by Leanne Banks
“Yes, but do your parents know?”
He took the eggs. “I wouldn’t want to give my mother a fainting spell.” He tossed one, then the next, surprised at the satisfaction that coursed through him.
“Feels good, doesn’t it?” Delilah said.
He glanced at her and felt the slow drag of arousal. “Yeah. Other things feel a lot better.”
She took a quick breath. He saw a hint of the heat he was feeling mirrored in her gaze. She looked down at the carton. “Half a dozen left. You want an omelet?”
“Yeah,” he said, and watched her squeeze cleaning liquid over the enclosure and turn on the shower head.
“Clean-up’s a snap,” she said. “I can dig the shells out later.”
“And you don’t even have to spend the night in jail.”
“I bet you’ll look at a carton of eggs in a whole new way,” she said, heading for the kitchen.
Benjamin was currently fixated on her rear end. He couldn’t help remembering how it looked naked. He swallowed a groan. He couldn’t help remembering how good it had felt to slide inside her.
“In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if you don’t throw a few eggs at your own shower in the future.”
“Waste of food,” he said. “Immature, unproductive.”
She lifted her eyebrows, her face full of skepticism.
“And brilliant. I wish you had another carton.”
He and Delilah fixed the omelets together, adding odd ingredients she dug from her refrigerator. She buttered the leftover take-out Italian bread. She fed Willy and talked with him. After she changed a diaper, he watched her press her lips against his belly and make a raspberry. Willy giggled with glee.
“Looks like you two are getting along,” Benjamin said.
“Yeah, he grows on you. Sorta like mold,” she said with a sly smile and made another raspberry on Willy’s belly.
Benjamin shook his head. “I never would have predicted it.”
“What?” she asked, picking up Willy and standing.
“I think that baby has won you over.”
“Not everyone knows this,” she confided, “but I have a strong, self-destructive nurturing streak. I’m usually successful at resisting the urge, but Willy’s really sweet when he’s not screaming.”
“You were nurturing with me,” he reminded her.
She met his gaze and something powerful sizzled between them, then she looked away. “Yes, when half your face had been bashed in and I didn’t know who you really were.”
“And now that you know who I am,” he ventured.
“You know how some people are allergic to strawberries?”
“Yeah,” he said, wondering where in hell this would lead.
“Well, I’m not. I’m just allergic to men like you.”
He was getting very tired of the generalization. “I wonder if all women like you are allergic,” he said.
“What do you mean all women like me?” she asked sharply.
“The same way you mean men like me,” he said.
Frowning, she set Willy in the playpen and crossed her arms over her ample chest. “Define women like me.”
“Sure,” he said. “As long as you define men like me.”
She gave him a hard look and he could see curiosity and defiance battling on her face. “Okay, you go first.”
“A woman like you has a PhD in Practicality. She’s often, but not always, a good judge of character. She has a huge heart which she tries hard to keep hidden. A woman like you understands her sex appeal and knows a lot about pleasing a man, but could probably learn something about pleasing herself.”
She lifted her eyebrows as if she didn’t quite agree, but couldn’t quite disagree either. “Go on.”
“A woman like you has hit some rough spots and she feels like it’s her against the world. She has her defenses up so high that sometimes she can’t get past them, which can give her a big blind spot. A woman like you is wary of any man she perceives to be her equal.”
She stood stick straight in front of him. “And I suppose you’re just the man to take care of my blind spot and teach me all I need to know about pleasing myself,” she said in the husky voice that made his gut knot.
“Is that an offer?” he taunted in return.
“No,” she immediately said.
“Of course,” he said. “Just as I said. You’re threatened by any man you perceive to be your equal.”
“And you’re an overeducated, pampered, trust baby smart-ass,” she retorted.
“But I’m not a chicken,” he said. “And you are.”
Her eyes rounded with anger. “Get out. Get out. I can’t believe I fixed an omelet for you.”
“I helped fix it,” he said.
