UNFORGETTABLE
Robert regretted giving Maddie the brandy…
Giggling, she raised her hand and pointed a manicured fingernail at him. “Do you know you have the same name as the famous playwright who writes those silly plays? His name is Robert Kendall, too. Why, you even look like him!” She gave her thigh a slap. “Hot damn! I’ll bet people ask for your autograph, thinking you’re him. And you sign ‘em too, don’tcha, you sly little devil?”
Robert gave a low laugh. She was just too cute to resist. Playing along with her, he drawled, “Yup. I sign every one. That’s because I really am him.”
“No!” she giggled again.
Robert shook his head and smiled. “It’s true. I am. I have no reason to lie.”
“All men lie,” she remarked dryly, her mind flashing back to that afternoon and Alex.
Robert picked up on it. “My guess is that you’ve been burned and badly. Who hasn’t? Just don’t judge me by someone else.” He rose from his seat and turned the radio on. The haunting rendition of Unforgettable enveloped the room. The soul-wrenching duet by the late Nat King Cole and his daughter had been Alex’s love song to her. Now he was gone, and the melody cut through Maddie like a knife...
Other Books by Lucille Naroian
by
Lucille Naroian
Licensed and produced by
Penumbra Publishing
www.penumbrapublishing.com
SMASHWORDS EDITION
Copyright © 2009 Lucille Naroian. All rights reserved.
EBOOK ISBN/EAN13: 978-1-935563-07-5
Also available in PRINT
PRINT ISBN/EAN13: 978-1-935563-04-4
This is a work of fiction. Events and characters described herein are imaginary and not intended to refer to specific places or living persons. The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher.
LICENSING NOTE: This ebook is licensed and sold for your personal enjoyment only. Under copyright law, you may not resell, give away, or share copies of this book. You may purchase additional copies of this book for other individuals or direct them to purchase their own copies. If you are reading this book but did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, out of respect for the author’s effort and right to earn income from the work, please contact the publisher or retailer to purchase a legal copy.
~OTHER BOOKS BY LUCILLE NAROIAN~
Talk of the Town – This saucy and humorous romance involving a mystery writer and a celebrity talk-show host is available now at Amazon and other popular online book retailers.
Dark Crescendo – A dark romantic mystery, coming soon. Read a short preview at the end of this book.
To Dr. Christine Wenberg … without your help, none of this would be possible.
by
Lucille Naroian
Had Maddie Price been paying attention to her surroundings instead of driving recklessly at night in hot pursuit of Alex Bradford, she would have seen the caution lights on the side of the road, slowed down, and avoided the accident. But at that particular moment, Maddie was oblivious to everything. Not even the rain that fell in sheets was capable of putting a halt to her seemingly impossible quest. Therefore, when her Chevy’s left front tire slammed into the crater-size pothole and blew out, Maddie was totally unprepared.
Instinctively she hit the brakes, sending the vehicle skidding across the washed-out double lane highway. For a spine-tingling minute, the car spun out of control, then stopped on the muddy shoulder of the road.
When the erratic pounding of her heart finally quieted, she turned off the ignition and gave the steering wheel a frustrated whack.
“Damn you, Alex! It’s all your fault!” she yelled, blaming him for causing another catastrophe to come her way. Truth was, she was solely to blame for this mess. Hell-bent on reaching him, she defiantly set out from Boston to Provincetown in a blustering rain storm that was rapidly sweeping up the Eastern seacoast. Fully aware that the major arteries leading south to Cape Cod were flooded, she unwisely disregarded the weatherman’s warning to keep off the roads.
Under ordinary circumstances, Maddie would have waited. But time was not on her side. It was imperative she reach Alex tonight ... before dawn ... before he boarded that plane to Paris.
Just thinking about it brought a lump to Maddie’s throat. I can’t let that happen, she told herself, her fury mounting.
With a determined hand, she twisted the key in the ignition and willed the car to move. When the battered tire thumped and sank deeper into the mud, Maddie let out a defeated sob. What was she going to do now? There wasn’t a gas station in sight, and even though she wasn’t marooned on some desolate road, at this particular stretch she couldn’t see any signs of civilization.
Slumping down into the seat, she tried to relax and come up with a viable solution. That’s when she remembered catching a glimpse, a few minutes earlier, of a large beach house on the right. Its stately elegance had somehow caught her eye, and she’d noticed, through the rivulets streaming down the side window, a faint ray of light filtering from one of its windows.
A wave of relief swept over her. Someone was nearby. Hope was not lost after all.
She tucked the tapered legs of her jeans into her brown leather boots, and decided to walk back to the house, ignoring the fact that such a trek could put her into a situation more perilous than the one she was in now. Nevertheless, it was a chance she had to take.
With her purse tucked under her arm, she reached for the door handle. Just as she touched it, a jagged streak of lightning split the sky. A violent gust of wind rocked her small car. Terror gripped her as she waited for the car to still. When it finally did, she reconsidered the danger and abandoned her attempt to seek help.
Gazing forlornly out the rain-drenched window, she considered her options. Not a soul had passed by since she’d been there, and it was doubtful that anyone would. Therefore, option one was to stay put and wait out the storm. Mulling it over, she decided that choice was out of the question. The idea of spending the night in an impotent vehicle sent shivers along her spine.
What if the storm developed into a hurricane? She’d have no chance of survival in her old Chevy. The car was too lightweight to guarantee her safety. Therefore, option two was her only choice. She’d have to change the tire herself. It didn’t matter that she’d never attempted to change a tire before. The fact was, it had to be done.
Resigned to her fate, she took a deep breath and accepted the challenge. With a not-so-steady hand, she removed the key from the ignition, tied a silk scarf around her coiled, honey blonde hair, and turned up the collar on her navy pea jacket.
Moving quickly, she reached over to the glove compartment and withdrew a dented yellow flashlight. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d used the old thing, and was certain that by now the batteries were dead. Holding her breath, she switched it on. A bright beam of light spread across the seat. She smiled. Something had finally gone right. She switched off the light, pushed open the door, and carefully stepped out.
To her horror, the water on the road reached to the top of her boots. Worse yet, the pothole had practically swallowed the useless tire completely. Emitting a groan, she squinted her eyes against the driving rain and crouched down beside the fender to inspect the damage, wondering how she was going to wedge a jack under a bumper she could barely see, and in sloppy mud where solid ground should be. Her worries went into overdrive. What if the damage went beyond the tire? What if the axle or frame was broken? If that were the case, she’d have to total the car, because the cost of repairs would far exceed what the old clunker was worth.
Suddenly, Maddie shook her head and stood upright, refusing to give in to another negative thought. It was simply tire trouble, she told herself, and nothing more. And if she was ever going to reach Alex tonight, she’d better get moving.
Pulling the jacket collar tighter around her neck, she turned and waded to the rear of the car. Just as she reached the trunk, she heard a sound. Hesitating a moment, she scanned the washed-out road, the stretch of isolated beach, then the sides and rear of the car, but saw nothing. Her imagination was playing tricks on her, she decided, as she shrugged her shoulders and slid the trunk key into the lock.
As soon as the lock clicked, she heard that sound again. Switching on the flashlight, she aimed it in the direction of the noise. What she saw turned her insides to jelly.
Coming at her with lightning speed was the largest Doberman Pinscher she had ever seen. Black as the night, it charged through the murky water, its glassy eyes and sharp pointed teeth well illuminated by the lightning.
Unable to move, Maddie heard a sob leave her throat, and her knees went weak as she realized in a moment she would become the victim of this deadly creature.
With only the thin flashlight for protection, she clutched it tightly, crossed her arms against her chest, and dug her chin deep into her jacket collar. It was all just too much! Standing beside a useless hunk of junk with that hellhound charging toward her, she vowed that if she lived through this, she would get even with Alex one way or another.
The dog, just inches away, focused its eyes intently on her. When she heard the beast’s low, throaty growl, she flung the flashlight in its path and somehow found the strength to run. It was a mistake she soon regretted. As if fired from a cannon, the dog shot up on its hind legs and pounced, pinning Maddie’s shoulders to the side of the car with its huge paws. She could actually feel the heat of its breath on her throat as it opened its jaws wider.
A wave of dizziness came over her and, for a moment, she prayed she would faint. Unable to face her fate with the attack-dog snarling at her throat, she shut her eyes tight. Her only thought now was that she didn’t want to die ... not here ... not like this.
What Maddie needed was a miracle, and it came just in time, in the form of a pickup truck that screeched to a halt beside her. Because of the howling wind, she didn’t hear the driver’s door slam, but she did hear a piercing whistle, and that’s when her eyes flew open. The animal responded immediately to the sound and mercifully slid its heavy claw-tipped paws from Maddie’s trembling shoulders. Immediately she felt a different pressure replacing the dog’s paws – a pair of strong, yet comforting hands.
Maddie lifted her gaze to meet the stranger’s shadowed face. When he spoke, his voice was gentle with seeming genuine concern. “Are you hurt?”
“N-no,” she stammered with a sigh of relief as she wiped the stream of tears and rain from her eyes. “B-but the dog. Please get him away from me!”
The stranger pulled the hood of his slicker further down to shield his face from the pounding rain. “Don’t be afraid, miss!” he shouted. “He belongs to me. I’m real sorry he frightened you.”
Immediately anger replaced her fear. “Frighten me!” she snapped. “He was ready to tear out my throat! How dare you let something like that run loose? He belongs on a leash. Better yet, in a cage!”
The man stiffened. “I never let Caesar run loose. He got away from me when I went outside to lock the gate. Hard to believe, but he’s never done this before. He must have sensed there was trouble up the road, and apparently he was right.” The man reached down and patted the dog, who now stood still beside his master. Turning, the animal jumped onto the open back of the truck.
The man took a step backwards, reached into the pocket of his slicker, and took out a long silver flashlight. Switching it on, he gave the Chevy the once over. “What’s wrong with your car?”
Maddie’s shoulders sagged, both from embarrassment and utter helplessness. “I’m afraid I wasn’t paying attention and hit something in the road!” she shouted, trying to be heard above the wind. “It ruined my tire.”
“Must have been that damn pothole!” he shouted back. “Didn’t you see the warning sign?”
“What warning sign?”
“Back there, on that pole,” he answered, pointing behind him. “There’s a sign and a set of bright yellow caution lights. Even in this rain, you couldn’t have missed them.”
She could barely make out what he was saying as he waded off to inspect the battered tire. Centering the light on the tattered wheel, he remarked, “You must have been going like a bat out of hell!”
“Never mind that!” she snapped. “The important thing is, can you fix it for me? I have a spare in the trunk.”
He turned the flashlight on her angry face. “No way, miss.”
“Please, mister,” she begged. “I just have to get to Provincetown tonight!”
The stranger switched off the light and returned it to his pocket. “The tire’s wedged too deeply in the mud. Looks like your car is going to have to sit here until the storm ends.”
“I can’t wait that long!” she shouted, blinking her eyes rapidly against the rain. “Didn’t you hear me? I’ve got to get there tonight!”
The man became impatient. “I heard you perfectly, miss, but again, I can’t help you. Not tonight, anyway.”
Maddie sighed and thought a minute. “What about a gas station? Isn’t there one around here somewhere?”
“Sure,” he yelled. “There’s one just around the bend. But it’s closed because of the storm. Sorry, but you’re just going to have to wait till tomorrow.”
She gasped. “Tomorrow’s too late!” Balling her fists in frustration, she turned quickly and began trudging towards the driver’s side of the car.
