With No Reservations

by Joan Bramsch

  She sucked in her breath and moaned softly.

  "I see you've already jumped ahead of me,” he said, releasing her hands. “You're right. I decided if he could do it, so could I. And I did. Three steps worth. Crazy, huh?"

  "What did your parents do to you?"

  He grinned and shook his head. “Legs nearly tore my head off."

  "Legs?"

  "That's my pet name for my mom. The woman's got the best pair of legs I've ever seen-bar none."

  "That's wonderful at any age but she must be ... what? At least fifty-four? Fifty-five?"

  "She's never admitted to any age. If anyone has the guts to point out to her that she has a thirty-four-year-old son, she just muddies the waters. I've heard her claim she found me on her doorstep, and she also says she was a child bride. Married at ten."

  "So what did she do to you?"

  "Actually it was what she said. ‘Jeffrey, darling, if you ever pull a damn fool stunt like that again, I promise to put seven lumps on your empty little head.'” His falsetto imitation was priceless, Ann mused.

  Ann told him he probably deserved worse. “I'll bet your dad really straightened you out, huh?"

  Jeffrey's bittersweet smile and suddenly shadowed eyes revealed past sorrow. “No, he didn't do much about it. Mom was the disciplinarian in the family, I guess. Dad was a laid-back sort of guy. Nothing much fazed him. In the walking-on-glass episode, I think he gave me a little lecture about foolish behavior, cautioning me about trying it with hot coals."

  He chuckled. “I distinctly remember his instructions, should I try the ultimate walk. If I were successful, I was to come to him at once; if I wasn't, I should be sure I knew how to swim.” He paused. “God, I miss him."

  "Has he been gone long, Jeff?” she asked softly, smoothing a curl off his forehead.

  "Almost five years. But sometimes, when I need him, it feels like forever.” He swallowed hard. “He was my best friend, Annie. Nothing ever seemed to bother him. No matter what I did, what I tried, good, bad, or indifferent, he was always on my side, showing me the better way. He was an honorable man.” Jeffrey gently kissed her, then lifted his head to gaze into her eyes. “Dad would have liked you,” he whispered. “I think you'd remind him a lot of my mother."

  "How's that?” she asked, spellbound by his hypnotic gaze.

  "Though she's always been totally feminine, she's one of the most gutsy ladies around. Street-smart, intelligent, and a powerhouse when it comes to getting things done."

  "Sounds like my kinda woman,” Ann said. “Does she live with you at Mountainview?"

  Oh, damn, now you've done it, genius, Jeffrey berated himself. Be careful. “No,” he said, kissing her again to distract her. “My mother lives wherever the mood takes her. Presently she makes her home on Mars. Or is it Jupiter? I forget.” He trailed kisses to her ear, then sucked gently on her lobe.

  "You're talking crazy."

  "Then I'll stop talking. Haven't you some hair raising childhood experience to share?"

  She circled his neck with her arms and smiled.

  "How about a little girl who took a dumb dare to sit on the center line of Highway 61 for an hour one Friday after school?"

  Jeffrey gasped and cradled her in his arms. “And you lived to tell about it? Oh, Annie, you could have been killed."

  "Like you, I was ten years old. And immortal. Anyway, it wasn't so bad until the trucks came."

  "I'm almost afraid to ask."

  "I think you've already guessed. The really scary times were when two trucks going in opposite directions passed at the same time.” She shuddered at the memory. “The vacuum, or whatever was created, tried to suck me under the wheels."

  "Poor baby. I'll bet you were glad when that hour was up."

  She laughed. “Actually I lasted only forty-five minutes, which didn't look good on my dare record, but there wasn't a thing I could do about it."

  "Somebody stopped you?"

  "Boy, did he! My father's rig was the fourth truck that passed me going into town. He almost Jackknifed slamming on his brakes. When he was finished with me, I'd promised never to sit in the middle of any highway for the rest of my natural life.” She laughed again and rolled her eyes. “To tell you the truth, I couldn't sit anywhere for almost a week. You see, my dad was the disciplinarian at our house. Mom was the relaxed one in the family, though she often said they'd have to lock her away if she'd had more children than me."

