Chapter 12
He started back earlier than he had projected, because of the impending storm. The forecast had called for a massive thunderstorm, and he wanted to get ahead of it.
He also noticed how quiet she had gotten this morning at breakfast. He had made love to her, slow, gentle, drawing out the pleasure for both of them until she was begging him to take her.
He had been deliberately ruthless, as if to prove a point. He had been disappointed that she had not returned his words.
Patience, he told himself. He was going to be patient with her.
Didn't he already know what she was feeling?
She proved it every time he was with her, inside her. She could not shy away from her emotions; they were laid bare for him to see.
She just could not say the words he was longing to hear, even when he said them to her. So he would wait, and he would be patient.
And he was not even going to be upset that she had chosen to pretend to be asleep while they zipped along the way home.
He would give her the time. He would allow her the silence because he needed some thinking time as well.
His love for her overwhelmed him, made him feel as if he was on a rollercoaster ride heading at top speed straight over a cliff, and he was on the ride without a harness.
He felt the quick clutch and pull inside his body each time he was with her.
Stopping at the lights, he glanced over at her and felt the clutch and pull again. She was wearing low-riding denims and a thin cashmere sweater that hugged her superb breasts with a plunging neckline that revealed her flawless skin.
It stopped just above her navel, the ring there winking against her skin. She was wearing a few of the earrings and bangles he had bought her and smelled divine.
"Christ!" he thought, shaking his head. The woman was potent.
Shaking his head, he pushed the vehicle into traffic.
She eventually fell asleep and woke up when she heard the vehicle stop. She had pretended to be taking a nap as soon as they got into the vehicle, so she didn't have to talk.
What the hell was she supposed to say? Especially after last night and this morning?
After the whole damn week? It had been entirely too emotional, and several times during the intense lovemaking, she had almost blurted out what she held inside her heart.
So, she had taken the coward's way out for the first time in her life.
She stirred and sat up, blinking and noticing the blanket thrown over her.
Her heart melted even more. The man was proving to be lethal.
"We're here."
"So we are." Switching off the engine, he turned to give her an amused look, noticing how rumpled and sexy she looked.
"You were no company at all," he said.
She cast him a glance as she folded the blanket and tossed it around the back. "At least I was present."
She stretched languidly, like a cat, and had his blood pressure spiking as the sweater hiked up further. "Shall we?"
"Yeah," he muttered. "Let's go face the music, shall we?"
She laughed. Unbuckling her belt, she shoved open the door before he could come around and do it for her.
"It might not be so bad. He might have spent the week becoming a whole different person."
His snort made her grin.
"One can only hope. A little help here."
He was juggling their case and some of the bags.
"I figured you for a big strong man who doesn't need my help."
"You figured wrong, and you're forgetting that you bought out the damn store."
A low chuckle greeted his words and had him grinning, which faded when she leaned in to grab the bags. The material of the denim molded her shapely butt and made him want to taste and devour.
Sucking in a breath, he turned towards the steps, just as Millicent opened the doors.
"You're back! No, please leave them here. I'll get a couple of the maids to take them up to your rooms. I put a tray of refreshments there for you, and I sorted out the closet," she added, looking at Regina with a cautious smile.
Regina considered that the housekeeper had halfway accepted her.
"Thanks, Millicent." She sent the woman an easy smile.
"I can take these up myself." She hefted the bags she had in her hands.
"Where is he?"
"Chomping at the bit and pretending not to be looking forward to your return. He's lying down. Had too much going on today."
She hesitated briefly before looking over at Regina. "He had some people come in to change up the closet to accommodate your stuff."
Her tapered brows lifted at that.
"Then I guess I should thank him," she murmured.
"Why don't you go on up?" Craig suggested.
"I'll be in his room."
"Shouldn't I be there as referee?" she asked archly.
Touching her cheek gently, he nudged her towards the stairs.
"Smartass. Go. We'll be fine."
Millicent had to turn away to hide the moisture in her eyes. The boy had chosen well, she thought.
And he was in love. Thank God!
As soon as she stepped into the room, she noticed the changes. The closet was huge, and the space had not been properly utilized.
Now it was. Shelves and revolving hangers met her eyes, along with a space for her numerous shoes and a vanity table complete with a handsome carved chair so that she could sit right there and do her makeup.
Her eyes widened as she stepped into the vast space and saw that there was also a tiny fridge.
