Chapter 3
He stirred in the early morning and stretched.
The smile was on his lips before he opened his eyes and memories flooded his mind.
He had kept her up for most of the night, before they dropped off to sleep from sheer exhaustion sometime before dawn.
His eyes flickered open as he turned his head and reached for her.
At first panic set in when he discovered her side of the bed empty.
The thought that she had left sent the sliver of fear racing through him, before common sense kicked in.
Even then, he had to make sure. Swinging his legs off the bed, he scrambled to pull on sweats and a hunter green sweater he had taken from his suitcase.
Dragging on an old pair of tennis shoes, he simply dragged his fingers through his hair and was out the door.
There was a craving for coffee, but that would have to wait.
It was too early for sunrise and a gray mist was filtering through the curtains, seeping through windows, and slicing him with the cold.
She had not even bothered to light a fire to warm the place up.
The relief thundered through him when he saw her vehicle.
Slowing his steps, he took several deep breaths and inhaled the fresh dewy scent of the morning.
The cottage was on a slight incline and all around there were trees and flowers growing in wild abandon.
Somewhere, birds were calling out and he could just make out two squirrels chasing each other up and down the redwood tree.
The quiet would have been eerie, if it wasn't for the gentle trickle of water of the lake.
He saw her as soon as he rounded the corner and stopped just a few feet away as he studied her profile. She was seated on a smooth rock, near to the lake, her legs drawn up and her chin resting on the arms she had wrapped around them. Her hair was streaming in a thick, untidy heap down her back.
When he started forward, she heard him or perhaps sensed him and turned her head. Her smile came quickly, the pleasure on her face making his heart light. He had been afraid that she was regretting being here.
"Hi."
Lifting a hand, she reached for his. Crossing to her, he took it and lowered himself on the soft patch of grass next to her. She leaned in immediately, snuggling against him with a sigh.
"I didn't want to wake you. You were sleeping so soundly."
"Was I snoring?"
He kissed the top of her head and wrapped a possessive arm around her. Here was contentment. Here with her, he could forget the world of business and the fact that they were caught in an unusual situation.
"Naturally."
Lifting her face, she met his mouth with hers. The kiss was soft and seeking as if in tandem with the quiet ambience. Lifting his mouth from hers, he took a deep breath.
"I thought you had left," he admitted.
She stared at him quizzically, making him feel a little foolish.
"I would never leave."
"I know." He flicked a finger down her nose. "I am a little irrational when it comes to you."
Her brows winged up. "Only a little?"
"More than a little." He grinned at her, white teeth flashing. "Loving you makes me crazy at times."
Her expression sobered, and he swore silently that he was the cause of it.
"It does the same for me." She settled back on his shoulder; one hand curled on his chest. "When we're here like this, I imagine that we're all alone, free from all the drama of our everyday lives. That I'm just a wife who looks forward to coming home to her husband and making him dinner."
"That does not sound like you," he teased.
She did not rise to it but continued in her soft voice.
"That I would be baking. Perhaps an apple pie or cherry.
" She shook her head. "We would be off for the weekend and instead of going anywhere, we're contented to just stay in and spend time with each other.
You would be watching the game, and I would be in the kitchen. "
She uncurled her fingers and spread them out, staring at the ring she had placed there. Even in the dull light, it shone, sending sparks everywhere.
"During commercials you would wander into the kitchen to get something to eat. I would distract you by wrapping my arms around you and start kissing. The game and the baking would be forgotten for a while. I would probably end up burning the pie."
"I have a feeling; I would not mind in the least." He was caught up in the scenario and felt himself wishing it was true. Hadn't he had a similar dream?
"Neither would I," she murmured. Lifting her head, she gazed at him and felt the familiar ache starting in her chest. "I love you."
His green eyes darkened as emotions stormed through him. He could be frustrated with the situation they were in, but at times like this, he had no regrets.
"And I adore you. Since I first laid eyes on you. You took my breath away. Still do."
She brought his head down and met his lips. She was determined that they would have a good time. No thinking of what ifs. She was going to make him breakfast and just sit around and do nothing. They did not even have to talk.