“Get out,” she said, shooing him into the foyer. “I can’t believe I allowed you to lure me into this ridiculous discussion. I’m not a chicken. You’re just trying to goad me into letting you sleep with me.”
“Who said anything about sleeping?” he said, chuckling to himself as she hissed at him.
“You know what I meant. Pure and simple, you want to screw me again.” She poked at his chest, pushing him toward the door. “You’re frustrated because your fourteen karat–gold fiancée turned out to have a heart made of cast iron. And you’re frustrated because you’re at loose ends right now. You’re used to being Mr. Type A, head of the class, high-achiever, gets everything he wants. Well, you’re not getting me anymore. Once was more than enough.”
“It was more than once, Delilah.”
“Out!” She whisked open the door.
“Cluck. Cluck,” he said, then stepped outside. She slammed the door at his back so hard it created a breeze. He heard her scream of frustration and felt a trace of satisfaction that she had no more eggs. But he did.
After lunch, Robert led Lilly to the country club’s courtyard. His father had insisted on milking the proposal for all the publicity they could get. Great human interest, his father had said. Think of the women’s vote.
The black velvet box felt heavy in his pocket. He wondered if he was doing the right thing. Lilly had smiled and chatted throughout lunch. He couldn’t remember a word she’d said. He kept visualizing a jail cell clanging closed. Then he remembered how he’d felt when he’d seen another man trying to make it with her. He’d wanted to rip the guy to pieces. Robert obviously cared for Lilly more than he’d realized. He was still adjusting to that fact. Mentally, he believed taking the next step was the right thing to do. He hadn’t had many serious relationships with women and he’d always made sure not to put too much of his heart on the line. With Lilly, his strong, growing feelings for her had snuck up on him without him realizing what was happening.
Lilly shivered. “It’s so cold. Are you sure you want to go out here?”
“The fresh air will do us good,” he insisted, glancing over his shoulder and spotting a man with a camera. His stomach turned. “Come over here to the bench.”
Lilly looked at him in confusion. “We’re going to sit? Robert, we’ll freeze. That wind is cutting right through my—”
Impatience cut through him. “Just do what I ask,” he said more sharply than he’d intended.
Her eyes rounded and she stiffened. “Whatever you say.”
Great, he thought, stifling a sigh. Now, he’d pissed off his prospective fiancée. He swore under his breath, wishing he didn’t feel so nervous. He remembered what his father had said, that a man was never completely ready to tie himself down. “It’s natural male instinct not to want to commit, but there comes a time in a man’s life where it’s the right thing to do. If you’re willing to give the girl a guard dog, you must be feeling territorial, so it’s time to give her a diamond too.”
It’s the right thing to do, he told himself.
Besides, there was no way out now. His father had already arranged for the news to be leaked to the press. Lilly stopped at the concrete bench and looked up at him. “Do you really want us to sit her
e?”
“For just a moment. There’s something—” His throat muscles tightened. “There’s something I want to discuss with you.”
She sat down on the bench and looked up at him, her face suddenly solemn. “Sounds serious.”
“It is.” He cleared his throat and swallowed. “I’ve been thinking that you and I should form a permanent arrangement.”
“What kind of permanent arrangement?”
He cleared his throat again. “Well you need to think about this because politics can be hard on a woman, but I think you and I—” He swallowed. “I think you and I would be good together in many ways.”
She nodded warily. “Uh-huh.”
He felt his body separate from his mind. Bending on one knee, he took her hand and opened his mouth. No sound came out. His throat was totally closed. He couldn’t even breathe.
“Robert?”
He cleared his dry-as-a-desert throat yet again. In desperation, he pulled the velvet box out of his pocket.
“Omigod,” Lilly whispered. “Yes,” she said, pulling at his hand and jumping to her feet. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Robert pulled her into his arms and slumped in relief. Thank heaven for Lilly. He hadn’t even had to ask her.
