“It’s not fancy, but steak and lobster didn’t seem like a good prelude to a rock concert.”
“This is perfect.” Elizabeth picked up a barbecued rib and bit into it with delicate greed. She’d been too nervous to eat all day, and the hot and spicy ribs tasted wonderful.
The small restaurant was crowded. Families, couples and groups of friends filled every table, and a line waited outside. Best Ribs in Indianapolis announced the sign outside Elizabeth wouldn’t have sworn to that, but they were certainly superb. And it was impossible to remain nervous with a snowy-white napkin tucked into the top of your blouse as a bib and your fingers covered in barbecue sauce.
Besides, there’d been nothing to be nervous about in the first place. True, Donovan did look devastatingly attractive, and he had presented her with flowers, but he’d also been comfortably casual about the whole thing.
A family with a little girl was seated at the table next to them, and Elizabeth glanced over, holding back the urge to laugh out loud. Her parents watched in helpless wonderment as the child managed to dress herself completely in barbecue sauce, all in the course of eating one rib. Elizabeth glanced at Donovan, her eyes bright with laughter.
He’d been watching her. In the instant before his gaze shifted away, she read a hunger that had nothing to do with the food in front of them. Her smile faded and she stared at the table, feeling a nervous jump in her stomach that wasn’t caused by the spicy food.
“I looked at motorcycles yesterday. I think I’m definitely going to buy one.” He picked up another rib and bit into it, and she wondered if she’d imagined what she’d seen a moment ago. He didn’t look as if he had anything more on his mind than food and motorcycles.
“What are you going to do with it? Ride it to the office?”
“Maybe. I could strap my briefcase onto the back, or I might get one of those enormous bikes with the saddle bags.”
“I still think they’re too dangerous.”
“If you’re careful, they’re not that bad. Besides, you only live once.”
“That doesn’t mean you have to try and get yourself killed.”
“I’m not going to get myself killed. I’m just going to have a little fun. Come on, admit it. Don’t you think I’d look great sitting on a Harley in a black leather jacket? I could do my hair in a DA and get a pair of really cool shades and wait outside Mason’s for you to get off work.”
“There’s only one problem with that scenario. I wear skirts to work, and I’m not climbing on a motorcycle in a skirt. Besides, my boss would probably call the police as soon as she saw you lurking outside the store.”
“Lurking? I wouldn’t be lurking. I’d be sitting there looking tough and cool.”
She reached for a French fry. “I don’t think Mrs. Tancredi would recognize ‘tough and cool’ as a good thing. She might decide that you were casing the joint. She watches a lot of television, and she’s got a vivid imagination.”
“You’re taking all the fun out of it.” He sounded so disgruntled that Elizabeth grinned. Seeing that, Donovan leaned across the table, his expression coaxing. “Come on, wouldn’t it be exciting to go whizzing down the highway on the back of my bike?”
She set her mouth very primly. “I think you’re trying to capture a piece of your lost youth.”
Donovan stared at her, and that hungry look was back in his eyes. “Would that be so bad? It seems to me that our lost youth was pretty good.”
She looked at him, the noisy restaurant fading away, a thousand memories tangling with the present. He was right, but a past together didn’t make up to a future.
Donovan leaned back, deliberately breaking the tension that had crept between them. “The problem with you, Beth, is that you’re too practical. You wait till I get my bike. You’re gonna love it.” He glanced down at her plate. “Ready to go?”
She nodded, dipping her hands in the battered stainless steel bowl of water in the middle of the table before drying them on her napkin. He kept throwing her off balance. One minute they might have been casual friends and the next he was reminding her of all they’d shared in the past.
Donovan dug into his pocket and threw some bills on the table. “Let’s get out of here. I bet the arena is going to be packed.”
The arena was packed, but no one seemed to mind The crowd swayed back and forth and clapped their hands and lost themselves in the cheerful rhythms of twenty years ago. Memories seemed to float on the air. Every song brought new cheers, and it was impossible not to have a good time.
Having Donovan’s arm around her shoulders felt natural, and Elizabeth leaned into him, letting him shield her from occasional over excited music fan, enjoying the feel of his muscular body against hers.
