Authors: Elaine Raco Chase
"Not too reckless," Amanda
countered calmly, "I like to hedge my bets." She picked up the lotus
bowl that housed two golden cookies. "Your fortune."
He hesitated a moment, then made his
choice. Wade broke the crisp, edible container and extracted a small printed
message. His lips twisted into a soft smile. "You will meet a tall,
dark-haired stranger who will change your life."
"You're kidding! Let me
see." Laughing over his verse, she reached for her own. Amanda's
expression turned serious. "Much more the Confucius saying: Own your soul
but share your heart."
"I hope you believe in these
ancient messages. So far mine has come true." Wade lifted his teacup,
toasting her presence. "How are your feet?"
"Both are alive and well."
"There's a very nice lounge
around the corner. Think you'd enjoy some music and dancing?"
Amanda's diamond-bright eyes glowed
in acceptance. "That sounds wonderful."
After-dinner cognacs were served in
balloon snifters warmed by candle flames. The heated, aromatic French brandy
echoed the sensuous nuances of the
Hideout
. The lounge seemed wrapped in
voluptuous intimacy.
Private booths were shielded by
stained-glass dividers; candles flickered in antique sconces on rich stucco
walls, casting a twilight glow over the patrons. Hushed conversations, enhanced
by exotic libations, were sparked with sporadic laughter. The only outside
invaders were the soft sounds of piano, drums, bass and guitar - earthy, erotic
music that solicited more physical contact.
With every passing moment, Wade
became more absorbed with the scarlet fantasy that was Amanda Wyatt. She was an
original. Strong. Edgy. She created instead of mimicked. At times she seemed
cool and serene, then she was suddenly flamboyant and frankly feminine. He
found the dichotomy decidedly stimulating.
Atmosphere and music created a
sensuous spell that could no longer be ignored. Wade drew Amanda into his arms;
their bodies easily duplicated the throbbing rhythm. "We make perfect
partners," he whispered. The haunting scent of her jasmine perfume seemed
to Wade to harmonize with the romantic ballad. His hand moved up her arm, over
her slender back, then traveled the sensuous neck-to-waist curve of her spine.
Wade couldn't tell the difference between silken blouse and satin skin.
Amanda's fingers smoothed the lapels
on his brown cashmere blazer, pressing lightly into the luxurious material of
his shirt. The heat radiating from his flesh fanned the slumbering embers in
her blood. She snuggled closer, supple curves sculpted against his rugged
proportions, anxious to feel the wonders of his hard, athletic body. "You're
an excellent dancer." Her husky voice excited his inner ear; her own sense
of smell was penetrated by the odor of crisp, classic cologne.
Wade pulled back slightly, her pupils
looked circled by diamonds. "This was the quickest way I could think to
get you this close."
Amanda knew she was blushing.
"You certainly are a man of action."
"I'm a man who knows what he
wants." His right hand abandoned her waist to trace the graceful sweep of
her neck; one blunt finger lifted her chin. With mutual unspoken consent, his
head lowered the scant few inches needed to bridge the ensuing gap of silence.
Oblivious to the other couples who populated the dance floor, their lips and
tongues played a gentle, probing game.
The pressure of Wade's mouth and
hands created delicious currents that tortured Amanda's sane resolve. An inward
flow of sensations, twisting from stomach to thigh, slowly but inexorably began
to build. Amanda ultimately broke their intimate connection. "I...I think
we're providing the floor show." Her voice was as unsteady as her pulse.
This was totally unlike her. She always took things slow with men.
"I'm sorry." Wade rested
his forehead against hers, his hands splaying against her shoulder blades,
pressing her close to his chest. "This is crazy." His lips twisted in
a rueful smile. "You've made me feel like a young boy. I want to show off
just for you. I want -"
"Wade," her eyes narrowed
into his, "I'm not sure what you expect on a first date. Expect from me.
But I don't rush into sex. I am very, very careful."
"I admire your candor and
respect your attitude." His expression was serious. "I certainly hope
you won't mind if I continue my advances?"
