Home Fires by Barbara Delinsky Page B

her tightly in response.
    â€œTell me.”
    â€œYou’ve made me want you so badly that I can’t think straight.”
    â€œThat’s only fair, considering what you’ve done to me .”
    â€œAnd what’s that?” she whispered against his chest, hearing the jagged leap of his heart, a herald of his
confession. But his voice was so suddenly sober that she pulled back to look at him. His eyes were the richest shade of brown she’d ever seen.
    â€œYou’ve made everything else seem insignificant. The work that means so much to me suddenly doesn’t. It’s behind me on this table and I couldn’t care less. All I care about at this minute is holding you, kissing you, making love to you … .”
    Deanna shared the feeling. Though she couldn’t bring herself to say them, her eyes echoed his words.
    Mark grew suddenly troubled and set her gently away from him. “The worst of it is that I forget myself, Deanna. This is Hunt territory. What we’re doing here will only complicate your worries. Not that I agree with them, mind you. You have nothing to fear from me. I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize your position. But you’re worried about something, aren’t you?”
    Slowly recovering from the passionate high she’d been on moments earlier, Deanna stared at Mark, then looked away. With this return of reality had come a spate of worries, but they weren’t at all those she’d expected. Distracted, she turned and wandered the length of the conference table, finally stopping just beyond the sketches of the proposed hospital.
    â€œIt’s really beautiful, Mark,” she complimented him softly. “I’m glad you’re doing this for us.”
    He opened his mouth to say something, then changed his mind when a sound at the door drew their attention.
    â€œSorry about that!” Bob burst through the door, totally oblivious to what he’d missed. “It took longer than I’d thought.” Pausing, he looked expectantly from Deanna to Mark and back. “Well, Deanna? Do we have your approval?”
    Did you ever really need it? she asked silently, but forced an outward return to character. “It’s perfect, Bob.
You chose the architect well. Our hospital will be the pride of Atlanta.”
    â€œI knew you’d think so! But now PR is waiting for you. Shall we go?”
    With a docile nod Deanna started for the door. Then she paused. “I know the way, Bob. Surely you have something more urgent … ?”
    Bob managed to cover his surprise with a downward glance at his watch. “I do have an appointment at Emory regarding those fellowships,” he mused aloud, then looked up. “Are you all set here, Mark?”
    Mark swung his head toward the stack of blueprints. “I’d like to go over these once more before I leave. Do you mind if I use this room a little longer?”
    â€œOf course not Take your time. You’ll be back on Tuesday?”
    Deanna’s ears perked up. So he was returning to Savannah and would be away over the weekend. That must have been his pattern the week before too.
    Mark saw her comprehension before he answered Bob. “That’s right. Next week should do it on the preliminaries.”
    Only Bob seemed pleased. “Good work! Then it will be up to us to finish raising the money. Think we can do it, Deanna?”
    It took her a minute to ingest his question. “Uh, I think so. We’ll certainly try.” She hesitated, wanting … not wanting. “Well, I’d better get downstairs.”
    â€œAnd I’d better be on my way. Deanna, I’ll talk with you tomorrow. Mark, see you Tuesday.”
    As she stood by and watched the two men shake hands, she felt suspended, waiting for a final word she had no right to. Then, with a soft-spoken “Mark …” and a parting nod, she left the conference room. Her steps were unusually