Divine Design (11 page)

He tilted his head as his eyes narrowed in mock suspicion before he asked accusingly, “You’re not going to start trying to avoid me again, are you? I thought we were starting over as friends.”

Oh, why couldn’t he have been a jerk, she wondered. Meghan sighed before flashing Michael a perfect smile.

“I really do have a lot of work to do. Could I take a rain check for a night next week?” she bargained, as much to mollify herself as him. Refusing to spend time with him was becoming as difficult as not telling him the truth.

His disappointment obvious, Michael responded with, “Okay, but could you possibly break away for a while on Saturday? I need to look for an apartment. With things the way they are in your fair city, I thought I ought to take my attorney along.”

“You’re staying in New York? To live?” she asked, stunned. Would this never end?

“Eventually. In a few more months I’ll have things out west set up to run relatively independent of me. For years I’ve been interested in the operation of periodical publications. It’s actually quite different from what I’m used to, and I plan to get very involved. In fact, I have a couple of ideas I’d like to try. …”

He went on to tell her about his plans for Dobson Publishing, but she only half listened. This nightmare just kept going from bad to awful to worse, she thought. It wasn’t a matter of avoiding him whenever possible until his business here was finished and he eventually went back to Texas where he belonged. Now, she’d have to think of another way to get him out of her life permanently—and before he found out about the baby. It didn’t take long for her to admit to herself that she didn’t relish the idea.

In the end her mind was too boggled to come up with a decent excuse not to go apartment hunting with him, and they set a time.

Saturday morning was sunny and cold. The wind brushed a healthful rosiness into Meghan’s cheeks as she followed Michael from one apartment to the next. All told, there were four to see, but Michael managed to drag it out so they saw the last one a little after eleven-thirty. Located on 70th Street near Lexington Avenue, it was roomy with lots of windows. The Hunter College campus was visible, as well as a lovely but not overly expansive view of the New York skyline.

“I like this one,” Meghan said, as she opened a door to inspect the size of the closet. Not very domesticated, Meghan had asked Lucy to choose her apartment for her. She did, however, know that an apartment with lots of places to put things out of sight was desirable.

“The storage space here is wonderful,” she quoted Lucy from years ago.

“I don’t know. Maybe we should decide over lunch. I usually don’t like making quick decisions.” Usually, he reiterated to himself. Lately he’d made quite a few quick, easy decisions. The one that had surprised him the most was the one he’d made about Meghan. It had come quietly, peacefully, moving into his heart and soul unobtrusively and making itself at home. He was totally besieged by her; his white flag was up.

As the beauty of her face and the seduction of her body had attracted him, her perception and wit had captured him. Still, there was so much he didn’t know about her—a mystery he had every intention of solving, just as he had every intention of keeping her in his life.

During the meal he pointed out several good aspects of the three previous places they’d seen, but Meghan stuck to her guns, insisting he’d be glad for the space later.

“Besides,” she added convincingly, “the open spaces, all those windows, and the hardwood trim gives it so much … character.”

“And we all know what an excellent judge of character you are,” he teased.

Meghan’s head flew up to find merriment dancing in his eyes. There were no accusations, no malice, only an easy, good-natured humor behind his deep chuckle.

“That’s right,” she said, giving her head a confident nod and Michael a cocky grin.

In the end, he chose her favorite apartment with the stipulation that when he was ready to move in, she would help him. Appealing to her nonexistent domestic nature, he reinforced his argument, saying that everyone knew how inept men were when it came to knowing the right places for sofas and pictures.

She had laughed at the irony of his request, and he took it as her assent. She didn’t correct him. It hurt somehow, but she knew that once she was gone, he’d find a more knowledgeable, able-bodied woman to do the job.

Michael was grinning smugly. Not only had he known she’d like the apartment when he’d signed the lease a little over a week ago, but he had conned her into helping him decorate. His mother would be disappointed, but he’d make it up to her. Right now he needed the time. Time to see Meghan and get to know her better. She was so damned busy, it was hard getting a date with her. She did, however, seem to make time for him if he needed her, and at this point he wasn’t above stooping to trumped-up excuses and a little clever manipulating.