The stranger caught her by the arm. “Why is tomorrow too late?” he asked. “Is there a family emergency?”
“No, there’s no family emergency,” she replied harshly. She was not about to admit she had risked life and limb in a futile attempt to stop a man from leaving her. She turned her face away and frowned. “I’ll just stay here for the night.”
The man eyed her closely and said in disbelief, “You don’t really plan to spend the night in this wreck!”
“Yes, I do.” She felt absolutely sick inside.
“That’s crazy!” he said, his patience obviously wearing thin. “My place is about three hundred yards back down the road. You’re welcome to stay the night. It’s better than being alone out here. At least you’ll be dry ... and safe.”
And safe. It was strange the way he had tagged on that last phrase. She understood he had paused purposely for effect.
As if capable of reading her thoughts, the man gave her a reassuring smile. “Look, I can understand your apprehension. If I were a woman in this predicament, I’d be leery of going off with a stranger myself. But, it’s your choice.”
Looking up at him, Maddie replied in an equally placating tone, “Thanks. I appreciate the offer.”
He gave her a quick smile. “So, what do you say? And make it quick before we both catch pneumonia.”
No sooner had he asked the question when a streak of lightning struck a tree stump on the opposite side of the road, splitting it in two. It was all Maddie needed. “Yes!”
* * * * *
Settling herself beside the stranger in his warm truck, Maddie got a closer look at him as he pushed back the hood on his slicker and threaded long fingers through his thick, dark hair. The sight of his handsome profile etched against the intermittent flashes of lightning brought an unexpected flush to her cheeks. She pressed her icy cold palms against her face, hoping he hadn’t noticed, but he had.
Patting her gently on her arm, he said reassuringly, “Relax. Everything will turn out okay.” Maddie knew he was trying to banish her fear. But what she was feeling was anything but fear. Sitting there, so close to him, she felt the flutter of butterflies in the pit of her stomach. Swallowing hard, she managed to lie with some degree of conviction. “I’m not nervous. Just hot one minute, cold the next.”
“A shot of brandy will take care of that,” he replied as he moved his hand and started the engine.
Confused by her emotional response to his nearness and touch, Maddie sat back and tried to relax, but when she glanced at her disabled car, she became deeply depressed. Even if the storm ended by dawn as expected, and she was able to get help from one of the garages in town, it would be too late to reach Alex. Tears of despair brimmed in her eyes; she shut them tightly to hold them back. She remained lost in her melancholy until the stranger stopped the truck and turned off the engine.
Opening her eyes, she peered out the windshield and grinned, thinking it ironic that this rambling house was the one she’d thought of trying to reach earlier.
After pulling the hood back over his head, Maddie’s companion got out of the truck, then closing the door behind him, summoning his dog with a loud whistle. Fast on his master’s heels, the beast began running in circles, visibly happy to be home.
Odd, but Maddie felt the same as she followed closely behind and inspected the front exterior of the house. Flanking the crushed seashell driveway sat a low stone wall shrouded with storm-driven leaves from the belt of trees that formed a semi-circle around the house. Wide brick steps led to a white oversized paneled door. Centered between the panels was a brass plate on which the name Kendall was inscribed.
Maddie turned to him and asked, “Are you Mr. Kendall?”
“In the flesh,” he quipped. “But please, call me Robert. And you?”
“Madelyn Price,” she answered softly. “But everyone calls me Maddie.”
“Nice to meet you, Maddie. Welcome to my humble abode.”
Robert inserted the key in the lock, then thrust open the door and gestured Maddie inside. When all three had entered the narrow foyer, the dog placed himself in front of her, gave a low, throaty growl, and raised his proud head in protest to her admittance. Continuing to growl, he bared his sharp, white teeth. Instinctively Maddie jumped back and brought the heel of her boot firmly down on the toe of Robert’s boot. When he let out a painful howl, Maddie quickly jumped forward. Pivoting around, she came face to face with the tall, handsome Robert Kendall.
Although the foyer was dimly lit, they could clearly see each other’s face. For a moment, their eyes met and locked, sending a disquieting shiver racing through Maddie’s already drenched and shivering body. Finally, she came to her senses. “E-excuse me,” she stammered, blushing profusely.
“No harm done.” He smiled, gazing down at her face as he removed his rain-streaked slicker. He then held out his hand for her jacket and scarf. Caesar continued to growl in protest. This time Robert turned to the dog and commanded, “Enough!” Maddie was impressed to find that one word was all it took to quiet the animal, who turned and sauntered towards the fireplace.
Grateful to be rid of her sopping wet coverings, Maddie quickly handed them to Robert, who draped them over a ladder-back chair near the fire.
Stepping quickly to the closet in the hall, Robert opened the door and deposited his slicker inside. After closing it, he placed his hands on his hips and gazed directly into Maddie’s wide aquamarine eyes. A smile played gently on his lips. “Now for those wet clothes,” he practically whispered, savoring the way her V-neck sweater clung to her full rounded breasts with their peaks pointed straight at him.
Her skin tight jeans were molded to her slim hips and long shapely legs, causing the muscles in his jaw to tighten. God, she’s incredible, he thought, then mentally shook himself from the direction his mind was taking him.
Maddie stood there like a mannequin, unable to move under his intimate stare, but her mind was racing a mile a minute. She knew what he was thinking, and for some inexplicable reason, she welcomed the intimate gaze. It brought an immediate flush to her cheeks. Suddenly she remembered that they had forgotten her luggage in the trunk of her car.
“My suitcases!” she gasped. “How could I have forgotten them? Everything I–”
“Relax. I’ll go back and get them,” he said tightly, trying not to reveal his displeasure. Right now, the last thing in the world he wanted to do was take his eyes off her incredible body and trudge back out into the storm. But he had no choice, he told himself. After all, if he was going to play a knight-in-shining-armor, he had to take the bad with the good. Heaving a sigh, he pointed at Maddie and ordered, “Don’t move.”
Now what? she wondered, wrapping her arms around herself. She was freezing, and he had to know it. So, why wasn’t he leading her to the fireplace to warm herself? And where was he going, she wondered, as he went around the fireplace and disappeared.
He was back in seconds, holding a towel and a blue terrycloth robe, which, from the looks of its size, was definitely his, and a pair of terrycloth slippers to match.
“Here, dry off and put these on.” He pushed the items into her trembling hands. “You can put your wet things in the dryer in the mud room, which is right across from you. Those jeans will take forever to dry in front of the fire.”
Then, like a game show contestant who was trying to beat the clock or lose the prize, he flung open the closet door, grabbed his slicker, and went over to the dog. “You,” he snapped at the animal, who looked back at him with a raised eyebrow, “don’t you dare move! Understand?”
The dog raised the other brow at the command. His master rarely left the house without him. Caesar’s gaze turned to Maddie. So did Robert’s.
“Where are your keys?”
“In my purse on the chair. And thank y–”
“No problem,” he stated flatly. He opened the purse, grabbed the keys, and slammed the door behind him.
* * * * *
“Nice doggie,” Maddie said in a quivering voice, striving to remain calm as she stepped cautiously to the fire. The dog’s ominous stare followed her every move, increasing her nervousness. She didn’t trust the beast. Not for a minute.
As their eyes locked, she sucked in a deep, unsteady breath and slowly removed her boots. Her heart hammered wildly against her chest as she began to remove her sweater. Even when it dropped to the floor, the dog’s eyes never left hers. Becoming increasingly agitated, she wanted to tell the animal to stop looking at her that way.
“Now I know why they call dogs man’s best friend,” she stated, glaring back at him. “Men and dogs relate perfectly. A female is a female whether she has two legs or four.”
Still peering at him out of the corner of her eye, she removed the pins from her hair and set them on the mantle. After wiping her face dry with the towel, she pushed her hair forward, then twisted the towel around it turban style.
Praying she’d be in the robe before Robert returned, she quickly unzipped her jeans, hooked her thumbs into the waistbands of both the jeans and panties, and began inching them down her legs.
“You could at least have the decency to turn your head!” she snapped, standing totally naked before the gazing beast.
“Why should he? He has good taste, just like his master.”
“How long have you been standing there?” Maddie demanded, gasping as she fixed her unbelieving eyes squarely on him and snatched up the robe draped over the chair by the fireplace.
“Sorry I startled you,” he said. He knew he should have looked away, but he couldn’t. Unhurriedly, he let his eyes travel over her body, taking in every detail of her luscious curves.
“Sorry, my foot,” she mumbled under her breath. She might have believed him if his lips weren’t curved in a half-smile, and his dark eyes not glazed with desire. He was enjoying every minute of her embarrassment. Spinning on her heels, she quickly turned her back to him and pulled on the soft, fluffy garment.
This had to be the worst day of her life, she told herself, tying a knot in the robe’s belt. So far, it appeared tonight was turning out to be pretty good for him.
“No matter what you believe,” he said, heading for the hall closet, “I wasn’t ogling you like some pervert. I’m a normal guy who appreciates a beautiful woman. I was also enjoying your one-sided conversation with Caesar. Nevertheless, please forgive my bad manners. I didn’t think I had to knock on my own door first.”
Depositing his slicker and her luggage in the closet, he gently closed the door and came to her side. “Can we put this little episode behind us and get on with it?”
Maddie frowned. “Get on with what?”
“The brandy,” he answered. “Remember? Or did you have something else in mind?” He wiggled his eyebrows and tapped on an imaginary cigar near his mouth like Groucho Marx.
It was a bad imitation, but effective enough to change Maddie’s anger to a hearty laugh. He had a wonderful sense of humor, something Alex definitely lacked. Alex. The thought of him suddenly put an end to her smile.
“So, how do you like this room?” Robert asked proudly. “I decorated it myself.”
She gazed around at his handiwork. As wide as it was long, the room was magnificently impressive with a high, natural beamed ceiling and a definite masculine décor. Dominating its vastness was an enormous brown corduroy sofa flanked by square pinewood tables on which sat two ginger jar lamps that spread a soft golden glow on the polished hardwood floor and multicolored braided rug.
To the right of the sofa was a tan corded overstuffed chair that had seen better days. Behind it stood wide, rustic-looking bookcases crammed with books and magazines and a small statuette Maddie guessed to be an award of some sort. But, the feature that captivated her the most was the floor-to-ceiling fieldstone fireplace. Its warm, crackling flames drew her like a magnet.
Sensing her delight in the room’s hominess, Robert offered her a seat by the fire. Without hesitating, Maddie went to the sofa and curled up in a corner on the soft cushions. Glancing over at the dog, Maddie noticed the beast continued to stare at her intently, but when his master lowered his large frame into the corded chair opposite her, the animal slid his head onto his paws and went to sleep.
“Now for that brandy and some soothing music.” Turning sideways to a glass teacart beside the chair, he reached down to the bottom shelf that held a small compact stereo. With a push of a button, the room was immediately filled with what she could only describe as Music for Lovers. After adjusting the volume, Robert reached above and filled two brandy snifters with amber-colored liquid. As he handed a glass to her, their fingertips touched, sending sparks of excitement through her. She saw his eyes flicker and knew he felt it too.
Trying to feign indifference, she nevertheless felt an involuntary blush heat her cheeks. Lowering her gaze to her lap, she raised the glass to her lips and sipped slowly.
“Feeling better?” he asked after swallowing a large portion of his brandy.
Maddie nodded, “Much. Thank you, Mr. Kendall.”
“It’s Robert, remember?” he reminded her, his dark eyes never leaving her face.
