Somehow her hands ended up on his chest. She could feel his body heat beneath the flannel shirt and his heart thumping. The longer her hands rested there, the faster it beat. She couldn't find any more words. She just stared at him, not hiding the longing she felt.
With a groan his mouth swooped down on hers and his arms went around her. The kiss was as fulfilling as it was passionate. His urgent lips trapped hers then separated them. When his tongue delved inside, she let him sweep her into a passionate hurricane she didn't want to abate.
It was astounding how everything about him aroused her, enervated her, yet surrounded her with a safe cocoon. He was so stable, solid, dependable. And the passion? She'd never felt anything like this before. As his fingers slid under her hair and he tilted her head to deepen the kiss, she pressed against him.
Mitch drowned in Laura, her softness, her scent, her sweetness. He had never known such fierce desire or the excruciating emptiness that being away from her caused. Her joy poured over him, mending all the broken places. His body's aching couldn't be relieved with one act, with one day, with a few weeks. Damn reality! He pushed his chest against her breasts and spread his legs to hold her closer.
He couldn't keep his hand from moving over her shoulders, down her back, under her hair again. He needed to feel the softness of her skin. When she chased his tongue into his mouth and stroked him, he took a hank of her hair between his fingers...
Something caught. Something tore. Laura made a sound and it wasn't from pleasure. He broke the kiss and lifted his head. Bringing his fingers together he felt the string of gold.
"Hold still a minute," he mumbled, his voice still thick from his passion.
He caught the chain, held both ends, and stepped back, taking it from her neck. There was a small red mark on her throat where the golden rose had pulled tight when he caught the chain in her hair.
He touched the spot with his thumb. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay," she whispered, her eyes still glazed from the kiss.
He examined the rose. She wore it often and he wondered, not for the first time, if it had been a present from her husband. "I can repair the chain. But it might be better to get a new one, a fine rope instead of a link so it's sturdier. If you want to keep wearing it."
She became more attentive. "Why wouldn't I?"
"I don't know what it means to you but..."
"Dad gave it to me for my eleventh birthday."
"Ray?"
She nodded.
"And you've worn it since you were eleven?"
She nodded again.
"You love your father, don't you?"
"Yes. I tried to stop, but I couldn't."
"When you left, it wasn't only your fault." He'd become more and more sure of that in the past two weeks.
"No."
"Do you want to tell me what happened?"
"It might be better if you heard it from Dad."
He brushed her cheek with the back of his hand, surprised the need to hold her close was still so strong. He wasn't used to it yet. "Are you afraid I won't believe you?"
She smiled. "No. I just think it's better if he tells you himself."
He could respect her reasons, whatever they were. "All right. If there's an opening, I'll ask. But it doesn't matter any more, does it? What matters is now."
"You've come to understand that?"
Her long intense look made his stomach clench and his groin tighten. Laura was "now" personified. She mattered. "I'm trying to." He suddenly realized he'd crushed her chain in his hand. "I'll keep this and put a new one on it Friday."
He bent forward and tenderly kissed her forehead. Her lips would tempt him more than he could endure at the moment. A war raged inside him. He was trying to give "now" a chance.
***
"Nora's glad Carey will be here for dinner," Ray said to Mitch as they watched the Thanksgiving Day Parade on television and varied sounds and smells issued from the kitchen.
"It means a lot to her to have him here." Mitch's legs were stretched on the sofa, one ankle crossed over the other. The parade was as good a diversion as any to keep him from going into the kitchen and taking Laura in his arms or carrying her upstairs. He'd thought about that when he was alone in his bed last night, his sheets knotted from his tossing and turning. But he couldn't do that in Ray's house. He wasn't sure he should do it at all.
"What about you?"
Mitch remembered Ray was talking about his brother being here for dinner. "Since I turned down Carey's request for money, he's not speaking to me. He can't see I did it for his own good."
Ray stared at the television and said low but clear, "That's often a good excuse for wanting to maintain control."
