Part 8 (2/2)
Though he tried to s.h.i.+eld his expression, Sarah still saw the uncertainty lingering in his eyes. It touched her. She knew and understood her reasons for fear because William had certainly given her reason to be wary of handsome men. That Alex might be as uncertain of her was a surprise, but a poignant one.
She reached her mouth up to press a gentle kiss to his. ”Alex, you are the best thing that's happened to me in a very long time.”
He didn't answer her. Instead, he drew her close to him again and pressed his face into her hair. His silence didn't bother Sarah. His actions had meant more than words could ever have.
Alex woke to the sound of the shower running. Even before he opened his eyes, he knew where he was. Sarah's bed. Her scent, like fresh flowers and baby powder mingled with caramel, lingered on everything.
He stretched a little, and the sheet stuck to his leg. More caramel. Alex tossed the covers back and saw in the light of morning just what damage he'd done to her linens. The delicate flowered pattern was spotted disastrously with gooey caramel and bits of maraschino cherry.
From the doorway, Sarah gave him a stern look. ”I hope you're satisfied.” She wore the largest, most shapeless robe he'd ever seen, and an equally bulky towel completely covered her hair. She looked captivating. ”Those were my very best Laura Ashley sheets.”
He grinned, unable to help himself. ”I'll wash them.”
With a cry of mock fury, Sarah launched herself across the room at him. Thankfully, the huge expanse of terrycloth surrounding her cus.h.i.+oned her landing. She pummeled his bare chest, laughed and met his mouth for a kiss. ”You'll wash them. You'll get every last speck of caramel off those sheets, or I'll...”
”You'll what?” He pinned down her flailing hands. ”Spank me?”
Sarah laughed again, relaxing against him. ”You'd love that.”
”Maybe.”
She felt so good, lying on him the way she was. Not even, Alex noted with
small surprise, in a s.e.xual way. Not that her kiss hadn't caused him to stir, but she just felt nice when she was near him.
”Penny for your thoughts. Fifty cents to act them out.” Sarah tickled his side.
”You seem so ... comfortable.” That was it. It seemed as though they'd been lovers for years. He sensed no awkwardness from her. More surprisingly, he felt none himself.
She looked seriously at him, her blue-ice eyes seeming almost violet in the
morning light. ”I don't do things half way, Alex.”
”No, you don't.” It was something he'd guessed about her right away. ”You don't feel ... weird? Having me in your bed, I mean.”
She shook her head. The towel fell off and she didn't replace it. Her tangled
curls fell over her face, and she impatiently pushed them behind her ears.
”I don't feel awkward about having you in my bed because I invited you into it. I told you before, Alex. I slept with you because I like you. Why would I feel awkward about seeing someone I like?” She appeared to think for a moment. ”Is it awkward for you?”
He decided to be honest with her. ”I don't usually stay over.”
Her lovely brow furrowed. ”Oh.”
At once, he wanted her to see, as he did, what a good thing that was. ”I never
wanted to wake up next to any woman before. Not until you.”
She seemed pleased. ”Oh!”
”I think I'd like to do it more often.” Alex found himself saying things like that
around her. Here, in her bed, with the bright morning light streaming in, it
didn't seem like such a crazy thought.
Sarah frowned slightly, pulling away. ”Alex, it's too early in the morning to have this talk. You hardly know me.”
”I know enough. I like the way you laugh. I like that you brought me flowers. I like that we can talk for hours. Isn't that enough?”
She picked fretfully at a thread on her robe. ”It ought to be.”
”It is.”
Their conversation held such irony. In his experience, he had always said the things Sarah was saying now. He understood her reluctance because he'd been there so many times himself.
Sarah sighed. ”I have fun with you. Even though we don't have anything in common--”
”You keep saying that.” He took her hand away from her robe and captured it with his.
”Because it's true.”
Alex sighed and dropped her hand. ”We have lots in common.”
She quirked her brow at him, but granted him a smile. The grin, slight though it was, eased his mind.
”You drink coffee. I drink tea. You like westerns. I prefer horror. You like ham and cheese. I like matzo ball soup. You like running, and my idea of exercise is walking to the kitchen for a doughnut to go with my tea and my horror novel.”
”Those are small things.” Alex cupped her face in his hands and gazed into her eyes. ”We both like to laugh. We both love our families. We both have jobs we love. Aren't those more important?”
<script>