Oh, yes. Sorry … Robert.” Immediately her eyes focused on his full, sensuous mouth.
Realizing where her eyes were trained, Robert playfully teased her by biting his lower lip ever so lightly. The color in her cheeks deepened. His body hardened in instant reaction to her, and he made no effort to hide it, but rather gave her a tantalizing smile.
When Maddie found herself reciprocating with a tentative smile of her own, a tiny voice in the back of her mind warned her that flirting with a total stranger was treading on dangerous ground, and if she wasn’t careful, she might find herself in a situation she might not be able to control.
For some crazy reason, she ignored her inner voice. Smiling boldly at his handsome face, she took a gulp of the rich, smooth brandy. Immediately, the liquor rushed to her head, making her feel even warmer and just a tiny bit giddy.
Giggling outright, she raised her free hand and shook a manicured fingernail at him. “Do you realize that you have the same name as the famous playwright who writes those silly plays? His name is Robert Kendall, too. Why, you even look like him!” She gave her thigh a slap. “Hot damn! I’ll bet people even ask you for your autograph, thinking you’re him. And you sign ‘em too, don’t you, you sly little devil?”
Robert gave a low laugh. She was just too cute to resist. Playing along with her, he drawled, “Yup. I sign every one. That’s because I really am him.”
“No!” She giggled again.
Robert shook his head and smiled. “Yes, I am. I could never lie to a cute little tipsy blonde named Maddie, or to anyone else, for that matter.”
“Really?’ she remarked, taking another healthy sip of brandy. “Then prove it.”
“Be glad to.” Rising from his seat, he began to regret having given her a drink in the first place. It was quite apparent she couldn’t hold her liquor very well.
Walking to the bookcase behind her, he gently picked up the statuette – his most prized possession – and set it on the coffee table in front of her. “There,” he said proudly, taking his seat again. “Do you know what that is?”
She looked at it through blurry eyes and said, “Sure I do. It’s a bowling trophy. My father had one just li–”
“I don’t think so,” Robert interrupted, shaking his head in amusement. “It’s called a Tony award. I got it three years ago for my play, The China Doll. It ran on Broadway for almost two years. You didn’t happen to catch it, did you?”
“Sorry,” she apologized, lowering her eyes to her drink. “I’ve never been to a play on Broadway. But now that you mention it, I remember reading about it in the entertainment section of the Boston Globe. The critics loved it.” She turned her head, hoping he couldn’t see how suddenly embarrassed she was, then whispered, “I apologize for doubting you and for calling your beautiful award a bowling trophy. I feel really stupid.”
Robert winced, wondering what gem was about to come out of her mouth next.
She swallowed the last of her brandy. Trying to recapture some of her dignity, she raised her chin and said, “I’m sure that you and Mrs. Kendall must be so proud.”
“There is no Mrs. Kendall. I’m a widower.” He didn’t mean to sound hard-hearted. The words just came out that way. He didn’t want to talk about his late wife and hoped Maddie would leave the subject alone. She did, but that didn’t stop him from asking about her marital status. Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his thighs and bluntly asked, “Is there a Mr. Price?”
Maddie froze. No sooner had Robert posed the question, when the haunting rendition of Unforgettable enveloped the room. The soul-wrenching duet by the late Nat King Cole and his daughter had been Alex’s love song to her. They had danced to it on their very first date, and she vividly remembered how it played softly in the background the night they had made love together for the first time. Now the melody cut through her like a knife, killing all her coy playfulness.
She sat stiff and glassy-eyed as her mind raced back to the chapel where, just hours before, she and Alex were to be married. But he had never showed up. Perplexed, she had borrowed the minister’s phone in his study and called Alex’s apartment, but all she got was a busy signal. A second call to the telephone company assured her that nothing was wrong. The phone was simply off the hook.
From his seat nearby, Robert watched, confused, as an odd look of pain crossed Maddie’s lovely face. Caesar lifted his head with a small whine, awaking from his nap in front of the fire, as if sensing something was wrong. Robert barely noticed as his dog slinked out of the room to find a more restful place to nap. Focusing on Maddie, he frowned, trying to determine what was going through her mind at that moment.
The horrendous fact that she had been conned registered so clearly in Maddie’s consciousness, it dragged a devastating sob from her throat. Completely out of control now, she lowered her face to her hands and cried bitterly.
Stunned by her sudden emotional outburst, Robert froze. But, when he realized she was fast on the verge of hysterics, he quickly rose from his seat, sat down beside her, and gathered her up into his arms. For a long while he sat there rocking her gently, offering her comfort – from what, he had no idea.
When finally there were no more tears to shed, Maddie pulled back, her embarrassment equal to her pain. “Oh God, I-I’m so sorry,” she mumbled, looking away in utter humiliation. She was so overcome with shame at having lost all self-control, she wished she could magically vanish.
Her distress moved Robert deeply. He took a handkerchief from his jeans pocket and began wiping the tears from her cheeks. Cupping her quivering chin in his palm, he turned her face back to his and said softly, “I’m sorry for upsetting you. I just came to the conclusion that there is a Mr. Price and he’s either–”
“His name isn’t Price,” she grumbled, sniffling. “It’s Bradford. Alex Bradford.”
“I don’t understand…”
“A-at first I didn’t either,” she slurred, her throat still thick from her tears. “But, now I do. We were supposed to be married this afternoon, but he never showed up. Do you know how humiliating that is?”
“Maybe he’s been in an accident,” Robert offered.
“No,” she said with a heavy sigh, fighting hard to hold back another round of tears. “Trust me. He just wanted out.”
Finding himself at a loss for words, Robert took his hand from her chin, rose from the sofa, and walked over to the cart where he poured himself another brandy. Swallowing a healthy amount, he turned to her and asked almost angrily, “Is he the reason you were out in this storm?”
“Yes,” she admitted, burrowing deeper into the cushions. “I was on my way to his apartment.”
“Why?” he asked, swallowing the last of his drink.
“To get back what’s mine. But if I don’t get there in time, he’ll be gone. It’ll all be gone.”
Robert shook his head in disbelief. “You mean to tell me you risked your life in this storm just to get back some personal belongings?” He sat beside her on the couch.
His harsh, insensitive question caught her off guard. Turning towards him, her eyes flinty with anger, she shouted, “He stole everything from me – my life savings, my mother’s jewelry ... everything! And he’s not going to get away with it! I won’t let him!”
“You’re going to have to,” he stated flatly, “because right now there is absolutely nothing you can do about it.”
No sooner were the words spoken, when Maddie jumped to her feet. “Nothing, huh?” she spat out. “Where’s your phone? I’ll find some way to get to him!”
Taking into consideration her fierce determination, Robert backed off. What was the point of trying to reason with her? Obviously her anger was out of control, and anything he had to say would fall on deaf ears. So why should he give a damn what she did? Why should he care?
Because she’s in deep pain, that’s why, he told himself. Pain he could relate to easily. Not that long ago, he had been where she was now, emotionally. And there had been no one to give him comfort ... show him compassion. And, most of all, bring him to his senses. No one ... until a young man named Andy came into his life.
On that momentous day, Robert was auditioning unknowns for the play he was writing. Just as the last actor finished up his lines, the back door to the rented studio flew open, and a high-pitched voice with a thick southern accent drawled, “Hol’ on thar, Mista Kendall! Ah’m the acta you been lookin’ fer. Ah’da gotten here soonah, but ma parol’ offissa wanted a secon’ helpin’ o’ grits!”
For the first time in a long time, Robert laughed ‘til the tears flowed. When he was finally able to stop, he took a seat in the back of the studio and listened in awe while Andy read a few lines. The character was a French waiter, and by the time he had completed the third sentence, Robert swore that the young man had just stepped off the plane from Paris.
From that day on, Andy had become Robert’s best friend. And, as best friends often sense such things, Andy realized that for some reason Robert was deeply troubled.
Not wanting to intrude on Robert’s privacy, Andy asked no questions, but waited patiently for his friend to open up to him. And Robert did – late one night in a bar in Woods Hole, after one too many drinks. When he was through, Robert asked for his friend’s advice. His companion spoke straight from the hip, without reservation or hesitation, knowing full well that his advice was not what Robert wanted to hear. In fact, Andy considered it might even put an end to their friendship. But the bottom line was that Robert needed to be brought to his senses in order to get on with his life.
Which was exactly what Maddie needed now ... a genuine friend to bring her to her senses.
With one swift motion, Robert caught her by the arm and pulled her back down beside him. “I know you’re furious with me, and you don’t want to listen, but consider this. For Alex to do what he did, what makes you think he’ll see you? Even if you do reach him tonight?”
Maddie looked him in the eyes. “Oh, he’ll see me,” she snapped, then flashed Robert a wicked smile. “I’ll see to it he does.”
Robert became incensed. “Get real, girl, and face the truth. The guy’s a con artist. He stole from you. He took what he wanted, and it wasn’t you. So now he’s gone. Let him go. Because if he has to physically hurt you to get you away from him, he just might. Then what? Is what he took worth risking your life? For your own sake, don’t take any more foolish chances. I know you’re hurting. But let him go, and be glad that he’s gone and that you’re okay.”
“I can’t, I just can’t!” she spat out. Robert could see in her fiery blue eyes a volcanic fury – a fury that was about to erupt. And when it did, it came from the very depths of her soul.
“I can’t just let him walk away Scott-free! He owes me – big time! I gave up my apartment and my job – everything – to marry him and move to Paris because I loved him and I believed him when he said he loved me, too.
“Look at me!” she bellowed, staring hard into Robert’s eyes. “I’m thirty-one years old! I’ve spent my life working to support myself and my father, who did nothing but wallow in self-pity by drinking himself into oblivion trying to drown out the pain of my mother’s death. I put my life aside for him and, when he died, I vowed I’d never work to support a man again.
“Then Alex came along and swept me off my feet. Even though he was a dirt-poor artist, I knew he was good and believed one day he’d be successful. And to prove my love, I gave him everything, and he took it – including every cent I had.
“At dawn, he’s leaving for Paris. He’s chartered a private plane that’s supposed to take us to a new life – a better life, and by God, Robert, if I have to walk to Provincetown tonight, I’ll do it. I have to. He stole ten thousand dollars and my mother’s gemstone jewelry from my travel bag earlier today when he brought me to my friend’s home to prepare for the wedding. When he didn’t show up at the chapel, I knew ... I just knew that he’d taken the money and the jewelry. And I was right. When the wedding party returned to the house, I immediately checked my travel bag and found the money and jewelry gone. Now can you understand why I’m determined to get to him?”
“Right now, I almost believe you could do it,” Robert said, watching her closely as she slumped against the back of the couch, her fury spent.
Sighing deeply, she said, “If you knew me better, you wouldn’t doubt it for a minute.”
Trying to fight the impulse to take her back into his caress, Robert lifted his arm and draped it behind her. “Then give me a chance to know you better,” he murmured huskily, his dark eyes sweeping over her small, delicate features.
Maddie sneered at him coldly. “Haven’t you heard a word I’ve said?”
“I heard every word,” he answered, nodding his head. “My question is, didn’t you hear yourself?”
Infuriated with him, she moved her mouth to speak, but he silenced her by pressing a finger gently against her lips. “You’re angry and hurt. That’s understandable. The guy’s a bastard for what he did. But, the truth is, right now you want him not because you love him, but because your ego and wallet have suffered a helluva blow. So you’ve got all the right in the world to want his head on a platter. What bothers me is that you told him ... I just know you did, that you had that kind of cash stashed away before he popped the question. Am I right?”
