This Matter Of Marriage (29 page)

“Is it true?” he demanded brusquely when she opened the door.

She nodded. “Yes. I put my place on the market.”

His eyes widened momentarily and then a slow sad smile touched his mouth. “I guess you were right, after all.” He retreated a couple of steps, backing away from her.

“I generally am,” she said, hoping humor would help. “How am I right this time?”

“What you said about the two of us. It'd never work. You recognized that before I did.”

His words felt like a slap in the face. Hallie had no response, and even if she had, she doubted she could have spoken right then. Her heart actually hurt.

He buried his hands in his pockets. “I wish you well, Hallie McCarthy.”

“You, too, Steve Marris.” Her voice sounded weak and almost unrecognizable to her own ears.

He nodded once, then turned and walked away.

September 7

A
trickle of sweat rolled down Donnalee's bared abdomen as she sat in the rocking chair in front of Todd's summer home. A-frame cabins didn't traditionally have large front porches, but he'd added one several years before, building it himself. Donnalee loved sitting there in the afternoon shade, looking out over the water. Often she relaxed with a good book while Todd fished or worked about the property.

She wore shorts, and hoping it would cool her off, she'd unfastened her blouse and tied the loose ends together. Closing her eyes, she draped one leg over the side arm of the rocker, dangling her bare foot.

No one from the office would recognize her. Not without an expensive business suit and makeup. Not with her midriff exposed and her hair in pigtails.

Donnalee was happy, happier than she'd been since she was a child. Happy because she was deeply in love.

Hard as it was to believe, their wedding was less than a month away. Todd had wanted her to move in with him, and in reality, she might as well be living at his place now, but she continued to hang on to her own apartment. Every weekend they spent here, at the lake.

As a lazy afternoon breeze blew off the water, she continued to rock slowly back and forth. She dreamed of the future, the years to come, the family they would have.

Donnalee was immeasurably grateful to Hallie. It was because of her friend that she'd found Todd. But thinking about Hallie made her frown. Donnalee was worried about her. Worried about Steve, too. What a pair they were, both headstrong and stubborn.

She heard the porch creak and opened her eyes to find Todd approaching. She smiled and held her hand out to him. How good he looked, so tanned and handsome, so strong in mind and body. Often just seeing him produced a physical ache in her. One that was even deeper than sexual need—although they'd done their share of expressing
that,
too. The ache she experienced went beyond physical longing. It was a heartfelt sense of joy.

Todd clasped her hand in his and raised it to his lips. “You frowned just now. Are you worried about something?” He claimed the rocker next to hers, still holding her hand.

“I was thinking about Hallie.”

Todd didn't respond right away. “I'd like to shake those two.”

“So would I,” Donnalee said. Although she didn't say so, her sympathies were with Hallie, but she'd heard both sides—and she knew her friend well enough to recognize that Hallie was equally at fault.

“Steve's been in a foul mood for weeks,” Todd grumbled. “I had the audacity to suggest he patch things up with Hallie and he damn near bit my head off. That's not like Steve.” Todd paused. “He apologized later, and we went out for a beer. The sad part is, he loves Hallie. He told me so himself.”

This was news to Donnalee. “If he loves her, then why's he letting her move? I don't know that Hallie would admit it, but I think she was waiting for him to ask her not to go.”

“He wouldn't.”

“Why not?” Donnalee wanted to understand why two people who so obviously loved each other would allow this to happen.

“Well, Mary Lynn manipulated him for years. He's had enough of it. Steve refuses to play those games anymore.”

“But Hallie's not like that! And no one knows it better than Steve.”

“Another reason—he doesn't want a woman who'll walk out on him at the first sign of a disagreement. If Hallie loves him as much as you think, she should've been willing to work out whatever was wrong.”

“That's not how Hallie sees it. She believes Steve will always put Mary Lynn's needs above hers. She decided long ago that if she got married she wanted a man who's as committed to the relationship as she is. Hallie couldn't see Steve committing himself to her alone. I don't blame her, after the way he's behaved.”

“Just because he went to help Mary Lynn doesn't mean he doesn't love Hallie.”

“You know, I don't think Steve was keen on marrying Hallie.”

Now it was Todd's turn to frown. “Did she tell you that?”

“Yes…sort of.” She sighed. “And now Hallie hasn't mentioned Steve in some time. I hate to pry, but I can see she's miserable. She's deluded herself into thinking this move will be a solution.”

