Wandering Heart (14 page)

Was that a hint
of bitterness in his voice?

"Oh, but I
couldn't ask. I mean he's a man, for goodness sake. I couldn't just
ask him."

"Why not? This
is the millennium, isn't it?"

"Well, like I
said, he's a man. He isn't a baby sitter. I didn't hire him to
baby-sit."

"What
difference is there in watching Josh in the afternoon or at night?
Josh will be asleep, for goodness sake."

Angela thought
about it. If she loved Greg, and if she were really going to marry
him, it was time they had some quality time together. They needed
this time.

"I suppose I
could ask him to sleep in the guest room. That way it wouldn't
sound like I'm asking him to baby sit."

"Sounds like a
wonderful idea. You handle it any way you see fit, darling."

"All
right."

"Great. Now,
you better get back to work so we can get out of here early
tonight. Unfortunately, I have a dinner engagement with the
Senator."

"Yes, of
course."

Tomorrow was
the big day, she whispered to herself. Angela felt insecure,
confused, and unprepared for what might or might not happen with
Greg.

After a quick
supper, Angela suggested Josh spend the night with Tim. She didn't
tell him she had to work, but he took it for granted. It seemed
easier not explaining; she needed some thinking time to
herself.

It was nine
o'clock before she could slip out of the house and go to the Palace
Theatre. But she couldn't concentrate on the movie; she was worried
about how to ask Cooper. Worried about her date turning out badly.
Reluctantly she drove back home in a haze of confusion, and went to
bed early.

The next
afternoon she found Cooper by the barn working on the incubator. He
was sweaty and dirty and—all man.

"Uh, I have a
date this evening, Coop. And I was just wondering if you have
plans?"

Cooper didn't
give her a glance, but she noticed his jaw flex just a little, and
the muscles in his arms seemed to tense, judging by the grip he had
on the chicken wire. He was wearing a t-shirt and her mind began to
wander again. Maxine was right; he was a hunk. Hard not to notice
all those bulging muscles, she reasoned. The sweat made his skin
glisten like satin.

Lord, she had
to stop fantasizing about Cooper Johnson.

"Nope."

Angela flung
her hands in the air in a helpless gesture. "I hate to ask, but
..."

"You want me to
spend the evening with Josh. I'd be glad to."

He until hadn't
looked at her.

And his not
looking at her made her feel worse. Angela was a grown woman, she
was doing what was best for her and Josh, he couldn't argue with
that.

"I had no right
to ask, Coop. W…would you mind spending the night in the guest
room?"

Now he was
looking. Not just looking, but delving deep into her soul at her
heartstrings and pulling on them. Oh, dear God, she had no right to
ask him. It all felt so wrong, so planned.

"If that's what
you want."

Don't do this,
Angel, his glance shouted at her, but he wouldn't say the words
aloud...

Perhaps if he
had…

"I don't know
how I had the nerve to ask you. And any other time, I wouldn't
dream of asking, but tonight is special. This wasn't part of the
bargain. I don't want you to think I'm trying to use you, Coop.
I'll understand if you say no."

Was she looking
for an excuse to get out of her date? "I said I'd do it. Now, you
better go get ready for your date."

The fixed
grimness around his mouth haunted her. But she went back in the
house before she completely changed her mind.

Angela fixed a
quick supper for Cooper and Josh, and then went to soak in the tub.
Her head was pounding. Greg was expecting a lot out of her tonight.
But it all depended on him! It was up to him to set the mood. She
quickly realized that after tonight there would be no turning back.
She knew Greg had intimate plans, but would she succumb?

More aware of
herself than ever, she glanced in the mirror as she dressed. She
chose a plain, black sheath that was a bit too tight, and showed
more than she cared to. But she hadn't bought clothes for herself
in so long, it was no wonder. It undoubtedly was the sexiest dress
she owned. Could she dare wear something like this? She was a
mother for God's sake, her mind screamed, and this definitely
wasn't mother material. But every woman had her moment. Why didn't
she feel like this was hers?