For just a little while, it was almost possible to pretend that it really was twenty years ago. She felt young and excited, the whole world opening up in front of her. With Donovan’s arm around her, she could do anything.
The concert ended at last with a rollicking chorus in which the entire crowd joined. There was a lot of good-natured jostling and laughter as people began to make their way out of the stadium. Elizabeth allowed the fantasy to stretch as they walked across the parking lot. There was no need for Donovan to keep his arm around her, but it felt so right there.
“We could go out for a late supper, if you’d like.”
Somewhere, a small voice cautioned her that she was letting things drift along and she might regret it later, but she ignored the warning. There was magic in the air, and she was going to savor every minute of it.
“I’d like that.”
He took her to a small restaurant, full of dimly lit tables and quiet conversations. Looking at the menu, she was surprised to find that she was hungry again. It didn’t seem possible after all the ribs she’d consumed.
“I think music must burn up a lot of calories.” Donovan’s thinking was obviously running along the same lines.
“Why don’t we split the seafood platter?” he suggested. Her mouth watered at the thought and he laughed at her eager nod.
Once the order was given to the waiter, Donovan leaned back and looked at her, his fingers toying with his silverware. “Did you enjoy yourself?”
“Couldn’t you tell? I sang along with just about everything. Thank you for inviting me. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”
“The pleasure was all mine.” The quiet sincerity in his voice brought a flush to her cheeks, and she looked away, feeling very young and deliciously vulnerable. “It brought back a lot of memories.”
“I think it did that for just about everyone there.”
“A lot of good memories.”
Elizabeth looked across the table, her eyes soft. “A lot of good memories,” she admitted.
Their eyes held for a long moment, all the good times they’d had together lying between them like a thick, warm quilt. The waiter was a welcome interruption, at least as far as Elizabeth was concerned. Too much seemed to lay unspoken, things she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear.
The meal passed in uncomplicated pleasure. The seafood platter was beautifully prepared and definitely enough for two. She and Donovan squabbled amicably over who ate more than their share. Donovan graciously allowed her to have the last shrimp, she returned the favor by insisting he take the last fried shrimp.
On the road home, Elizabeth felt wonderfully relaxed. It had been years since the two of them had simply gone out-and had fun together. Whenever they went out, there was an underlying purpose to it—something at Michael’s school or dining with a client Donovan was designing a building for.
She’d almost forgotten how much fun they’d always had together. She leaned her head back against the smooth leather of the car seat. Outside the fields rushed by in a blur of open spaces. A full moon hung overhead, ghosting the land with pale light. It was nearly summer, but the late-night air was cold====. Donovan had turned the heater on low, just enough to make Elizabeth feel pleasantly cosseted. The radio was set to a station playing classical music, and smooth cellos and horns added to the feeling.
She closed her eyes, letting herself imagine—just for a moment—that everything was still perfect between them. They’d never grown apart, love hadn’t faded. They were going home to the house they’d built together, full of memories and dreams.
The fantasy was so pleasant that, when Donovan stopped the car, she was surprised to find herself in front of her apartment building.
“You looked very content. What were you thinking?” Donovan’s voice was quiet.
Elizabeth hoped that the light from the streetlamp wasn’t enough to reveal the flush in her cheeks. “Nothing in particular. I was just thinking how much fun I had this evening. Thank you.”
“Maybe we could do it again.”
“Maybe.” She reached for her purse. “Well, good night.”
“I’ll walk you to your door.”
“That’s really not necessary.” But Donovan was already out of the car and walking around to the passenger side. He opened her door and she slid out, murmuring another thank-you.
“You really don’t have to do this. It’s a very quiet neighborhood.”
“It’s no problem.”
The street was silent. In the late-night hours, everyone was in bed, the lights out. Even the dogs were quiet. Elizabeth walked across the street beside Donovan, his presence looming next to her. Where had all those relaxed feelings gone? Tension crept over her with each step.
They walked upstairs to her apartment and she pulled the keys out of her purse. Donovan took them from her, turning the lock but not opening the door. Elizabeth didn’t move. She stared at the door, feeling the tension stretched taut as a wire between them.