She nodded her head.
“Figures,” he continued. “Therefore, he also knew you’d have it with you if you were going to leave right after the wedding. Right?”
Shoving his hand away from her mouth, she snarled, “Yes. And I know where this interrogation is headed. I should’ve had the money converted to traveler’s checks, or even had a cashier’s check made out to me, and kept the jewelry in a safe-deposit box. But I didn’t. I didn’t want the hassle of exchanging checks to francs, or leaving my mother’s jewelry behind. So now I’m paying the price for not covering my butt. At the time, I didn’t think I had to. I loved the guy and trusted him. And now, for the life of me, I just can’t get it through my thick head that he didn’t love me, that … that he was marrying me just for my money. I mean, we’re not talking millions here, Robert.”
“That’s because you’re choosing to delude yourself, Maddie, and I can relate to that perfectly,” he admitted dryly, remembering how he had deluded himself into believing that his late wife’s irrational behavior was merely the result of stress. He had begged her repeatedly to seek professional help, but she wouldn’t hear of it. And in the end, unable to cope with her own mood swings and self-destructiveness any longer, she took her own life.
Although he hid it well, Robert was deeply wounded by her death. For months, he threw himself into his work, writing from dusk to dawn. Occasionally, he was obligated to attend social functions, and not wanting to be the topic of tabloid gossip by either showing up alone or with Andy, he would seek the company of actresses from his own theater group. But it never went further than that.
Not that women didn’t try to gain his affections for the night. He was constantly being pursued – even propositioned. Admittedly, there were several occasions where he almost succumbed, but at the last minute, he realized the potential danger, and backed off. Risky business, he called it. All the way around.
However, celibacy certainly didn’t help his disposition either, as Andy had so clearly pointed out one rainy afternoon during a punishing game of racquetball.
“Man, you gotta get yourself a woman, and soon!” Andy cried out in pain when Robert sliced the ball, hitting his friend hard on his shin. “Get rid of some of that tension. ‘Cause if you don’t, they’re gonna take me outa here in a wheelchair. It’s time you let go of your hurt and guilt, and found yourself a good woman. She’s out there somewhere. Trust me.”
Thinking back on that day, Robert was convinced that Andy was either a helluva fortuneteller, or his guardian angel. Either way, he was always right on the money.
Like now, for example. Here beside him was a woman whose life paralleled his. Both he and Maddie had suffered deep emotional pain. They each had the ability to love deeply and selflessly. What intrigued him more than Maddie’s beauty, more than her feistiness, was that she touched a chord somewhere deep inside him. He could feel himself being drawn to her uncontrollably.
Perhaps she was the woman Andy meant ... the woman who was destined for him. True, she was stubborn and defiant, yet she was also fragile and vulnerable. And, although she was not aware of it, she was fast becoming, in his eyes, the woman who had what it took to chip away at the wall he’d built around himself and hidden behind for too long. The realization widened his eyes and brought a smile to his lips.
Maddie eyed him strangely. “Are you alright? You look like you’ve just witnessed the second coming.”
God, if she only knew, he thought, deliberately moving his body closer to hers.
Robert’s clean male smell filled Maddie’s senses, and her breath quickened. Fighting to remain calm, she drew a deep unsteady breath and dropped her gaze to her hands. “Maybe you’re right,” she murmured, sighing heavily. “Maybe I’ve been kidding myself all along.”
“I wouldn’t steer you wrong, Maddie,” he whispered. Battling the hunger to feel her lips beneath his, he brazenly slid his mouth against her soft cheek.
His warm breath sent delicious chills through her body. She should have pushed him away, but she just couldn’t. “Don’t, Robert,” she managed to get out. “You’re confusing me.”
Ever so slowly, his lips left her flushed cheek. He looked deeply into her eyes. “You couldn’t feel confused if you were really in love with the guy,” he said huskily. “That’s the point I was trying to make.”
“That’s not fair,” she said raggedly. “Maybe I’ve totally lost my mind, but I still want him.”
“An hour ago ... maybe. Ten minutes ago ... maybe. But right now, you want me,” he rasped, crushing her near-naked body against his. “And I want you. I know it’s crazy, but from the moment we met, something magical happened between us. I feel it, and I know you do too. And if you have any doubts about it, I’m going to clear them away right now.”
Somewhere in the back of her brain, a voice screamed, Run! Get away now! But Maddie couldn’t move. Wide-eyed and breathless with anticipation, she watched as he drew back, then slowly, very slowly, lowered his head to hers. When his hot, full lips closed over the softness of her mouth, she responded with a passion she never knew she possessed. From somewhere deep inside, a raw, animal-like hunger surfaced. Fused to him in a lengthy, searing kiss, she trembled uncontrollably. When his tongue rolled around hers, she wound her hands behind his neck to pull him closer. She ached for release as his hard, vibrant body pressed against hers. His large hands moved possessively over her breasts, then downward along her waist and hips, until finally they stopped, and he squeezed her bottom.
“Good God, Maddie...” he groaned, delighted but slightly awed by her fiery response. “I knew the minute I saw you I wanted you. Tell me that you want me too.”
A low moan escaped Maddie. “Oh, yes ... Alex ... yes.”
Robert went stiff in her arms.
“Oh, God,” Maddie groaned, realizing the terrible slip she had made. “I’m so sorry, Robert.” Trying to save her dignity, she immediately changed her attitude and said hotly, “You had no right kissing me like that! You know my heart belongs to another man, and if you had any decency whatsoever, you’d–”
“Decency!” he cut in sharply, his mouth twisted in a contemptuous smirk. “Aren’t you the pot calling the kettle black!”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she demanded in a cold rage.
Robert leveled himself slightly above her and growled, “Don’t pull that innocent act on me! You wanted me to kiss you right from the start. You said so with your eyes ... with your body. And when I did, you didn’t fight me, you kissed me back. Now, for a woman who’s supposedly head over heels in love with another man, I’d hardly call your behavior decent, would you?”
He had her there, yet Maddie wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of admitting he was right. “In my heart,” she spat out defensively, “I was kissing Alex!”
“The hell you were! You were kissing me!”
“Ooooh!” She planted her palms hard against his chest. “Believe what you want ... just get away from me.”
Robert knew in his heart she didn’t mean it, regardless of the icy tone of her voice. She wanted him as much as he wanted her and, no matter what it took, he was going to get her to admit it. Instead of moving away, he raised his hand and stroked her cheek ever so softly. “Convince me it’s Alex you want right now, and not me,” he coaxed, “and I’ll never come near you again.”
There it was, the chance to say yes. He was giving her the out. All she had to do was take it.
Impatiently, Robert repeated his command. “Tell me you want him! Say it!”
“No, I can’t.” The words tore from Maddie’s heart, and she closed her eyes against the shame of her confession. That she could love one man and want another with a passion so intense was beyond her understanding. Nevertheless, it was true. Robert knew it, and it was useless now for Maddie to deny it.
Slowly she opened her eyes and met Robert’s. Without uttering a word, he covered her body with his. Once more his mouth sought hers, forcing her lips apart, his searing tongue rolling lazily over hers, driving her wild. She could feel his heart beating rapidly through the softness of her robe, and willingly she let her body mold to his in a soul-destroying kiss that seemed to go on forever, sending her senses spiraling.
When his hand slid inside the robe again to stroke the underside of her breast, she gasped at the burning ache it produced, and she wound her arms once again tightly around his neck. She knew she was inviting him to make love to her, but she couldn’t help herself. She wanted him to go on kissing her, never to stop. She wanted to feel his hard, muscular body, now fully aroused, against hers. This time she was all too aware that the man loving her now was not Alex and, crazy as it was, she didn’t care.
Keeping his lips pressed firmly on hers, Robert slid their bodies off the sofa, and with one swift motion, gathered her up in his arms. Taking long strides, he carried her up the staircase, stopping before a door that was slightly open.
With her head resting comfortably on his shoulder, Maddie waited breathlessly as they entered a semi-darkened room. Her heart skipped a beat when she heard him close the door behind them with the heel of his boot.
When he stopped by the side of the bed, he set her down on her feet. He cupped her radiant face in his hands and said huskily, “You don’t have to do this if you really don’t want to.”
“I know,” she said, breathing hard. “But I want to.”
“Then undress me,” he ordered softly.
Surprisingly, Maddie’s fingers didn’t tremble as she undid the buttons on his shirt, then returned slowly to rake through the mat of thick, dark hair on his chest. The feel of him, so manly, so virile, tortured her, making her impatient to have him. Rolling the shirt down his muscular arms, she watched it sail to the thick, carpeted floor.
Robert wasted no time untying the belt on her robe. As it fell to the floor, he reached up and removed the towel that held her hair in place. The towel went flying, and her long blonde locks tumbled to the small of her back. Pulling her closer to him, he threaded his fingers into the thick, flowing curls.
“Robert ... Robert,” she whispered, totally enthralled. Her need of him completely overtook her the moment her tender breasts made contact with his hard, furred chest.
“Give me your hands,” he commanded, his voice barely a whisper. Clasping them to his, he lowered them to the belt on his jeans. Together, their hands worked quickly and expertly to remove all that remained, and when the last boot thumped softly to the carpet, Robert eased himself onto the cool sheets, pulling Maddie’s body down onto his.
Was that thunder or the sound of her own heart pounding in her ears? She couldn’t be sure. She had never experienced the feel of another man’s naked body before except for Alex’s, and even then their lovemaking had never brought her to such wantonness. But now, with her body covering Robert’s, Maddie’s newfound passion was aroused beyond her wildest imaginings. Boldly taking the initiative, she glided her lips along his shoulder to the side of his throat, growing giddy as she slowly made her way to his mouth.
Moaning in anticipation of what was to come, Robert parted his lips, then groaned aloud when at last her mouth swooped down hard on his. He kissed her fiercely, his limbs moving seductively beneath hers. With his fingertips, he drew tiny circles along the curve of her hips, waist, and sides of her breasts. His need for her overtaking him completely, he shifted her onto her back and raised himself slightly above her. Through the filmy white curtains that covered the French doors, the flashes of lightning from the raging storm momentarily illuminated the pale beauty of the woman Robert now had to have.
Her need matching his, Maddie slid her arms around his neck, straining her body against the hard length of him.
When he couldn’t wait a moment longer, he lowered himself down, entered her, then began to move in a slow, rocking motion.
Maddie felt herself being drawn deeper and deeper into a world she’d never encountered ... a world where time stood still, and no one else existed but the two of them. Wanting him ... needing him desperately, she surrendered herself completely to him. He took her gently at first, then more fiercely as the violence of their lovemaking rose to a fevered pitch and exploded.
* * * * *
Maddie let out a deep sigh of contentment. “I never knew it could be this wonderful,” she murmured, wrapping her arms even tighter around Robert. “I feel as if I died and went to heaven.”
“That’s what all you women say,” he purred, nibbling at the fleshy part of her ear.
His words hit her like a splash of cold water, jolting her back to reality. Alex had been the only man she’d ever been with. But Robert ... how many women had shared his bed? From what he’d just said, Maddie surmised the count was high. Suddenly, terror overtook her. Robert hadn’t used any protection. Nor did the thought of protecting herself ever entered her mind.
Dear God, she groaned inwardly, feeling sick inside. What have I done? Suddenly, she didn’t care if it was any of her business. She had to ask, had to know, even if the number was staggering. “Are there many women in your life?”