  "Only child?"

  Ann nodded.

  "Me too. Looks like we have at least one thing in common."

  "We have the same crazy sense of humor,” she said, “and we flirt with danger."

  He gazed into her eyes, feeling himself falling. “We have at least two more things in common."

  Ann waited.

  "We both like to look at clouds."

  "That's true,” she said softly.

  "And we both like to kiss.... each other.” He brushed a strand of hair off her rosy cheek. “And now that we're sharing our secrets, let's solve the last little mystery between us, shall we?"

  Ann knew he was referring to how she knew about his scar, but couldn't suppress her guilty feeling about being her boss's official spy. Jeffrey had to rebuke himself as well. He'd be glad when this undercover work was finished and he could get everything out in the open with Ann.

  "Whatever do you mean?” she asked, batting her eyes.

  "I think I've figured out how you knew about the scar on the bottom of my heel."

  "Oh, so now you're a private investigator, are you?"

  He grimaced inwardly. She had no idea how right she was.

  "You came into my room that first morning while I was fast asleep."

  "I did not.” She wiggled self-consciously but forced herself to relax again when Jeffrey grinned in obvious pleasure.

  "Sure you did,” he said. “You replaced my used drinking glass and hung the Do Not Disturb sign on the outside knob. And you spied on me while I was sleeping.” He swiftly rolled onto his back, bringing Ann with him.

  The change of position muddled Ann's denial. “I didn't mean to spy."

  "Ah-ha!” He held her tight, adjusting her body on his.

  "You didn't answer when I knocked ... hard.” She tried to wedge her hands between their bodies to lift herself away from him.

  "I was obviously sleeping,” he said. He pulled her hands aside and smoothed back her silken hair.

  ” I thought you were dead."

  "How did you find out I wasn't?” He toyed with the clasp of her bikini top.

  "You scared the wits out of me by groaning, throwing the-I mean, turning over and snoring loud enough to wake the dead, that's how.” She wiggled again, then stopped when he inhaled sharply.

  "What else did you see beside my bare foot?” he asked. He separated his thighs and eased her down between them.

  "Nothing,” she said on a sigh, feeling her hips arch of their own volition.

  "Not even when I threw off the covers?” He skimmed both hands down her smooth back and caressed her derriere, molding her body tightly against his.

  She bit her lower lip and shut her eyes, tight.

  He slid his hand along her hip, heading toward her knee. “Did I roll over on my back or my stomach?"

  "Stomach,” she blurted out before he could grab her kneecap.

  "Well, that's something anyway. I hate to put on a show when I'm not even conscious,” he said, laughing gruffly. “Did you like what you saw, Annie?"

  His hands continued their sensual play. She could feel her body responding to his touch. She had to regroup and save the remnants of her tattered pride, she told herself.

  "Well, I'll tell you, Jeff,” she said lightly, even as her body seemed to be melting into his arms. “If you've seen one set of bare buns, you've seen them all."

  "Stick out your tongue."

  "Y..."

  "Just do it,” he ordered her. “Ah, just as I thought. Black."

  "What does that mean?"


  "Didn't you know your tongue turns black when you lie?"

  "Circumstantial evidence."

  "Your circumstantial snooping puts you one up on me."

  "I can't stand a guy who insists on being equal."

  "Nothing's equal about this. I had a definite handicap that morning."

  "Yeah,” she said, laughing even as Jeffrey rolled her onto her back. “You were unconscious."

  He effectively stopped her laughter by dazzling her senses with a sizzling kiss. “I intend to be awake next time you come into my bedroom."

  "Don't hold your breath."

  "I won't, love,” he whispered. His mouth grazed hers. “Though I might hyperventilate.” He kissed her deeply, his entire body moving against hers. His chest rubbed across her taut nipples, exciting them more with each brushing stroke, while his hips gently nudged hers until she parted her legs. He nestled against her, and she arched her back, moaning softly as she wrapped her aims tighter around his shoulders.

  "I care for you, Annie,” he murmured, caressing her face with tender kisses. “I care for you very much."

