As If You Never Left Me (Crimson Romance) (4 page)

Back at the lodge, Joely followed him up the stairs to his room. She tossed her purse on the dresser and made herself comfortable.

“You’re staying?” He sat down on the bed and pressed a hand against his throbbing forehead.

“I thought I said that already. I’m going to keep an eye on you until I’m sure you’re all right.”

He started to shake his head in protest, then reconsidered, blinking back another wave of dizziness. “You were serious? I don’t think it’s necessary.”

“I do.” She opened her gigantic handbag. Rey was certain he’d never seen a purse that big before. While she sorted through its contents, he sat there, rubbing his head, clueless as to what to do next. Finally, she looked back up at him. “Take a nap. You’ll feel better.”

“I’m supposed to just sleep while you’re sitting there?”

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll find something to do.” She pulled out a big sketchpad and a handful of pencils and began to arrange them on top of the dresser.

“Yeah,” he muttered. He wasn’t worried about her finding something to do. He was more worried about himself, sleeping while Joely sat there looking at him. The thought made him feel weird. He couldn’t even put words to the sensation.

Then it hit him. Vulnerable. He felt vulnerable. That wasn’t a good thing.

Or was it? Time to let go, maybe. Show Joely he still trusted her.

He rubbed his head a few more times, then stripped down to his shorts and climbed back under the covers.

“That’s it,” she said. Her attention had wandered from her sketchpad and now roved over his body. Her eyes would have undressed him if he hadn’t been undressed already. Something stirred in his shorts — he was amazed he was still functioning down there, as sick as he felt. “You just sleep.”

He wished fervently that he was up to full health. Up to grabbing her and kissing her and pushing her back into the bed, pushing his hands inside her clothes … “Don’t take advantage of me while I’m unconscious.”

She smiled. “I’ll try not to.”

He lay back and closed his eyes. To his own surprise, he immediately forgot Joely was watching him and drifted off, thinking about mysterious mountain-induced ailments and wondering what the hell a “fourteener” was.

• • •

This was nice, Joely decided after the first half hour or so of watching Rey sleep. He’d always been the strong one in their relationship, the one with the better job, the one who could bail her out of situations when they arose. Of course, it had been his miserable failure to bail her out of one such situation that had started their marriage down the crumbling slope of doom.

But now it was her turn to take care of him. He was on her turf here, facing things he knew nothing about. A new experience for him, she was sure. It intrigued her that he’d given himself up to her care so willingly. The old Rey would have fought it tooth and nail.

He slept charmingly — except for the vague snoring — his face mushed into the pillow and one hand curled open next to his nose. She studied his profile, memorizing it. She’d never forgotten it, but it seemed different somehow. Her memory had erased the imperfections, made his nose a little shorter and straighter, his chin a little bigger. Her memory had neglected to remind her he drooled in his sleep.

After a moment, she turned a page in the sketchpad, to a blank sheet. Looking at the familiar lines of his sleeping face, she let her pencil drift over the paper, echoing them, bringing them to existence in soft smudges of gray lead against the white paper. She had drawn him before, a long time ago. Once or twice she had drawn him naked. She was tempted to tweak the sheet away from his shoulders, to expose the long, clean lines of his back, but she didn’t want to disturb him. So instead, she drew his wide shoulders, the curl of his hair against the back of his neck, his long nose against the dark pillowcase, his slightly open mouth. She decided to leave out the vague drooling. Not at all aesthetically pleasing.

It felt good to draw him, though. Familiar. The movement of the pencil almost as fulfilling as a caress. She sketched his shoulders, the drape of the sheet over his back, the curve of his skull, his mussed hair. The long, straight line of forehead, of nose, the full, soft mouth. It was like touching him. Like making love to him.

Smiling at the thought, she added one last, small tweak to the line of his chin, then laid the sketchpad aside. She looked at the picture for a few moments, then pulled out her cell phone to call Perry.

“How are things?”

“Quiet,” Perry said. “How’s Fine Flatlander Man?”

“Very Flatlander-ish at the moment. The altitude knocked him for a loop. Thanks for covering for me.”

“No problem. If a man that looks like that ever shows up on my doorstep, I’ll expect you to return the favor.”