Robert instinctively knew why she had asked the question, and felt she had every right to know the truth, whether she believed it or not. “If you’re asking me if I sleep around, the answer is no. You’re well aware that I was married, but when my wife died, I vowed never to become that deeply involved again. That doesn’t mean I’m odd. It was simply a choice I made and, up until tonight, I’ve stuck with it.”
Maddie made a face. “So what happened tonight that made you break your vow?”
For the first time in his life, Robert didn’t analyze a situation to death before giving an explanation. “The truth? Everything. The storm, which seemed to exaggerate my feelings of loneliness, and then you in my robe with nothing on underneath, all curled up on the couch, looking like a little lost kitten, all soft and eager to be held ... to be comforted. And suddenly, I wanted to be held, and in my own way, comforted, too. One thing led to another, and here we are.”
He stopped for a moment and blew out a frustrated sigh. “Maddie, I honestly didn’t mean for things to get out of control. But what happened has happened, and I take full responsibility. For what it’s worth, I’m not sorry it happened. On the other hand, if you’re expecting me to make some sort of commitment based–”
“I’m not expecting anything,” she cut in. She had understood him perfectly. He had let his guard down and had given in to his carnal needs.
Suddenly, Maddie wanted to end the conversation. “I’m exhausted, Robert,” she said icily. “I just want to get some sleep.”
He moved her face to his and placed a brotherly kiss on her cheek. “Good night, Maddie.” He turned on his side. With his back to her, he took only a few moments to fall into the regular breathing rhythm of sleep.
No matter how hurt she felt, Maddie was determined not to give in to the unshed tears that burned her eyes. Feeling used and unwanted again, she curled up into a ball and silently tended her emotional wounds. She was still raw from being humiliated and rejected by Alex, but at this moment, that torment seemed minute compared to the shame and disgrace she now felt. She had actually given herself to a man she didn’t know, and all it had taken was a sultry smile, a glass of brandy, and a kiss. She couldn’t believe she could be seduced so easily. She had always thought herself as a person of high morals and standards, and could never understand how things like this just happened, as Robert had stated so bluntly. But it had.
Rationalizing the situation didn’t help, either. So she had been left at the altar. She wasn’t the first. It had happened to hundreds of brides-to-be before her. Yet, she was convinced that most didn’t fall into bed a few hours later with the first handsome man who came along. But she had, and now she was paying the price – big time.
Her tortured mind refused to let her sleep, so she lay there listening to Robert’s soft, even breathing. She wished now that he hadn’t been so honest with her. It was bad enough she behaved like a common trollop, but to have Robert think she was now expecting him to make a commitment, well...
The saddest part of all was that while Robert was using her to rid himself of his loneliness, he had introduced her to a part of herself she never knew existed. She was capable of feeling passion, real passion that took her to Nirvana for the briefest moment before it climaxed in an explosion of pure rapture. Too bad she had never discovered this ultimate pleasure with Alex. With him, their lovemaking had merely been a comfortable experience, so, she hadn’t known what she was missing. Happy in her own little world, she was content with her meager share of life’s goodies and therefore never searched for or expected more.
Then suddenly, her world was turned inside out. Alex was gone, along with her apartment, her job, her money and her mother’s jewelry. Now her only possession was her beat-up old Chevy that sat marooned on the side of the road, its ultimate fate probably destined for the junk yard.
Her insides now a quivering mass of anxiety, Maddie inched her way out of bed, taking care not to wake the man beside her who was sleeping like a contented baby. Very slowly, she slipped into the robe, then tiptoed to the French doors and parted the curtains. Happy to discover the storm had ended, Maddie stared out at the vast ocean, now calm and serene. Noticing a faint light on the horizon, she wondered what time it was. Since the display on the clock on the night stand next to Robert was hidden from her view, she couldn’t tell if the light indicated the approaching dawn, or if it was nothing more than the last streaks of lightning fading away in the distance.
Drawing her gaze from the view, she looked over her shoulder at Robert. Snuggled warmly beneath the covers, he looked so peaceful and satisfied that the urge to pick up a pillow and slam him with it was almost overpowering. How dare he sleep peacefully while her conscience and heart waged a battle royal within her? She was torn with guilt and shame. The longer she looked at him, the stronger those emotions became. Maybe he looked upon their sexual encounter as nothing more than a physical release, but to her it had meant something ... he had meant something, crazy as it seemed.
How was it possible to feel such a powerful pull of emotion for a complete stranger? Unless ... at that moment, her physical and emotional needs needed tending to as well. And maybe, just maybe, she had thrown caution to the wind and used him to satisfy her sudden rush of lust.
The instant that thought crossed her brain, Maddie creased her brow. What lust? she asked herself, convinced she was losing her mind. She had never felt lust in her life, not even for Alex. True, she had wanted him enough to marry him, but lust after him? Never.
Too bad, whispered a tiny voice inside her. Too bad. Especially now that you’ve discovered just how wonderful sex can be with the right person.
But apparently Robert doesn’t want to be the right person! she almost shouted aloud. That reality sent a rush of adrenalin through her, and she shook her head to clear her mind. She would deal with those facts later. Right now, she had to get away from Robert and take her chances on reaching Alex, even if it meant ... taking Robert’s truck!
That was it! Why hadn’t she thought of that before? She would drive his pickup into Provincetown and head for the police station. There, she would explain her dilemma to the desk sergeant, and ask to be escorted to Alex’s apartment. After what Robert had said, Maddie agreed that if she went there alone and unprotected, she would be leaving herself wide open to the possibility of being assaulted, perhaps even killed. She wasn’t fool enough to believe that Alex wasn’t capable of murder. After all, he had stolen a large sum of money, along with her mother’s jewelry, and though it pained her to believe he would hurt her before giving them up, she forced herself to be realistic. He very well could.
Too angered now to consider the consequences of her truck-napping, should Robert wake and discover it missing, Maddie dropped to her knees and crawled to where Robert’s jeans lay crumpled in a tangled heap at the foot of the bed. Taking care to be especially quiet, she searched through the pockets. When her fingers circled around his key ring, she removed it quickly. Staying on her knees, she made her way to the door, slipped out of the room, and literally flew down the stairs, elated at the thought of getting her money back.
Like a thief in the night, she tiptoed across the semi-darkened living room to the mudroom where she removed her clothes from the dryer. Seconds later, she was in front of the fireplace. Behind her she heard a rhythmic clicking noise and turned, realizing it was the dog’s claws tapping against the hardwood floor as he approached. The smoldering embers cast just enough light for her to see the dog, who now stood a short distance away, watching her like a hawk. Whisking on her jacket, she grabbed her scarf and was about to open the front door when she heard Caesar give a low, dangerous growl.
Terror gripped her for a moment, but she willed it away. She couldn’t afford to panic now, not with her goal so close. Not only that, she knew she had to move with lightning speed. The dog would be on her any second, keeping her prisoner. Darting for the door, she threw it open and started out, but her escape was thwarted as the animal lunged and seized her by the heel of her boot.
“Let go!” she hissed, trying to keep her voice low. She really wanted to scream, but common sense told her that one word, and Robert would be down in a flash. “N-Nice doggie,” she stammered nervously, trying to calm the animal and herself as well. “Let go of my boot, and I’ll give you something soft and silky to play with.” She took the scarf from her pocket and sailed it at the beast. “Here ya go,” she said in a sing-song fashion, hoping against hope that he would grab it.
But Caesar ignored it and clamped his teeth firmly into the soft brown leather of her boot. Desperate to be free, Maddie thrust her boot at the animal’s throat, but he hung on, growling louder with each move she made.
“Sssshhh! You stupid dog!”
“What the hell is going on down there?”
“I hope you’re satisfied, you snitch!” she snarled at the dog. Pivoting around on one foot, Maddie grabbed the doorjamb for support.
“Going somewhere?” Robert asked, coming towards her.
Guilt heated her cheeks. She didn’t want to tell him she was about to take his truck. What if he refused to let her have it? There wasn’t time for an explanation. She had to go. Now. “I – uh – I was just going to see about my car.”
Robert ignored her flimsy excuse and instructed the dog to release her. When he came to her side, he looked out at the truck in the driveway, then glanced at her. She noticed he was hiding something behind his back. Unable to think her way out of trouble this time, she just stared at the truck, feeling miserable.
“How do you propose to do it?” Robert asked, leaning against the door jam.
Maddie looked at him puzzled. “Do what?”
His lips twisted in amusement. “Unlock your car. Or do you intend to pick it?”
“Don’t be ridiculous!” she snapped. “I’ll use my–” Her words were cut off by the realization that she had forgotten her purse, which contained her own set of keys.
“They’re in here,” he said, swinging out her leather bag from behind him.
“Don’t tell me. Killer here fetched it for you, right?” she said sarcastically.
Robert grinned. “As the song goes, that’s what friends are for.”
Furious, she grabbed for the purse, but Robert caught her wrist in mid air. “I’ll take these,” he said, removing his keys from her clenched fist.
Maddie’s heartbeat increased its already rapid pace. “I wasn’t going to steal the truck, only borrow it.”
He snorted at the confession. “Sure you were.”
“It’s the truth,” she protested. “Think what you want. I have to get to Alex. If I don’t leave now, I’ll miss him for sure.”
Surprisingly, Maddie saw a brief look of hurt cross his face as he demanded, “How the hell can you still go to him after what we just shared?”
Maddie stiffened her spine, held her head regally, and lied through her teeth. “As far as I’m concerned, we didn’t share anything but a romp between the sheets. Do yourself a favor and pretend it never happened.” She needed to cut him to the quick, to hurt him intensely the way he had hurt her with his earlier comment.
Robert was livid. Feisty was one thing, but lying was something else. He wasn’t about to pretend anything. “Oh, it happened, all right,” he hissed. “And if I took you in my arms and carried you back to my bed, it would happen again.”
“Don’t flatter yourself!” she spat out, yet she knew he was right. Deep down she didn’t want to leave him, but she couldn’t abandon her mission, not when she was so close. “Please, Robert,” she pleaded. “Time is running out. Let me take the truck. I promise to return it as soon as I can.”
He was silent for a moment, and Maddie held her breath. Was he going to offer to go with her to protect her? Or at the very least, advise her to go to the police department and have Alex arrested for skipping off with her money? By the look on his face, she could tell neither of those thoughts had crossed his mind.
“Here,” he said blandly, thrusting the keys into her hand. “Take the truck. But you’ll wish you hadn’t. This guy is not going to hand anything over to you. He doesn’t have to. You have no proof that it’s your money or your mother’s jewelry. Can’t you get that through your thick head? You’re running on a fool’s errand that could cost you your life. But I guess you have to learn the hard way. So, go ahead,” he urged. “Go get him. Just make sure I get my truck back.”
* * * * *
An hour and a half later, Maddie was back. “Here,” she said, slapping the keys into Robert’s palm as soon as he opened the door. “We were too late.”
“Who’s we?”
“Me and the police,” she grumbled. “We missed him by an hour.”
Robert closed the door behind her. “Who told you?”
She leaned against the wall, drained. “Some friend of his who’s leasing his apartment.”
Although exhausted and disappointed, she was relieved the ordeal was finally over. There would be no more plotting and scheming to reach him. He was gone and out of her life forever. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but she had no choice now but to accept it.
Robert moved closer and reached out to take her jacket.
“Don’t bother,” she protested, pulling back. “I’m not staying. I found a gas station open in the center of town. The mechanic agreed to look at my car. He should be along in a couple of minutes with a tow truck. Thanks for lending me your truck.”
Robert’s voice cracked with sadness when he whispered, “I’m sorry it didn’t work out in your favor.”
