AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He wanted to let out a caveman roar.
A quarter of an hour later, they were finishing dressing when Cynthia said, “I forgot to ask how your patient is doing. Obviously there were more problems than you anticipated.”
“She’ll be fine but she’ll have a long recovery period. It was an ugly accident.”
“I’m glad to hear you could help her. You have a real gift.” She grinned. “For more than one thing.”
She had one as well. Making him feel like the most special person on the planet. That was something he had missed in his life. Would he ever be able to let her go?
CHAPTER EIGHT
CYNTHIA WAS A little worried about arriving home to find Mark waiting. She wasn’t prepared for his interrogation right now. As Sean pulled into the drive she was relieved her brother’s car was gone. Thank goodness he had to work. She wasn’t in the habit of answering to her brothers; usually it was her asking the questions.
Sean reached across the seat and took her hand. She still tingled at his touch, which was amazing since their morning had been so personal. He affected her like no one else. She wanted to throw her hands up in the air and spin around. It was as if she were young again and had dropped all the responsibilities and worries she carried when she was with him. She liked herself. Believed anything was possible.
Sean’s smile was sad. “I’d really like to see you tonight but I’ve got to work on the grant.”
She shifted in the seat to face him. “Is it something I can help with?”
“I can always use your help.”
“Why don’t I fix dinner and you come here? We’ll tackle it together.” She didn’t want to miss a minute of time she could spend with him.
“So I don’t feel guilty about making you work every night, why don’t you let me get takeout?” he asked, perking up.
“Darn, I forgot. I promised a friend I’d help at the community center tonight. We are feeding the disabled veterans and playing bingo.” She never forgot things like that. What was happening to her? Sean was taking over her life. And she liked it.
“Then we’ll try for tomorrow night.” There was a hopeful note in his voice.
“I’m sorry but Rick has a makeup game.” She hated letting Sean down. Hated more not getting to see him. “You could always come.”
“I may need to work on the grant. Let me see how much I get done tonight and I’ll let you know.”
“I should be helping you.” Her guilt level was rising.
“You’ve already done a lot. You can’t be everywhere for everybody.”
But she wanted to be there for him.
His hand came to rest around her neck, bringing her close. “You know I’d like to have you to myself again.”
Warmth radiated out from her heart. She smiled. “I wouldn’t mind that at all.”
His slow kiss made her toes curl. “How about we try for day after tomorrow? Just us.”
“Sounds perfect to me.” She was already looking forward to it. “See you then.” Minutes later she stood on the porch watching until he drove out of sight. The hours wouldn’t pass fast enough until they were together again. She entered the house as if walking on a cloud.
The rest of the day went by while she completed her transcription jobs. There were none from Sean, but she now had the real thing instead of just a voice in her ears. Actual kisses, touches, looks and his body over hers as his fingers worked magic. There was also the laughing. Sean with his quick wit, smiles, and patience. The flesh-and-blood Sean who went with that beautiful voice was so much better than the one she’d imagined.
Would the clock change time soon enough? She was trying to concentrate on work, but her thoughts kept coming back to her fear that her hopes had risen too high about their relationship. Or if they could make one work. She still knew so precious little of what Sean wanted out of life outside of financial security. Was their fledging affection strong enough to last? Did he want it to? Did she?
Just before she was going to stop work for the day she checked her emails. With a quiver of excitement in her core she saw there was one from Sean.
Hey Cyn,
I just wanted to say I’ve been thinking about you. You are amazing.
Looking forward to seeing you again soon.
Sean
If she wasn’t crazy about him before, she was now. Cynthia reread the note until she had to force herself to get to work.
Finally it was time to get ready to go to the center. At least she would be busy and not have as much time to think about Sean. No grown woman should act as moonstruck over a man, but she couldn’t help it. She couldn’t get enough of Sean or keep her anticipation at bay.
Humming a tune, she took an unhurried shower. Memories of their time earlier that morning had her hotter than the water temperature. Every day should start off as wonderful.
She had never considered herself a very liberated person in the bedroom, but with Sean her inhibitions faded away. After a long time of holding back, she’d let go and been herself. Not the woman responsible for her brothers, the house, a job and all the minute details of life. Instead she was Sean Donavon’s lover. Being unrestrained was freeing. Liberating. Fun.
An hour later, dressed in a simple light blue blouse and jeans, Cynthia entered the one-story cement block building. As she made her way across the tile floor toward the kitchen, she spoke and joked with several of the men and women already seated at tables. Though her exchanges were upbeat some of the enjoyment had been taken out of the evening. She missed Sean.
Reaching the kitchen, she checked in with her friend, Rose, who was in charge for the night. “What do you want me to do?”
“I’d like you to run the bingo game. The veterans seem to appreciate the special flair you add when you call the numbers.”
Cynthia hmphed and picked up the box containing the bingo cards. “I’m sure my occasional use of uno, dos, or eins, zwei is very entertaining.”
“Maybe not to you, but to them it seems to be,” Rose retorted before turning back to the food she was placing in large serving pans.
Forty-five minutes later the meal had been served and Cynthia was standing in front of the room calling out numbers. She was preparing to announ
ce another one when she looked up to see Sean’s smiling face. Her heart skipped. Unable to do little more than stare at him when she really wanted to fling herself into his arms, she managed to get the next number out.
He grinned as he took a seat next to an old, grizzled-looking veteran named Mr. Vick sitting at the back table. One of the veterans had to prompt her to call another number because she couldn’t get over Sean being there. He looked incredible dressed in his knit shirt and navy trousers, appearing every bit the well-to-do urban male. It should be against the law to look as fabulous as he did. Was he as glad to see her as she was to see him?
Calling numbers as quickly as she could to end the game, she declared a break before the next game and hurried to where Sean sat. He stood as she approached, a hand already out waiting on hers to slip into it. His fingers curled tightly around hers. Breathlessly she demanded, “What’re you doing here? You’re supposed to be working.”
He beamed down at her. “I was. Really hard. But I thought a little bingo might help me unwind.”
She gave him a narrow-eyed look. “You came all this way for bingo?”
“That—” he gave her a quick kiss “—and that.” He said softly, “I missed you.”
“Hey, buddy, are you hitting on Cynthia?” Mr. Vick asked with a wheeze and a cough.
She and Sean looked at him. “Sean, I’d like you to meet Mr. Vick.”
To his credit Sean offered his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Mr. Vick nodded and took it.
“I have to go back to the game. Can you stay until I’m done?” She looked at Sean. “You are welcome to play.”
“That’s okay. I’ll just sit here and watch,” Sean said when she pointed to an unused card on the table.
“Come on, don’t be a stick in the mud. You might just have some fun,” she quipped with a grin.
“I’m no stick in the mud!” He took the card offered, but looked at it as if he had no idea what to do with it.
“Have you ever played bingo before?” She managed not to laugh.
