It Had To Be You

It Had To Be You By Marilyn Lee

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. It Had to Be You by Marilyn Lee Red Rose™ Publishing Publishing with a touch of Class! ™ The symbol of the Red Rose and Red Rose is a trademark of Red Rose™ Publishing Red Rose™ Publishing Copyright© 2010 Marilyn Lee ISBN: 978-1-60435-682-3 Cover Artist: Shirley Burnett Editor: Belle Line Editor: WRFG All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews. Due to copyright laws you cannot trade, sell or give any ebooks away. This is a work of fiction. All references to real places, people, or events are coincidental, and if not coincidental, are used fictitiously. All trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, and registered service marks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for identification purposes only. Red Rose™ Publishing www.redrosepublishing.com Forestport, NY 13338 Thank you for purchasing a book from Red Rose™ Publishing where publishing comes with a touch of Class!

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It Had To Be You By Marilyn Lee

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Chapter One

Driving over the Ben Franklin Bridge on the tail end of rush hour, Annalise had a feeling she was making a mistake. There were better ways of spending a hot August day. True, Deb had sounded frantic and desperate on the phone the night before, but then Deb always sounded frantic and desperate when she wanted her way. If even half of what Deb said was true, she should be heading in the opposite direction. Besides, she would be more of a liability than an asset. She cast a quick glance down at her hands resting lightly on the steering wheel, still slightly swollen and uncomfortably stiff from the surgeries. Just for a moment, she felt the now familiar panic grip her. What if her wrists never regained the flexibility that was so important in her work? What if her gripping ability never returned? What if—what if you follow all the doctor‘s instructions, trust in the Lord, and see what happens? A quiet, inner voice urged. Just trust in the Lord. He forgave your transgression with Tom. He won‘t forsake you now.

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Relaxing her tense shoulder muscles, and letting the worries drift away, she turned her thoughts back to Deb. Obviously, she couldn‘t be of any real help, but at least she could spend the day with Deb. She could listen. Maybe even agree to babysit for a few hours while Deb got away for a quick time out. Under no circumstances, was she going to allow Deb to sweet talk or cajole her into anything more. She thought of the hastily packed suitcase resting in the trunk of her car and grimaced. So maybe she‘d agree to stay the night or the weekend. Just to help out a little, if things were as bad as Deb claimed. An hour later, she drove through a small, quiet New Jersey town full of large homes. Fifteen minutes later, she turned onto a dirt road. She stopped the car in front of a big Victorian house, set back from the road and surrounded by trees. A screen door banged open, and Deb, looking more flustered than Annalise had seen her look in years, came out of the house, followed by two adorable blond– haired, blue–eyed children. ―Annie! Thank God you‘re here!‖ Deb rushed to meet her. ―I‘m at my wits end.‖ Four years spent as Deb‘s college roommate had taught her to take most of what Deb said with a healthy dose of salt. Still, the careless ponytail, the smudged

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sleeveless top, and wrinkled shorts spoke volumes of the usually chic Deb‘s distress. ―It‘s me all right. The saver of your wits,‖ she said lightly and leaned up to kiss Deb‘s cheek. ―Hmm.‖ She drew back and studied her friend‘s face. Her bare face. And a crumpled outfit? Things were bad indeed. ―Annie! This is no time to joke!‖ Deb complained. ―It‘s nearly eleven and I haven‘t had time to put on my face!‖ ―Not that you need any face other than the very pretty one you‘re wearing, but why not?‖ she asked, allowing her gaze to rest on the house. So this was the house of an architect. Although she knew Deb‘s brother hadn‘t designed the house, she felt certain she could learn something of his personality and that of his late wife‘s. The house was immense. It would have big, sunny rooms, a huge fireplace in the living room, a humongous kitchen, and tons of character. Just the type of house she‘d live in when and if she ever met Mr. Right. She grimaced. Or Mr. Half Right. ―I‘ll tell you why not,‖ Deb said, sounding aggrieved. She glanced down at the two children who clung to her. ―These two darlings cling to me like this from the moment they get up in the morning—in the very early morning—to the moment Reed drags his slow behind home from work. Late nearly every night.‖

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Deb bent and gave each child a quick hug. ―I love them dearly, but I can‘t cope, Annie. I just can‘t. You have to help me.‖ ―I‘m here to help.‖ Annalise smiled at the two children. ―Introduce us, Deb.‖ ―Oh, I knew I could count on you, Annie!‖ ―But only for the weekend,‖ she added quickly. ―Now about that intro.‖ ―This is Reed Junior,‖ Deb said touching the boy‘s hair. ―He‘s six and we call him RP. And this is his sister, Maria, named after her mommy. Ria‘s eight going on fifteen.‖ Eight going on fifteen? Charming. She smiled at the two children. ―Hi, RP. Hi, Ria. I‘m Annalise, but you can call me Anna or Annie if you like.‖ ―Hi,‖ RP said, and then retreated behind Deb‘s leg. ―Is Anna Lise your first and last name?‖ Ria demanded. ―It‘s one name. My full name is Annalise Lewis.‖ ―And mine is Maria Phillips. Like my mommy.‖ ―I‘m very pleased to meet you, Maria Phillips.‖ She turned to RP and winked. ―And you too, of course, RP.‖ He winked back. Satisfied, she got to her feet, looking toward the house again. ―That was a long, thirsty drive. How about a drink?‖ ―Did you bring one with you?‖

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―No.‖ ―Oh…you mean you want me to make you one?‖ Annalise shrugged. ―Silly me.‖ Deb grimaced. ―Well, if you‘re going to be sarcastic, come inside and I‘ll see what I can find to drink.‖ Annalise laughed and followed Deb and the children inside. The house lived up to her expectation. The rooms were big and airy. And dusty. That was to be expected. It probably hadn‘t occurred to Deb to give the house even the skimpiest of dusting in the two weeks she‘d been there. And she wouldn‘t be much help in that area, she thought, glancing down at her hands. She followed Deb into the large kitchen and couldn‘t suppress a small, startled squeak. The sink nearly overflowed with what looked like several days‘ worth of dishes. Food stains decorated the yellow, tiled floor. The large kitchen table held what looked like last night‘s as well as that morning‘s breakfast dishes. There couldn‘t be a single clean plate in the house. She turned a narrowed gaze on her friend. This was too much, even for Deb. ―Deb.‖ ―Don‘t give me that fish–eyed look of yours, Annie. I know the place is a little...untidy, but as I told Reed last night, I am not a housekeeper—cum—

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nanny,‖ she said defensively. ―I‘m just a sister trying to do the best she can for an ungrateful brother.‖ ―If this is your best, that husband to be of yours is going to be in trouble,‖ Annalise said with all the frankness of an old friend. Deb didn‘t bother trying to look outraged. She just laughed and sank down onto the nearest chair. ―I really have done my best, Annie.‖ She waved her hand in a sweeping arc that encompassed everything from the dingy, white walls to the pretty, but dusty yellow and white curtains at the windows, ―but I‘m just not cut out for this domestic life.‖ ―Look out Dave,‖ she said of Deb‘s fiancé and they both laughed. ―You see how it is here, Annie,‖ Deb said, as both Ria and RP attempted to sit on her lap. ―It‘s all I can do to keep meals on the table. You have to help me.‖ ―I said I‘d stay the weekend. Providing it‘s okay with your brother and these two darlings.‖ As she spoke, she smiled at the two children who were staring at her. ―It had better be all right with him,‖ Deb said darkly. ―It‘s okay with us,‖ Ria said, ―but Auntie Deb says me and RP are like the old ball and chain.‖ Annalise arched a brow at Deb. ―She‘s joking,‖ Deb said quickly.

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―No, I‘m not,‖ Ria protested. ―You did say it.‖ ―Okay. I was joking. I meant it affectionately. Little pitchers,‖ Deb muttered. ―Have big ears,‖ Ria finished. ―Auntie Deb, me and RP are hungry. What‘s for lunch?‖ ―Lunch?‖ Deb looked ready to pull out her short blond hair by the roots. ―You had breakfast less than two hours ago. You can‘t be hungry already!‖ ―We don‘t like burned oatmeal,‖ Ria complained. Annalise glanced down at the two barely touched, but clearly burned bowls of oatmeal. ―Oh, you poor, darlings,‖ she said. ―What would you like for lunch?‖ Ria gave her a cautious look. ―Can you cook?‖ ―My friends tell me I can.‖ Ria glanced quickly up at Deb before looking at her again. ―I mean real food like a mommy cooks? Food you can eat.‖ ―Little ingrate!‖ Deb mumbled. Her lips twitched, but she answered seriously. ―Yes. Real food like a mommy would cook and kids can eat.‖ Ria brightened. ―Oh, Good! Then RP likes fries and hot dogs. I like baloney and cheese.‖ ―What kind of bread?‖ ―White.‖

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―Tell you what. If you and RP will go play while your Auntie Deb and I clean up a bit, that‘s exactly what you‘ll have for lunch in about an hour. Deal?‖ She watched the two blond–haired kids exchange looks. It was clear who was in charge when Ria nodded. ―Deal.‖ She stared after them, smiling. ―They are too cute, Deb.‖ ―I‘m glad you think so,‖ Deb said, springing to her feet. ―Now that you‘re here, I can freshen up and drive into Philly and have a late lunch with Dave.‖ She pressed a quick kiss against Annalise‘s cheek and practically ran toward the door. Annalise waited until she was nearly there before clearing her throat. ―Ahem.‖ Deb stopped and looked back over her shoulder. ―What? Did I forget something?‖ She nodded, smiling. ―You could say that, yes.‖ Deb frowned. ―What?‖ ―Like I came to help, not take over.‖ She held up her right hand and grimaced. ―I‘m not exactly at full strength you know.‖ ―Oh, what a beast I am!‖ Deb rushed across the room and gently took her swollen hands in her long, slender ones. ―How are they? They look...big.‖ She made a face. ―Well, hey, thanks for noticing.‖

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―I didn‘t mean it like that. Do they hurt?‖ ―No; they‘re just a little stiff.‖ ―Just a little?‖ ―Yes,‖ she said slowly, suspiciously. ―Good! Then you can handle things for a couple of hours while Dave and I have lunch. If I have to stay here much longer, I‘m going to take hostages. I‘m serious,‖ she threatened. She left her protest unspoken. What was the use? Even if Deb stayed, she probably wouldn‘t be much help. ―Okay. Go enjoy yourself, but I expect you to be back here before your brother gets home...when?‖ Deb flashed her a happy smile and released her hands. ―Around seven–thirty. I‘ll be here. I promise!‖ Left alone in the kitchen, she shook her head, uncertain where to start. She glanced around. The kitchen furnishings were new, but she saw with regret they didn‘t include that handy little gadget called a dishwasher. She glanced down at her hands. There was no way she could manage to wash all those dishes. Her fingers ached just thinking about it. She‘d been a fool to allow Deb to get away without doing a few dishes first.

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She remembered the despondent look in Deb‘s eyes. No, she‘d made the right decision. Deb really had looked on the point of screaming. She must love her older brother and his children an awful lot to have even struggled along this long. She would do what she could to help during the next few days. By Monday, Deb would be refreshed enough to make it through another week or so. But first things first. Stifling an inward groan, she moved toward the sink. If she were going to keep her promise to Ria and RP, she‘d better get a move on.

A little over an hour later, she, Ria, and RP were sitting at the clean kitchen table having lunch. ―Are you going to cook for us all weekend, Annie?‖ Ria asked around a mouthful of baloney and cheese. She finished chewing a mouthful of fries before she answered. ―Well, I hadn‘t planned to, but I could if you‘d all like. Your Auntie Deb—‖ ―Can‘t cook,‖ RP said. ―Not at all.‖ ―She tries and we try to eat what she cooks, but everything is always burned. Then she cries when she sees we can‘t eat her food.‖ ―For a grown up, she cries a lot,‖ RP confided. ―And she cooks worse than Daddy. At least his stuff isn‘t burned.‖

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―Daddy‘s stuff has no taste, but it‘s not burned. We sure do wish Miss Holland was still here.‖ ―Sure do,‖ RP said. The poor darlings obviously hadn‘t had a decent meal since...‖How long has it been since Miss Holland‘s accident?‖ ―Three weeks,‖ RP said. ―Three long weeks,‖ Ria amended. ―Do you know when she‘ll be back?‖ ―Daddy says she‘s very sick. It‘s going to be several months before she can come back.‖ Ria lifted her sandwich to her mouth, and then paused. ―Auntie Deb is getting married before then. Will you stay until Miss Holland comes back?‖ She stared at the child in amazement. ―Me? No. Oh, Ria, I can‘t!‖ ―Why not? Do you have a husband and brats like RP and me you have to get back to?‖ ―Ria! You and RP are not brats.‖ Ria looked at her with guileless blue eyes. ―Auntie Deb says we are.‖ ―She was joking,‖ she said firmly. ―Children are a blessing from the Lord.‖ ―That‘s what mommy used to say,‖ Ria said in a quiet voice. Having lost her own mother when she was ten, Annalise knew the pain Ria and RP must feel. ―And I‘ll bet she loved you both very much!‖

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―Mommy was the prettiest and nicest mommy in the world,‖ Ria said. Annalise‘s smile encompassed both children. ―And I‘m sure she felt very blessed to have been you and RP‘s mommy.‖ Ria smiled suddenly. ―That‘s what Daddy says. Are you anybody‘s mommy, Annie?‖ ―No, I‘m not married.‖ ―Then you can stay,‖ RP said, as if that settled the matter. ―No, RP, I can‘t, but I‘m sure your father will make some other arrangements.‖ ―No, he won‘t. He says RP and me are too precious to leave with just anyone. So he‘s at his wits end, like Auntie Deb. We heard him tell her that last night when he asked her to think about putting off her wedding. But she started crying and Daddy had to apologize and say he didn‘t mean it.‖ ―But he did,‖ RP added. ―It would be best for all of us, if you stayed and Auntie Deb went. I‘ll bet you don‘t cry nearly as much as she does and you won‘t want to spend forever putting on your face in the morning.‖ ―I probably would, if I were half as pretty as your Auntie Deb,‖ she said slowly, aware that Deb had not exaggerated in the least. She really did have her hands full.

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―You‘re pretty,‖ RP said, his blue eyes wide with surprise. ―Not as pretty as Auntie Deb or Taylor,‖ Ria pointed out. ―But pretty enough. We like the face you have on right now.‖ ―And you don‘t even have any war paint on either.‖ War paint? She put down her fork and turned to look at RP. ―What do you know about war paint?‖ He shrugged. ―Daddy says women put it on when they‘re hunting for a husband.‖ ―Oh, he did, did he?‖ RP nodded. ―Yeah, but you don‘t need any ‗cause you‘re pretty just the way you are. I even think you‘re prettier than Taylor.‖ She smiled at him. ―Thanks, RP.‖ Now if she could only find a male twenty or so years older who agreed with him, she‘d be all right. ―Who‘s Taylor?‖ ―Daddy‘s girlfriend.‖ It was on the tip of her tongue to ask why daddy‘s pretty girlfriend didn‘t come help out, but she bit back the urge. First, it was none of her business. Second, gossiping with the children about their father‘s personal life was a definite no–no. ―Okay, guys, here‘s the plan. After lunch, you‘re going to give me the grand tour of the house. Then we‘ll do a little house cleaning.‖

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―RP and me don‘t clean,‖ Ria objected. ―Well, Ria, it‘s your house and today you and RP are going to clean.‖ She smiled to take the sting out of her words. ―Okay?‖ ―Miss Holland never made us clean,‖ Ria said, pressing her lips together. ―Well, hey, Miss Holland isn‘t here now. I am.‖ She looked into Ria‘s mutinous face. ―Unless you want me to leave.‖ ―No!‖ RP cried. ―Don‘t go, Annie!‖ Ria‘s response was slower, more grudging. ―No... I guess.‖ She suppressed a smile. Ria was obviously no pushover. ―Hey now! It won‘t be all work. We‘ll have some fun too. After we do a little cleaning, we‘ll go out back and have a lazy afternoon. Then you‘ll tell me what you think your daddy would like for dinner and we‘ll fix it. Okay?‖ ―Okay!‖ RP grinned, revealing a missing bottom tooth. Annalise turned her gaze on Ria, who looked less than thrilled. ―What do you say, Ria?‖ She held up her hands. ―I can‘t do it without you. I really need your help here. Can I count on you or should I get ready to leave as soon as your Auntie Deb comes back?‖ She watched Ria study RP‘s smiling face before shrugging. ―Oh, all right. I guess.‖ RP looked anxious. ―I hope you‘ll like us, Annie.‖

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She smiled at him. ―I do like you, RP,‖ she said quickly. ―Both of us?‖ She nodded firmly. ―Both of you.‖ He grinned. ―Good. Then it‘s all right.‖

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Chapter Two

Reed Phillips stood in the middle of the living room, looking around in surprise. The house had been looking as if a cyclone had touched down for the last two weeks. Now it looked presentable. He heard the muted sound of oldies coming from the kitchen. A mouth–watering aroma of roasting chicken filled the air. Obviously, both he and Deb had misjudged her capabilities. Maybe their blowup the previous night had been a blessing. It appeared that when Deb put her mind to it, she could be as handy around a house as she was in a cutting room. He tossed his briefcase and suit jacket onto one of two dark green, overstuffed sofas. Then he headed down the hall toward the kitchen, the music, and what smelled like a meal they might actually be able to eat. Outside the kitchen door, he paused. There was no getting around it. He had been way out of line the night before. What brother in his right mind could expect a sister to postpone her wedding to accommodate his needs? Ria and RP were his responsibility. Not Deb‘s. She‘d already done more than he‘d ever dare hoped.

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He glanced down at the roses he carried. Maybe they would suffice as a peace offering. About to push open the door, he stiffened as the opening strains of one of Maria‘s favorite songs began. He pushed the door open and walked into the kitchen. ―Deb, I‘m sorry about—‖ A strange woman stood in the middle of the kitchen floor. She held a wooden spoon up to her mouth like a microphone as she belted out Down The Aisle in a low, sultry voice that sent chills through him. She definitely was not Deb, nor was she shy. Anyone else would have halted in mid–verse, looking embarrassed or surprised. Looking directly into his eyes, she calmly continued to sing of years of living in bliss with the man by whose hand she promised to be lead before putting down the spoon. ―Oh. Hello.‖ She wasn‘t pretty in the conventional way. But the ponytail hanging nearly to her shoulders seemed to hold mounds of thick, glossy dark hair. Her eyes were dark brown; her smooth clear skin the color of warm, rich coco. The oversized tee shirt and baggy jeans she wore didn‘t hide her rather generous curves. Without makeup, she looked about twenty. And totally captivating. A warm, infectious smile curved her full lips upward. He felt his own lips curving into an answering smile. ―Hello.‖

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―I didn‘t hear you come in.‖ Her voice was warm and light. He glanced at the counter where a portable Mp3 player with mini speakers boomed away. ―Can‘t say I‘m surprised you didn‘t.‖ Grinning, she reached over and turned off the music. ―I like my music golden and a little on the loud side.‖ He pretended to rub his ear. ―Ah, yeah. I kind of figured that out.‖ ―Down The Aisle is one of my favorite‘s songs.‖ ―What do you like about it?‖ She shrugged. ―I know it‘s old–fashioned these days, but it‘s so romantic. I like the idea of giving my hand to the man I fall in love with and having him hold and cherish me. Who wouldn‘t like the idea of years of bliss?‖ Who indeed? Her smile widened. ―So. With all that wavy blond hair, those to die for blue eyes, and that gorgeous mug, you must be RP Senior.‖ She came around the counter and offered him a hand. ―I‘m Annalise Lewis.‖ Trying not to look as surprised as he felt by her frank assessment of him, he took her hand in his. He knew women generally found him attractive, but they weren‘t often so forthright about it. ―You‘re Deb‘s friend? The artist?‖ She nodded. ―Guilty.‖

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That explained the swollen hand. Deb had mentioned something about some type of repetitive motion injury that had required surgery. He glanced around the kitchen, amazed that he could see the bottom of the sink. The floor shone. ―This is your doing? You‘re a miracle worker,‖ he said. She curtsied. ―Glad you noticed.‖ He glanced past her through the open kitchen door, surprised that Ria and RP hadn‘t lurched themselves at him by now. If they were out back, they weren‘t in his direct line of vision. ―Where are Deb and the kids?‖ ―We needed bread and a few other things for dinner; which won‘t be ready for another twenty minutes, by the way. Deb took them with her to the market.‖ She glanced at the roses in his hand. ―Are they for Deb?‖ He nodded. ―They‘re sort of a peace offering.‖ She nodded and he realized that she probably knew about the argument. And she probably thought he was a first class jerk. He laid the roses on the counter. ―Well, I guess I‘ll go shower and change.‖

Annalise waited until the kitchen door had closed behind him and she heard his footsteps in the hall moving towards the stairs before she sank down at the kitchen table. ―Wow!‖ she said softly, blowing out a long, deep breath.

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With that cleft chin and dimpled smile, Reed Phillips could have graced the cover of numerous romance novels, setting female hearts fluttering nationwide. Her heart was doing more than fluttering. It was beating like crazy. And for what? It was a waste of her time to sit there fantasizing about him. He had a woman in his life. Not that she was sure she‘d have stood a chance with him even if he didn‘t. With his looks and killer smile, he must have to beat the women back. Glancing out the back door, she looked toward the sky. It‘s a good thing I‘m not staying past the weekend, Lord. Otherwise, I‘d probably make a first class fool of myself and embarrass us both. He‘s not my Mister Right so help me keep it together, Lord. When he came back into the kitchen fifteen minutes later, he wore jeans and a pullover. She made a determined effort not to stare at him. ―I can‘t thank you enough for giving up your day to cook and clean like this,‖ he said, straddling one of the kitchen chairs. She put the pitcher of lemonade she‘d just made into the refrigerator before turning to face him. ―Actually, if it‘s all right with you, I thought I‘d stay until Monday and help out.‖

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She hurried on when one of his brows arched above the other. ―Deb was looking a little green around the gills when I arrived in answer to her SOS. I think she needs a break.‖ He ran a hand through his hair. ―I know. She‘s been a real trooper, but she‘s just not up to coping with the kids. I need to make other arrangements. I just don‘t know what they‘re going to be.‖ She found herself wishing she could do something to wipe that worried look off his face. But you can‘t, she reminded herself. After this weekend, he‘ll have to find a way to manage. Don‘t go trying to change the world. Don‘t you have troubles enough of your own without trying to add his to the mix? He‘s a big boy. He‘ll manage without your help. She smiled at him. ―I‘m sure you‘ll think of something.‖ ―I wish I shared your confidence. Ria and RP went through six housekeepers in as many months before I found Miss Holland. Now that she‘s going to be out of commission until December at the earliest, I have to start all over again.‖ She moved away from the refrigerator and sat in the seat farthest away from him. ―Don‘t worry. They seem like great kids. Things are bound to work out.‖ He stared at her for such a long time, that she put a hand up to her face. ―What? Is there something on my face? What?‖

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He shook his head. ―No. You just sound so confident, I feel better already.‖ He flashed her a quick, dimpled smile and she sucked in her breath. The man was drop dead gorgeous. It took an effort, but she managed a casual smile of her own. ―They don‘t call me the soother of furrowed brows for nothing,‖ she teased. ―I‘m sure they don‘t, Annalise.‖ There was nothing intimate or provocative in his smile or voice. Nothing to suggest he had any interest in her whatsoever. So why did her name sound so...sweet and romantic rolling off his tongue? She gave herself a mental shake. Get a grip, girl, or it‘s going to be a long, long weekend. He glanced at her hands resting on the table. She barely resisted the urge to stick them in her pockets or push them under the table; anything to get those blue eyes of his off her big, swollen hands. ―Deb mentioned you‘d had an operation.‖ She nodded. ―Two actually. Carpal tunnel release on both hands. Two months ago.‖ ―How are you feeling?‖

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He sounded as if he genuinely wanted to know. ―Fine.‖ She rubbed her hands slowly together. ―They‘re a little stiff and, as you can see, swollen, but my doctor tells me that‘s to be expected.‖ ―And the prognosis? I mean, if you don‘t mind my asking.‖ Mind? She liked that he asked. ―Pretty good. I‘m a graphic artist, so I use my hands in my work. The doctor wants me to spend the next couple of months just concentrating on getting the strength and flexibility back. He thinks that if I only use my hands moderately for the next two months, I‘ll be able to go back to work full stream by November.‖ He grimaced. ―So the last thing you should have been doing here was cleaning.‖ ―Actually, I had a lot of help.‖ His brow rose again. ―You‘re not going to tell me that Deb helped and expect me to believe it, are you?‖ She laughed. ―That would be stretching credulity quite a bit, wouldn‘t it? I meant Ria and RP. They helped with the dishes and the floor.‖ ―That‘s almost as hard to believe. RP‘s game enough, but Ria doesn‘t clean,‖ he intoned in a solemn voice. She laughed, trying not to blink at the brightness of his smile. ―So she told me, but we managed a compromise.‖

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―I‘m impressed.‖ Her heart thumped. ―You are?‖ ―Definitely. Ria can be...‖ He shrugged. ―somewhat difficult until you get to know her.‖ ―Really? I thought we got along fairly well.‖ He leaned forward, an earnest look in his eyes. ―That‘s impressive too. Ria has been known to...shall we say, leave the faint at heart in tears...at least with people she doesn‘t like.‖ ―Then I‘ll assume she likes me.‖ He nodded. ―I think that‘s a safe assumption. I really don‘t know how to thank you.‖ She spoke without thinking. ―That‘s easy. You can take me out for a romantic dinner some starlit evening.‖ He looked so surprised she instantly regretted the impulsive words. When would she learn to bridle her tongue? ―Take you out to a romantic dinner? Ah, that sounds very...actually, I have...there‘s someone I‘m...I already have...‖ ―A woman in your life? Yes, I know,‖ she said, surprised at how cool and natural she sounded. She widened her eyes and stared at him, praying that he

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couldn‘t tell her dismay wasn‘t genuine. ―Hey, now. Wait a minute. You...you don‘t mean...you mean you thought I was asking you out on a date?‖ He actually blushed. ―I...you did say take you out to a romantic dinner and...well, no! Yes….‖ he trailed off and shook his head. ―I guess I‘m looking like a vain airhead who thinks every woman I meet is interested in me.‖ They probably were. But imagine meeting a man who was sensitive enough to still blush at...what was he? Thirty–seven or eight? This Reed Phillips had hidden depths she unfortunately would never have an opportunity to explore. Before she could answer, the screen door banged shut. Moments later, screams of, ―Daddy! Daddy!‖ echoed down the hall. Soon, Ria and RP burst into the room and threw themselves at their father, who went down to his knees and enclosed them both in his arms. The meal that followed at the kitchen table reminded Annalise of the meals she‘d enjoyed at her brother‘s house. Charlie, his wife Irene, and their two kids had spent two months pampering her following the operations. Charlie, a minister at a large Philadelphia church, believed that family meals were times for each family member to unwind and speak freely about any and everything.

