Playing for Keeps/A Tempting Stranger (40 page)

Read Playing for Keeps/A Tempting Stranger Online

Authors: Lori Copeland

Tags: #Fiction, #Romance, #General, #Contemporary, #Westerns, #test

BOOK: Playing for Keeps/A Tempting Stranger
7.62Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
 
Page 95
Phillip certainly deserved more than she was giving him. One thing she knew for certain, she would not marry him now without first telling him
all
that had taken place. He would be too much of a gentleman to ever question her about the details, but she would know. That was the problem. Would she ever be able to be the wife Phillip deserved? She was beginning to think not. In her mind she knew that after last night she would always dream of a tall, blue-eyed man holding her tightly, whispering words of passion, no matter whose arms she was in.
''. . . do you mind?" Sara Rhodes's voice broke back in on her thoughts.
"II'm sorry, Mrs. Rhodes, what did you say?" Chandra smiled at the other woman apologetically.
"I asked to see your ring, dear, do you mind? It is really quite lovely."
Chandra's eyes dropped down to her hand, where Phillip's large, two-carat diamond ring sparkled impressively. She sat staring at it for a moment as if she were looking at a stranger's hand. "It is lovely, isn't it," she agreed distantly, holding her hand out for Mrs. Rhodes to have a closer look. The last few days had seemed like a dream to her. The Chandra who was engaged to Phillip was a different person from the one sitting so quietly having tea.
"Where is your wedding band?" the older woman asked casually, her eyes admiring the sparkling gem.
"Wedding band? Uh . . . it was a little too large for me, so I'm having it sized," she fabricated quickly, letting her hand drop back down to the table.
"You're such a lucky girl, being married to that man of yours," she grinned impishly. "Not only is he the best-looking thing I've ever laid eyes on, John says he's one of the best pilots in the business. Do you know he plans on doing his own testing on all the mock-up models he designs? Of course, John is having a fit! He says Garrett's much too valuable to the company to lose . . . well, I mean . . . there are other men available to do that job," she finished lamely.
 
Page 96
''Garrett's job is dangerous?" Chandra asked softly, her stomach fluttering lightly at the thought of him being in any type of danger.
"Oh, no, dear, it certainly doesn't have to be. His job is to just design our new planes, but men like Garrett," she smiled weakly, shrugging her shoulders, "you know how they can be sometimes."
"Yes," Chandra sighed, "I know how they can be."
"Now, it's certainly nothing for you to worry about," Mrs. Rhodes said, patting her hand consolingly. "I probably should never have mentioned it to you."
"I won't worry," she promised, knowing that in a few more days it wouldn't make any difference anyway.
Deciding that they had accomplished all they could for that day, Chandra and Mrs. Rhodes agreed to meet again tomorrow to shop for the rest of the living room furniture. Mrs. Rhodes dropped Chandra off at her house twenty minutes later, promising to pick her up early the next morning.
Chandra had just dropped her coat and purse on the kitchen counter when she heard the doorbell. Wondering who it could be, she hurried through the living room to open the door. She wasn't expecting Garrett until later this afternoon. Although he didn't assume his duties until after the first of the year, he had left a note this morning telling her he was going over to familiarize himself with the plant, then sit in on several meetings in the afternoon. She opened the door, her mouth dropping open in surprise when she saw a delivery man from the florist holding a gigantic bouquet of yellow roses.
"Chandra Loring?"
"Yes, I'm Chandra Loring," she stammered out. It was the biggest bouquet of roses she had ever seen!
"Sign here, please." The delivery man held out a clipboard with a receipt attached to it.
"How many roses are there?" she asked disbelievingly as she scribbled her name across the piece of paper.
 
Page 97
''Four dozen, ma'am. Someone must really like you." He smiled, tipping his hat.
Chandra closed the door with her backside, her arms full of yellow roses. She couldn't begin to imagine who'd sent them. Phillip had no idea she was here, and even if he did she doubted that he would be sending her flowers. Not four dozen worth.
Her hands shook as she reached into the middle of the large bouquet and pulled out a card. Opening it quickly, she read the bold handwriting scrawled on it. "Since you didn't like the poem I still have love notes and flowers to fall back on. Last night was beautiful. Garrett."
Chandra buried her face in the fragrant petals, fighting the overwhelming urge to bawl like a baby. He did remember that night when he was drunk! She didn't know whether to brain him or kiss him to death. She only knew this was the sweetest thing any man had ever done for her. Pulling herself together she walked into the kitchen looking for something to put the beautiful flowers in. The only thing she had was a small plastic utility pail which she filled with water. She placed the flowers lovingly in the pail and positioned them on the fireplace hearth, next to her bedroll. With a sigh of exhaustion, she laid down on her "bed" and stared happily at the flowers. Their lovely fragile petals were just beginning to open, pouring their heady fragrance out into the room. So beautiful, yet so fragile. Exactly like her love for the man who had sent them. In that moment Chandra came to a new decision in her life. For the little time remaining with Garrett she was going to live it to the fullest. She had no idea what tomorrow held for her, but for today she would spend it with the man she loved. She was too tired to insist that she really loved Phillip. She didn't. That had been a heavy burden on her ever since she had accepted his engagement ring several months ago. It wasn't that he wouldn't make her a fine husband, because he would. They just didn't seem to have anything in common, nothing that they could share together other than their mutual attraction. Phillip loved all types of sports, and Chandra was miserable always sitting on the bench. She didn't want to
 
