Paradise (31 page)

“I can’t stay here. My life is finally going to start. I’m not going to be trapped in Hooterville with a passel of drool-faced brats and a white picket fence. I’m not going to miss my big chance.”

He stepped back as if she’d slapped him. “Hooterville, huh? Fine. If that’s what you want, go to the
Big
City
. You think you can lose yourself there? I’ve got news for you. You’re already lost. You just want to hide. Little towns aren’t your problem. It’s your little mind you can’t get past. You think everyone sees your mother when they look at you. Well, here’s a clue for you, darlin’, nobody cares about your past or your mother’s. You’re just not that important to them.”

He looked off into the distance. “But you are important to me,” he muttered almost inaudibly.

“I am not hiding. You don’t understand. You don’t want to understand. You can’t see past your own agenda. You’re crazy if you think I could fall in love in a week!”

Too late to retract them, her words hit their mark. His face turned to stone, his eyes granite. She’d meant to zing him. She just hadn’t meant to hurt him in the process.

“Look, Eddie, I didn’t mean --”

“I guess we’re at an impasse. Too bad.” He shook his head and crossed his arms. “Let’s get out of here. The skies are going to open up any minute.” He turned and retraced his steps to the car, leaving her to follow.

* * * * *

“Here.” Eddie tossed her the car keys. Somehow, all the fun of driving her hot car disappeared. He crossed to the passenger side and climbed in. Robbie shrugged and got in behind the wheel.

He tried to find a balance, but her damn lavender scent surrounded him and wound itself around his heart. How could he have let this happen? He’d known she was everything he didn’t want. Career-minded, ambitious, status conscious. But it hadn’t mattered. He’d wanted her. He still wanted her.

The first drops of rain pinged off the windshield. It was going to be another drencher. At least now he knew why she had a designer label on everything she owned. She’d had to prove her worth, her value, every day of her life. And she equated self-worth with an upscale lifestyle, glamour and prestige.

His own childhood had been a fairy tale compared to hers. Funny, she seemed convinced that her past would repulse him. That once he heard
the great confession
of her parentage, he’d run from her and never look back. Quite the opposite, her pedestal only got higher. My God, what she had overcome to get where she was.

He stared out the side window at nothing. Narrow rivulets of water streaked the glass. He didn’t care what she said about love or small towns. They were good together, and he wasn’t going to let her slip away.

“We just missed our turnoff.” He had to lighten the mood, get her back to her sarcastic self if he was to have half a chance of putting their relationship on track again. From the tone of her voice and the covert glances, Ms. Roberta Miller was far from done with him. And he intended to press his advantage.

“We needed to make a left back there.”

She chewed her lower lip, and he would have given his new flat bottom boat to do it for her. Slowing, she pulled to the side of the road and executed a U-turn, then made the left where he indicated.

“Can I ask a couple questions?” he asked, breaking the deadly silence. “Of course, I’ll be incredibly charming about it.”

The corners of her mouth twitched. He waited.

“Yes, you can ask a few questions.”

“Great.” He bounced his fists on his knees. “How did you go from, um, your humble beginnings to high powered
New York City
career woman? I mean, you obviously have a degree and, um, Louie Vuitton luggage. How?”

Her expression shadowed, and he knew he’d gone too far, too fast. The silence dragged on so long, he began to doubt that she would answer.

“As soon as I was old enough, I swept floors, babysat, anything to earn money.”

Involuntarily, his eyebrows shot up. He tried to school his expression, but she caught it.

“Anything…except
that
.”

He felt the color rise in his cheeks, embarrassed to think that about her but relieved she hadn’t. It would have killed him to know she’d sold something so precious, something he’d treasure for the rest of his life.

“I always went to school. Mama saw to that. When I graduated high school, she was so proud. She’d never gotten her diploma.”

Robbie stopped. Had he pushed her too far? Coming back to the present, he pointed out the next turn that would put them on the county road back to town.

When she continued, her voice held its earlier breeziness as if she hadn’t a care in the world. Interesting, how she could compartmentalize her emotions. Hide some, reveal others. Ah, but he’d seen her when the defenses were down. And that was the woman he loved.

“After high school, I got into the
University
of
Florida
. There was no way we could afford it, so from there it was ‘Hel-lo, Mr. Student Loan.’ I’ll be paying them off till I’m ninety. I started my web design business while still an undergrad, mainly designing sites for small businesses in town. I stuck around. Got my Masters. You know the rest. That’s it, the entire biography of Roberta Miller. Pretty boring, isn’t it?”

Her abrupt conclusion surprised him. “No, it’s a rather interesting story.” It was too soon to bring up the future. She’d already drawn the line. Too bad she didn’t know how determined he was. “If I can ask, where’s your mother now?”

Robbie shrugged. “I bought her a nice little place in
Florida
under a big oak tree. She was too young. Cancer. I think she’s at peace now. Does it ever stop raining in this state?”

The windshield wipers swished uselessly on high speed. The road was all but invisible in the heavy downpour. With her last comment, Robbie had slammed the lid on the topic of her past. Her sad eyes and wan smile begged him to follow her wishes, and he silently acquiesced. He wanted to reach over, pull her into his arms and promise to keep her safe, but knew his touch would be unwelcome. Instead, he decided to lighten the mood.

