and ask her about him."
"She seems happy, Marla. In my book, that's what counts."
* * * *
"I can't believe how everyone fooled me," she said to Vail during the drive home. Weariness settled into her bones as she sank back into the seat cushion.
"You've been preoccupied," he said in a teasing tone.
She considered her recent schedule. "I guess so. I don't have any free time coming up, either. I want to see Stan about those albums, talk to his neighbors, meet Kim's classmates, and I still have to take care of Miriam!"
"What happened during your interview on Sunday?"
"I never told you, did I?" She gave him an accusing glance. "You didn't return my phone calls."
"I didn't dare speak to you before tonight, or I might have given away the surprise."
Marla described her adventures as a nurse's aide. "I'll try to find out who this Uncle Jerry person is, although I have to be careful what I say when I'm at Miriam's place. If I reveal my intimate knowledge of Stan's affairs, I'll blow my cover." She patted her purse. "You can reach me on my cell phone if you need me. That was a really thoughtful gift."
He pulled up to the curb in front of her townhouse and shut off the ignition. Street lamps lent a soft glow to the night, but they didn't compare to the gleam in his eyes when he turned the full power of his gaze on her.
"I know how you can express your gratitude."
"I can't imagine what you mean." She smiled coyly. "Come inside, I have a Valentine's Day gift for you. Watch out for Spooks." After the poodle greeted them, she offered Vail a cup of coffee.
"I had enough at the restaurant. Let's sit on the couch."
Uh-oh. Dangerous place, a couch. She retrieved the wrapped box she'd forgotten to bring earlier and handed it to him. Her heart hammering, she sank down on the sofa. It delighted her to see the pleased reaction on his face as he examined the package.
"What is it?"
"You'll see."
He tore it open like a child, making her wonder when was the last time he'd received a genuine gift, other than from Brianna. "It's a beautiful pen." He turned the silver instrument around to examine it.
"You take notes so often. I thought you could use this."
"It's great." He placed it on the cocktail table before turning to her. "I'll thank you first." Putting his arms around her, he drew her close.
Pressed against his solid length, she felt her limbs liquefy. His spice cologne sent her pulse thrumming.
His thumb stroked her cheek. "Your skin is so soft, just like your heart. Being with you takes me away from all the ugliness I face every day."
"Oh, Dalton." She saw the need in his eyes, and yearning overwhelmed her. Reaching up, she pulled his head down and kissed him.
"I've waited a long time for this," he murmured against her ear when they came up for air.
"Well, don't stop now!"
His hands slid down her body as he drew her in for a deeper kiss. "I won't be able to leave if we go any further."
"Mmm," she murmured. "I don't want you to go."
He sucked in a ragged breath. "Are you sure?"
"Yes."
With a groan, he slipped the dress straps off her shoulders. His mouth found her bared flesh, and Marla's senses reeled. She was just about to suggest they move to more comfortable accommodations when a cell phone rang.
"Is that mine?" she asked, springing backward.
"No, it's this one." He pulled it off his belt. "Vail here." A pause, during which time he picked his tie off the sofa. "Brie, is that you? Anything wrong?" He glanced guiltily at Marla. "No, the party is over. I'm at Marla's. Yes, I'm coming right home. You should be in bed already. No, I'm not doing anything I'll regret, and wash out your mouth for thinking that way. Don't wait up for me."
He disconnected, a sheepish grin on his face. "Gotta go. Next time, I'll make sure she sleeps over her friend's house."
Disappointment washed over her, followed by relief as she saw him to the door and waved good-night. _Another reason why not to get
"She seems happy, Marla. In my book, that's what counts."
* * * *
"I can't believe how everyone fooled me," she said to Vail during the drive home. Weariness settled into her bones as she sank back into the seat cushion.
"You've been preoccupied," he said in a teasing tone.
She considered her recent schedule. "I guess so. I don't have any free time coming up, either. I want to see Stan about those albums, talk to his neighbors, meet Kim's classmates, and I still have to take care of Miriam!"
"What happened during your interview on Sunday?"
"I never told you, did I?" She gave him an accusing glance. "You didn't return my phone calls."
"I didn't dare speak to you before tonight, or I might have given away the surprise."
Marla described her adventures as a nurse's aide. "I'll try to find out who this Uncle Jerry person is, although I have to be careful what I say when I'm at Miriam's place. If I reveal my intimate knowledge of Stan's affairs, I'll blow my cover." She patted her purse. "You can reach me on my cell phone if you need me. That was a really thoughtful gift."
He pulled up to the curb in front of her townhouse and shut off the ignition. Street lamps lent a soft glow to the night, but they didn't compare to the gleam in his eyes when he turned the full power of his gaze on her.
"I know how you can express your gratitude."
"I can't imagine what you mean." She smiled coyly. "Come inside, I have a Valentine's Day gift for you. Watch out for Spooks." After the poodle greeted them, she offered Vail a cup of coffee.
"I had enough at the restaurant. Let's sit on the couch."
Uh-oh. Dangerous place, a couch. She retrieved the wrapped box she'd forgotten to bring earlier and handed it to him. Her heart hammering, she sank down on the sofa. It delighted her to see the pleased reaction on his face as he examined the package.
"What is it?"
"You'll see."
He tore it open like a child, making her wonder when was the last time he'd received a genuine gift, other than from Brianna. "It's a beautiful pen." He turned the silver instrument around to examine it.
"You take notes so often. I thought you could use this."
"It's great." He placed it on the cocktail table before turning to her. "I'll thank you first." Putting his arms around her, he drew her close.
Pressed against his solid length, she felt her limbs liquefy. His spice cologne sent her pulse thrumming.
His thumb stroked her cheek. "Your skin is so soft, just like your heart. Being with you takes me away from all the ugliness I face every day."
"Oh, Dalton." She saw the need in his eyes, and yearning overwhelmed her. Reaching up, she pulled his head down and kissed him.
"I've waited a long time for this," he murmured against her ear when they came up for air.
"Well, don't stop now!"
His hands slid down her body as he drew her in for a deeper kiss. "I won't be able to leave if we go any further."
"Mmm," she murmured. "I don't want you to go."
He sucked in a ragged breath. "Are you sure?"
"Yes."
With a groan, he slipped the dress straps off her shoulders. His mouth found her bared flesh, and Marla's senses reeled. She was just about to suggest they move to more comfortable accommodations when a cell phone rang.
"Is that mine?" she asked, springing backward.
"No, it's this one." He pulled it off his belt. "Vail here." A pause, during which time he picked his tie off the sofa. "Brie, is that you? Anything wrong?" He glanced guiltily at Marla. "No, the party is over. I'm at Marla's. Yes, I'm coming right home. You should be in bed already. No, I'm not doing anything I'll regret, and wash out your mouth for thinking that way. Don't wait up for me."
He disconnected, a sheepish grin on his face. "Gotta go. Next time, I'll make sure she sleeps over her friend's house."
Disappointment washed over her, followed by relief as she saw him to the door and waved good-night. _Another reason why not to get
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