  “I hope you’ve told your wife that good news,” Cooper said sardonically.

  “How the hell did we get off on me? We were talking about my sister, which is a helluva lot more serious.”

  “I agree. I was hoping she’d said something to you, that you could shed some light on what that girl’s thinking about. First that crazy project for abused women, now getting pregnant by some—” He stopped short, drawing his brows together in a scowl.

  “Tell me who he is, and I’ll defend my sister’s honor.”

  “There’s nothing humorous about this.”

  “You’re right, there’s not. And I wasn’t joking. I’d love to beat the hell out of him for taking advantage.”

  “I don’t know who took advantage of whom, but that’s not the issue. Like I said, no daughter of mine is going to be ridiculed by my friends.”

  “What can I do?” Tim asked.

  “Try and talk some sense into her while I’m gone.”

  “Gone?”

  “Patty and I are leaving town for a few days.”

  “I can’t promise anything, but I’ll talk to her. Suppose you tell me what to say.”

  “Encourage her to marry Peter.”

  “I’ll give it the old college try. What if she tells me to stuff it?”

  Cooper’s lips twisted and his eyes turned cold. “Then I’ll do what has to be done.”

  Twenty-Five

  “How did it go?”

  Lindsay heaved a relieved sigh, then grinned at Rita Thomas, the shelter’s director. “Absolutely great. Beyond my wildest expectations, actually.”

  Rita lifted her head up, shaping her hands into a prayer-like gesture. “Thank you, Lord.”

  Lindsay and several hundred more people had attended the banquet that had been in the works for some time now—a banquet for the purpose of jump-starting the golf tournament that would officially kick off the fund-raising for the new facility.

  She had met with the two largest investors privately, along with several board members of the local junior college where she hoped the facility would be built. In fact, a possible site had been mentioned, one that she hadn’t yet seen.

  “So what’s next?” Rita asked, breaking the short silence.

  “Visit the site. If it looks promising, I’ll take you.”

  “Think we can be choosy?” Rita asked, her rounded eyes on Lindsay.

  Lindsay smiled. “Not really, but I haven’t shown the board members the scaled drawing yet. It’s still at the architect’s. So they don’t have a definite sense of my vision.”

  “So the lot might not be large enough? Is that what you’re thinking? Or maybe too large, huh?”

  Lindsay shook her head. “Not a chance it would be too large, my friend. In my mind, I envision this project taking off and booming, as in expansion, expansion. The possibilities are endless.”

  Rita’s eyes glowed, and her voice contained unsuppressed excitement. “Wouldn’t it be the cat’s meow if that happened?”

  “It’s going to happen. You just wait and see.”

  “How ’bout some more hot tea?” Rita asked, standing and heading toward the cabinet.

  They were in the tiny kitchen at the shelter. Lindsay had planned on spending the majority of the day here, which she hadn’t done in a while. She liked to keep abreast of what was going on with the women and their children.

  With Cooper being out of town and no dinner parties in the offing, she had time on her hands during the day. Of course, the nights were a different matter. Her heart suddenly skipped a beat.

  She planned to spend them with her husband. Just thinking about him in that context made her giddy.

  “Do you mind me saying something personal?”

  Lindsay reluctantly pulled her thoughts off Mitch and gave Rita her undivided attention, noticing that the director’s face was filled with unnatural color. “Of course not. What is it?”

  “You’re different,” Rita said bluntly, her color burgeoning. “I don’t know why, but it’s a fact. There’s a special glow about you, a vibrancy.” She paused, tilting her head to one side. “Maybe it’s as simple as the project and the euphoria associated with that.”

  Careful, Lindsay warned herself. Unless she was prepared to announce to all of Garnet that she was married and pregnant, she had best contain her feelings.

  However, in defense of herself, that morning was the first day she’d felt worth a darn. Nausea had plagued her from day one of the pregnancy. Even now that queasiness was threatening to return; her stomach was beginning to poke her again.

  “You bet it is,” Lindsay said hurriedly, realizing Rita was giving her an even stranger look. In order to cover her partial lie, she added, “I think you’re right. I’m on an adrenaline high now that the project is finally off the ground.”

  “Well, you definitely have a sparkle that hasn’t been there before. I’m so glad for both of us that it’s going to work.”

  “Actually, neither of us should get too excited yet, or at least I keep telling myself that,” Lindsay said. “I don’t think I could handle it if something went wrong.”

  “You could handle it, all right,” Rita countered without hesitation. “But, like you, I’d be devastated—”

  “Can anyone join this party?”