“And here I thought you liked playing in water. At that next streetlight, turn left. That’s the driveway around to the parking lot. Pull around and park next to the porch door. Maybe we won’t get too soaked.” He bit back a smile.
Or maybe we will.

Chapter Fifteen

Robbie followed Eddie as he jogged up the steps to his apartment. “If I never wear squishy shoes again, it will be too soon. All I’ve done since I got here is change out of wet clothes.”

“The pleasure’s been all mine.”

She couldn’t help but smile at his wolfish grin. “Eddie McGraw, you are incorrigible.” When he stood close and looked at her like that, she could almost forget her goals, forget her past and spend the rest of her life in
Tiny
Town
. She shook her head to dispel the thought.
Not a chance.

“I hope my other clothes are dry. I’ll hurry so you’re not late for your date with Lou Ann.”

His sexy grin turned into a puzzled stare. “My what?”

“Your date with Lou Ann. Aren’t you taking her to the lodge dance tonight?” It hurt to think that he could ask her to marry him, then blithely leave her for another woman.

“Where did you get that idea?”

“Last week. At Maisie’s. You told her to save you a dance. Then after meeting her this afternoon, I just assumed. Oh well, never mind. I forgot my suitcase,” she babbled, turning to retrace her steps. “It’s still in the trunk. I have to get my clothes out of your laundry room. I’ll be right back.”

“Wait a minute!” Eddie’s arm looped around her waist before she could move. “For your information, I am not going to the dance or anywhere else with Lou Ann Ritter. For God’s sake, woman, do you think I’d go out with someone else the same day I ask you to marry me? That doesn’t say much about your opinion of me.”

She looked away not wanting him to see the triumph she knew showed in her eyes. It was a ridiculous emotion. She didn’t want to marry him, but she didn’t want Lou Ann to have him either.

He released her and took out his keys. “Come on. You don’t need your Louie Vuitton.” He smiled crookedly. “You can use your backpack. Take it as a souvenir of your unforgettable adventure in the Okefenokee.” He led her up the remaining stairs and opened the door.

She smiled slightly, pleased she would not be immediately replaced by another woman. Ignoring the ache in her chest, she tried not to think about leaving him. “You know, I think I’d like that.”

Eddie stepped back and let her pass through. As he shut the door, he reached for her, pressing her back against it.

“Don’t leave,” he whispered in her hair. “Stay with me tonight. Take me to
Paradise
again.” His lips traveled down her throat. “I want to make love with you. I want to feel you next to me…beneath me…on me…all night. Please stay with me,” he murmured before his mouth worked its way up and closed possessively over hers. His fingers slid down her arms to tangle with hers before lifting her hands to either side of her head.

Moments before, he seemed resigned to her refusal. Now, he acted like she’d said “yes” to his proposal. She squeezed his hands, clinging to him as he made love to her mouth. This was crazy. She had to leave. But, oh my, what he could do with his tongue.

He pulled back to kiss her jaw line. “Baby, don’t leave. Stay tonight.”

“Eddie, don’t do this. It won’t work. I have to go.” She didn’t try to stop his next kiss. The heat of his mouth slanted across hers sent shards of desire straight to her inner core.

“Go where?” he growled low into her ear before gliding his tongue around the sensitive shell. “Back to your little apartment? You’ll be all alone in your bed tonight. It will be cold without me there to warm you. You won’t be able to sleep, wondering what we would be doing if you had stayed.” His kisses again trailed down her neck.

She closed her eyes and let his deep murmurs surround her. His hypnotic voice wove a sensuous spell, blanketing her reason, leaving her mind in a cloud of desire.

If she spoke, she could break the spell, put things back on even footing. She might be able to get out a coherent “goodbye” and run for the safety of her car. But deep down in her soul, she wanted the magic to continue.

“What would we be doing? Would your breast be in my mouth? You know I can make you whimper with pleasure when I suckle you. Or maybe my tongue would be down your throat like it was a few seconds ago. What do you think, baby? We both know for sure I would be buried deep inside you.”

His lips concentrated on the sensitive spot at the base of her neck. He seemed fixated on that spot, but that was just fine with her.

“You’d be moaning, wouldn’t you, babe? Needing more of me. You’d be on top. I like when you ride me. I’d be lying back, watching you. Your thighs would hold me so tight, it would almost ache. My hands would grip your hips, helping you. My thumbs. Where would my thumbs be?” He moved his mouth up to whisper in her ear.

The man was a master with words, creating images so realistic she could believe she was astride him right then. He wove a sensuous spell with words that sent shivers up her spine. Then down her spine until they settled in a shimmering pool between her thighs. He released her fingers, allowing her hands to grasp his neck and pull him closer.

“My thumbs would be massaging you, wouldn’t they? Gently over your clit, just how you like me to. Your moans would fill the room. Would we kiss?” He leaned back to look at her face. Her flushed cheeks heated more deeply at his scrutiny. Raw desire blazed in his eyes, and she knew he held a tight grip on his control. She was grateful for that. Whatever his game was, she wanted to keep playing.

“What do you think, baby? Would I lean up so my chest pressed against your breasts? You’ve been fascinated with my chest all week. After you touched it that first time, you couldn’t keep your hands off.”