"Oh, for crying out loud!" she muttered with a laugh. Her clothes were hung and packed neatly, ruthlessly organized.
She dropped her bags and was about to start to unload when Nadine, one of the maids, came in.
"Miss, I'll do it."
"Thank you. It looks good."
The girl beamed.
"We enjoyed organizing it. Under Ms. Millie's watchful eyes, of course."
"Of course," Regina rejoined with a laugh. "Well, if you've got this, I'll head downstairs."
"Miss, can I say that you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen," the girl continued shyly.
Turning around, Regina looked at her in surprise.
"Just wanted to say."
"Thank you, Nadine." With a smile, she strolled from the room.
Craig found the old man propped up in bed and looking sallow and pale. Determined not to show his concern, he walked in and took a seat.
"You're back." He was greeted roughly.
He looked happy, Cecil thought, feeling the pleasure swamping him. Careful not to show it, he waved a hand to his glass of water.
"Make yourself useful and hand me that, would you?"
"It's near enough for you to reach it yourself," Craig told him coolly.
"What the hell were you thinking, walking around, and supervising the closet renovation? I told you I'd take care of it when I returned."
"I was bored, and a simple thank you would do."
"Thank you. I love it."
They both turned to look towards the doorway at the sound of her voice.
Cecil wondered if the boy knew how much his face reflected his heart.
"Half dressed as usual," he grumbled as Regina made her way towards the bed. To his delight, she sat on the edge of it and leaned over to kiss his cheek.
"If you have it, why not flaunt it? I see you're still in the land of the living."
"Were you hoping I'd croak while you were gone?"
"One can but hope," she said drolly, causing him to snort out a laugh.
"I brought you this." She lifted the gift bag and rummaged through it to take out the beautifully handcrafted pipe.
His eyes lit up before his expression of carefully cultivated disdain and ill humor showed on his face.
"You know damn well I'm not allowed to smoke."
"And we know damn well you disobey that order."
Cecil swiveled his glance to his grandson. "Go do something useful while I spend time with the girl."
"Her name is Regina, and if you upset her--"
"What're you? Her protector?" he demanded.
"Damn straight." Rising, he moved over to drop a kiss on top of her head.
"I'll be in the kitchen hassling Andre over the menu."
"I'll be out in a few."
"He fancies himself in charge of you." Cecil's jade green eyes, which had not lost their sparkle, met hers.
"He does." She tilted her head to the side and studied his face.
"How're you?"
He felt the clutch of his heart as he stared at her lovely face. She got to him.
He had played hardball with his son's wife even when Rosemary had tried to reach out to him in friendship. He had a hell of a lot of regrets for the way he had treated them.
But now was his chance. He had been given a second chance, and he had every intention of taking full advantage of it.
He wasn't going to screw things up.
"Was that a difficult question?" she asked mildly, her lips twitching. "Want a simpler one?"
"Smartass," he muttered, unconsciously echoing his grandson's earlier remark. "I don't need a babysitter."
He held up the pipe. "Thanks."
"With that gracious response to my gift, I'll leave you to it." She started to rise when he gestured her back down.
"You went to the cabin."
She eyed him curiously.
"Yes."
"How was it?"
"The cabin?"
"No," he waved an impatient hand.
"The time you spent there. I would have thought a city girl like you would have been bored out of your skull."
A whimsical smile touched her lips.
"I thought I would have been as well. I learned to fish, we took long walks, and he showed me the town where his parents saved the residents. Your daughter-in-law was quite a woman."
"A do-gooder," he muttered.
"Damn right. She was that and more. The place belongs on a postcard. Have you been there?"
"A long time ago. I don't have much use for the quiet."
"That's what you need in your last days. There's a rocker on the porch," she added, tongue-in-cheek.
He glared at her and had her biting back a smile.
"You clearly have no respect for your elders."
"I do. Just none for you. Give it up, old man. You cannot best me in an argument."
Leaning down, she kissed his cheek. "Will you be joining us for supper?"
"What am I? An invalid?"
"From where I'm sitting, yes."
"Go away."
She grinned unrepentantly as she rose.
"I'll see you for supper, and I was thinking we could play a game of Scrabble when we're finished. Be prepared to be annihilated," she warned.
Stunned surprise washed over his face and brought color to his cheeks. He had no idea she was aware that he loved Scrabble.