Mitch's head turned to the older man. "What do you mean?"
Ray turned down the sound on the remote. "You want Carey to do what you want him to do."
Ray's words rankled. Uncomfortable and no longer relaxed, Mitch swung his feet to the floor. "I want to keep him from destroying his life."
Ray gave Mitch a rueful smile and shook his head. "That's what I thought I was doing with Laura. It didn't work any more than your attempt will work."
Mitch didn't think he could compare himself and Carey to Ray and Laura. But this was the opening he'd hoped for. "What happened between you and Laura?"
Ray ran his hand through his thinning hair. "She hasn't told you?"
Mitch shook his head. "She thought it would be better if you did."
"I'm surprised she can be that fair." He peered down at the toes of his wing-tipped shoes. Without raising his head, Ray said soberly, "I offered her fiance twenty thousand dollars to stay out of her life."
Mitch had never expected that. Knowing Ray, he thought maybe he'd presented an ultimatum. And knowing Laura, he'd guessed that would have made her do exactly what her father didn't want. But to try and buy off Doug Sanders... The betrayal she must have felt!
"What happened?" Mitch asked, wanting to know the whole story.
"He refused the money. But that wasn't good enough for me. I thought he wanted to marry her for a bigger chunk of my money. I thought all I had to do was cut her off from it and he'd be gone. So I told her she had to choose him or a partnership with me."
Mitch was stunned. He'd never expected any of this from Ray. He'd thought her father had maybe forbidden her to marry and in rebellion she'd done it anyway to hurt him. To punish Ray further, Mitch thought she'd purposely stayed away. But that was a fictitious scenario formed because he respected Ray, before he really knew Laura.
"You're looking at me differently. Have I lost you, too, because I was stupid six years ago?" Ray's expression was worried.
"I'm not going anywhere, Ray. Why didn't you tell me all this before? You told me stories about her that led me to believe she was selfish and uncaring, wild and irresponsible."
"That's because I began to believe it myself. I had to. I knew she'd never forgive me so I needed to feel justified."
Mitch shook his head. "I'm surprised she came back with me."
"So am I."
Uncomfortable silence settled between them. Mitch wanted to dispell it. "At least you know she loves you. She'll probably even forgive you if you give her the chance."
"It's probably too late."
"It's never too late if you both try. But I can see why she doesn't want to stay in York." Mitch bet she was afraid Ray would interfere in her life again or try to mold her into what he wanted. How often had she told him how much it meant that Doug had accepted her unconditionally? What a lure that must have been.
Mitch's heart sank. If he'd entertained a last lingering hope she'd change her mind and stay, it died.
***
Mitch was quiet during Thanksgiving dinner. At first Laura thought it was Carey's presence. Carey always managed to make himself the center of attention. He had a knack for telling entertaining stories. She and everyone else except Mitch encouraged him because it felt good to be together on a holiday and la
ugh and share. She hoped Carey felt he belonged and would rethink his plan to increase Nora's money.
Her father smiled more than Laura could remember since her mother had died. Laura wished she could openly discuss with him the situation that had torn them apart. But their new relationship was so fragile, she was afraid to try. So she enjoyed what was beginning and tried to build on it.
As they ate dessert, Mandy asked her, "Are we going to call Anne and George? Do you think they're having turkey?"
"I'm sure they're having turkey. Don't forget to ask them who won when they pulled the wishbone."
"Can we call now?" It was obvious Mandy missed their friends.
"As soon as you finish that last bite of apple pie."
"I'm full."
"You can be excused. We'll call as soon as I finish my pie."
"Can I push the buttons on your phone?"
Laura straightened the pink barrette in Mandy's hair. "Yes, you can. But not till I can tell you which ones to push."
"Okay." She hopped off her chair. "I'll go see if Puffball ate the turkey and gravy Nora gave her."
