Sasha didn’t need to lie on a therapist’s couch to bare her soul to get the answers to questions that had nagged at her for years. As the only girl in the family, she wanted her father to dote on her the way she saw Dwight act with Kiera. Even as a single part-time father, Dwight had exhibited more affection toward his daughter than her father had ever shown her in eighteen years. It was only after she’d ended her relationship with the cooking school instructor that she had come to the realization that she saw him as a father figure, someone to love and protect her.
She did not need a man to take care of her financially—that she could do for herself. What she craved was his being there for her when what she’d planned failed, while encouraging her to try it again or suggesting an alternative. She wanted to be able to pour out her heart and have him listen even if he didn’t have the answers she needed.
“This is us,” Dwight said, breaking into her tortured musings. “Wait here for me while I check inside.”
Staring out the windshield, she saw a house that reminded her of pictures of chalets. Twin lanterns flanking the front door provided enough light for her to see the tall window over the loft area Dwight had mentioned. She got out and retrieved her weekender as Dwight walked up the path and opened the front door. Light illuminated the entire first story. He disappeared for several minutes, and when he reappeared in the doorway he beckoned her to come in.
Sasha’s jaw dropped when she walked into the yawning space with high ceilings. French doors at the rear of the house offered views of the lake that appeared a great deal farther away than she’d originally thought. The interior was spotless with gleaming wood floors, and the faint aroma of lemon still lingered in the air. She jumped slightly when Dwight reached for her free hand.
“Come with me. I’ll show you your bedroom and the bathroom. I have an en suite bath in mine, so that eliminates sharing one.”
“Where’s your bedroom?”
“It’s at the other side of the house. The bath and bedrooms are the only rooms in the house with doors. The kitchen, dining area and the living rooms share an open floor plan. After you get up tomorrow morning, I’ll give you a tour of the loft and the backyard. There’s a path in the back that leads directly to the lake.”
“How much land do you have here?”
“Each house is set on a half acre, which does provide us some privacy from our closest neighbors.”
Sasha noticed it was the second time he’d referred to them as us. He touched a switch on the wall outside the bedroom and light flooded the space with full-size and twin beds. The vibrant colors of pink, red and lavender in a woven rug were repeated in the bedcovers, and pillow shams provided a radiant contrast to the bleached pine furniture. Floor-to-ceiling off-white lined drapery covered a wall of windows.
“This is very nice. I’m really going to enjoy sleeping here.”
“The bathroom has everything you need, but if you’re missing something, then let me know and I’ll drive into town and pick it up for you.”
Sasha turned and smiled up at Dwight as he stared down at her under lowered lids. What was going on behind those dark orbs? she wondered. Then another thought popped into her head. How many women, other than his mother and daughter, had he brought to the house on the lake? Had he bought this place to use as a rendezvous for his liaisons? After all, Dwight appeared to be a very virile man who did not lack for female attention. She’d noticed women staring at him whenever they were together, and first she thought they were curious, but after a while she noticed a coquettish smile, or a slight touch of their hair, and some were even bold enough to wink at him, all of which he tended to ignore.
“I’m good, Dwight. I brought everything I need with me.”
“Good night. And try to sleep in as late as you want.”
“Okay. Good night.”
Sasha waited for him to leave before she closed the door. She’d showered and brushed her teeth before he came to pick her up, so all she needed was to get a nightgown out of her bag, put it on and crawl into bed. Three minutes later, she did just that, and within seconds of her head touching the pillow she was sound asleep.
* * *
It took Dwight three trips to unload the provisions he’d stored in the Jeep’s cargo area. A large cooler was filled with perishables he stored in the refrigerator/freezer, and crates of dry and canned goods lined the shelves in a pantry tucked into an alcove of the kitchen.
He’d come to the house on Wednesday to remove dustcovers from the furniture, open windows to let out the mustiness, put clean linen on the beds, clean bathrooms, and dust floors and hard surfaces. This year he’d opened two weeks later than he normally would have now that Kiera was living with him. Becoming a full-time father forced him to rearrange his life where he no longer had to think only of himself and his mother, but also his child. He’d resigned his commission in the military, hadn’t slept with a woman since he brought Kiera back from New York, and he had curtailed his visits to the lake because Kiera complained about the isolation. If she found Wickham Falls boring, then staying at the lake house was so mind-numbing that she felt more dead than alive.
He’d asked himself over and over what he was doing bringing Sasha to the place he thought of as his private retreat where he openly entertained women when it hadn’t been possible in Wickham Falls. The town was too small, the residents too curious, and gossip that spread like a lighted fuse attached to a stick of dynamite made it impossible for him to date a local woman. That was before Natasha Manning came back to town. Not only were they seen together at social functions, but now he had invited her to a place no one, other than his mother and daughter, knew about.