Maddie wasn’t moved by his concern. “Really? I would think you’d be gloating over the matter. I even expected an ‘I told you so.’ Look at you, all bright-eyed and bushy tailed. I would be too if I’d nodded off as soon as–”
“Forgive me for doing that,” he apologized. “I feel like a total ass. The only explanation I can give is that when we finished making love, and believe me, I didn’t want it to end, I felt so warm and contented, I just fell asleep. Besides, you said you were exhausted and wanted to turn in. The next thing I knew, Caesar was barking. I knew you were leaving me and–”
“Forget it.” She was so exhausted, her voice had no emotion. “What’s done is done.”
But Robert didn’t want to forget it. He wanted to make it up to her. The problem was, he didn’t know how. Nervously, he ran his fingers repeatedly through his hair. “Come into the living room and relax over some coffee. I’ll meet the mechanic at your car. I’m sure we’ll come to some agreement as to what’s to be done.”
“What’s to agree about?” she asked, stifling the urge to yawn. “The tire will be fixed and I’ll be on my way.”
“I warned you, it might not be that simple,” he argued, leading her into the living room. “It’s an older car, and it took quite a jolt. Now, stop arguing with me and give me your license, registration, and the name of your insurance company.”
Exasperated, Maddie slumped down onto the couch. After rummaging through her purse, she located two of the cards. “Here is my license and my proof of insurance card. The registration is in the glove compartment. Oh, yes, my keys.” She tossed them to Robert, who put them into one of his jeans pockets.
On the way to the hall closet, he went into the kitchen, poured her some coffee, then set it on the table beside her. Giving a nod to Caesar, he walked out with the dog, leaving her to enjoy her coffee in peace.
Maddie took full advantage of the solitude. After hanging her jacket in the hall closet, she pulled off her boots, then reached for the steaming black coffee. Within minutes, the combination of the fire and the coffee reacted like a sedative. Giving in to her exhaustion, she drifted off into a deep sleep.
“Who you drag in this time?” muttered a voice tinged with an oriental accent and a hint of sarcasm.
For a minute, Maddie thought she was dreaming. But when she opened her eyes, she saw a tiny, dark, middle-aged woman dressed in a bathrobe and slippers, hovering over her. Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, Maddie squinted up at the woman. “Who are you?”
“That’s Mrs. O’Malley,” Robert called out as he entered the room.
At the sound of Robert’s voice, the woman padded away from the girl and cornered Robert in the foyer. “Another actress friend?” she snarled, annoyed. “How long this one stay?”
“As long as she wants to, my friend,” he answered, hanging his coat in the closet. “Now be a good hostess and fix a fresh pot of coffee.”
Maddie could hear the woman sputter and groan as she marched off to the kitchen.
Frowning, Robert came to sit beside Maddie. She drew her legs up under herself to allow him enough room to stretch out comfortably.
“Well?” she asked, fixing her gaze on him.
“It’s not good news,” he said, avoiding her eyes. “The car did have to be towed. Not only did the tie rod snap, but the frame is seriously damaged.”
“I was afraid of that.” She sighed. “How much would it cost if it can be repaired?”
Robert gave a cat-like stretch, then turned to her and gently clasped her hands in his. “The book value is only a little over six hundred dollars. But the estimate came to a thousand, and Ben gave me a break on that figure when I told him you were a friend of mine. To be honest with you, I’d junk it and get another car. I wouldn’t put that kind of money into trying to fix it.”
“A thousand dollars? Even if the insurance company paid me the six hundred, I don’t have the extra four. What am I going to do now? I only have forty-five dollars to my name. How am I supposed to get back to Boston, find another job, and get an apartment on forty-five dollars?”
“Relax,” he coaxed, looking beyond her to Mrs. O’Malley, who was coming towards them.
Her hands expertly balanced a wooden tray equipped with a stoneware coffee pot, two mugs, and a plate of assorted cookies. When she set the tray down on the coffee table, she gave Maddie an icy stare. “This okay for lady?”
“That’ll be fine. Thank you, Mrs. O’Malley,” Maddie answered coldly. Even if she preferred something different, she didn’t feel at ease to express it.
The housekeeper quickly left them and returned to the kitchen.
Confused, Maddie turned to Robert. “Robert, that woman is obviously Chinese. How come her name is O’Malley?”
He tossed his head back and laughed. “O’Malley is her married name. I met Mei-Lin when I was in China, working with the International Arts Exchange Program. I co-wrote a play with Chinese playwright, Huang Lo Ping, that was supposed to be performed first in Bejing and then on Broadway.
“We had cast Mei-Lin in a small part as a madam. Frank O’Malley was also a cast member. It was love at first sight for both of them. They were married after a short courtship, before the play ended in Bejing. She gave up her career in China to stay in the US with Frank. Unfortunately, Frank had been suffering for years with a heart disorder. He died the night the play opened here in the States.”
Maddie frowned at the bad news.
“Mei-Lin couldn’t go back to China, and she really couldn’t pick up acting here in the United States. Although I had no reason to feel responsible for her, I did, so I offered her the job as my live-in housekeeper. That was three years ago.” He paused to take a sip of coffee. “She’s a little strange, but she grows on you.”
Maddie couldn’t resist the urge to ask, “What do you mean, strange?”
Robert gave a small sigh. “Mrs. O’Malley has her own routine. She cleans when the mood strikes her, which isn’t as often as I’d like. But when she gets going, she’s like a blur, and God help you if you get in her way. And every afternoon at two o’clock, she takes to her room, where she’s got a bottle of Old Grandad and some Tiparillos stashed away. She watches her two favorite soap operas. She’s a fanatic about them, and nothing short of a major disaster will drag her away from them, especially Love is for Always. The main character is a handsome actor who’s captured her fancy. Need I say more?”
“Please don’t.” Maddie giggled, raising her mug to her lips. They had been so engrossed in the housekeeper’s daily routine that she had failed to notice Robert was inching his way alarmingly close to her.
Although he was in need of a shower and shave, he smelled wonderful – masculine and natural, not smothered in aftershave lotion the way Alex had always been. Maddie found it very disturbing in a sexual way, and she turned her face from his so he could not detect the effect he was having on her.
Returning the subject safely back to her problem, Maddie asked anxiously, “What am I going to do now? I have no car, no money, no job, and no home. I feel as if the world is crashing down on me.”
Robert took the coffee mug from her hand and set it on the table. “I have a solution,” he said, casually draping his arm across the back of the couch. “You can stay here with me.”
“Not on your life!” she said, without so much as a second thought.
“At least hear me out before you refuse,” he replied, annoyed. “Do you know how to operate a computer?”
She frowned suspiciously “Of course. Why do you ask?”
“I need a secretary, someone to–”
“Secretary?” Her eyes widened in confusion.
“To type the play I’m working on,” he reminded, amazed that she seemed to have forgotten who he was. “That statuette on the bookcase … the one you thought was a bowling trophy? It’s called a Tony Award. I won it for one of my plays. Remember?”
She tapped her forehead. “That’s right! You did tell me you wrote plays.” When she saw the bland scowl on his face, she realized how that sounded. Glancing aside, she mumbled, “Sorry. I completely forgot you’d told me. Guess I drew a blank for a second there.”
“Well, how could you remember, as obsessed as you’ve been to get to your precious Alex.”
Her mouth dropped open at that scathing comment.
He paused with a ragged breath, knowing he had no right to berate her. But like a needle caught in a record’s groove, his mind relived their passionate night together, over and over. He could still feel the way her soft, naked body had molded to his, moving against him in a lazy roll that drove him out of his mind. And yet, she still wanted Alex.
“Robert ... Robert?” she coaxed.
Her voice brought him out of his self-torturing musings. “Yes. The Tony. I just might be in the running again if I can get this play on paper. The problem is–”
“What do you mean if you can get it on paper?” she interrupted. “How have you managed to write your other plays?”
He rolled his eyes and glanced momentarily at the ceiling. “Give me a vintage Royal typewriter any day. That’s what I have used for years – a secondhand model I bought when I first started writing. Sadly, it gave up the ghost, and I thought this would be a good time to migrate to the electronic age. I bought a computer recently, but can’t seem to get the hang of it. Now I realize I am ill-prepared for that process and really do need help. I considered getting a portable typewriter, but it just doesn’t feel the same. I’ve resorted to writing on legal pads temporarily, but the play needs to be typed, and I can’t be bothered learning how to use a computer at this late stage of the game. So you’d be doing me a favor by staying on and typing for me.”
As soon as he said it, she stiffened and narrowed her eyes. “Something tells me this favor has a string attached.”
“If you’re implying the job includes being my live-in-lover, I admit I’m highly flattered, but you’re greatly mistaken.” That was the lie to end all lies. Robert ached to have her in his arms, in his bed, again. And, somehow he knew she knew it. To disguise his fabrication, he hardened his features, withdrew his arm from the back of the couch, and got to his feet.
She looked up at him, mesmerized by his stormy dark eyes staring deeply into hers.
“For your information, Miss Price, I never mix business with pleasure. I was merely offering you a job and a place to stay, rent-free, so you could accumulate enough money to get back on your feet.”
A blush heated her cheeks as her mouth gaped open. “You would do that for me? Why?”
“Weren’t you listening when I explained how Mrs. O’Malley became my housekeeper?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “It’s called paying forward – or paying back … whichever term you think fits the situation best. Because there was a time when I was down on my luck too. But I had the good fortune to meet a famous playwright who took me under his wing. He put a roof over my head, taught me the ropes about play-writing, and even produced my first play. When I became successful, I naturally made an effort to repay him, but he wouldn’t have any of it. All he did was make me promise to pay it forward. I’ve done my best to help out others in time of need.”
He winced as he recalled Mrs. O’Malley wondering aloud if Maddie was another one of his actress friends, and how long this one would be staying. Quickly he added, “Recently I’ve helped out a few other people in the theater who’ve suffered a spell of bad luck, and have been rewarded seeing them recover. I am happy to do the same for you – in a similar platonic fashion.”
“I see,” she said, feeling a strange pang of disappointment. “So, your generosity has nothing to do with me personally. You’re just carrying out a promise made long ago.”
Her brusque comment riled him. Bending down, he grabbed her by the upper arms and pulled her to her feet. With just a breath separating them, he gazed into her liquid blue eyes as she shook with obvious alarm.
“Forget about what I just told you,” he demanded, his voice heavy with bitterness. “I need an assistant to help me finish this play. You need a job. I’m offering you one, and I’m willing to pay you handsomely for your work. Unfortunately, it’s not a nine-to-five job. Inspiration knows nothing about time clocks. That’s why I suggested you live here. Sometimes I begin my work as early as five in the morning, and if it’s going well, I often work well past midnight. So, what will it be? Yes or no?”
His offer seemed too good to be true, and Maddie was tempted to blurt out a grateful yes before he had a chance to change his mind. But she didn’t want to appear too eager, so she hesitated a moment by asking questions. “Computers can be quite confusing. What kind did you get? A Mac or a PC? Is it a laptop or desktop, and did it come with the right software? Because if–”
“I don’t know what kind it is,” he answered gruffly. “I saw it advertised on one of those home-shopping shows, and the host said a child could operate it. All I know is, it’s new, it’s expensive, and I’m confident you can handle it.” He released his grip on her arms and ended, “In fact, I’ll bet my last dollar you can do anything you put your mind to.”
“Anything?” she drawled, leaving him to interpret the double entendre any way he wished.