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It seemed that Reed felt the same way because he made no effort to silence Ria or RP, even when Ria began talking about Taylor. Annalise soon found herself wishing that he wasn‘t so tolerant. ―We told Annie all about Taylor, Daddy,‖ Ria said. She stared at the child, horrified. Now he was bound to think that she‘d encouraged the child to talk about his private life! ―Hey now, Ria! That‘s not exactly true,‖ she said quickly, very conscious of the speculative look on Reed‘s face as he turned to look at her. ―You told me she was pretty and that‘s all.‖ ―Well, what else did you want to know about Daddy‘s girlfriend?‖ Ria asked, sounding aggrieved. Annalise responded in a muted roar, ―Nothing!‖ Ria‘s blue eyes widened. ―Then why are you complaining that we didn‘t tell you anything else?‖ ―What? Hey! I wasn‘t complaining! What I meant was—‖ She heard the beginnings of laughter quickly turned into coughs. She looked across the table to see both Deb and Reed surreptitiously smiling. An eight–year– old had outfoxed her. Her own lips twitched. Within minutes, everyone at the table was laughing openly, except Ria, who wanted to know what was so funny.

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After dinner, she ushered everyone out onto the back porch while she stacked the dishes in the sink and wiped down the table. She could hear Reed‘s deep voice and Ria‘s frequent giggling and RP‘s childish laughter. She reached over and turned on her Mp3 player. She adjusted the volume until she couldn‘t hear the voices coming from the porch anymore. Then she dived into the dishes, singing as she washed. She was in the middle of singing Cara Mia with Jay and the Americans when she felt a tingling sensation along the back of her neck. She turned to find Reed standing in the doorway, watching her with an amused look on his handsome face. Ignoring him, she turned back to the sink and went on singing until the song ended. Only then did she turn off the radio and speak. ―Forget something, RP Senior?‖ He joined her at the sink. ―I‘m not RP Senior,‖ he said and picked up a dishtowel. ―And I came to help.‖ She was very conscious of him standing next to her. All the same, she wasn‘t about to let it show. She handed him a dish. ―Isn‘t RP named after you?‖ ―Yes, but my friends call me Reed. Not RP.‖ She cast a sidelong glance at him and found him looking down at her. ―I‘ll keep that in mind...if we ever become friends.‖

31

He paused in the act of drying the dish and frowned. ―If? Is there some reason that I don‘t know about why we can‘t be friends?‖ Aside from the fact that she‘d never meant a man she wanted to be friends with less? ―None at all,‖ she said and handed him another dish. ―Less talk and more work will get the job done that much quicker.‖ ―Ah, right. Just what I was thinking. Right.‖ He dried the dish and waited until she handed him another. ―You know this really won‘t do,‖ she told him. She could almost feel him tense beside her. ―What? Our washing dishes together? Or our being friends?‖ ―No need to panic,‖ she said, smiling up at him through lowered lashes. ―I was talking about doing the dishes this way. You know, RP Senior, you‘re really going to have to get in step with the rest of the world and get a dishwasher.‖ ―Oh. That. Maria and I used to enjoy doing them together. I keep thinking I‘ll start doing them with Ria and RP, but,‖ he shrugged. ―Somehow we never do.‖ He grinned. ―Besides, Ria doesn‘t do dishes.‖ She smiled. ―So I‘ve heard. But what did you think I meant when I said this wouldn‘t do?‖ She grinned up at him suddenly. ―Oh, I see. You were afraid that I was about to proposition you.‖

32

―No I wasn‘t!‖ he denied, but she saw the hint of color staining his cheeks and knew that‘s exactly what he‘d feared. She handed him the last dish and turned to face him. ―Then why don‘t I believe you, RP Senior?‖ She watched him shrug, thinking how she‘d like to lean her head against his broad shoulders. ―How should I know why you choose not to believe the truth, Annalise?‖ She put her head on one side and openly studied him. He leaned back against the sink and stared silently back at her. ―I guess you get a lot of women expressing interest in you now that you‘re a widower.‖ He put down the dishtowel and looked away. ―I...well, no. Of course not.‖ She laughed. ―I find that hard to believe. You really are breathtaking, you know.‖ He turned to look at her, but remained silent. ―You must know that women find you attractive. I‘m sure many of them weren‘t shy about letting you know it.‖ ―I‘m not interested in what women in general do or don‘t find attractive, Annalise,‖ he said firmly. ―I‘m a one woman man.‖ ―And that one woman would be your Taylor?‖

33

―Yes.‖ Lucky, lucky Taylor. ―Well, don‘t worry. I promise not to chase you, even though you‘re very chase–able.‖ Before he could respond, the back door swung open and Ria ran into the room. Annalise sighed. Now she‘d never know how he would have responded. ―What are you two doing in here alone?‖ Ria demanded, her wide gaze moving from Annalise to her father, and back to Annalise. ―Washing dishes,‖ she said. ―What else would we have been doing?‖ ―Oh.‖ Ria sounded disappointed. ―Is that all? I thought maybe you two were kissing or something.‖ Annalise stared at her in amazement. ―You thought we were kissing? Why would you think that? We‘ve just met.‖ Ria seemed surprised by the question. ―Because women like kissing Daddy. Especially Taylor. Daddy‘s very nice and very good–looking too. Don‘t you think so?‖ ―That‘s enough of that, Maria,‖ Reed said, firmly. Annalise grinned into his embarrassed face before turning to look at Ria. ―As a matter of fact, I think your daddy is absolutely gorgeous.‖ Ria looked smug. ―She likes you Daddy.‖

34

―What woman wouldn‘t like your handsome daddy?‖ She smiled at Ria, nodded in Reed‘s direction, and left the two of them alone in the kitchen. She went out onto the back porch. Both Deb and RP looked at her so expectedly that she sighed. Apparently, they‘d thought the same thing as Ria. ―Look, you two, Reed and I were washing and drying dishes. Nothing else.‖ RP looked disappointed, but Deb contrived to look surprised. ―Why, Annie, what are you talking about? Of course, we know that‘s all you two were doing. Didn‘t we, RP?‖ ―No,‖ he said so promptly that Annalise couldn‘t help smiling. ―We thought maybe Annie and Daddy were—‖ ―We didn‘t think any such thing!‖ Deb interrupted. Annalise laughed easily and was still laughing when Reed and Ria joined them on the porch a few moments later. ―They weren‘t kissing at all.‖ Ria sounded disappointed as she sank onto her father‘s knee. ―Of course they weren‘t,‖ Deb said quickly, blushing. ―Why do you talk as if we thought anything as ridiculous as that?‖ Annalise looked at Ria, wondering if she would give the game away as had RP. But Ria, it seemed was more of a team player. ―I guess I wasn‘t thinking clearly.‖

35

―It was a ridiculous idea,‖ Reed said, sounding cool and annoyed. ―You all seem to be forgetting Taylor.‖ ―But Daddy, Taylor is—‖ Ria began. It seemed Reed had reached the end of his tolerance. ―But nothing, Maria,‖ he said in a no nonsense voice. ―Your Aunt Deb and RP already know all they need to know about Taylor and Annalise couldn‘t possibly be interested in hearing anything else about her.‖ As he spoke, his blue gaze met Annalise‘s. Just for a moment, she was tempted to contradict him, but the tightening of his lips and narrowing of his eyes changed her mind. ―Your too gorgeous dad is right, Ria. I couldn‘t care or less about his Taylor,‖ she said lightly and was amused to see that her comment appeared to annoy him. ―Why don‘t we talk about something else?‖ Deb suggested after casting lightning quick glances at Annalise and Reed. ―Yes, let‘s,‖ she said and heard Reed‘s soft, relieved sigh. It was a little frightening how delighted she felt just because she‘d said something to please him. She needed to put lots of distance between them, fast. She would leave in the morning. Deb would understand and Reed would probably go down on his knees in heartfelt thanksgiving.

36

Chapter Three

―Me and RP like Annie a lot, Daddy. We think she‘s nice and pretty too. Do you think she‘s pretty?‖ Reed kissed Ria‘s cheek and straightened. ―Ria, you know I‘m seeing Taylor. That doesn‘t leave any room for me to be interested in any other woman.‖ ―But Annie‘s so much nicer than Taylor, Daddy. And she can cook, clean, and she‘s pretty and funny. Don‘t you think she‘s pretty?‖ He thought of her slow, sweet smile, her smooth dark skin, and beautiful brown gaze. ―That‘s not the point.‖ ―Isn‘t she pretty?‖ ―Yes,‖ he admitted. ―But lots of other women are pretty, Ria.‖ ―I know, but she knows just what to say to make RP laugh. Really laugh, Daddy. Taylor can‘t do that.‖ She was right. Not that it changed anything. He dated one woman at a time. Although he and Taylor hadn‘t discussed marriage, he was ready to think about remarriage again. Who better to think about it with than the woman he‘d been seeing exclusively for nearly a year?

37

He touched Ria‘s cheek. ―Taylor is very fond of you and RP, Ria. You know that.‖ Ria blinked up at him. ―No, I don‘t. I know she likes you, Daddy, but I don‘t know if she likes me and RP much. And maybe we don‘t like her either.‖ Her words shocked him. ―What? Of course, she likes you and you like her. Don‘t you, honey?‖ She shrugged, looking up at him. ―I guess she‘s okay.‖ ―Just okay?‖ She nodded firmly. ―Just okay.‖ A month earlier, the four of them had spent the day at the park and Ria and RP seemed to enjoy being with Taylor. Only one thing had changed since then. They‘d met Annalise. Once she‘d left, he was confident Ria and RP would forget her and gravitate toward Taylor again. ―It‘s time to say your prayers and go to sleep, honey.‖ ―Okay.‖ He listened while she said her prayers, noticing that just as RP had done, she mentioned Annalise, but not Taylor. She smiled up at him. ―Good night, Daddy.‖ He bent to kiss her. ―Good night. I love you, sweetie.‖ She threw her arms around his neck. ―I love you too, Daddy.‖

38

Reed was annoyed to find Annalise waiting in the dimly lit hallway when he emerged from Ria‘s room. She was the last person he wanted to see. Just one day in his house and she‘d managed to make him blush like a silly teenager. Worse, she‘d ingratiated herself into Ria and RP‘s affections at Taylor‘s expense. ―No need to look like that, RP Senior,‖ she said, clearly amused. ―I have good news for you.‖ ―Oh?‖ He tried not to show his annoyance. After all, she had gone out of her way to help. She deserved a little courtesy. ―Since things seem pretty under control here, I‘ve decided to head home early tomorrow morning.‖ ―Oh. Thank God!‖ He let out a relieved breath. He saw her eyes widen in surprise and her lips part in amazement and realized he‘d spoken aloud. He stared at her in horror. ―Oh, man! I didn‘t mean that the way it must have sounded.‖ ―Now that I find hard to believe, RP Senior. I think you meant exactly what you said.‖ She flashed him a blank stare and started away. Part of him wanted to let her go and hope he was seeing her for the last time, but another part wouldn‘t allow it. He followed her. ―Annalise! Please give me a moment of your time.‖ Quickly closing the distance between them, he touched her arm. She swung around. The hurt look he saw in her dark eyes dismayed him.

39

―Let me guess. You can‘t wait. You want me to go now. Tonight. Am I right?‖ Way to go, Reed. She comes to help out and you send her home on the verge of tears. ―No, you‘re not right! I don‘t want you to go at all!‖ Reed paused, aware that he meant what he‘d just said. Why didn‘t he want her to go? That way lay trouble. He knew he shouldn‘t, but something deep inside wanted her to stay. ―I don‘t want you to go at all,‖ he repeated. ―And certainly not like this. You‘ve misunderstood me. I—‖ She stepped away from him, shaking her head. Although she smiled, he sensed she was still hurt. ―I understand you perfectly. For some reason that only you and the good Lord understand, you seem to view me as some sort of threat. To what I‘m not sure.‖ He sighed. He supposed he owed her some sort of explanation. ―Please don‘t misunderstand. I really appreciate your kindness and generosity in coming to help out.‖ She nodded. ―Sure you do. But? Let‘s have the but.‖ ―There isn‘t any. It‘s just that...Ria and RP‘s relationship with Taylor is...at a...delicate stage.‖ ―Translated I suppose that means they don‘t like each other.‖

40

―It doesn‘t mean any such thing,‖ he denied. ―It just means that it‘s not a good time for them to be...falling in love with you. Surely you can understand that.‖ ―Look, I didn‘t ask and I didn‘t try to make anyone fall in love with me. I came because Deb asked me to. Sorry if it‘s inconvenient for you to have your kids like me.‖ She made him sound like an idiot. ―Look, Annalise, I didn‘t mean it like that. I simply meant—‖ She waved a hand to silence him. ―Oh, I know what you meant. You want me to leave.‖ ―That‘s not true.‖ ―Oh yes, it is. So please don‘t bother trying to deny it. Besides, it‘s okay because I‘m leaving. But not tonight. If that displeases you, too bad.‖ ―Annalise—‖ ―There‘s really no need to say anything else,‖ she said, giving him a long, cool stare. ―I think we understand each other perfectly.‖ He doubted that but he saw no point in arguing with her. He shrugged. ―Good night.‖

41

Reed watched her walk away feeling certain that nothing he could say would make her believe that he really didn‘t want her to go. He turned and walked to his bedroom. Staring at his reflection, he tried to recall the last time a woman other than Maria had stirred his emotions and interest so quickly and thoroughly. Taylor certainly hadn‘t. Neither had any other woman. Since he was all but committed to Taylor, he needed as much distance between him and Annalise Lewis as possible.

Annalise woke with a pounding heart, her ears were subjected to a series of lusty yells just before Ria and RP burst into her bedroom. ―See! I told you she was still here!‖ RP cried triumphantly. Annalise took several deep breathes to slow her heartbeat before she glanced at the bedside clock. She saw with amazement that it was four a.m. ―Ria! RP! What‘s wrong?‖ ―Ria said you‘d gone, Annie, but I knew you wouldn‘t leave without saying goodbye,‖ RP said. To her surprised delight, he charged across the room, hopped onto her bed, and flung his thin arms around her neck. ―I‘m so glad you‘re not gone!‖

42

She hugged him back, wondering how to tell him that she had planned to do just that. Over his shoulder, she looked at Ria, who stood by the door, watching with wide, weary looking eyes. She smiled at Ria before taking an arm from RP to hold it invitingly out to her. After a long moment, Ria started across the room, climbed slowly onto the bed, then pressed against her. ―I‘m glad too, but I heard you tell Daddy last night that you were going.‖ She pulled away and looked up into Annalise‘s face. ―But you don‘t have to go, Annie. He didn‘t mean it when he said ‗Thank God.‘ Honest he didn‘t.‖ RP pulled away until he too was looking up at her. ―Who didn‘t mean it?‖ ―Daddy,‖ Ria told him. She turned back to face Annalise. ―He doesn‘t really want you to go. Honest, he doesn‘t.‖ Annalise looked down into the two pair of eyes filled with despair. Her resolve dissipated. Reed had a valid point about Ria and RP needing to bond with Taylor instead of her. She needed to just get out of the way and leave the four of them to live happily ever after. Doing so would be so much easier if only she didn‘t feel she was where she‘d always wanted to be—with a man who had captured her attention and heart from the moment she set eyes on him. She sent up a silent prayer. Help me do the right thing, Lord. ―Annie? Are you listening?‖

43

She blinked and gave her attention to Ria. ―Yes. And you know what? I‘ve decided to stay after all.‖ RP‘s face lit up. ―Forever and ever?‖ ―No, honey,‖ she said gently. ―For a day or two.‖ ―Only that long?‖ She brushed the soft blond hair off his forehead. ―Oh, honey, don‘t look like that. We‘ll have fun while I‘m here.‖ ―But what about when you‘re gone? Then what?‖ ―Then we‘ll just trust in the Lord to make everything right. Okay?‖ ―But how can it be right if you‘re gone?‖ RP asked, his blue eyes troubled. She kissed his forehead. ―Because no matter who‘s with you or who‘s gone, the Lord‘s always there for you. He won‘t ever leave. You can always count on him.‖ ―Good because I asked him not to ever let you go away, Annie.‖ ―Oh…RP, that‘s not possible.‖ ―Yes it is so don‘t worry, Annie.‖ ―And be happy, Annie!‖ She fell back against the bed under the combined weight of Ria and RP‘s. They then covered her face with kisses. Sighing happily, she kissed them back.

44

She was in full control until RP pulled away and smiled at her. ―I hope you never leave because I love you so much, Annie!‖ Then her eyes watered and emotion made speaking difficult. She just held them both so tightly that after a moment they started to squirm in protest. ―There won‘t be much of us to love back if you keep squeezing the life out of us,‖ Ria complained, but she pressed several kisses against Annalise‘s cheeks. ―You‘re right. Sorry.‖ She released them. ―But that‘s just about the nicest thing anyone‘s ever said to me.‖ ―That‘s because Ria and me are really nice,‖ RP said earnestly. ―You‘ll love us once you get to know us.‖ She pressed a kiss against his forehead. ―Oh, honey, I know I will. But right now it‘s very late and I‘m tired. How about you two beat it and let me go back to sleep for an hour or two?‖ ―You won‘t leave while we‘re sleeping?‖ RP asked, looking and sounding anxious. ―No, honey. I won‘t.‖ At least not unless Reed insisted she left. ―Promise?‖ ―Ah…yes. Promise.‖

45

They went, after several kisses and hugs. She sank back against her pillow. Poor old RP Senior was going to be very disappointed when he woke in a few hours and found her still in residence. Too bad.

Reed woke feeling tired. After checking to make sure Ria and RP were still asleep, he headed for the kitchen. He needed a cup of coffee. Then maybe he could figure out how he was going to make amends to Annalise. Would a bouquet of flowers get the job done? The thought of her thinking badly of him, disturbed him. He hesitated outside the closed kitchen door, his nostrils filled with the aroma of brewing coffee. The chances of Deb rising early on a Saturday morning were slim to none. Annalise must have started the percolator before she left. That made him feel worse than he had the night before. Sighing, he pushed the kitchen door open. His eyes widened and he was aware of an undeniable warmth spreading through him at the sight of Annalise standing in the kitchen. A riot of emotions washed over him. Surprise. Relief. Pleasure. Dismay. Delight. Delight. And more delight. ―You‘re still here.‖ She nodded, her eyes twinkling. ―‗Fraid so. Must be a bit of a shock for you, huh?‖

46

―No. Yes.‖ He hurried into the kitchen, anxious to make amends. ―Wait. Don‘t jump to conclusions and misunderstand me again. I‘m glad you‘re still here. I was just wondering how I could make amends for last night‘s misunderstanding.‖ She laughed, shaking her head. ―Oh, give it up, RP Senior. I did not misunderstand you. I heard what you said and I know what you meant. You were glad when you thought I was going. Please don‘t insult me by trying to deny it.‖ ―Okay. I was glad,‖ he conceded, reluctantly, ―but only for a moment. And not for the reason you‘re thinking.‖ ―And just how would you know what I‘m thinking? Am I an open book to you, RP Senior?‖ He wished! Then maybe he‘d know how to deal with her; how to handle the mixed emotions she inspired in him. ―No. Let me explain.‖ She smiled and crossed her arms, looking as if she had all the time in the world to listen to his explanation. ―Oh. Well. Hey. Please. By all means explain.‖ She was enjoying this far more than necessary. ―I‘ve just never met anyone like you. I don‘t know how to...what to make of you.‖ ―What is it about me that you find so hard to understand, RP Senior?‖ she asked, leaning back against the counter and staring at him with those incredible eyes. ―I‘m very ordinary. As you can see.‖

47

If it was one thing she was not, it was ordinary; not with those eyes, that breathtaking smile, and all that glorious dark skin and long hair. Not to mention the figure she seemed intent on hiding under yet another pair of baggy sweats. Of course he wasn‘t about to admit how much she disturbed him. ―I wish you‘d stop calling me RP Senior,‖ he said, stalling for time. ―Fine. I‘ll call you, Reed. Occasionally. Maybe…depending on my mood. Now you were saying, Reed?‖ He sighed. ―I‘m not used to having women ask me out,‖ he said reluctantly. ―So I overreacted.‖ ―That I find hard to bel—wait. What do you mean you‘re not used to women asking you out?‖ Pushing herself away from the counter, she banged the carton of eggs she‘d taken from the refrigerator onto the counter. ―Get this straight once and for all buddy: I did not ask you out!‖ ―Of course you didn‘t,‖ he agreed quickly. She stared at him, as if daring him to laugh or smile. When he did neither, she broke several eggs into a bowl with a force and carelessness that left him thinking they‘d be lucky not to find themselves eating pieces of shells. ―And anyway, you‘re wrong if you think that explains anything,‖ she fumed. He sighed again, poured himself a cup of black coffee, and sat at the table. ―I‘m afraid that Taylor wouldn‘t understand about you,‖ he finally admitted.

48

―There‘s nothing about me for her to understand.‖ She turned to stare at him, her gaze cool. ―Just because I said you‘re good looking, doesn‘t mean you should assume—‖ ―I wish you wouldn‘t keep harping on my appearance.‖ He felt his face flush. ―I don‘t want to be judged by that.‖ ―…assume I‘m after you,‖ she went on, as if he hadn‘t interrupted. ―So don‘t sweat it or go giving your one woman any wild ideas.‖ ―Oh. Good. Then we can be friends.‖ ―What else could we possibly be, Reed?‖ Unbidden, a vision of her smiling up at him as they walked hand in hand in the moonlight filled his head. That image was quickly followed by one of her walking down a long aisle to stand by his side in a white gown, her hand in his, a radiant face turned toward him seconds before she vowed to love, honor, and obey him until death. She whispered his favorite line of Down the Aisle to him: Through the years we‘ll live in bliss. A picture of Taylor‘s pretty face flashed into his mind, shocking him back to his senses. It was Taylor he should be daydreaming about. Taylor was the woman he‘d chosen to be step–mom to Ria and RP. That didn‘t leave any room for fantasizing about Annalise.

