Wish on the Moon (23 page)

"No."

"Do you want to tell me what happened?"

"It might be better if you heard it from
Dad."

He brushed her cheek with the back of his
hand, surprised the need to hold her close was still so strong. He
wasn't used to it yet. "Are you afraid I won't believe you?"

She smiled. "No. I just think it's better if
he tells you himself."

He could respect her reasons, whatever they
were. "All right. If there's an opening, I'll ask. But it doesn't
matter any more, does it? What matters is now."

"You've come to understand that?"

Her long intense look made his stomach clench
and his groin tighten. Laura was "now" personified. She mattered.
"I'm trying to." He suddenly realized he'd crushed her chain in his
hand. "I'll keep this and put a new one on it Friday."

He bent forward and tenderly kissed her
forehead. Her lips would tempt him more than he could endure at the
moment. A war raged inside him. He was trying to give "now" a
chance.

***

"Nora's glad Carey will be here for dinner,"
Ray said to Mitch as they watched the Thanksgiving Day Parade on
television and varied sounds and smells issued from the
kitchen.

"It means a lot to her to have him here."
Mitch's legs were stretched on the sofa, one ankle crossed over the
other. The parade was as good a diversion as any to keep him from
going into the kitchen and taking Laura in his arms or carrying her
upstairs. He'd thought about that when he was alone in his bed last
night, his sheets knotted from his tossing and turning. But he
couldn't do that in Ray's house. He wasn't sure he should do it at
all.

"What about you?"

Mitch remembered Ray was talking about his
brother being here for dinner. "Since I turned down Carey's request
for money, he's not speaking to me. He can't see I did it for his
own good."

Ray stared at the television and said low but
clear, "That's often a good excuse for wanting to maintain
control."

Mitch's head turned to the older man. "What
do you mean?"

Ray turned down the sound on the remote. "You
want Carey to do what you want him to do."

Ray's words rankled. Uncomfortable and no
longer relaxed, Mitch swung his feet to the floor. "I want to keep
him from destroying his life."

Ray gave Mitch a rueful smile and shook his
head. "That's what I thought I was doing with Laura. It didn't work
any more than your attempt will work."

Mitch didn't think he could compare himself
and Carey to Ray and Laura. But this was the opening he'd hoped
for. "What happened between you and Laura?"

Ray ran his hand through his thinning hair.
"She hasn't told you?"

Mitch shook his head. "She thought it would
be better if you did."

"I'm surprised she can be that fair." He
peered down at the toes of his wing-tipped shoes. Without raising
his head, Ray said soberly, "I offered her fiance twenty thousand
dollars to stay out of her life."

Mitch had never expected that. Knowing Ray,
he thought maybe he'd presented an ultimatum. And knowing Laura,
he'd guessed that would have made her do exactly what her father
didn't want. But to try and buy off Doug Sanders... The betrayal
she must have felt!

"What happened?" Mitch asked, wanting to know
the whole story.

"He refused the money. But that wasn't good
enough for me. I thought he wanted to marry her for a bigger chunk
of my money. I thought all I had to do was cut her off from it and
he'd be gone. So I told her she had to choose him or a partnership
with me."

Mitch was stunned. He'd never expected any of
this from Ray. He'd thought her father had maybe forbidden her to
marry and in rebellion she'd done it anyway to hurt him. To punish
Ray further, Mitch thought she'd purposely stayed away. But that
was a fictitious scenario formed because he respected Ray, before
he really knew Laura.

"You're looking at me differently. Have I
lost you, too, because I was stupid six years ago?" Ray's
expression was worried.

"I'm not going anywhere, Ray. Why didn't you
tell me all this before? You told me stories about her that led me
to believe she was selfish and uncaring, wild and
irresponsible."

"That's because I began to believe it myself.
I had to. I knew she'd never forgive me so I needed to feel
justified."

Mitch shook his head. "I'm surprised she came
back with me."

"So am I."

Uncomfortable silence settled between them.
Mitch wanted to dispell it. "At least you know she loves you.
She'll probably even forgive you if you give her the chance."

