Now that he thought about it, he had mentioned roast chicken to Hallie. He remembered their conversation—how his grandmother used to roast a chicken for the family every Sunday, after church. They’d been memorable, those chicken dinners. In all the years he’d been married to Mary Lynn she’d never attempted it. He loved Hallie’s willingness to please him.
He slapped some cologne on his face, dressed, grabbed a bottle of white wine from the fridge and hurried back to her house. He entered without knocking.
Hallie stood by the table, smiling when he walked inside. She glowed with happiness, and he felt it as keenly as he did the warmth of the sun.
“Welcome back,” she said, sounding almost shy. Damn, but she looked good. She wore a scoop-necked full-length summer dress and sandals. Her dark curly hair was pinned back from her face with two daisy pins.
It was plain to see she’d gone to a lot of trouble with this dinner. A floral centerpiece sat in the middle of the table; there were crystal wineglasses and linen napkins. It was a nice feeling, knowing she’d done all this for him.
Steve frowned, however, when he looked into the kitchen. The chaos was daunting. Judging by the stack of pots and pans, she’d used every cooking dish she owned.
“There’s dessert, too,” she promised in a low sexy voice that made his blood percolate in his veins.
“I have a feeling it isn’t apple pie.”
“Time will tell, won’t it?” she teased.
As he opened the wine, he noticed a trail of rose petals leading out of the dining room and down the hallway. “What’s that?” he asked, pointing.
“Dessert,” she answered, smiling coyly.
He followed the fragrant dried flowers as far as her bedroom. Pausing in the doorway, he saw that the top of her bed was covered with a whole slew of petals. Smack-dab in the middle was the sexiest cream-colored silk nightgown he’d ever laid eyes on.
“Do you actually think you’re going to have time to put that on?”
“No, but I wanted you to at least see it.”
He brought her into his arms and debated making love to her right then. But considering the effort involved in preparing this dinner, he didn’t want anything to spoil it. “You aren’t going to need that gown or anything else, Hallie,” he whispered before he kissed her. “I want you so damn much now that I’m about to bust out of these jeans.”
“You might not be one of the most romantic men I’ve ever met, but you sure know how to get a girl’s heart pounding.”
He left the bedroom reluctantly, glancing over his shoulder more than once as he walked down the hallway. Hoping to speed matters along, he tried to help her get dinner on the table, but she wouldn’t let him. She took a green salad out of the refrigerator, tossing it with oil and vinegar, then removed the chicken and baked potatoes from the oven. The scent of rosemary and sage bread dressing drifted through the house.
He replaced the handful of cookies he’d stolen from the cookie jar.
“Weren’t you the one who told me the old saying’s true—that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach?” she asked.
“You already have my heart, Hallie.” Surely she knew that.
She held out her hand, inviting him to her table. “Come and sit down.”
As if in a trance, he walked over to where she stood. He poured the wine and remembered to pull out her chair before he seated himself. Hallie served him, complimented him on his choice of wine and then spread the napkin across her lap.
She waited for him to take the first bite, watching him carefully. It seemed to Steve that she was holding her breath. He saw her teeth worry her lower lip. As far as he was concerned, the food could taste like monkey vomit and he wouldn’t care.
It didn’t. The chicken was every bit as good as those his grandmother used to make. For effect, he closed his eyes and kissed his fingertips. “Perfect,” he said. “The best I’ve ever tasted.”
“You’re sure? It isn’t too crisp?”
“No. Taste for yourself.”
She did, sampling a tiny cautious bite. Her eyes met his. “It is good,” she said, sounding bewildered. “It’s really good.”
Steve took another bite and then another.
“You’ll notice this tastes nothing like the chicken from those fast-food places,” she said. “I did everything myself, including the stuffing. I had to phone my mother three times for help, but I managed.”
“I’m proud of you.” And he was.
He ate two huge servings, then helped her clear the table. Try as he might, he couldn’t keep his hands off her while she attempted to pour them each a cup of coffee. She stood with her back to him, facing the kitchen counter.
