A Prescription for Love (19 page)

“No. Thank you, anyway, but I have a room not far from here.” She glowered at Mrs. Lester and Heidi. “I’ve had so much fun. Maybe we can have a ladies’ night out soon.”

Heidi’s mouth fell open and her eyes narrowed to slits. “I don’t know. I’m pretty busy.”

Gloria faced Michael, her lips in a pout. “Then I guess next time we’ll be all alone since Heidi’s so busy.” She leaned up and kissed him on the lips, then nodded to Mrs. Lester and Heidi. Laughing softly, she sauntered away, leaving the three people she left behind staring at her sultry walk.

Rather than wait for the attendant to retrieve their buggy, Heidi, her mother, and Michael hurried to where the buggy sat. She took a deep breath and regarded her mother. “Mother, do you want Michael to drive you back to the hotel?”

Mrs. Lester stopped and turned. “No, Heidi, I’m not going back to the hotel. Your papa is a brute.” She fumbled in her pocket and drew out her handkerchief, her chin trembling.

Heidi shot Michael a sideways glance. He shrugged.

“But where will you sleep?”

Mrs. Lester dabbed her eyes. “Can’t I stay with you?”

“With me?” Her voice squeaked.

“Just for tonight. Tomorrow I’ll look for a job, and a place to live.”

“It won’t be so easy to find a job, Mother.”

Mrs. Lester sighed. “Don’t concern yourself, dear. I’ll see to it.” She turned to Michael, her chin raised. “May I have permission to sleep in your buggy tonight, Mr. Henderson?”

Michael’s shoulders slumped and he pinched the bridge of his nose.

Heidi jumped in. “All right, Mother, you can come home with me. But I have a small room and a very tiny bed.”

Mrs. Lester beamed at her through tear-filled eyes. “Thank you so much, dear. I’ll be quite comfortable on the floor.”

Michael groaned and led them to the buggy.

Three days later, Clarence closed the door to the bedroom, then leaned against the worn wood surface. “Come here.” He crooked his finger. His mistress glided toward him, the red satin nightgown he’d bought her hugging her curves, emphasizing her high, full breasts and flat stomach. As she sashayed toward him, the gown outlined her long, slim legs.

He pulled her to him and ran his fingers through her silky hair, bunching the strands in his hand to inhale its musky scent. His mouth covered hers as he slid his palms down her bare back to cup her full buttocks. She already had him hard, and wanting.

With a groan, he slid the thin strap off one shoulder, exposing a lush breast. He sucked air in between his teeth. “You’re so beautiful.”

He bent his head and circled the dark nipple with his tongue, causing her to throw her head back, exposing the creamy white skin of her slender neck. He kissed his way up her chest, to her neck, then her jaw, nipping, licking, and kissing until he reached her mouth where he captured her lips with hungry urgency.

She moaned and, sliding her palms up his chest, shoved the soft wool jacket off his shoulders, where the garment slid to the floor in a heap. As he continued the kiss, his tongue tasting the sweetness of her mouth, she dragged his shirt out of his pants and worked the buttons loose. He shrugged out of it, already panting from her exotic scent.

“Darling, let me help you out of the rest of your clothes.” She dropped to her knees in front of him, smiling, as she loosened the flap of his trousers and slid them down. Her delicate hand reached for where he throbbed, and she licked her lips. Slowly raising her eyelids, she whispered, “Shall I?”

“Not now, I’m ready to explode. But keep those lips ready.” He pulled her to her feet and reclaimed her mouth. She ran her fingers through his hair, tugging his head closer, nipping his lip.

Of all the mistresses he’d had over the years, this one suited him the most. He never intended to let her go. He burned for her, her scent, her touch, her voice.

Once he and the Lester girl were married, and he had control of her father’s businesses, he’d find a cozy little house for his mistress, not far from his own. Right now he could only afford a small apartment for her. But she deserved so much more. He wanted to drape her in diamonds and fine silks and satin.

He would have plenty of money, a pretty, if unremarkable, wife for entertaining guests, and a passionate lover to slake his lust whenever he chose.

Yes, he had a bright future. And nothing would stand in his way.

In his overpowering urge to see more of his lover’s lush body, he tore the other strap of the nightgown and thrust the garment to the floor.

“My, you’re in a hurry tonight.” She kicked away the material and slid her hands around his waist.

