Midnight Kisses (15 page)

When he did move, he searched for his pants on the sand and when he found them, placed them on a log that lay nearby. He pulled her onto his lap, her nakedness smooth against his hard body.

Minutes later, he said. “Come, we should probably get back to the house. I hope we haven't given anyone a show already.”

They dressed quickly and walked back up the beach.

Daniel knew that the night had not ended yet. He wanted her again already, and knew that before sunrise he'd be making love to her once more.

 

Renée glanced at Daniel one more time, the love inside swelling until it started to hurt. She loved him. She loved this man who'd had to deal with so much in his life. She loved this man who was generous, loving, sensitive and at times so unsure of his place in this world. But he was growing stronger each day.

She smiled. They'd made love a second time that night. This time, he'd made love to her gently, like taking a stroll along the beach on a starlit night. She'd
known then that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.

She opened the door and closed it behind her. She had to get out of there. If she didn't, she would find herself waking him, wanting him to make love to her yet again. Her insatiable appetite surprised her. She'd never been like this before. This time she seemed to have lost all control. She was practically convinced that he had her under some magic spell.

Downstairs, she headed for the kitchen where breakfast was always served. When she entered, Taurean was the only one there.

He looked up, smiling at her. “Good morning,” he said, in his usual cheerful manner.

“Good morning. Are we the only ones up?” she asked.

“Yes, everyone seems to be exhausted after the long day and night. Go fill your plate and come chat with me. I'm glad for the company. Melissa is usually up to have breakfast before I head over to the resort, but when I peeked in on her she was still in dreamland.”

She headed over to the breakfast table and placed some cereal in a bowl. A plate filled with local “bakes” and “fishcakes” completed the meal. Being on the island had given her a hearty appetite and she suspected she would be a few pounds heavier by the time she returned to Chicago.

She sat and started to eat, savoring the exotic but delicious taste of the local fare. They ate in silence, but there was a comfortable camaraderie that continued to surprise her. She felt safe around the Buchanan men.

Ten minutes later, she placed her fork on the plate, and sighed with satisfaction.

“It's good to see a woman who can enjoy a meal. No birdlike portions for you,” Taurean said quietly, placing his own fork on his plate.

“I'm sure you are, but I pay lots at the gym to make sure I keep the pounds off. Cardio work three times a week and some light weights do the job,” she replied, reaching for a handful of grapes from the basket in the center of the table. “I see you work out, too.”

“I do. Remnants of prison,” he said. For a moment she saw a haunted look in his eyes, but he quickly recovered. “I started working out here. I have a personal gym here—feel free to use it when you want. You won't have to work out so hard when you get back to Chicago.”

“I'll be sure to,” she replied.

“So you live in Chicago and work at the hospital there?” he asked.

“Yes, I've been at the hospital for the past few years. As soon as I finished my M.A. in Social Work I applied for the position and was lucky to get it.”

“You must enjoy working with people?”

“Yes, I do. I've always loved working with people. You'd be surprised at the number of people who come to the hospital who have serious problems that have to be dealt with.”

“You met Daniel there?”

“Yes, he wasn't a patient, though. In fact, he'd actually just saved a young girl from being beaten by her pimp.”

“And Daniel came into your life,” he commented.

“Yes, I saw this big, troubled man. He looked so sad. I felt sorry for him and wondered what could have caused such sadness. In the meantime, I was falling in love with him. I tried to convince myself otherwise. So I made a vow. I'd connect with him and see what I could do to help him to heal. I had no intention of becoming further involved with him. I saw a wounded man and wanted to help. That's the reason I made friends with him.”

There was a sound at the door and they turned suddenly.

Daniel stood there, his face carrying a look of hurt and disappointment. With a look that sent daggers through her body, he turned and walked away.

The first thing to cross Renée's mind was what she'd just said.
I saw a wounded man and wanted to help him. That's the reason I made friends with him.
He'd heard her words.

“Go to him, Renée. Don't let him run away without hearing your explanation,” Taurean said.

She left the room immediately, racing upstairs to see if he was in his room. He wasn't there. Back downstairs she headed for the beach. She suspected he'd go there. She raced down the rocky pathway until she landed on the soft cold sand.

In the distance she saw him. He stood at the far end of the beach where they'd made love the night before. She wondered how he'd gotten there so quickly.

