Mystery Lover(26)

"Why would I want to say no?" she asked, curling her arms around his  neck and burying her head in his neck. "Those fantasies I was sharing  with you should have given you some clue regarding my feelings about  you."

She could feel him begin to relax beneath her. At least parts of him seemed to be relaxing. Then there were other parts.. . .

Chad slid his hands into her hair and held her face still in front of him. "I missed you so much, Sunshine," he murmured.

"You did?" She was sure he could feel her heart racing.

"Very much."

"Why didn't you call?"

"I was afraid to, afraid to hear your voice. To be honest, I didn't need  the distraction, if I was ever going to get finished and get back here  to you." He kissed the tip of her nose. "We've got so many years to  catch up on."

She nodded. "I know. There's so much I don't know about you, about your family, your friends.. . . "

"You have been my closest friend. Always."

"But why couldn't I pick up on your thoughts the way you always have mine?"

"I wasn't sure you couldn't. I don't know. Maybe it takes practice.  There were times when I purposely didn't want you to know what I was  thinking. Particularly in the office. I felt as though I put up a mental  shield between us, but I was never sure if it worked."

"Oh, it worked all right. I never had a clue that C. W. Cameron was Chad."

He hugged her to him, his hands sliding up and down her back. "Are you glad I'm home?"

"I certainly am." She leaned away from him slightly and announced, "I intend to kill you."

He smiled and she noticed that he didn't look quite as tired as he did  when he first arrived. "How interesting," he drawled. "Hasn't anyone  ever pointed but that it makes it tougher when you announce your  intentions to the proposed victim?"

"Why did you send that new nameplate and the flowers?"

His smile widened into a mischievous grin. "Didn't you like them?"

"They were beautiful. But you knew what a stir they'd cause."

"But darling, I was only concerned about your reputation," he said, his  expression solemn. "After you graphically depicted my sexual preferences  in order to save my reputation, I didn't want anyone in the office to  get the wrong idea about you. I wanted to be sure they knew that you  were, indeed, a 'Sadie, Sadie, Married Lady.'"

"Ah, hah! You've seen Funny Girl. "

"A few dozen times, probably."

"You mean you're a Streisand fan?"

"Isn't everyone?"

"Do you realize what this means?"

"What?"

"Chad! We've finally found something we have in common."

He began to kiss her under her ear. "I think we've already discovered a few others things we have in common, don't you?"

Of course he was right. They had shared memories of the past several  years, even if he knew more about her than she did about him. The  important thing was that he was now willing to share his life with her.  He had come to her as soon as he reached town, even though he was  obviously tired and in need of rest and-"Oh! Your coffee!" Jennifer slid  off his lap and hurried into the kitchen.

When she came back in carrying a tray she discovered that he had taken  off his suit coat, his tie and his shoes, and had rolled up his shirt  sleeves to the elbow.

He looked so good sitting there on her couch. She had messed up his hair  a little, running her fingers through it, but it made him look more  human, and less businesslike. The sizzling gleam in his eye also added  to the more human and less business look.

She sat down beside him and handed him his coffee.

He accepted it with a smile that caused her heart to skip. He took a sip and asked, "So how are things at the office?"

Obviously the office hadn't been on his mind for the past week or he  would have called. Either that, or he trusted her enough to handle  whatever problems might occur in his absence. In either event, she  wasn't going to let him off lightly. "Funny you should ask."                       
       
           



       

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, I'm not sure where to start," she said slowly, as though  thinking. Tilting her head slightly she continued, "Should I tell you  first about discovering that the bookkeeper has been embezzling our  trust funds, or that the receptionist ran off to Australia with your  best investigator, or that the fire only destroyed the outer offices?''

She had to give him credit. He made a quick recovery. For a second she  thought for sure he was going to spill the coffee down his shirt.  Instead, he sat up abruptly and set the cup down.

"You're kidding me," he said, staring at her intently.

She shrugged. "Of course I'm kidding you. What else?"

He leaned toward her slightly. "You mean none of that is true?"

"Weelll, I did notice the receptionist giving Bill the eye the other  day. But since he's got five kids already and is old enough to be her  father, I kind of doubt he's going to take her up on anything."

He shook his head, and pulled her into his arms again. With deliberate  thoroughness he claimed her mouth with his own, as though he couldn't  get enough of her. Finally, he pulled away slightly, breathing  unsteadily. "How was I ever so lucky to discover you?"

"You know," she said with a mock serious look on her face, "Mother and I  were just discussing that very thing last week." She began to smile at  the expression on his face. "We've decided you're very fortunate to have  found me."

"You know," he said, "I believe you and your mother might have a point there."

Once again he began to kiss her-soft, nipping kisses that caused her  toes to curl inside her pajamas. He played with her bottom lip, teasing  her with his teeth, then licking away any hurt with his tongue. When she  felt him groan, she knew that the teasing was getting to him as much as  it was her.

And yet something still bothered her.

She pushed away from him. "Chad?"

"Hmm?"

"We can't just keep doing this."

"Doing what?"

"Falling into each other's arms when you're in town and never talking."

He nodded. "Good point. What do you want to talk about?"

"I need to know-" She stopped, and couldn't seem to go on.

After a few minutes, he prompted, "What?"

"What is it you need to know? That I love you?" He nuzzled her neck, "I  do. To distraction. That I missed you terribly? That, too." He kissed  her once more.

What, indeed, did she need to know? Didn't she know everything that was  necessary, after all? He loved her. She loved him. He had sought her out  as soon as he got home, not waiting to rest. Obviously he wanted to be  with her. Wasn't that enough?

"Nothing, really. I know all I need to know," she acknowledged with a smile, placing her arms around his neck.

He smiled, and she thought her heart would melt. He had the sweetest,  most loving smile and he used it so rarely. Whenever he did, it had a  very potent effect on her. Talk about a concealed weapon. This man could  be downright dangerous to a woman's peace of mind.

Chad stood up, pulling her up beside him. "I have a great idea."

"What's that?"

"Why don't you show me around your apartment?"

She looked around the small area, perplexed. "But this is it. You can  see the kitchen from here. The only other thing is the bath and bedro-"  She grinned. "Oh. Okay. Why don't I show you the rest of my apartment?"

He nodded. "Good idea. I've never been here before."

"I know. I was surprised you knew where I lived."

"I didn't," he admitted sheepishly. "I had to look it up in your personnel file."

She laughed and took his hand. "All right. For the grand tour I would  like to point out the master bedroom suite-Don't stumble over the chair  there," she added, "and the adjoining bath." The room still carried the  scent of her bath oil. Turning, she said, "Was there anything else?"

"I'm afraid it's too small."

She looked at him blankly.

"For two people," he added helpfully.

"I'm not surprised. I didn't rent it for two people. Sam doesn't take up all that much room."

He glanced around the room. "Ah, yes. Sam. I've been eager to meet him. Where is he?"

She shrugged. "I forgot to mention that he's very shy with people at  first. So he's hiding somewhere. As soon as he knows he's safe with you,  he'll come out."                       
       
           



       

"I see. Well, another time, perhaps."

She watched him, a little uncertain of his mood. She had never been  around him in this relaxed, teasing mood. Except, of course, for their  weekend honeymoon. Even then, he hadn't been this lighthearted. He'd  been much more intense, almost desperate with her at times.