“Everything else aside, isn't that running away from him, instead of settling all this?” Todd asked.

“No.” The force of Donnalee's feelings drove her out of the rocking chair and to the porch steps, where she sank down, arms resting on her knees. “She doesn't know what else to do. She's in love with Steve, but she's afraid.”

“Afraid of what?”

“Steve's feelings for Mary Lynn, and her own for him. She's afraid she's always going to play second fiddle. You have to admit Steve's given her plenty of reason to assume so.”

“Mary Lynn's remarried.”

“Does that change Steve's feelings for her?”

“I don't know,” Todd said reluctantly. “I'd like to think so, but who's to say?”

“Steve?” Donnalee suggested.

“All I can tell you is that he's grieving for Hallie as much as he ever grieved over the end of his marriage.”

Donnalee felt an overpowering sadness for Hallie and Steve. “We can't ever let this happen to us,” she said, emotion thickening her voice.

“We won't,” Todd promised. He moved from the rocker to sit next to her on the step and placed his arm around her shoulders.

“They won't be able to avoid each other at the wedding.” She twisted about and leaned against him, absorbing his strength.

“I'd like to think we might be responsible for getting them back together,” he murmured into her hair.

“It would be fitting, since it's because of them that
we're
together.”

Todd's hand reached inside the opening of her blouse. His fingertips slid close to her breast.

“Todd,” she whispered in warning, “you're flirting with temptation.”

“Oh, I'm more than flirting with it, Donnalee.”

She smiled at him. They slept together every night and joked that they'd be all worn out before the honeymoon. “Will it always be this good with us?” she asked in a whisper.

Todd smiled, as if giving serious consideration to her question. “I certainly hope so. Sometimes after we've made love, I have to stop and pinch myself to believe I've found you.”

She shut her eyes and bit her lip when his hand closed firmly around her bare breast. Her body quickly responded; every part of her seemed to release a collective sigh. Taking advantage of her weakness for him, Todd quickly eased his hand between her thighs.

“I went a hell of a long time without a woman in my life and never gave it a thought. But I don't know that I can last ten minutes longer without making love to you.” His voice was rough with need.

She moaned stiffly and rolled her head back. “I haven't made the bed yet.”

“Good, then we won't need to worry about messing it up.”

“Don't you think we should use a bit more restraint?” she asked halfheartedly.

“No.” He unfastened the zipper on his jeans. “You're driving me crazy,” he said huskily in her ear. He had her blouse completely open now and was molding her breasts with his hands. His kisses left her breathless, his tongue probing her lips and seeking entry.

Donnalee was grateful the property was secluded, seeing that they couldn't keep their hands off each other. She suspected that in time this powerful need of theirs would wane, but it hadn't happened yet and showed no signs of doing so anytime soon.

Todd urged her toward the cabin.

Looping her arms around his neck, Donnalee whispered in his ear. “It's such a beautiful sunny afternoon. Are you
sure
you want to go inside?”

“I'm sure.” Without giving her time to argue, he hoisted her over his shoulder and advanced into the cabin.

Donnalee couldn't help laughing, the happiness spilling out of her. “Put me down this instant.”

“I have every intention of doing so.” He carried her directly into the bedroom and set her on the mattress.

Donnalee smiled up at Todd and was humbled by the love she saw in him. She could search the rest of her life and never find a man she would love more. Slowly she raised her arms to him in open invitation.

“Oh, Todd. I love you so much.” Her words were closer to a sigh.

Todd groaned and joined her on the bed, kissing her with a passion that left her head spinning and her thoughts incoherent.

Their lovemaking was wild, wanton and wonderful. Exhausted, they napped afterward. Donnalee awoke to find Todd gently cradling her in his arms.

He kissed the side of her neck. “You're thoughtful again.”

“I wish we could do something for Hallie and Steve,” she whispered. “I'm tossing her my bridal bouquet,” she went on.

“You think that'll help, do you?”

She could hear the smile in Todd's voice. “It certainly won't hurt.”

“Is she dating again?” he asked unexpectedly.

“No. What about Steve?”

Todd's shoulders shook with amusement. “You're kidding, right?”

“No. He dates, doesn't he?”

“No. Hallie was the exception.”

“She often is the exception,” Donnalee murmured, wishing with all her heart that her best friend would experience the kind of happiness she'd found with Todd.