And as much as he’d found himself attracted to Sasha, and wanted to sleep with her, Dwight knew that wasn’t going to happen this weekend. He hadn’t missed the dark bluish circles under her eyes or her slowed movements indicating she was close to complete exhaustion. He’d invited her to the lake for her and himself. Here she could do absolutely nothing more strenuous than sleep and/or sit and stare at the water. He’d planned to cook, watch a few old movies and while away the hours until it was time to return to The Falls.
Dwight retreated to his bedroom, closed the door, stripped naked and walked into the bathroom to shower and brush his teeth. Tomorrow was a new day and he looked forward to spending it with a woman who’d managed to slip under the armor he wore to protect himself from future heartbreak. He’d fallen in love with Adrienne, and despite their breakup and divorce, a part of him still loved her. And she knew that.
He’d tried exorcising her with other women but failed miserably. Dwight wasn’t certain whether he was to blame or if it was because of Kiera that he still felt a connection with Adrienne. After all, they did share a child. What he found puzzling was why she hadn’t had more children with Omar.
Turning off the water, he stepped out of the shower stall and dried his body. Walking on bare feet, he made his way into the bedroom and got into bed—alone. His last thoughts weren’t of his ex-wife, but Sasha. Whenever she looked up at him through her lashes, the seductive gesture was nearly his undoing. His body silently taunted him over his self-induced celibacy.
Let everything unfold naturally. The very words he’d said to her flooded his mind as he adjusted the pillows under his head. One thing Dwight knew for certain. Once they made love there would be no turning back.
Chapter Ten
Sasha woke, totally disoriented. She’d lost track of place and time. Sitting up, she saw light coming through the drawn drapes and was suddenly aware of where she was. Her cell phone was still in the weekender, so she couldn’t discern whether it was early morning or the afternoon. Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she retrieved her cell phone. It was after ten in the morning. She hadn’t slept that late since opening the shop. She scooped up the toiletry bag and walked out of the bedroom to the bath.
Peeri
ng into the mirror over the twin sinks, she studied her face. The puffiness under her eyes was gone but not the dark circles. She’d grown up angry because she’d inherited her mother’s fair coloring, while her brothers had their father’s dark hair, eyes and ruddy complexion.
Any other time she would have attempted to hide the circles with concealers, but not today. What Dwight saw was what he was going to get—the unadulterated, freckles-and-all Natasha Manning. She decided to take a bath instead of a shower and it felt good just to relax in the tub until the water cooled and forced her to get out. Wrapping a towel around her body, she went back into the bedroom and closed the door.
She found Dwight sitting at a table on the patio at the rear of the house drinking coffee. He’d propped his bare feet on another chair, and she wondered why he hadn’t chosen one of four chaises on which to relax.
She slid back the screen and stepped out into the brilliant morning sunlight.
“Good morning.”
Setting down the mug, he came to his feet. Sasha swallowed an inaudible gasp as she stared at the magnificence of his tall, lean, muscular body in a black tank top and khaki walking shorts. It was the first time she’d seen him bare that much skin and it shocked her senses. How was she going to maintain a modicum of control when he blatantly put his body on display like that? He hadn’t shaved and the emerging stubble only enhanced his magnetism.
Dwight approached her and cradled her face between his hands. “Good morning.” Lowering his head, he brushed his mouth over hers. “You look pretty and well rested.” She had selected to wear a pale pink crinkle-cotton seersucker sleeveless dress and a pair of matching ballet-type flats.
Sasha ran her tongue over her lips, tasting coffee. “I slept very well.”
“Are you ready to eat breakfast?”
Her fingers curled around his wrists, pulling his hands away from her face. Sasha didn’t trust herself to be that close to Dwight. At least not until she found herself back in control of her runaway senses. He looked, smelled and tasted delicious.
“Yes.”
“Do you have a preference?”
Sasha’s lips parted as she flashed a wide smile. “I have choices?”
Dwight winked at her. “With me you’ll always have choices. I don’t believe in all or nothing.”
She scrunched up her nose. “Bacon, eggs, toast, juice, coffee and fresh fruit.” A beat passed as they stared at each other. “Did I order too much?”
“No, not at all. Do you want to eat inside or out?”
“I’ll leave that up to you.”
“This weekend is yours, Sasha. I’m your personal genie who will attempt to grant your every wish.”
“Outside.”
Dwight nodded. “That’s what I’d hoped you would say.”
“Do you need a sous chef?”
“No. I’ve got this.”
“Kiera told me that you’re a very good cook.”
“My daughter is biased. My mother is a very good cook. And your mama can also burn some pots. I’ve been to New Orleans and her gumbo and red beans and rice surpassed any I’ve eaten there. I’m standing here jawing when I need to feed you.”
Sasha took the chair Dwight had vacated. It only took a single glance to see why he’d bought the property. The outdoor kitchen also included a bar, pizza oven and fireplace. Outdoor furniture with all-weather cushions, a rectangular table seating six and two wrought-iron bistro tables, and a quartet of webbed recliners set the stage for casual dining and entertaining. The house and surrounding property was the perfect place in which to retire for someone looking for privacy and solitude.