Sunday he called her apartment, panic ringing in his voice.

“Meghan. I’ve got to see you one last time. My unit’s been called up. They’re moving us to the front lines,” he told her without preamble. “This could be our last chance to see one another. I … I could die out there,” he added grimly.

“Who is this?” She feigned indignation, then laughed, giving herself away.

“Ah! Low blow! I thought I could trust you. I thought you’d wait for me. I thought you’d burn a candle in your window for me.”

“You can. I am. I will … along with all the others. I may have to move though. I’m running out of window space,” she said in a happy voice.

A few seconds passed before Michael spoke. “You’re breaking my heart,” he said seriously.

“You know it’s not intentional,” she offered in a similar tone.

“I really am leaving tomorrow,” he told her. “And I really would like to see you again before I leave.” He paused briefly. “Can you spare the time?” he asked, knowing what it was like to be overworked, to have deadlines to meet. She’d already taken some time-out for him, and although he’d kill to be with her, he’d much rather have her mind at ease for her upcoming cases in court.

“Yes,” Meghan informed him. Her heart was suddenly heavy and each beat sent a shaft of pain shooting through her chest.

“If I bring dinner, may I come over?” he asked, his pulse racing, his muscles tense from the need to be with her.

“Of course,” she said. Stunned by her sorrow, it was hard to believe she had been anxiously awaiting this day. She bit her lip to keep from blurting out, “Don’t go. When you come back, I’ll be gone. You’ll hate me. Well never see each other again. Don’t go!”

“Do you like the Chinese food from that little place around the corner from your apartment?” she heard him ask.

“Yes. It’s good.”

“Anything special you want me to get?”

“No. It’s all delicious,” she said, then reconsidered, “I’m not crazy about anything raw, though.”

“Come on. I know you can eat more than that.” He had brought enough food to feed half the Chinese population. She had eaten so hungrily every time he’d taken her out, he hadn’t been sure how much to order. He liked women who didn’t pick at their food all night, but Meghan ate like a ranch hand.

“No. Really. I’m full. And I told you before I don’t always pig out like that. It’s just that I’m used to eating at certain times and if I don’t, I get ravenous. If you’d stick to my schedule, I’d be a much cheaper date,” she said, trying to lighten the tension that had been building steadily since he’d arrived.

“Oh, I don’t mind feeding you. I’m just afraid you’ll explode all over the restaurant. How could I possibly explain it to the management?”

“Michael, I’m shocked that you’d even think I’d ever do that to you. I was brought up with much better manners. Exploding in public was strictly forbidden,” she retorted.

“I’m sure,” he teased, “But it makes me very curious to know where you put it all.”

“If all things in this world were as easy to explain as that, it would be a much simpler place to live,” she prophesied.

He waited for her revelation, and when it didn’t come, he finally asked, “Where do you put it?”

“I have a hollow leg.”

Michael’s eyes grew wide in mock wonderment. “How fascinating. Which one is it?”

Meghan indicated her left one and before she realized the error of her ways, he had lifted the leg and placed it across his lap. He held it out and turned it slightly from side to side. He gave it a few gentle raps with his knuckles, working his way up from ankle to mid-thigh, all the while sending waves of tingling excitement rushing through Meghan’s body.

Her heart beat wildly. Her mouth was dry and she wanted to say something pithy and witty, but nothing came to mind. She was too busy absorbing the feel of his hand through her jeans and the sensations he was creating in her.

“This is incredible, Meghan,” he said softly in awe. “A work of art. It looks perfectly natural. No hollow sound,” he continued, as he began to push her pant leg up, his hands touching her bare skin, intensifying her susceptibility a hundredfold. “And look at this,” he crowed. “Completely impervious to light. Opaque. Beautiful. They could use you in espionage work.”

He rubbed his hands lightly over her calf and regarded her with interest. “Do you have any other secret hiding places? Your arm, maybe?” He drew his hand down the length of her left arm, adding a new source of stimulation to Meghan’s already overexcited body.

She shook her head negatively in answer to his question.

