Her Hard to Resist Husband (17 page)

What had he been thinking, agreeing to this? And what had Tracy been thinking, saying yes?

A question that made something in his chest shimmy to life.

As if she knew he’d been thinking about her, Tracy showed up at the doorway with Cleo in tow. “We’re all set up. How are you doing in here?”

Daniel looked up at the sign Rosa had hung on the bedroom wall when Ben had called to tell her the news.

Bem Vindo, Daniel!

There was a matching “welcome home” sign in Cleo’s room, with her name on it.

Giving the first tentative smile Ben had witnessed since he’d known the boy, Daniel nodded. “I think we will do very well here.”

“So do I.”

The soft words came from Tracy, who also had a ghost of a smile on her face. She walked over and took one of his hands, giving it a quick squeeze before releasing it. Then she whispered the two most beautiful words he’d ever heard. “Thank you.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“
I
HAVE
A
surprise for you outside.”

Ben had rounded them all up in the living room.

A surprise—anything, in fact—was better than Tracy trying to avoid looking into the bedroom she’d once shared with Ben. The one that seemed to call to her, no matter where she was in the house.

Tracy glanced at Rosa to see if she knew anything, but she just shrugged.

If the housekeeper was surprised to see Tracy back in
Teresina
, she didn’t show it. She’d just engulfed her in a hug so tight it had squeezed the air from her lungs. She’d then dabbed the corners of her eyes with her apron before embracing each of the children.

“A surprise?” asked Cleo. “What is it?”

Giving Ben a puzzled look, Tracy wondered what kind of surprise he could possibly have. They’d only arrived a few hours ago. The kids hadn’t even had a chance to explore properly yet.

“I bought a water tank,” he said in English. “I thought we could convert it into a makeshift pool for the kids. Maybe even sink it partway into the ground to make it easier to climb into. I had it delivered when you agreed to come to
Teresina
.”

Heat suffused her face as she processed this, ignoring the kids who were asking to know what he’d said. “Is it the one from Sao Joao dos Rios?” Lord, she hoped not. Those memories were even fresher than the ones from the bedroom down the hall.

“No. Bigger.”

“We could have bought an inflatable pool.”

“I figured this would be more permanent and less likely to rupture. I can’t afford to have a built-in pool put in, but I figured the kids could help with the upkeep. It’ll also give them a place to entertain any new friends they might make.”

“That was nice, Ben.” She refused to wonder what would happen to it once everyone went their separate ways. “I think they’ll love it.”

Tracy switched back to Portuguese and twitched her index finger back and forth at the kids’ expectant glances. “I can’t tell you what we said without spoiling the surprise.”

Standing aside as Ben pushed the door open, she watched the kids lope into the back yard. A large oval water tank sat in a sandy area. Daniel’s eyes touched it then skipped past, still looking for whatever the surprise was.

Ben was right, it was huge. The thing must hold a couple of thousand gallons. Why had they never thought of using one as a pool before? Perched on rooftops everywhere in Brazil, the blue fiberglass tanks came in various shapes and sizes. This one must have been meant for a commercial building.

Cleo seemed just as lost as Daniel was. “Where’s the surprise?”

To them, evidently, a
caixa de agua
was just that: a holding tank for water. They couldn’t see the possibilities.

Ben walked over to it and put his hand on the curved rim. “This is it.”

The way both kids’ faces fell brought a laugh up from Tracy’s chest. “What? You don’t think this is a good surprise?”

Cleo shook her head, and Daniel said, “It’s fine. I’m sure you needed a new one.”

“Oh, it’s not for our roof.” Ben motioned them round to the other side of the tank. They followed him, Tracy wondering what he’d hidden over there.

Taped to the outside edge was a glossy magazine ad showing a family playing in an above-ground pool, an inflatable raft bouncing on happy waves.

“This…” Ben patted the side of the tank “…is going to be a pool once we’re done with it.”

“A
piscina
?” Cleo’s voice held a note of awe. “We’re going to have a pool?”

