Part 6 (1/2)
”You said your parents didn't like that idea?”
”My mother and my stepfather believed I should hide my degree under a bushel basket, play tennis, and attend charity functions.”
”Is that what Bentley wanted you to do, too?”
”I'm not sure what he wanted me to do. It seems I'm not a very good judge of men or their motives.”
Her tone, as well as the underlying meaning in her words, made Reed want to shake her or kiss her senseless. To keep himself from doing either, he went to the closet in the bedroom and took out a sheet and a pillow. Then he unfolded the sofa bed.
Standing, Mallory took her sketch pad and went into the bedroom.
He heard her moving around in there, then her footsteps as she went into the bathroom. After he lay on the sofa bed, he turned out the light on the end table. Unfortunately for him, he glanced toward the bedroom when he heard her come out of the bathroom and saw her outlined by the glow of her bedside lamp-every delectable curve was evident under her nightgown.
Swearing under his breath, he turned in the other direction, plumped his pillow, and knew this was going to be a very long night.
When Mallory awakened the following morning after a restless night, all too conscious that Reed had lain practically naked out on the sofa bed, she knew he wasn't in the cabin. Some sixth sense told her when he was close and when he wasn't. Sliding out of bed, she pulled on a robe, belted it, and went out to the kitchen. There was a note on the table.
Mallory- I'm at Cruz Perez's ranch this morning, working with him. Stay in the cabin with the door locked. I'll be back around noon. If you need anything, Cruz's number is on the refrigerator.
Reed Though she breathed a sigh of relief at Reed's absence, she missed his presence. It didn't make any sense.
After she brushed her teeth and showered, she dressed and again sat at the table with her sketch pad, doodling, making a diagram of the cabin, filling in blank walls and empty s.p.a.ces. She jotted down colors that would be the most striking and types of art she would use to decorate. When the door opened and Reed came in, she was surprised at how the time had flown. As he hung his hat on the rack, she saw his jeans were dusty and his s.h.i.+rt damp with sweat. His gaze swept over her shorts and blouse, the same outfit she'd worn last evening.
”I thought I'd give you a little time to yourself this morning,” he said.
”I appreciate that,” she returned politely.
He frowned. ”Rosita and Ruben have invited us to an early Sunday dinner. Are you interested?”
”Are you?” she asked.
He let out an exasperated sigh. ”We wouldn't have to cook, and their house is air-conditioned. Cruz and his wife and Dallas and Maggie will be there, so you won't have to worry about making conversation with me, though we should try to be cordial. Maybe a little more than cordial so they believe we are married.”
The phone rang. Since she was closer to it, she picked it up, glad for the interruption. But at her ”h.e.l.lo?” she heard an all-too-familiar voice.
”Mallory,” Winston said. ”Are you feeling better?”
Remembering the scene in the motel parking lot in Reno, she gripped the phone tighter. ”I was feeling just fine until you tried to kidnap me.”
”I know you saw it that way,” he said placatingly, ”but you have to understand the position I was in. I'm a man of stature in San Francisco, Mallory. How do you think I felt being stood up at the altar and left to explain where you were? Wouldn't any man be angry?”
”You still had no right to try to force me into the car with you.”
Silence met her. ”I still want to marry you, Mallory. No other woman has ever been as important to me as you are.”
Maybe because she could see Winston more clearly now, she heard the manipulation in his voice. He would do or say anything to get what he wanted and maybe more than that if he had to. She glanced at Reed. ”I'm already married, Winston.”
”You married Reed Fortune as some sort of rebellion. I can forgive you that, Mallory. I can also give you time if that's what you need. I want you to think about the life we could share here in San Francisco and, when you're ready, I'll be here waiting for you.”
If she'd thought Winston was going to give up, she'd been wrong. ”Winston, it's not going to happen.”
As if he didn't hear her, he continued. ”I can be a very patient man, Mallory. Give me a call any time, day or night, and I'll come for you.”
”Winston-”
”Think about it, Mallory. Think about us. I'll be in touch.”
Before she could make the point that he shouldn't bother, he hung up.
She didn't want to admit it, but she feared Winston Bentley IV, and if she'd thought she could end this marriage to Reed before Dawson returned, she'd been wrong.
”He's not going to give up, is he?” Reed asked.
”No.” She tried to keep her fear out of her voice, but she wasn't sure she'd managed it. ”I guess we'll have to play at being married a little bit longer.”
”It doesn't feel like playing,” Reed said wryly.
The tension from last night as well as the knowledge of his fiancee still haunted her. ”Look, Reed, if there's something you want to say-”
”There's something I'd like to do,” he returned, stepping closer to her.
The silver glints in his eyes had been there the night they'd met. She remembered his kiss, the feel of his arms around her, and she stood perfectly still so he wouldn't guess how his words excited her.
They stared at each other for a few long moments and then Reed spun away. ”I'm going to change, then we can go.”
As he went into the bedroom, she sagged against the wall and realized she couldn't go on denying that she wanted to taste his kiss again, no matter why he'd married her.
Sunday afternoon and evening at the Perez house pa.s.sed pleasantly...yet it was unsettling whenever Mallory's gaze met Reed's...whenever they pretended to be newlyweds as he casually draped his arm across her shoulders or around her waist. For most of the afternoon, the men watched a baseball game while the women sat in the kitchen and talked. Mallory enjoyed herself immensely just listening to the anecdotes of being part of a large family. After a light supper, she mentioned to Rosita that she needed to learn to cook. Rosita insisted she take along one of her favorite cookbooks and told Mallory if she had any questions, she should call her. It had been an enjoyable day.
But later Sunday evening, as Mallory and Reed readied themselves for bed, the tension between them was tauter than the night before.
Reed rose at 5:00 a.m. Monday morning and Mallory pretended to be asleep as he dressed in the bathroom, then left the cabin. Before they'd turned in, he'd told her he'd be working at the Double Crown for the day. She sketched a little, and made tuna salad sandwiches for them for supper. That had been easy enough, and at least she didn't have to worry about burning something on the stove. The silence between them during the meal was awkward, though, and after she cleaned up the dishes, she sat on the patio in the garden and read until darkness chased her inside. She found Reed working on a laptop computer, but he turned in early, as did she. Mallory was well aware that he hadn't fallen asleep right away-she could hear the squeak of the springs in the sofa bed each time he turned.
By Tuesday afternoon, she was going stir crazy and when she saw her car pull up outside, she almost cheered. As a lanky cowboy got out and came up the walk, she opened the screen door and gave him a big smile.
”h.e.l.lo, ma'am. Over at the Double Crown, they told me you'd be waiting for these.” He dangled the keys in his fingers and handed them to her.
”Thank you so much, Mr.-”
”Conroy. Matt Conroy. Reed said you were in my place when you were in Reno.”
”The Golden Spur.”
”Right.”
”I didn't expect you until tonight or tomorrow.”