"You're cold," he murmured hoarsely when she shivered.
"How can that be when I'm burning up inside?" She whispered against his mouth. "I want to feel you inside me."
His face went taut with passion. "You know I've never been able to deny you anything."
Scooping her into his arms, he rose lithely and went back to the cottage.
*****
The last place Grace expected to run into her best friend's father was Mimi's Café, a trendy coffee and pastry place a few blocks away from the courthouse.
She had had to run in on Saturday morning, to tackle a few outstanding briefs which annoyed her to no end, but it had to be done.
She had just popped into the café and grabbed her usual skinny latte and a few cream puffs, which she had been unable to resist when she saw the man seated in a corner, looking hale and hearty and scarfing down a few crullers. With a big mug of coffee at his elbow.
She would have slipped out without saying a word to him, but he looked up just then and their eyes met. A wide smile touched her lips at the guilty look on his craggy face, and she made a point of strolling over to sit across from him.
"Mr. Donaldson, why, don't you look healthy."
If the man could blush, he would have, but instead he swallowed the donut that he had been eating and gave her a steely look as if trying to save face.
"I felt the need to get out this morning, not that I owe you any explanation." He had never really liked her, and they both knew why. He thought that Grace had too much influence over his daughter and was slowly corrupting her.
"Of course, you don't. It's just that Kay made it sound like you were at death's door. I told her she was wrong."
He fiddled with his cup and avoided her candid gaze. "It so happens I'm not feeling too badly this morning."
She glanced at the remaining pastries. "Are you supposed to be eating those?"
His eyes flashed. "I can eat whatever I choose."
"With your health issues, I would think that's not possible. But what do I know? I'm not a doctor."
"No, you're not. What are you doing here? Isn't my daughter staying with you? I tried calling her and her phone went straight to voicemail."
The lie came quickly and without a single qualm, she murmured. "She's at the spa and her phone is off. I treated her to a day of it. The poor thing looked plain worn out." Her eyes told him plainly that he was the reason for it.
He sliced her with a look as she took a delicate sip of her latte. "I never forced her to take care of me and if she's been complaining..."
"Complain?" Grace tsked. "Your daughter should be sent up for sainthood. The last thing anyone would ever hear from her is a word of complaint. No matter how bad the situation is or how trying."
She rose gracefully and nodded at his crullers. "Enjoy your breakfast."
With that, she strolled off, considering her job done. Taking out her phone, she quickly shot off a text message to Kadian, warning her of the confrontation and what had been said.
Suddenly the morning and being cooped up in a musty old office did not seem too bad after all.
*****
"We could have gone out for breakfast." He came up behind her and nuzzled her neck, while she expertly turned the golden-brown omelet.
"And missed the chance to cook for you? No way." She leaned into him, contented. He had brought her back and made love to her slow and leisurely, until she was begging him to take her. Afterwards, they had indulged in a long hot bath and now they were both starving.
"I don't want you slaving over a hot stove."
"I don't mind it. I don't mind cooking for you or doing laundry. Not that I will be getting the chance. From what you told me; Mrs. Lynn is very territorial." She flipped the eggs and removed the pot from the flames. "Would you mind setting the table?"
"Putting me to work?"
"Absolutely."
Turning in his arms, she pressed an indulgent kiss on his lips before dancing away from him.
"I'm just going to pop the toast and then breakfast is ready."
They worked together in silence and then sat at the small dining table tucked beneath the large bay window, overlooking a sagging gazebo with vines choking the lattice work.
The sun was a pale orb in a gloomy looking sky, and she wondered if it was going to rain.
That would make it even more delightful.
The sound of the rain beating down on the roof while she was wrapped in his arms sounded perfect.
"We should do something about it." She nodded to the gazebo as she munched on eggs.
"The caretaker is supposed to see to it." Leon thought he had never had a more delicious omelet, or maybe it was because she had prepared it. "He's been down with the flu."
"It needs patching up or replacing."
"Probably the latter."