Snodgrass, Catherine Read online

  Forget what? What had they been talking about? The grass, that's right. By the time Dani remembered, Alec had her car door open, her bag in his hand, and waited for her to get out.

  He walked close beside her; however, his attention was everywhere but on her. He studied the house, the yard, the birds, as if he couldn't quite take it all in. The screen door groaned a protest when Dani opened it, bringing Alec's gaze back to her...until they stepped across the threshold.

  * * *

  Home. Yes, this feels like a home. It was nothing Alec could pinpoint, just a sense. Comfort existed here, warmth too. Despite the mismatched pieces of second-hand furniture, the miscellaneous rugs scattered over the dark wood floor, all that mattered existed in the atmosphere around it. He ran his fingers across a walnut end table, old, solid wood, exquisite.

  Dani winced. Dust never mattered to her. You cleaned one week and just had to do it again the next. As long as the house was uncluttered, it was no big deal...until today.

  She stared at the streaks left by his fingers and wanted to crawl into the nearest hole. God help her if he tried to sit on that hideous olive sofa. The springs would probably gouge a hole in his rear end.

  Every stick of furniture in the house was second-hand, sometimes fourth. They were hand-me-downs from friends, purchases from yard sales. Free, cheap, something to get by on while she pooled her money for a trip to Europe. Now she would have given anything to have at least one nice thing in the place.

  She wandered to her answering machine to retrieve her messages.

  "I wish you wouldn't do that."

  Dani glanced over her shoulder. "Why?"

  "Because I was stupid."

  She looked at the machine. Two messages waited. "How many times were you stupid?"

  "Once, then I called back to fix it."

  Fair enough. Dani hit the delete button. His sigh of relief made her smile.

  Alec moved toward the monstrous burnt orange chair. It was big enough to hold two and so heavy it took four people to carry it-the perfect chair for those rare occasions when she was under the weather and wanted nothing more than to sit mindlessly in front of the television.

  Alec sank into the cushion, and then wiggled around. "What a great chair." His smile was big, and the light in his eyes verified his words.

  Relief sagged her shoulders. "I found it in the back room of a used furniture store. It was on its last legs. The flowered upholstery was dingy and barely holding together in spots. The owner gave it to me for twenty dollars, and then threw in a bolt of fabric to cover it. Not exactly my choice of color, but-"

  "It'll do." He wiggled around some more, testing the cushion for give. "This thing is huge. Big enough for two."

  "Just think, Miriam. Soon I'll be sitting here with our son tucked under one arm, our daughter under the other, reading story after story."

  Alec leaped from the chair and stared down at it, eyes wide. He was looking, but not seeing.

  Dani's heart thumped with anxiety. Was he hurt? Having a seizure of some...?

  "What kinds of flowers were on the upholstery?"

  "Daisies, I think. Why?"

  He just stared, unblinking, frightening her with each second that passed.

  "There was a ring," he said, "shoved deep into the cushion. A surprise."

  If this was a joke, it wasn't funny. If it wasn't a joke, it still wasn't funny. Dani slid her hand up his arm, molding her fingers to his bicep.

  "Alec, please stop."

  He blinked, shook his head slightly, and then looked down at her, deep into her. They moved in slow motion, she stretching, he bending, until their lips were a breath away from touching.

  "If I kiss you now, Dani, I can't promise I'll be able to hold back."

  "Then don't," she whispered. She curled her fingers around his neck, deep into his thick, dark hair, and pulled his head closer.

  There was nothing hesitant in his kiss this time. No teasing, no taunting. It was urgent, hungry...demanding. He mapped the contours of her mouth with the swiftness of flame, dancing against her tongue, until Dani was intoxicated from the sweetness of the building passion. Alec sealed their kiss, and Dani expected no more. She was wrong.

  He gave her barely enough time to catch her breath before searing another hot brand into her. And then another and another until she could do nothing but press against him in anticipation of the next delicious moment.