He moved directly behind her, his hands cupping her breasts while he nuzzled her neck. She smelled faintly of roses and a variety of herbs and spices. The mixture wasn’t one he’d find at a perfume counter, but it had an immediate effect on him. He rubbed against her, leaving her in no doubt about his state of arousal.
“Steve!”
“I can’t help myself. I’m crazy about you.”
“Crazy to go to bed with me, you mean.”
He couldn’t see any need to deny it. “Guilty. Are you sure we need this coffee?”
She hesitated. “It’s a special blend…” She hesitated, then turned around to face him. “No, I don’t need this coffee. All I need is you.”
A frenzy of deep kisses followed, mingled with moans, whimpers and a sense of breathless wonder. Steve was about to lift her into his arms and carry her into the bedroom when the phone rang.
They stopped and stared at each other.
“Don’t answer it,” he said.
“It’s my mother,” Hallie whispered, pressing her forehead against his shoulder. “She wants to know how the chicken turned out. If I don’t answer it now, she’ll phone back later. Like in ten minutes.”
Steve wasn’t sure how he knew that phone call meant trouble, but he did. The instant she reached for the telephone, he had to bite back the urge to beg her—again—to let it ring.
“Hello.” Hallie’s eyes zeroed in on his. “It’s Meagan,” she said, handing him the phone. “She needs to talk to you right away.”
Steve took the receiver. “Meagan, is something wrong?”
“I’m sorry to bother you, Dad, but there wasn’t any answer at your place, and I thought Hallie might know where you were.”
“It’s all right, honey, just tell me what’s wrong.” He turned away so he wouldn’t have to face Hallie.
“It’s Mom.”
Steve heard the worry and fear in his daughter’s voice. “What’s the matter with her?”
“I don’t know, she won’t tell me, but she can’t seem to stop crying. I don’t know what to do anymore—she said she won’t talk to anyone but you.”
Steve swallowed a groan.
“Dad, what should I do?”
“Nothing, honey. I’ll be right over.”
Thirty
Mr. Nice Guy
“What do you mean you’re leaving?” Hallie couldn’t believe her ears. For the second time in as many days, Steve was walking out on her. Her chest tightened with a growing sense of frustration and anger.
“Hallie, it isn’t like I want to go.” It helped to hear the regret in his voice. But not enough.
“Why? What is it this time?” Although she’d heard his half of the conversation, it hadn’t told her much. Hallie guessed this supposed crisis had something to do with his ex-wife. Steve had made his feelings for her no secret, and it seemed he’d be forever at the woman’s beck and call.
“There’s trouble at Mary Lynn’s,” he explained.
“With one of the kids?”
He hesitated, and in that instant she knew. Whatever the problem, it did indeed involve Mary Lynn. Her knees felt as if they were about to buckle, and she lowered herself onto a kitchen chair. “It’s Mary Lynn, isn’t it?”
He paused and with reluctance answered, “
Yes.”
At least she should be grateful he hadn’t lied. “I see.”
“Hallie, trust me, walking out on you now is the last thing I want.”
“Then don’t go.” Her voice was high-pitched and mildly hysterical.
“I have to. Meagan sounded near panic. It isn’t like this is a common occurrence. In fact, it’s never happened before.” He knelt in front of her and gripped her hands tightly in his. “I’ll be back, I promise, and then we can talk. Just remember it’s you I love.”
Hallie desperately wanted to believe him, but she’d been a fool before and was determined not to repeat the same mistakes. “I don’t want to argue about this. If… you feel it’s necessary to go, then you should.”
His relief was evident.
Steve started to get up, started to walk away, but before he left she had to ask him one last thing. Hastily she got to her feet. “Steve.”
He turned to look at her.
