Authors: Cathy Kelly
What She Wants (87 page)
‘At first, I’d just got divorced and had spent months giving people the facts,’ Morgan said with a shrug. ‘I wanted to be Mr Anonymous and steer a wide berth away from women. Until this fiery next-door neighbour came into my life and refused to let go, totally screwing up my plan to have a female-free existence.’
Sam felt the wild grin going out of control on her face. She was beaming, she just knew it.
‘But Maggie - how could you get that wrong, Sam? When you saw me with Maggie, I couldn’t believe you’d really think we were going out. She’s just a kid.’
‘I know,’ mumbled Sam, ‘but I was beginning to think you’d never make a move and I was depressed about being forty and …’ her voice tailed off. She realized that she’d never normally make an admission like that to anyone but, with Morgan, it felt right.
Morgan led her up the path to his house. ‘I daresay that I’m the only person in the entire world who knows that behind that sleek exterior is a total pussycat with a soft centre.’
‘I’m not a pussycat,’ Sam said.
Morgan smiled as he opened the door. ‘OK, a wild cat, then. Soft and fluffy looking but with deadly claws.’
‘You ever call me fluffy again, and you’ll be sorry,’ she warned, deadpan.
Morgan raised both hands in resignation. ‘What can I call you? Darling, perhaps?’
He stood in front of her and Sam gazed up at him expectantly.
‘No,’ said Morgan firmly. ‘Something’s wrong.’
‘What?’ Sam said, puzzled.
Morgan led her through into the dining room which was free of furniture except for a stereo in one corner. Sam burst into laughter as soon as she saw it.
‘Now,’ said Morgan happily, ‘this is where it all began.’
He lowered his head to hers and finally kissed her, deeply. It was every bit as wonderful as Sam had dreamed it would be and she held onto him tightly, loving the sensation of being able to run her fingers through his tousled hair. Her eyes closed, she gave herself up to the feeling of Morgan’s body close to hers and the sensation of his beautiful mouth kissing her fiercely as though she might vanish at any moment. ‘I’m sorry,’ he sighed when he pulled his mouth away from hers, ‘sorry it’s taken us this long. We were both stupid. I should have been honest with you at first and not kept you in the dark about everything. I was so angry you couldn’t trust me and I wanted to forget you but I couldn’t, I’ve got you under my skin …’ ‘Shush,’ Sam put a finger over his mouth. ‘Let’s not look back, let’s look forward,’ she said, and this time she kissed him, covering his face with kisses until he groaned and pulled her so tightly against him that she was standing on her tiptoes. ‘Promise me one thing?’ he murmured into the cloud of her hair. ‘Yes.’ ‘Don’t kick me.’
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