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She passed on the pie, but noticed he had two helpings. Jerry made the comment that being deprived of cigarettes would probably cause them to gain weight in the hospital. His comment brought good-natured laughter from the others. Even Cord’s lips curved upward.
It had been so long since Ashley had seen that carefree light in his eyes, she’d almost forgotten how ruggedly handsome he could look. A blush crept over her face and neck when he caught her staring at him.
Just then Dr. Drake came in and announced they were going to enjoy a little time getting acquainted as a group, learning about each other’s families, children, hobbies, interests,
“Are you ready?” Cord murmured, his tone husky. He only sounded like that when his emotions were affected like hers.
She nodded and looked away, conscious of his arm brushing against her back after he’d helped arrange the chairs in a circle. Their close proximity had the effect of blurring the lines, lowering all her pitiful defenses against his virile appeal.
During the next hour while everyone had the opportunity to express him or herself, Ashley’s bones had become liquefied. While they’d been seated, Cord slid his arm around her shoulders, almost as if he couldn’t help himself. But because he was a man who had always been physically possessive of her, he probably wasn’t aware of the gesture.
Secretly, Ashley had always loved the feeling of being treated as his exclusive property. It made her feel cherished, like she belonged. Maybe it was because she hadn’t grown up in a family with loving parents where she knew she was safe and secure.
Whatever the reason, Cord had fulfilled that need in her from the start. If t
he truth be known, throughout their long separation she’d ached for this closeness. Even more startling was the fact that since he’d dragged her into the housekeeping closet, she found that her craving for his touch had intensified to a feverish pitch.
The group therapy session, presided over by the clinic staff, was the beginning of many they would see throughout the week. Though she imagined Cord was taking everything in, Ashley couldn’t concentrate. Her thoughts had been centered on the those first four rapturous years of living with Cord.
Close and compatible on every level, their marriage had been an extremely physical one, as well. Everything had been so perfect until they were told they might never conceive.
Cord changed after that, became more aloof and introspective. During the last two years, they’d stopped sharing. With the advent of Sheila came the death sentence of their marriage.
But he has denied that an affair with Sheila ever happened!
More than anything in the world Ashley wanted to believe him. But it was still difficult to understand how any woman could do that to another woman—how Sheila would dare tamper with something as sacred as another couple’s marriage. Such destructive behavior was anathema to her.
However there was one reality Ashley couldn’t deny. Whether Cord had encouraged her or not, Sheila had to be a very unbalanced manipulative person to pursue both him and his father. The more she reviewed it in her mind, the more she couldn’t ignore the obvious. Which left her with only one truth. Cord’s truth.
She buried her head in her hands. He could have no idea how much she wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. But it would mean placing her heart and soul in his keeping once more. Full trust.
Could she do it again, even if they managed to straighten out the other huge problem besetting their marriage?
“What’s wrong, Ashley?” he whispered.
The alarm in Cord’s voice brought her head around. “Nothing. I—I was just resting my eyes.” It was a pitiful excuse, but the only one that came readily to mind.
“Like hell you were.” His voice rasped. “You shouldn’t be here at this stage in your pregnancy. I’m going to tell Dr. Drake that we’re withdrawing. It still might not be too late for someone else to take our place.”
“No, Cord! Don’t! I’m perfectly healthy and am planning to see this week through. If you call him, then I’m going to think that you aren’t really serious about being in here.”
She saw his chest rise and fall, evidence of the control he was exerting not to contradict her.
“I’m damned either way, aren’t I?” The purely rhetorical question said in such a defeated tone didn’t sound as if it were meant for her ears. It brought on an unwelcome spasm of guilt.
“Cord—” she murmured his name tentatively “Please—let’s just go back to the room and finish today’s interview with Vince.”
Without waiting for a response she left her seat and started for the door to the hall. Cord followed a few steps behind. Since their meeting in the corridor early that morning, this was the first time she’d felt bereft because he didn’t try to take her arm or put his hand on her back.
By the time they’d both freshened up, Vince reappeared with a smile. “Are you two ready to go to work?”
Cord was standing near the window, looking out at the view. When he didn’t say anything, Ashley felt compelled to speak. “Yes, of course.” In a jerky movement she lowered herself to the edge of the bed, her back to Cord.
Vince pulled up a chair and sat down, once again taking out his legal pad.
“This afternoon we’ll concentrate on you, Ashley. How old are you?”
“Twenty-nine.”