"It's probably too late."

"It's never too late if you both try. But I
can see why she doesn't want to stay in York." Mitch bet she was
afraid Ray would interfere in her life again or try to mold her
into what he wanted. How often had she told him how much it meant
that Doug had accepted her unconditionally? What a lure that must
have been.

Mitch's heart sank. If he'd entertained a
last lingering hope she'd change her mind and stay, it died.

***

Mitch was quiet during Thanksgiving dinner.
At first Laura thought it was Carey's presence. Carey always
managed to make himself the center of attention. He had a knack for
telling entertaining stories. She and everyone else except Mitch
encouraged him because it felt good to be together on a holiday and
laugh and share. She hoped Carey felt he belonged and would rethink
his plan to increase Nora's money.

Her father smiled more than Laura could
remember since her mother had died. Laura wished she could openly
discuss with him the situation that had torn them apart. But their
new relationship was so fragile, she was afraid to try. So she
enjoyed what was beginning and tried to build on it.

As they ate dessert, Mandy asked her, "Are we
going to call Anne and George? Do you think they're having
turkey?"

"I'm sure they're having turkey. Don't forget
to ask them who won when they pulled the wishbone."

"Can we call now?" It was obvious Mandy
missed their friends.

"As soon as you finish that last bite of
apple pie."

"I'm full."

"You can be excused. We'll call as soon as I
finish my pie."

"Can I push the buttons on your phone?"

Laura straightened the pink barrette in
Mandy's hair. "Yes, you can. But not till I can tell you which ones
to push."

"Okay." She hopped off her chair. "I'll go
see if Puffball ate the turkey and gravy Nora gave her."

When Mandy had left the table, Laura looked
up and caught Mitch watching her daughter leave the room. She
wished she knew what he was thinking. He was tender with Mandy, but
firm too when he had to be. Like the night she wanted him to read
her one more story when he'd already read two. And he hadn't fallen
for the "I need a glass of water" stall tactic either. He'd solved
the problem by setting a full glass on her nightstand. He'd make a
wonderful father.

The thought created a weight on Laura's
heart. She wondered how Mandy would feel about leaving Ray and
Mitch. She'd bonded with both of them. Yet she seemed ready to go
back to Anne and George. Was life that much clearer for a child?
Would Mandy remember these few weeks in York if they left? How
would she react if they stayed? Laura didn't want to suggest it
until the possibility existed.

She went to get Mandy so they could make
their phone call to Anne and George and tell them they'd be home in
two weeks.

As the afternoon wore on, Mitch didn't
initiate contact. Laura knew it wasn't simply his interest in the
football game. She couldn't stand the way he isolated himself from
her, especially after last night in the kitchen. Last night had
given her hope. But today...

She needed time alone. Using the excuse she
wanted to price a shipment of dinner rings that had come in at the
store, she pulled her coat from the closet. After a kiss for Mandy,
Laura left, saying she'd be back in an hour or two.

She lost track of time as she checked the
packing slips and tagged first cocktail rings, then bracelets, then
watches. The repetitive actions and silence soothed her though the
weight on her heart didn't diminish.

Sounds at the back door startled and alarmed
her. She had reset the system, hadn't she? She had.

Seconds later Mitch stood in the office, a
wicker basket hanging over one arm.

"You scared me." His eyes held hers and she
sensed he'd come to a decision about them.

"I didn't mean to. It's after seven. I
brought a picnic in case you were hungry--coffee, turkey
sandwiches, slices of pie."

His thoughtfulness lifted the weight in her
chest and she began to hope again. "Thank you. I didn't realize it
was so late."

He took off his leather jacket and hung it on
the coat rack next to hers. Jeans showed off his physique in a way
dress slacks couldn't. Beltless and well worn, they hugged his slim
hips, molded to his thighs and urged her to remember the sight of
his body unclothed. She remembered all too well. Shifting her
attention upward wasn't much better. His blue and navy plaid
flannel shirt was open at the neck and revealed a few of the hairs
she knew were scattered across his upper chest.