  She sighed, longing to shed her mantle of guilt. Jeffrey cared for her. She cared for him. But she also had a promise she had to keep. What was she going to do? she wondered. She felt like a hypocrite, lying here in his warm embrace. Should she make a clean breast of it? Did she dare risk losing him when she explained? A shudder of fear rushed toward her heart. No, she thought, she couldn't tell him. Not now. Perhaps, never. Oh, it was all too complicated.

  "Annie?” he said in a soft voice. “Where did you go, love?"

  "Not far, Jeff. And now I'm back.” She lifted her face for his kiss. “I'm right here."

  When he kissed her again, Ann's heart took wing. Was she falling in love with him? she wondered. She knew she'd never felt like this before about any other man. And all these years she'd laughed when girlfriends who'd fallen in love claimed they heard music when their men kissed them! Why, she could hear a celestial chorus at this very moment. And she rejoiced in the sound.

  Jeffrey's heart sang when Ann responded to his kiss. He was embracing a woman who, to him, was sunlight and bluebells and waterfalls and nectar. How could this be? he wondered. A moment ago they'd been wrestling like two children. Then, in a twinkling of an eye ... no, in the space of one tender kiss, his world had taken on a rosy glow, a warmth beyond the season. My Lord, he thought. Was he falling in love with Annie?

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter Four

  After Ann and Jeffrey finished a light supper at the Mosey Inn, they strolled arm in arm out to the screened porch overlooking the river. They sat on an old-fashioned white metal glider and watched the sun dip behind the horseshoe curve of the meandering stream, which turned crimson, then pink, then silver with the fading light.

  Ann settled into the cradle of Jeffrey's arms, listening to the overture of the symphonic night sounds. Crickets chirped from their hiding places in the long grasses by the bank, a locust's song drifted from the woods, and in the distance a whippoorwill called its sweet refrain. She sighed, savoring the beauty of a near perfect day.

  Jeffrey closed his eyes, amazed that the sounds he heard were so like those of his mountains. He smiled, realizing this night he could forgo the additional sound of the mosquitoes that usually whined in his ears when he was out in the wild. But where were the owls? he wondered, then smiled again and slid down in the cushions when he heard that faraway familiar call. All in all, he decided, it had been a day to remember.

  "You have to admit we had a good day,” Ann murmured, resting her head against his arm.

  "Now, that's a fact.” He gently stroked her hand. “I'm glad we spent it together. I think we could safely say we're friends now. What do you think?"

  "I'd have to agree with you. We got to know each other better."

  He laughed softly. “But I have to warn you, Annie. If you ever use any of my secrets against me, I'll get even with you."

  "What?” she said, gasping and giggling simultaneously. “I can't believe you'd use violence."

  "Naw,” he said. “I'd kiss you till you screamed for mercy."

  "That's a fate worse than death. Your threat might force me to inform on you. I dare say your mother could still take care of you."

  "Legs?” he said, shaking his head. “That woman would probably take out a full-page ad in The New York Times if she ever found out I'd kissed a woman that much."

  Ann turned to look at him, her eyes questioning. “I'm afraid I don't follow you."

  "Well, it's like this,” he said, lifting her hand to his lips to nibble her fingertips. “My mother wants me to get married. She says I've lived the wild life long enough. It's time to settle down."

  "And what do you think?"

  "I think—” He paused to ease her closer to him. “I think I'd make her the happiest woman in the world if I did. Trouble is, there's a hitch."

  "A hitch?"

  "Yes, I'd have to find the right woman first. It wouldn't do any good to marry if my wife refused to share my home."

  "But if she loved you..."

  He turned to Ann and saw concern in her eyes. “Would you leave everything and follow the man you loved?"

  She broke from his penetrating gaze and began to toy with his hand. “He'd have to be a pretty special fellow to make me change my mind."

  "And if he were?"

  "I'd go ... I think."

  "Lady, you really know how to hedge your bets. Couldn't you just go for broke? Take a real risk?"