She had been
ten years without an intimate relationship with a man and it was
time. Past time, she scolded herself.

She ran a shaky
hand through her thick head of curls, unaware of how the auburn
lights shone. She quickly decided to wear it up, to give her an air
of sophistication she wasn't feeling. Her make up was
flawless. A bit much, but still perfect.

Now came the
hard part, facing her son and Cooper with this new woman look. She
glanced in the mirror and cried with a frown, "This isn't me."

It didn't
matter. It was too late to change.

Josh was busy
feeding the stock when she finally came out of her bedroom like a
schoolgirl going to her first prom. She exhaled a long sigh of
relief. At least she was spared that embarrassment.

"Isn't Greg
picking you up?" Cooper asked as he watched her from the living
room. She hadn't heard him come in.

The frown on
his face said it all. He hated her dress.

"Uh, no, he
never picks me up. We try not to cause any more scandal than
necessary."

"Picking you up
is a scandal?" He quirked his head.

He was standing
there in fitted jeans that made no secret of his masculinity. The
bronze of his skin contrasted greatly with the crisp white shirt he
had changed into. He looked as if he had just stepped out of a
shower himself. Suddenly, she wished he had been the one to invite
her out. But he hadn't. Wouldn't. Couldn't.

The air seemed
to be charged with electricity.

"That dress is
the real scandal," he whistled softly.

Angela felt the
heat go up her face.

"Are you going
out for the evening, or in?"

"I knew it,"
she gasped in dismay. Turning toward her bedroom, she started a
hasty retreat.

But a hand
reached out to pull her back. A big, strong, warm hand that pulsed
with life. "No, no Angel, come here. You look great. Just
different. Except for this," he said, moving closer. He took out a
big red handkerchief from his back pocket and began blotting her
lips gently.

With any other
man the act of removing lipstick wouldn't be erotic, but his gentle
touch to her mouth sent a current of fire up her cheeks and other
parts unmentionable. She hoped her lips weren't trembling.

He was
conjuring up so many unexpected feelings she could barely look at
him, but she did. She was staring at him, but he was until
concentrating on her lips. Only her lips.

He wasn't
flirting. He wasn't being coy, or cute. In fact, if she didn't know
better she would swear he was feeling sorry for her.

When he was
through with her lips, he glanced at her briefly, smiled and then
reached to pull her hair down. The red curls danced against his
fingertips.

She could feel
the tension within him; it matched her own. Her belly felt full of
butterflies. Her heart lurched, then stopped and lurched again.

"That's
better."

"Thank you,"
she whispered back.

He smiled
again, and this time there was no mistaking his feeling. His eyes
landed on her lips briefly as though he had just kissed her, and
her heart tumbled over in her chest. Why did every emotion Cooper
conjured in her mind feel executed? A kiss that never came had her
in such turmoil.

"Y…you don't
mind baby sitting Josh?"

He tipped her
chin up, and looked deep into her eyes. "I like Josh, Angel. I
would never mind his company. Actually, he's a lot of company. Now,
don't worry. Run along, have a good time. And don't ever let Josh
hear you call it baby sitting!"

"Thanks, Coop,"
she said breathlessly, tiptoeing just enough to kiss him square on
the lips. A soft tender kiss that made her ache deep inside. There
was something wildly devastating about Cooper Johnson these
days.

"Go, before I
take you to my bed," his voice lowered a notch. He had voiced her
own thoughts and her toes curled. She'd better get out, or she
might just let him, she thought wildly.

CHAPTER
TWELVE

Greg couldn't
take his eyes off her all evening. Well, wasn't that why she wore
the dress in the first place? She planned to be seduced. And it was
obvious it was Greg's intention, too.

But Angela
didn't feel comfortable any more. She felt conspicuous. "Stop
staring at me like that." She nudged him in the ribs when his eyes
traveled her. It was flattering, but intimidating, too.

"I can't help
it, darling. You are ravishing. I'd rather have you for dinner.
This is a side of you I've never seen. So uninhibited. I like
it."

