Part 9 (1/2)
The woman was completely, utterly feminine. Every inch of her was soft and perfectly defined. And so close to being his, he could almost taste her.
Peaches.
”You know,” she said, interrupting his lazy, hungry musings, ”I can't help thinking about how different things might have been if the program hadn't been messed up.”
Oh, she had no idea. ”Me, too.”
”I was genuinely attracted to your picture. But your real real bio might have made me try harder for one of the earlier guys-the nice guy, hero types.” bio might have made me try harder for one of the earlier guys-the nice guy, hero types.”
”You saying I'm not a nice guy?” When she gasped in embarra.s.sment, he chuckled, letting her know he wasn't serious. ”Kidding. I know what you meant.”
She gave him a little glare, reminding him of how she responded to teasing. Then she continued. ”I mean, an all-American rescue worker would probably have scored points with my family. I don't think I would have read about an international traveling businessman who loved women and considered him a suitable match for a freckle-nosed day care center operator from Green Springs, Illinois.”
He said nothing for a second, knowing she hadn't been fis.h.i.+ng for compliments. She was just open and honest...the only way the woman appeared to know how to be.
He could be no less.
”And what a loss that would have been,” he murmured, meaning it with every fiber of his being.
She licked her lips, falling silent, as if she was replaying his words. Hearing, too, the ones he didn't say.
That he was glad they'd met, glad she'd chosen him. And very anxious to see what came next.
All the same thoughts echoing in his own head. None spoken, but there just the same.
”I'm glad we met, Sean,” she finally whispered.
”So am I.” He reached across the table and brushed her fingers with his, lacing them together atop the crisp white tablecloth. ”Whoever messed up that program might have done me a terrific favor.”
”I think they did me a favor, too.” She kept her right hand where it was, touching his, but lifted her winegla.s.s with her left. Raising it in salute, she added, ”Here's to the person who screwed up.”
Sean didn't hesitate to join in her toast. ”May he be in heaven a half-hour before the devil knows he's dead.”
BY THREE O'CLOCK Friday afternoon, Sean knew there was no way he was going to be able to wait until the next morning to see Annie again. Maybe if they were going to head off to a romantic hotel for their weekend holiday, he'd be able to stand it. But the thought that they'd be surrounded by her nosy, overprotective family for two days, without a moment alone, made the prospect of a getaway a whole lot less appealing. Friday afternoon, Sean knew there was no way he was going to be able to wait until the next morning to see Annie again. Maybe if they were going to head off to a romantic hotel for their weekend holiday, he'd be able to stand it. But the thought that they'd be surrounded by her nosy, overprotective family for two days, without a moment alone, made the prospect of a getaway a whole lot less appealing.
Considering how much he'd enjoyed her company last night, he just wanted to spend more time with her. Hearing her laugh, watching her eyes light up when she smiled. Seeing the amazement on her face when she tried something new-like the limo ride or the caviar he'd persuaded her to sample. Their relaxed, low-key after-dinner walk along the water to see the stars had ended one of the most pleasant evenings he'd ever enjoyed in this city.
His impatience had everything to do with how much he'd enjoyed being with her...and nothing to do with him dying for that third date-and its conclusion.
Well, almost almost nothing. nothing.
Yes, he enjoyed spending time with her. But he had to admit, after having her in his arms-tasting her, caressing her before they'd left for dinner, then gently kissing her again when he'd escorted her to her door late last night-he was dying dying to make love to the woman. to make love to the woman.
And he would.
He'd have her, get the wanting out of his system and move on. He had places to go, jobs to complete, and staying in Chicago after this weekend was out of the question.
So, why did the thought of leaving her so soon suddenly made his fists clench? But the fact that it did merely reiterated his need to get going, to move on, stick to his mantra that it wasn't good to stay in one place for too long. Nor to form connections that would last more than a few weeks at most.
”Time to go, mate,” he muttered. After After he'd had her. he'd had her.
That certainty made the desperation to see her even more frustrating. He didn't want to waste the little bit of time they had left by twiddling his thumbs in his hotel room all evening. And another solitary j.a.c.k.-.o.f.f. session in the shower would do absolutely nothing to cure him of his insane need for the s.e.xy blonde.
