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“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude.” She settled in her chair again.
“It’s okay.”
Phoebe watched as Ryan finished his meal. As soon as he had she started removing their plates and glasses.
“I need to put a cover over a few things before we leave.” Ryan went down the stairs.
Ten minutes later she called through the door to the basement, “I’m ready to go when you are.”
“I’ll be right up.”
Coming from Ryan, she could depend on it happening.
CHAPTER SIX
JUST UNDER AN hour later Ryan joined Phoebe on the sidewalk in front of her house.
“Thanks for the ride home.”
“When are you planning to come to my house and work on the cabinet? This weekend? I’ll have it ready for you by then.”
“I hadn’t thought about that. I guess I need to get busy. I’ll bring my paints and be there early on Saturday morning.”
“I can come get you—”
“No, I’ll take the tram.” She started up the walk.
“I don’t mind.”
She looked at him. “Ryan, please.”
“Okay, okay. Have it your way. Come on, you’re tired.” He took her elbow and they started toward the door.
Phoebe stopped walking.
Ryan jerked to a stop. “What—?”
She kicked off her shoes and picked them up by two fingers. “My feet are killing me.”
They continued to the door. Phoebe unlocked it, pushing it open.
“If you soak and massage your feet it would help,” Ryan said behind her.
“I don’t do feet.” She dropped her shoes inside the door.
Ryan followed her in and closed the door behind him. “That’s all right, because I do. You get a bath and come back here. Bring a bottle of your favorite lotion with you. I’ll be waiting.”
“It’s late. We’ve both had a long day.”
“It won’t take long and I promise you’ll like it. So stop complaining and go on.”
Phoebe gave him a dubious look but went off toward her bedroom.
While she was gone Ryan found a cook pot and put water on to heat. Looking under the sink, he pulled out a wash pan. He added a little dish soap to it. He searched the cabinets for a container of salt and, finding it, he added a generous amount to the soap. When the water started to steam he poured it into the pan.
Going to the bathroom in the hallway, he pulled a towel off the rack. Returning to the living room, he placed the towel on the floor in front of the most comfortable-looking chair. He then went for the pan of water.
“What’s all this?” Phoebe asked. She wore a gown and a housecoat that covered her breasts but not her belly. Her hair flowed around her shoulders and her cheeks were rosy. Ryan had never seen a more captivating sight.
Gathering his wits and settling his male libido, he took her hand and led her toward the chair. “I’m going to help make those feet feel better. You sit here.”
She lowered herself into the chair.
“Now, slowly put your feet into the water. It may be too hot.”
“This feels wonderful.” She sighed, lowering her feet into the water.
He left her to get a chair from the kitchen, returned and placed it in front of her.
“What’re you planning now?”
Taking a seat, he faced her. “I’m going to massage your feet.”
“I’m not letting you do that!”
“Why not? You ticklish?”
Phoebe didn’t look at him. “No.”
“I think you’re lying to me. Did you bring the lotion?”
She shifted to her right and put her hand in her housecoat pocket. She pulled out a bottle and handed it to him. Without even opening the bottle he recognized the scent he thought of as hers. He reached down, his hand wrapping her calf and lifting it to rest on his thigh.
“I’m getting you wet.” She tried to pull her foot away.
He held it in place. “If it isn’t bothering me, then don’t let it bother you. Lean back and relax. Close your eyes.” He squirted a liberal amount of lotion into his palm and began rubbing Phoebe’s foot. At the first touch she flinched and her eyes popped open. Their gazes met as he began to massage her skin. Seconds later, her eyes closed and she relaxed. As he worked the tissue on the bottom of her foot she let out a soft moan.
“Where did you learn this?” she asked almost with a sigh.
“In the army. The men in the hospital always seemed to respond and became calmer if they had a massage of some kind.”
“I can understand that.”
His hands moved to her ankle and then along her calf, kneading the muscles.
“I’m sorry if I put you in a difficult position when I asked to be your midwife.” He squeezed more lotion into his hand and started at her toes again and pushed upward.
“It was sweet of you to ask.”
He wasn’t sure that Phoebe thinking of him as sweet was to his liking.
“Well, something that was said seemed to upset you.” He gently pulled on one of her toes.
“It wasn’t what you said as much as something I remembered.”
“I guess it wasn’t a good one.” His fingers continued to work her toes.
“No. When Joshua was home the last time, we talked about separating.”
“That’s tough.” He moved up to her knee and started down again.
“We had grown apart. I had my life and he had his. We just didn’t make sense anymore.” A tone of pain surrounded every word.
“I’m sorry to hear that. It must really have been difficult to deal with when you realized you were pregnant.”
“That would be an understatement. How about an ocean of guilt?”
Ryan could more than understand that feeling. He placed her foot back into the pan and picked up the other one. He gave the second one the same attention as he had the first.
Phoebe leaned back and neither one of them spoke for the next few minutes. Ryan was content to watch the expression of pleasure on her face.
“You sure know the way to a woman’s heart.”
His hands faltered on her calf. He didn’t want her heart. Having someone’s heart meant they expected some emotion in return. He didn’t get that involved with anyone.
Her eyes opened and met his look. There was a realization in them of what she’d said. Regardless of what his mind told him, his body recognized and reacted to the longing in her eyes. His hands moved to massage her knee and above, just as he had done before, but this time the movements requested more. Unable to resist, his fingers brushed the tender tissue of her inner thigh.
Phoebe was no longer t
hinking about her feet. This gorgeous, intelligent hunk of man in front of her wanted her. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt desired. If it had ever felt this compelling.
Ryan’s gaze captured hers. His eyes were storm-cloud gray. He held her leg with one hand and slowly trailed a finger upward past her knee to tease her thigh again before bring it down. It was no longer a massaging motion but a caress. With what looked like regret in his eyes, he lowered her foot into the water.
With his gaze still fixed on her, he offered both of his hands.
She took them. He gently pulled her closer and closer until she was in an upright position. Leaning forward, his mouth drew near. “I may be making a huge mistake but I can’t help myself.”
Ryan’s lips were firm, full and sure as they rested on hers. He pressed deeper.
Phoebe wanted more but wasn’t sure what that was or if she should want it. This was the first kiss she’d had since Joshua’s parting one. She pulled away, their lips losing contact. Her eyes lifted and her look met Ryan’s. He didn’t hold it. Without a word, he scooped her up into his arms. She wrapped her hands around his neck.
“What?”
“Just be quiet.” The words were a low growl. He carried her down the hall to her bedroom and stood her on her feet next to her bed. “Get in.”
His tone was gruff. She didn’t question, instead doing as he asked. He tucked the extra pillow under her middle and pulled the covers over her shoulders before he turned off the light and left the room. “Good night, Phoebe.” Had he been as affected by the kiss as she had? She still trembled inside. Ryan’s lips meeting hers had been wonderful and shocking at the same time. He had surprised her. Everything had remained on a friendly level until his hand had moved up her leg. She’d wanted his kiss but hadn’t been sure what to do when she’d got it.
Those days of schoolgirl insecurity had returned. She was soon going to be a mother. Did he feel sorry for her because of the baby? Joshua? Or just because he thought she needed the attention at the moment? The doubts had made her pull away. Now she regretted doing so. Her body longed for him. But it couldn’t be. She wouldn’t have Ryan feel obligated to her because of her situation. She’d put him on the spot when she’d shown up at his house and she had no intention of doing that to him again. It was best for them just to remain friends.