Amanda's lips curved into a slight
smile. "I'd be insulted if you didn't."
They danced until the band had exhausted
their talent and time. Then Wade and Amanda adjourned to the solitary cocoon of
their booth, talking and lingering over another brandy. The barrel-chested
bartender pointedly tabled the surrounding chairs and began to mop the floors
in a final, unsubtle attempt to bid the couple good night.
Amanda curled sideways in the front
seat of Wade's silver Cadillac. She wanted to get to know more about him,
encouraging him to talk about himself and his work. Wade was a delightful
raconteur. They discovered they were a lot alike when it came to music, food,
opinions – everything but politics. A pleasurable invisible web was spun
between them.
In the end it was Lucas who dissolved
their magical evening. His newly acquired porch light flooded the yard with two
hundred watts of critical, pontifical illumination.
"The last time I ran into
something like this…" Wade gestured toward the daylight-bright courtyard
as he helped Amanda from the car, "was when I was sixteen and dating a
Baptist minister's daughter."
"And did she get a handshake
instead of a kiss?" Amanda inquired. Her arm slid around his waist to
match his gesture.
"She did." He stopped and
turned her toward him. "But you won't." Gentle fingertips stroked
Amanda's eyelids closed, enveloping her in erotic darkness.
Wade's mouth devoured her lips. His
probing tongue conquered the lush interior, savoring juices more potent than
the aged brandy he had consumed. His hands roamed freely over her back, their
bodies reveling in the close contact.
Her breasts and pelvis burned their
womanly imprint against his virile strength. Body heat began to build; small
jolts quaked her nerves. Where they touched - shoulders, chest, hips, thighs -
everything seemed electrified.
Their energies were somehow transmitted
to a less insulated object. The porch light exploded, sending a shower of glass
raining against the concrete.
Wade shook his head, his voice etched
with amusement. "Lucas must have this place booby-trapped. I think that's
my cue to leave."
***
"Good morning." Amanda
yawned the greeting, sleepily navigating her lilac-kimono-robed body into the
kitchen.
"Good afternoon, you mean."
Lucas deliberately opened the coffee maker, took out the basket, emptied the
grounds and liquid into the sink's garbage disposal and flipped the switch.
"It's only eleven."
"You forgot to set your clock
ahead." He finished rinsing the glass carafe. "You also forgot to set
your alarm for our breakfast ride."
She grimaced. "I'm sorry,
Lucas." Amanda attempted a smile. "We can plan it again. There's a
new dawn every day."
He grunted something unintelligible,
his dark gaze shifting to her flushed face and tousled hair. Lucas took a deep
breath and refilled the pot with fresh water and coffee. "How was your
evening?" The question was reluctantly asked.
"I had a wonderful time. I like
Wade. I like him very much."
The glass carafe hit with a thud.
"Don't you think he moves too fast?" Lucas blurted, shoving his hands
in the back pockets of his jeans. "After all, what do you know about
him?"
"He's allergic to tomatoes and
loves Chinese food."
"Communist."
Amanda blithely ignored Lucas'
comment. Her gray eyes caught the sunlight. "He's an excellent dancer and
a scintillating conversationalist." She winked happily. "And he's a great
kisser."
"Don't be crude."
A burst of giggles erupted from her
throat. "Crude! Lucas, what about that porch light? Even my father never
went that far!"
"I put in a bulb that was lying
around," he grumbled, passing her a coffee mug. "It was too large and
blew up."
"I know. We thought we'd done
it!"
Eyes narrowed, jaw tightened. Lucas
gave her a quelling stare.
Amanda sighed. Her fingers drummed
against the breakfast eating bar. "Why didn't you call Kitty last
night?"
"I did. I got her answering
machine. I got it again this morning. She usually has to work on Sundays
hostessing open houses."
"Then don't take your male
frustrations out on me," she warned. "I already have parents, and I
don't need a guardian."
"I have no intentions of becoming
your guardian."