Yeah, sure, she
thought wildly, what man wouldn't want a woman that was offering
herself. She was playing Maxine's role and it didn't fit. When she
grew silent he moved around the booth so that they were touching
knees. But the contact only made her nervous. She had an urge to
bite her nails, but realized it wouldn't look right. It would be so
out of place. She practically had to sit on her hands to keep from
doing it though.

"You see, this
is good for us. I've never seen you like this. Never knew you could
be like this. I like it."

Had she
suddenly changed? Of course she had, a little voice told her.

"I'm until the
same person, Greg."

"I wonder. You
certainly don't look so prim and proper tonight. But very
refreshing."

"Prim and
proper? Is that how you see me?" Why couldn't she relax and enjoy
all these compliments? "Thank you," she managed.

"I feel like
there might be an Angela I don't know yet. It's exciting."

"I'm the same
person, Greg, just different clothes."

"Well, you
don't look it. Why, if you put your hair up real fancy, and added
more make up I'd swear you were a different girl."

Oh, God, if he
only knew!

"You know,
Greg, there is a lot you don't know about me. I want to tell you
everything tonight. We haven't had much time to talk. Or do
anything else."

"Nonsense,
darling. This isn't the night for talking, and you know it.
Besides, it isn't necessary. I know all I need to know about you.
You've had some rough times, but no more. No more mistakes."

Mistakes! What
was he talking about? What mistakes? Josh? Was he referring to Josh
as a mistake? Suddenly, her parents came to mind, and pain stabbed
her. Did he think Josh was her mistake?

Anger grabbed
at her insides.

She'd never
know what he meant, because her protesting stopped when his kisses
began. Greg could be very smooth when he put his mind to it.

To hell with
fighting. It was time to start living. She was marrying this
man.

So, why weren't
his kisses setting her on fire? They were short and sweet and left
her wondering if there would more to come. She couldn't stop
feeling as though there should have been an interruption by
now.

"To tonight's
future," he toasted, his eyes devouring her.

"Greg," she
nearly choked on her drink. "I don't want you to think . . ."
Didn't she? Then why did she wear this impossible dress? What else
could he think?

"I don't,
darling." He took her hand and caressed it, folding it inside his.
"I love you too much to think anything bad about you. Stop
worrying. It's only natural to want each other. And everything has
been arranged. We'll have the entire night to get to know one
another better."

"The entire
night?" Suddenly something new gripped her, a fear she couldn't
explain.

"I told you
about it. I used a phony name, so there will be absolutely no
publicity. No—interruptions."

"That's nice."
Or was it? Had those infuriating interruptions always been at the
right time? Saved her from making a fool of herself and Greg.

An hour later,
she was stuffed with Live Maine Lobster and aged wine. The wine had
already begun to take effect. She uncluttered her mind from her
worries. What did she care? She was with the man she wanted. Wasn't
she? Of course she was. Then why did certain, soft voiced man
keep flitting through her head? Why did those blue, all seeing
eyes stare at her from every corner? And why did every thought of
Cooper Johnson warm her, and Greg didn't?

The long ride
to the hotel was spent wrapped in Greg's arms. She wanted to
celebrate. This was the first evening she had Greg all to herself
and it was heaven. Wasn't it? His eyes were on her. His mind was on
her. Wasn't this what she wanted all along? She was going to be a
Congressman's wife, and she and Josh would want for nothing—would
they?

No
interruptions.

So why did she
freeze when he opened the door to their bedroom suite? Why did it
bother her that he put the 'do not disturb' sign on the doorknob
before he carried her in? Why couldn't she appreciate the luxury he
was bathing her in at the moment? Or had he given her time to?

He carried her
straight to the bed, laying her in the middle, nudging her down
with sweet promising kisses. She felt herself sinking into a soft,
silky, peach-colored mass.

His kisses were
full of hot passion but she didn't respond automatically. She had
turned to wood. This wasn't going well. She could feel cold feet
coming.

"That dress has
been driving me crazy all night," Greg murmured in her ear as he
did everything to rid himself of the silk between them.