  A groan tore from his throat when her belly came into contact with the hard ridge below his navel. It pulsed between them, yet she refused to budge. Wiggling her hands to his belt buckle, Dani released the catch, snapped open the fly button, and slid her hand around the roundness of his buttocks.

  Her victory was short lived. Devastating her senses, buckling her knees, Alec nibbled at the tender flesh along her neck. Her cotton blouse rubbed the points of her nipples and added to the pleasure shooting through every part of her body.

  He pushed his hand deep into her back and made her arch until her groin wedged into his. Dani gasped and opened herself to more. Her hold on him was broken. The band of his arm held her in place, while he peeled her bare with his free hand.

  Shuddering more with each pass, Dani quivered beneath the sweep of his palm. She was sprawled across his lap. Somehow he had maneuvered them into the chair. His kisses devoured her once more while his fingers drifted in lazy circles down the inside of one thigh, up the inside of the other, barely touching what lay between.

  Shamelessly, she arched toward him and begged with her body for what he denied. He parted her folds with the tip of his finger and tested the wetness that beckoned, yet avoided the hard nub that strained for his touch.

  She whimpered beneath his lips. He answered and slipped first one, then two fingers deep into her.

  Dani tossed back a soundless cry as he pressed upward. Then his thumb hit gold. He traced a path around, across, under, until Dani thought she would die if release didn't come soon. With each flick, she twitched in his arms and prayed for relief.

  He built her slowly, always keeping her just on the edge. She was mindless to all but the pressure ready to explode beneath his hand. It was close, so close, just one more touch and...

  Alec shifted beneath her.

  "No, don't stop. Please, don't stop."

  He grabbed her by the waist and set her astride his lap. Somehow he had stripped. He was naked, hard, ready. His erection waved proud and protected between them.

  "Take me, Dani. Now. I want to be inside you." He raised her slightly, then took himself in one hand and guided it to her center.

  Dani teased at the tip, reveling in the groan she pulled from him. Then she sealed them as one.

  Alec's arms shook from the effort to maintain control. She held on, afraid the slightest movement would destroy his good intentions. Then his thumb found her once more. He teased it to the edge, quickly this time, each jolt of pleasure punctuated by his thrust.

  Using his chest as a brace, she met him fully, in awe of the tension crawling into her stomach and amazed that he could become harder than he already was. He went taut, fighting once more to hold back, but she was too close. Shoving deep into the pleasure he gave, Dani pushed them over together. Alec grabbed her waist and let go.

  Wave after wave shuddered through them. Dani had heard the phrase before, even read it and laughed. But this was real. Finally, they collapsed in each other's arms, yet stayed as one.

  Alec caught her face in his hands and kissed her. "I hope I didn't hurt you. I tried to be careful. I wanted to wait until your stitches were out, but-"

  A smirk lit her eyes. "Are you saying you regret-?"

  "Does it feel like I regret it?"

  Not when he was still deep inside her, hard as he was when they had started.

  Smiling, she shrugged a shoulder. "I don't know. Maybe you faked the orgasm."

  Alec tossed his head against the chair and laughed. "You found me out."

  "Then I guess we'll have to do it until you ge
t it right." She rose up, and then lowered herself slowly.

  Alec closed his eyes on a sigh. "God, honey, that feels..." He grabbed her waist and held her in place. "We can't. I don't have another rubber with me. Let's get your things and go back to my apartment."

  Dani's mood to tease faded. She traced designs along the muscles in his chest. "If it's all the same to you, I'd really rather stay here. I don't know how to explain it..."

  He tucked her hair behind her ear. "No need. I understand, but I want you to rest while I'm at work. No hoards of visitors."

  She lifted her little finger. "I pinkie swear."

  "Good." He gave her bottom a pat. "Make a grocery list for us. I'll stop there on my way back from my place. I cook, I clean, I take care of you this week. You," he tapped the end of her nose, "rest...only."

  Mischief dancing in her eyes, she pulled herself from his lap, slowly. "We'll see about that, won't we?"

  Dani admired his rear end as he walked toward the bathroom. Nice. Tight. Round. Perfect little indents on the side.