  Lindsay froze, then swung around, her heart in her throat. Mitch lounged in the doorway, dressed in jeans, boots and a sports shirt. Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the display of sleek muscles rippling under the thin material of his shirt. And he smelled good, too, the subtle scent of his cologne invading the cramped quarters.

  What on earth was he doing here? She couldn’t imagine, but she was suddenly so shocked and tongue-tied that she coul
dn’t say anything.

  And he was her husband, for crying out loud.

  Rita stood, a perplexed smile on her face. “Can we help you, sir? I’m Rita Thomas, the director of this facility.”

  Mitch smiled an easy smile that upped Lindsay’s heartbeat even farther as he returned the introduction.

  Lindsay heard Rita’s sharp intake of breath before she cut her eyes in Lindsay’s direction. “I take it you two know each other,” she said. Then, as if realizing how inane that must have sounded, Rita gave a hyper little laugh.

  “I guess you’re wondering why I’m here,” Mitch said, his grin spreading across his entire face, catching like wildfire.

  “As a matter of fact, I am,” Lindsay said in a somewhat breathless voice. It was then that she noticed he was carrying a picnic basket—the one she’d carried to his cabin.

  “Compliments of Dolly,” he said, walking over to the table and placing the basket on it. “Fresh baked cookies.”

  Rita’s eyes widened, then ping-ponged between the two of them. “Who’s Dolly?”

  “Our housekeeper,” Lindsay muttered, still sounding as if she was having trouble breathing—and she was. God, but he oozed a sexual charisma that was all his own. She had never seen it duplicated, nor would she. That was what made him so addictive, at least where she was concerned.

  “How nice of her to think of us,” Rita was saying, her gaze on Mitch.

  His grin intact, Mitch leaned against the cabinet and crossed his tanned arms across his chest as if he wasn’t in any hurry whatsoever.

  “I’m just the gofer.”

  Lindsay ignored the fact that her insides were quivering like jelly and forced herself to stand. “Oh, really?”

  “Yeah, really,” he said easily, his eyes resting on her, though they gave nothing away. “I had to order some supplies, so Dolly asked me if I’d drop these off.”

  “Well I can’t thank her or you enough.”

  Rita’s tone held awe and admiration, both of which Lindsay could understand. Mitch was a hunk who would affect any normal red-blooded woman. And he was hers. For a moment that thought made her delirious enough to shout. But then she reined in her emotions and took control.

  “I’ll walk Mitch out,” Lindsay said.

  He shoved himself away from the counter. “Great.” Then to Rita, he said, “Take care, you hear? Perhaps I’ll see you again.”

  “You’re welcome anytime,” Rita said in the same hyper voice.

  Another grin flirted with Mitch’s eyes and mouth. “As long as I bring cookies, right?”

  Rita giggled like a schoolgirl.

  Suddenly Lindsay wanted to kick his backside. She had to get him out of there before she did just that. “I’m ready when you are,” she said pointedly.

  Mitch strode to the door, then turned and winked at Rita. “See ya.”

  Once they were alone in the hall and out of ear-shot, she glanced up at him. “You big flirt.”

  He looked as if he could eat her up. “Jealous?”

  “Of course not,” she responded quickly.

  His eyes glittered. “Ah, heck.”

  “What are you doing here?” she asked, feeling her face turn scarlet.

  “I wanted to see you. Dolly provided me with an excuse.”

  “I wanted to see you, too, only not here.”

  “I know, but I’ve missed you.” He stopped suddenly and grazed one side of her cheek with the knuckles of his right hand, while his voice dropped a degree lower. “How ’bout we step into the nearest closet and let me show you just how much?”

  Unconsciously, her gaze drifted below his belt. When her head came back up faster than it went down, he chuckled. “See what you do to me.”

  “You’re awful,” she muttered.

  “When am I going to see you again?”

  “This evening.”

  His eyes probed. She could read the unasked question in them, and she responded, “He’s out of town. He will be for two days.”

  “Thank you, Jesus.”

  “Now will you get out of here?”

  “I’d kinda like to see the place, actually.” The playfulness had left his voice and his face.

  Lindsay blinked. “Are you serious?”

  “Yeah,” he said softly. “Especially since this is another of my wife’s passions.”

  This time she blushed like a schoolgirl. His wife. Would she ever get used to that? Or would this marriage end before it ever had a chance to begin?

  Now where had that question come from? Suddenly her good humor fled, uneasiness taking its place.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Uh, my stomach,” she lied.

  “The baby’s okay, right?”

  “It’s fine.”

  He looked relieved. “So show me around.”

