Toys and Baby Wishes (15 page)

"You're asking for trouble," he warned.  When
another snowball landed against his shoulder, he shot into action.  Within a
few seconds, he had packed three snowballs and torpedoed them at her legs.  She
turned to fashion more of her own.  Without taking careful aim, she spun on one
foot and threw.  Two plastered Josh's stomach, the third exploded on his chin.

"That's it!" he shouted.  He took off after her. 
"Now you're going to get yours."

She ran from him and shrieked over her shoulder, "I was
just trying to win."

He was a length behind her.  "Now, I'm going to
win."

She eluded his grasp and raced for the back door.  "Did
anyone ever tell you you were too competitive?"

He caught the storm door before it slammed in his face and
despite the awkwardness of his galoshes almost caught her jacket.  When he
missed again, he kicked off the boots, shoes and all, and rushed after her up
the stairs.

Lexa kicked off her shoe boots in the hall and headed for
her room.  She had almost managed to close the door when Josh forced it open. 
She backed up away from him, out of breath and giggling.  "It was only a
game!"

He closed the door and turned the lock.  "We haven't
finished this game yet."

CHAPTER EIGHT

Lexa scurried away from Josh and stood behind a
velvet-covered chair.  "I think we could stop now."

He unzipped his jacket and flung it on one post of the four
poster bed.  Then he peeled off his socks and unzipped his jeans.

"What are you doing?" she yelped.

"Getting ready to win the game."  He smiled
smugly.

"Not without a fight."  She took off her jacket
and tossed it at his head.

He shifted away and pulled his sweatshirt over his head,
playfully tossing it to a corner.  Lexa cast a glance at the door.  He
suspected she was calculating how much time it would take to unlock the door
and run into the hall.  He approached her slowly, not sure which way she'd try
to escape.

When she made a run for it, he blocked her, managed to
tunnel under the hem of her sweater and in one swift movement pulled it over
her head.  As she squirmed and wriggled, he caught her around the waist and
pulled her down with him to the bed.

Pinning her hands above her head, he threw his leg over both
of hers.  "Give up?"

She wiggled, actively trying to break his hold. 
"Never."

"How did I know you'd say that?"  He unfastened
her bra and unsnapped and unzipped her jeans.

"What do you think you're doing?" she demanded.

"Putting you in the same condition I'm in," he
said lazily.  When she tried to raise her shoulders up off the bed, he began a
kiss that was exacting, fervent, taming.  When he felt her body relax and the
tip of her tongue dare to touch his, his hand caressed her stomach.  He raised
his head and asked huskily, "You don't still want to win, do you?"

She remembered how she came to be lying on the bed. 
"You don't play fair," she accused, squirming once more.

He attempted to pull her jeans off with one hand.  "Aw,
c'mon.  Give in."

She tried to roll away from him.  "Never."

He pinned her under him and clasped her hands on either side
of her head.  This time the kiss was pure seduction.  He wheedled his way into
her mouth and stroked repetitively until her fingers curled between his and the
tension went out of her legs.  He finished the kiss with a final sweep of her
mouth and peppered soft, moist kisses down her neck.  Disentangling one hand,
he worked her breast, rolling the nipple between his thumb and forefinger until
she moaned.  When her free hand kneaded his shoulder, he released the other
one.  While he trailed kisses to her breast, he pushed her jeans down.  She
raised up to help him and her panties came off too.

Josh kissed her hungrily, exploring every sweet centimeter
of her mouth as if he could never get enough.  He pressed into her body so she
was completely aware of how much he needed her.

Lexa's hands played in the hollow of Josh's back, stroked
over his buttocks, trailed as far as she could down the back of his thighs. 
She aroused him so easily.  But she aroused more than physical desire.  He
wanted to teach her to trust him.

When she undulated against him, he murmured, "Not yet,
sweetheart.  Not yet."

His hands petted her thighs open and before she realized his
intent, his head lowered to her.

"No," she gasped.

"Yes.  Let me know you.  Let me know all of you."

When she didn't protest again, he kissed generously, sucked
gently.  Loving, prodding, provoking.

"Josh, I love you," Lexa breathed.

