Part 26 (1/2)

She laughed, tilting her head back. ”Really?”

”Not like that.” Amused, and flattered, he nipped her lower lip. ”Not quite yet, anyway. I was thinking more along the lines of going down and fixing you lunch while you lazed around in bed and waited for me.

And then making love with you again. And again.”

”Well-” It was tempting, but she recalled too well what one of his meals did to a kitchen. And she had too many jars and bottles around that he might use incorrectly. ”Why don't we do it this way-you wait for me while I fix lunch?”

”It's your birthday.”

”Exactly.” She kissed him before she slid out of bed. ”Which is why I get to do everything my own way. I won't be long.”

It was a pretty stupid man who wouldn't take a deal like that, Boone decided as he leaned back with his arms crossed under his head. He listened to her running water in the adjoining bath, then settled down to imagine what it would be like to spend the afternoon in bed.

Ana belted her robe as she walked downstairs. Love, she thought, did marvelous things for the spirit. Better, far better, than any potion she could brew or conjure. Perhaps in time, perhaps with enough of that love, she could give him the rest.

Boone wasn't Robert, and she was ashamed to have compared them, even for a moment. But the risk was so great, and the day so marvelous.

Humming to herself, she busied herself in the kitchen. Sandwiches would be best, she decided. Not terribly elegant, but practical for eating in bed. Sandwiches, and some of her father's special wine. She all but floated to the refrigerator, which was crowded now with Jessie's artwork.

”Not even dressed yet,” Morgana said through the back screen. ”I suspected as much.”

With a boneless turkey breast in her hand, Ana turned. Not only was Morgana at her kitchen door, but crowded around her was Nash, Sebastian and Mel, too.

”Oh.” She felt the flush blooming even as she set the lunch meat aside.

”I didn't hear you drive up.”

”Obviously too self-involved, with your birthday and all,” Sebastian commented.

They piled in, bringing hugs and kisses and pus.h.i.+ng ribboned boxes into her hands. Nash was already opening a bottle of champagne. ”Find some gla.s.ses, Mel. Let's get this party started.” He winked at his wife as she collapsed in a chair. ”Apple juice for you, babe.”

”I'm too fat to argue.” She adjusted her weight-or tried to. ”So, did you hear from Ireland?”

”Yes, a chest this morning. It's gorgeous. Gla.s.ses in the next cupboard,”

she told Mel. ”Gifts inside. I talked to them-” Right before she'd gone upstairs to make love with Boone. Another flush heated her cheeks. ”I, ah, I really need to-” Mel shoved a gla.s.s into her hand with champagne br.i.m.m.i.n.g up to the lip.

”Have the first gla.s.s,” Sebastian finished for her. He c.o.c.ked his head to the side. ”Anastasia, my love, you look quite radiant. Turning twenty- seven certainly appears to agree with you.”

”Keep out of my head,” she muttered, and took a sip to give herself a moment to figure out how to explain. ”I can't thank you all enough for coming by this way. If you'd just excuse me a minute.”

”No need to get dressed for us.” Nash poured the rest of the gla.s.ses.

”Sebastian's right. You look fabulous.”

”Yes, but I really need to-”

”Ana, I have a better idea.” The sound of Boone's voice from just down the hall had everyone lapsing into silence. ”Why don't we-” s.h.i.+rtless, barefoot and rumpled, he walked into the room, then stopped dead.

”Whoops,” Mel said, and grinned into her gla.s.s.

”Succinctly put.” Her husband studied Boone through narrowed eyes.