49

―Nothing,‖ he said firmly. ―Fine!‖ She opened the refrigerator door, then slammed it without retrieving anything from it. ―Nothing‘s good. Nothing‘s fine. Just dandy. I like nothing!‖ He allowed his gaze to rest on her. To look into her eyes. To light on her hair. To dance over her face. To linger on her full, lush lips. He looked quickly away, shamefully aware that just the sight of her stirred improper emotions in him. Thank God she would be leaving soon.

50

Chapter Four

Annalise rolled over onto her back and wiggled around on the bed trying to get comfortable. While the bed in the Phillips‘ guest room wasn‘t uncomfortable, she nearly always had a problem falling asleep in a strange room. Finally, she lay still, willing sleep to overtake her. After what felt like an eternity, she opened her eyes and looked at the bedside clock. ―Twelve–thirty a.m. and all is not well,‖ she grumbled softly. She punched her fist into the pillow and burrowed her head in the resulting dent. One. Two. Three. Four. She began the silent counting that was usually all she needed to fall asleep. Generally, she was asleep before she reached fifty. But generally, she didn‘t spend a stressful day trying to show a man she‘d fallen for at first sight, that she didn‘t care one iota for him. Once she was away from Reed, she‘d get back on track. In less than seven hours, she‘d be heading home and out of Reed Phillips‘ life for good. The thought held little appeal and no comforting power. She began to breathe slowly, deeply, and started the count anew. Still wide–awake at two hundred, she groaned and sat up. All three windows of the room were open and a gentle breeze carried on moonlit beams blew across her face, calling to her.

51

Climbing out of bed, she slipped on an oversized tee shirt and a pair of sweat pants over her shortie silk pajamas, pushed her feet in her slippers, and left the room. She‘d sit on the swing on the back porch until she became drowsy enough to fall asleep. For a moment, she stood in the doorway of the kitchen, looking out onto the back porch. Muted moonlight filtered down through the trees, providing a measure of relief from the darkness. Humming, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, she made her way toward the corner of the porch, then gave a startled gasp when Reed suddenly rose from the swing. ―Annalise! I‘m sorry,‖ he said, touching her arm. ―I didn‘t mean to frighten you.‖ ―Frighten me?‖ With pounding heart, she rested her head against his shoulder. ―You‘ve shortened my life expectancy by at least ten years.‖ Her heart, which had started to resume its normal rhythm, beat a wild tattoo when he put his arm around her and hugged her. ―Sorry.‖ She closed her eyes and pressed closer, savoring the pleasure of being so close to him. He wore a subtle cologne she found intoxicating. Exhilarating. Maddening. The urge to lift her face, wind her arms around his neck, and tell him how she felt washed over her with the force of a tidal wave. Frightened by the emotions his nearness created, she gasped, and jerked away from him.

52

She turned to rush back into the house. Closing his fingers around her arms, he stopped her. He slowly turned her to face him. ―There‘s no need to run away,‖ he said. ―You‘re perfectly safe with me.‖ She didn‘t feel safe. She felt breathless. Frightened. Hungry for him and the tenderness he‘d already told her he was reserving for Taylor. ―Okay, I‘m safe. Now, you want to stop manhandling me?‖ she asked, proud of how calm she sounded. ―Sorry.‖ He released her arm immediately and stepped away from her. ―I take it you couldn‘t sleep either.‖ ―It‘s being in a strange bed,‖ she said quickly. The last thing she wanted was him knowing that thoughts of him were keeping her awake at night. He nodded toward the swing. ―Then join me.‖ Was it her imagination or was his voice a little unsteady? Must be her imagination, she decided. He‘d made it clear that he found her unattractive. Although she couldn‘t think of anything nicer than sitting with him on the swing, there was no sense in looking for trouble. She shook her head and took a step away from him. ―Thanks, but I‘ll pass. Good night.‖ He moved past her to block the door leading back into the house. ―Why?‖ She blinked in surprised. ―Why?‖

53

―Yes. Why? Please don‘t tell me you‘re afraid of me or that you don‘t trust me.‖ ―Don‘t be ridiculous.‖ she said. ―Of course I‘m not afraid of you and I do trust you.‖ He reached out and touched her arm. His long, warm fingers brushed against the back of her wrist, sending a tingle streaking up her arm. ―Good. Then come sit on the swing with me.‖ She stared at him wordlessly, afraid to trust her voice. He seemed to take her silence for assent. His hand enveloped hers, making her nerve endings erupt into a confusion of sensation. In a daze, she allowed him to lead her to the swing. He eased down beside her, his arm resting along the back of the swing. Close, but not quite touching her shoulder. But he didn‘t need to actually touch her. His presence was enough to keep her heart beating in her throat. Oh, Lord, what am I doing out here like this with him? ―Deb tells me you‘ve been friends for years,‖ he said into the silence. She nodded, staring straight ahead. ―We met in junior high, but didn‘t become friends until we ended up in college together.‖ ―So how is it that we‘ve never met?‖

54

Annalise hesitated. She could sit there shivering like a silly preteen in the grips of first love or she could rediscover her pride and be herself. She turned to stare at his profile, a smile pulling at the corners of her mouth. ―I guess you haven‘t been living right.‖ She touched his arm. ―Until now.‖ He turned his head slowly to look at her. In the dim light, she couldn‘t see the expression in his eyes. But she could feel the tension in him. ―You think?‖ he asked quietly. ―I know,‖ she said confidently. ―Otherwise we‘d have met before.‖ She resisted the urge to lean against him and waited. Would he object to her touch? ―What do you want out of life, Annalise?‖ She shrugged. ―The usual. A husband who so worships the ground I walk on, he‘s blind to my faults. A couple of kids I can spoil rotten and lots of friends who share my faith and values. You know, the usual.‖ ―How important is having kids for you?‖ ―Very. I‘ve always wanted to be a mother. I think motherhood will help complete me and make me a better person. Isn‘t that how you feel about being a father?‖ ―Yes. I do. Tell me, Annalise, do you have any prospects in mind for that blind husband?‖ ―That‘s a very personal question.‖

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―What‘s the answer? Do you have a man in your life?‖ She shifted slightly away from him. He was the last person she was going to tell that men were generally only interested in friendship with her. ―Are you planning to write my biography, RP Senior?‖ He half turned on the swing to face her. ―I‘m curious about you.‖ He‘d insisted they share the swing on a moonlit night. Was it possible he liked her a little? ―Why?‖ He shrugged. ―Ria and RP really like you.‖ ―I like them.‖ She slipped her arm through his. ―What about you?‖ ―Me? Are you asking me if I like my own kids?‖ ―No.‖ She placed a hand on his chest. ―I‘m asking if you like me, Reed.‖ He looked away. The silence that ensued told her all she needed to know. Still, on the off chance that she really was misunderstanding him this time, she decided to try again. ―Well, I guess it‘s true what they say about silence being golden, huh?‖ He turned toward her, but remained silent. She pulled away from him and rose. ―I‘m going to make an early start tomorrow, so I‘d better get to bed. Good night.‖ He ran a hand through his hair. ―Good night.‖

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So this was how it was going to end? A cool good night and he‘d see her go without any of the regrets she‘d feel? ―Thank you for coming to help out, Annalise.‖ ―Don‘t thank me for coming. I didn‘t do it for you. I came for Deb. I stayed for RP and Ria. I‘m leaving tomorrow for you. You can thank me for that. I know that‘ll make you happy.‖ She waited. Would he at least deny that her leaving would make him happy? He sat staring silently up at her, as if wondering why she was still there when it was obvious that he was longing for her to go. ―Reed?‖ She touched his hair. He shook his head. ―Don‘t.‖ She dropped her hand and quickly left the porch. Back in her room, she tried to do what Charlie was always urging his congregation to do. Handle the things she could and leave the rest in God‘s hands and get on with life.

Thoughts of Reed filled Annalise‘s head on the drive back to Philly several hours later. Reminding herself that he had a beautiful girlfriend and no personal interest in her didn‘t help. She knew what would. She‘d throw herself into helping out at the soup kitchen Charlie‘s church sponsored. Once she immersed herself in the Lord‘s work, she‘d soon forget Reed.

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She‘d never been one to waste her time or pine for things she couldn‘t have. Reed was off–limits. So she‘d forget him. As a means to an end, she‘d made it clear to Deb that she wouldn‘t be returning to Flemington to help out again. Deb‘s failure to ask why left her feeling certain that she knew why. Annalise grimaced. She certainly couldn‘t be the first of Deb‘s friends to fall for Reed. The flowers arrived that night, just as she was about to sit down to dinner on her balcony. He sent two dozen yellow carnations. After spending several moments inhaling their fragrance, she reached for the card. Annalise, Please accept these as a small token of our appreciation for the generosity and selflessness you displayed this weekend on our behalf. May God always keep you in His love and protect you. Ria, R P, and Reed Phillips. She couldn‘t help noticing that no mention was made of her being welcomed to return. As a matter fact, there was a definite, undeniable finality about that last sentence. He obviously didn‘t expect to meet her again. Oh, well. It was time to learn from her mistake and keep it moving along. She spent the majority of the next week at the soup kitchen. There she cooked and served lunch and dinner. When she arrived home at night, she was too tired to do more than say a prayer before falling exhausted into bed.

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Charlie worried that she was doing too much, but she kept up the pace. Her busy days left her no time to think of Reed Phillips, which was her immediate goal.

Reed stood at the window of his downtown Philadelphia office, looking out onto the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, aware that he wasn‘t behaving very responsibly. He should be working on the designs for the proposed townhouse project in Northeast Philly that he and his partner hoped to win. Winning the contract would go a long way in helping to establish the two–year–old firm of Rogers and Phillips. Equally as pressing was the need to find a nanny for Ria and RP. Since he wasn‘t working, he should be doing something constructive like interviewing prospective candidates. Instead, he stood there wasting valuable time. Recalling the disastrous weekend he and Taylor had spent with Ria and RP, he sighed. Taylor had tried hard with them, but they rebuffed all her overtures. Finally she‘d stopped trying, admitting to him that she didn‘t think they‘d ever like her. Such an assertion didn‘t bode well for their future relationship. He needed to find a way to encourage them to forget Annalise and give Taylor another chance. First, he had to refocus his own interest in Taylor. Although he‘d been careful to

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immediately dismiss all thoughts of Annalise that popped into his head, he‘d dreamed of her twice. In both dreams she‘d been in church about to marry him. While falling in love with Maria, he‘d often dreamt of marrying her. Maria. He closed his eyes. She had been so good to and for him, he‘d known meeting her was an obvious gift from the Lord. As a reckless adolescent, he‘d had his fair share of no strings attached, purely physical relationships. He‘d found them exciting, but transitory. Then he‘d met Maria. With her he‘d discovered a desire and a need to belong to just one woman and know she belonged to him alone. More importantly, through her he‘d rediscovered God, church, and the moral code his parents had tried so hard to instill in him as he grew up. Losing her in a plane crash after only twelve years of marriage had been the hardest challenge he‘d ever faced. It was that sense of God and church that had helped him get through the last three years. After belonging to a woman unafraid to commit herself fully and completely to him, he felt lost and lonely. He longed to fall head over heels in love with another woman who would love him and his kids unreservedly. The three of them needed a woman who would share their faith in God. Until recently he‘d been fairly certain that Taylor was that woman. He‘d never doubted her ability to make him and his kids happy until he‘d met Annalise.

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He rubbed his eyes. No matter how much he prayed or how hard he tried not to, he thought of her at the most inconvenient times. Like now. He looked out the window again, started to turn away, and then did a double take. There was a woman with long dark hair that fell just below her shoulders on the other side of the street, waiting for the light to turn. She wore an oversized shirt and baggy sweat pants. Something about her seemed familiar. He continued to stare down at her, waiting for her to glance upward, so he could place her. Of course, there was no reason for her to look up. But when she did, he caught a glimpse of her beautiful, warm coco colored skin. He sucked in his breath. Her eyes would be a dark, bottomless brown. Her smile would make his heart thump painfully and brighten his day. Annalise. As the light changed and she moved across the street and out of his line of sight, he noticed a small, insulated lunch bag in her hand. Her destination must be the park. Would she eat alone or was she meeting someone? Not that it was any concern of his. He was surely the last person she‘d want to see. Thoughts of their midnight encounter on his back porch made him wince. His behavior must have confused her. Sitting with her in the moonlight with the smell of her perfume filling his senses to overflowing and her arm slipped through his had filled him with improper desires.

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As a man on the verge of proposing to Taylor, he had no right to allow himself the decadent luxury of weaving fantasies around Annalise. The needs and desires she inspired in him were sinful. And yet…Annalise. Everything about her, including her sweet name filled him with heat. Even without Taylor, Annalise was only twenty–five. She was too young and sweet for him. She deserved a man closer to her age who could father the children she wanted. He closed his eyes and touched his forehead against the cool window. This constant thinking of her had to stop. It wasn‘t fair to Taylor and it only fueled his improper desires. He uttered a silent prayer before turning away from the window.

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Chapter Five

Seated on the grass with her back against a tree, Annalise decided that coming to the park had been a bad idea. The beauty of the day and her surroundings left her longing to sketch the scene. She still had several weeks to go before she could begin drawing or painting again full–time. ―Hello.‖ A shadow fell across her face and she lifted a hand to shield her eyes as she looked up to see Reed Phillips smiling down at her. Standing there with the sun shining on his fair hair, he looked like a mythical Norseman who‘d walked out of legend and straight into her wayward, aching heart. Unless he wasn‘t really there. She blinked. This was no dream. He was there and still looking pleased to see her too. She swallowed slowly. ―Fancy meeting you here, RP Senior.‖ ―Nothing fancy about it. I followed you.‖ He nodded toward the tree. ―May I join you?‖ He‘d followed her? She shrugged while her heart thumped like a wild thing at his admission. ―Sure, if you think your suit can stand up to possible grass stains.‖

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He sat beside her, stretching his long legs out in front of him and leaning back against the tree with his broad shoulder nearly touching hers. ―You said something about following me,‖ she said, staring straight ahead. ―I was at the window of my office and I saw you heading this way. I suspected you were probably coming here to have lunch. Since I hadn‘t eaten, I decided to join you.‖ ―Wow. Should I be flattered?‖ She spoke in a dry voice she hoped concealed her delight at his words. ―Oh, come on, Annalise. Give me a break. I didn‘t mean it like that.‖ There was no doubting the sincerity in his voice or in his eyes when she summoned the nerve to turn and look into them. She shrugged. ―Lighten up. I was only joking.‖ He flashed a quick smile before he spoke. ―Are you meeting anyone?‖ ―By anyone I suppose you mean a man?‖ He nodded. ―Yes. A man. Are you?‖ ―Why do you ask?‖ He shrugged, lowering his eyelids to conceal his expression. ―I wouldn‘t want to intrude.‖ ―Wouldn‘t you?‖ ―No.‖

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Had he spoken to quickly or was she just wasting her time in wishful thinking? Oh, no, you don‘t, girl. Don‘t start obsessing over him again. ―Are you meeting someone, Annalise?‖ She shook her head. ―Just nature.‖ Did he seem relieved? Or did he even care. He must or he wouldn‘t have followed her and insisted she answer his question. When he spoke, his tone revealed none of his thought. ―They don‘t look so swollen today. How do they feel?‖ She held them up for his inspection. ―Today‘s a good day. They feel fine.‖ He surprised her by taking both of her hand in his. He lifted them to his lips, kissing her fingertips. ―I‘m very glad to hear that, Annalise.‖ He smiled. She smiled while admonishing herself not to feel too hopeful. ―So. Tell me. How are things down at the farm?‖ He brushed his lips against her fingertips before releasing her hands. ―About the same. Deb‘s threatening to take hostages again. The last nanny candidate only lasted three days.‖ She nodded in sympathy. ―I know.‖ ―Oh?‖ ―Ria and RP called me last night.‖

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He seemed surprised and she realized that Ria hadn‘t been truthful with her. He obviously didn‘t know that they called her. Anxious to assure him she wasn‘t plotting behind his back, she spoke quickly. ―I thought you knew that we talked. Sorry if it‘s problem.‖ ―I didn‘t know, but it‘s not a problem. They obviously like you a lot.‖ Locking gazes with her, he reached for her hand. She inhaled quickly, withdrawing her hand from his. ―Oh, Reed, let‘s not go down that path again.‖ He reclaimed her hand, holding it against his chest, over his heart. ―What do you mean?‖ She tugged at her hand. He refused to release it. ―I mean you‘re asking for trouble.‖ ―How?‖ She tugged at her hand again until he finally released it. ―I might end up asking if you like me again. And you know how well that question went over on your back porch,‖ she reminded him. As he had that night on the porch, he looked away.

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So despite his inexplicable flirting, nothing had changed. He was still unwilling to discuss his feelings for her. ―So, you were telling me about life on the farm,‖ she prodded. Several silent moments passed before he released a deep breath and slowly turned to look at her ―It‘s not all happiness and sunshine.‖ ―Why not? Because you‘re not sharing it with me?‖ His blue gaze swept over her face before settling on her mouth. Did he need an incentive to kiss her? After dismissing her conscience that insisted on reminding her that he belonged to Taylor, she leaned closer. She parted her lips and extended the tip of her tongue in a shameless effort to tempt him into kissing her. He sighed and shook his head. ―Annalise…please…‖ Please what? Lean closer? Or please don‘t tempt him? He wasn‘t indifferent to her. He‘d followed her to the park, held her hands, and kissed her fingers, but clearly wasn‘t willing to kiss her lips. ―Fine.‖ Save your kisses for the lucky, Taylor. ―So if you don‘t want to kiss—‖ ―Annalise…‖ ―Do you, Reed?‖ She slipped her arm through his and rubbed her cheek against his shoulder. ―Do you want to kiss something other than my fingertips?‖ She lifted her face to his with her lips parted.

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He stared silently down into her eyes. Although he made no effort to pull away from her, he didn‘t attempt to kiss her either. ―Reed?‖ She stroked her free hand over his chest and shoulders. He sucked in a breath and disengaged his arm from hers. ―I want to talk.‖ His voice was husky and lacked conviction. ―Is that really all you want to do, Reed? Is that why you wanted me to share the porch swing with you in the moonlight so you could talk to me?‖ ―That‘s all I did then and all I‘m going to do today, Annalise. Talk.‖ ―In case no one told you, locking lips can be very nice,‖ she said. ―I have two kids, Annalise. I think you can assume I know all about kissing and how locking lips can lead to improper desires.‖ ―Improper desires? Neither of us are married, Reed.‖ ―You‘re forgetting Taylor.‖ ―Lord knows I wish you would,‖ she admitted. ―Well, I‘m not going to.‖ He rose and quickly walked away.

Annalise closed her eyes and leaned back against the tree trunk. Nice going. After all that begging to be kissed, he‘ll question your faith and think you have the morals of an alley cat in heat. ―Can we try again?‖

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Annalise snapped open her eyes. Reed stood staring down at her. She shrugged. ―Why are you back? Did you decide you want to kiss after all?‖ ―I…‖ He reached down, gripped her hands, and lifted her to her feet. ―Can I buy you an early dinner?‖ ―That depends.‖ ―On what?‖ He still held her hands and was now staring at her mouth. ―Will there be any kissing and improper desires involved?‖ He squeezed her hands. ―I‘m sure there‘ll be all too many improper desires involved.‖ She extended her tongue and circled her entire mouth. ―And kissing?‖ ―Why are you determined to tempt me, Annalise?‖ Because this time she wanted to prove to herself and God that her faith was stronger. This time she would not sin. She leaned against him, slipping a hand from his to slide up his chest to touch the hair at his nape. ―Why are you determined not to be tempted?‖ He released her other hand. ―You know I‘m dating Taylor.‖ ―I know you‘re not married or engaged—‖

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―We‘re close enough to—‖ She took his hand and placed it on her waist. ―I also know you‘re tempted, Reed.‖ ―Isn‘t it incumbent upon you, as a fellow believer not to attempt to lead me into further temptation? Don‘t you believe?‖ He couldn‘t know of her struggles of the last twenty months to restore her faith after her amoral relationship with Tom. ―My brother is a minister. I‘m a member of his congregation. Of course I believe in God, but that doesn‘t mean I have to be…a Bible thumper.‖ ―You‘re clearly not that.‖ Oh, no. Did he know? ―Look, Reed, just because I happen to believe that the Lord helps those who help themselves doesn‘t make me a heathen. I believe in God and I do my best to follow the bible‘s tenets.‖ ―But you have no respect for marriage or engagements?‖ ―I respect both!‖ She snapped, stung. ―But you‘re neither married nor engaged.‖ He stepped away from her. ―Dinner would probably be a very bad idea.‖ Even when God forgave his servants, they still had to reap what they‘d sown. Despite being raised by parents of faith, she‘d spent nearly a year living with a man who‘d never had any intentions of marrying her. Even if Reed didn‘t know of

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her past, her attempt to redeem her character is his eyes had clearly failed. She sank onto the grass with her back against the tree. ―You want to talk instead?‖ To her surprise, he nodded and sat down on the grass with his shoulder touching hers. ―Are you back at work yet?‖ ―Nope.‖ She breathed in the air. ―Still enjoying the easy life.‖ ―How do you manage financially? Deb said something about your not having to work.‖ She turned to look at him. ―Have you been asking her about me?‖ ―I was a little curious.‖ ―I inherited a little money from my grandparents that allows me a measure of independence. That‘s why I can freelance instead of having to work full–time for a firm. Now speaking of curiosity, why don‘t you ask your girlfriend to help with Ria and RP?‖ The question seemed to surprise him. ―Taylor?‖ She nodded. ―Yes. Taylor. Unless, of course, you have more than one lady friend. Do you?‖ ―No! I don‘t!‖ ―Okay. No need to take my head off.‖ ―How many times do I need to tell you I‘m a one woman man?‖

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Did he say it so often because it was true or in an attempt to make himself believe it was true? ―I heard you the first time but I just wondered why you don‘t ask your ‗one woman‘ to help out?‖ ―Taylor has a demanding job.‖ She shrugged. ―Really? What exactly does your Taylor do, if you don‘t mind my asking?‖ ―And if I do mind?‖ She shrugged, opened her insulated lunch bag, took out a sandwich, and took a small bite before she grinned into his very annoyed looking face. ―I‘ve already asked. You‘re minding isn‘t going to change that.‖ ―She‘s the branch manager at a local bank.‖ ―Branch manager, huh? Doesn‘t sound all that demanding to me. So I take it she and the kids don‘t get along.‖ ―You don‘t have any basis for concluding that. She‘s just not very good at some things.‖ ―Ahhh. Little, insignificant things like cooking and cleaning and getting along with kids?‖ She suggested, taking a sort of perverse delight in his obvious displeasure. ―I suppose she‘s too much of a career woman to take the time to master such mundane skills. Let me guess. She‘s the hire a maid and nanny type woman?‖

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―I didn‘t know you and Taylor knew each other.‖ ―We don‘t.‖ ―Then why do you feel comfortable enough to criticize her?‖ She shrugged. ―Put like that you make me sound petty…and jealous.‖ ―I think you‘ve done that without any help from me, Annalise.‖ That stung. ―Have I told you how very…charming you are, RP Senior?‖ ―Sorry I bothered you,‖ he said and rose. She had been unforgivably and needlessly rude. But better to be rude than to continue to make a fool of herself. He stood staring down at her, almost as if he were waiting for her to come to her senses and ask him to stay. She bit her lip hard to stifle the urge to do just that. ―So you want me to go?‖ She nodded. ―Like this? Without knowing if or when we‘ll see each other again?‖ ―You haven‘t gone out of your way to make me want to see you again and I don‘t know that I do.‖ She almost sounded sincere. She watched the muscles in his cheek tightening. ―I kind of thought ….‖ She pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head and squinted up at him. ―Yes? What did you think?‖

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He shook his head. ―It doesn‘t matter because I was clearly wrong. You want me to go.‖ She nodded. Then sat silently clenching her hands as he walked away. Even though every nerve ending in her body urged her to go after him and ask him to stay. It was a sin to covet a man who belonged to another woman. He belonged to Taylor. End of story.