“I’ve waited all week for you. I hate us being separated.”

She nibbled on his neck and soothed the area with a lick of her moist pink tongue. “How much longer?”

“I’m working on it.” He leaned back and regarded her. “As I hope you are, too.”

“Take me to bed, darling. I can’t wait any longer to watch you throw your head back and shout with pleasure.” Gloria’s sultry voice rolled over him like a wave of warm tropical water. “Then I’ll tell you all about your Mr. Henderson.”

Chapter 17

“She’s driving me crazy.” Heidi leaned her elbow on the table in the kitchen behind the store, cupping her chin in her hand. She eased away the plate with half a biscuit on it.

Michael regarded her. In the four days Mrs. Lester had been staying with Heidi, the delicate skin under her eyes had grown darker. Twice she’d run to the back of the store, gasping, to fix her medication.

“Are you still sleeping on the floor?”

“No. Mrs. Wilson moved a cot into my room that she’d had in the attic. But she told me this morning Mother is driving her crazy, too. She keeps cleaning everything, following Mrs. Wilson around, redoing everything she does. Mother rearranged Mrs. Wilson’s kitchen, and the poor woman couldn’t find anything.”

Michael shook his head. “What are the chances she’ll move back with your papa?”

Heidi sat back and sighed. “She won’t even discuss it. All she talks about is getting a job and taking care of herself. If I didn’t know better, I would swear she’s been talking to Ellie.” Her slight smile slid off her face. “What am I going to do?”

“How is her job search going?”

“Nowhere. I still consider my job a miracle, since I’d never worked before, but Mother is old. Who would hire her?”

Michael chuckled. “Don’t let your mother hear you say she’s old.”

Tears filled her eyes. “It’s not funny. I saw Papa last night, and he wouldn’t even talk to me. He said my actions caused Mother’s behavior, and if I would stop all the nonsense and go home, everything would return to normal.” She touched her handkerchief to the corner of her eye. “Do you think he’s right? Should I give up and go home?”

Michael’s insides shifted and his heart dropped to his feet. Heidi leave? He didn’t even remember what his life had been before this bundle of curly red-haired trouble arrived in his store. He chastised himself. It didn’t matter.
She
didn’t matter. If Heidi left, he would merely hire another store clerk and life would continue.

Lonely.

Cursing himself for the fool he was, he said, “I may be able to help, but keep in mind, my idea could stir things up more.”

Heidi tilted her head, eyebrows raised. “What?”
“My housekeeper comes in once a week to clean and do some cooking. I’ve been thinking for a while now I could use someone full time. Then I wouldn’t have to drop off and pick up my laundry, do grocery shopping, and prepare my own supper when Mrs. Stevens’ meals run out.” He cleared his throat. “I could hire your mother temporarily as a housekeeper, and she could sleep in the extra bedroom I have.”

Her eyes grew wide. “Really?”

“As I said, the solution could anger your papa further. You realize if your mother can’t find a job, she’ll be forced to reconcile with him.”

Heidi wrinkled her nose. “I’m not sure. Mother has become someone I don’t even know.” She shrugged. “But I guess that’s how my parents felt when I moved here and got a job.”

Michael got up and gathered the breakfast dishes. He wasn’t successful in convincing himself his only motivation lay in trying to avoid hiring and training a new employee if Heidi left.

He dropped the dishes into the sink. “I’m convinced if your mother is out from under your feet and has time to think about it, she’ll realize now isn’t the time in her life to strike out on her own. Have your parents always gotten along before?”

“Absolutely. Which is why I’m so surprised at her stubbornness.”

“You never did tell me what they argued about to cause this whole debacle.”

“Me,” she mumbled to her lap.

Michael stared at her, waiting. “And?”

“I told Mother I didn’t want to marry Clarence. She tried to talk me into it, which is why she surprised me when she told me about their disagreement.” She rose and leaned against the sink. “She told Papa the wedding should be postponed until I had more time to ‘reconcile’ myself to it.”

Michael flinched.

She regarded him with one raised eyebrow. “Exactly. But when she talked to Papa about my concerns, he refused to listen and said I would marry Clarence at the end of my month, and he wouldn’t consider any argument.” She took a deep breath. “So Mother told Papa she thought him unreasonable and that he didn’t care for my feelings and one thing led to another, and she left.”

“Heidi, you don’t have to marry anyone you don’t want to. We’re not living in the Middle Ages.”