“I could stay here forever.” She sat straight and glanced around her. Sasha did not want to believe she’d spoken her thoughts aloud.
* * *
Dwight emerged from the house carrying a large picnic basket with plates, flatware, glasses and foodstuffs he needed to prepare breakfast. He’d made it a practice to use the outdoor kitchen. The exception was inclement weather. Even if temperatures dropped to the forties, he continued to cook outdoors.
Working quickly, he turned on the gas grill, and while the flattop heated, Dwight set the table and put out a covered dish with sliced melon. He’d bought several containers of sliced cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon. He liked cooking, fishing and dentistry, but not necessarily in that order.
He’d admitted to Sasha that he liked being single; he’d also liked being married. He knew men who remarried within two years after their divorce, and others who’d professed never to marry again. He did not fit in either category. Dwight knew he would’ve remarried if he had found a woman he loved enough to want her to share his life and his daughter.
Dwight knew Sasha was special, that his feelings for her deepened with each encounter, yet he had no inkling how she felt about marriage. She’d admitted marrying a man she didn’t love and that was something he couldn’t fathom. If she wasn’t pregnant, then why did she marry a man she did not love? He’d originally thought it might have been his celebrity status, yet she was also a celebrity in her own right.
They’d promised each other not to talk about their exes, but Dwight knew that couldn’t continue if he hoped to have an open, honest and mature relationship with Sasha. Spending time alone at the lake house was key to them determining whether they would continue dating.
“How do you like your eggs?” he asked Sasha after he’d set a bottle of chilled orange juice on the table. Grasping the handle on a pole, he turned it until a white umbrella opened to shield the table from the intensifying rays of the sun rising higher in the sky.
She shielded her eyes with her hand when she looked up at him. “Scrambled.”
Reaching down, Dwight eased her up from the chair. “Come sit under the umbrella. I hope you put on sunblock if you plan to sit outside or you’re going to end up looking like a cooked lobster.”
“I did apply sunblock, Dr. Adams.”
A slight frown furrowed his forehead. He’d told her not to address him as Dr. Adams. “Did you bring a swimsuit?”
“No. I didn’t know I needed to bring one.”
He ran a finger down the length of her straight nose. “Remember to bring one the next time you come.”
Her pale eyebrows rose slightly. “Will there be a next time, Dwight?”
“That will be your decision, Sasha. The invitation is an open one, so the ball will always be in your court.” Not waiting for a comeback, Dwight turned on his heel and returned to the grill.
A short time later, he set a platter with fluffy scrambled eggs, crisp grilled bacon, buttered thick-sliced Texas garlic bread heated on the grill and mugs of steaming coffee on the table. He didn’t know why but Dwight found food cooked outdoors always tasted better.
Sasha smiled at him across the table. “I could live like this every day.”
Dwight also smiled. Sasha had given him the opening he needed for them to be frank with each other. “Maybe that can become a reality one of these days.”
Propping her elbow on the table, Sasha rested her chin on the heel of her hand. “How?”
“We could eventually live together.”
* * *
Sasha’s hand came down as if in slow motion. She looked at Dwight as if he’d suddenly taken leave of his senses. “You’re talking about us living together when we haven’t even...” Her words trailed off when Dwight leaned forward.
“When we don’t even know if we’re compatible in bed,” he said, completing her sentence while reading her thoughts.
“Yes, Dwight.”
“Would you live with me if you found our lovemaking satisfying?”
A gamut of confusing emotions held Sasha captive as she tried understanding why Dwight was talking about them making love and living together when they weren’t even friends with benefits. “No, Dwight, I won’t live with y
ou.”
“Won’t or can’t?”
“Both.”
“Why, Sasha?”
“Because I wouldn’t live with you unless we were in love with each other.”
“You admit to marrying a man you didn’t love, so why not live with one you don’t love?”
“I never said I didn’t love you.”
Dwight reacted to her admission as if he’d been stabbed by a sharp object.
“What did you say?”
A surge of strength came to Sasha she hadn’t felt since the time she told Grant their marriage was over and that she’d filed for divorce. “You heard what I said, Dr. Adams.”
“Stop calling me that.”
“What? Dr. Adams?”
“Yes, dammit!”
“Don’t cuss at me, Dwight.”
“I’m not cursing at you, Natasha.”
“Oh, now it’s Natasha.” She pressed her lips tightly together. “I tell you that I love you and now you’re bent out of shape.”
Leaning back in his chair, Dwight pressed his palms together. “I had no idea you felt anything more for me aside from friendship. I’m just shocked and pleased that we share the same feelings.”
“You—you love me?”
“I’m falling in love with you.”
“Is there a difference, Dwight?”
His expression softened when he smiled. “Yes. There is a big difference. You can love a movie, book or a car. But falling in love goes deeper where you are willing to compromise, make sacrifices and protect those you love unconditionally.”
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