Paige and Audrey made their way outside. Settling into the wicker chairs on the porch, they enjoyed the light spring breeze and the sound of children’s laughter floating in the air. It was a wonderful sound, Paige thought. So innocent. So trusting. So guileless. It struck a maternal chord in her she found difficult to ignore.
Josh had taken his sports jacket off, along with his shoulder holster and gun-which she assumed he’d put away somewhere safe in the house so the girls wouldn’t find the weapon. Gone was the stubborn detective who’d been her bodyguard for the past three weeks, and in his place was a physically fit, gorgeous man who looked carefree and unencumbered by the events of recent weeks.
With a wistful pang near the vicinity of her heart, she watched Josh play ball with his middle niece, Holly, encouraging her when she missed a catch and lavishing praise when she managed to land the ball. In between, he chased after Beth, the youngest, and tossed her into the air until she was breathless with delight. He even managed to tease his oldest niece, Amanda, and tug gently on her pigtails as she fed Desirée, one of the mares in the nearby corral. He clearly adored his nieces, and the feeling appeared mutual. And there was no shortage of attention from Joel, either, who mercilessly tormented the girls with tickling. Both men were totally at ease with children, which brought to Paige’s mind how impatient Anthony had been with little ones, how unwilling to interact with them. At the time, she’d written off his remoteness to lack of experience with toddlers, but now understood that children hadn’t been a part of Anthony’s plan.
Josh, however, was a natural-born nurturer. Loving. Kind. Patient. He exhibited those qualities with his nieces, and he’d displayed them with her, too. Josh was everything Anthony hadn’t been-a tender, giving lover, a faithful friend, and someone with the potential to be a caring, loving father.
Her throat closed up, and she blamed the rush of emotion on the hormonal imbalance that seemed to have had her in its grip for the past week. She’d been on an emotional roller coaster and wasn’t surprised that something as simple as witnessing Josh’s ease with children would reduce her to a melancholic state.
In the distance she heard a telephone ring. A minute later, Anna opened the screen door and poked her head out
“Audrey, that was Vince on the phone,” she said as she dried her hands on a terry towel. “He wanted to let you know he’d be a few hours late. He just arrested a drunk driver and has to get him booked and a report written.”
“Thanks, Anna.” Audrey cast the other woman an easy smile, her hand resting on her distended belly. “If he doesn’t make it for dinner, I’ll take some leftovers home for him.”
It amazed Paige that Audrey could sound so matterof-fact about Vince’s last-minute cancellation. Anthony had done the same thing, backing out of dates or engagements without warning due to work, or just plain not showing up for dinner when she’d been expecting him, but she’d never grown used to his erratic schedule.
How did Anna and Audrey make dealing with their husbands’ profession look so easy and uncomplicated?
Unable to help herself, she spoke her thoughts out loud. “Don’t you ever worry about what Vince does for a living?”
Audrey tilted her head and regarded her speculatively through kind, blue eyes. “That’s an odd question coming from someone who was married to a vice cop.” Her tone was wry.
She shrugged lightly. “That’s probably why I’m more sensitive about it.” She’d worried plenty about Anthony’s safety, spent too many sleepless nights wondering where he was and if he was okay. And when he didn’t come home at the end of his shift, or call, the concern increased to the point of anxiety.
“I used to worry, all the time,” Audrey admitted. “But that kind of stress doesn’t do me, or the girls, any good.” Her gaze touched on the three imps playing a game of freeze tag with Josh and Joel, then traveled back to Paige. Her eyes reflected a deep, abiding love for her family. “I’ve accepted what Vince does for a living, because I know he loves his job. I would never ask him to choose between me and his career. We’ve got a strong marriage, and when he’s home, he gives me and the girls one hundred percent. That’s more than most husbands give their wives and family.”
It had been more than Anthony had given her.
“Respect, trust and an open line of communication,” Audrey continued wisely. “That’s the foundation of any successful marriage. If you have those elements, you can handle any other obstacles that might get thrown into the mix.”
Paige desperately wanted to believe the other woman’s advice, but her own personal experience had left a bitter taste in her mouth, had hollowed out the depths of her souL
Her gaze automatically sought out Josh, and he glanced toward the house and waved, a roguish grin canting his mouth. She waved back, unable to stop the wild beating of her heart or the liquid heat that quickened her blood. He had that kind of effect on her senses.
She respected Josh. She trusted him with her life. They communicated on a level she and Anthony hadn’t come close to reaching. But after the harsh lessons she’d learned during her marriage to Anthony, Paige realized a greater concern.
She feared she’d be the one who couldn’t give Josh the one hundred percent their relationship deserved.
9
UNABLE TO SLEEP, despite how relaxed her body and mind were, Paige scoured the bookshelf in the guest bedroom for something to read. She was still basking in the warmth, teasing and family harmony that had carried through the evening. There was so much love evident in this household, and none of the Marchianos minded sharing that affection with her. With Anthony, she’d felt so alone for so long, craving the kind of kinship no phone call home could ease. At least for the weekend, she felt she belonged to this crazy, loving, wonderful family. And soon she’d be back in Connecticut with her own parents and siblings.
Skimming past the true-crime paperbacks to the next row down, Paige selected a short romance novel with a light premise, propped her pillows against the headboard of her bed and settled in for a few hours’ escape.
Minutes later, a quiet knock sounded at the door. Before she could issue an invitation, Josh slipped inside her room, closing the door soundlessly behind him. He’d changed from his casual attire of that afternoon into a pair of soft cotton pajama shorts and nothing else. His chest was gloriously bare, his body firmly muscled. Considering he slept beside her in his briefs on a nightly basis, she would have thought she’d have grown immune to the sight of his toned body. But it never failed to elicit a delicious heat and excitement, and forbidden thoughts that had no business being in her head.
Holding a plate with a slice of German chocolate cake on it, he moved toward the bed. “Hi,” he murmured, an irresistible grin curving across his mouth.
The warm, sexy rumble of his voice made her increasingly aware of the skimpy chemise she’d grabbed from the boutique to wear. At the time, she hadn’t given much thought to night visitors or bringing along a robe to cover up. The silky material, held up by thin straps, covered her adequately from breast to thigh, yet the snug bodice displayed enough cleavage to draw Josh’s eye and make her self-conscious.
“Hi, yourself.” Setting the book aside, she tugged her covers a little higher. “Are you sure you should be in here?”
He hesitated at the opposite side of the bed. “Don’t you want me here?”
“Of course I want you here,” she replied, her response honest. “I always enjoy talking to you. But isn’t everyone in bed for the night?”