“We’re going to use the tank as a pool.” He ran a hand over the top edge. “You’re going to have to help me get it ready. And you’ll have to help take care of it once it’s set up. But, yes, we’re going to have a pool.”

“Beleza!”
The happy shout came from Daniel, who now walked around the tank with a completely different mindset. “The water will be almost up to my neck.”

“Yes, and you’ll have to be careful with your sister,” Ben said, “because it’ll be over her head. I don’t want you guys using this without supervision. In fact, I’m going to have a cover installed when it’s not in use.”

Cleo’s fingers trailed over the image of the raft on top of the water.

Catching Ben’s grin, Tracy could guess what was coming. “There’s a bag on the far side of the tank, Cleo. Why don’t you go and look inside?”

The little girl raced around to the other side. They soon heard a squeal. “A float. Just like in the picture. And there are two!”

“One for each of them,” Tracy murmured to Ben. “You thought of everything, didn’t you?”

“No. Not everything.” Something in the words had her gaze swiveling back to him.

“I don’t understand.”

“I don’t imagine you do, but it doesn’t matter.” He moved away from her before she could really look at him. She heard him talking to the kids then they all came around and walked across the yard behind the house, trying to decide on the best place for the pool. They finally came up with a spot near the
acerola
tree, where they’d at least get some shade during the heat of the day.

* * *

As soon as the kids had uncovered all the secrets of the soon-to-be pool, they went off to explore the rest of the backyard, leaving Ben and Tracy alone together.

When her eyes met his, the look was soft and fluid, reminding him of days gone by when he’d brought her flowers unexpectedly or had taken her on a long walk in the park.

Hell, he’d missed that look. Placing his hand out, palm up, he held his breath and waited to see if she’d take it. She did, her cool skin sliding across his. He closed his fingers, his gaze holding hers. “Are you okay with all this?”

“I am.”

He’d felt the stab of guilt more than once since she’d agreed to come back with him. Especially after the way they’d parted four years ago.

With a sigh he opened his hand and released her. He’d never really known what she’d been thinking during those last dark days of their marriage. And he wasn’t sure he wanted to. Maybe it would just make the rift between them that much deeper.

“I guess I’d better go help Rosa with dinner.” She stepped up on tiptoe and gave him a soft kiss. “The kids love their surprise, I can tell. Thank you.”

Tracy stood back with a smile, the corners of her eyes crinkling. Oh, how he loved seeing that. The urge to kiss her came and went without incident. After screwing up so badly in the past, he didn’t want to do anything that would send them spinning back to uglier times just when he was beginning to feel he’d made up some ground with her. Maybe with time they’d be able to move past those days and become friends again.

At least that was his hope.

* * *

Dr. Crista Morena gently palpated Cleo’s abdomen, her brow furrowed in concern. “You know that type-one diabetes can occur at any age.” She glanced up at them, and Ben could see the curiosity in her eyes. “You know nothing of her background, her medical history?”

“Just what we observed during the plague outbreak,” he said. “Could her pancreas have been affected by the illness?”

She stood and straightened the stethoscope around her neck. “Some cases may be triggered by a viral infection—something in the enterovirus family—that causes an autoimmune response.” She helped Cleo sit up. “I want to get some bloodwork done on her, but the finger prick we did when you first came in is right around two-twenty. We’ll need to do another with her fasting. I’ll send some testers home with you.”

Tracy nodded. “Her glucose levels seem to fluctuate for no apparent reason, just like they did while she was sick, so her pancreas must be producing some insulin.”

“If it’s type one, she could be in the honeymoon phase. You administered insulin to bring her levels back down, right?”

“Yes.”

“Doing that can sometimes give the organ a rest, stimulating those last remaining beta cells, which then pump out small quantities of the hormone.” She looked at each of them. “If it’s type one, the honeymoon phase is only a temporary reprieve. Those cells will eventually stop producing all together.”

Ben swallowed. If that was true, Cleo would need constant monitoring for the rest of her life. Temporary would become permanent. He glanced at Tracy to see if she’d come to the same conclusion he had.

