Project Valentine (A Homespun Romance) (8 page)

Karl ran down the steps, bent, shut off the tap.
Putting a hand out, he helped her to her feet. She was so wet, there was no explanation for the sparks that ignited wherever he touched her. Her hand, her back, literally burned. Jessica took her glasses off and blinked.

Molly picked up the old towel she'd brought out earlier and retreated with Arthur, keeping a wary eye on the grownups.

Tiny drops of water clung to Karl's dark hair sparkling like crystals in the sunshine.
The urge to reach up and touch them was overwhelming. The memory of the kiss returned full force and with it a blinding need to feel his mouth on hers again. Jessica blinked and looked around for something to wipe her glasses on.

"Are you all right?"
Taking them from her, Karl pulled his shirt out of his pants and wiped the glasses with a corner of the soft white material. He inspected them to make sure the lens were clean before setting them back on her nose. "There you go."

Jessica flashed an anxious Molly a reassuring smile, "I'm fine.
Arthur had me soaking wet already. I expected it anyway, that's why I put on my oldest clothes. It's nothing a little while in the sunshine won't set right."

His gimlet look made her aware she was babbling again.
There was something about him in the white shirt that had her heart imitating a calypso rhythm. It set off his tan to perfection, emphasized the impression of strength she'd absorbed at their first meeting. A pulse erupted in her throat as the memory of his lips on hers rose to taunt her. Jessica turned away to pick up the shampoo bottle. In her present condition there wasn't much left to the imagination. Holding the front of her top away from her body, she wrung out the excess water. A slight breeze made her break out in goose bumps.

Karl frowned, "You have to get out of these wet clothes or you're going to get chilled."

"I'm fine." Her teeth seemed inclined to chatter. Jessica clenched her jaw.

"You're not," he snapped.
"Now, come with me. We can't have you getting sick. Molly, hit the upstairs shower."

Jessica stalked in front of him, seething.
She hated domineering men. The kind that thought they knew what was best for you. The kind that were right. At the door of the patio, she stepped out of her waterlogged shoes and hesitated.

"Now, what's wrong?"
Karl asked with barely concealed impatience. "Are you going to give me another argument?"

"I don't want to drip water everywhere."
It was sacrilege to step on the gleaming wooden floor or the silvery grey carpet beyond in her condition.

"It'll dry."

His tone indicated he didn't care what happened to the plush designer pile.
Jessica hesitated. It was a shame to ruin the carpet. She had enough on her conscience as it was.

She stepped out of her shoes carefully and tiptoed her way in.
This way at least the damage would be minimized.

She didn't want Karl to label her hazardous to his property.
Every time they met something got ruined. First his handkerchief, then his yard, now his shirt.

Now that things couldn't get worse, they had to get better.

"Have a hot shower. You'll find plenty of towels in the small closet in the bathroom. I'll find you something to wear while your things dry."

"High handed, bossy, imperious," Jessica compiled a list as the hot water beat blissfully down on her, chasing the incipient chill away.
He was also right. If she'd stayed in those clothes she would have gotten sick.

The eight by four glass enclosed shower
was hardly a cubicle. It was stocked with three kinds of shampoo, a fragrant creamy liquid soap that smelled out of this world and lathered like whipped cream.

Draping a thick, thirsty, ivory towel around her, Jessica peered cautiously out.
There was a white toweling robe hanging on the doorknob. His. It was going to be miles too big.

Her breath left her body in a surprised whoosh as she slipped into the robe.
The hemline and the sleeves had been butchered ruthlessly for her comfort. The jagged edges told her he had wreaked the damage with a pair of scissors. Jessica heart picked up the calypso rhythm again as she noticed the designer monogram. Was there no limit to this man's thoughtfulness? The next question was closer to home. Where could a level headed, self sufficient woman buy herself some insurance against a man like Karl Wagner? She needed some very soon, very badly. Jessica pushed her glasses up and gathered up her clothes with hands that shook.

The laundry room was directly opposite the bathroom.
The door had been left ajar so she didn't have to speculate on its location. Putting her things into the dryer Jessica went out to the deck.

Karl turned at her approach and held out a mug of coffee.
Jessica took it carefully and cupped her fingers around it, aware of his eyes on her, of a familiar churning in her stomach. He'd changed into a pair of cut away shorts and a tee shirt. The breadth of his shoulders, the lean muscular legs with a smattering of dark hair, set her senses rioting. Pushing her glasses up, Jessica wondered how to break the tension. The frayed sleeve length was her cue. She cleared her throat. "Why did you ruin your robe?"

"It's an old one."
A half shrug dismissed further discussion of the subject. "Do you feel better now?"

"I'm fine."

He continued staring at her. Jessica knew she'd never looked worse. She hadn't used the hair dryer because her hair tended to dry frizzy when she did. In spite of toweling it clung to her head like a wet mop. David called it her wet rat look. Bare toes curled into the wooden deck as she raised her eyes to Karl. The queer flame was back, heralding his intentions. His eyes slid to her lips and a fire ignited in the pit of her stomach. A hand came out and touched the tip of a wet lock of hair. Hypnotized Jessica followed it as it moved to finger the lapel of her robe.

"Thank you for reassuring Molly."

"You heard?" Anxiously she looked at him. "Did I say the right thing?"

The hand wrapped around the side of her neck, his thumb flirted with her cheek.
Jessica stood as still as a statue.

"You were perfect."