  "Not that door," she blurted out.

  Alec glanced over his shoulder. "You have an insane husband locked up in there?"

  "The bathroom's the next door." One thing at a time. Very few people ever saw her project room. It was in too big a mess and Dani wasn't exactly proud of it. In there were failed attempts at creativity, projects started yet never finished or fulfilled. She just could never find that one thing she was looking for.

  By the time Alec left the bathroom, Dani had the grocery list ready. Somehow she suspected his idea of cooking was whatever fast food place delivered. Still, she was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

  He took her extra house key, kissed her at the door, and waved as he pulled out of the driveway. Normal, everyday, as if they had been together forever. Yet, she couldn't shake the fear that she wouldn't see him again. Tears flooded her eyes without warning. Dani blinked them away and laughed at herself.

  * * *

  The house was quiet by the time Alec returned. He cursed the squeaking screen door when he tried to sneak in. Luckily, Dani slept through it. He peeked in her bedroom and found her plopped on top of the bed, still in her robe. She hadn't even bothered to turn down the covers.

  She was exhausted. She had to be. He never should have made love to her until she was completely healed. It was that blasted chair. If he didn't know better, Alec would swear the thing was possessed.

  Not that it wasn't worth it. Making love to Dani was supreme. She was everything he expected and more. If he had his way, he'd spend all day in bed with her. In fact, just watching her there, asleep, her robe slightly parted-it was all he could do to keep from going in there and slamming himself into her.

  Alec raked his fingers through his hair. He hadn't been this randy since college. He closed her door and walked back to the kitchen, skirting the haunted chair as he did so. Dani wasn't an object for his lust, and he was going to make damn sure she knew that. He didn't have a clue where this was going, but one thing was certain-it was going to last a while. The last thing they needed was to get off to a rocky start.

  He put away the groceries-probably in the wrong place, but she could fix that later- then returned to the living room. Dani had dusted in his absence. A woman like Dani could only be restricted so far.

  He fiddled with the idea of turning on the basketball game, but didn't want to risk waking her. The books he brought didn't hold much interest. His gaze wandered to the chair.

  A ring shoved down into it. The image nagged at him. Removing the cushion, Alec pushed his hand down the sides. Nothing. Yet he could see the action as clearly as if he had done it himself.

  He felt the cushion. Foam rubber. Probably replaced when Dani re-covered it. He shoved it back in place and sat down, daring the chair to mess with his head. Again...nothing. And he would be damned if he was going to sit there and let something happen. There were dozens of things to do around the house-lots to keep occupied until Dani woke and it was time for dinner.

  He started with the screen door, tightening and oiling until it was silent. Then he attacked the lawn and worked as far from her bedroom window as possible. Still, the chair and the ring stuck with him.

  It was set in white gold, emerald cut, a full carat. The box was square, dusty rose with a gray interior. And it was in that chair, he knew it, and he was going to find it if he had to slice the thing to ribbons to get to it.

  He looked up and saw Dani walking toward him-a glass of ice water in her hand. She was dressed in yellow leggings and an oversized yellow and white striped T-shirt. She looked rested, happy, and irresistible.

  Alec cut the engine to idle. Taking the glass in one hand, he caught her around the waist with the other and kissed her. When he drew back, her gold-brown eyes were glowing.

  "I'm almost through here, then I'll be in to start dinner." He downed the water in one gulp, then handed back the glass.

  She smiled sweetly. "Dinner's started and nearly ready."

  He shook a finger in her face. "I told you..."

  Dani pressed a kiss to his lips, shutting off further argument. "I'll let you wash the dishes."

  It was the most he could hope for, and Alec had to admit that it was probably a good thing Dani cooked.

  * * *

  The scent of garlic bread reached him the instant he walked in the door. Dani had spread the food on the coffee table in the living room. It looked like a picnic: salad tossed with creamy Italian dressing, cherry tomatoes, black olives, and red onions; chicken something with zucchini and carrots topped with cheddar cheese; and tall glasses of ice tea.