When Mandy had left the table, Laura looked up and caught Mitch watching her daughter leave the room. She wished she knew what he was thinking. He was tender with Mandy, but firm too when he had to be. Like the night she wanted him to read her one more story when he'd already read two. And he hadn't fallen for the "I need a glass of water" stall tactic either. He'd solved the problem by setting a full glass on her nightstand. He'd make a wonderful father.
The thought created a weight on Laura's heart. She wondered how Mandy would feel about leaving Ray and Mitch. She'd bonded with both of them. Yet she seemed ready to go back to Anne and George. Was life that much clearer for a child? Would Mandy remember these few weeks in York if they left? How would she react if they stayed? Laura didn't want to suggest it until the possibility existed.
She went to get Mandy so they could make their phone call to Anne and George and tell them they'd be home in two weeks.
As the afternoon wore on, Mitch didn't initiate contact. Laura knew it wasn't simply his interest in the football game. She couldn't stand the way he isolated himself from her, especially after last night in the kitchen. Last night had given her hope. But today...
She needed time alone. Using the excuse she wanted to price a shipment of dinner rings that had come in at the store, she pulled her coat from the closet. After a kiss for Mandy, Laura left, saying she'd be back in an hour or two.
She lost track of time as she checked the packing slips and tagged first cocktail rings, then bracelets, then watches. The repetitive actions and silence soothed her though the weight on her heart didn't diminish.
Sounds at the back door startled and alarmed her. She had reset the system, hadn't she? She had.
Seconds later Mitch stood in the office, a wicker basket hanging over one arm.
"You scared me." His eyes held hers and she sensed he'd come to a decision about them.
"I didn't mean to. It's after seven. I brought a picnic in case you were hungry--coffee, turkey sandwiches, slices of pie."
His thoughtfulness lifted the weight in her chest and she began to hope again. "Thank you. I didn't realize it was so late."
He took off his leather jacket and hung it on the coat rack next to hers. Jeans showed off his physique in a way dress slacks couldn't. Beltless and well worn, they hugged his slim hips, molded to his thighs and urged her to remember the sight of his body unclothed. She remembered all too well. Shifting her attention upward wasn't much better. His blue and navy plaid flannel shirt was open at the neck and revealed a few of the hairs she knew were scattered across his upper chest.
He moved, taking a blanket from the basket. "I thought we'd make this a real picnic. I couldn't find ants to bring along. It's too cold and they're hibernating."
"Do ants hibernate?"
He smiled. "I'll check it out in case Mandy asks." Scooting a chair to the side, he spread the blanket on the carpet. Placing the basket in the corner, he sat down. "Come on. The coffee's just brewed."
She plopped beside him. "Did Nora get this ready?"
"Nope. I did. The sandwiches probably aren't as neat as hers would be, but they're as good." He picked up the thermos.
"Why did you do this, Mitch? I would've been home soon. It's almost Mandy's bedtime."
"I know."
She waited.
"I want to spend some time with you. I like being with you. And after the other night... I want to be with you even more."
She trembled and everything inside her screamed, Ask me to stay. But it was too soon for that. He was just coming to realize they had something precious between them. What if he didn't realize the extent of it in time? Fear shook her along with desire.
He gently caressed her cheek with his thumb. "Ray told me what he did to you. I understand why you left."
Tears came to her eyes as she thought about the time she and her father had lost. "I had to go. He gave me no choice. If I had stayed, if I had denied my love for Doug to please Dad, I would have never grown up. My father would have had power over me for the rest of my life. I had to live my life, not the life he chose for me."
"I know. I just wish there had been some other way. He spent lonely years. You could have used his support when your husband died."
"Maybe even before," she admitted.
He reached for her and brought her to him gently. She loved his gentleness. She'd seen it with her daughter and felt it in his touch. His invading, sensual kiss left her clinging to him. Tears burned in her eyes. This was exactly what she wanted, where she wanted to be. In his arms. In his life.
"I've missed you," he said simply, his voice raspy as he rubbed his cheek against hers.
"I've been right here."
"But I haven't." He lifted his head. "Maybe the way you live is best. Take today and tomorrow be damned."