Slowly, feeling as if she was fighting herself, she looked at him, her gaze traveling across the broad width of his chest, pausing on the stubborn strength of his chin and the masculine molding of his mouth. When her eyes at last met his, her heart was bumping against her chest and she felt breathless.
His eyes were a warm, liquid gold that looked deep into her soul, pulling out needs she didn’t want to know existed. When his hand curled around the back of her neck, she closed her eyes, her palms coming up to rest on his chest but not to push him away. Some dim, half-heard voice said that she was taking too many chances, but the warning was smothered by the feel of Donovan’s mouth on hers.
At the first touch of his lips, she felt her knees weaken. It had been so long since she’d felt like this. She leaned into Donovan, opening her mouth to the hard pressure of his. His hand tightened on the back of her neck, tilting her head to his, his other arm circling her waist, lifting her onto her toes, her breasts crushed against his chest.
His mouth was warm and hard, demanding and receiving total surrender. His tongue traced the ridge of her teeth before sliding past to explore the softness of her mouth. Elizabeth moaned, her body pressing against his; her arms circling his neck, fingers burrowing into the silky blackness of his hair. His tongue fenced with hers—touching, withdrawing, only to touch again. It was an ancient duel without winner or loser. The suggestive rhythm pulsed through her body, like waves breaking in the pit of her stomach.
She was breathless, half fainting when his mouth left hers. The end of day stubble on his chin rasped gently over her face as he kissed his way to her ear. His tongue traced its contours, making every nerve in her body quiver.
“Beth. Let me stay with you.”
The words shivered across her skin, tempting her. Her body screamed at her to say yes. She didn’t want him to leave. She didn’t want to go in to her empty apartment and her lonely bed. She wanted to feel his hands on her, his hardness against her softness. She ached with the wanting. His tongue swirled against the pulse that beat so heavily at the base of her throat. Another minute, another second and she’d be lost.
“Donovan. No.” The word was not particularly loud. She could barely force it out past the need to say yes, the need to let him stay.
His mouth stilled against her. For a moment, neither of them moved. She wasn’t sure of her answer, and they both knew it. If he ignored her words, held her closer, let his mouth coax her, she’d say yes. He wouldn’t be leaving, she wouldn’t be sleeping alone tonight. His arms tightened around her and Elizabeth held her breath, half hoping he’d take the decision out of her hands.
“All right.” His hands slid reluctantly away, lowering her to stand on her own two feet. Elizabeth’s fingers left the softness of his hair reluctantly. She leaned back against the door, her knees wobbly. Donovan’s eyes simmered gold, stealing what little breath she had left.
“Thank you.”
He shrugged, his mouth twisting. “Think nothing of it. I’m insane, of course, but think nothing of it.”
“It’s too soon. I’m not ready for... for this.”
His hand came up to cup her chin, his thumb stroking her soft cheek. “Cold showers are good for my circulation.”
Elizabeth turned her face into his hand, leaning against that strength for an instant.
“I’m sorry. I—”
His thumb pressed across her lips, silencing her apology. “Hush. You’ve got nothing to apologize for. I shouldn’t have pushed it. I swore I wouldn’t, but you looked so delicious and you tasted even better.” He grinned. “The devil made me do it.”
Her smile was shaky, but the tension was reduced to a bearable level. Nobody but Donovan had ever been able to spark her emotions so quickly with so little effort. He could take her from passion to laughter in a matter of seconds, leaving her breathless from the ride.
“When can I see you again? Can you make dinner Wednesday night?” It was phrased as a request, but his eyes made it a demand.
Elizabeth ignored the small voice that warned her things were moving too quickly. “I’d like that.”
He reached behind her to open the door, easing her inside. “I’ll pick you up at seven.” He dropped a quick, hard kiss on her mouth that left her tingling, and then pulled the door shut, closing her inside.
Elizabeth leaned against the door, listening to the sound of his footsteps disappearing in the quiet night. She lifted her hand to her mouth, aware of the way her fingers trembled.