  "I like to watch TV while I eat. I hope you don't mind," Dani said.

  "If you tell me you're going to watch the basketball game, I'll know it's love."

  Dani's eyes brightened with her laughter. "Sorry, but I'll make a concession for you." She tossed him the remote, and was a good sport about it too.

  Dani sat by his side while Alec made a pig of himself and zoned in on the game. She endured his sideline coaching, listened when he griped about a play, and even had the sense not to ask how the game was played. It might not be love, but it was really close.

  It wasn't until the horn sounded at the end of the last quarter that the chair intruded again. True to her word, Dani sat back and let Alec clean up. As he straightened with a pile of dishes, it hit him.

  "I know where it is."

  "Where what is?"

  The plates clattered in his haste to shove them in the sink. Before the chair once more, Alec tossed the cushion aside and pushed his hand into the back of the seat.

  Deep. As deep as it could go. Then turn the palm over.

  He fumbled around for a few minutes. It would be dead center, the length of his arm. His fingers brushed against something soft, something not part of the stuffing. He closed his hand around it-square, velvet, and stuck.

  "I think I found it."

  Dani crawled closer. "Found what?"

  Alec gave it a tug. The box came free, but he couldn't get his hand out while he held it. "It's a small box, but I'm stuck. I don't suppose you'd let me cut your chair open."

  "Absolutely not."

  "I didn't think so." He squirmed his hand until the box was at the opening, and then wiggled it through. It bounced to the center of the seat.

  Dani peered over the arm of the chair, but said nothing. It was just as well. Alec couldn't have replied. His hands were shaking as he reached to open it. The lid was tight, the hinge long since rusted. Inside, nestled securely as the day it was placed there, was an emerald-cut diamond set in white gold.

  "How did you know?"

  At least she didn't accuse him of putting it there. "I don't know."

  "What should we do?"

  "I don't know that either. Here." He set the box on the table. "It's your chair. It's your ring."

  Dani stared at the winking diamond. It was beautiful, but the whole thing was a little too spooky for her. The loo
k on Alec's face when he searched for it still unnerved her. He was...well...obsessed. Like a dog digging for a rabbit. Renee would have a field day with this when and if she found out about it. Dani was inclined to keep it from her.

  She listened to Alec clean up the dinner dishes, heard him say afterward he was going to take a shower. When the water started to run, Dani picked up the box.

  It had to be an engagement ring. But who had worn it, and why was it hidden it that chair? The furniture store had gone out of business years ago. She didn't know the owner's name. Even he couldn't remember where the chair had come from. He referred to it as "that piece of junk."

  Dani smiled and slipped the ring on her right hand. The ring was probably worth more than all the furniture in his store. It was clearly worth her long-wanted trip to Europe or a down payment on a new car. And yet, it seemed a sacrilege to sell it.

  She held her hand up and let the light sparkle off the diamond. No, she couldn't sell it. But maybe, one day, she would find out who it belonged to and return it to her.

  "It looks beautiful on your hand," Alec said from behind her.

  The fresh scent of soap, water, and shampoo drifted to her. She could feel the warmth lingering on his skin.

  "I've never seen a woman with more beautiful fingers. Long, slender." He captured them in his and kissed the tips of each. "I'm ready for bed. Are you?"

  She nodded. Alec pulled Dani to her feet, and led her by the hand to her bedroom and clicked off lights along the way. He wore only a towel. Already it was tented. Here it was their second time together and the urgency was just as great as the first time.

  He built her up slowly, deliciously, to the very edge. When she could endure no more, Alec pulled her atop him and joined them. Dani watched the play of ecstasy on his face and reveled in the power she possessed to pull these reactions from him, the power he had to make her soar. He brought new meaning to the word orgasm.

  They lay together in the after-glow, spent and exhausted, until sleep overcame them.

  * * *

  Dani woke to the annoying blare of the alarm and the warmth of his arms.

  Alec dropped a kiss to her forehead and tucked her under the covers. "Sleep. I'll see you after work."