He thought he'd feel satisfaction when she said it, he
thought he'd feel peace.  But without her trust, love wasn't enough.  He
stripped off his briefs, lay on his side, and nudged her to face him.  She
reached for him, fondling and stroking until he ambushed her mouth again,
giving as much as he took.

While their lips clung, he slid her leg over his hip and
entered her.  Her softness enveloped all of him, thrilling him, exciting him,
making him long to take her to heaven and beyond, making him long to destroy
all her walls so she could truly be his.  He released her lips, moved in and
out slowly, and used his fingers on the sensitive spot that pushed her pleasure
to its limit.

Lexa murmured, "Oh, Josh.  It's so wonderful.  Don't stop."

He didn't.  As his pulse pounded in his temples, he gave her
what she sought.  In giving he found his own release.

When he slowly opened his eyes, he saw the wonder on Lexa's
face.  It was a start.  He brushed her hair from her brow and murmured, "I
think we both won."

***

Lexa sorted applications, trying to keep her mind on her
work, not on an evening with Josh.  She smiled.  Since they had returned from
her dad's, she had spent two nights at Josh's and he had spent two nights at
her place.  She loved being with him.  They had exchanged keys and when she
returned home from a meeting or volunteer work, he was waiting.  It was almost
like being married.  Almost.

When her phone buzzed, she picked it up.  "It's Clare
Flannigan," Joanne said.  "Line two."

Lexa punched two.  "Hi, Clare.  How are you?"

"I'm fine.  But you might be in for trouble."

"Uh oh.  What did I do now?" she joked.

"Lexa, I don't think this is anything to laugh about. 
I went to the senior center last night to play cards and I heard from several
people that Stanley is furious with you.  Somehow he found out what you advised
everyone last week and he threatened to sue you for libel and slander."

"He can't do that, Clare.  I have as much of a right to
advise you to be careful as he does telling you how to invest your money.  If
he's feeling that threatened, it's even more possible he has something to
hide."

"You haven't heard from Josh's friend yet?"

"No, Josh called him yesterday.  We could hear
anytime.  I hope it's sooner rather than later."

"I just wanted to tell you what was going on so you can
be on your guard.  I don't know if Stanley will confront you or not."

"Thanks a lot.  I appreciate it."

Clare's phone call troubled Lexa all afternoon.  She wasn't
sure whether to confront Stanley herself or remain silent.  Her instincts told
her to stay away from him.  She usually followed her instincts.

With Josh working late because of longer Christmas hours,
she stayed at her office after Joanne left, finishing odds and ends.  When she
finally rose from her desk, her phone rang, but no one was at the other end and
caller ED said "unknown caller."

After she put on her coat, she turned out the lights,
switched on the security system, and locked the door.  She walked to the
parking lot, shivering with the blast of icy wind.  This was not a fit night to
be out.  As she approached her SUV, she saw something on her windshield.  At
first she thought Josh might have left her a note, but something about her car
looked strange.  Moving closer, she saw what it was.  Fear zipped up her spine
as she realized she had four flat tires.  With trembling fingers she reached
for the paper on her windshield under the wiper.  Unfolding it, she read in
large printed letters--MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS.  She stared at it a few seconds
in shock, letting the wind buffet her.  It didn't take Sherlock Holmes to
deduce the origin of the note, not after Clare's call.  And this was an
old-fashioned way to threaten her–no cell phone records, no caller ID.

Lexa looked around the parking lot, across the street, back
to her office, trying to slough off the creepy feeling someone was watching
her.  After removing her cell phone from her purse, she stooped down to look at
her front tire.  It had been slashed.  Thoroughly frightened, she stood and
looked around again, seeing nothing but darkness, city lights, and shadows. 
She heard a rustling in an alleyway, but when she turned toward it, the noise
stopped.

Lexa headed for her office at a fast pace, anxious to be in
a safe place.  Her fingers fumbled with the key as she strove to remain calm,
but when she turned on a light and switched off the security system, she was
shaking all over.  Get a grip on yourself, girl.  You have to decide what
you're going to do.

She took three deep breaths.  Should she call Mark Gibson at
the police station?  What if he wasn't there?  She could call Josh, but...

The phone on her desk rang sharply.  She studied it, fear
gripping her stomach.  You're overreacting, Lexa.  Just pick it up.  When she
did, again there was no answer and the same "unknown" ID.  Someone
was watching her...or at least the lights in her office.