A sleeping baby can make you believe in the possibility of peace on earth.
—DELILAH’S DICTUM
Chapter 13
Cluck, cluck.
She was not a chicken. Delilah made a face as she zipped off an email to her younger half-sister Lori Jean in Dallas. Lori Jean’s father would probably have a seizure if he knew his little unsoiled dove was communicating with her trashy sister. After she and Lori Jean and Katie had found each other over two years ago, they’d made a vow to keep in touch. Delilah felt uncomfortable about deceiving her sisters. She hadn’t told either of them about Willy. They would want to help and then they would want an explanation and the thought of trying to explain gave her a headache. So maybe she would surprise them at Christmas.
She turned off her computer and her mind wandered again to Benjamin. His sexy, suggestive voice had echoed in her brain throughout the day, but smarty-pants Benjamin Huntington was wrong.
She’d been so angry when he’d left she’d wished she had another carton of eggs, but she would have preferred to egg his door. Or his face.
Groaning, she stole a handful of M&Ms from her stash and made a mental note to replenish it. She gathered the bags of items she’d picked up during her lunch break. At first she’d picked up formula and baby food, but there’d been a toy store next door to the grocery store.
She’d bought Willy a new pair of cute jammies and a Houston Astros outfit complete with cap. She’d also found a pop-up toy she knew he would love, a musical ball, two books, a new crib toy …
Delilah cradled the musical ball in her hand and smiled sheepishly. “Christmas gifts. Now I need to get him a stocking …” She heard her door whip open and Guy Crandall appeared like a bad dream.
His presence was a dark cloud over the joy she felt at her purchase of Willy’s Christmas gifts. Delilah felt a spurt of resentment. “Why are you here? I know my check didn’t bounce because the funds have left my account.”
He moved closer to her desk then glanced over his shoulder as if he were afraid someone might be following him. “I need more money.”
“More?” she echoed in disbelief. “I just wrote you a big check. A very big check.”
His lips tightened. “You were late, which meant I was late with some of my, uh, creditors.”
“But I gave you extra—”
“It doesn’t matter,” he cut in impatiently. “I need more. If you want me to keep quiet, write another check. Half of what you gave me last time.”
Frustration raced through her. She stood. “Why don’t you just do what everyone else does and get a job?”
His eyes darkened with anger. “Cut the chat, bitch, and write the check.”
Feeling trapped and hating herself for being at his mercy, she sat down and pulled her checkbook from her purse. “I realize that you’re accustomed to dealing with Howard, but I’m not made of money,” she said as she filled out the check. “Unlike Howard, I don’t have an endless supply and I do have other responsibilities.” The ball she’d bought for Willy made a musical sound as it wobbled on the side of her desk.
He snatched the check from her hand. “I’ll be back in two weeks,” he said and strode out of her office, leaving her with a terrible taste in her mouth and a heavy feeling in her chest. She looked at the bags of gifts for Willy and gnawed on her lip. She refused to take them back. Getting these little things for Willy had made her feel happier than she’d felt since Howard had died. She was surprised at her tender feelings for Willy. She’d always been terrified that she would be a horrible mother. Her mother had been loving, but wild and crazy, and Delilah had lost contact with her at such a young age. Her father had been autocratic and condemning. She’d never been able to measure up, and he’d been determined to stomp out any evidence of her mother’s genes in her.
Delilah chuckled. Sorry, Daddy-o. Her mother’s years of influence may have been cut short, but her love had lingered. Delilah thought of Willy with his sweet smile and the way his face lit up when she entered the room. Maybe she wouldn’t be a rotten mother after all. Maybe she could have children and a family—
She caught herself. No trips to fantasyland allowed today. She had other pressing slimy problems to solve.
She would figure out how to rein in Guy. She didn’t want to know what kind of habit would make him act so desperate for money. Something told her it wasn’t a weakness for M&Ms. There had to be a way to get control of him, but she suspected eggs weren’t going to help her this time.