“There’s more to a man than looks, you know.”

“I know, but it’s a nice place to start. Is he going to be all right?”

“Yeah, he’ll be fine. He’ll probably wake up completely adjusted and ready for a hamburger. I’ll drop by the shop as soon as I get him squared away.”

“You take your time. And when he wakes up, I suggest you do something creative with him.”

Joely laughed. “Thanks, Perry. I’ll keep that in mind.”

• • •

Rey woke shortly before noon, not quite completely adjusted, but definitely on the mend. The chills had receded along with the vertigo, and the headache had faded to a dull throb behind his eyes. He blinked a few times at the sunlight streaming in through the open window, then turned his head, searching for the vague scratching sound that caught his ears.

Joely sat in a chair next to the bed, her sketchpad balanced in her lap. The pencil in her hand moved fluidly across the paper, drawing long, graceful lines. He couldn’t see the picture from here, but the set of her body and the way her hand moved was a work of art in itself. He cleared his throat and she looked toward him, smiling.

“Feeling better?” she asked.

“Much. I guess it wasn’t a bug after all.”

“I told you.” She straightened, stretching her back.

“Let me see.”

“What?”

He nodded toward the drawing as he sat up in the bed. “The sketches. Let me see.”

She hesitated, then turned the pad toward him. Rough-penciled lines described the symmetrical arcs of a vase, a simple pattern of columbines decorating the curves of its belly.

“It’s lovely.”

She tilted it back toward herself, looking at it with a crinkle at the corners of her eyes. Being critical.

“It needs a little work.”

“They were fools to let you go, back in New York. You could have made that company a household name.”

Her mouth tightened. “They might not have ‘let me go’ if I’d had a better lawyer.”

He looked away, stung, and she sagged in her chair. “I’m sorry, Rey. That wasn’t fair.”

“No, it wasn’t.”

Standing, she tucked the sketchpad into her voluminous handbag. “As long as you’re feeling better, I’m going to head back to the shop. Perry might need the help.”

He nodded. “Okay. But don’t forget, my car’s still at the diner.”

“Oh, right. I’ll take care of it for you.”

He smiled. “I think I like being taken care of.”

“Yeah, kind of a novelty for you, isn’t it?” Grinning, she headed for the door. “I’ll see you later.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

She paused, looking at him, then found herself walking back to the bed. She bent over him and caught his mouth with hers.

She thought she’d forgotten. But as her lips touched his, she was flooded with the taste of his mouth, not only in reality but in her memory. Her closed lips remembered the touch of his tongue, remembered surrendering, opening to let his mouth take hers utterly, but in the real moment, the kiss remained carefully chaste.

This was not an easy thing to do.

After what seemed an eternity of hovering on the edge of complete surrender, she drew back. Looking down into his soft smile, her face went hot. With desire or embarrassment, she wasn’t sure. At least he didn’t look smug.

She straightened, clearing her throat. “I’ll see you later.”

This time, she forced herself to leave.

Perry was helping a customer when Joely entered the shop. She looked up with a question on her face and Joely shook her head, going into the office. She knew Perry was concerned, and Joely hated putting her off, but the customers had to come first. So Joely would have a few minutes to gather her scattered, confused, and admittedly rather aroused feelings before she tried to talk to Perry.

She couldn’t believe she’d kissed Rey. She really couldn’t believe it had felt so … good. No, so right. It wasn’t supposed to feel right. They were supposed to be on their way to a divorce.

“Don’t kid yourself,” she muttered. She sat at the desk and put her face in her hands. “You should have divorced him fourteen months ago.”

“So why didn’t you?”

Joely jerked, looking up. She’d been so lost in her own thoughts, she hadn’t even heard Perry open the office door.

“I wish I knew, Perry.”

Perry sat down in the chair in front of the desk and smiled. “I just sold a four-hundred-dollar necklace. Not your work, but it’s a nice commission.”

“Wow. The turquoise piece?”

“That’s the one.” Perry’s smile faded into a put-on frown. “I really liked that one.”

“You couldn’t have afforded it, even with your employee discount.”

“Yeah, but what about that Christmas bonus you promised me?”

Joely laughed. “It isn’t going to be that big.”