Though, honestly, given the way he could still see her sprawled on her back on the couch-her bare b.r.e.a.s.t.s jutting toward him in welcome, her entire body s.h.i.+vering with need-he was going to have to do something something.
So see her.
Easier said than done, since she was working tonight. He had had to wait. to wait.
”h.e.l.l,” he muttered. He was no good at waiting.
Giving up any pretense that he was going going to wait, he started calling Annie's cell number, which he'd programmed into his. He had a good excuse. After their conversation at dinner last night, he'd begun thinking about the ordeal ahead. Her comment about how much easier things would be if he'd truly been some kind of blue-collar rescue worker had put him on edge, made him wonder about this charade they were going to try to pull on her family. to wait, he started calling Annie's cell number, which he'd programmed into his. He had a good excuse. After their conversation at dinner last night, he'd begun thinking about the ordeal ahead. Her comment about how much easier things would be if he'd truly been some kind of blue-collar rescue worker had put him on edge, made him wonder about this charade they were going to try to pull on her family.
It had sounded so simple at first. Now, though, the whole thing seemed more daunting. Maybe because he knew Annie enough to know how much this meant to her. And because he already liked her enough to feel the pressure of wanting it to go well.
Whatever the reason, he didn't want to screw this up. Meaning they should should work on their story. If they'd been dating for two months, he'd at least know the woman's middle name and the way she took her coffee. work on their story. If they'd been dating for two months, he'd at least know the woman's middle name and the way she took her coffee.
In any normal situation, after two months, he'd d.a.m.n sure know her favorite s.e.xual positions and her most erogenous zones, too. But that might be pus.h.i.+ng it for a simple weekend with the folks.
The phone rang and rang, but Annie didn't answer. Remembering that she said she rarely did while at work, he waited until six, figuring she'd turn the phone on then, even if she was working late. But still nothing.
Finally, at eight, when she still hadn't responded, Sean began to worry. She had joked about being surrounded by babies tonight, but he hadn't taken her seriously. Day care centers didn't stay open late at night. He'd figured she just had meetings or paperwork to take care of. So there was no reason for her to remain unreachable.
Annie's comment about her family expecting her to turn up violated or murdered had been ringing a little too loudly in his ears for comfort.
He'd lost her card, but remembered the name of the center, and the area where it was located, if not the actual address. So he could could have tried information for her work number. But some impulse-half worry, half impatience to see her-drove him from the hotel. Hailing a cab, he had it take him to Lincoln Park. have tried information for her work number. But some impulse-half worry, half impatience to see her-drove him from the hotel. Hailing a cab, he had it take him to Lincoln Park.
Fortunately, they only had to drive about twenty blocks before he saw the brightly colored Baby Daze sign in front of a small, well-kept brick building.
”There,” he said, pointing the place out to the driver. Parked outside the front door was a green minivan.
Good Lord, no wonder she'd liked the limo.
Waving the driver on, Sean walked to the front door, cupped his hands around his face and peeked inside. What he saw relieved him-since Annie sat there, safe and sound. But it also terrified him.
Because she was not alone. She sat on a child-size chair, in the middle of a mob of chattery, cookie-clutching, milk-mustached kids.
Every one of whom began to scream when they saw him watching them through the gla.s.s-plated door.
ON TWO F FRIDAY NIGHTS a month, Baby Daze held a ”Mom And Dad's Dinner Out” event. Three members of the staff would work late, keeping no more than twelve children-age three and up-until nine o'clock. The event had proved so popular, they now had a waiting list stretching into next fall. a month, Baby Daze held a ”Mom And Dad's Dinner Out” event. Three members of the staff would work late, keeping no more than twelve children-age three and up-until nine o'clock. The event had proved so popular, they now had a waiting list stretching into next fall.
It was one of the little services that had helped make Baby Daze such an early and decisive success. Things were going so well that Annie suspected she might be able to replenish that emergency savings account within a few months, rather than the year it probably would have taken her before.
”A strange man!” someone shouted. The chorus was quickly taken up by all the children. ”A man, a man, a man!”
Startled into dropping the wet naps she'd been using to wipe off a dozen pair of sticky hands, Annie jerked her attention toward the locked front door, toward which twelve little arms were already pointing. She immediately recognized the surprised-uncomfortable-looking-face of Sean Murphy.