Chapter Five #3
Cathy glanced around the room. She’d spent most of her time in here.
What could have happened? “I heard from my boss,” she said.
“Ula took a message while I was with Pepper. They’re relocating, and it’s going to be a couple of weeks until everything is up and running.
He says for me to take as long as I want before I come back. ”
Eddie had been concerned when she’d called him back. He’d wanted to know if she was having any trouble with the insurance company and if she did, to talk to him. He was a nice man, although she didn’t want to have to think about returning to her old, boring job.
“That’s one less thing you have to worry about,” Stone said. “I know it’s a relief.”
Cathy tucked the phone under her chin. “This is very strange,” she said.
“That we’re talking on the phone? We do it all the time.”
“I know, but we’re in the same house.”
“Is that an invitation?”
His voice was low and enticing. Cathy shivered.
She wanted to curl up in a little ball and shriek with excitement Okay, so it wasn’t exactly flirting, but it was close enough for her.
Stone was just being a friend and a very nice man.
She would be a fool to read anything else into his actions.
And yet…oh, but she wanted them to mean more. Was it so very wrong to dream?
“Would you like it to be?” she managed to ask, wondering if he could hear her shaking.
“Yes,” he said. “I missed our conversations while you were in the hospital. But now that you’re in my house, I don’t want you to feel obligated.”
“I never talked with you out of obligation.” How could he even think that? His calls were the highlight of her day! Of her life!
“Then I’ll be right there. Turn out the lights.”
For a split second, his words created an image of intimacy that made her face flush while at the same time more shivers of anticipation rushed through her. Then she reminded herself about the scars and that he didn’t want her to see him. It wasn’t anything more.
“I will,” she said, and hung up the phone.
For a second she wished she could run to the bathroom and brush her hair or apply a little makeup.
But even with her improved balance on the crutches, she would never make it there and back in time.
Besides, she didn’t have any makeup and it was going to be dark, so what did her appearance matter?
But a girl could wish, she thought. So along with makeup and freshly brushed hair, she would wish herself thin and pretty.
She laughed, then clicked off the light. The room was silent enough that she could hear, as well as feel, the pounding of her heart.
There was a single knock, then Stone entered. “Hi,” he said. “Do you always let strange men just walk into your bedroom?”
“You’re the first.”
“I’ll try not to abuse the privilege.”
She fought against the urge to tell him to abuse away.
“I come bearing gifts,” he said, and she saw him move toward the bed. Something settled next to her.
“What?” she asked as he walked toward the sofa across the room. Her fingers brushed against a smooth, flat surface. “Books. Which ones?”
“The two we couldn’t agree on.”
She grinned. “We did agree. You said you would read the biography.”
“Nerds on parade,” he said. “I remember. I bought it and the spy thriller I wanted. I thought we could read them both.”
“I’ll quiz you on the biography,” she told him. “Don’t think you’re going to get away with just looking at the dust jacket.”
He sighed heavily. “I figured as much. I’ll read it.” His long-suffering tone made her smile.
They continued talking about the two new books, then conversation turned to previous books they’d read together. Cathy found herself watching the way he used his hands to occasionally make a point. She couldn’t see much of him, but she caught the broad gestures in the shadowy darkness.
Theirs was an unusual intimacy, she thought, liking how they were in the same room. Even though she couldn’t see him, she was still close. He’d called her . He’d acted as if he wanted to come to see her. She hugged the knowledge close, and it comforted her.
“What are you thinking?” he asked when they’d both been silent for a time.
“That talking in the dark is very strange, but I like it.”
“I do, too. I don’t have many friends, so having you in my house is a real treat.”
“You are so incredibly gracious,” she said.
“I’m being honest.”
“Maybe.”
“No maybes . I am. I want you here, Cathy. I want to make sure you get better, and the best way for me to do that is to be in charge.”
“So you really want to be the ruler of the Western world?” she teased.
“Something like that.”
She laughed. She didn’t know why she’d gotten so lucky with him, why he liked her or was so concerned. All she knew was that he was. She wasn’t going to question her good fortune anymore—she was just going to enjoy it.
“Tell me about your physical-therapy session,” he said. “What did you do?”
As she explained about the exercises and what Pepper had told her about the surgery needing time to heal, she found herself wishing that he were sitting closer.
At first the sofa hadn’t seemed that far away, but now she felt as if there were an ocean between them.
She wanted him to touch her, to kiss her as he had the previous night.
More foolish dreams, she thought, but she wasn’t going to let these go. Not yet, anyway. As long as she was here, she could dream.
He mentioned a couple of businesses he was thinking of investing in. They discussed his work, then the weather. Finally Stone rose to his feet.
“It’s getting late, and you need your rest. I’ll see you tomorrow evening, if that’s all right.”
“It’s perfect,” she said, and held her breath.
But unlike last night, this time he merely crossed to the door and let himself out into the hall. Cathy watched him go, then fell back onto the pillows. She clutched the books to her chest, but they were a poor substitute for the fantasy that was Stone Ward.