She walked slowly, wondering if he would ever forgive her. But there was a part of her that was angry
and upset, as well. How could he believe, after all they'd shared, that she didn't care?

A short distance from him she stopped and hesitated. Should she go to him? Could she love a man who thought the worst of her?

 

Daniel watched as Renée walked toward him. He wasn't sure if he wanted to talk to her. What he'd overheard gave him physical pain.

She'd felt sorry for him. Sorry for the poor, pathetic, tortured man. To her, he was just another job, another troubled individual who needed her help. Nothing more, nothing less. At the end of the year, he'd probably become a statistic in her annual report.

How could he have allowed himself to fall so easily for a woman who didn't really care about him? Who only saw him as wounded?

But something felt wrong.

Why was she here on the island with him? Did their lovemaking feel like duty? Could the passion that exploded between them be something she faked?

Was he being an idiot?

They'd shared too much. They'd loved too much.

“Daniel.” She'd reached the place where he stood.

He turned to her and saw the tears in her eyes. He'd made her cry. And he knew. He knew that she loved him. He didn't know what had gone wrong, but they'd talk.

“You know that you didn't hear all of my conversation,” she said.

“I guess so,” he replied. “I'm being a self-righteous idiot, aren't I?”

“Yes, you are,” she replied.

He stepped toward her, stopping when he was standing before her. He looked deep into her eyes, seeing something he should have seen before.

“Let me explain,” she said, taking his hands. “I told Taurean that I fell in love with you and I was scared. I convinced myself that I would only become friends with you, so that I could help you. I did do that at first, but it was because I was terrified of falling in love, but I'd already fallen. I think I fell in love with you the night I met you, the night you saved Jamie.”

He placed his arms around her, holding her closely as if he didn't want to let her go.

“I knew I was wrong. After what we shared last night, I would be crazy to question what we have. I'm sorry,” he said, kissing her on the top of her head. “Forgive me?” he asked.

“Of course, Daniel. How can I not forgive you? You haven't even done anything wrong. It was just a simple misunderstanding.”

“Okay. Good. So I also think I heard you say that you love me, Ms. Walker?”

“No question about it, Mr. Buchanan.”

“So what do you say about us getting married?”

“Maybe if you ask me in a more romantic way.” She smiled.

Daniel laughed. He bowed and prostrated himself on the ground, one knee bent.

“My darling Renée, I have loved you since the very
first moment you practically chased me out of the hospital. Would you give me the honor of being your husband?”

“Absolutely.” Renée beamed. “But there are two conditions.”

“And what are those?”

“That we don't have a long engagement.”

“That sounds good to me. And the other one?”

“That we have at least one more child?”

“One
more?
”

“Daniel, don't forget Jerome. We already have a son.”

He laughed loudly, a sound the echoed along the beach.

“Yes, we do have a son already, don't we?”

“Yes, we already have a family.”

He pulled her close and hugged her tightly.

“I love you, Renée Walker,” he said, his lips finding hers.

Overhead, a flock of blackbirds squawked their approval.

R
enée woke to silence. She glanced at the empty space next to her. Daniel was not there.

She glanced at the clock. It was just after midnight.

She slipped from under the covers, stepped out of bed and headed for the balcony.

Her husband stood there, his nearly naked body magnificent under the golden glow of the moonlight.

“Daniel, suppose our neighbors see you out here like that.”

“I'm sure that the old granny next door wouldn't mind an eyeful.”

She giggled and slipped her arms around him. Immediately his manhood stirred.

“What are you doing out here at this time?” she asked, but she already knew the answer.

“Just thinking.”

She didn't ask, but knew he'd tell her. He always did.

“About this. You, our son, our family,” he eventually said. “Today is Thanksgiving and I have so much to thank God for. I know you're happy to have the whole family here, especially Jamie. I'm glad she decided to go back to school. I'm so happy that she loves living at Gloria's and has adjusted so well.”

“We do have much to be thankful for. And me, I have the greatest man in the world and a wonderful son. I don't need anything else. Except…”

“Except what?” Daniel asked, a knowing look on his face.

“Want to go work on those babies we finally decided we wanted?” she said, smiling seductively.

“I've been wondering when you'd ask.”

She tiptoed closer and placed her lips on his.

Above, the midnight moon smiled down on them, basking them in its warm glow.

Midnight.

The perfect time for lovers.