Stranger In His Bed

“Intermittently. I have mental glimpses of people and things. Like I recognized the Dallas skyline. I don’t know how I knew it was Dallas. I just knew.” She was quiet for a few moments. “I think I used to work with my hands.” She held them up in front of her face. “They feel...empty.” She sighed.

This was the first he’d heard of such a thing.

“And I’m pretty sure I used to like being outside.”

“That I can assure you was not the case. At all.”

“No?” She frowned and seemed to let the thought roll around in her mind. “I’ve been getting these feelings that just seem...right.” She glanced at Wade. “I can’t explain it better. I wish I could. But being here, outside, feels right.”

Wade didn’t have an answer to that, so he didn’t try. “Sit up and let me see your face,” he said.

The bruising was almost gone and the cut on her lower lip had pretty much healed. “Better,” he stated and was gratified to see her smile. “How do you feel, generally?”

“Good,” she said and looked up into his eyes.

Less than a foot separated them and the temptation to lean toward her and put his lips against hers was overwhelming. What was wrong with him? This was Victoria. How out of place was any temptation to touch her? She raised one hand and placed it against his cheek and he shuddered at the sensation.

“You have such a handsome face,” she whispered. Her gaze lowered to his mouth. Wade could feel himself harden at both her touch and the implication of her words.

Pure lust shot through his body as his mind fought to hold on. As hard as it was to believe, he wanted her.

“Your lips are very...”

Wade’s tentative hold on his self-control grew thinner. His hands cupped her face, and he eased her toward him. For an infinitesimal moment his face remained a breath away, his lips open, ready to taste her. He wanted to kiss her. Hell, he wanted to do more than that. His subconscious mind screamed no! Just behind her moist lips, perfect white teeth guarded the nectar he knew he would find there. He could feel her soft breath on his face, saw her eyes close as if in preparation for his kiss. Heaven help him. Slowly he placed his lips against hers, and the grip on his desire slipped away.

He pulled back and for a few seconds fought to hold on to the control he desperately needed. The raw hunger for this woman rose in his gut. This was insanity. He could not—would not—be attracted to Victoria. He damn sure wouldn’t have an affair with her. She would use it against him eventually, somehow. Yet all he wanted to do was make love to her right there. Near the flowers she apparently loved. Right in front of God and everybody.

Anger at his own weakness overcame the temptation. He rolled to his feet. She was watching him, a look of confusion in her eyes. He took a deep breath and tried for normal.

“Have you contacted your mother?” he asked after clearing his throat.

She frowned. “Yeah,” she whispered, then took a deep breath. “It was awkward. I didn’t know how to address her.”

Victoria claiming she didn’t remember that vile woman could be a good thing. Still, he knew when the memories came back, more than likely her mother would be among them.

“Wade, why did you—”

He cut her off. “It was a mistake. I shouldn’t have kissed you.”

“I was going to ask why you stopped.” Victoria lay back on the soft grass. “Please don’t go.”

Pheromones shot through his body, and it took most of his strength to refrain from going back to her. His body was hard, tense. He needed a release. Dammit, he needed Victoria.

“I have a meeting.” And if he didn’t get away from her soon, he would never make it to that meeting.

“That’s too bad. I think you need to relax occasionally. And I think you would enjoy daydreaming in this beautiful garden.”

“Daydreaming doesn’t allow much time for business.”

She looked at him, a smile warming her face. It was the first time he’d seen her without anxiety and pain marring her delicate features. Or the mask of disgruntlement she normally wore. It was the first time a freshly scrubbed and exceedingly beautiful Victoria had actually smiled at him rather than smirked.

“That’s too bad. Really.”

There was absolutely no way Victoria would normally sit outside on the grass under the shade of a tree. Let alone smile about it. He would definitely take it up with Dr. Meadows when they went in for her appointment.

“I’d better get back inside. The meeting is in about half an hour.”

She wiggled to a more comfortable spot on the ground. “Here? At the house?”

“Yeah.”

“What’s it about?”

He couldn’t help looking at her to see if she was joking. Victoria had never shown any interest in any aspect of the business, not that he would have let her be privy to much of the information. As long as the contractual installments that kept her here were paid on time, she couldn’t care less how the money was earned. It was odd that she’d asked. But what about this entire situation wasn’t odd?

“We’ve just received all the clearances for the resort we’re preparing to build in the Caribbean. I’m meeting with the architect and the designer to finalize the plans for the cottages.”

“That sounds like fun.”

“Fun?” He scratched the side of his face. “I never really looked at it as fun.”

“Might as well like it if it’s something you have to do.” She shrugged. “Thank you for coming to look for me.”

In the five years he’d known her, he had never heard the words thank you leave her mouth. He was pretty sure he’d never heard Victoria say those words to anyone. Her mind-set was one of privilege. She expected people to wait on her, and in her mind that didn’t require any thanks. He could get used to this new Victoria.

He brushed off his slacks and bid her good day, heading back to the door. He couldn’t help but wonder what else would be revealed on her journey to wellness and how much longer this new Victoria would be around.

Four (#ue809a867-ae03-592c-a12b-8c788e31eb05)

Dinner that evening was held in the dining room. The forty-eight-seat table kind of put it in perspective: her husband had yet to discover the world of casual. But the food, when it was served, was delicious. She closed her eyes, savoring the taste of the fresh Maine lobster. “My gosh. This is so good,” she said, not waiting until she’d chewed and swallowed.

“I’m glad you find it to your liking.” There was an unmistakable glint in his eyes.

She nodded her head. “How’d your meeting go?”

“Okay. It was just a formality to finalize plans for the resort. John provided an artistic take on the landscaping, and Mac reiterated the completion dates.”

“Landscaping?” A picture flashed in her mind. A woman sitting in a windowsill, behind her a glorious sunset as she smelled a rose, a soft smile on her lips. Victoria’s head throbbed with the memory.

“Yeah.” Wade took another bite of his lobster. “The final idea seems off to me, but I couldn’t say what is missing or what, if anything, needs to change.”

She nodded, taking a sip from her water glass, hoping the throbbing in her head would go away on its own.

“Would you have any interest in seeing the sketches? Maybe you can spot something we missed. You seemed to enjoy yourself at the waterfall today and had good ideas about putting in some seating.”

Her gaze shot to his face. “Me? You want me to look at them? Seriously?”

“Yeah.” He shrugged. “Why not? Unless you don’t want—”