All the way back to his office, Reed chided himself for being a fool. What had possessed him to go tearing after her not ten minutes after he‘d prayed for the strength to forget her? Pushing himself in where he so obviously wasn‘t wanted? Why had he thought she‘d be pleased to see him? He hated admitting it, but it had been vanity. All her talk of finding him attractive had gone to his head. She‘d just cured him of vanity. Pursuing Taylor, who didn‘t shake up his life or test his faith by stirring such improper desires in him, made more sense. He needed to have his bruised ego soothed. When he got back to his office, he picked up the phone and called Taylor. To his dismay, his thoughts of Annalise filled his mind during their entire conversation.

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Annalise sat on her apartment balcony enjoying a second cup of decaf when the phone at her elbow rang. Should she answer it? After a few restless nights lying awake thinking of Reed, she wasn‘t in the mood to talk. She glanced at her watch. Besides, who would be calling at eight–thirty on a Saturday morning? All of her friends knew this was her quiet time to reflect after she‘d read the Bible. Whoever was calling was persistent, she thought irritably, as the phone rang again. And again. She picked up the cell phone lying on the table at her side. Deb‘s number flashed on the caller I.D. screen. Great. ―Yes?‖ ―Thank God you‘re home, Annie!‖ Ria and RP‘s voices sounded in her ear. ―Hi, Annie!‖ ―It‘s us! We‘ve come to see you since you wouldn‘t come to see us. Let us in,‖ Ria ordered. Annalise‘s pleasure on hearing their voices overwhelmed her. ―Yes, ma‘am,‖ she said, punching in the code that released the front door. Five minutes later, she sat on the sofa with RP and Ria pressed against either side of her. Deb, sat across the room on the matching cream–colored love seat. Her blue gaze held that desperate look Annalise was beginning to dread. ―How‘s things down on the farm?‖

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―Oh, Annie! I‘ve tried and tried, but I just can‘t cope.‖ The anguish in her voice tugged at Annalise‘s emotions. ―Surely your brother can—‖ ―Daddy‘s doing his best!‖ Ria interrupted. Then why wasn‘t he with his kids while Deb got a much–needed rest? She looked at Deb with an arched brow. Deb wiped at her damp cheeks. ―He‘s doing his best, Annie, but he‘s stressed out too.‖ ―Where is he stressed out at?‖ ―He tried to get up and be with us so Auntie Deb could have the weekend free, but he just couldn‘t,‖ Ria said. ―So we left him in bed.‖ ―In bed?‖ ―He‘s been in bed for the last two days. Today he‘s running a slight temperature,‖ Deb said. Had he been sick the day he followed her to the park? ―He‘s sick and you left him home alone?‖ Deb stared at her. ―He said he needed to sleep and he‘s afraid of these cuties catching what he has.‖

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Realizing that she‘d spoken much more sharply than she‘d intended, she blushed. Worse, she saw the gleam in Deb‘s eyes and knew she‘d betrayed her feelings for Reed. ―I was hoping you‘d take pity on us all and come back to the house today, Annie,‖ she began. ―I can‘t.‖ ―I know it‘s asking a lot, Annie, but I really need you to do this. We all do. And you won‘t have to see Reed if you don‘t want to. He‘s really feeling lousy. He‘ll probably be in bed all weekend. Just feed the kids and send some soup up to him by Ria. Come on, Annie. You can be in and gone without his even knowing you‘ve been there.‖ ―Please come spend the weekend with us,‖ RP begged. ―Daddy needs you.‖ Ria slipped her arm through Annalise‘s and stared up at her. ―He‘s all hot and sweaty and he just feels awful. Please help him.‖ If only Reed did need her. She was probably the last person he wanted to see. Not that she could tell Ria or RP that. She smiled at Ria. ―I would help him, if I could, but since he‘s sick, he‘d probably rather have Taylor at his side.‖ ―What‘s she going to do?‖ Ria demanded. ―She doesn‘t clean, she can‘t cook, and she never comes around when me or RP is sick. You‘re the one Daddy needs. Please come and help him.‖

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RP pressed against her other side. ―Please, Annie.‖ ―We really need your help, Annie,‖ Deb said. ―Deb, I‘d like to help,‖ she said, looking away from RP. ―I really would, but, I don‘t think he‘d want me there.‖ ―You mean because of Wednesday?‖ She blinked in surprised. ―You...you know about that?‖ ―Not really. He told me he saw you. He didn‘t say anything else, but he looked sort of...well, I got the feeling that...‖ Deb glanced at Ria, who was staring expectedly at her. ―Suffice it to say he doesn‘t hold grudges.‖ ―Doesn‘t he?‖ Thank God for that. ―Then I‘ll come.‖ ―For how long? Just the day or the weekend?‖ ―Don‘t push it, Deb!‖ ―I really could use a break. There are so many things I still need to do for the wedding and I can‘t do them there with the kids under foot and with Reed sick.‖ What difference did it make if she went for one day or a few days? There was nothing of a personal or pressing nature to keep her in Philly. So why not go help Deb? She knew she was rationalizing, but she didn‘t care. What more could a woman ask than the chance to look after the man she loved? There. She‘d admitted. She loved Reed.

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―Annie?‖ ―Call me crazy,‖ she said, shrugging. ―I‘ll stay for the weekend.‖ RP and Ria flung their arms around her neck. Deb rushed over to kiss her cheek. ―You are the sweetest person I know, Annie. Why didn‘t you agree to be my maid of honor?‖ She gingerly peeled three pair of arms from her neck. ―You know I was really honored to be asked, but at the time I had a lot of commitments and now it‘s too late.‖ Deb straightened and gave her an anxious look. ―One more favor?‖ ―Don‘t you think you‘ve just about used all your favors up?‖ ―Oh, absolutely not. I‘m sure I‘m due at least one more.‖ She rolled her eyes. ―And that would be?‖ ―Well. Since I‘m already here and you‘re going to Flemington anyway, why don‘t I just give you the keys to the house and you can take the kids with you?‖ ―And you‘ll be doing?‖ ―Spending the day with my almost dearly beloved.‖ While Annalise got to spend hers baby–sitting the kids of a man she adored but could never have. Sounded a little lopsided. ―Why not? I mean it‘s not as if I have a life of my own. Right? I live my life on the off chance that I might somehow one day be of some small service to you.‖

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―Oh, Annie!‖ Deb laughed, covering her face with a hand. ―Don‘t try to give me a guilt trip. Please. You know it won‘t work because I‘m totally shameless.‖ She laughed. ―Okay. Go and enjoy, Deb.‖

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Chapter Six

A soft, warm hand brushed the hair off Reed‘s damp forehead before cupping his cheek. The touch was feather–light, soothing. He pressed his cheek closer. In response, gentle fingers touched his lips. A whiff of a light, fresh smelling perfume filled his nostrils. A feminine voice hummed Down The Aisle. He could happily stay just as he was. Forever. ―Are you tired of playing possum?‖ The voice was low, sultry, and sent a tingle along his nerve endings. Annalise. He smiled and kissed the fingers still moving lightly against his lips. Then, fearful that he was dreaming, he opened his eyes. She straddled a kitchen chair pulled close to his bed. Her hair hung around her face in a sleek, dark cloud. Her brown eyes smiled at him. She wore that slow, irresistible smile that always made him feel surrounded with love. ―Are you really here or is this a dream?‖ Her eyes twinkled and her smile widened. ―Are you in the habit of dreaming of me, Reed?‖

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―No. Not often. Just every other night or so.‖ ―You are so...‖ Her smiled wavered and vanished. Her hand on his face stilled. ―I‘m sorry I was so rude at the park.‖ He turned his head to kiss her hand again. ―Did I do something to upset or anger you?‖ ―No. I was just...no.‖ ―Were you annoyed because I followed you? Did you think I was going to proposition you?‖ ―Were you?‖ ―No.‖ ―But you did ask me out to dinner.‖ She‘d done them both a favor by refusing his invitation. ―Why were you so...unfriendly that day?‖ ―I wouldn‘t say that I was exactly unfriendly. It was more like—‖ ―Take it from the guy on the receiving end. You were unfriendly with a capital U.‖ ―Well, it was just...one of those days.‖ ―Which days?‖ ―Oh, don‘t be such a pain in the neck!‖

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―Pain in the neck or not, I want to know which days you‘re talking about,‖ he insisted. She sighed. ―Days when I don‘t feel like being pursued by another woman‘s man. Satisfied?‖ ―You make me sound like a stalker. I was not pursuing you!‖ ―Fine. You weren‘t stalking me, but you were pursuing me. And you do belong to another woman. Don‘t you?‖ His reluctance to admit he belonged to Taylor ashamed him. Although he‘d never asked her not to see other men, he knew she didn‘t and they had discussed marriage. So even without actually asking her to marry him, he‘d obligated himself to her. ―Well? Don‘t you?‖ He nodded curtly and looked around the room lit by his bedside lamp. The moonlight shone into the open window. The last thing he remembered was crawling back into bed that morning. Had he slept all day? He glanced at his bedside clock. Ten o‘clock! He bolted up, felt dizzy, and eased back against his pillows. ―This is still Saturday?‖ ―Yes.‖ ―Where are the kids?‖

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―They came in to kiss you goodnight and say their prayers holding your hand about two hours ago.‖ ―Why didn‘t you wake me?‖ ―You were tired and still hot then. You haven‘t told me how you feel.‖ His pajamas felt damp and sticky and he needed a shave and a shower. ―I‘m dizzy, my mouth is dry, and I‘ve lost a whole day. I‘ve had better days. How are you?‖ ―Me? I‘m just Jim Dandy. Are you hungry?‖ ―I‘m thirsty.‖ He licked his dry lips. ―I didn‘t expect to see you here again. Especially not in my bedroom.‖ She glanced away from him for a moment, biting her lip. ―Does that mean I‘m not welcomed?‖ ―No. It doesn‘t mean that. I just thought after Wednesday that...well, you made it plain that...‖ ―I didn‘t like you?‖ she asked helpfully, smiling again. Instead of intriguing him, her smile irritated him. She‘d sent him back to his office with his tail between his legs. What was there in that to smile about? ―You enjoyed it, didn‘t you?‖ ―Enjoyed what?‖ ―Humiliating me.‖

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―I didn‘t. Wednesday was one of those days.‖ Her eyes narrowed and she stabbed a finger in his direction. ―And you‘re a fine one to talk about humiliation! How do you think I felt that night on the porch when you...just don‘t you talk to me about humiliation, Reed.‖ He stared at her, longing to tell her that humiliating her had been the last thing on his mind that night. But that admission would only serve to deepen the emotional hole he‘d already dug for himself. ―So it was tit for tat then?‖ He challenged. She threw up her hands. ―Oh, what‘s the use? I told Deb you wouldn‘t want me here.‖ She sprang to her feet and started away. He reacted instinctively, reaching out to catch her hand on his. He saw the surprised look on her face when she turned back to face him. He squeezed the hand resting in his very gently. ―Unfortunately, I‘m very glad you‘re here.‖ ―You are?‖ ―Yes. I am.‖ ―Oh. Well...good. Good. Because...I am here.‖ He smiled. ―So I see.‖ ―Yes, well...‖ She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. ―Where is Deb?‖

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She hesitated so long he thought she wasn‘t going to answer. ―Deb‘s spending the weekend in Philly at my place. She has a lot to do for the wedding and needed a break. So I said I‘d come stay for a few days to take care of you.‖ He liked the idea of a woman wanting to take care of him. No one had since Maria died. While Taylor had many great qualities, she wasn‘t a nurturer. He couldn‘t imagine her sitting by his bed, watching over him as Annalise had apparently been doing. Oh, yeah, he liked the idea of a woman wanting to take care of him. But not just any woman. This particular woman with her laughing eyes and enchanting smile and a knack for making him long for things he shouldn‘t. ―It‘s more than all right.‖ She smiled again. ―Good.‖ She nodded to the nightstand on the other side of the bed. ―Because I bought you flowers as a peace offering.‖ He turned his head. A vase filled with what looked like white carnations with a red rose in the center sat there. As he looked at them, he was aware of a rush of warmth spreading through him. No woman had ever sent him flowers. ―Well? What do you think?‖ He turned to look at her. She wore another over–sized sweat suit. Did she ever wear anything that fit properly? She seemed tense. Bouncing on her toes as she waited for his answer.

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He smiled, wanting to put her at ease. ―I think you must be very...they‘re very nice. Sweet. I‘ve never had flowers from a woman.‖ She put her head on one side and frowned at him. ―But you‘ve had them from a man?‖ He laughed. ―Okay, Ms. Cutie, let me rephrase that. No one‘s ever given me flowers.‖ ―And?‖ ―And receiving them is nice. Thank you.‖ She grinned and curtsied. ―I aim to please.‖ ―And I‘m sure you do.‖ He meant it as a compliment, but seeing the look of indecision in her eyes, he wondered if she thought he was being facetious. Or worse, that he was flirting with her. Which was exactly what he was doing. ―Annalise—‖ ―I‘ll get that lemonade and a glass of water.‖ ―What lemonade?‖ ―I made some especially for you. Tart with ginger ale. Ria said that‘s the way you liked it.‖ He stared up at her. ―Do you care what I like, Annalise?‖ ―Not in the least!‖ She tossed her head, sending her hair cascading around her face in a glorious dark cloud.

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Everything about her whetted his increasing appetite for her company. Reminding himself that he had no right to her company was useless. Suddenly full of a need to touch her, he recaptured her hand, rubbing his palm over her fingers. Then, still not satisfied, he buried his mouth in her hand, covering her palm with warm, eager kisses. It wasn‘t enough. ―Annalise…‖ ―Yes?‖ He tugged at her hand. When she lost her balance, he pulled her onto the bed beside him. She scrambled onto her side, staring at him. ―What are you doing?‖ ―Can‘t you tell?‖ ―Reed—‖ ―Shh.‖ His thoughts turned to their encounter at the park when she had placed his hand on her waist. It had taken a superhuman effort not to allow his palm to stray over her body to explore the curves she kept concealed from him. Those curves were now within caressing distance. He pushed her onto her back. ―Reed…we…‖ She had such beautiful skin…warm, dark, and so close. He brushed his fingertips along the side of her neck. She shivered, her lips parting.

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It had been so long since he‘d been so close to a woman who excited his passions and his emotions as she did. He was lonely and hungry for a taste of the physical intimacy he and Maria had shared. And Annalise was so near…so exciting…so irresistible. He leaned over her to touch his mouth to her neck. ―Reed…‖ Her skin felt soft and so warm. He kissed a path up from her neck to the corner of her mouth. ―Reed…I don‘t think we—‖ Determined to taste the lips he‘d wanted to kiss from the moment he saw her, he licked her lips. Delicious. ―Oh...Reed…‖ He silenced her by pressing his mouth against hers. After a moment of resistance, her mouth opened under his. He kissed her slowly, savoring the taste and feel of her soft, sweet lips before he swept his tongue into her mouth. Her lips moved against his in response. That was nice but still not enough. Hungry for more, he lay on her. With his eyes closed, he took a moment to enjoy the heady sensation of feeling her body

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under his. Then he slipped his arms around her. Holding her close, he devoured her lips, his senses intoxicated. The need to consume her overwhelmed him. ―Please…‖ He reached down to put her hand on his thigh. ―Touch me,‖ he whispered. ―Oh…Reed, we…‖ Rolling onto his back, he slid his hands under her sweatshirt. Her skin felt soft and warm. He moved his hands down her back to her— ―No!‖ She dragged her mouth away from his and shoved against his shoulders. ―Reed, no!‖ No? She wanted him to stop when his need for her was so great? ―Reed! Stop!‖ Stop. He released her. She scrambled off the bed and grabbed the back of the chair, staring at him. He stared back. This was not how a man involved in an exclusive relationship should behave. It wasn‘t fair to Annalise or to Taylor. He couldn‘t change his behavior but maybe he could mitigate the damage he‘d just done. He focused his gaze on the flowers. ―I don‘t see a card.‖ ―What?‖ She sounded as if she thought he‘d lost his mind. Good. Maybe she‘d think he was delirious. In a way, he was and had been since they met. ―Where is it?‖

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She touched her mouth. ―You just…you want to know about a card?‖ He nodded. ―What did it say?‖ ―Since I was bringing the flowers with me, I didn‘t see any need for a card.‖ What would a card from her to him have said? ―Oh.‖ ―But it would only have said I was sorry. And I‘ve already said that.‖ ―Nothing else?‖ ―What else would you have wanted it to say?‖ What else indeed? If he weren‘t careful, he‘d stray into even more dangerous waters. And if he kept staring at her, he would drown in her beautiful gaze. But what a way to go. ―I‘m still feeling feverish. Sorry works just fine for me.‖ ―Feverish? Oh. I guess that explains what just happened?‖ ―I‘m sorry about that. I…‖ She shook her head. ―Never mind. It was just a few meaningless kisses.‖ Meaningless? She knew how to hit a man where it hurt. ―When I come back I‘ll sing you to sleep.‖ He laughed, feeling the tension between them dissipating. ―I don‘t think so.‖ ―What? Do I sound that bad?‖ He remembered the sound of her voice singing Down The Aisle. Sultry, enchanting, intriguing. But definitely not bad. ―You have a very...charming voice.

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But I‘ve just spent the last fourteen and a half hours sleeping. I am not going back to sleep anytime soon.‖ ―Then I‘ll keep you company until I‘m sleepy. How‘s that?‖ ―That‘s probably not a good idea, Annalise.‖ ―Oh…you‘re probably right. Okay.‖ She pointed toward the door. ―I should go.‖ He nodded. ―Yes. You should go. Now.‖ Before he lost what was left of his mind and pulled her back onto his bed again. ―I…good night.‖ ―Good night.‖ He watched her leave the room before he slipped back down into a reclining position. Have you lost your mind? Why did you touch her?

Annalise woke just after seven. She lay in the big bed on the third floor of the Phillips‘ house, hugging her pillow to her and thinking of Reed. Reliving the feel of his lips on hers…the weight of his body… Stop it, Annalise. Just stop it. He was feverish and didn‘t know what he was doing. Or he thought you were his one woman, Taylor. If he remembers last night, you‘re going to be the last person he wants to see this morning.

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But she‘d worry after breakfast. She slipped out of bed and walked over to the window. The bedroom windows looked out over the backyard where Reed had designed and built a small play area for the kids. Beyond that was a fenced in in–ground pool that she meant to spend at least an hour in before the day was over. She took a quick shower then she threw on a pair of sweats. She caught her hair in a ponytail and left the bedroom without putting on any makeup. She would do that later when she dressed for morning service. On the second floor landing, about to continue down to the first floor, she paused. The house was quiet. Maybe too quiet? She turned away from the stairs and moved toward the bedrooms. She opened the first door and looked in. Ria slept on her stomach, a large stuffed dog at her side. The next bedroom was Deb‘s. In the third room, RP sprawled on his back with several small, action figures lying on the pillow next to his head. She paused outside the front bedroom. Should she check on Reed or wait to see if he came down to breakfast? She tapped lightly on the door. After several moments of silence, she slowly pushed the door open. He slept on his stomach with his face turned toward the wall. His breathing seemed even and easy. There was no reason for her to linger in the doorway of his

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bedroom. Nevertheless, she walked into the bedroom, as if drawn forward by an invisible cord. She kept going, even when he rolled over onto his back. Standing over him, watching him, she decided that his face seemed a little flushed. That gave her an excuse to touch his cheek. Two days worth of stubble felt abrasive against her hand. She laid a hand against his forehead. His skin temperature felt normal. Resisting the urge to caress his cheeks, she straightened. His hand shot out, closing around her wrist. She stared down into his blue eyes. Horrified. What must he think of her coming into his bedroom again? He spoke first. ―Hello.‖ She tugged at her hand, but his grip only tightened. The only way to free it was to engage in an undignified struggle, which she‘d win only if he allowed it. And she had a feeling he wasn‘t going to release her until he was ready. ―Oh. Hi.‖ She forced herself to smile down at him. ―I...I was just...‖ ―Caressing my face? Yes, I noticed.‖ By a supreme use of willpower, she managed not to blush. ―Don‘t be ridiculous! I wasn‘t caressing your face,‖ she said in as close to a normal voice as she could manage. If she got out of this with any pride or dignity intact, she would keep her distance from him. Forever.

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―No? It felt like a caress.‖ ―Hey, well, that‘s only because you‘re...‖ Her voice trailed off. He wasn‘t buying it. That was plain from his look of obvious skepticism. ―Because I‘m what? Please. Go on,‖ he urged. ―You have a mean streak a mile wide,‖ she accused. ―Because I‘m what?‖ He insisted. ―Feverish? Delusional?‖ He sat up slowly, retaining his grip on her hand. ―I‘m neither and you know it. I know when I‘ve been caressed. Want to try again?‖ ―Oh. I see. You‘re paying me back for that day at the park. I guess that‘s fair. You think I was rude and now you‘re being rude to me. Returning evil for evil.‖ ―No, I‘m not. That day‘s forgotten and forgiven.‖ ―Then what are you doing now?‖ ―Trying to find out if you intend to caress me awake like this every day. I readily acknowledge that it‘s an undeniably...delightful way to start the day. Still, you‘ll have to admit that you‘re doing this every morning would tend to make our being friends rather difficult. Don‘t you think?‖ Twin tides of hot blood flashed into her cheeks. Why, oh, why had she come into his bedroom? She‘d brought this humiliation on herself. He clearly didn‘t remember pulling her onto his bed the previous night and kissing her breathless.

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―What are you going on about? I already told you I wasn‘t caressing you!‖ she said, trying not to sound as desperate as she felt. ―What don‘t you understand?‖ He shrugged, grinning up at her. ―Oh, I don‘t know. If it looks like a caress and feels like a caress, I‘ve got to believe it‘s a caress.‖ ―It was not a caress! I only came in here to see if you were still feverish. I couldn‘t very well do that without touching you, could I?‖ He released her hand, looking and sounding amused. ―Why didn‘t you say so?‖ He perplexed her and twisted her emotions into a confused knot. Why did that amuse him? He was nothing more than an unfeeling brute! ―I would have, if you‘d given me half a chance!‖ she snapped, rubbing her wrist. ―But you just...pounced on me like some...big bully!‖ His eyes widened. Then, before she could stop him, he‘d reclaimed her hand, holding it in both of his.―I forgot about your wrists. I‘m sorry! Did I hurt you?‖ If she said no, he would probably just release her hand. If, on the other hand, she said yes, he might be contrite enough to try to kiss it better. Shame washed over her. Was she so desperate for his attention that she‘d stoop to lying to get it? ―No,‖ she admitted and found herself bitterly regretting her

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honestly when he immediately released her hand unkissed. So much for honesty being the best policy. ―That‘s a relief.‖ She waited for him to say something else, but he just sat there, staring at her with those too blue eyes. She looked away. ―Since you‘re all right, I‘ll go start breakfast. You must be hungry.‖ ―For food?‖ She didn‘t dare look at him. ―Oh, Reed, don‘t!‖ she pleaded, feeling as if she were at the breaking point. She couldn‘t bear it if he were going to flirt with her, lead her on, and then cruelly remind her that he belonged to Taylor. Not after he‘d kissed her with such passion. ―I‘m sorry!‖ he said quickly. ―Forgive me. I didn‘t mean to be...immodest. Actually, I‘m starving.‖ ―About last night…‖ ―What about it?‖ So he didn‘t remember. ―Never mind.‖ She flashed him a quick smile and backed away. Once safely outside his bedroom with the closed door between them, she leaned her forehead against the wall.

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He knew how she felt! He had to. Why else would he have warned her off with that talk about friendship? When she left on Monday, she would never, ever under any circumstances, set foot in his bedroom or his house again. No matter who asked, begged, or cried.

