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"Of course not! I mean, don't encourage her to be noisy, but this is her home. Rebecca may as well start getting used to that."
"But surely she won't be staying with us that long?"
Desmond smiled, his hands curling around his coffee mug to embrace the last of its heat. She would be staying. She'd accepted his proposal last night. And he'd destroyed the only possible reason
for sending her away when he proved that they could make love safely. He could send her over the maddened edge of pleasure again and again with no fear, so long as he withheld his own release.
"Oh, yes, she'll be staying. I hope forever." He turned his attention back on Mrs. Waters. "Of course, things will be different after she's recovered from her operation."
"Of course."
Desmond frowned at her icy tone, but he didn't have the time to pursue her comment further. He was already running late.
He swallowed the last of his coffee, and placed the mug on the glass-topped table. "I've got to go. Remember, tell Gillian I'll be home for lunch."
"I will, Mr. Lacroix."
REBECCA WOKE slowly, aware first of the sheets resting against her bare skin, then of the circle of warmth created by the overhead light. She stretched languorously, arching her back and rippling her muscles like a cat. A satisfied smile pulled at the corners of her mouth, and she turned toward Desmond. He was gone.
She surged into full wakefulness. He'd mentioned something last night about a morning meeting, but she couldn't recall what. She never could think clearly before her first cup of coffee.
She glanced at the clock— quarter after nine. She'd slept late. The satisfied smile crept back onto her face as she remembered what had tired her. Desmond had refused to do anything that might aggravate her injury. But he was an inventive lover, and that prohibition hadn't stopped him from giving her a night of passion unlike anything she'd ever known. He'd taken her to the heights of ecstasy, only waiting until she started her descent before lifting her to an even higher peak.
Still smiling, she tossed the covers aside. The motion uncovered a bouquet of wildflowers. Broad green centers, bristling with rolled purple-pink petals, topped spindly stalks and dagger leaves. Rebecca had never seen more beautiful flowers. Wondering if they had an aroma as distinctive as their shape, she held them to her nose. Lingering traces of Desmond's cologne overpowered any scent the flowers normally had. Rebecca inhaled deeply, savoring the reminder.
She showered and dressed quickly, then headed for the kitchen clutching the bouquet. She needed a vase for the flowers and a cup of coffee for herself, not necessarily in that order. Then she could start making calls, and find out what it would take to move out of her apartment and transfer her business contacts to an answering service out here.
As she left her room, she spotted Gillian playing quietly in the living room and called out, "Good morning, Gillian."
Gillian looked up and smiled. "Wanna play?"
A jumble of blocks and tiny dolls snaked around the little girl, carefully arranged in some order only she understood. Rebecca didn't recognize the game Gillian was playing, and knew better than to try and learn anything before her first cup of coffee.
"Maybe later."
Gillian nodded and turned her attention back to her dolls. Rebecca watched her for a moment, trying to puzzle out the rules of the game, then gave up and pushed open the kitchen door.
"Good morning, Mrs. Waters." Rebecca practically sang the words.
"Coffee's on the counter," the housekeeper replied without looking up from her piecrust. "Mr. Lacroix said you'd most likely be tired this morning, and I was to keep the pot warm for you when you woke up. If you'll be making a habit out of sleeping in, let me know, and I won't start the coffee until later in the day. It's better if it doesn't sit so long."
"Oh." Rebecca's cheeks burned. She'd be even more embarrassed if the housekeeper could see her reaction. Rebecca tried to keep her voice casual as she poured out a cup of coffee. "Did he say anything else?"
"He suggested I change my schedule. I normally clean in the morning and do my baking in the afternoons. I suppose he thought my vacuuming would disturb your beauty sleep." She slammed the dough against the pastry board hard enough to raise a cloud of flour.
Rebecca busied herself with adding milk and sugar to her coffee. Desmond must not have mentioned their wedding plans to Mrs. Waters, or she would have said something about it. Since he hadn't, Rebecca wouldn't mention it either, although the opportunity tempted her. Maybe knowing she and Desmond weren't just having a casual affair would ease the housekeeper's disapproval. Rebecca took a bracing sip of her coffee.
"Thanks. It's delicious."
Mrs. Waters grunted affirmation.
"Do you have a vase I can borrow? I'd like to put these flowers in some water."
"Flowers?" The housekeeper looked up for the first time. "Those are just thistles."
"They're still flowers. And I think they're pretty."
Mrs. Waters sighed, and dusted her hands off on her apron. "It's in the china closet. I suppose I'd better get it. Wait here."