Yep. Her hands were clasped tightly in her lap, fingers twisting around each other. Well, taking the kids had been her idea in the first place.

But you agreed.

Besides, it had done him a world of good to hear Cleo’s happy laugh when she’d realized what the water tank in the backyard meant. How her eyes had widened when she’d discovered she was getting a room of her own with a new pink bedspread—once the bed they’d ordered for her arrived. He wouldn’t trade those moments for anything.

Ben helped Cleo hop off the exam table and motioned to the chair he’d occupied moments earlier. She chose to go to Tracy instead, who opened her arms and hauled the child onto her lap, hugging her close.

His throat tightened further. Tracy looked so right holding a child. Would she have cut back on her traveling if their baby had been born?

If the evidence he’d seen was any indication, the answer to that was no. She’d rushed to Sao Joao dos Rios during the outbreak, and Pedro had indicated they’d made quite a few trips during the year.

She saved lives by being in that city.

But at what cost to herself?

None, evidently.

Dr. Morena looked up from Cleo’s chart and focused on Tracy. “I understand you practiced pediatric medicine in the past. We could use another doctor here at the clinic. Would you be interested?”

“How did you know that?” She shot him a glance that he couldn’t read.

“Ben mentioned you were a doctor when he called to make the appointment.”

His heart sped up as he waited to see her reaction. Although his slip had been unintentional, when Dr. Morena had mentioned an opening, he’d wondered if she’d say anything to Tracy.

“I haven’t practiced pediatric medicine in quite a few years. I’ve been dealing more with indigenous tribes so—”

“You treat children in those tribes, don’t you?”

“Of course.”

Dr. Morena closed the cover of the chart with a soft snap. “It’s like riding a bicycle. You never really forget how to deal with those little ones. And you obviously have a knack with them.” She nodded at Cleo, who was now snuggled into Tracy’s lap. “Give me a call if you’re interested.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

I
T
WAS
LIKE
riding a bicycle.

Dr. Morena’s words rang through her head a few days later as she stood in the doorway of her old bedroom.

Being with Ben in that water tank had been like that. Remembered responses and emotions bubbling up to the surface. She ventured a little further into the room, sliding her hand across the bedspread. The same silky beige-striped one they’d had years ago. She was surprised he hadn’t bought a new set.

She glanced at the door and then, on impulse, lay across the old mattress and stared up at the ceiling. No one would know. Ben was safely at work right now, and Daniel had taken Cleo to explore the neighborhood. Even Rosa was off shopping for groceries, which meant she had a couple of hours to herself.

She wouldn’t stay long, just enough to satisfy her curiosity. She’d passed this room for the last couple of days and had wanted to step inside, but she’d resisted the temptation.

Until now.

So, what does it feel like to lie here?

Just like riding a bicycle.

That thought was both terrifying and exhilarating.

The only thing lacking was Ben. And if he could see her now, he’d probably hit the roof. They’d patched together an uneasy truce since arriving in the city, and she was loath to do anything to rock that particular boat. But the open bedroom door had winked at her, inviting her to step through and relive the past.

Rolling onto her stomach, she grabbed the pillow and buried her face into it, sucking down a deep breath of air.

Yep, Ben still slept on the right side of the bed. His warm masculine scent was imprinted on the soft cotton cover, despite Rosa fluffing the pillows to within an inch of their lives. She’d have to make sure she left things exactly like she’d found them.

Being here felt dangerous…voyeuristic. And incredibly erotic. They’d made love in this bed many, many times. All kinds of positions. Her on top. Him. Her hands trapped above her head. His hands molding her body…making her cry out when the time came.

Just that memory made her tingle, her skin responding to the sudden flurry of images that flashed through her head. Oh, Lord. This was bad.

So bad.

Just like riding a bike.

Sitting on a bicycle was one thing. Putting your feet on the pedals and making them go round and round was another thing entirely.

She knew she should get up. Now. But the temptation to linger and let her imagination run wild—to remember one of their lovemaking sessions—was too great. The one that came to mind was when Tracy had been lying on the bed much like she was now. Only she’d been naked.