Diana Palmer Rawh

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along. Maybe you were right about my attitude toward money. So why don't you stay and reform me?"
"I can't imagine anyone brave enough to try, she said. She lifted her face. "And besides all that, how
dare you cost me my job!"
"You can't work in a garage full of men anymore,” he said blandly. "Remember your horrible
nightmares about the assault?" he added. "Men make you nervous. Lillian said so."
"Those men wouldn't make anyone nervous. All they did was work on cars and go home to their
wives,” she informed him. “Not one of them was single.”
"How sad for you. What wonderful luck that Lillian found me dying and sent for you." He grinned. "It
isn't every girl who gets handed a single, handsome, rich bachelor on a platter."
"I am not a gold digger," she shot at him.
"Oh, hell, I know that," he said after a minute, studying her through narrowed eyes. "But I had to have
some kind of defense, didn't I? You're a potent little package, honey. A fish on the hook does fight to
the bitter end."
His words didn't make much sense to her, but Mari was a little dazed by everything that had
happened. She just stared at him, puzzled.
"Never mind," he said, taking her hand. "Let's go back. I've got a few odds and ends to take care of
before lunch. Do you like to ride?"
"I think so," she admitted.
"You can have your own horse next time," he promised. "But for now I think we'll walk back. I'm just
about out of self-control, if you want the truth. I can't handle you at a close proximity right now."
That was embarrassing and flattering, and she hid a smile. But he saw it and gathered her close to his
side, leading the horse by the reins with one hand and holding her with the other. The conversation on
the way back was general, but the feel of Ward's strong arm had Mari enthralled every step of the
way.
He went off to make some business calls. Lillian took one look at Mari' s face and began humming
love songs.
Mari, meanwhile, went up to her room to freshen up and took time to borrow one of the outside lines
to call Atlanta.
Her boss at the garage was delighted to hear from her and immediately burst into praise of her
unselfishness to help that "poor dying man in Texas." How fortunate, he added brightly, that a young
woman about Mari's age had just applied for a job the morning poor Mr. Jessup had called him.
Everything had worked out just fine, hadn't it, and how did she like Texas?
She mumbled something about the weather being great for that time of year, thanked him and hung up.
Poor Mr.
Jessup, indeed!
Ward had to go out on business later in the day, and he wasn't back by supper time. Lillian and Mari
ate alone, and after Mari had finished helping in the kitchen, she kissed her aunt good night and went
upstairs. She was tom between disappointment and relief that Ward hadn't been home since that
feverish interlude. It had been so sweet that she'd wanted it again and that could be dangerous. Each
time it got harder to stop. Today she hadn't been able to do anything except follow where he led, and
it was like some heady alcoholic beverage she just couldn't get enough of him. She didn't really know
what to do anymore. Her life seemed to be tangled up in complications.
She laid out a soft pink gown on the bed-a warm but revealing one with a low neckline and fingered it
lovingly. It had been an impulse purchase, something to cheer her up on a depressing Saturday when
she had been alone. It was made of flannelette, but it was lacy and expensive, and she loved the way
it felt and clung to the slender lines of her body.
She ran a bath in the big Jacuzzi and turned on the jets after filling the tub with fragrant soap that was
provided, along with anything else a feminine guest might need, in the pretty blue-tiled bathroom. To
Mari, who lived in a small efficiency apartment in Atlanta, it was really plush. She frowned as she
stripped off her clothing and climbed into the smooth tub with its relaxing jets surging around her. The
apartment rent was due in a week or so and she hadn’t paid it yet. She’d have to send a check. She
also wished that she’d brought more clothes with her. She hadn’t counted on being here for life, but it
looked as if Ward wasn’t in any hurry to let her go.
Too, there was Lillian, who was behaving herself only as long as her niece was around to make her.
If Mari left, what would happen to the older woman? With Ward away on business so often, it was
dangerous for Lillian to be left alone now. Perhaps Ward had considered that, and it was why he
wanted Mari to stay. The real reason, anyway.
He didn’t seem to be dying of love for her, although his desire was apparent. He wanted her.
With all the turbulent thoughts and the humming sound of the Jacuzzi, she didn’t hear the door to her
room open or hear it close again. She didn’t hear the soft footfalls on the carpet, or the soft sound that
came from a particularly male voice as Ward saw her sitting up in the tub with her pretty pink breast
bare and glistening with soap and water.
She happened to glance up then and saw him. She couldn’t move. His green eyes were steady and
loving on the soft curves of her body, and with horror she felt the tips of her breasts harden under his
intent scrutiny.
He shook his head when she started to lift her hands to them. “No,” he said gently, moving toward
her. “No, don’t cover them, Mari.”
She could hardly get her breath. Although she'd never let anyone see her like this in all her life, she
couldn't stop him. Mari couldn't seem to move at all. He towered over her, still and somber, and as
she watched, he began to roll lip the sleeves of the whit· shirt that was open halfway down his chest.
He'd long ago shed his jacket and tie, although he was still wearing dress boots and suit trousers. He [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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