It wasn’t the time to ask him this. Wasn’t even fair, but right now, that didn’t matter to her. She’d seen his expression when she’d brought up the subject earlier. Viewed the stricken look in his eyes and laughed it off. She wasn’t laughing now. She had to know where they stood before he went to Mary Lynn. “Are you going to ask me to marry you?” she said.
He couldn’t disguise the dread in his eyes. “Do we have to discuss this now?”
How odd that she’d smile just then. Perhaps it was because she’d guessed his response long before he spoke. His eagerness to delay the discussion was an answer in itself. “No,” she said, putting on a brave front, “we can talk about that later—that and everything else.”
“I’ll be back before you know I’m gone.”
That wasn’t possible. She felt his absence immediately, felt it like a knife in her gut. Caught on a gust of wind, the door closed hard. Hallie sat down again after he’d left and shut her eyes. Breathing in deeply, she was surprised to discover she was trembling.
Steve was furious by the time he arrived at Mary Lynn’s. He had to hand it to his ex-wife; her timing was incredible. The very last thing he’d wanted to do was walk out on Hallie just then. She’d gone to so much trouble, cooking dinner, preparing a homecoming for him. She’d been trying to prove how much she loved him, and his response had been to walk out on her.
He slammed the car door and marched up the front walk, taking the steps two at a time. He almost walked in without ringing the doorbell—something he was prone to forget since he’d once lived in this house.
As soon as Meagan opened the door, she hugged him tight, obviously relieved to have him there. “I’m so glad you came, Daddy… I didn’t know what to do.”
“It’s all right, sweetheart. It wasn’t any problem.” So, he lied. He had the feeling Hallie wasn’t going to forget and forgive as easily this time, and he didn’t blame her. He’d deal with whatever was bothering Mary Lynn and be on his way, hoping he could make amends to Hallie. “Where’s your mother?” he asked Meagan.
“In the bedroom.” She pointed toward it as if he needed directions. He didn’t.
“Where’s Kip?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him since this morning. I… I don’t think they’re getting along.”
“What about Kenny?”
“Asleep. He went to bed soon after you dropped him off.”
Bed was exactly where Steve longed to be, and he didn’t plan on cuddling up with a stuffed animal, either. He ran his hand through his hair and exhaled sharply. He was tired, impatient and in no condition to deal with one of Mary Lynn’s moods.
He walked through the kitchen on the way to the master bedroom. Meagan had apparently made a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich for dinner; the peanut butter was still out and so was the jelly, along with an open loaf of bread.
“I didn’t do that,” she said, her gaze following his. “Kenny did.”
“Have you had dinner?”
“Not yet,” she said with a shrug. “I’m too worried about Mom.”
“Hey, sweetie, I’m sure everything will work out. You eat something now and I’ll go talk to your mom.” He left Meagan rummaging in the refrigerator and hurried to the bedroom. He knocked once, then entered.
Mary Lynn was lying facedown on the bed, sobbing steadily. She raised her head to see who it was. When she saw him, she cried out, flung herself from the bed and ran into his arms.
“I’m so glad you came,” she wailed. “Oh, Steve, I don’t know what to do.” In all the years he’d been married to Mary Lynn he’d never seen her this distraught. Meagan was right to be concerned.
He wrapped his arms around her and they both sat on the edge of the bed. “What’s wrong?”
Her crying subsided to soft sniffles. “I… I’m such a fool. Oh, Steve, how could I have been so incredibly stupid?”
“You’re not stupid,” he assured her, gently rubbing her back. “Now tell me what’s upsetting you so much.”
“It’s Kip—he lied to me.”
Steve forced himself to relax. He was concerned about his children, and the effect Kip’s lie, whatever it was, might have on them.
“I learned he’s been married twice before—he didn’t tell me about his second wife. I found out by accident. I… I opened some mail. From his ex—his second ex. He has a little girl by that marriage. She’s barely two years old.”