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Chapter Seven

Forty–five minutes later, he walked into the kitchen. He‘d shaved and his hair was damp. He wore jeans and a tee–shirt, which revealed his rather impressive biceps. She turned back to the range. ―Coffee‘s ready.‖ ―Thanks. It smells great.‖ She heard him pour himself a cup. Then, instead of taking it back upstairs with him, or even going to sit at the table, she saw, he joined her at the range. Great. Just what she needed. Him, up–close and personal. ―You know you‘re staring at that bacon as if you expect it to jump out of the pan and run away if you take your eyes off it for a single moment,‖ he said. He sounded amused. Again. At her expense. She swung around to face him. ―And you‘re staring at me as if I were an insect under a microscope! Why are you hounding me?‖ She didn‘t know how she expected him to react. Maybe with a flash of irritation of his own. Or dismay at her outburst. What she didn‘t expect was to have him put down his coffee cup and take her hands in his. She tried to suppress a shiver of delight. ―Don‘t…‖

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He tightened his grip. ―I‘m sorry, Annalise.‖ ―For what?‖ ―For everything.‖ What did everything include? She wasn‘t sure of anything except that she longed to press into his arms and bury her face against his shoulder. It would be wonderful to feel his arms around her as she admitted she loved him. Loved him. Loved him. Loved him. ―The bacon will burn,‖ she said instead. He shrugged, rubbing his palms against her hands. ―No problem. I like crisp bacon.‖ ―Well, I don‘t!‖ She tugged at her hands. He released them. Instead of moving away, he remained close. She was very aware of him as she lifted the sizzling bacon strips from the pan and put them on paper towels lying on a warming tray to drain before adding more bacon to the pan. Oh, why didn‘t he just go away and leave her in peace? ―Would you do me a favor?‖ she asked when she could no longer stand the silence or his unflinching stare. He inched nearer and her breath caught in her throat. ―Anything.‖ ―Go away. Now. Please.‖

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―Why?‖ She didn‘t dare look at him. She didn‘t need to. She knew he knew why. ―Do I need a reason?‖ She challenged. ―No. Of course not,‖ he said quietly. She turned to face him. ―Then why are you still here?‖ His gaze settled on her face. ―Because I want to ….‖ ―You want to what?‖ Her voice was barely above a whisper. He was going to kiss her. She could see it in the blue fire of his eyes. This time there would be no doubt he knew what he was doing and who he was kissing. He sighed, briefly closing his eyes. ―Some things are better left unsaid. Undone.‖ Why did that have to include kissing her when there was no doubt he meant it? ―Fine.‖ Get lost. ―I‘d better go before I...I wouldn‘t want you to think that I....‖ ―What wouldn‘t you want me to think? That you‘re tempted?‖ He raked a hand through his hair. ―You have no idea how I feel.‖ ―I will if you tell me.‖ ―There‘s nothing that I have a right to say to you.‖ ―Why don‘t you let me be the judge of that?‖

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He shook his head. ―Because I don‘t think you‘re thinking any clearer than I am.‖ That was true enough. ―And I...I have to go.‖ She shrugged. ―So go.‖ He went. She turned back to the stove. His absence gave her time to pray and regain some of her equilibrium. Half an hour later, Ria and RP charged into the kitchen, demanding breakfast. Reed followed more slowly. ―Morning.‖ ―Good morning.‖ She flashed a quick, meaningless smile. ―Breakfast‘s done, but the bacon‘s a little crisp.‖ ―I like crisp bacon,‖ he replied. Ria and RP threw themselves at her. She bent to allow them to cover her face with kisses. Glancing up, she noted Reed watching with a cold look in his eyes. Did he resent the warm bond between her and his kids? She straightened and moved to the stove to put breakfast on the table.

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An hour and a half later, she sat beside Reed in the front of his car heading for Sunday morning service. The subject of the sermon that morning was the need for church members to maintain Christian qualities in every aspect of life. ―Friends, that includes all aspects,‖ the minister said. ―In deed as well as word. We must live up to our calling as Christ‘s brethren. We must control our thoughts. Keep them clean and Christ like.‖ It seemed to Annalise that the minister looked directly at her as he spoke. Almost as if he knew of her impure desire for Reed. It was all she could do not to squirm in her seat. She turned her head to steal a glance at Reed. She was startled to find him looking at her instead of the minister. Their eyes met briefly before she looked away. After the service, he introduced her to the minister. James Daily was a middle–aged man with kind but piercing blue eyes. ―I‘m glad to see that Reed has finally found someone to stay with Ria and RP,‖ he said warmly, enveloping her hand in both of his. ―I‘m just here for a few days to help out.‖ ―Oh? That‘s unfortunate. I couldn‘t help noticing how Ria and RP seemed to cling to you during the service.‖ So he had been looking at her! ―They‘re very sweet and I‘m very fond of them. I found your sermon very inspiring. Thanks.‖

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―Come again, young lady.‖ ―Thank you.‖ She smiled and left the church. Ria and RP followed her. Not waiting for Reed, they headed for the parking lot. ―Why can‘t you stay with us, Annie?‖ RP asked, slipping his hand in hers when they stopped by Reed‘s car. She looked down into the blue eyes so like Reed‘s and wanted nothing more than to stay. ―I wish I could, RP.‖ ―Who‘s stopping you?‖ At the sound of Reed‘s voice, just behind her, she turned to him with what she hoped was an airy smile. ―What?‖ ―Why don‘t you stay?‖ ―What?‖ ―He said why don‘t you stay?‖ Ria said helpfully. ―The night? I already said I would. Deb will be back some time tomorrow afternoon. I won‘t leave until then.‖ ―No. I meant why don‘t you stay beyond tomorrow?‖ ―You mean until Tuesday or Wednesday? Oh. Well, I suppose I could stay until then.‖ ―That‘s not what I meant either.‖ ―Then what did you mean, RP Senior?‖

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He ran a finger along the inside of his collar, as if it were suddenly too tight. ―I thought that...since you‘re not working, you might be persuaded to stay a little longer.‖ Despite her earlier resolve, her heart thumped at the thought of staying. ―How much longer?‖ He shrugged, not quite meeting her gaze. ―Well, I thought maybe a couple of…..‖ ―What? Days?‖ He brought his blue gaze back to hers. ―Actually I was thinking in terms of weeks...months even.‖ ―Months? Have you lost your—‖ ―I didn‘t mean to clean and cook,‖ he said quickly. ―I‘ve already contacted a domestic service for someone to keep the house clean. And I‘ll hire a cook, if you like. I was hoping you‘d consider staying just to be with Ria and RP. It would mean a lot to them.‖ She felt a tug on her hand and looked down into RP‘s upturned face. ―Please stay, Annie. We need you.‖ It wasn‘t fair of Reed to ask her to stay in front of Ria and RP. ―We‘ll talk about it later, RP.‖ She turned to Reed. ―And as for you, Reed, I‘d be careful what you wished for,‖ she said sweetly. ―You just might get it. At a price.‖

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His gazed searched hers. ―What price?‖ She shook her head. ―One you‘re not prepared to pay, so don‘t start anything you can‘t finish, Reed.‖ ―Daddy can finish anything he starts!‖ Ria said. ―That‘s enough, Maria,‖ he said firmly. ―Okay, you two. Hop in.‖ He opened the back door and secured Ria and RP in their seats. Annalise didn‘t wait for him. She slipped in the front passenger seat and put on her seat belt. He got into the car and turned to look at her. ―What price?‖ he asked softly. ―Tell me and let me decide if the price‘s too high.‖ ―I‘m not staying. I can‘t stay.‖ ―Why not? They like you and I think you like them too.‖ ―I more than like them and you know that. But don‘t try to use my feelings for them against me. I can‘t stay.‖ ―Why not?‖ ―Believe me when I tell you, RP Senior, you don‘t want to know why not.‖ Just for a second, she thought he would press the issue, but after a moment, he sighed and started the car. ―Okay, Annalise. Have it your way.‖ ―I wish,‖ she muttered and turned to stare out the passenger window. At the house, she went straight to her bedroom and took off the dark blue calf–length dress she‘d worn for the service. She tossed the dress onto the bed. A

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fat lot of good it had done her. Reed hadn‘t seemed the least inclined to let an old– fashioned wolf whistle fly at the sight of her in it. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail and slipped into another pair of oversized sweats. Instead of going back downstairs, she sat in front of the vanity mirror, staring at her face. Even with makeup, the face that stared back at her was cute at most. Her eyes weren‘t deep or mysterious. Her mouth wasn‘t particularly full or sensual. There was nothing remarkable about her nose or chin. In short, there was nothing about her strong enough to entice Reed away from Taylor. That she even wanted to after sitting through that morning‘s sermon didn‘t say much for her spirituality. Although there was clearly some attraction on his part, it surely didn‘t override his feelings for Taylor. Why hadn‘t she attended that morning‘s service? Annalise shook her head. Her time would be better served worrying about her own spirituality instead of Taylor‘s. As far as she knew Taylor wasn‘t trying to steal anyone else‘s man. Forgetting Reed shouldn‘t be so difficult. Most of the men she‘d met during the last four years had turned out to be interested in nothing more from her than friendship. A woman with less confidence would have developed a complex.

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Still, she wondered if she were destined to be a perpetual bridesmaid, but never a bride. Not that feeling sorry for herself would help. She rose from the vanity and headed toward the door. She wasn‘t going to hide in the bedroom to avoid Reed. If he could face her, she could face him.

Reed sat on the back porch, watching Ria and RP playing on the playground behind the house. As usual, thoughts of Annalise filled his head. He‘d never met anyone quite like her. He didn‘t know what to make of her. One moment she behaved as if she thought of him as a big brother. The next she was in his bedroom, caressing his face, bringing him flowers and telling him she was there to take care of him. Making him believe it. Making him want it. Why was life suddenly so complicated? There was Taylor, the woman he‘d discussed marriage with and had been ready to propose to until he‘d met Annalise. Annalise. Delightful. Captivating. And making no secret of finding him attractive. What was it about her he found so irresistible and worth risking his relationship with Taylor for? He got up and moved off the porch to look up at the house. His gaze rested on the back bedroom window. They needed to talk. He needed to know where they stood. As he started up the back stairs, a car came to a stop in front of the house. He went back down the back steps and started around the side of the house.

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Moments later a tall, beautiful woman with short auburn hair and blue– gray eyes came around the side of the house. Her face lit with a smile when she saw him. ―Reed, darling!‖ He stifled a sigh. She was the last person he wanted to see now. Still, he walked forward and took her hands in his. Mindful of Ria and RP watching, he avoided the lips she offered him and pressed a quick kiss against her cheek. ―Taylor! This is a nice surprise,‖ he said. Slipping her arms around his waist, she leaned up and kissed him full on the lips. ―Now that‘s better,‖ she said, grinning up at him. ―Isn‘t it?‖ He sucked in his breath. When he looked up, he saw Ria and RP standing on the porch. They stared at him with wide eyes and open mouths. Taylor followed his gaze and looked toward the porch before looking up at him. ―What‘s with them? You‘d think they‘d never seen you kissing a woman.‖ The comment annoyed him. He pulled away from her. ―I‘m not in the habit of treating them to public displays of affection.‖ ―Oh, come on, darling. I‘m counting on being the only woman in your life.‖ She smiled up at him. He moved away from her and walked over to the porch to touch Ria and RP on the top of their heads. ―Close your mouths,‖ he said lightly.

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Ria stared up at him. ―Why did you let her kiss you like that, Daddy? Was that a Christ like kiss?‖ He was going to have to have a heart to heart with Taylor. ―We‘ll talk about that later, sweetie.‖ ―But Daddy! I want to talk about it now!‖ ―And I said we‘d talk about it later, Maria. Do you understand?‖ She made a face. ―Yes, sir.‖ He smiled and tweaked her nose. ―Thanks, sweetie.‖ ―Hi, Maria. Hi RP.‖ Taylor came onto the porch and smiled at the kids. ―Hi,‖ RP said. ―Hello,‖ Ria said. Reed sighed inwardly as he noticed that neither of them smiled nor shown any inclination to fling themselves at her the way they were inclined to do with Annalise. Apparently not bothered by their lack of warmth, Taylor sat on the swing and patted the seat next to her. ―Join me, Reed?‖ He went, after giving her a warning look. Although she moved close to him when he sat beside her, she made no move to touch him. Instead of returning to the slide, Ria sat on the porch close to the swing. RP sat next to her. ―Don‘t you two want to go play?‖ Taylor asked.

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Ria shook her head. ―Nope. RP and me like it right here with you and Daddy.‖ ―Right here with you and Daddy,‖ RP echoed. ―How nice for us.‖ Reed winced at the dryness in Taylor‘s voice. He was fast losing all hope of her and the kids ever growing closer. ―Where were you yesterday, Taylor?‖ Ria asked. ―I had lot of things to do at home. Did you miss me, sweetheart?‖ He wasn‘t surprised when Ria shook her head. ―But Daddy was so hot and sick he couldn‘t get up.‖ Taylor half turned to look up at him. ―You weren‘t feeling well? Why didn‘t you let me know, darling?‖ Before he could point out that he hadn‘t been in any shape to call her or anyone else, Ria spoke again. ―It‘s all right. We went and got Annie and she made everything all right. She bought Daddy flowers and sat with him in his room and held his hand and sang to him and made him all better. Look at him. Doesn‘t he look all better?‖ Reed felt his face flood with heat. How was he going to explain that scene in his bedroom to Taylor without her thinking there was something between he and Annalise?

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Taylor turned to stare at him. ―Please tell me Annie‘s your elderly, maiden aunt.‖ ―Daddy doesn‘t have an elderly—‖ Ria began. ―That‘s enough, Maria,‖ he said firmly. ―You and RP go back to the play area.‖ ―Okay, Daddy.‖ She smiled sweetly at him before she danced off the porch. She‘d deliberately told Taylor about Annalise being in his bedroom, no doubt in hopes of driving a wedge between them. He was going to have to have a long talk with Ria. Taylor waited until Ria and RP were out of hearing distance before she moved across to the end of the swing and turned to face him, an annoyed look on her beautiful face. ―Well? You want to explain who this Annie is who held your hot little hand in your bedroom, bought you flowers, and made you all better?‖

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Chapter Eight

Just when Reed thought things couldn‘t get any worse, they did. The tiny hairs on the back of his neck rose when Annalise‘s voice, even lower and sultrier than usual, sounded to his right. ―That would be me.‖ He stood up and turned to look at her, begging her with his eyes to be anywhere but here now. She ignored his silent plea and walked forward with her hand extended. ―And you must be Taylor. I‘m sorry, I don‘t know your last name.‖ Taylor‘s eyes were frosty as she directed a hard glance at him before shaking hands with Annalise. ―Dane. Taylor Dane. Reed‘s special friend. And you are?‖ ―Annalise Lewis. And I am definitely not his elderly, maiden aunt.‖ ―But you are the woman who came bearing flowers and held his hand and sang him better?‖ Annalise‘s laughter held no amusement. She cast a secretive smile in his direction before turning back to Taylor. ―Guilty as charged. And you know I think he liked it. He said I had a charming voice and…‖

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Reed tensed. If she mentioned those kisses, he was going to be in big time trouble. ―Ah huh. And you and your...charming voice sang him better where? In his bedroom?‖ Reed closed his eyes briefly. Please, Annalise. Just disappear now. Please. ―Well, yeah,‖ she said. ―That‘s where he was sick. And me? Well, I go where I‘m needed.‖ ―Carrying flowers?‖ ―Not usually. I made a special effort for him. But it was worth it. You should have seen the way his eyes lit up. It was his first time getting flowers and he was really touched. You should send him some occasionally. It might win you some brownie points.‖ ―Excuse me?‖ ―I said it might win you some brownie points with him.‖ ―Look, I don‘t know who you are, but it‘s time you had a reality check. I already have him. I don‘t need to score any brownie points!‖ Reed clenched his right hand into a fist in an effort to resist the urge to clamp it over Annalise‘s mouth. ―Of course you don‘t. He‘s been at great pains to tell me what a one–woman man he is. If I didn‘t know better, I‘d almost think he protested too much. But hey,

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that‘s for you to decide. I‘m sure you‘re capable of keeping his interest centered on you.‖ ―You‘d better believe I am!‖ Annalise smiled. ―Well, I‘m sure you two want to be alone to talk or cuddle.‖ ―What?‖ ―I think he could use a little cuddling. Last night in his bedroom, he…‖ He stepped in front of her. ―You can‘t possibly think Taylor has any interest in hearing that, Annalise.‖ She shrugged. ―I wouldn‘t be too sure of that if I were you.‖ ―Well, I am sure!‖ ―Fine. Suit yourself. I‘ll just go start dinner. Nice meeting you, Taylor.‖ She turned to look at him and winked. ―Don‘t do anything I wouldn‘t, RP Senior.‖ He stood staring after her, feeling as if he‘d had all the air knocked out of his lungs. ―So? You want to explain that, Reed? Who was that? And what did she mean about your protesting too much and your needing to cuddle? I thought you and I—‖ He held up a hand to silence her. ―Give me a moment, Taylor.‖ He nodded toward the house. ―That is not what you must be thinking. There‘s absolutely nothing between Annalise and me.‖ Those kisses had been sweet but they didn‘t

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matter. Despite what he‘d thought she felt for him, she‘d had no problem stopping him and she‘d called his kisses meaningless. ―Nothing. We—‖ ―Nothing, huh? You mean Maria misunderstood? That she wasn‘t in your room, holding your hand, singing to you and God only knows what else? The same bedroom you‘ve never let me anywhere near? That bedroom?‖ Put like that his behavior the night before sounded even worse—as both Ria and Annalise had intended it to. He ran a hand through his hair. ―Well, yes, but it‘s not what you‘re thinking. I didn‘t feel well and—‖ ―Then why didn‘t you call a doctor? Why call her?‖ ―I didn‘t call her.‖ ―Then why did she come? Why were you content to have her by your side when I should have been there?‖ ―It was innocent,‖ he said wearily. ―Innocent? I‘ll be the judge of how innocent it was. Who is she? Are you related? Or is she the woman you hired to look after the kids?‖ He put a hand on her arm. ―No, but—‖ ―To which question?‖ ―No to both of them.‖ ―Did she… spend the night?‖

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―Look, Taylor, you‘re jumping to all the wrong conclusions! Just let me explain.‖ ―Fine. By all means explain. Start by telling me if she spent the night.‖ ―Yes,‖ he said in frustration. ―But not in my bed!‖ ―You expect me to believe that?‖ ―Are you telling me you think I‘m lying? Do you think I spent the night with her?‖ ―Did you?‖ ―You should know that I do not sleep with women I‘m not married to, Taylor.‖ ―I thought I knew that, but I saw the way you two looked at each other. And you can‘t deny she went out of her way in a vain attempt to make me jealous. Who is she?‖ He didn‘t know who he was angrier with: Taylor for not trusting him or Annalise for giving her reason to distrust him. ―She‘s one of Deb‘s friends, Taylor.‖ She looked uncertain Maybe she was ready to believe him. ―Deb‘s friend? Why didn‘t you say so?‖ ―Why didn‘t you trust me?‖ ―She went out of her way to make sure I didn‘t and I didn‘t notice you saying anything to contradict what she said.‖

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―Taylor, you can‘t really believe you have anything to worry about from Annalise or any other woman.‖ ―Can‘t I? Why not, Reed? There was a time when I was sure you were going to ask me to marry you. How do I know she‘s not the reason you haven‘t?‖ It should have been a simple thing to reassure her. But he found that the words wouldn‘t come because Annalise was the reason he hadn‘t proposed. She glanced around suddenly. ―By the way, I don‘t see Deb‘s car. Where is it? Where is she?‖ This could get messy. ―She‘s not here right now.‖ ―I see. And ah, where was Deb last night?‖ He was sunk. ―Okay, I admit that Deb wasn‘t here last night, but you have to trust me.‖ ―Are you standing there telling me that you spent the night with that woman and expect me to believe that nothing happened?‖ ―Yes.‖ But he knew he hadn‘t a prayer of convincing her. ―And I‘m supposed to believe that?‖ ―Yes.‖ ―I will, Reed—when pigs fly!‖ She jerked her arm away from him and ran down the stairs.

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―Taylor!‖ He started after her, then stopped, and spun around. He‘d deal with Annalise first, then Taylor. He glanced at the slide to find Ria and RP staring at him with wide, anxious eyes. He forced himself to relax. ―It‘s okay,‖ he said, smiling. ―I‘m just going to talk to Annalise for a moment. I want you and RP to stay out here.‖ Ria gave him a worried look. ―You‘re not mad at Annie. Are you, Daddy?‖ ―No.‖ He wasn‘t mad. He was furious. It took all of his willpower not to shove the kitchen door open. She stood with her back to him, flouring what looked like chicken parts. He took several deep breaths before going to stand a few feet away from her. ―You want to tell me what that was all about?‖ He saw her push her shoulders back before she turned to face him. ―What?‖ He balled his right hand into a fist in an effort to hold onto his temper. ―Let‘s not play games, Annalise. I want to know why you tried to make Taylor think there‘s something between us! And I want to know it now!‖ Her eyes slid away from his and she shrugged. ―No need to shout.‖ He slapped his palm down on the counter. ―Don‘t you tell me not to shout! Why did you do that when you know there is not now nor is there ever going to be anything between us? What don‘t you understand about that, Annalise? How many ways must I say it?‖

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For a moment she just stood there, staring at him; looking defiant. Then, so suddenly that it shocked him, her dark eyes filled with tears that quickly ran down her cheeks. At the sight of her tears, his anger vanished. He struggled with the desire to take her in his arms and comfort her. Looking at her, he knew that was the absolute last thing he could do. He suddenly understood why she‘d deliberately misled Taylor. Her touch that morning had felt much like Maria‘s used to when she told him without words that she loved him. His actions the previous night must have reinforced her feelings and given her reason to hope he might share her interest. But after their conversation on the swing, he knew they had no future. Now apparently neither did he and Taylor. ―Annalise,‖ he paused. What could he say to comfort her? He wanted to chase that miserable look from her face and put the sparkle back in her eyes. She wiped furiously at her tears and turned away from him. ―Go away. Please.‖ Leaving her in tears wasn‘t an option he felt comfortable with. He went to stand behind her. ―I‘m sorry,‖ he said softly. ―If I said or did anything to make you think—‖ She spun around to glare up at him. ―If? Oh, that mean streak of yours is at least ten miles wide. You know you‘ve led me on! And there‘s no if about it!‖

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―I never intended for you to….‖ ―You never intended for me to what? What do you think you know about what I feel?‖ He stared down at her. He wanted to believe that he‘d misunderstood her. ―You mean you‘re not ….‖ She lifted her chin. ―Not what? In love with you? Is that what you want to know? If I‘m in love with you?‖ He didn‘t really want to know, but he needed to know. He nodded slowly. She laughed. ―You have a great opinion of yourself, don‘t you? Why should you imagine that I‘m in love with you? Just because I said you‘re handsome? You think you‘re the only handsome man I‘ve met? You don‘t know anything about me or even who I‘m seeing.‖ Although she‘d flirted with him, she had also pushed him away when his kisses became too passionate. ―Who you‘re seeing? You mean...a man?‖ What a vain idiot he was. Of course she was seeing someone. That night on the back porch she hadn‘t answered his question as to whether she was seeing anyone. She‘d only been flirting with him and he‘d overacted. As he was inclined to do with her. ―You think these tears are over you? Your conceit is unbelievable. Last Wednesday you thought I hated you. Today you think I‘m in love with you. You

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think I have nothing better to do with my time than spend it seesawing back and forth over you! You really do think every woman you meet wants you, don‘t you?‖ ―We weren‘t talking about every woman. We were talking about you and me!‖ he snapped, stung by the thought that there was a man in her life who could give her what he never could. ―There is no you and me! I only came here as a favor to Deb and because I like Ria and RP. Period.‖ ―Fine,‖ he said coolly. ―I get the message. Excuse my conceit and tell me why you let Taylor think there was something between us.‖ Her chin rose higher. ―I was only joking. How was I supposed to know that she was so insecure that she‘d misunderstand? Maybe if you spent more time reassuring her that you‘re a one woman man, she wouldn‘t be so ready to—‖ Jealousy fueled his returning anger. ―Maybe if you stayed out of my bedroom and kept your hands to yourself, we wouldn‘t need to have this conversation!‖ Her dark eyes shoot sparks at him. ―Excuse me for caring. Trust me, RP Senior, I won‘t make that mistake again. Next time you‘re not feeling well, I won‘t come within two hundred miles of you!‖ He slammed a fist down on the counter. ―There isn‘t going to be a next time.‖ ―You got that right, buster!‖