His eyes lingered on her mouth and Jessica tensed in anticipation of the kiss. Her eyes closed of their own volition and she rocked on her toes. She wasn't sure if this was correct behavior for a self-sufficient woman. She didn't care. She wanted to recapture the feelings that had accompanied their last kiss.

Instead of the heat of Karl's lips she felt a blast of frigid air as his hand moved away from her neck.
Jessica's eyes flew open.

"Karl?"
He was four feet away, hands braced on the railing of the deck, gazing at the horizon as if special pictures were painted on it only he could see.

He'd had no intention of kissing her.

Wave after wave of humiliation washed over her, each more hurtful than the last. Jessica opened her mouth to say something brilliant. Laugh the whole thing off. But the words wouldn't come. She couldn't even produce her usual croak. She looked down at herself. Embarrassment hadn't melted her to a puddle yet.

"I have to go in and check some paperwork."
Jessica would have accepted that if it hadn't been for the expression in Karl's eyes as he looked at her briefly. She identified it instantaneously. Confusion and control battled for supremacy. It was no small skirmish.

"Sure, go ahead," she said casually.

Her heart did a great big flip of excitement as she watched him go in. Karl had wanted to kiss her. Though he hadn't, just knowing he'd wanted to, made everything all right. She hadn't been wrong. Lightning quick her mind searched for reasons why he hadn't.

Maddy Brenton?
Jessica's smile faded. Of course. Karl would never do anything dishonorable.

Moisture pricked her lids and was blinked away angrily.
Fool. As usual she'd jumped to conclusions too soon. It must have just been the sun in Karl's eyes, and her imagination had done the rest. To even think he was fighting his attraction for her was a mistake.

"Jessica, are we going to train Arthur now?"
Molly dashed out on the deck, wet patches on her clothes denoting a hastily dried body.

"In a little while, when my clothes dry," Jessica promised.

Molly ran off to talk to Arthur.
Sinking into one of the deck chairs Jessica wondered how she would get through the next hour. Her throat ached, and the beginnings of a headache nagged at her temples.

Molly looked up at her uncle as he came into the family room after loading their dinner dishes in the dishwasher.
She was watching a Walt Disney video he'd rented for her earlier. Uncle Karl usually read the paper now. Molly depressed the pause button of the video control. This was as good a time as any to discuss what was on her mind.

"Uncle Karl?

"Yes, Molly?" He looked at her and smiled.

"Have you met anyone you want to spend all your time with?"

"Anyone I...?" Karl frowned. Talking to Molly was like playing chess. One always had to think a few moves ahead. Right now he couldn't see the reasoning behind her question. Maybe, he told himself, it was just a simple straightforward one. If it was it would be a first.

"No, I haven't," he said cautiously.

"Have you met anyone who when you're away from them, makes you feel as if part of you is missing?"

"No...o."
A memory of a sopping wet Jessica popped into his head out of nowhere. A smile that tugged at his heart. A mouth that begged to be kissed. Karl's frown intensified.

"Have you ever looked at anyone," continued his niece remorselessly, "and thought that you wanted to be with them forever?
That you wouldn't change places with anyone in the world for a billion dollars?"

"Molly, what's this all about?"
He glared at her.

Molly stared at the television screen thoughtfully.
That was twice in one day she'd made Uncle Karl angry with her. "Oh, nothing. I was just wondering if you knew how to recognize love. Mommy says it would have to hit you on the head for you to know it." There was no hint of a smile in his niece's eyes as she looked at him. Obviously his lack of ability in that area of his life, didn't amuse her.

"And what makes you think you're an authority on recognizing love?"
Precocious was one thing. Infuriating quite another.

"Not me, Uncle Karl," said Molly virtuously.
"I don't know anything about it. Jessica told me those things."

After which she went back to enjoying her movie.
Uncle Karl, she noticed, turned a lot of pages, but he didn't seem to be doing any reading.

Karl wasn't.
He had a suspicion his real answer for every question of his niece's had been in the affirmative.

For someone who never lied he'd really blotted his copybook tonight.

The telephone rang as Jessica unlocked the door to her apartment Monday night. Monday night was the usual time that her friend from work, Gina, would meet up with her so that they could take in a movie.

The telephone stopped as she set her bag down and then started again.
Reminded of last week's call, Jessica grimaced and picked up the receiver gingerly.

"Jessica?"

"Hi Karl." She kept her voice cool. "Is something wrong?"

"It's Arthur..." he began.

Jessica couldn't keep the resignation out of her voice, "What's he done now?"

"It's nothing he's done.
It's what he isn't doing that's bothering me. Jerry, the boy who walks him called as soon as I got home to tell me yesterday's meal hadn't been touched. Today's hasn't either. I even went out and got him some ice cream. According to Molly he loves butter pecan, but he wouldn't even look at it. Do you think he's sick?"

"Maybe," Jessica's mind raced over the symptoms, checked them against her experiences with her own dogs.
"Is he close by?"

"Yes."
Karl must be out on the deck for the dog to be beside him. A picture of him leaning against the rail in a white shirt tantalized her, made concentration an effort.

"Touch his nose will you, with the palm of your hand.
Tell me if it feels hot and dry."

"It does," Karl sounded surprised.
"What does that tell you?"

"He might be running a fever.
Look, I'll call a vet and make an appointment for him as soon as possible." It would be easier for her to do because she knew exactly what to say to the vet. Besides some of them only took in small animals. "They'll probably want to see him right away. Then, if you like, I can come over and give you a hand taking him in."

"Thanks Jessica.
I'd appreciate that."

The third vet she found in the yellow pages worked late and agreed to wait for them to bring the Great Dane in.