Page 98
spend the rest of her life being a football ''widow." She wanted a man, she sighed softly, a man like Garrett in her life. One she could laugh with, talk with, argue with, and make love with for hours on end. But she knew that she would never have a future with him. Oh, maybe if she wanted to hang around and live with him he wouldn't have any objections to that. It was obvious that he had enjoyed her company in bed last night, but she would never be willing to settle for that type of relationship with him. It would break her heart to know that he would replace her in that same bed someday. No, when she left here she would do so with the knowledge that it had been beautiful, but recognize it for what it wasonly a brief affair. Her eyes closed heavily, the lack of sleep from the night before catching up with her, dreaming of a world without Garrettcold, miserable, and bleak.
It seemed she had only closed her eyes for a moment when she became aware of a pair of strong arms around her, the faint smell of musky aftershave, and a warm mouth moving caressingly over hers. She opened her eyes to meet azure-blue ones looking at her desirously.
"What are you doing back in this bedroll?" he asked tenderly. He was lying beside her, his arm propped up on his elbow, just stating at her.
"Hi," she smiled sleepily, "I guess I fell asleep."
Garrett reached out to lightly trace the outline of her nose with his finger. "You have a big night last night?" he murmured, his finger moving on down to touch her bottom lip.
"The biggest," she whispered, her tongue reaching out to touch his finger lightly.
"I see you got the roses." His eyes were searching hers intently now, looking for any signs of regret from the night before. "Do you like them?" he asked, his voice deep and smooth as velvet.
"They're beautiful, Garrett. Thank you." Her insides trembled as his finger continued to caress her lips sensuously.
"Thank you?" he murmured, cocking one eyebrow. "Is that the best you can do? I was hoping you would show a little more gratitude than that."
 
Page 99
''I should consider breaking your neck for fibbing to me about not remembering the night you were drunk, but I'll restrain myself." She rolled over on her side, her arms encircling his neck, then pulled his mouth down to kiss him provocatively.
He gave a low, throaty chuckle as he pulled her up close to his long, sinewy body, burying his face in the contour of her neck. "I don't remember all of itjust parts of itthe nice parts," he added, returning her kiss sexily.
He began to kiss her slowly, running his mouth up her neck with agonizing slowness until he found the point behind her ear that made her shudder and arch in closer to him. "Don't you think you might be able to come up with something to show how much you liked my poetry and flowers?" he said, beginning to tug at her earlobe with his teeth. "You said you liked your men to do those kinds of thingspoems, flowers, love notes. . . ."
Her hands came up to slowly unbutton the front of his shirt, trembling as they reached in to bury themselves in the thick, wiry hair on his broad chest.
"I do," she agreed silkily. "Any ideas on where I should start?"
Chandra heard Garrett's quick intake of breath as her hands smoothed across the hard ridges of his muscles, stroking them lightly. She thrilled at the power she seemed to hold over him at this moment.
"Careful, lady," he breathed raggedly, clasping her more tightly, "this could be over before it even gets started."
"But I thought I was supposed to show you my undying gratitude for the lovely roses and your inspiring poetry," she teased, running the tip of her long nail lightly along the edge of his belt line.
"I didn't say stop. I just said slow down," he groaned, his breathing heavy and labored as he lay nearly limp beside her. Her hands moved over his body in smooth, exploring movements. "Damn!" he swore throatily as her hand became even more intimate with him.
 
Page 100
''How many times do I have to tell youstop cussing," she chided as she pulled his mouth over to meet hers again. The world seemed to explode as his mouth captured hers in a searing kiss, his hands reaching out to unbutton the front of her blouse. His long fingers closed around one of her breasts as he slipped his hand into the inside of her lacy bra. He kneaded the soft flesh almost roughly as the hungry urgency of his kiss sent waves of pleasure coursing through her body. A sharp rap on the front door broke the fiery kiss, and Garrett let out a cuss word that turned the air blue.
"Garrett!" Chandra scolded as they still lay locked in a tight embrace.
"Who in the hedevil, could that be," he asked tensely. "Whoever it is, has sure got poor timing."
Chandra grinned, pulling his mouth down for one last quick kiss. "No, they have good timinghave you forgotten we're going Christmas shopping tonight?"
Another loud rap on the door brought Garrett rapidly to his feet. "You'll have to answer it," he said disgustedly, trying to cool his ardor.
"Can't you?" she objected. "I need to start supper."
"In this condition?" he asked, turning around to face her.
Chandra blushed openly as her eyes surveyed the front of his trousers. It would definitely be up to her to open the door. With an impish grin she swept by, patting him intimately as she headed for the door. "I really did love my flowers. Thanks again!"
He caught her arm, his blue eyes sparkling. "I'm not through with you, lady. We'll continue the 'thank you's' later on." He kissed her hard on the mouth, then pushed her gently toward the front door.
Chandra swung the door open and nearly burst out laughing. An adorable little girl stood there with a Girl Scout hat perched on her small head, her big, husky father standing protectively right next to her.
"Ya wanna buy some cookies, lady?" the big, burly man asked

Other books

The Tabit Genesis by Tony Gonzales
The Hunted by Heather McAlendin
Serious People by Shea, James A.
Protector of the Flight by Robin D. Owens
Collins, Max Allan - Nathan Heller 14 by Chicago Confidential (v5.0)
Day of the Damned by David Gunn
The Placebo Effect by David Rotenberg
And Home Was Kariakoo by M.G. Vassanji
The Autobiography of Sherlock Holmes by Sherlock Holmes, Don Libey