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―This conversation is a waste of time. This whole weekend has been one long nightmare! You, Annalise, are a nightmare.‖ She stared at him with a hurt look in her eyes, her lips parted in surprise. Oh, way to go, Reed. He longed to take back the hateful words. Afraid of making the situation worse, he said nothing. ―I guess that‘s your quaint way of telling me that you want me to go.‖ What he wanted was to take her in his arms and apologize. That he couldn‘t do. Not until he decided what to do about Taylor. Even then, Annalise wanted things he couldn‘t provide. He shook his head wearily. ―I just want to end this conversation.‖ ―And next you‘ll be telling me that you don‘t want to see me again.‖ Not until he and Taylor had a talk. He nodded slowly, reluctantly. ―I really appreciate all you‘ve done for us, but it would be best if you...if we didn‘t see each other again.‖ She pressed her lips together and looked away, but not before he saw fresh tears glistening in her eyes. ―No need to sugarcoat it, tell me what you really think.‖ He bit his lip and shook his head. He‘d already said things he couldn‘t ever take back. Things he didn‘t mean. Would never mean with her. ―Fine, Reed. Just give me ten minutes and I‘ll get out of your hair forever.‖

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Alone in the kitchen, he raked both hands through his hair. What was wrong with him? Why had he said those awful things to her? Things he didn‘t mean? Things that had hurt her enough to make her cry? And for what? Because she‘d made him face the truth that he was not in love with Taylor and never would be? Because she‘d made him long for a relationship with her he couldn‘t have? Ten minutes later, he heard her in the hall, moving toward the front door. Which meant she was upset enough to go without saying good–by to Ria and RP who still thought she was spending the night. He couldn‘t let her go like that. He ran from the kitchen and down the hall. She hurried toward the front door without looking back at him. ―Annalise. Wait a minute.‖ ―Don‘t hold your breath!‖ She spoke without turning to face him. He followed her. They reached the front door at the same time. She pulled it open. He pushed it shut. She swung around to face him. ―What‘s the matter? Not content to let me leave on my own? Let me guess, you want to throw me out personally.‖ ―How could you think that of me?‖ ―How could I not?‖

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―I‘m sorry. I...I didn‘t mean any of those things I said just now. I didn‘t mean any of them.‖ ―You sounded like you meant them to me.‖ She sounded and looked so small it was all he could do to resist the urge to put his arms around her. ―I was angry, Annalise. When I‘m angry, I sometimes say things to hurt. Things that I don‘t mean. Just like a lot of other people. Just like you must have done at least once in your life.‖ ―If you think that I‘m ever going to forget that you said I‘m a nightmare, you‘re living in one!‖ He ran a hand through his hair. ―I...I didn‘t mean it, Annalise. I was angry, but I did not mean it. Please. That‘s so far from what I really feel. You...you have to believe me.‖ ―All I have to do is make sure that our paths never cross again.‖ There was no way he was going to let her walk out of his life for good, but he knew that he was going to have to let her go for now. He didn‘t have much choice since he felt certain nothing he could say would make her stay or even be inclined to forgive him. ―Will you at least say good–by to Ria and RP?‖ ―Why don‘t you say it for me? Then you can explain that I‘m a nightmare and you never want to see me again.‖

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There was no doubting the pain in her eyes when she looked at him. He pressed a fist against his mouth. Why had he hurt her like this? ―I...I didn‘t mean it. Somewhere...something inside of you must know that. I didn‘t mean it.‖ ―You know what, Reed? I just don‘t care anymore. All I‘ve ever gotten for trying to help you, is one slap in the face after another. Take your unwanted apology and give it to your one–woman. Maybe she‘ll forgive you, but I never will. Now will you please take your hand off the door so I can get out of here?‖ ―What about Ria and RP?‖ ―What about them?‖ He took a deep, aching breath. ―This is my fault. You know how they feel about you. You can‘t just leave without saying good–by to them,‖ he pleaded. ―They‘ll think it was something they said or did. They‘ll be hurt. RP especially. I know you have feelings for them so please don‘t make them pay for my mistake.‖ ―It‘s not fair of you to use my feelings for them against me.‖ ―Please don‘t leave without saying good–bye to them.‖ She looked away. ―Fine. I‘ll say good–by, but I am not explaining. Now will you please let go of the door?‖ He felt helpless and unsure what if anything he could say to make things right with her. ―I am so sorry.‖ He bent his head for one last kiss. She turned her face.

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His lips brushed her cheek. Keeping his hand on the door, he used his free hand to turn her face so he could look down at her. ―I‘m sorry.‖ ―Let me go, Reed.‖ ―I know I hurt you, but please don‘t hate me, Annalise I‘m sorry,‖ he whispered against her mouth. He closed his eyes and kissed her lips. She recoiled and shoved against his shoulders. ―Hate you? I have no intentions of wasting any of my time thinking about you. As far as I‘m concerned, we‘ve never met!‖ Her angry words lashed into him with the sting of a whip. He felt bruised and hurt. ―Please. I—I ….‖ ―There‘s nothing else you have to say that I want to hear Reed! Nothing! Now will you please let me go?‖ He stepped back. She jerked the door open and left. He heard Ria and RP calling to her. He tensed. After a moment, he heard her responding. He leaned back against the wall, feeling as if he‘d just made the biggest mistake of his life by letting her go.

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Chapter Nine

―It‘s been three weeks. Aren‘t you ever going to forgive him?‖ Annalise didn‘t look up from the charcoal of Ria and RP she sketched from memory. ―This is one of the last gorgeous September days we‘re probably going to have.‖ She sank back against the tree she sat under. ―I came to the park to enjoy it, not to discuss your brother.‖ ―But Annie, you‘ve never been one to hold grudges. Why are you starting with him?‖ ―Because he called me a nightmare! Then he ordered me out of his house and said he never wanted to see me again! And I‘m supposed to forget all that just because he kissed me? I don‘t think so!‖ She looked up in time to see Deb‘s mouth drop open as she bolted up from her reclining position. ―He kissed you?‖ Annalise put down her charcoal and gave Deb a cool look. ―Don‘t jump to any wild conclusions, Deb. They didn‘t mean anything.‖ At least not to him. ―Oh. So that‘s why you won‘t forgive him. Because he didn‘t put enough feeling in his kiss?‖ Deb giggled, looked horrified, and then burst into outright laughter. She laughed so hard, her eyes watered.

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―Deb! How can you laugh?‖ She sobered, wiping at her damp cheeks. ―Oh, don‘t look at me like that, Annie. That was mean. I‘m sorry. But wait a minute. You said they. He kissed you more than once?‖ ―Deb!‖ ―Did he, Annie?‖ She didn‘t answer. ―Oh, Annie! You‘re in love with him.‖ It wasn‘t a question so it didn‘t require an answer. She shrugged. ―He‘s in love with Taylor.‖ Deb shook her head. ―I‘m not so sure about that anymore.‖ Annalise‘s heart thumped. ―You‘re not? Why not? What‘s happened? Don‘t keep me in suspense. Did they...stop seeing each other?‖ Deb frowned. ―No. They‘re still seeing each other. At least she‘s still seeing him. He‘s in full retreat and she‘s in big time denial. It should be obvious to her by now that the bird has flown the coop.‖ ―Oh, Deb! He‘s a grown man with a tongue as sharp as any razor. If he didn‘t want to see her, he‘d tell her so in no uncertain terms.‖ Just as he had her.

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―Look, I know he hurt you, but that was out of character for him and he‘s so sorry. He‘s trying to let her down easy. But, Annie, I‘m telling you it‘s over between them. Besides, if he‘s so in love with her, why is he so miserable about you?‖ ―Who says he‘s miserable?‖ ―I do. I still spend my weekdays at his house—more‘s the pity. He‘s running out of casual ways to ask how you are. Last night he came right out and asked if you‘d asked about him. He used the pretext of asking if you‘d received his flowers. Then he asked me if you‘re ready to see him.‖ In the last three weeks Reed had inundated her with bouquets of carnations. She‘d tossed them all in the trash. ―You can tell him I got his flowers. All five dozen of them.‖ ―He also wanted to know who you were seeing.‖ ―I hope you told him it was none of his business who I‘m dating.‖ ―Who are you dating, Annie?‖ ―It‘s none of yours either, Deb.‖ ―Ouch!‖ Annalise smiled. ―Now here‘s the really big question. He‘s driving me crazy. So can I tell him you forgive him?‖

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She picked up her charcoal and began sketching again. ―No you can‘t because I don‘t forgive him, Deb.‖ ―That‘s not a very Christ–like attitude, Annie.‖ ―No, it isn‘t, but then I‘m not perfect,‖ she said defensively. ―And I don‘t forgive him, Deb. Okay? Case closed.‖ ―But Annie—‖ ―Don‘t but Annie me, Deb,‖ she said firmly. ―I mean it. All I tried to do was help him. And what did I get in return? Kicked to the curb. That‘s what. And that wasn‘t very Christ–like on his part either. There‘s no way I‘m going to give him a chance to do that to me again.‖ ―Oh, Annie, if you only knew how badly he feels.‖ ―I don‘t want to know, Deb. I don‘t care how he feels about anything.‖ Deb gave her a pained look. ―Oh...Annie...‖ ―I don‘t want to discuss him anymore. I want to forget he even exists and to get on with my life. Please don‘t make it any harder by insisting we talk about him.‖ Deb sighed. ―Okay. He‘s a big boy. He‘ll just have to learn to cope.‖ ―Yes, he will.‖ ―Fine. Later for Reed.‖

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―Much later,‖ she said, pressing so hard against the paper that the charcoal broke. She stared at it for a moment, then dropped it on the grass beside her. ―Hmm. Well. So I‘ll tell Ria and RP that you‘re mad at their daddy, so you don‘t want to see them anymore either.‖ She gave Deb a cool look. ―Do any of the Phillips fight fair?‖ Deb gave her an unrepentant grin. ―Nope, so what do you want me to tell them?‖ This is what came of falling for a man who belonged to someone else—a big mess. ―I don‘t know.‖ ―After three weeks of silence from you they‘ve started to realize you don‘t want to see them again. Ria‘s a tough little cookie, but RP‘s taking your desertion really hard.‖ The accusation stung. ―I didn‘t desert him! His father threw me out. His father and your brother.‖ ―Oh, sure. Right. Is that what you want me to tell RP? That Reed made you run away?‖ And risk damaging the loving relationship Reed had with his children? ―No. That‘s not what I want you to tell them.‖ She sighed, realizing that she didn‘t have much choice. Unless she was willing to hurt Ria and RP. She wasn‘t. ―Tell them they‘ve been in my thoughts but I‘m really busy.‖

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―But?‖ ―But things have slowed down now, and I‘ll be in touch.‖ Deb smiled. ―That‘s my Annie. Just one other thing.‖ ―What now, Deb?‖ she asked wearily. If she hadn‘t been doing Deb a favor, she wouldn‘t have fallen for a man who thought of her as a nightmare. ―Don‘t tell me that‘s not sufficient.‖ ―No. It‘s great. I was just thinking that maybe...just maybe you‘d call them and tell them yourself. It would mean so much to them to hear from you. You could call while Reed‘s at work. RP‘s moping around the house like you wouldn‘t believe. He really loves you, Annie.‖ She nodded. ―I know. And... I feel the same way about him. About them. Okay. You‘re right. I‘ll call them.‖ ―Oh, thanks, Annie. I know it‘s a lot to ask, but—‖ ―No, it‘s not.‖ She loved Ria and RP almost as much as she loved their father. ―I‘ve missed them too.‖ ―Great! Now if we could just get Reed to fast track the break from Taylor, life would be perfect.‖ She cast a speculative look in Annalise‘s direction. ―You know, RP‘s not the only one who‘s been moping. I have a feeling that if you put your mind to it, you could make Reed forget Taylor ever existed. If you haven‘t already done that.‖

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She shook her head. ―Deb! We just agreed not to talk about him!‖ ―I know, Annie, but the two of you were made for each other. Just as Dave and I are. I just know the Lord means for you to be together. So you can‘t really mean never to see him again.‖ ―I do mean it, Deb. I made a mistake in falling for him. I‘m not going to compound it by wishing for something I can‘t ever have.‖ ―But Annie, who says you can‘t ever have him?‖ ―He did,‖ she said bleakly.

Four days later on a Thursday as she made a salad for dinner, the phone rang. She set the head of lettuce and knife down. It was probably Charlie making his weekly call to ask how she was. She‘d done her best to behave normally around him and his family. Nevertheless, Charlie, having raised her when their parents died when she was ten and he was twenty–three, was two parts father and one part big brother. He always seemed to know when she needed his shoulder and made it available. Smiling, she picked up the phone ―Hello, Charlie.‖ ―Hello, Annalise.‖ Reed! She bit down on her bottom lip. Boy she had it bad when just the sound of his voice made her weak kneed.

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―Annalise? Are you still there?‖ ―What do you want, Reed?‖ She finally managed. ―I want to talk to you.‖ ―So talk.‖ ―I meant face to face. I‘m in the lobby. I was hoping I could come up.‖ Her gut reaction was to jump at the chance to see him again. But following her gut was what usually landed her in hot water. She closed her eyes and shook her head. ―Then I‘m afraid you‘re going to be disappointed.‖ ―I really need to talk to you.‖ ―Why?‖ ―I never meant those things I said. I can‘t bear you thinking that I did.‖ ―We‘ve already been down that road, Reed. I don‘t want to go there again.‖ ―What else is there? Are you the same woman who sat by my bed holding my hand when I was sick?‖ ―And got creamed for it, Reed! Don‘t forget that because I haven‘t.‖ She heard him sigh. ―Annalise. Please. You have to at least hear me out.‖ ―You say that as if I owe you some consideration. But I don‘t and you‘re not getting any more than you gave me.‖ ―I know you don‘t owe me anything. I‘m appealing to your generous nature.‖

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―I haven‘t got one.‖ ―Oh, yes you have.‖ ―If I have, I‘m not wasting it on you.‖ ―Annalise, I...I can‘t eat and I can‘t sleep. I can‘t even think clearly anymore. I need you to forgive me.‖ She hardened herself. ―You should have thought about that before treating me like something RP found under a rock!‖ ―Don‘t be like that. Please.‖ He sounded almost as unhappy as she felt. ―May I please come up?‖ She had spent a painful three weeks reconciling herself to the fact that she wasn‘t going to see him again. She had filled her days with church activities, prayer, and had managed quite well without him. Now he wanted to start her to wanting him all over again? He‘d gone out of his way to hurt her. There was no reason to see him. So why was her resolve dissipating faster than half–formed ice cubes on a hot August sidewalk? ―Aren‘t you afraid to be alone with me? That I‘ll sneak into your bedroom and won‘t be able to keep my hands to myself, Reed?‖ He sighed again. ―Don‘t do this, Annalise.‖

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―Don‘t do what?‖ ―Please. You must know you‘re torturing me.‖ She was torturing him? ―Oh, that‘s rich, coming from you.‖ ―I know you‘re angry with me and you have reason to be. But I need to see you. Let me come up. Please.‖ ―Fine. Come up, but don‘t expect anything to change just because you do.‖ Angered by her weakness, she punched in the code to release the front door and slammed down the phone before he could respond. She was tempted to brush her hair out, slap on some makeup and change out of her sweats. Although she was no match for Taylor Dane when it came to looks, she possessed far more curves than the older woman. When she heard the doorbell ring, she took several deep breaths before opening it. He wore a dark suit and carried a bouquet of the hated carnations. Oh for the freedom to be able to fling herself into his arms. He gave her a tentative smile and offered her the flowers. ―Annalise. It‘s so good to finally see you again.‖ The hypocrite sounded sincere. She took the flowers and backed away from the door. ―I suppose you‘d better come in.‖ He did, closing the door behind him.

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After she put the flowers on the hall table, they stood staring at each other in silence. Finally, he pushed himself away from the door and came to stand in front of her. ―Forgive me.‖ ―Why should I?‖ ―Because I can‘t go on like this. Having you hate me is unbearable.‖ The combination of his blue eyes staring down into hers, and his subtle cologne, played havoc with her senses. She swallowed hard and took several steps back. ―Fine. I forgive you. Now please go away.‖ ―Actually, I was hoping you‘d have dinner with me first.‖ ―Dinner with you?‖ ―Yes. Dinner. With me.‖ ―And just what would your one woman say about that?‖ ―I wish you wouldn‘t keep calling her my one woman.‖ ―Why not? She is still your one woman. Isn‘t she?‖ She watched him swallow several times. ―She‘s...ah, we...I still...see her.‖ The small ray of hope she‘d felt at his obvious reluctance faded. He was not in full retreat. ―You haven‘t answered my question. What would she say to us going out to dinner?‖ He shrugged. ―I wasn‘t planning on asking her opinion.‖

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Her lips parted. ―Excuse me? I‘m supposed to sneak around with you behind her back?‖ He compressed his lips. ―I wouldn‘t exactly call it sneaking around. We‘re talking about dinner, Annalise, not an affair. Just dinner and a chance to talk to clear the air between us.‖ ―You think your jealous ‗one woman‘ will see the difference between the two?‖ She asked, wanting to provoke him. She watched as he made an obvious effort to hold onto his temper. ―I‘d really rather not talk about Taylor.‖ ―No? Well, then we have nothing to say because I find she‘s all I care to talk about with you, Reed.‖ He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. ―So you haven‘t really forgiven me.‖ ―No, I haven‘t forgiven you! You called me a nightmare! You threw me out of your house and told me not to come back! You want to know something Reed? I was so hurt that I cried all the way home.‖ He leaned against the door. She watched in amazement as he then slid down it until he was slumped on the floor. He held his hands up, looking helpless. ―I...I don‘t know what to say to make things right with you. I don‘t know what to do. Tell me how to make things right

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with you. I didn‘t mean any of those things I said that day. I was angry and I wanted to hurt you.‖ ―Well, congratulations. You achieved your goal.‖ ―But it was only a momentary urge. I was sorry the moment the words left my lips. How many ways can I say how sorry I am!‖ ―How many ways can I tell you how much it hurt? You think I have no feelings? That because I sat by your bed you could say any hurtful thing you wanted to me and I‘d forgive you? Well, you can‘t and I don‘t. Your coming here was a waste of both our times.‖ ―It‘s hopeless, isn‘t it? You‘re determined not to forgive me no matter how much I grovel.‖ He placed a hand over his face. The anguish in his voice struck an emotional nerve she couldn‘t ignore. She loved him and, as the apostle Paul had written, love bore all things and didn‘t keep account of injuries. She knelt beside him. ―I don‘t want you to grovel, Reed.‖ She touched his hair before pulling his hand away from her face. He looked at her with a bleak expression. ―I‘m so sorry, honey. So sorry.‖ So was she—that she was still in love with him and that he was still seeing Taylor. This would probably be her last chance to touch him before he formalized his relationship with Taylor.

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―Do you love her, Reed?‖ ―Annalise, Taylor and I are...I‘m ….‖ ―You‘re in love with her?‖ She nodded. ―I know. Do you want to know a secret?‖ He shook his head. ―That‘s not what I said and I don‘t want to know any secrets.‖ She caressed his cheek. ―I‘m going to tell you anyway.‖ ―Don‘t. I know things are a little crazy right now, but—‖ ―What‘s the matter, RP Senior? Afraid of the truth?‖ He shook his head again. ―No, but—‖ She pressed her fingers against his lips. ―I love you.‖ ―Oh...Annalise! I...I...I don‘t know what to say.‖ She gave him a small smile. ―You could say you love me too. I‘d really like to hear it.‖ ―I‘m not in love with her, Annalise.‖ ―You‘re not in love with me either.‖ ―I…my feelings for you…‖ She sighed and sank back against the door. ―You made your lack of interest clear when you called me a nightmare and ordered me out of your house.‖

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―For crying out loud, Annalise! I didn‘t order you out and you know that I didn‘t mean that nightmare nonsense!‖ ―No, I don‘t—‖ ―Don‘t tell me you don‘t because I know that you do. You just want me groveling at your feet. You want groveling? Fine. I‘ll grovel, Annalise. I‘ll beg. I‘ll supplicate. I‘ll do whatever you want. Just please. Please. Stop torturing me.‖ His voice softened. ―That night on the swing you must have known how I—‖ ―You mean the night you refused to even admit you liked me?‖ ―I didn‘t come here to play games, Annalise. You didn‘t need me to tell you I liked you. You must have felt that I did. That I do. I have from the moment I saw you.‖ ―Oh, I see. It‘s because you like me so much that you went out of your way to hurt me.‖ She nodded. ―Sure. Makes a lot of sense to me. I always try to hurt the people I like.‖ ―Annalise—‖ ―Oh, let‘s just drop it,‖ she said wearily. ―Now that you know my not so little secret, will you please go away and let me get over you?‖ ―I know how you feel—‖ ―Oh, Reed, I doubt very much that you‘ve ever been in love alone.‖

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He caressed her cheek. ―If things were different and if I weren‘t so much older than you...‖ The look in his eyes made her hold her breath. Was he about to tell her she wasn‘t in love alone? ―What?‖ ―Things might have...We might have...You are the last woman in the world I‘d ever want to hurt.‖ ―And yet you do it so well.‖ ―Oh, honey!‖ He leaned back against the door, closing his eyes. ―But that‘s the problem. I‘m not your honey, Reed.‖ His jaw clenched several times before he turned to look at her. ―I...I lead Taylor to believe I wanted to marry her. I...I can‘t just...drop her.‖ ―Didn‘t she drop you?‖ ―No. She chose to forgive my…indiscretion with you.‖ ―What indiscretion?‖ ―She thinks we slept together.‖ ―And she still wants you?‖ ―Yes.‖ ―Fine, Reed. Marry your one–woman!‖ ―If you could just...bear with me, Annalise. I...‖ ―You‘ll what?‖

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―Just trust me.‖ ―This from the guy who‘s already hurt me more than I‘ve ever been hurt before?‖

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Chapter Ten

He stared at her, looking so helpless and lost that it was all she could do to keep from putting her arms around him and assuring him that everything would be all right. ―No need to look like that. I‘m a big girl, RP Senior. It‘s going to take a lot of prayer and reliance on Christ, but I will get over you.‖ ―You must know by now that I don‘t want you to get over me.‖ ―Then...what do you want, Reed?‖ ―For you to forgive me. Trust me. Bear with me. And know that I never intended to hurt you.‖ ―That‘s the thing about love, RP Senior, it just happens or it doesn‘t. I took one look at you and fell in love while you felt nothing.‖ ―I‘ve made things worse.‖ He got up. ―I should go.‖ She couldn‘t trust her knees not to buckle if she stood up so she slid across the rug until she‘d cleared the door and leaned against the wall. ―Do me a favor, Reed. Drive carefully and be happy.‖ He stared down at her, the muscles in his jaw clenching and unclenching. ―I need a little time to put things right. Are you going to be all right?‖

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Despite her best efforts, her eyes filled with tears. ―Please go, Reed.‖ She brought her knees up to her chest and buried her face against them. He knelt to caress her arm. She pulled away. ―Don‘t.‖ ―I can‘t leave you like this,‖ he said and put his arms around her. His nearness was too sweet to resist. She turned her face into his shoulder, wrapping her arms around his waist. Tears spilled down her cheeks. ―Please don‘t cry, Annalise!‖ She felt his fingers on her face. In her hair, pulling it free. When it had fallen around her face in an untidy cloud, he cupped her face in his hands. He gazed into her eyes. ―You have such lovely hair. Dark, thick, and beautiful. Beautiful eyes. Beautiful skin tone. A beautiful smile. Such soft, sweet lips.‖ The breath caught in her throat when she felt his lips touch her face. ―I‘ve been enchanted since the moment we met.‖ She opened her eyes. ―You have?‖ He brushed his lips against her brows. ―Yes. Yes.‖ ―Kiss me?‖ He sucked in his breath and nodded quickly, then shook his head just as quickly. ―I can‘t.‖

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―Why not? If you want to?‖ ―I do want to. You have no idea how much I want to, but I can‘t. Not until I straighten things out with Taylor—‖ She gripped the lapels of his jacket. ―I‘m so sick of hearing about her! She‘ll never love or adore you half as much as I do!‖ He stared silently at her. ―Are you and she engaged?‖ ―No, but kissing you when we‘re alone isn‘t a good idea. I‘ve already lost my head once when I kissed you.‖ ―You remember kissing me in your bedroom? You didn‘t think I was Taylor?‖ He stroked the back of his hand against the side of her neck. ―I‘ve never mistaken you for anyone else, Annalise, and Taylor and I have never been that…intimate.‖ ―Why not?‖ ―She was never able to tempt me as…completely as you do.‖ He leaned forward to kiss her neck. ―I knew I was kissing you.‖ She turned her head until her mouth was inches from his. ―Reed?‖ His lips moved slowly against her mouth with a warm, insistent heat.