Slumping into her desk chair, she braced her elbows on the
blotter and held her head in her hands, trying to think clearly despite the
pounding at her temples.  She's the one who said she wasn't afraid of Stanley.  Had that been sheer bravado or stupidity?  Thousands of dollars were involved. 
What might he do to protect himself?  What could she do?  She was safe in the
office, wasn't she?

Her cell phone chirped and she stared at it as if it might
bite her.  Then she checked the screen.  It was Josh.

"Josh, thank God..."  Her voice cracked.

"What's wrong?" he asked, sounding alarmed.

"I..."  She swallowed her fear and told him what
had happened.

"Is the door locked?" he asked with a thread of
anger invading his even tone.

"Yes, I made sure when I closed it."

"Don't open it again until you hear my voice. 
Understand?"

"I have to call the auto club."

"Call them.  But do not open the door.  I mean it, Lexa. 
I'll be there in five minutes.  Call the auto club on your land line and stay
on your cell with me."

After Lexa called the auto club, she sat in her office,
holding onto her phone, listening to Josh, waiting to hear his knock on the
door.

Five minutes seemed to stretch into hours.  Finally Josh was
saying, "I'm here.  Almost at the door..." There was a heavy double
thump on the door and Josh calling, "Lexa, it's me."

When she stood up, her world spun for a moment then righted
itself.  She opened the door and as soon as Josh stepped inside, he engulfed
her in his arms.  "Baby, are you all right?"

She rested her head on his shoulder.  "I'm fine.  I
overreacted."

"You didn't.  If I get my hands on Stanley--"

"We don't know if it's him."

"Who else do you think it might be?  Do you have a
closet full of enemies you haven't told me about?"

"Of course not," she mumbled against his sweater. 
"I just want to go home."

Josh knew exactly what he wanted to do but decided on what
was best to do.  He leaned away from her, holding her upper arms.  "This
has really shaken you up, hasn't it?"

"No, I'm okay.  Just tired."  Actually, she
couldn't think straight.  She wanted Josh there, yet she didn't want to need
him.  She had stood on her own for years so why couldn't she do it now?

He was still reacting to her fear.  "I'll take you home
and we can cuddle up in bed."

Her confusion wasn't helped by the headache pounding in her
ears.  "I don't need a babysitter," she snapped, more annoyed with
herself than the situation.

Josh caressed her cheek.  "Believe me, I don't intend
to babysit."

She recognized the gleam in his eyes.  It brought a wobbly
smile to her lips.  "I'm really all right.  Merely embarrassed you saw me
like this."

"Anyone would have been spooked."  Flashing yellow
lights passed by the window.  "That's the tow truck.  Let's give him the
information he needs so we can go home."

***

Josh worried about Lexa as he telephoned the police
station.  She was upstairs, taking a shower, pretending she was fine.  He knew
she was scared.

When he got the main menu, he tapped in Mark's extension,
hoping he was still in the station.

Mark answered and, without a preamble, Josh explained what
had happened to Lexa.

"There's nothing I can do," Mark said when Josh
had finished.

"What do you mean there's nothing you can do?" he
asked, irritated Mark wasn't more helpful.

"You don't have any proof Stanley was behind it."

"I know he's behind it."

"Not good enough.  I need hard evidence, not guesses. 
If you still have the note, I can check for fingerprints, but I doubt I'll find
any."

Josh's fist came down on the sofa with his mounting
frustration.  "Lexa has to be protected.  If you won't do something, I
will."

"Put it out of your head."  When Mark was met by
silence, he said, "I mean it, Josh.  Don't play the hero."

"What am I supposed to do?  Sit back and let her be
scared to death?"

"Do you want my honest opinion?"

"You know I do."

"Sure, Stanley's probably behind it.  But he feels Lexa
is a woman he can scare off with a few threats.  Con artists are scared to
death of getting caught.  That's why they defraud and move on.  If Lexa keeps
her distance, she'll be okay.  I mean it, Josh.  I don't feel she's in any
danger.  Bring the note in and I'll check it.  If anything else happens and you
can prove Stanley's involved, of course I'll take action."