He moved, taking a blanket from the basket.
"I thought we'd make this a real picnic. I couldn't find ants to
bring along. It's too cold and they're hibernating."

"Do ants hibernate?"

He smiled. "I'll check it out in case Mandy
asks." Scooting a chair to the side, he spread the blanket on the
carpet. Placing the basket in the corner, he sat down. "Come on.
The coffee's just brewed."

She plopped beside him. "Did Nora get this
ready?"

"Nope. I did. The sandwiches probably aren't
as neat as hers would be, but they're as good." He picked up the
thermos.

"Why did you do this, Mitch? I would've been
home soon. It's almost Mandy's bedtime."

"I know."

She waited.

"I want to spend some time with you. I like
being with you. And after the other night... I want to be with you
even more."

She trembled and everything inside her
screamed, Ask me to stay. But it was too soon for that. He was just
coming to realize they had something precious between them. What if
he didn't realize the extent of it in time? Fear shook her along
with desire.

He gently caressed her cheek with his thumb.
"Ray told me what he did to you. I understand why you left."

Tears came to her eyes as she thought about
the time she and her father had lost. "I had to go. He gave me no
choice. If I had stayed, if I had denied my love for Doug to please
Dad, I would have never grown up. My father would have had power
over me for the rest of my life. I had to live my life, not the
life he chose for me."

"I know. I just wish there had been some
other way. He spent lonely years. You could have used his support
when your husband died."

"Maybe even before," she admitted.

He reached for her and brought her to him
gently. She loved his gentleness. She'd seen it with her daughter
and felt it in his touch. His invading, sensual kiss left her
clinging to him. Tears burned in her eyes. This was exactly what
she wanted, where she wanted to be. In his arms. In his life.

"I've missed you," he said simply, his voice
raspy as he rubbed his cheek against hers.

"I've been right here."

"But I haven't." He lifted his head. "Maybe
the way you live is best. Take today and tomorrow be damned."

She wanted tomorrow too. "That's not all I
believe."

"Sshh." He trailed a path of kisses down her
throat. "No talking. Not now. Let's just live."

Of course, she wanted to live. She wanted to
experience everything she could with him. But today didn't mean
half as much without knowing if they had the rest of their lives.
But maybe he'd never trust himself enough, or her, to trust
tomorrow.

His blue eyes swallowed her as he carefully
undressed her, taking the time he couldn't on Friday night. Slow
was as exciting as fast, maybe even more so. Once her sweater was
over her head, he kissed her shoulder, each touch of his lips a
shock that connected to her womb.

She reached for him, but he caught her wrists
with one of his large hands. "No, not yet." His voice was as
commanding as his gaze.

"I want my turn."

He chuckled. "You'll get it. I want to kiss
you everywhere, in every way." While he unsnapped her bra, he
nibbled her shoulder. As the fabric melted into nothingness, he
brushed his fingers down to her hips and up her back.

She shivered and leaned into him, aroused and
wanting more. His lips took one lazy journey after the other until
they teased her breast. He flicked his tongue until she thought
she'd go mad. And when he reached for the zipper on her slacks, she
turned the tables.

She didn't care about slow. She wanted to
touch him. This time she grabbed his wrist and kissed the inside.
When he closed his eyes to savor the pleasure of it, she quickly
unbuttoned his shirt. She stared a long time. She loved looking at
him. Bending forward, she rubbed her chin over his dark nipple.

His breath hissed out.

"Do you like that as much as I do?" she
asked.

"I like it," he muttered hoarsely.

She did it again and then used her
tongue.

And the exploration continued.

He sucked on her breast and blazed moist
kisses on her stomach. She nipped his earlobe and blew hot air
across his ribs.

His hands lured and promised as they stroked
inch by inch over her hip. Her fingers tantalized and stunned as
they charted his thigh.

He probed her secret places. She gasped and
arched.

She found his manhood and curled her hand
around him. He groaned and pulled her on top of him.