She wanted tomorrow too. "That's not all I believe."
"Sshh." He trailed a path of kisses down her throat. "No talking. Not now. Let's just live."
Of course, she wanted to live. She wanted to experience everything she could with him. But today didn't mean half as much without knowing if they had the rest of their lives. But maybe he'd never trust himself enough, or her, to trust tomorrow.
His blue eyes swallowed her as he carefully undressed her, taking the time he couldn't on Friday night. Slow was as exciting as fast, maybe even more so. Once her sweater was over her head, he kissed her shoulder, each touch of his lips a shock that connected to her womb.
She reached for him, but he caught her wrists with one of his large hands. "No, not yet." His voice was as commanding as his gaze.
"I want my turn."
He chuckled. "You'll get it. I want to kiss you everywhere, in every way." While he unsnapped her bra, he nibbled her shoulder. As the fabric melted into nothingness, he brushed his fingers down to her hips and up her back.
She shivered and leaned into him, aroused and wanting more. His lips took one lazy journey after the other until they teased her breast. He flicked his tongue until she thought she'd go mad. And when he reached for the zipper on her slacks, she turned the tables.
She didn't care about slow. She wanted to touch him. This time she grabbed his wrist and kissed the inside. When he closed his eyes to savor the pleasure of it, she quickly unbuttoned his shirt. She stared a long time. She loved looking at him. Bending forward, she rubbed her chin over his dark nipple.
His breath hissed out.
"Do you like that as much as I do?" she asked.
"I like it," he muttered hoarsely.
She did it again and then used her tongue.
And the exploration continued.
He sucked on her breast and blazed moist kisses on her stomach. She nipped his earlobe and blew hot air across his ribs.
His hands lured and promised as they stroked inch by inch over her hip. Her fingers tantalized and stunned as they charted his thigh.
&
nbsp; He probed her secret places. She gasped and arched.
She found his manhood and curled her hand around him. He groaned and pulled her on top of him.
With Mitch inside of her, Laura lost all sense of time and place. She embraced the happiness and knew only Mitch. Their mouths clung as passion met passion and she rose to the summit of a glorious mountain. Up. Up. Up. Until she tumbled over the edge.
When she landed, Mitch held her in his arms and she snuggled closer, not wanting the loving to end.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Friday afternoon Mitch stared at the sketch in his hand. Satisfied, he laid it on the worktable. He'd come back to Harrisburg for the day to help with the Christmas crunch, but his sales team was adequately handling the steady flow of customers. So, he'd escaped to work on this. The gems he intended to use winked up at him--eleven midnight blue sapphires, one pear-shaped blue diamond. It would be a stunning ring.
And he was going to have a stunning weekend. He'd made a decision Thanksgiving Day. If he and Laura only had two weeks, they were going to be the best damn two weeks of their lives. This was the closest to happy he'd ever been. He'd thought the business was all he wanted or needed in life. Since Laura, he knew better. After she left...
She'd be back for visits. It wouldn't be the same as... A little voice whispered, If she stayed. Mitch squelched the sound. She'd bring light and freshness into his life whenever she came back. That would be enough.
The voice became louder and asked, Would it?
***
The following Thursday morning snow began falling. And fell, and fell, fast and heavy. At mid-afternoon, Laura stared out the store's window at the deserted street. The snow made her think about Christmas. Wouldn't it be wonderful to spend it here with Mitch? They'd spent the past six days never far apart. And Sunday afternoon at his apartment had been...wonderful, exciting, and bittersweet.
The thought of leaving Mitch...and her father... Her dad had seemed depressed the past week. She'd read that was normal after heart surgery. He was feeling better but still couldn't do what he wanted to do, like driving and coming in to work. Hopefully his check-up would be a good one and he could at least think about coming to the store for a few hours at a time. Immersed in his business for most of his life, inactivity wasn't easy for him to handle. Without Mandy and Nora he'd probably be even more restless and depressed.
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