That night Delilah fed and rocked Willy to sleep, singing him the song her mother had sung to her, “You are my sunshine.” He smiled in contentment and reached to touch her face.
He moved his mouth and made off-key non-words as he tried to sing along. She couldn’t help laughing at his cute efforts and he laughed when she did.
His body gradually relaxed and he fell asleep as she continued to rock him. It was such a peaceful moment she wanted to freeze it and bring it out to experience again when she was ready to pull her hair out. It was such a hushed calm time. This was how church should feel, she thought. Quiet, peaceful and safe.
She put his soft, relaxed body into his crib and watched him. He had screamed with glee when she had walked in the door. Silly, but she felt as if she’d lost pounds off the weight on her shoulders. Now his little bottom was hiked up in the air and his thumb sat loosely in his mouth.
A surprising sweet sensation crowded her chest. Willy felt safe. Delilah tried to remember a time when she had truly felt safe and secure. She felt a twist of pain at the spankings she’d endured from her father and dismissed the thought. No need to get maudlin.
Now that her young’un was in bed, she could enjoy the quiet of the evening. As long as she didn’t think about Guy, Lilly or Benjamin. Which she wouldn’t.
She microwaved and ate a healthy low-fat, low-cal, low-taste dinner and followed it up with a fudge-covered mint Oreo for dessert. She prepared a champagne cocktail, slipped a CD into her portable CD player, lit a dozen scented candles and closed the door to her bathroom.
Delilah moaned as she sank into the Jacuzzi. She would miss this hot tub if she ever had to move. Don’t think about it. She picked up the Opera for Dummies book and lazily scanned the pages.
A half hour later as she took a sip of her drink, she caught sight of something in her peripheral vision. Benjamin. She ripped off her headphones and glared at him. “The bathroom door was closed. Don’t you ever get the hint?”
He loosened his tie and strolled toward her. “I was afraid you might have drowned since you didn’t answer when I knocked on the door.”
Delilah felt a shot of alarm that nearly sent her out of the water. “Did you wake the baby?”
“No. I tapped. I did
n’t bang. Isn’t that what an intelligent man would do?”
“I suppose,” she said grudgingly. “Well you’ve seen that I’m fine. I haven’t drowned. In fact, I was doing very well before you entered the room. So leave,” she said bluntly.
He glanced around at the candles. “This looks nice. Did you need more light to read?”
Read. Delilah remembered the title of the book she was reading and felt a wave of self-consciousness flood over her. She was stark naked, but she was much more embarrassed by the topic of her book than she was her nude body. Splaying her fingers across the cover of the book and positioning it closer to the water, she shook her head. “I put a couple of candles beside me. See?” She cleared her throat. “Now shoo.”
“But your little party looks so inviting,” he said.
“It’s not. It’s a party for Ducky and me. Three’s a crowd, so go away.”
“You know, Delilah, the way you’re talking, I would almost think you don’t want me here.”
“That would be ri—”
“Not very hospitable,” he said, unbuttoning his shirt.
Alarm shot through her. He actually looked like he was planning to get in the tub. “You don’t understand. I want an evening of comfort and peace. You are disruptive. You are a pain in the butt. And I’m not having sex with you again. Remember?”
He tugged off his shirt and started on his belt, giving Delilah a minor heart attack. “You just haven’t experienced how nice I am to have around often enough, yet.”
“That’s right. And I’d like to miss out on the experience of having you around tonight. Can’t you just leave, already?” she asked in frustration as he pushed his slacks down.
“On my honor, I won’t be a pain,” he said.
Delilah rolled her eyes, then covered them. Heaven help her, this guy was persistent. She peeked through two fingers then closed her eyes. The only way she was going to get rid of him was to let him get in the tub. As much as she loathed leaving her sanctuary, he’d successfully invaded, so she would leave if he didn’t. “Okay, you may stay in the tub for five minutes. Then you have to get out and you may get no closer to me than my feet.”