“No? Maybe your head then?” he asked, as he placed both big hands on either side of her face.

Again she shook her head. She felt mesmerized, completely under his spell. She was powerless to stop him. “Now you’re lying to yourself,” she thought to herself hopelessly. “You could stop him if you wanted to. You just don’t want to. You want to make love with him one last time. You want him because you’re falling in love with him.”

Meghan’s most precious wish lay exposed in her eyes. Michael’s heart soared and his body quickened. He struggled for control as he said, “Are you sure? When you shake your head like that I hear a distinct rattle.”

He pressed his lips gently, sensuously to hers. He savored the taste and feel of her. As his fever grew, he explored with his tongue, memorizing her softness, the sweetness that was Meghan’s alone.

Meghan returned his kisses and did some research of her own. Their passion intensified as they became bolder and more possessive. Their hands caressed and petted, each feeding the fires in the other.

Michael’s drawl was raspy and hoarse when he murmured between soft kisses along the column of her neck. “This time we will do it right. We’ll make love all night long and into tomorrow. I’m not going to let you disappear on me again. And I’ll warn you now, I don’t plan to be easily forgotten while I’m gone.”

“Oh, Michael.” She moaned. There was no way she could ever forget him. She would disappear again … and he’d hate her forever. But they did have tonight.

He stood and held out a hand to her. She took it, and he drew her into his embrace. “This has got to go,” he said, as he tugged on the rear tail of her oversized sweatshirt.

“You don’t like it?” she asked him innocently. “Is it too provocative?”

He leaned back, frowning, and viewed the front of her shirt, which sported the words, “
WHEN GOD CREATED MAN, SHE WAS ONLY JOKING
.” He slipped his hands underneath the material and ran them over her back. “As I recall, what is under this provokes far less hostile thoughts,” he said with a lecherous grin.

“Well, if you can’t take a joke, let’s by all means remove the offending piece of clothing.”

“By all means … let’s,” he purred, as he took the hem of her shirt in his large hands and pulled it up her body and over her head.

Her loose hair fell forward on her shoulders and partially veiled her bare breasts from his sight. She’d worn denim slacks with an elastic waistband for comfort, but Michael found it a great convenience as he simply slid them off her hips and to the floor, leaving only her navy blue bikini panties behind.

He committed her body to memory with reverent eyes. One hand came out to play with the downy-soft tress of red hair that fell over her left breast, and then he gathered up the strands, letting the back of his hand brush across her hardened nipple before he placed the fall of hair behind her.

He viewed her once more, then leaned forward and kissed her deeply. “Meghan,” he said with a groan, as he held her tight against his rock hard chest. “I want you so much.”

“And I want you,” she murmured against his throat, as she kissed and gently nibbled at his skin.

They turned slowly toward the bedroom, touching and kissing and whispering words of love to each other.

“No ride this time?” she asked as she luxuriated in the feel of him so close to her.

“I wouldn’t want to risk it. I can hardly walk as it is.”

They laughed softly, intimately together. Moments later they were both naked and lying on the bed, Meghan on her back running her fingers through the coarse, dark hair on his chest, Michael with his head propped on one elbow as he moved the other hand slowly over her skin from her neck to her pelvis.

“You are so beautiful. More so than I remembered,” he told her.

“Only because you think I am. Then I feel like I am, which makes you think I am. It’s a lovely cycle, isn’t it?” she murmured, as she moved her head slightly to kiss his chin.

“Mmm. Lovely,” he repeated in his thick, deep voice, as he lowered his lips to hers.

Their loving was long and leisurely, the crescendo building gradually to a fevered cadenza and finally an explosive finale.

They clung together, warm and content. They whispered and giggled in the dark. They dozed for a while, and then woke with a hunger only the other could vanquish.

Meghan lay awake, listening to Michael breathe as she watched the dawn slowly illuminate the room. Slowly, careful not to wake him, she tilted her head up to look at him.

His eyes were closed and his long lashes fanned out across his cheeks, but he was smiling. “That was very good. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you motionless for so long,” came his deep voice, gravelly from sleep. He peeked at her with one eye, then tightened his embrace to cuddle closer.