She hadn’t felt so alive, so wonderfully, marvelously alive in months, years maybe. It was frightening, it was fabulous. She felt like a teenager, with everything life had to offer all spread out in front of her. And all the frightening, wonderful feelings that boiled inside were because Donovan was back in her life.
She closed her eyes, pushing aside the thought. She wasn’t going to think about it now. For now, it was enough that she was happy, that life was exciting. She would think about the whys and wherefores another time. Right now, all she wanted to do was go to bed and dream about the day just past.
Wednesday night seemed eons away.
#
Wednesday night eventually came, as did Friday night and Saturday and Sunday and the next Tuesday. And every one of those days, Donovan filled her life with picnics and dinners and movies. On the days she didn’t see him, Elizabeth thought about him and looked forward to the next time they’d be together.
He courted her with beautiful flowers and wonderful late-spring days. Even without Carol’s blunt summation of the situation—“The man obviously wants you back, dummy”—Elizabeth could hardly doubt his intentions.
He cared for her. She knew that, just as she knew she still cared for him. In her weak moments she was even willing to admit that she might be falling in love with him again. But only in a weak moment and only to herself.
Nearly two weeks after their first date, Elizabeth was putting her notes together for a redecorating project. It was near the end of the day and she was looking forward to getting home. Her tiny office was stuffy and the warm sun had been trying to coax her outside all day.
Donovan had said he might come by this evening. He’d been very mysterious, promising that he’d have something to show her. Her mouth softened and her pencil slowed. Donovan. In a couple of weeks, he’d somehow become central to her life again. She still didn’t know what she wanted out of a relationship with him. He was practically her ex -husband but still....
“Elizabeth.” Mrs. Tancredi’s voice interrupted Elizabeth’s thinking. She looked up to find her manager’s short, stout figure standing in the doorway, her plump features set in an expression of stern disapproval.
“There’s a man here who says you’re expecting him.”
“A man?”
Mrs. Tancredi sniffed. “I nearly called security but, on the off chance that you do know him, I decided to wait.”
Elizabeth stood up and edged her way around the desk. Donovan? He hadn’t said anything about picking her up at work. Besides, if it was Donovan, why on earth would Mrs. Tancredi consider calling security? He was a respected businessman. He looked respectable if you didn’t notice the wild streak that sometimes sparkled in his eyes. He was—
She came to a screeching halt between a sofa covered in green-and-blue plaid and a chair covered in brown tufted tweed. He was standing a few feet away staring at an abstract print. From the way his head was tilted, he seemed to be considering the possibility that it was upside-down. It was Donovan all right, but not a Donovan she’d ever seen before.
Her astonished eyes started at his feet and worked their way up. Size twelve feet were encased in black boots decorated with silver chains. Worn blue jeans disappeared into their tops. The jeans fit as if they’d been molded to him, outlining the muscles in his long thighs. A black leather belt cinched his waist, and a black T-shirt disappeared into the waistband. His shoulders looked enormous in a leather jacket. The jacket could only be described as “bad boy black.” If the clothes weren’t enough, he’d combed his thick hair back off his forehead. Not only combed it back—he’d greased it so that every heavy wave caught the light.
He turned, meeting her stunned eyes. Elizabeth was aware of Mrs. Tancredi standing behind her. She wondered vaguely if the other woman was depending on her for protection.
“Hi, Babe.”
Babe? “Donovan?”
His eyes held a wicked spark that caused a convulsive bump in her chest. He should have looked ridiculous. He did look ridiculous. Why did he have to look so sexy, too?
“You ready to blow this joint? I’ve got my new wheels.” He pulled out a pair of wraparound sunglasses and slid them on his nose.
“New—wheels?” she said weakly.
“Yeah? You ready? This place is like a tomb.” He looked around him, his mouth set contemptuously. Elizabeth bit her lip to hold back a giggle.
“Have you gone nuts?”
“If you don’t know this man, Elizabeth; I really think it would be best to call security.” Mrs. Tancredi’s hurried whisper brought another choked giggle out of Elizabeth.
