A Lasting Love (16 page)

"Did you try the pool?"

"Um-hum. Nearly froze."

"The sunset?"

"Spectacular."

"So are you." He buried his face against her
neck.

"How's your father?"

His voice was a low groan. "Stable. We're waiting and
watching."

"I’m so sorry. . . " She comforted him in a mellow
voice, holding and stroking the masculine form pressed against her
throughout the night. And they fell asleep together.

The sun was squeezing through the shutters the next
morning when Loren awoke. She gazed sleepily around the empty room
and wondered if she had been dreaming again that she'd held Reid in
her arms all night. It wouldn't be the first time such a vivid
dream had been hers.

Chapter Eight

Loren was amazed at the coolness of the desert
morning, knowing that the temperature would reach nearly a hundred
by midday. She enjoyed a light breakfast of fresh fruit and a
Mexican sweet roll with strong coffee. Afterward she roamed around
the grounds by herself. On the way to the stables she scared up a
large jack rabbit with towering ears. The horses were frisking
around an enclosed field, obviously enjoying the early morning
coolness. She propped her arms on the fence railing and watched the
quaint ambling of a roadrunner. He screwed his head all the way
around and gazed curiously at her, then streamlined his strange
body and ran away. A family of Gambel's quail, topknots bobbing,
scurried out of sight.

She was still chuckling about the unusual animals she
had seen when she approached the veranda.

"Hola,
Senorita
Loren," Lupe greeted her. "Would you
like something else to eat? You didn't eat much this
morning."

"I had plenty, Lupe. Thank you. Don't forget I sat in
a plane almost all day yesterday. But I would like some tea. I'm
very thirsty this morning."

"Si.
That's because
it's very dry here on the desert. You should always keep drinking
something. We have some beer, if you like," Lupe added with a grin.
“Or water.

"Oh,
no,"
Loren
chuckled. "Water or tea would be just fine for me. Let me
come with you, and I'll fix it."

Lupe
led the way into the kitchen, and Loren perched on a
convenient stool. "Where's Reid?"

"
Señor
Reid has gone to the hospital this
morning. Said he wanted to see the doctor when he went
around."
Lupe
shrugged.

Loren stirred her tea and explained with a smile,
"Most doctors make rounds to check on their patients every morning,
very early. Sometimes it's the only time to talk personally with
the physician."

"Oh." Lupe
gave Loren a glass of ice and set a tea pitcher out. "Reid is
very worried about his father. This has come at a very bad time for
him, with the business he must do in Washington.
Señor
Mecina is a fine man ... very nice man." Her voice trailed
off, and she shook her head.

"You're worried about Senator Mecina, too,
aren't you,
Lupe?"
Loren asked with concern.

Lupe
nodded silently.
"Si.
He
is so sick, I'm afraid he will—" She stopped and choked back a sob.
She raised large, tear-filled eyes to Loren. "I'm sorry,
señorita,
I didn't mean to let you see me cry."

"Why not?
Lupe,
I understand your feelings. Go ahead and
cry. Let go of your emotions. It’s healthy."

Lupe
looked doubtfully at Loren. "He is more than a boss. He is a
friend, so good to my family.
Es amigo.
"

"Of course you feel strong emotions for him.
Don't be embarrassed to shed a few tears,
Lupe,"
Loren encouraged her
gently.

“
I guess I just think Reid’s got too much to
worry about without a silly woman who sits around the kitchen
wringing her hands and crying."

Loren smiled sympathetically and reached across
the counter to pat Lupe's shoulder. "You aren't silly. And you
certainly aren't sitting around wringing idle hands. How long have
you worked for the
Mecinas?"

"Twenty years. And
mi madre
before that.
She helped take care of
Señora
Mecina before she died, and Reid was
just a little boy." She paused to blow her nose. "When I was old
enough to help, they hired me too.
Señor
Mecina has been so good to
me."

"I know you're grateful to him. He is a loving and
kind man," Loren acknowledged gently.

"If only there was something I could do to
help,"
Lupe
wailed, wiping her eyes with her apron.

"Well, you are doing something,
Lupe.
You're
keeping the house going and meals cooked and everything around here
running. I know Reid really appreciates that. It's important to
him."

"You're kind,
Señorita
Loren,"
Lupe
murmured. "Nice to let
me cry and make me feel good about doing nothing."

"Lupe,
personally I'm very glad you're here. You're keeping me
company. I would be very lonely without you here in this big,
rambling house."

"Some company,"
Lupe
sniffed.

"You've been marvelous. Now, tell me what in
the world you're cooking. It smells wonderful." Loren peeked into
the pot that was simmering on the stove. She listened attentively
as
Lupe
explained her method of making Reid's favorite,
Berria.

Around noon Reid returned. He explained to a
very worried
Lupe
that his father was in stable condition and doing
well.

"Lupe,
'stable' means he isn't getting worse. Not now, anyway. They
are giving him medicine to fight the infections. You know he's a
strong man. He'll pull through this." He placed a reassuring arm
around her rounded shoulders and hugged her. “Do I smell
berria
cooking?”

Lupe smiled and nodded. “For you. And
Senor
Mecina when he comes
home.”

"Is he awake?" Loren asked.

"Yes." Reid smiled grimly. "And he recognized me.
Gave me hell for loafing around the hospital. Said I should get to
work back here."

Lupe
smiled, somewhat relieved with the tale. "Oh,
Señor
Reid, I'm so happy. My prayers have been answered." She
crossed herself quickly.

