Elizabeth looked up, begging to be convinced. "How do you know?"
"Easy. He stank to high heaven with jealousy of Cavanaugh. It was obvious to me and I don't even know the guy. Look," she said, standing up, "I'm gonna run upstairs and check on the kids. You sit here and think about what you really want to do with the rest of your life. Cavanaugh's proposal sounds like a dream come true, a real fantasy. On the other hand, Mr Randolph is pretty fantastic himself. And he's closer to home."
Elizabeth sat alone at her kitchen table and asked herself what she wanted. If she could have her choice of anything at that very minute, what would it be?
The answer was unqualified. She wanted Thad. She'd been more embarrassed than angry to discover he'd read her fantasy. She could admit that now. And she really hadn't suspected him of combing through her garbage can looking for discarded pages of manuscript. He was too straightforward to do something like that. Sure, he'd read that one fantasy on the sly, but as he'd pointed out, it was easy for him to do. After spotting several key words, no one could have resisted the temptation.
Yes, he had turned his knowledge to his advantage, but was that so bad? Lilah didn't think so. She thought he was a treasure for having put it to good use.
Come to think of it, how many men would care enough about a woman to cater to her fantasies? Men that sensitive were rare, while those who held a degree in slam-bam-thank-you-ma'am were legion. He'd held back, patiently waiting for her to climax before letting himself. And hadn't he actually enjoyed the wait? She should have thanked him for being such a considerate lover. Instead she had slapped his face.
On her way upstairs, she met Lilah and the children trooping down. "We're ready, but you're headed in the wrong direction."
Breathlessly Elizabeth said, "Lilah, would you mind too terribly much if I skipped dinner with you tonight?"
"Aw, Mom."
"We want to go with Aunt Lilah. She asked us to — "
"You can go," Elizabeth hastily reassured her children. "If Aunt Lilah doesn't mind taking you by herself."
"Not if it's for a very good cause." Analytically, Lilah peered into her sister's eyes. They were several watts brighter than they'd been fifteen minutes earlier.
"It is."
Lilah grinned. "No, I don't mind taking them out alone. Come on, kids." They raced past her and out the front door, afraid that plans might be changed again.
"Lilah, I don't think I'll be writing any more fantasies, so please don't ask me to."
"Why not?"
"They're self-indulgent and self-centered. It's time I stopped dreaming about someone making love to me, and… and made love to someone. There's a big difference, you know."
"No, I don't. But I know you believe that."
"Someday, you'll know it too."
Lilah looked doubtful, then smiled softly. "Be happy with him, Lizzie. You deserve it." She lifted up the overnight bags she was holding. "I'm an optimist. I invited the kids to spend the night with me and they're already packed." Then, laughing all the way, she followed the children out.
Elizabeth waited until the front door clicked shut, then ran for the bathroom and reached for the taps in the tub. While it was filling with water and making a mountain of bubbles out of the scented gel she'd squeezed into it, she opened her closet and gave the contents careful consideration.
Twenty minutes later, she was ready. On her way through the kitchen, she took Lilah's bottle of champagne out of the fridge and left by the back door.
He was watching television on his enclosed porch. She knocked and saw his expression of glad surprise. He carefully masked that momentary reaction and, with an annoying lack of speed, came ambling toward the door. Unlike that other time, he rudely left the television volume up. He pushed open the door, but said nothing.
"May I come in?" she asked. He stepped aside. The porch was warm. The air smelled like him, like the wool sweater he was wearing over his jeans, like his cologne. Facing him, she moistened her lips.
"I'm sorry I slapped you. I was tremendously provoked or I never could have done such a thing." She paused to draw a tremulous breath. Unlike her sister, she wasn't impulsive. Didn't know how to be. What if this didn't work?
"I… I've thought about it for several days now and have realized that my accusations were ridiculous. I know you didn't sift through my garbage or anything like — "
"Elizabeth, what are you doing here?" he interrupted coldly. "Have you had a change of heart? Do you want me to fulfill another of your fantasies?"
She deserved that, she supposed. So she let him get by with it. This time. Instead of taking umbrage, she lifted her eyes to his. Her smile was as seductive as her whisper.
"No, I want to fulfill yours."
Chapter 10
"And I always thought you were such a nice girl."
Elizabeth suspended nibbling on his bicep long enough to give him a feline smile. "I proved you wrong, didn't I?"
Replete, Thad sighed. "And then some."
She laid her head on his shoulder. "Actually, it took every ounce of courage I could muster to cross our backyards wearing nothing but high heels and a trenchcoat and my pride on my sleeve. I think I've been saving all my bravery from the day I was born for today."
Laughter rumbled out of his bare chest, which she was idly caressing wit her fingertips. "I felt like I'd been hit by a two-by-four when you untied the belt of your coat."
"To say you were stupefied would be putting it mildly."
He turned his head and gazed down at her. "I wasn't sure you were real."
"I am."
He rolled over and pinned her beneath him. "How well I know. Now." He kissed her thoroughly, and it was gratifying to learn that they weren't nearly as spent as they had thought they were. Already his manhood was firm with reawakened desire and the purring sound she made in her throat was most encouraging.
"My heart almost stopped when you reached for my fly and unzipped it," he whispered hoarsely. "And where did you learn that trick with the champagne?"
"I made it up."
"You certainly did," he snarled.
She laughed at his double entendre. "I told you I wanted to indulge your fantasies."
"You exceeded them." He cupped her breasts in his hands and kissed them in turn. "You looked so pretty in the teddy."
"Then why didn't you let me wear it longer?"
"Because the best part was watching you take it off."
"Watching us take it off."
"You looked like you could use some help with those straps." He nuzzled her neck.
Groaning, she dodged his ardent kiss, knowing that before they made love again, there were things that must be said. "Thad?"
"Hmm?"
"You are going to marry me, aren't you?"
He raised his head and looked down into her worried face. "I'm not sure. How good a cook are you?" She pinched his buttocks and he yelped. "Ouch! Okay, okay, I'll marry you." Then he laughed and hugged her tight. "Damn right I'm going to marry you. Knowing how your imagination works, do you think I'd let you run loose among the male population? Especially with FANTA C on the back of your car."
"I could never have done what I did this evening, I wouldn't be here at all, if I wasn't desperately in love with you." The seriousness with which she spoke sobered him.
"Know what?" He stroked her cheek tenderly. "If you hadn't taken the initiative, I would have. I'd have buried my anger, swallowed my pride, and come to get you. I wanted you that badly. And not just in my bed. Though you look damn good in it." His eyes ranged down her smooth nakedness, which was a perfect complement to his. "I need you in my life, Elizabeth."
"Matt and Megan?"