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“I heard Carl tell Mrs. Applegate he’s moving this weekend.”
Again Zane acted as though he hadn’t heard her speak.
“I hope it’s not because of your argument.”
“It isn’t.”
Lesley couldn’t stand it. She tossed the newspaper aside and leapt to her feet. “Stop it, Zane.”
He blinked up at her. “Stop what?”
“Freezing me out of your life.” She stood directly in front of him, her hands braced against her hips. “I won’t stand for it.”
“Good.” He leaned forward and caught her by the hips. Before she could stop him, he managed to send her tumbling into his lap. She didn’t resist, but worried that her weight was too much for his leg. He gave no indication that she hurt him.
His eyes were level with her own and she saw the laughter drain out of them.
“I mean it, Zane.” She tried to make her words stern, but by the time they left her lips, they were soft and malleable. Against her will, her anger crumbled into a lazy grin as her husband brought her mouth to his.
“You’re so beautiful,” Zane whispered. He wove his fingers into her hair, wadding the thickness into his fists. “So incredibly beautiful.” He sealed his words with another deep, soul-reaching kiss.
“Why is it,” she asked, her breath low and wispy, “that you can make me want you this quickly? I should be furious with you.”
“Don’t be,” he pleaded. He made love to her with his kiss.
“You never told me…”
“That I could make you want me?” he teased, unfastening several buttons of her blouse. He folded back the warm blue silk to expose bare skin.
Lesley had trouble keeping her mind on track. “Carl seemed to think you needed to tell me something.”
“It’s not important.” He started to press his moist mouth over hers when she broke away.
“Zane…” She came halfway off his lap but not before he reached for her. Their laughter and giggling nearly prevented them from hearing the knock against the door. “Who is it?” Zane called.
Lesley tried to fasten her buttons, but Zane wouldn’t let her.
“Mrs. Applegate. I’m sorry to disrupt you, but Mr. Larabee’s on the phone. He wants to talk to Mrs. Ackerman.”
“Jordan, oh, my. I forgot…I was supposed to call him after dinner.” She hurried toward the phone. “I’ll take the call in here. Thank you, Mrs. Applegate.” She was forever grateful the housekeeper hadn’t opened the library door.
Lesley had righted her clothes by the time she reached the phone. She took a couple of seconds to compose herself before she reached for the receiver. “Hello, Jordan.”
He’d called for additional information on an estimate he was preparing. As the conversation progressed, Lesley watched as Zane impatiently stood and walked over to the fireplace. His back was to her for several moments. When he turned, she didn’t recognize his expression.
There was a time when he’d been able to hide his feelings from her, but she knew him too well now. She’d seen him in pain, and anger. She’d seen him laugh and smile. She’d seen his face in ecstasy when she had the presence of mind herself to study him as they made love. In the weeks since their marriage, she’d witnessed everything in between, but not this. His eyes had narrowed, his nostrils flared slightly and he looked to be waging war with himself.
As best she could, Lesley cut the conversation short and replaced the telephone receiver.
“Zane,” she asked softly, “what is it?”
“What’s what?” The look was gone; his eyes revealed a detached, dispassionate expression.
“Just now while I was on the phone with Jordan…” She paused, unable to explain with words what she’d seen in him.
“It’s nothing,” he snapped.
But it was and they both knew it. He walked over to the desk and she placed her hand on his arm. He stared pointedly at her fingers as if he wanted nothing to do with her touch.