  She did, and she could tell he was impressed with the way the facility was run. He even had kind words for the handful of women he met, which Lindsay really appreciated. Would she ever get to know the real Mitch Rawlins? He was proving to be more complex than she’d ever imagined.

  Once the tour was completed, she walked outside with him. “Thanks,” she said, her earlier thoughts still making her feel a bit off center.

  “For what?”

  “For taking an interest.”

  “Hey, I think what you’re doing is great. But then, I’ve already told you that. Sometime I want to see all the plans.”

  She smiled up at him. “That can be arranged.”

  His eyes darkened. “You don’t know how much I want to kiss you right now.”

  “I’ll see you later,” she whispered, her tongue deliberately circling her bottom lip.

  He groaned. “You’ll pay for that.”

  Her moist body clung to his as she arched up and pressed her breasts into his chest. His flesh was on fire at the feel of her jabbing nipples. He took tiny bites of her shoulder and heard moans erupt from deep within her.

  He nudged open her thighs, and, without coaching, she encircled his hips with her legs. It was in that instant that he pushed himself inside the heated folds of her flesh.

  Her eyes opened wide, and he saw himself reflected in their depths, which sent him into a frenzy, bringing muted gasps from her as he emptied himself inside her.

  Later they lay entwined, their hearts continuing to beat as one.

  “How many times have we made love already?” Lindsay asked, her warm breath fanning his face.

  “Who’s counting?”

  “Me.”

  He chuckled. “Go right ahead, but you’ll get tired. I promise.”

  “Don’t misunderstand, I’m not complaining.”

  “Good, because all I have to do is touch you and my body goes from a simmer into a full boil.”

  “You know just which buttons to push to turn me on,” she said, her eyes glazed.

  “I keep thinking that while I’m inside you, I just might feel our baby. Crazy thought, huh?”

  “Actually, I think it’s a wonderful thought.”

  He leaned over suddenly, his tongue drawing a circle on her stomach. She watched him with a question in her eyes.

  “He’s somewhere in there, right?” Mitch asked, looking up at her.

  “How do you know it’s a ‘he’?”

  “I just know,” he responded simply.

  “Does it matter?”

  “Not one iota. Just as long as he’s healthy.”

  “Then we’re together on that.”

  “Forever,” he whispered, his lips meshing with hers once again.

  That was when he heard the knock, followed by a big, booming voice. “Rawlins, open the door.”

  “Shit,” Mitch muttered as he pulled his mouth off hers.

  “Who is that?” Lindsay asked.

  “Someone who’s in big trouble.” He rolled off the bed and reached for his jeans. “I’ll be right back.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “Outside to talk.” He gave her another quick, hot ki
ss. “Keep my spot warm.”

  Once he was out in the warm night air, his expression changed. It turned fierce. “Avery, what the hell are you doing here?”

  The big, burly man shrugged. “You won’t talk to me on the phone, so I had no choice but to track you down.”

  “Like hell!”

  “Look, Mitch, you’ve got to help me out.”

  “That’s not going to happen, so take your fat ass off this property.”

  Avery smirked. “I’m immune to insults. You oughta know that.”

  “I’m through. Finished. Why can’t you get that through your thick skull?”

  “Because I don’t believe it. People like you and me don’t ever get through. It’s in our blood.”

  “I’ve changed, dammit!”

  “No, you haven’t,” Avery drawled. “And when you’re ready, you’ll call me.”

  Mitch scowled. “I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you.”

  “Ah, hell, Rawlins—”

  “And don’t ever come back here,” Mitch added.

  Avery merely smiled, then disappeared back into the darkness.

  Twenty-Six

  What was going on?

  Although Lindsay hadn’t followed Mitch out of the room, she’d been tempted. But something had held her back. Though she was more than mildly curious as to who his untimely visitor was, the thought of purposely eavesdropping was distasteful to her. She would much rather her husband volunteer the information.

  Maybe he would do just that when he returned. Of course he would, especially if she asked, which she intended to do. Despite the unconventional circumstances, they were married. That alone should prompt him to confide in her.

  Meanwhile, she would just have to be patient. She frowned up at the ceiling, the moon drawing patterns across it, when it hit her once again just how little she knew about her husband.

  She didn’t know a thing more now than she had before she married him. That had to change. She had shared her secrets; now it was his turn.

  Suddenly feeling a sneeze coming on, Lindsay looked around for a box of tissues. When none was obvious she leaned over and opened the bedside table drawer.

  Her eyes widened with shock, and her lips formed an O. Then, finding her voice, she whispered, “Oh, my God.”