A loud knock from the front of the store stopped her from answering. “What time is it?”

Michael checked his watch. “It’s after nine-thirty. We better open up.”

He strode to the front of the store, flipped the sign, and unlocked the door. “Good morning, Mrs. Benson, how are you today?”

“Terrible. My arthritis is making me miserable. I need the medicine you gave me a while back. It’s this cold weather.” She shuffled to the counter, her stiff movements evidence of her pain.

Michael took her by the elbow and assisted her to a chair near the front window, where the warming sunshine poured in. “Just rest here for a minute, and I’ll have it for you right away.”

“Thank you, Michael. You’re a fine young man.” She eased into the chair and leaned back, closing her eyes.

Heidi hurried to another part of the store to help a couple who studied the boxes of toothache drops. Within minutes, more customers arrived and Michael relegated their conversation to the back of his mind.

Right before noon, Gloria entered the pharmacy and headed directly to where he mixed cough syrup. “I’m glad I caught you before you left for lunch.” She turned to Heidi behind the soda fountain, where she added the sales for the morning. “You don’t mind if I borrow Michael for a while, do you?”

Heidi bristled, not raising her eyes from her work. “No. Of course not.”

Gloria tapped him on his chest. “Our lunch is definitely my treat.”

Annoyed at being cornered and highly suspicious of the woman anyway, Michael glanced at a red-faced Heidi, then directed his comment to Gloria. “Okay, if lunch is on you, then that will make us even.”

“Ooh, I don’t like the way that sounds.” She pouted.

He headed to the back of the store and grabbed his coat. What was this woman’s game, anyway? Not for one minute did he believe her attraction to him so great she couldn’t stay away. She seemed to be baiting Heidi.

And his life used to be so simple. Now he’d offered to hire a woman who’d left her husband because her daughter, his employee, didn’t want to marry the man her father insisted upon.

Then add in his attraction to said employee, an attraction getting harder every day to keep under control. He didn’t want to be attracted to her. He didn’t want to think about all the things he’d kept tucked securely into the back of his mind years ago. A wife and a family. Relationships that put your heart at risk. Left you exposed to pain and heartache. No, he’d already been through that once before.

Heidi snapped the lock on the front door and stomped to the back of the store. The only thing keeping her from ripping out that woman’s hair by its roots was Michael’s obvious reluctance when they’d left for lunch. She smiled. He actually appeared guilty.

What a mess things had become. In the three weeks she’d been there, her papa still hadn’t acknowledged she could tend to her needs by herself. Although he’d agreed to allow her a month to prove herself, his attitude about Clarence hadn’t changed. Add to her confusion Clarence’s insistence on their marriage. He didn’t intend to have her as a true wife, had told her he would keep a woman on the side, and there would be no children. What reason could he have for his persistence?

She took out the remnants from breakfast and made a biscuit and ham sandwich. A cup of bracing tea restored her, strengthening her resolve to live her life the way she wanted. She didn’t want Clarence Manfred for a husband and she would not allow anyone to force her to stand before the preacher and say ‘I do.’

Daydreams drifted through her mind as she sat at the worn table, with sunlight pouring through the side window. Pictures of Michael kissing her, pulling her to his strong chest. His hands running over her body, touching her in places that left her breathless. The warmth of his breath as he whispered in her ear. She squirmed and rose abruptly, chastising herself.

Ellie had warned her Michael vowed to never marry. Even though he’d kissed her a few times didn’t mean he’d changed his mind. And she’d be smart to remember that. Just because she didn’t want to marry Clarence didn’t mean Michael wanted to stand in his place.

A quick swipe of the table, and she headed to unlock the door. She checked her pocket watch. A little past twelve-thirty. Ten minutes later she checked her watch again. Michael still hadn’t returned. She assisted several customers, mixed up a couple of sodas, and found the arthritis powder on one of the top shelves. After climbing down the ladder, she checked her watch once more. Ten minutes past one. Anger started slow in her stomach and crawled ruthlessly up her body.

How dare he leave her alone in the store all this time? And what sort of
lunch
were they having that took so long? Two customers came in to pick up prescriptions that Michael had filled earlier. A young woman and her young son bought two pieces of penny candy. Another glance at her watch. One twenty-five. She jumped when the front door slammed against the wall as Michael barreled through the entrance.