Reid held his hands up. "I'm not saying there
is no more danger, but things are looking up. Now, this man's
hungry,
Lupe.
Could I have a couple of soft
tacos with chicken and salsa?
I've
missed your food terribly. You'll never guess what this lady tried
to feed me a few days ago."

"What,
Señor
Reid?" Lupe's eyes grew
large.

Reid shook his head. "Oh, I don't dare tell
you,
Lupe.
It would ruin your meals for the next week."

“
What?”

"It wouldn't be fair,
Lupe."
He sighed. "Well, maybe . .
."

She leaned toward him curiously. "Yes?"

He whispered loudly. "A creature from
the
sea, Lupe!
With crawly legs and big eyes!"

"No! No! I don't want to hear no more!" She
covered her ears. "I'll fix the
tacos!
Not another word!"
Lupe
made a dash for the door
while Reid chuckled devilishly.

"Loren needs some lessons on how to cook real
food,
Lupe.
Will you help her?" He called laughingly after the retreating
woman.

"Sí,
sí,
Señor
Reid!" Lupe's voice trailed off as she
escaped his taunting.

The mood had switched from one of mourning to a
lighter one. Reid's very presence did it. He managed to give
everyone a sense of security and a feeling that everything would be
all right. Yes, Reid was home.
His home . .
.

Loren gazed over the strange landscape. Would
she ever look at it and not think,
‘how
strange’?

"You're good for her, Reid. She has been extremely
worried about your father. A little diversion and a few laughs were
exactly what she needed."

Reid ran his hand wearily through his hair. "I know
this has been a heavy load for her to handle. I'm sure she feels
somewhat responsible for being essentially in charge of the
hacienda when he got sick. But it just couldn't be helped. She must
realize that she isn't to blame."

"Well, you certainly gave her some relief. And I'm
glad Senator Mecina is better, Reid."

He raised his eyebrows. "He's still in serious
condition, Loren."

"Then why did you tell Lupe he was stable?"

"I didn't really lie about his condition, just
stretched it somewhat. His life signs are now stable. That, in
itself, is hopeful. But he's still struggling to live. Problem is,
Raul took my father to the hospital and stayed with him until I
arrived. Of course, Dad has tubes everywhere and oxygen and the
heart monitor beeping all the time. All that just scared the hell
out of Raul, and he spread his fears to everyone around here. So
I've got to keep their spirits up, with false hope if necessary, so
they can continue their lives. My father needs them to continue
their work. So do I. Dad would really raise hell if he knew they
were sitting around, wringing their hands."

Loren smiled at his comments, recalling Lupe's almost
exact words. "Somehow I think they all know that."

Reid began unbuttoning his western shirt. "Let's take
a quick swim before lunch. That pool looks so inviting to me, and I
can't think of a better way to enjoy it than with you."

"Okay, it's a deal. Meet you in a minute." Loren
agreed, hurrying to follow Reid in the house.

As she slid the sleek black swimsuit up her long,
straight legs and over slender hips, Loren reflected on how
wonderful it was to have the liberty to swim and relax in this
desert world of Reid's. It gave her the opportunity to unwind with
no commitments, no appointments, no noisy traffic jams. It was
wonderful here. She hadn't realized just how much she had needed
this little vacation, marred though it was by Reid's father's
illness.

What an adjustment Reid had made when he first came
to Washington and adopted her very city-oriented way of life.
Except for the cowboy boots, he had blended well. At least enough
for her to fall in love with him . . . and hold on to that love for
six cheerless years. Now that he was back in her life, she intended
to enjoy every treasured moment.

Loren arrived on the veranda in time to see Reid,
clad in a brief black bikini, stretch to his full masculine length.
With an easy spring of taut leg muscles, he dove into the blue
water, making barely a splash. She took a shaky breath, blatantly
admiring the athletic form of this man whom she had loved for so
long. His dark head emerged, and he swam the entire length of the
pool with long, smooth strokes.

Loren stood by the pool's edge until Reid motioned
her in. The hot Arizona sun warmed her shoulders and the sight of
Reid's appealing virility radiated feminine cravings throughout her
body. She dove into the cold water, and the fire within her cooled
quickly. She came to the surface with a healthy shout and was
immediately engulfed in Reid's arms, pulling her to his scantily
clad body.

"Dios
mío!
You
are gorgeous in that suit, woman. Is this really my Loren?"
Laughingly he ran his hands down her slick form, pausing to cup her
breasts and tease the nipples, then stroke ever downward over ribs
and around her slim waist. When his hands reached her hips, they
caressed the slight curve, relishing her femininity, then pressed
her to him.

Loren floated against him, instinctively wrapping her
long legs around him to stay above water. She felt his force
against her as his hands dug into her hips. She reached for his
shoulders and, with a teasing shriek, pushed his head under water
and swam away from his roving hands.

"Hey!" he shouted upon emerging from the shimmery
depths. "You'll pay for that, woman!" And he swam playfully after
her.

She giggled as he pulled her against him again, this
time sealing her mouth with his. Breathlessly she clung to him,
drinking of his intoxicating kiss, allowing their passion to
mingle. His lips were persistent, his tongue quickly penetrating to
taste her sweetness. She met his probing with a welcoming of her
own and shamelessly clamped her legs around his waist as the two of
them floated to a warm haven far beyond the blazing Arizona sun.
While Reid's lips incited her wanton abandon, his hands moved
underwater and under her suit to excite her intimately.

The touch of her breasts, cold against his
palms, tore at his control. When those dark peaks stood up to his
satis
faction, he stroked elsewhere—downward over her
slick-
suited hips. Sensuously running long, curious
fingers
around the legs of her suit, he found easy
access to further
probing, adding to her eagerness by
the minute.