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Tingling with desire, she wound her arms around his neck. She loved everything about him: the taste of his lips, the feel of his fingers holding her face, and the smell of his cologne. Feeling his tongue against her lips, she opened her mouth. He kissed her with a slow heat that seared the taste of his lips on hers. His fingertips brushed against her cheeks, her neck, and her shoulders. When he touched her breasts, she gasped and pulled away from him. Her heart thumped painfully when he pulled her back into his arms and buried his lips in her hair again. He held her close to his pounding heart. ―I told you kissing you when we‘re alone wasn‘t a good idea.‖ After a long, breathless moment, she turned her head slowly. His lips were just a breath away. She lifted her gaze until she could look into his blue one. She wanted to believe that all his hints added up to love, but she saw no signs of love for her in his eyes. She knew he cared about her. He wouldn‘t have humbled himself as he had that night if he didn‘t. Only she wanted his love. Not just his affection or desire. She pulled away and stood up. ―You were right.‖ He got to his feet. Placing his hand against the wall, he leaned down and pressed a long, biting kiss against her neck. She shivered. ―Reed…‖

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He placed his other hand on the wall beside her and bent to kiss her again. She turned her head so that his mouth brushed her cheek instead of her lips. ―Kissing when we‘re alone isn‘t a good idea.‖ ―But it feels so good,‖ he whispered, licking the side of her neck. She pushed against his shoulders. ―I think it‘s time you left.‖ He slipped his arm around her waist, touching his lips against her ear. ―Have dinner with me first.‖ ―Where would that get us? You‘ll go back to your one woman and I‘ll be left with bittersweet memories that I don‘t want or need.‖ He sighed, releasing her. ―I need a little time to end things with Taylor before I can see you, Annalise.‖ ―Fine, but you shouldn‘t expect me to sit waiting to see how things turn out for you and her, Reed.‖ ―I know I haven‘t been fair to either of you, Annalise, but I‘ve been less fair to her because I lead her on. We discussed marriage and then I met you and…give me a little time.‖ He kissed her cheek and left. She closed her eyes. She would not sit waiting for him.

―Daddy?‖

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Reed looked up from his evening paper. Ria stood in the living room doorway. He folded the paper and got up. ―Why are you out of bed, sweetheart?‖ She held up her arms and he picked her up. Moving back to his chair, he sat with her on his lap. ―Couldn‘t you sleep, sweetheart?‖ ―No. Why can‘t we see Annie, Daddy? It‘s been weeks and she still doesn‘t come to see us. She calls when you‘re at work, but she doesn‘t come. I‘m okay with that, but RP misses her something awful, Daddy.‖ The wistfulness in her voice assured him that RP wasn‘t the only one who missed Annalise. ―Sweetie, she has her own life. We can‘t expect her to give it up just for us. But you‘ll get to see her. Auntie Deb is going to take you and RP to Philly on Saturday to spend the day with her.‖ ―But we want to go with you, Daddy.‖ He stroked a gentle finger down her cheek. ―She doesn‘t want to see me.‖ ―Why not? She used to like you. She used to smile when she saw you. And when you were sick she held your hand and sang to you until you felt better. And she said you were too gorgeous. Why doesn‘t she like you anymore?‖ It was more than a week since he‘d gone to Annalise‘s apartment, but he remembered that last scene as if it had happened last night.

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He winced as he recalled the tears in her eyes. The pain in her voice when she told him she loved him. Most of all, every time he closed his eyes, he found himself reliving those kisses. The improper desires he felt raging through him had and still did shock him. He had no business feeling like that. It was unchaste. Hadn‘t Christ said that a man looking at a woman so as to desire her had already sinned in his heart? ―Daddy?‖ Ria‘s hand on his arm brought his thoughts back to her. ―I‘m sorry, sweetie. Annalise and I have decided it‘s best if we don‘t see each other for a while. I know that‘s not what you want to hear.‖ ―Then why are you telling me that?‖ ―Because you‘re old enough and intelligent enough to hear the truth. And that‘s the way it is. She doesn‘t want to see me right now.‖ ―Why?‖ Her blue eyes searched his. ―What did you do to her? Did you make her cry again?‖ He felt a hint of blood warming his face. ―I didn‘t do anything to her, Ria. We just can‘t see each other for awhile.‖ ―Is it because she likes you so much and you don‘t like her at all?‖ ―I do like her, Ria.‖

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Her blue eyes rounded with wonder. ―You do? How much? More than you like Taylor? Oh, Daddy, have you finally seen the light? Are you—‖ He pressed a finger against her lips to silence her. ―I know how you feel about Annalise, sweetie, but if you want to see her, you‘ll have to be satisfied with Deb taking you.‖ ―But me and RP was hoping you‘d want to see Annie too. Don‘t you miss her?‖ The trouble was he did miss her. He wanted to see her. But not until he‘d broken off completely with Taylor. And even then he didn‘t know how much of a bargain he‘d be to her. ―As a matter of fact, I do miss her. But I need you to understand something. I know you and RP really like Annalise and she really likes you.‖ ―She loves us, Daddy, and we love her.‖ He stroked her hair. ―I know, sweetie, but right now Taylor‘s still in my life.‖ ―You‘re not going to marry her, are you?‖ She sounded so distressed that he hugged her. ―You used to like Taylor, Ria.‖ ―That was before we knew how she was and before we met Annie. Annie‘s the one we want, Daddy. She‘s more like a mommy. Why can‘t you like her instead of Taylor?‖ ―Sweetheart, I do like her, but I can‘t see her while I‘m seeing Taylor.‖

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―Then don‘t see Taylor anymore, Daddy!‖ ―I can‘t just tell her to stop coming round.‖ ―Why not? We don‘t want her here, Daddy. We want Annie.‖ He cupped Ria‘s face in his hand. The unhappy look on her pretty face tugged at his heart. ―I know, but that might not be possible.‖ ―Why not?‖ Because Annalise had made it plain that she had no intentions of waiting for him. Yet, surely if she loved him half as much as she claimed, she would wait. ―Sweetie, I need you to understand that‘s how things are right now.‖ She sighed and bit her lip. ―All right, Daddy. But I‘ll have to explain it to RP. He doesn‘t understand how it is with men.‖ He stared at her in amazement. ―And just what do you understand about men that he doesn‘t?‖ Her eyes widened at the question. ―They like pretty women even if they can‘t do anything.‖ He had a feeling he was going to regret it, but he had to ask. ―What do you mean by that?‖ ―You know. They can‘t cook or clean or take care of sick people or do anything useful.‖ ―Is... are you saying that Taylor is useless, Ria?‖

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―Well, Daddy, she can‘t do anything useful. What do you think? Do you think she‘s useless?‖ ―No, Maria, I don‘t!‖ ―Then neither do I, Daddy,‖ she said sweetly and reached up to kiss his cheek. He was shaken by the revelation of how close he‘d come to marrying a woman Ria and RP thought so little of. ―I need you to do something for me, Ria.‖ ―Yes, Daddy.‖ ―Be nice to Taylor the next time you see her.‖ ―But Daddy, it‘s so hard to like her when all she wants to do is chase us away so she can kiss you like she‘s married to you. And she—‖ ―Maria!‖ ―All right, Daddy. Me and RP will try, but we sure wish she were Annie.‖ He pulled her close and kissed her hair. ―I know, sweetie. I know. But she won‘t be around for much longer.‖ ―You mean you‘re not going to marry her after all?‖ ―No, I‘m not, but she doesn‘t know that yet. So for right now, it‘ll be a secret between you, me, and RP.‖ ―Can I tell Annie?‖ ―No.‖

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―Well, what‘s going to happen when Taylor‘s finally gone? Are you going to see Annie?‖ ―Ria, I like Annalise an awful lot. More than any other woman since your mom, but I‘m a lot older than she is. So we‘ll have to see.‖ ―But Daddy, she won‘t mind. I know she won‘t.‖ ―One thing at a time, Ria. Taylor goes and then we‘ll see.‖ ―Okay, Daddy.‖ Long after he‘d taken Ria back to bed, he sat in the living room with the Bible open in his lap. He felt the need for guidance. He glanced at the clock on the living room mantle over the fireplace. Nearly ten–thirty. Hopefully Jim Daily would still be up. He reached for the phone.

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Chapter Eleven

The room had always seemed so warm and cozy with its dim lighting and overstuffed chairs during Reed‘s prior visits. This time he felt tense. ―What‘s troubling you, Reed? When we talked last night, you sounded a little upset,‖ John Daily said. He nodded. ―I‘ve been thinking of remarrying.‖ ―Ah, yes. To Miss Dane?‖ ―Yes. No.‖ ―Oh?‖ ―Well, actually, I had intended to ask her to marry me...until August.‖ ―Usually the decision to remarry is a cause for joy, Reed.‖ ―I know. But I have a problem.‖ ―Ah. I see.‖ He sounded as if he really did see. Reed looked up at him. ―You do?‖ ―There‘s another woman?‖ ―Yes.‖ ―Do you care for her?‖ ―Oh, yes.‖

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―Then what‘s the problem?‖ ―Before I met her, I‘d all but asked Taylor to marry me.‖ ―And now you find that you don‘t love her?‖ ―Actually, I always knew that I didn‘t love her. I mean I was fond of her. I am fond of her, but I don‘t love her.‖ ―Then tell her the truth.‖ ―She says she‘s in love with me. I want to let her down gently. I‘ve already made a mess with...‖ ―The other woman?‖ He nodded. ―I‘ve already hurt her. I‘m trying to end it slowly with Taylor, but this other woman stirs improper desires.‖ ―Have you acted on those desires?‖ The back of his neck burned. ―I…there‘s been some heated kisses and some…inappropriate caresses, but nothing else.‖ But only because she had stopped him. ―Did she accompany you to service in August?‖ Had it been clear to Jim that he‘d been desiring Annalise even while sitting through a sermon on the importance of leading a chaste life? ―I saw right away that there was something…special between the two of you, Reed. Need that something be improper? Is she married?‖

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―No, but she‘s so young. And Ria and RP need a full time mother to make up for first the loss of Maria, and now Miss Holland.‖ ―Is Miss Holland returning?‖ ―She called to tell me she‘s no longer able to handle being a full–time caretaker. Ria and RP need some stability in their lives and I‘m finding it very difficult to control my desire for physical intimacy.‖ ―Needs you want Miss Lewis to fill?‖ It was thoughts of Annalise that kept him lying sleepless in bed at night. It was Annalise who‘d cooked and cleaned for him and his when she should have been resting her hands. Annalise who‘d brought him flowers. Annalise who‘d sat by his bed when he was sick. And it was Annalise who looked at him with eyes overflowing with love. Annalise. Annalise. Annalise. He stared at Jim in silent dismay. ―Perhaps you should be thinking of marriage to Miss Lewis? In addition to the spark I noted between you two, I saw a bond with Ria and RP too. I don‘t recall noting such a bond with Ms. Dane.‖ ―I know she and the kids love each other and I...but I‘m not sure I can marry her.‖ ―Why not?‖

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―She‘s so...sweet and trusting. She has so much to give. What she needs is a man her own age who can give her anything she wants and needs from marriage. I…I can‘t do that.‖ ―Do you plan to tell her?‖ ―Yes.‖ Once he was sure of her feelings for him. He felt uncomfortable under Jim‘s steady regard. Did his minister know of his plan? ―Honesty is always best, Reed. You have a lot to think about. Let‘s help the process along by asking for God‘s guidance.‖

―Did you know that my Daddy‘s not getting married to Taylor?‖ Annalise paused in the act of lacing up her roller skates to give Ria a sidelong glance. Ria sat on her right side, lacing up her own skates. RP was already on the rink skating. If Reed had decided not to marry Taylor, why hadn‘t he been in touch? Unless he‘d decided he didn‘t want either of them. Maybe he‘d decided he would be better without a woman who didn‘t love his kids and one who stirred improper desires. ―No, I didn‘t know that. Your Auntie Deb didn‘t tell me.‖

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―She doesn‘t know. Daddy said it was going to be a secret for me, RP and him, but I thought you‘d want to know.‖ ―Not if he doesn‘t want me to,‖ she said bleakly. ―Daddy says we have to be nice to her until she‘s gone, but it‘s really hard because she‘s so useless. She can‘t cook and she makes us wash our hands before we touch her and she doesn‘t like cuddling and kissing us like you do.‖ ―She‘s too pretty to get dirty,‖ she said, working hard to be fair. ―And who wouldn‘t like cuddling with you and RP?‖ ―She wouldn‘t! And anyway, we don‘t much like cuddling with her either. And besides,‖ Ria went on as if proving her point, ―Auntie Deb is prettier. And you‘re younger and much nicer.‖ She looked up into Annalise‘s face. ―Do you think Daddy‘s old?‖ ―Oh, no, sweetie. Your daddy‘s the perfect age.‖ ―That‘s what I told Daddy!‖ she said smugly. Annalise bit back the urge to ask if Ria and Reed had been discussing a possible relationship between Reed and herself. ―Well you told him right,‖ she said. ―I knew I did. You‘re not like her always trying to chase us away so you can have Daddy to yourself. And when we peek in the living room, there she is, trying to kiss Daddy. Only he doesn‘t let her anymore.‖

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The picture Ria‘s words conjured up was too much. Annalise bounded to her feet. ―Sweetie, you know I love talking to you, but we can‘t talk about your Daddy‘s private life. What he does with Taylor is none of my business and you shouldn‘t tell me about it.‖ ―Why not?‖ Because she couldn‘t stand to hear it. ―What he does with Taylor is none of my concern,‖ she carefully explained. ―But I thought you‘d want to know that he doesn‘t let her kiss him anymore,‖ she said indignantly. ―I don‘t.‖ ―But how are you going to get Daddy away from her if you don‘t know what she‘s doing? If you don‘t hurry up, she might win him back even though he doesn‘t love her!‖ Maybe he didn‘t love Taylor, but he‘d never said anything about loving Annalise either. ―Ria, you have to trust him to do the right thing for you and RP. He loves you both very much.‖ ―I know that!‖ ―Good.‖ She ruffled Ria‘s hair. ―Now, how about we get down to some serious skating?‖

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―Okay.‖ Ria giggled and took off toward the rink. Annalise followed more slowly.

―Where are you?‖ Reed looked down at Taylor, who sat on the living room sofa next to him. ―I‘m right here with you.‖ ―Physically? Maybe, but what about the rest of you? Your mind, for instance. Where‘s that?‖ ―Here too.‖ She smiled and laid her head against his shoulder. He barely resisted the urge to draw away from her. ―This is nice, but how long can it last?‖ ―What do you mean?‖ ―I keep expecting Maria and RP to come charging in any moment. Where are they?‖ ―In Philly.‖ She tensed beside him. ―With Deb and Dave, I hope.‖ ―They‘re with Annalise.‖ She pulled away from him. ―Why are they with that woman, Reed? I thought we agreed that they shouldn‘t see her anymore.‖

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―You said you thought it was a bad idea for them to go on seeing her,‖ he countered. ―I don‘t agree. They‘re very fond of her and she‘s fond of them.‖ ―Is she? Is she really so fond of them or is she just fond of you?‖ ―Her feelings for them have nothing to do with me,‖ he told her coolly. ―You need to understand that I have no intentions of stopping them from seeing her just to please you.‖ She recoiled as if he‘d attempted to strike her. ―Then who would you do it for?‖ ―They‘ve had too much misery in their lives as it is. They love her and she loves them. I‘m not going to take that away from them.‖ ―What about my relationship with them? Since they‘ve known her, we‘ve drifted so far apart that sometimes it‘s difficult for me to…relate to them.‖ ―Really? Then we have a problem, Taylor. We‘re a packaged deal. Love me. Love my kids.‖ Her face softened and she leaned up to kiss him. He turned his head and her lips brushed his cheek. ―Oh, don‘t be like that, darling. It‘s just that sometimes they make it hard. RP‘s nice enough, but Maria...‖ He stiffened. ―What about Ria?‖ She shrugged. ―Well, you know.‖ ―No. I don‘t. What about Ria?‖

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―She‘s not exactly the easiest little girl in the world to get along with, is she?‖ He stared at her. He could only thank the Lord that Annalise had come along before he could marry this woman with such an obvious lack of affection for Ria. ―Oh, Reed, don‘t look at me like that.‖ There was no kind way of saying what he had to say. He‘d already wasted too much time waiting for her to realize they were no good together. For all he knew, he might even have blown any chance he had with Annalise in the process. ―I‘m sorry, Taylor, but this isn‘t going to work.‖ She drew away from him. ―What‘s not going to work?‖ ―Our relationship. Ria and RP need and deserve a step–mom who loves them just as they are.‖ ―Why do I get the feeling you think I‘m not right for them, Reed? Do you maybe have someone else in mind? Someone like their precious Annie?‖ ―She is precious to them, Taylor. She loves them. They love her.‖ ―And what about you, Reed? Does she love you too? And do you love her?‖ When he didn‘t answer, she stood up. ―I guess I can take that as a yes. Oh, Reed! Why did you lie about sleeping with her?‖

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He stood up, extending a hand to her, anxious to make this easier for her. ―I didn‘t lie. We never slept together. If you still think differently, I‘m not sure what exactly it is you feel for me.‖ She stared at him with what he thought were the beginnings of tears in her eyes. He sighed. He was becoming a regular pro at driving women to tears. ―I felt...I feel...love. And I thought you did too. What‘s changed?‖ He swallowed several times. ―I‘ve changed. Ria and RP have changed. They need someone to love them.‖ ―I‘ll learn to love them! I just need a little time.‖ ―She already loves them.‖ ―And does she already love you too?‖ ―I‘m not sure what she feels.‖ ―But you know what you feel.‖ ―Yes,‖ he admitted. ―I know what I feel.‖ ―I see. So if all your time spent with her was so innocent, exactly when did you fall in love with her?‖ She bit her lip. ―So you want to be rid of me so you can be with her. Is it because she‘s so much younger than I am? Does she make you feel young again?‖ ―Her age has nothing to do with this, Taylor. I‘m sorry if I hurt you—‖

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―If?‖ She slapped his hand away. ―Okay. So it‘s over. Great. I‘m going for good. That should make Maria a very happy little girl.‖ That snide remark about Ria did it. He let her go with no feelings of guilt. He was finally free! Now if only Annalise was still willing to trust her heart to him.

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Chapter Twelve

Getting on with her life was easier than Annalise had expected. True, she had an occasional sleepless night and she sometimes dreamed of Reed arriving unannounced with dozens of roses, begging her to marry him. But she didn‘t sit waiting for Reed to call. The first weekend in October, she arrived at Deb‘s wedding in time to see Reed walk Deb down the aisle. Her resolve to forget Reed strengthened when she saw Taylor sitting with Ria and RP. She left right after the wedding ended and didn‘t attend the reception. Three weeks later, she met tall, dark, and handsome John Handle when she accompanied Charlie on a visit to a sister congregation. She accepted when he called a week later to ask her out. They met for lunch at a Center City restaurant. She wore a pair of burgundy dress pants and a matching jacket. She arrived first and sat sipping a cup of decaf until John slipped into the booth across from her. ―Hi.‖ He glanced at his watch. ―Am I late or are you early?‖ ―You‘re late,‖ she said, without consulting her watch. ―Hmm.‖ He nodded. ―I thought as much.‖

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She grinned. ―You know, I think I‘m going to like being friends with you. You say all the right things.‖ ―Good. I could use a friend.‖ Over lunch, he told her how losing his wife to cancer a year earlier had changed his life. ―The house in Delaware held too many memories. So I packed up and came to Philadelphia.‖ ―Oh, John. I‘m so sorry for your loss.‖ ―Thanks.‖ He sighed and shook his head. ―What about you? Is there anyone special in your life besides your admirer across the room?‖ ―What?‖ He nodded to a point just beyond her. ―There‘s a man at a table across the room who has been staring at you for the last five minutes. His date can‘t be happy.‖ She glanced over her shoulder and looked straight into Reed‘s eyes. The woman seated opposite had blond hair! A sense of anger and betrayal filled her. After all his talk about giving him time to set things straight with Taylor, he was dating someone else! ―Do you know him?‖ She turned back to face John. ―He‘s my friend‘s brother.‖ ―That‘s it? From the way he‘s staring at you…here he‘s comes.‖

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She froze, then tingled when Reed and the woman, paused by their table. She saw with dismay that this woman was even more attractive than Taylor and a lot younger. ―Annalise, this is a nice surprise.‖ She gave him a cool stare. ―Not for me.‖ ―Aren‘t you going to introduce us, Annie?‖ John asked after an awkward silence. She shrugged. ―Sure.‖ She nodded in Reed‘s direction. ―John, this is Reed Phillips, my friend‘s much older brother. Reed, this is John Handle.‖ She glanced at the woman at Reed‘s side. ―And this is...?‖ ―This is Rachel Smith, Annalise.‖ His blue eyes narrowed. ―Rachel, this is Annalise Lewis.‖ ―Well, now that we‘ve all met, don‘t let us keep you two,‖ she said, uncaring that she was being unforgivably rude. She just wanted him to go away. ―May I call you?‖ She shook her head. ―I can‘t think of anything you have to say that I want to hear.‖ ―Annalise—‖ ―Please, Reed…go.‖ He touched the arm of the woman with him and they walked away.

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Back at his office, Reed sat staring out his office window. The words of Down The Aisle echoed in his thoughts. Instead of Patti Labelle‘s voice, he imagined Annalise promising they would live in bliss through the years and that she was his. So what was she doing with another man? Jealousy warred with regret, confusion, and anger. Annalise had grown tired of waiting for him to end his relationship with Taylor. He‘d ruined not only his chance of future happiness, but also Ria‘s and RP‘s—unless he could change her mind. If so, he‘d need to make a move quickly. He called her. She answered it on the fifth ring, as he was about to hang up. ―Hello.‖ ―Hi.‖ ―Reed…I can‘t imagine why you‘re calling me.‖ He was going to have to fight for her. ―I must be a glutton for punishment,‖ he said. She laughed before sobering. ―I never expected to see you cheating on your one woman.‖ ―Cheating? Is that why you were… I‘m disappointed that you think so little of me, Annalise. Rachel is my secretary. I took her to lunch today to celebrate her second anniversary with us.‖

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―Oh…I guess I owe you an apology.‖ ―I don‘t want an apology.‖ ―What do you want, Reed?‖ He ran a hand through his hair. ―I need to talk to you.‖ ―I don‘t want to talk to you.‖ ―I‘m not marrying Taylor.‖ ―So Ria told me—weeks ago.‖ ―And you didn‘t care?‖ ―What do you want, Reed?‖ ―I was hoping I could persuade you to come visit Ria and RP this weekend. I could pick you up after work and we could drive over together in my car,‖ he offered. ―Ria and RP are coming to me next weekend to help with the food drive at my brother‘s church. I think we should leave it at that.‖ ―Fine. Would John mind our having dinner tonight?‖ ―What makes you think I‘m interested in having dinner with you?‖ ―When we first met you said something about wanting me to take you to a romantic dinner some starlit night. The stars will be out tonight and I‘m feeling very romantic.‖ ―That was a long time ago.‖

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―Does that mean you‘re no longer interested in...‖ he trailed off. How could he ask her if she was still in love with him without sounding like a conceited heel? ―If you‘re wondering if I‘m in love with you, Reed, I am now firmly in possession of my own heart again.‖ That meant John didn‘t have it either. So just maybe it was up for grabs. ―I can pick you up at six–thirty.‖ ―You‘re not picking me up.‖ ―Okay. Why don‘t you meet me at the new Italian restaurant on Columbus Boulevard? I hear the food‘s great.‖ ―Reed—‖ ―I‘ll see you there at six–thirty,‖ he said and hung up before she could refuse. He sat for several minutes, waiting for her to call back and refuse to see him. After twenty minutes, he knew they had a date.