  Ann thought the conversation had gone about as far as she was willing to let it. “I risked the day with you, didn't I?” she asked, giving his fingers a little squeeze. “Now, that's what I call risky."

  "Yeah,” he said, trailing a finger across her palm and sending spirals of delight shimmering up her arm and down her side. “Just you and me ... and your CB, right?"

  "Right.” She tried to ease her hand from his grip, but he wouldn't release her. “Say, what do you do at night in your mountains when you meet up with a wolf?"

  "They're scared of humans,” he said, threading his fingers with hers. “Unless they're starving.” He gave her a little hug. “Have you had some trouble with wolves lately?".

  "Nothing I couldn't handle, but I've been stalked by one or two in my day."

  He leaned down and nuzzled the sensitive area behind her ear, drawing circles with the tip of his tongue, then blowing hot breath over the moist skin. “In Chicago?"

  "Mostly."

  "How about here?"

  "So far there's been only you,” she said pointedly. “I haven't been here very long."

  "Suppose I told you I didn't want that to happen to you anymore?"

  "You want me to stop seeing you?"

  "No, dimwit,” he scolded lovingly. “I'd like to be the only wolf ... Damn, now you've got me saying it. Let me start again. I'd like to be the only man in your life."

  "That's silly, Jeffrey. You'll be leaving any day now."

  "Can't you indulge me while I'm here?"

  "I suppose I could. But it doesn't make any sense. I'd be monopolizing your free time and perhaps you'd miss the woman of your dreams, not to mention your business appointments. Besides,” she added, “what would your mother say to that? And another thing ... we know so little about each other. Wouldn't you be bored hearing about my tame life, especially after you've been living on the wild side?"

  "In answer to your questions: Don't worry about it ... she doesn't know ... and I'm fascinated. I love talking to you, Annie. So let's get started. Tell me one thing you hated in school."

  "My secretarial courses,” she answered, folding her arms across her chest. “I hated them so much I almost flunked. I never did master shorthand, but I learned to take dictation straight to the typewriter. I used to be a whiz at it before I went into the hotel business. What about you?"

  "No question about it.” He easily pried one of her hands free and clasped it firmly. �
��Macroeconomics. It almost stopped me from graduating from college. I had to take it more than once-don't ask me how many times-and I'm sure my last teacher finally took pity on me and gave me a mercy grade. I never could understand what was so all-fired important in that course. It didn't contain a thing I needed to run a business."

  "Did you sweet-talk her?"

  "Don't play dumb. Your teacher."

  "You're assuming my teacher was a woman."

  "Well, was she?"

  "I never quite made up my mind about that."

  "Jeffrey Madison, you are impossible!"

  "That's what she used to say. Or was it he?"

  He dodged the pillow Ann flung at him and gathered her in his arms. Her protest was muffled by a kiss so splendid she decided it would have made the dean's list in any college in the world. Before she drifted completely away with her feelings, she upgraded her opinion. Jeffrey could teach the definitive course. My, my, my, but that man could kiss!

  When the embrace ended, they both were breathing heavily.

  "Now then, what do you love?” Jeffrey asked.

  Ann had to draw in a deep controlling breath before she answered. “The hotel business."

  "Oh."

  "Surely...” She turned to search his shadowed eyes. “Jeffrey, surely you didn't think I would say...?” Ann definitely did not believe in love at first sight.

  "We do do it rather well, I think,” he said.

  It took her a moment to figure out what he meant. “Oh, you mean kiss."

  "Of course I mean kiss. Heck, Annie, we haven't done anything else ... yet."

  She chose to ignore that last word. “I suppose kissing you is nice. Yes,” she said, nodding. “I think I could say I like kissing you. But love? Uh-uh. That's too strong a word. I don't use it lightly. Ever. So many people say they love spaghetti. They Love the Sunday comics. They love to say love."

  "But you say you love the hotel business,” he challenged her. “You're contradicting yourself."

  "No, I'm not. I most certainly do love the hotel business. There's absolutely nothing like it. The biggest thrill for me is the behind-the-scenes hustle in order to make each guest feel special. If you'd worked in this field as long as I, you might love it too."