She cleared her throat, softening her
expression and her tone. "Lucas, you wanted me to have fun, to meet new
people. I combined the two in the form of Wade Lloyd. You should be
happy."
He opened his mouth, then closed it.
What
the hell was he supposed to say?
He wanted to yell that Lloyd didn't
deserve her. But he didn't. He couldn't. Lucas knew he didn't have that right,
either! At least not yet.
Amanda heard him mutter something
about "possession being nine points in the law" as he stalked past
her and headed outdoors. Waiting for the toast to pop up, the telltale
shattering of wood penetrated through the screened windows.
Lucas, Amanda decided, seemed to turn
into Paul Bunyan whenever he had a problem. She wondered when this phase of
brotherly jealousy would wear off. But was it brotherly? And did she want it to
wear off?
She tried and failed to ignore the
erotic peppering that caused her nipples to pebble and her womb to clench.
Damn, she was horny. No more celery. There was that article in the paper that
said celery heightened hormones. Yup, no more celery. Problem solved.
Amanda had intended to set the coffee
table for dinner but then decided Lucas wouldn't appreciate sitting
"Chinese style." She did prepare one of his favorite meals - beef
stroganoff over noodles, with garlic bread and hearts of lettuce salad. She let
the slate fireplace hearth function as the dining table when a late-afternoon
rain shower made eating outdoors impossible.
"This is delicious." Lucas
settled into a more comfortable position on one of the new gold upholstered
floor pillows.
Her lips curved into a happy smile.
He had spent the entire afternoon in total silence while hooking up the stereo
system. Amanda was glad he was finally talking. "I took some window
measurements in the bedrooms today. I was thinking about shutters? Varnishing
them to match the woodwork and sewing a valance?"
His fork stirred through the rich
sour cream sauce, spearing a tender beef chunk and a mushroom cap. "I like
it. But I don't have a sewing machine."
"I can rent one. It'll only take
a day's work. I'd like to do it."
Lucas took a deep breath, his eyes
focused on the low, leaping flames. "Look, Mandy, I'm…I'm sorry about this
morning. That was lousy of me. You didn't deserve that." He wanted to make
a joke about being jealous so he could check her reaction, but his instincts
warned him to hold his tongue.
Her hand slid under his jaw, deftly
turning his face toward her. "Lucas, I'm used to your moods. I think I've
sampled them all, just the way you've always tuned into mine." Amanda's
fingertips gently massaged away the stress lines that etched his eyes and the
bridge of his nose. An irreverent grin transformed her pensive features.
"Besides, Lucas," her voice a low whisper, "love means never
having to say you're sorry."
He made a grab for her, calloused
fingers sliding around the soft cotton of her T-shirt that covered her
shoulders. "Amanda Wyatt, you are such a smartass!"
"Just part of my charm,"
she murmured while fluttering her lashes suggestively. "Lucas,"
Amanda's hands curved around muscular forearms, "we've been together for a
long time. I only want the best for you, too." She selected her words with
care. "Is...is Kitty giving you a hard time? Is she playing games?"
Amanda recalled that Wade had mentioned her immaturity. "She's young,
maybe likes to tease." She watched Lucas' face. "Being a woman, I'll
admit to playing a few games in my time. Maybe I can ease your mind?"
A weary hand came up to rub his face.
"I'm not sure who's playing," Lucas readily confessed. "Lately
we've both been picking at each other. We meet for lunch and end up with
nothing to say." He turned away. "Time will tell."
Lucas had known for weeks this
relationship with Kitty Byrnes was rapidly coming to an end. What was that old
line: too hot not to cool down. Yes, the sex had been good. But he wanted
more
.
He slanted a look at Amanda, instantly knowing the
more
that he wanted.
They ate in companionable silence.
Amanda tried to think of ways to lift Lucas' spirits. Funny, wasn't he the one
who had done that for her? Or had it been Wade? Her thoughts drifted back to
last night. Wade had said he felt young and carefree. So had she. Laughing,
flirting, sometimes serious, then rapidly nonsensical. She hadn't danced that
much in years, nor had she received that much attention.