“Anything,” he returned, his lips forming a half-grin. He knew what she was implying and couldn’t resist putting it to her point-blank. “No matter how much we may enjoy each other’s company in the bedroom, I don’t feel comfortable making advances toward you that could be misinterpreted as a quid-pro-quo mix of business with pleasure. So, let me make one thing perfectly clear. I will never initiate a sexual interlude with you again. It won’t be easy. You’re just too lovely to resist. The next time we make love – and I have no doubt we will, Maddie – it will have to be initiated by you.”
He stood planted before her, smiling that wonderful smile of his. “I hope I won’t have to wait too long.” With that, he turned away and headed for the front door. “I’m going to clear up this mess with your car. When I get back, I’ll take your luggage up to your room. It’s the one to the left of mine. Feel free to make yourself comfortable while I’m gone.”
* * * * *
As soon as he was out the door, Maddie rushed upstairs and entered her room. To her surprise, she found Mrs. O’Malley bustling about, her arms filled with freshly laundered sheets. The woman kept her back to Maddie as she went about her work. “I done soon, missy,” the housekeeper snapped, sighing heavily as she dropped the linens on the queen-size brass bed.
“Oh, please, Mrs. O’Malley,” Maddie insisted. “I can do that.”
“Good,” the older woman replied, obviously relieved to be rid of her duty. “Roads clear now, I go to market. When I come back, I watch my shows.”
“Yes,” Maddie said, “Mr. Kendall told me a bit about your – uh – routine.”
“You no bother me when I watch my shows. You need something, you get it yourself.” She turned and waived a scrawny finger at Maddie. “And no make mess. One sloppy person in house enough.” She walked to the door and paused with her hand on the doorknob as though trying to remember another rule. “Oh,” she said finally. “You and Missah Kendall share bathroom. Door there join his room with door on other side. I make beds at nine. I no catch you in his bed, or him in yours. No monkey business. You got it?”
“I got it,” Maddie replied gruffly. Imagine the nerve of that woman, implying that she and Robert would be playing musical beds. Apparently Robert hadn’t yet informed his housekeeper that she, too, was an employee in the house and not his sleep-in guest.
Had Mrs. O’Malley given her the chance to set the record straight, Maddie would have. But the woman made a speedy exit, leaving Maddie to stare blankly at the door, wondering just exactly what she had gotten herself into.
* * * * *
Maddie was folding the coverlet on the foot of the bed when Robert gave a light tap on her door. He entered without being invited in. “I’ll leave these here,” he said, setting the suitcases down beside the triple-length bureau. He then pointed to the door on the opposite wall. “That’s the bathroom,” he declared offhandedly. “I’m afraid–”
“I know all about it,” Maddie said, cutting him off mid-sentence. “Mrs. O’Malley has already informed me that we share it. She also made it clear that we’re not to bed-hop. Really, Robert,” she said resentfully, “who’s the master of this house? You or her?”
Robert placed a placating hand on her shoulder. “Don’t let it bother you. She likes to throw her weight around. It makes her feel needed, I guess. But she’s harmless, really.”
“Harmless, my foot,” she mumbled under her breath. “I’ll bet she’s got a black belt in karate.”
Robert laughed as he stepped over to the chest-of-drawers and opened the bottom drawer. Withdrawing a fluffy white towel, he tossed it to her. “Why don’t you take a nice warm shower, then stretch out on the bed for a nap? You didn’t sleep all night, and I know you’re exhausted. I’ll check in on you in a couple of hours, and if you’d like, we can take a stroll on the beach.”
Without giving her a chance to respond favorably or not, he turned away and quietly closed the door behind him.
Maddie stood there, clutching the bath towel against her breast, feeling as if she were a character in some incredible never-ending dream. She could hardly believe the events that had taken place in such a short span of time, and she had a mega-headache pounding in her temples. Dragging her weary body into the bathroom, she hoped to find relief in a nice warm shower.
Ordinarily, she would have appreciated the bath’s pastel color coordination and elegant décor, but not today. She stripped off her clothes and turned on the faucets. She stood perfectly still and let the steamy water rain over her aching body until finally, little by little, she could feel her muscles become less tense ... her anger slowly dissipate ... and her frustrations begin to melt away. When she was through, she stepped out onto the soft yellow bath mat. Confident she wouldn’t be disturbed, she wrapped the bath towel loosely around herself and padded to the bed, falling asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
She slept a dreamless sleep, much to her surprise, and when she woke her headache was gone. She felt refreshed and energized.
Tugging the towel tighter around herself, she opened one of her suitcases and withdrew a pair of pink shorts and matching halter. The temperature in the room had risen a good twenty degrees since she’d fallen asleep, so most likely the weather outside had also warmed considerably. Feeling the need for fresh air, she dropped the outfit onto the bed and went to the French doors. She released the latch and flung the doors open.
Her room opened to a veranda, as did Robert’s. Without giving a thought to her skimpy attire, she stepped out onto the redwood porch and scanned the stretch of beach with its pearly sands and rolling waves that slapped against the shore.
“Lovely, isn’t it?” The familiar voice caught her by surprise. Embarrassed to have been caught covered only in a towel, she pulled it tighter around herself and started to return to her room.
“Don’t go,” he said, his voice a soft caress. She glanced to her right and saw Robert stretched out on a chaise, clad only in a pair of cut-off jeans. A paperback book lay open on his lap. In his hand was a half-empty bottle of beer.
“Really, Robert,” she said, blushing at his name sounding like a prayer on her lips, reverent and softly spoken. “I’m not dressed. Let me–”
“You look mighty fine to me,” he interrupted, his hot gaze wandering over her with undisguised appreciation. “Here,” he said, and he pulled another chaise close beside his. “Come sit by me.”
His eyes seemed able to penetrate through the towel, causing her to heat from head to toe. Normally, she would have ignored his invitation and retreated to her room to dress in something more appropriate, but she suddenly liked the way he was looking at her, and she took full advantage of the lustful glint in his eyes by seating herself down very slowly beside him. She ignored the way the soft, warm breeze kept sliding the towel away from her thighs, leaving them fully exposed to Robert’s view. Alex had never looked at her that way.
“I trust you had a good nap,” he said with great difficulty, his dark eyes mesmerized by her long, shapely legs that had been wound around him just hours before.
“It was more like a coma.”
“You needed the rest badly. You’ve been through quite an ordeal.”
She shifted her body ever so slightly towards him, revealing more of the rounded swell of her breasts than she’d wanted to. Making a futile attempt to cover herself, she tried to divert his attention by asking, “What happened with my car?”
Robert reached into the pocket of his cut-offs and pulled out two one hundred dollar bills. Folding the money into a perfect square, he leaned over and gently slid the bills into her cleavage. “The mechanic took it off your hands for what it was worth. It’s not much, but you’re now two hundred dollars richer than you were when you got here. Now, would you still like to go for that stroll? I managed to persuade Mrs. O’Malley to pack us a gourmet lunch.”
“I’ll bet it was more like a bribe,” she quipped, picturing Robert slipping the woman a cash bonus just to prepare and pack the food. She hadn’t had anything substantial to eat since the day before, and the thought of a mouth-watering feast topped off by a stroll along the beach appealed immensely to her. She flashed a wide smile. “Sure, I’d love it.”
“Good!” Robert got to his feet. “I’ll meet you on the beach in fifteen minutes.”
* * * * *
Maddie was there first. Dressed in her pink shorts and halter that flattered her slim figure to perfection, she wore her hair down and loose, allowing the warm ocean breeze to toss it about her shoulders and back. For the first time in a long time, she felt lighthearted and free.
Still clad in his cut-offs, Robert came towards her, laden down with an overflowing picnic basket, an old army blanket, and two towels.
“What’s all that for?” she asked, trudging along beside him.
“I used to be a boy scout,” he answered proudly. “And if memory serves me right, their motto is ‘always be prepared.’”
“Prepared for what?” she asked as they spread the blanket smoothly on the sand.
“You’ll see,” he teased, dropping down on the blanket. Suddenly, he dug his foot slightly in the sand, then brought it up quickly, sending the smooth, warm crystals flying all over her.
“You scoundrel!” she squealed, taking off after him the second he began running along the shore. He made certain not to run so fast that she couldn’t catch him. When she did catch up to him, she plunged both hands into the salt water and splashed repeatedly until he was soaked to the skin.
Laughing like children, they romped and splashed along the water’s edge until Maddie pleaded exhaustion. When they reached the blanket, Robert sank to his knees and brushed away a mound of sand. Then he turned over and stretched out comfortably beside her. The mixture of water and sand had formed lumps of mud along his legs, thighs, and shorts. Automatically, Maddie grabbed a towel and began drying him off.
The feel of his taut muscles made her hands tremble and her cheeks flame. Although he lay there unmoving, Maddie knew he was staring at her, waiting to see just how far she would go before removing the towel. She snatched it away the moment it touched the jagged edges of his shorts.
Robert pulled a face. “Don’t stop now. There’s still mud on my shorts and chest.”
She dropped the towel next to him. “Then you’ll have to finish the job yourself.”
“Chicken,” he teased, picking up the towel.
“Who are you calling a chicken?” she demanded, raising herself up on her knees.
Robert roared with laughter. “You, scaredy-cat. Who else?”
“Give me that towel! Nobody calls me a chicken!”
He tossed it to her, then sat up straight. Maddie spread the towel across both her hands, then quickly began to rub away the clumps of sandy mud, first from his back, then from his shoulders. When her hands moved down to wipe his furred chest, her heart began pounding so heavily, he could see it fluttering through the thin material of her halter.
“Maddie,” he groaned.
“Robert ... no.”
“Come here,” he murmured, grabbing her by the wrists and pulling her close, with just a hair’s breadth between them. “I know you want me, so don’t deny it. I sense it. I feel it. And you know how much I want you. But I promised you I wouldn’t make the first move.” He grabbed her wrists tighter. “Make it, Maddie. Make it.”
For the sake of her sanity, she should have pulled herself free and run from him as fast as possible. But she couldn’t move. He was right. She wanted him desperately. Every cell in her body vibrated for his touch ... ached to feel his naked flesh pressed hard against hers ... yearned to once more experience the ecstasy he had brought her the night before.
In the end, her need for him took possession, and she lowered her face to his and slowly parted her lips. Unfortunately, the moment their mouths made contact, something snapped inside Maddie, and she jerked her head back.
“Now, what’s wrong?” Robert asked in a daze.
Tears brimmed her eyes, and she slumped back down on the blanket. “Everything, Robert,” she half-sobbed. “Everything. Right now I feel as if I’m on a roller coaster speeding out of control. One minute I’m fine, and the next I’m flooded with emotions I can’t seem to get a grip on. I’m angry and confused. Angry at Alex for not only conning me, but breaking my heart and making me look like a fool, waiting for him at the altar, totally oblivious to the fact that he never intended to marry me at all. And most of all, I’m furious at myself for allowing it to happen. Deep down I always had the gnawing feeling that he never really wanted me ... never really loved me. He probably stuck around because I was the only woman on the planet who refused to see through him. Guess I learned the hard way that money talks, and BS walks, because the minute he got his hands on mine, he left skid marks.”
She stopped talking just long enough to wipe her eyes and take a deep breath. “And I’m confused because here I am, one day later, wanting you as if Alex never existed. I don’t understand how I can suddenly feel no pain ... no loss...