Annalise paced her living room floor. She glanced at her watch. Six–twenty. He‘d be there in ten minutes. Then what? It was one thing to tell him over the phone that she didn‘t love him. Could she pull it off while looking into his too blue eyes?

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She glanced at the bouquet that had arrived an hour earlier. A combination of white and yellow Gardenia‘s this time. And an enigmatic, message, ―To new beginnings. Reed.‖ Just what was she supposed to make of that? She knew what she‘d like to make of it, but she was not going down that road again. Her resolve weakened when she saw the interior of the restaurant he‘d chosen with its‘ dim lighting and tables in intimate recesses. She turned to look up at him. ―This is not a good idea, Reed.‖ He urged her forward with a hand on her elbow. ―It‘s a great idea. The food is excellent here.‖ She waited until they were seated and had ordered before she tried again. ―That‘s not what I meant. I meant the atmosphere. It‘s not the sort of place friends of the opposite sex come.‖ ―Of course it is,‖ he said. ―We‘re here.‖ ―Well, we shouldn‘t be. It‘s the kind of place you should have taken Tay...‖ That‘s probably what he‘d done. She stared silently at him. He stared back, shaking his head. ―I‘ve never been here, Annalise. And it‘s over between us.‖ ―You took her to Deb‘s wedding.‖

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―I didn‘t take her. Deb had invited her and even though we‘d ended our relationship by then, she showed up and sat next to Ria and RP. What was I supposed to do? Ask her to leave or not sit next to my kids? She didn‘t attend the reception.‖ If only she‘d known, she could have stayed and enjoyed Deb‘s special day. ―My relationship with Taylor is over, Annalise. She didn‘t love my kids and they don‘t love her. Ria and RP deserve a step–mother who loves them.‖ ―Do you…have anyone in mind?‖ ―Yes. You.‖ He reached across the table to take her hands in his. ―Will you walk down the aisle with me, Annalise? Will you marry me?‖ She swallowed the urge to scream a happy yes. He‘d said nothing about love. ―Why would I do that?‖ ―For the usual reason: love.‖ She managed not to blush as she stared into his eyes. ―I told you I‘m no longer in love with you.‖ ―I heard you. I meant that you love Ria and RP. You do love them, don‘t you?‖ She nodded. ―Yes, I do, but—‖ ―And they love you.‖ ―But you don‘t.‖ She tugged her hands free and rose.

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He leaned across the table and pushed her gently, but firmly back into her seat. ―Do you have any idea how often you occupy my thoughts?‖ She felt her heart begin that now painful thumping that left her breathless. She wasn‘t going to get excited because he said she occupied his thoughts. It wasn‘t his thoughts she wanted to occupy. It was his heart. ―Yeah? Well, come back and ask me when you can tell me your heart belongs to me. Maybe then I‘ll consider marrying you.‖ He sighed and ran a hand through his hair and she watched, remembering how silky it had felt under her fingers. ―I was hoping you‘d consider it now. I...was hoping to avoid a long drawn out engagement.‖ She stared at him. ―Why?‖ He glanced away from her and ran a hand along the inside of his collar. ―Well, I...it‘s been over three years since Maria died and I...I‘m not made of stone, Annalise. I have feelings and... needs...I really need to marry you.‖ This time she felt herself blushing. ―So I‘m supposed to marry you quickly because you have...physical needs? Charming proposal, Reed. And so romantic.‖ He brought his blue gaze back to her flushed face. ―I‘m sorry, but you did ask.‖ ―If your...needs are so pressing, I suggest that you pray and then go marry Taylor because I am not prepared to marry without love.‖

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He sighed. ―So we have to do this the long, hard way? Okay. You want to be wooed? So okay. I‘ll woo you.‖ She stared at him silently. Defiantly. Why shouldn‘t she want to be wooed? And loved? He reached across the table to reclaim her hand. He stared directly into her eyes as he lifted it to his mouth and pressed his lips against her knuckles. ―I‘m sorry. It‘s no more than you deserve and it‘s what you‘ll get. It‘s just that...I really want to marry you. I need you.‖ ―I‘ll only marry for love, Reed.‖ He shrugged. ―What makes you think I don‘t…love you?‖ ―Do…do you?‖ ―I think I started falling for you the moment I saw you. I‘ve been falling ever since. I was hoping you‘d catch me before I hit bottom.‖ She caught her breath. ―Reed?‖ ―I can picture how you‘ll fit into our lives. If I never got anything else out of life except you as my wife, I‘d feel as if the good Lord had richly blessed me with everything I needed and wanted in life.‖ ―Oh. Would you?‖ ―Yes. I want to marry you more than you know.‖

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His eyes were filled with tenderness. She believed him and yet she sensed he was concealing something from her. ―Oh, Reed, you make it so hard for a woman to remain sensible.‖ ―I don‘t want you to be sensible. If you marry me, I won‘t ever give you cause to regret it,‖ he promised. ―Annalise, you have no idea how much...‖ he stopped and took several deep breaths. ―Will you marry me?‖ ―Yes. Oh, Reed, yes, I will!‖ ―Yes?‖ She nodded. ―Yes!‖ He laughed, squeezed her hands, and then ordered a bottle of champagne. Later, she practically floated into her apartment. She sang as she undressed, got down on her knees to offer a fervent prayer of thanksgiving, and slipped into bed, feeling happier than she had for some time. The next morning, after a long night spent reliving every moment in the restaurant, and every second of their protracted goodnight outside her door, a dozen red roses arrived. Her heart pounded hard and fast as she read the card. Annalise, Please accept these as a symbol of my unwavering love and unreserved devotion. Yours, Reed.

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His unwavering love and unreserved devotion. Hers. She felt happy enough to purr.

Annalise sat in one of the big, leather chairs in Charlie‘s office, staring at him in dismay. ―I don‘t understand,‖ she said slowly. ―I thought you‘d be pleased for me, Charlie.‖ She watched as he got to his feet and came around to sit on the edge of the desk and take her hand in his. ―Don‘t look at me like that, sweet pea.‖ He had a deep, gravel voice that always had the power to assure her that all was well, even if everything in her life was going wrong. ―I want to be pleased for you, but this just doesn‘t feel right, sweat pea. It sounds like you‘re settling and you don‘t need to.‖ ―Settling?‖ She tugged at her hand, but his grip only tightened. ―Charlie! The man I‘m in love with has asked me to marry him. How is that settling?‖ ―That‘s the problem, sweat pea. You said the man you‘re in love with.‖ He stared down into her gaze with eyes so like her own it was almost like looking in a mirror. Almost, but not quite because she‘d rarely been able to deceive Charlie, who was in his quasi–father role. ―Where does he stand on this love issue? Is he in love with you too?‖

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She squirmed in her seat and managed to maintain his gaze. He had nodded when she asked if he loved her. Which wasn‘t the same as uttering those three precious words. ―He wants to marry me, Charlie and I want to marry him.‖ He released her hand and went back to sit in his seat. ―Without love? Sweet pea, it‘s hard enough to make a marriage last when there‘s love on both sides. You‘re only going to make yourself unhappy.‖ ―He loves me,‖ she said in a small voice, longing for his approval. ―Then what‘s wrong, sweet pea?‖ ―It‘s just that I think there‘s something he‘s not telling me.‖ ―Then why not wait until he‘s ready to be completely open with you? Give yourself time to make sure he‘s not marrying you for the wrong reason.‖ Like a need for physical intimacy? She remembered Reed‘s words. He wasn‘t made of stone...he had feelings and needs. Charlie was right. She needed to wait. She slumped back in her chair, tears filling her eyes. He lifted a hand. ―Come here, sweet pea.‖ She got to her feet and stumbled into his arms, burying her head against his chest. ―Oh, Charlie! What am I going to do? I love him so much!‖ He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. ―I know you do, sweat pea, but you deserve to receive unconditional love as well as give it. I

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know it‘s hard and you‘re unhappy now, but just hold on a little while. If he really loves you, it‘ll be worth it. If he doesn‘t, you deserve better.‖ She didn‘t want better. She wanted Reed.

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Chapter Thirteen

When she returned home from her visit with Charlie, the message indicator on her answering machine blinked. She didn‘t feel like talking. She needed to think. Tossing her shoulder bag onto the sofa, she kicked off her shoes. Sipping from a cup of French vanilla coffee, she sat on the carpet in front of the balcony window. There were dozens of things she should be doing on a relatively mild, late autumn afternoon. But all she wanted to do was cry. In the face of all Charlie‘s logical, reasonable arguments, she wanted to marry Reed anyway. She loved him so much. Her love would be enough. She knew that if she chose to marry Reed immediately, Charlie would stand by her. He would walk her down the aisle if she decided on a big wedding. But Charlie had a way of being right. The phone rang and she got to her feet to answer it. ―Hello.‖ ―Hi.‖ At the sound of Reed‘s voice, her heart began to thump and her legs trembled. She sank down onto the sofa. ―Oh. It‘s you.‖ ―Who were you expecting?‖

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He sounded amused and she was annoyed. He couldn‘t possibly love her and always be amused at her experience. ―Patrick Dempsey.‖ ―Will I do instead?‖ ―I‘ll get back to you on that,‖ she said. ―What‘s wrong?‖ he asked in a quiet, serious voice. ―I just need time to think.‖ ―Well, I have no interest in giving you time to decide that you don‘t want me. I‘m downstairs. Buzz me in.‖ ―You should have called first. I‘m tired.‖ ―I did call. I left two messages. Buzz me in.‖ She cast a quick look at the message indicator. ―I‘m sorry to send you away, but—‖ ―I‘m not alone,‖ he said quickly. ―RP and Ria are with me. Here, RP wants to talk to you.‖ A moment later, she heard RP‘s excited voice. ―Annie! It‘s me. RP!‖ She smiled. ―RP! Hello, honey.‖ ―Aren‘t you going to let us in, Annie?‖ he asked in a hurt little voice. ―We came to Philly just to see you. Don‘t you want to see us?‖ ―Of course I do, honey,‖ she said with false bravado. ―Let me have a quick word with your daddy first.‖

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―Yes?‖ ―It wasn‘t fair bringing them, Reed,‖ she complained. ―Maybe not, but you know what they say about all being fair in love and war, Annalise.‖ ―Are we at war, Reed?‖ ―Oh, no, sweetheart,‖ he said softly. ―Not unless that‘s the way you want it. Then you‘ll have to expect me to use every weapon at my disposal to win you.‖ The sweetheart did it. She would be strong another time when he wasn‘t calling her sweet names and promising to do whatever it took to win her. At that moment, she wanted to see him and the kids. ―Well, you going to keep me waiting all day or are you going to come up and see me?‖ She punched in the code to release the door, and put the phone down. Ten minutes later, she was on her knees in the middle of the living room floor, laughing as RP and Ria covered her face with kisses. ―Okay. That‘s enough of that, you two.‖ Reed lifted them away from her and set them down on the sofa. Then he kneeled on the carpet in front of her. ―Hi.‖ She smiled to cover her nervousness. ―Fancy meeting you here, Reed.‖ ―Nothing fancy about it. I came especially to see you.‖ ―Oh I‘m very glad to hear that.‖ ―He‘s going to kiss her, RP.‖

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―No, he‘s not going to kiss me!‖ She denied, her cheeks burning. Reed‘s blue eyes widened. ―I‘m not?‖ ―No, you‘re not!‖ She leaned away from him. ―Inquiring minds want to know why not.‖ ―Yeah and me and RP want to know why not too,‖ Ria piped in. ―Yeah, why not?‖ RP echoed. She looked expectantly at Reed. Surely he would chastise them. When he didn‘t, her gaze narrowed. ―Isn‘t there something you‘d like to say to them, Reed?‖ His lips twitched. ―Can‘t seem to think of a thing at the moment.‖ ―Then I guess you‘d better kiss me.‖ She watched with pounding heart, as he inched forward on his knees. Her breath caught in her throat when he cupped one big hand against her cheek, bent his head, and touched his lips to hers in a series of quick, but warm kisses. She was only vaguely aware of Ria and RP giggling in the background. It was difficult to be aware of anything or anyone else with Reed so close. She sighed and dropped her head against his shoulder. His arm encircled her waist. ―We‘re heading to the Franklin Institute for what‘s left of the day,‖ he said softly. ―Can we convince you to come with us?‖ Right then she would have agreed to go to the moon with him. She lifted her head and smiled up at him. ―I think you just did.‖

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They spent a noisy afternoon at the Franklin Institute with Ria and RP racing from one exhibit to the other. Afterwards, they went back to her place and ordered pizza. Annalise retrieved one of the board games she had bought when Ria and RP first began visiting her. They played sprawled on the carpet until both Ria and RP yawned, curled up on her sofa, and fell asleep. Reed pushed the game aside and dropped an arm across her shoulders. ―Alone at last,‖ he said softly. ―Come spend what‘s left of the weekend with us?‖ She leaned away from him. ―Charlie thinks we should wait,‖ she said, breathlessly. His eyes narrowed. ―He‘s entitled to his opinion.‖ ―He says I deserve to marry a man who loves me.‖ He cupped her face his hands and gently rubbed the ball of his thumbs against her cheeks. ―He‘s right. And I do love you.‖ Finally. The precious words she‘d been aching to hear. ―Oh, Reed, I wish I could believe that.‖ ―It‘s clearly time I shared a secret with you. The day after we met, when we were in the kitchen talking about being friends, I was already daydreaming about standing in church, waiting to marry you.‖ She stared at him, her lips parted in surprise. ―Yeah?‖

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―Yeah.‖ ―Well, then why do I feel as if you‘re holding part of yourself back? Is it because part of you loves Taylor too?‖ ―I never loved her.‖ ―Then why was it so hard to break up with her?‖ He sighed. ―We‘d discussed marriage. I‘d met her parents. I thought she was everything I wanted and needed until I met you. Then I knew what I felt for her was a poor substitute for what I was beginning to feel for you. What I feel now. But I‘d lead her to think we were going to get married. I had to let her down gently. I‘d already hurt you and I didn‘t want to hurt her too.‖ ―Fine. Why didn‘t you come to me once it was over? And why do I feel as if there‘s something you‘re not telling me even now?‖ she asked wearily. He sighed and moved away from her. He sat back against the sofa, looking away from her. ―Because there is.‖ She bit her lip. It must be serious to make him look like that. ―What...what is it?‖ He glanced over his shoulder to where Ria and RP slept before hunching his knees against his chest. ―Maria and I planned to have at least four kids. We started working on a family a year after we were married, but...we‘d almost given up all

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hope of having kids by the time Ria was born six years later. RP didn‘t take as long, but...‖ She touched his cheek. ―She had problems conceiving? Are you worried that I might—‖ ―No.‖ He drew away from her hand. ―She wasn‘t the one with the problem. I was.‖ ―Oh…‖ ―Yes.‖ He turned his head and looked at her. ―So, if you marry me, there‘s a very high probability that you won‘t be able to have those kids you want to spoil rotten.‖ She saw the uncertainly, the fear in his gaze. She squeezed his arm. ―If it‘s a choice between you and a couple of kids that the good Lord might or might not bless me with, I‘d choose you every time.‖ ―That‘s what I hoped you‘d say.‖ ―But?‖ ―But that‘s not a decision you should make without prayerful consideration, Annalise.‖ ―I know I love you and your kids more than I thought possible. And I know I‘d rather live with you than with any other man. There‘s nothing to think about.‖

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―Are you sure? I mean we‘ll try, but...repeated failures take a tremendous toll on a marriage. As much as Maria and I loved each other...for awhile there I think she was considering leaving me.‖ She caressed his face. ―I love you enough not to need anything else added to our lives. If we have children together, I‘ll be eternally grateful. If we don‘t, I‘ll still be eternally grateful. Either way I can‘t lose if I have you and Ria and RP.‖ ―Are you sure? You‘re so—‖ ―I‘m very sure, Reed! I love you and I love Ria and RP. If we can‘t have any kids together, so be it. As long as I have you and them, everything else will fall into place. Besides, I fully intend to spoil Ria and RP rotten.‖ He closed his eyes and she knew he was praying. When he opened his eyes and looked at her, she saw there was still a shadow of doubt in his gaze. ―What now, you doubting Thomas?‖ ―There is the question of...you‘re so young. When you‘re forty, I‘ll be—‖ She pressed a finger against his lips. ―The Good Lord willing, you‘ll be the man I will have spent the last fifteen years very happily married to. Yes?‖ He pulled her into his arms and buried his face in her hair. ―I love you.‖ ―Yeah?‖ She pulled away and grinned at him. ―Enough to be blind to my faults?‖ Smiling, he leaned forward to kiss her. ―What faults?‖

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Her eyes filled with tears that quickly spilled down her cheeks. ―Oh, Reed, I have all too many faults. I…I need to tell you how I spent the year after I graduated from college.‖ ―I‘m prepared to listen, but I can tell you now that I don‘t care about your past. It‘s just that. Past, and I love you and want to marry you.‖ ―Oh, Reed…I haven‘t always been able to…maintain my faith.‖ ―Go on.‖ She took a deep breath and told him of living with Tom. ―So you see I have some pretty serious faults.‖ He caressed her cheeks. ―No one‘s prefect, honey. I wasn‘t exactly a choirboy before I got married. Your revelation doesn‘t change anything. I still want to marry you, Annalise.‖ ―Don‘t you want to ask me any questions about him and why it happened?‖ ―I assume you loved him.‖ ―I did, but he didn‘t love me. He just wanted…cheap thrills and I…accommodated him.‖ ―God is forgiving, Annalise, and all I care about is the here and now and our future together. I love you and I want to marry you.‖ Tears flowed down her cheeks. ―Hey! Hey. Tears?‖ He cupped her face in his hands.

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―They‘re happy tears. I never thought you‘d ever love me, Reed. You‘re so—‖ ―I‘m the man who worships the ground you walk on, Annalise. The man who plans to spend the rest of his days thanking the Lord for his generosity in sending you to me. To us.‖ She smiled at him through her tears. ―Let‘s thank Him now. Together.‖ He took her hands in his. Kneeling, they prayed in muted voices, their prayers intermingling. Hearing Reed sounding so humble as he thanked the Lord for her as if he considered her a blessing made her heart swell with love and gratitude. In her turn, she prayed that she could make him, Ria and RP happy. ―You will,‖ he said softly, when she fell silent. He lifted her to her feet. ―Now, before we talk about getting down to some serious wooing, I think maybe I‘d better ask that big brother of yours for your hand in marriage.‖ ―Yeah?‖ She laughed happily and wound her arms around his neck. ―Oh, Reed! We‘ll be happy together.‖ ―I‘m looking forward to sharing years of bliss with you, Annalise,‖ he told her, engulfing her in his arms. Annalise felt a sense of warmth and happiness surround them. She knew an inner peace and confidence she‘d never felt. With the Lord‘s help, the four of them would be happy. And who knew, the Lord being so abundant is loving kindness,

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there just might one day be an addition to their family. As the apostle Paul told the Corinthians, love hoped all things. It believed all things. It never failed.

The End

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You can find out more information about her and her work at the following places: Official Site: http://www.marilynlee.org/ Official Yahoo Loop: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/marilynlee Contact Marilyn @ [email protected] Meet Marilyn Lee

Plus you can visit her website to find out more about her and her coming soon books as well: http://www.marilynlee.org

To subscribe to Marilyn Lee‘s Love Bytes, [email protected]

After her bio you will see her books listed that she has out. Many of her books are both in ebook and print formats.

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Marilyn lives, works, and writes on the East Coast of The US. In additional to thoroughly enjoying writing erotic romances in various genres, she enjoys roller-skating, spending time with her large, extended family, and rooting for all her favorite hometown sports teams. Her other interests include collecting Doc Savage pulp novels from the thirties and forties and collecting Marvel comics from the seventies and eighties (particularly Thor and The Avengers.) Her favorite TV shows are forensic shows, westerns (Gun smoke and Have Gun, Will Travel are particular favorites), and mysteries (Charlie Chan movies in particular). Her all time favorite mystery movie is probably Dead, Again. She‘s seen nearly every vampire movie or television show ever made (Forever Knight and Count Yorga, Vampires are favorites. She thoroughly enjoys interacting with readers either through email or via her Yahoo web group.

Red Rose™ Publishing Summer Storm-ebook and print available Skin Deep-ebook and print available Night Heat- ebook available and coming soon to print Eye of the Beholder- ebook available and print available In Blood and Worth Loving- ebook available and coming soon to print Tempting Neal-ebook available A Thing Called Love- ebook available and coming soon to print One Sweet Night- ebook available and print available It Had to Be You Ellora’s s Cave Bloodlust series:

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Bloodlust 5-Midnight Shadows Conquering Mikhel Dumont Taming Serge Dumont Forbidden Desires Nocturnal Heat All In The Family The Talisman Teacher‘s Pet Night of Desires Trina‘s Afternoon Delight Branded Moonlight Desire Moonlight Whispers Road To Rapture The Fall of Troy Full Bodied Charmer Breathless In Black Playing With Fire White Christmas Pleasure Quest Quest III—Return to Volter Liquid Silver Books Yesterday Day‘s Secret Sins Changeling Press Moonlight Healing Soul Mates Moonlight Madness Books I & II Daughters of Takira Series: One Night in Vegas Kyla‘s Awakening Revelations Daughters of Takira—complete series Night Time Magic Loose id Falling For Sharde Nice Girls Do

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Dream Lover The Dare Fantasy Knights By Genre I/R themes or couples Teacher‘s Pet Moonlight Healing Night of Desire Soul Mates Summer Storm Bloodlust 5-Midnight Shadows Trina‘s Afternoon Delight Taming Serge Dumont Forbidden Desires Nocturnal Heat All In The Family The Talisman Moonlight Desire Moonlight Whispers Playing With Fire White Christmas Pleasure Quest Quest III—Return to Volter Primal Lusts Moonlight Madness Books I & II Revelations A Thing Called Love (also available in paperback) Falling For Sharde White Christmas Where You Find It (written as Mary Lynn) BBW heroines Teacher‘s Pet Trina‘s Afternoon Delight Nice Girls Do The Fall of Troy Full Bodied Charmer

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Playing With Fire Falling For Sharde Bloodlust—Nocturnal Heat Contemporary settings Teacher‘s Pet Night of Desire Soul Mates Trina‘s Afternoon Delight The Fall of Troy Full Bodied Charmer Playing With Fire Falling For Sharde White Christmas Romantic suspense themes Yesterday‘s Secret Sins A Thing Called Love Paranormal themes Moonlight Healing Soul Mates Fantasy Knights Bloodlust 5-Midnight Shadows Conquering Mikhel Dumont Taming Serge Dumont Forbidden Desires Nocturnal Heat All In The Family The Talisman Moonlight Desire Moonlight Whispers Road To Rapture Pleasure Quest Quest III—Return to Volter Branded Primal Lusts Moonlight Madness Books I & II

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Daughters of Takira Series: One Night in Vegas Kyla‘s Awakening Revelations Daughters of Takira—complete series

Marilyn Lee‘s Books Night of Sin

Bloodlust series: Conquering Mikhel Dumont The Talisman Taming Serge Dumont Forbidden Desires Nocturnal Heat Bloodlust 5-Midnight Shadows All In The Family Night of Desires Love Out Loud Teacher's Pet Trina's Afternoon Delight Branded Moonlight Desire Moonlight Whispers Road To Rapture Reilly‘s Woman The Fall of Troy Full Bodied Charmer Breathless In Black Playing With Fire White Christmas

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Pleasure Quest Quest III—Return to Volter Yesterday Day‘s Secret Sins Moonlight Madness Books I & II Moonlight Healing Soul Mates Daughters of Takira Fantasy Knights The Dare Dream Lover Falling For Sharde Nice Girls Do Night Heat Summer Storm Skin Deep Paperbacks: Nights of Desire Love Out Loud Bloodlust Series: Destiny‘s Slaves The Taming of Serge Dumont Moonlight Fervor Moonlight Madness A Thing Called Love Falling for Sharde Full Bodied Charmer White Hot Holidays Vol 3 Where You Find It Summer Storm Skin Deep Eye of The Beholder Coming Soon Night Heat-coming soon to print In Blood and Worth Loving-coming soon to print Fantasy Knights II—Endless Love Song of Desire

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