Steve continued patting her back. Okay, Kip had been married one time more than Mary Lynn realized, but she made it sound like the end of the world. “I’m sure this is a shock, but—”
“That’s not all,” she cut him off. “There’s something else…”
Steve’s shirt was damp with her tears. She lifted her eyes to his and bit her lower lip, as if to gauge how much she should say. “You can tell me anything, Mary Lynn, you know that.”
“I… I’m afraid I might be in trouble with the law.”
“The law?”
“I married a man… who’s already married.”
It took a moment for the meaning of her words to sink in. “You mean to say Kip never divorced his second wife?”
“No, he didn’t I talked to her myself, and she told me. I didn’t want to believe her, and when I asked Kip he was so convincing. He said she was a shrew and a bitch who’d say or do anything she could to ruin our happiness.”
“Maybe she is lying.”
Mary Lynn shook her head violently. “I asked Kip if I could see his divorce decree and he couldn’t find it, and then… then I had a friend—you remember Kelly, don’t you?—check at the courthouse for me. There’s nothing there. Nothing.” Her shoulders shook with the force of her tears.
“Did you ask Kip about that?”
“Yes. He… he was furious I’d gone behind his back and had Kelly check the court records. He tried to tell me he’d gotten a divorce in Vegas. I said if that was true, he should be able to produce the documents and… he couldn’t.”
“Oh, Mary Lynn, I’m sorry.”
“We had a terrible argument and he walked out. I don’t think he’ll be back—I’m not even sure I want him back. Oh, Steve, how am I ever going to face my friends? What will I tell my family? I feel like such a fool.”
“When did you find all this out?”
“I talked to Kelly Friday afternoon, but Kip was away at a sales conference and I hadn’t had a chance to hear his side of it. It’s been eating away at me all weekend… you can’t know how dreadful this week has been. He… he hadn’t mentioned the second marriage, but I assumed he was divorced until Linda told me otherwise. Then Kip arrived and we had this terrible fight—and then he… he drove off in a huff.”
“He’ll be back,” Steve said, looking toward the closet—formerly his closet—filled with Kip’s clothes.
His ex-wife gazed up at him with wide appealing eyes. “You’d never have done anything like this to me. You were always a good husband.”
If that was the case, he wondered why she’d been so quick to divorce him. He contin
ued to hold her because that was what she seemed to need. Really, there was nothing else he could do. Nothing he could say.
Kneeling on the bed, Mary Lynn placed her arms around his neck and pressed her head to his shoulder. “Hold me, Steve, please, for just a little longer.”
His ex-wife had never been a clinging violet. “Everything will work out,” he reassured her, repeating the words he’d said to Meagan. “Kip will be back and you two can sort all this out. You loved him enough to marry him, didn’t you?”
“I… I’ve been so foolish.”
He wanted to agree with her, but resisted the impulse.
Mary Lynn lay back down, and the pressure of her arms still circling his neck pulled him down with her. “Make love to me, Steve. I need you.”
He groaned. Not with desire, but with anger and frustration. She could have had him anytime, anyplace, a few months earlier. Instead, she’d left him high and dry and turned her loving attention to Kip. Now she was back. He’d gone through several of the longest and most sexually frustrating months of his life, and in the space of a single day he had two women wanting him. If it wasn’t so ironic, he might have laughed.
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” he said gently, trying not to distress her any more than she already was.
Mary Lynn raised her head from the pillow and kissed him, using every bit of knowledge, every advantage, that their years of marriage had taught her.
Steve broke off the kiss.
“No, Mary Lynn,” he said sternly. “It isn’t going to work for us any longer. You’re feeling low and miserable. You don’t really want me.”
“I do, Steve. I want you so much.” She squirmed and bucked beneath him, grinding her pelvis against his. “Don’t reject me now. Please. Not when I feel like the whole world’s caved in on me.”
It wasn’t him she wanted, Steve recognized, but the security his love had always offered her.
“Come on, Mary Lynn, you’re involved with someone else.” He nearly made the mistake of saying she was married to someone else when in all likelihood, she wasn’t.