“I know him, Mrs. Tancredi. Or at least, I think I know him. I don’t think it will be necessary to call security.”
“Hey, Babe. I don’t want to hang around this place too long. It’s not good for my image, ya know what I mean?” He hunched his shoulders inside the jacket, giving the impression that he might be allergic to the conservative tastes that surrounded him.
“I know what you mean. Let me get my purse.”
She ignored her manager’s muttered protest and hurried back to her office. Her notes were only half finished, but she didn’t give them a glance. She grabbed her purse and hurried out.
Neither Donovan nor Mrs. Tancredi had moved during the few minutes she’d been gone. Donovan still wore the sunglasses, his mouth was still molded into an expression of insolent contempt. Mrs. Tancredi was still watching him as if expecting him to whip out a switchblade at any moment and start slashing the stock. It was all Elizabeth could do to keep from laughing.
“I’m ready.”
Donovan hunched his shoulders again. “Let’s make tracks.”
He slung an arm over her shoulders and pulled her close. “All this respectability is makin’ me itch.”
Elizabeth waved to Mrs. Tancredi, pretending not to see her scandalized expression. As soon as they’d turned a corner and were out of sight, Donovan reached up to take off the sunglasses.
“Couldn’t see a thing,” he muttered.
Elizabeth collapsed against him, giggling. “You idiot. What is all this in aid of?”
He looked hurt. “Don’t you think I look tough?” He guided her wavering footsteps toward the exit. “I was hoping to impress you with my macho image.”
“Well, you certainly impressed my boss.”
“Was that your boss?”
“ Was may be the operative word. After this, she may decide I’m too wild to risk having me in the store.”
“You can always tell her that you only went with me to protect the store’s image. She looks like the type to love a little noble sacrifice.”
“Maybe. What are you doing here? I thought you were going to come by my house later tonight.”
“I couldn’t wait to show you.”
“Show me what?” But she had a sinking sensation that she knew what.
Donovan’s grin was appealingly boyish, his eyes excited as he ushered her through the door. Parked illegally at the curb was a shiny, new motorcycle. Bright red with black trim, it looked enormous, fast and dangerous.
“Isn’t it great? I just picked it up.”
“It’s very—red,” She hoped she sounded enthused enough.
“I thought I could follow you home and wait while you changed, and then maybe we could go for a ride. I bought you a helmet.” His expression was coaxing. He was well aware of her doubts about two-wheeled transportation.
She looked at him and then looked at the bike. It did look reassuringly large. Besides, Donovan was an adult. He wasn’t going to be doing crazy things on the highway. And, though she was reluctant to admit it, there was something exciting about whizzing along with the wind in your face.
Half an hour later she climbed gingerly onto the back of the motorcycle. The helmet that covered her head made her feel like an extra in a science fiction movie, and once on the bike, it seemed an amazingly long way to the ground. Donovan had clearly bought the machine with his measurements in mind, not hers.
On the road, she was grateful for the solidity of the machine between her legs and even more grateful for the hard strength of Donovan’s body in front of her. The countryside flashed by, the wind roaring in her ears. She’d expected to be nervous. She hadn’t been on a motorcycle since Donovan had sold his right after they got married. She’d underestimated her confidence in the man who controlled the machine.
“Like it?” He had to shout to be heard, and she caught just the edge of his grin as he turned his head.
It had been years since she’d seen him so excited about something that didn’t have to do with his profession. That alone made this expensive toy acceptable.
“It’s great.”
#
Late spring turned to early summer, and the weather remained bright and perfect. Elizabeth couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so happy and alive. She tried not to analyze what was happening or ask herself what the future might hold. For now, it was enough that Donovan was in her life, a large, warm presence that somehow completed something vital to her happiness.
Michael watched his parents without comment though Elizabeth caught an occasional glint of amusement in his eyes. Carol was not so tactful, and expressed her opinion anytime the subject came up. Clearly, Elizabeth and Donovan were destined to be together, and Elizabeth was a fool if she didn’t just face the fact and accept her fate. Elizabeth wasn’t quite ready to admit any such thing, but she couldn’t deny that she was happier than she’d been in a long time.