[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

What the hell had she been doing up in her room?
 Ahh, Mary?
 Hmm? She opened the refrigerator and started pulling out leftovers.  Hungry? I m
starving.
 Uh. Yeah. He pushed off the sofa and slowly made his way to the kitchen.  You
okay?
After setting the tray of turkey on the counter she looked up at him and flashed a
small grin.  I m great. You want a cold sandwich, a hot sandwich, or a re-warmed dinner
with all the fixin s?
His mind raced with confusion over her change in attitude from just an hour ago. She
hadn t spoken to him after thanking him for picking up her prescriptions. She hadn t let
him touch her, even when he tried to help her into the car.
 Hot sounds good, he finally answered, as she turned back to the fridge and pulled
out more plastic containers holding stuffing, gravy and mashed potatoes. He wondered if
she was really going to eat a full meal.
She grabbed two dinner plates from the cupboard, and a loaf of whole wheat from
the breadbox on the counter.  Was that Angel on the phone?
He set his mostly full mug of buttered rum on the counter and lowered himself to one
of the bar stools next to it.  Uh huh. We made plans to ski together tomorrow, since it s
our last day here. She s going swimming tonight. She wanted to talk to you, he added,
 but when I knocked on your door, you didn t answer.
She sliced the bread like a pro, placing two slices on one plate, a single slice on the
other. As far as he could remember, she hadn t eaten a single piece of bread since she
moved into his apartment. Salad and meat, some cooked veggies, that s all she ever ate.
 Sorry. I was in the shower, I didn t hear you. She pulled slices of turkey from the
platter and put a fair amount on each slice of bread.  I ll call her after we eat.
Should he let it go, or should he question her?
 What are you drinking? She picked up his mug and sniffed it.
 Buttered rum. Want one?
She raised an eyebrow, then took a small sip.  Mmm. That s good. Maybe just a half
a cup? She licked her lips and he felt her tongue as if she d licked his lips.
181
Leanne Karella
 Sure. His brows pulled together as he got off the stool and headed for the small bar
at the other end of the living room. She was going to drink something with alcohol and
butter in it? Did she know it had butter in it? Maybe he should warn her?
 Want stuffing and mashed potatoes? she called.
 Sure. With the bottle of rum in one hand, he headed back to the kitchen.
Her plate wasn t as full as his, but it was more food than he d ever seen her dish up
for herself. This was a good thing, he reassured himself. But again, what had happened to
her upstairs? He put the teakettle on to heat, then sat down across the counter from her.
She put his plate in the microwave first, covering it with a serving bowl to keep the
food from splattering, then turned back to him. Again with the grin. He smiled in return.
 I think I ll do some shopping tomorrow while you ski. My stomach muscles hurt a
bit, and I don t want to push it. Her lips turned down a bit at the corners.  Besides, I
don t really like chair lifts.
He chuckled at that and reached across the counter, taking her hand in his, then
pulled her around to stand between his knees.  You are afraid of heights, aren t you?
She nodded.  Terrified.
 You could have told me, you know. Maybe the enclosed quad cars would have been
better.
She shook her head and wrapped her arms around his neck, fiddled with the hairs
there, sending a pleasant shiver down his spine. Her gaze remained steady on his.
 I doubt it. I would still know we were dangling fifty feet off the ground, held on by
one little cable. I thought I could handle it. I guess I couldn t.
He brushed her slightly damp hair over her shoulder, loving how it shone in the soft
overhead lights.  I thought you said you skied when you were younger.
 The little ski hill near where I grew up only had a T bar type lift. My feet never had
to leave the ground.
A thought struck him.  Is that why you never walk near the windows in the
apartment?
She nodded, and her smile was a bit self-deprecating.
 Ah, sweetheart, he said softly, then chuckled.  I ll get thick drapes to put on all the
windows.
 I think it s something I need to learn to deal with. At least in the apartment I know
I m not going to fall to my death. She giggled and leaned against him, her cheek resting
against his shoulder.  You never can tell about a ski lift, though.
182
COURAGE TO BELIEVE
She was so warm and soft against him. Her breasts, obviously without the restraints [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]