“Then, last night in your arms, I knew I really didn’t love him, either. I couldn’t possibly, then turn around and make love to you. Yet, I had to make one last ditch effort to get my money and my mom’s jewelry back. So, I took off on your so-called fool’s errand. What I didn’t realize at the time was that I wasn’t running back to Alex. I was running away from you. I couldn’t deal with the fact that you had used me the same way he did ... for your own purpose. The only difference was that you were straight with me. What we engaged in was nothing more than a sexual act – two lonely people needing comfort and consolation. When it was over, you made certain that I understood it would never mean anything more.”
Robert listened to her, dumbfounded. She had completely misread him. “Maddie, I didn’t mean–”
“I was devastated,” she admitted, not bothering to let him make some lame excuse for his behavior. “Utterly devastated. Not because you were being truthful, but because you made me feel worthless. So now you want me again. And I’ll admit it, I want you, too. But I can’t give myself to you just because ... because...” Her emotions were in such turmoil, she couldn’t go on.
Robert closed his eyes for a moment and digested her confession, remembering the night he had unburdened himself to Andy. He never forgot his friend’s words of wisdom. Now it was his turn to enlighten Maddie ... that is, if she’d stay put long enough to listen. Tenderly, he reached out for her hands and grasped them firmly.
“For what it’s worth, Maddie, you’re not the only one who’s loved and lost, or has been taken advantage of. Given enough time, it happens to all of us. The difference is that some of us choose to hold on to the pain instead of putting it behind us and getting on with our lives. Like fools, we deal with it by either avoiding entanglements altogether, or we build a comfort wall around ourselves. We act indifferent, aloof, and uncaring. But it’s only a façade, a means of self-preservation. Trust me. I’m an expert at building walls. I’ve been hiding for a very long time behind the ones that I’ve built.” He paused a moment and shook his head in retrospect. “What a waste.”
Maddie didn’t want to hear any more. “Are you through?”
She sounded so damn smug, Robert pulled her back into his arms. “No, I’m not through. I was making a point. Listen, and you just might learn something.
“Since my wife died, there have been several women who’ve come into my life. Decent women, worthy of being loved. But I refused to let them inside my heart and my bed because I didn’t want to take the chance of getting hurt again. That’s why I told you not to assume that because we’d made love, you shouldn’t be expecting me to make a commitment. At the time, I was protecting myself. However, I know I never told you it could never mean anything more. The truth is, honey, it means more to me than I can admit. And now, every time I look into your beautiful face, or come anywhere near you, I feel that wall crumbling brick by brick. Brick by brick,” he repeated as he lowered her down and moved his mouth softly over hers.
Like the night before, Maddie became putty in his hands, rolling above then below him as their mouths fused and their tongues merged in a searing kiss.
Mindless with wanting him, Maddie arched her back to allow him to unsnap her halter. In breathless anticipation, she waited while he pushed the top away and brought his hand back to brush lightly across her button-hard nipple. She felt no shame, no modesty, only a driving need for the touch of his lips on her breast. Rockets spiraling in her head, she fumbled with the snap on his shorts, pulling at them hard and swift as the zipper gave away. She then slid her hands along the curves of his buttocks and wiggled the shorts down until he could kick them away with his feet.
In slow motion, he rolled her on top of him, raining sweet kisses across her breasts and down the soft swell of her stomach. “Good God, Maddie,” he groaned, taking her hand and pressing it against his hardness. “You’re driving me crazy.”
“Good,” she breathed, relishing the knowledge that she was able to arouse him to this pitch. When he drew her nipple into his mouth, she pushed his hand to the elastic band on her shorts. Leveling herself no more than an inch, she held her body rigid while Robert slid the shorts over her hips, gliding them down along her legs with his knees.
A soft, gentle breeze cooled their passion just long enough for Robert to reach out and grab one end of the blanket. Tossing it over them, he rolled her over and over until they were wrapped together in a flannel cocoon. The instant he pressed his palm on her navel, she flowered under his touch, urging his fingers lower, to the sensitive vee between her legs. Fire raced through her inner thighs, and she arched against the hand that was driving her mad.
Wanting to bring her to the same level of sweet torture, Robert continued his erotic probing, and Maddie moaned aloud in a rapturous sigh when his fingers made contact with her pleasure spot.
His heartbeat hammered in cadence with hers, and he finally groaned, “Maddie, please ... please. I can’t stand it anymore!”
Neither could she, knowing the pleasure he would bring her was only a torturous moment away. Guiding him with her hand, she parted her thighs. With one swift thrust, he filled her aching void, both of them savoring the moment. He clutched her so tightly, she could scarcely breathe. Not that she cared. Moments later, under the warmth of the bright September sun, with the crashing waves a soothing backdrop to her rapturous sighs, she and Robert rose together in mutual ecstasy. Maddie smiled. Another brick had been chipped away.
* * * * *
Robert was fastening the snap on Maddie’s halter when she tilted her head back slightly to face him. For a moment, time hung suspended as the two gazed longingly at one another. Maddie felt she was drowning in the depths of Robert’s smoky dark eyes that smoldered seductively in the afterglow of their lovemaking.
“Maddie–” he started, then stopped himself. He wanted to tell her she had a gridlock on his heart, perhaps even on his soul. He wanted her to know that their lovemaking was not a carnal act he had taken lightly. Quite the contrary. He wanted to say that he was falling in love with her. But he held back. It was too soon to make such a declaration. He was also afraid she wouldn’t believe him. Instead, he suggested, “What do you say we postpone that walk? My legs feel like rubber bands.”
“So do mine.” She blushed and dragged her eyes away. It was happening, she told herself. He was beginning to fall in love with her. He had almost admitted it. Almost.
“Must be the salt air,” he said, a wry grin twisting his mouth as he leaned back on his elbows.
She laughed while tousling his wavy hair with her fingers, then sat up straight. “What do you say we eat? I’m starved.”
“Me too.” He reached across the blanket and dragged the picnic basket closer. When he flipped back the checkered cloth, he licked his lips. “Ah, bless that crazy housekeeper of mine. She fixed us her special oriental chicken wings, egg rolls, and homemade brownies.”
“What? No fortune cookies?” Maddie quipped, digging out the food and paper plates.
Robert took the plastic containers and spread them on the blanket. “Who needs fortune cookies?” he commented, giving her a sly little wink. “I happen to have an invisible crystal ball that lets me see into the future.”
Maddie let the remark pass for a minute while she placed an ample portion of the food on their plates. Then curling up in a comfortable position, she looked at him and drawled in a mystical voice, “Then tell me, O Swami, what do you see in your crystal ball?”
Just to amuse her, he decided to play along. Assuming the role of an East Indian guru, he closed his eyes, crossed his legs in a yoga position, and rocked back and forth, pretending to transcend into the spirit world. His face expressionless, he finally began to speak. “Ah, my child,” he murmured in a high-pitched monotonous chant, “as my mind’s eye gazes into the crystal ball, I see a tall, dark, exceptionally handsome man who is making mad passionate love to you. And he’s good, too!”
Maddie let out a giggle. “Do you know the man’s name?”
Robert pressed his fingers tightly over his eyes. “His name begins with an ‘R’ – an ‘R’ that stands for romance, rapture, and ... and ... writing!”
“Writing?” she squealed, biting on a chicken wing. “Writing doesn’t start with an ‘R’ – unless it does in Swami school.” She was laughing so hard, the tears were streaming down her cheeks.
“Silence!” Robert commanded. “Do not break the Swami’s concentration.” He let out a long, drawn-out sigh, pretending to be annoyed. “This man, whose name begins with an ‘R,’” he repeated, “is now working your fingers to the bone. You’re begging for mercy, but he does not hear you. He is making you work for a pittance, with no time off, no medical benefits, and no 401K plan.”
Playfully, Maddie pursed her lips and placed her hands on her hips. “I don’t think I like this man whose name begins with an ‘R.’”
“On the contrary,” he opposed, “I see you falling madly in love with him.”
Brazenly she interrupted him again. “Is he falling in love with me?”
Again, Robert wanted to turn to her, take her into his arms and say yes, but he steeled himself and answered sternly, “This is not a quiz. This is a vision. Please, let Swami continue.”
“Oh, go ahead.” She laughed, licking her fingers.
“Thank you.” He bowed. “Now, where was I? Ah, yes. Swami sees you catering to his every whim, rushing to his side when he snaps his fingers, and giving his faithful dog a bath every Saturday night.”
“Gimme a break,” she quipped. “You’re the kind of sorcerer that gives fortunetellers a bad name. You’re a fake.” Yet, a flame sparked deep inside as she recalled the part where he’d said she was falling madly in love with him. Why he wouldn’t answer her question about his feelings was another matter ... a matter she would deal with later.
* * * * *
As soon as the picnic was over, Robert’s playfulness vanished. He turned onto his stomach and adopted a pensive attitude. Bothered by this sudden change in him, Maddie moved closer, turned on her side, and asked what was going through his mind.
He answered immediately. “The play I’m working on has hit a snag. It’s possible I might have writer’s block, or maybe it’s just lack of research.”
“Maybe I can help,” she offered, watching him closely as he made small circles in the sand.
“Maybe you can. The story centers around a male detective who passes himself off as a woman and takes up residence in a rooming house for aspiring young models. Two of the girls have been murdered, and it’s his assignment to solve the case.”
Maddie couldn’t wait for him to finish. Eyes rounded wide, she exclaimed, “Robert, I don’t believe it! I was a receptionist for a private detective agency. I answered the phones, set up appointments, typed their reports, and prepared their files. And because I enjoyed it so much, I became a pretty good sleuth myself. I remember one case where I did some snooping around on my own. The agency didn’t have much pertinent information at the time. But, I had a hunch. I told the guys what I thought, and I was right on the money. Because of me, they nabbed a man who was poisoning his about-to-be-ex-wife, little by little. Seems she was heavily insured, and he wanted her dead for the cash before the divorce was granted. It had all the markings of a typical grade-B movie plot.”
Robert looked at her, stunned. “You really helped nail the guy?”
“Sure I did. Why? Does that surprise you?”
He looked at her thoughtfully, then lowered his gaze to the blanket. Maddie watched intently while he folded and refolded the frayed edges of the material. “I don’t mean to sound wishy-washy,” he replied, “but it does and it doesn’t.”
Maddie wrinkled her nose. “What kind of answer is that?”
An unreadable expression crossed Robert’s face. “It doesn’t surprise me because, as I told you before, I believe you can do anything you set your mind to. On the other hand it does. Because for a woman who just proved to be a pretty good sleuth, you were totally blind when it came to solving your own case. Talk about not seeing the forest for the trees.”
Maddie gave him a puzzled look. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about Alex. He was a con artist, and you couldn’t see it. Or more than likely, you didn’t want to see it. I’m sure he promised you the moon when he got on his feet. But times are hard now, and people are losing their jobs every day. What money they do have is being spent on necessities, not paintings. Even if he sold one periodically for a few hundred – or even thousand – dollars, there’s no way he would have been able to make enough money to support himself, which means that you must have been supporting him, just as you supported your father.”
He paused to open a can of soda. After he took a healthy gulp, he continued. “Sorry to say, but Alex was too street-smart for you. You’re a giver not a taker, and he milked you for all you were worth. For him, latching onto you was like hitting the lottery. I know it sounds cruel, because you really want to believe he loved you, but once the seed of doubt was planted in your mind, why didn’t you dump him? He certainly wasn’t going to leave on his own and forfeit all that money. So, he proposed. But once he knew where the money was, he didn’t need to go through with the wedding. Now the guy is history. Believe me, you’re better off finding out the truth about him now, rather than later.”