“Damn.” Perry scooted closer to the desk. “Okay, now tell me what’s up with the ex. Oh, wait, he’s not technically the ex, is he?”

Joely groaned. “No, he’s not. Don’t remind me. This situation is difficult enough without having to deal with that particular wrinkle.” She pressed the back of her hand to her mouth a moment, remembering the touch of his lips. The taste, the warmth, the flood of memories that had come back to her. “He wants a second chance, Perry. I don’t know what to do.”

Her voice broke. Perry’s expression shifted to one of concern. Joely never cried. Perry leaned her elbows on the cluttered desk. “Do you have any reason not to?”

“The fact he’s been across the country for fourteen months and never bothered to make any contact isn’t enough?”

“But you said he called a few times, wrote you letters.”

“Which I never read.”

“Thinking about digging them up?”

“I kissed him.”

Perry’s mouth dropped open. “What? When?”

“Fifteen minutes ago. Before I left him at the lodge.”

“Was it good?”

She closed her eyes a moment. He had tasted so good. “Oh, God, it was fantastic.”

“The spark’s still there, eh?”

“In spades.” She covered her face with her hands again. “Perry, I don’t know what to do. I’m so confused.”

Perry leaned back in her chair, studying her friend and employer with a sympathetic eye. “You said he wants a second chance. What exactly did he propose?”

“He wants me to give him a month to be my husband again. Totally my husband again. He wants to move into my house.” She wrapped her arms around herself protectively. “I’m not sure I want him that close.”

Perry nodded. “It seems like a big step, especially after all this time.”

Relieved, Joely let out a breath. “You don’t think I’m crazy? I mean, being nervous about the possibility of sleeping with my husband?”

“It does sound crazy when you say it that way, doesn’t it?”

Joely made a face, but Perry grinned, softening her remark. “No, I don’t think you’re crazy. I think you’re being sensible. I mean, once you sleep with him, you’re making some kind of commitment, aren’t you?”

“In this case, yes, I think so.”

“I think in any case, with you.”

Joely sighed. “You know me too well.”

Outside in the showroom, the bell on the door rang, indicating the arrival of another customer.

“Things are hopping today,” said Perry. “I’m glad you came back. This is nothing like a Wednesday at all.”

“Good.” Joely stood, nodding decisively. “Customers are good. They’ll take my mind off — ” She waved vaguely. “ — all that other stuff.”

But throughout the busy afternoon, as she helped customers pick out gifts for their spouses, their parents, or even for themselves, the memory of Rey’s kiss tantalized the edges of her thoughts. By closing time, she’d made her decision.

• • •

After closing up the shop, Joely drove to the lodge, intending to take Rey to the diner to retrieve his car. But the car was already in the parking lot. Puzzled, she went into the lobby.

“Hi, Joely,” said Virginia brightly. “How’s business?”

Joely smiled at the older woman’s typical — and occasionally annoying — perkiness.

“Great, as a matter of fact,” Joely told her. “Have you talked to Rey this afternoon?”

“I drove him over to get his car. He seems to be feeling much better.” Her lined features took on a dreamy look. “He’s such a nice young man. You really should think about not divorcing him.”

Joely shook her head, half bemused and half annoyed. “I suppose he’s told you all our business?”

“No, not really. Just a little, here and there.”

“Just enough for you to feel comfortable doling out advice?”

“Oh, honey, I’d feel comfortable doling out advice on a lot less information than that.” Virginia laughed. “I think you know that, too.”

“Yes, as a matter of fact, I do.” She shifted her purse strap on her shoulder. “I’d better go. I was going to surprise Rey, take him to dinner.”

“Go on up, then. You know the way.”

So she did, but as she got closer to Rey’s door, her feet seemed to forget. Or maybe they were just forgetting how to move. They certainly did slow down appreciably.

Finally, she stood in front of his door. With an effort, wondering where this small, irrevocable move would take her, she knocked.

Rey opened the door. He smiled brightly at her, looking considerably perkier than he had when she’d left him. Considerably better dressed, too. He wore jeans and a cream-colored Irish knit sweater. No shoes, though. She looked down at his big feet in his socks and thought about his toes. He had an interesting trick he did with his toes.