said, smiling at him in a way that made his chest ache as if he'd just been kicked. His throat tightened, making it darned near impossible for him to speak, even if he had known what to say.
Tim watched them with an expression Banner couldn't quite read. Was Tim as surprised as Banner by the way Lucy had described him?
Tim was probably wondering if he and Lucy knew the same guy. Banner, on the other hand, was even more concerned, now, that Lucy had created an image in her mind based on unusual circumstances-a combination, perhaps, of the holidays, the ice storm, and a powerful, and wholly unanticipated sexual attraction.
He gave Tim a look that held a classic, and unmistakable masculine appeal for help. Tim promptly took him up on it, drawing attention away from Lucy's words by proposing one of his own. “To Lucy,” he said, lifting his glass. “Thank you for helping me reconnect with my brother, and I hope he knows how incredibly lucky he is to have met you.”
Banner wasn't sure that sentiment was any less fraught with emotional landmines than Lucy's had been, but at least she was smiling at Tim now and not waiting for Banner to say anything. To further avoid having to do so, he tipped up his plastic glass and drank deeply, wishing it held something a bit stronger than bubbly grape juice.
Having taken an obligatory sip of her own juice, Lucy pointed to the television screen. “The ball is starting to drop. Quick, everyone grab your noisemakers.”
Banner thought about passing on that suggestion, but the look she gave him had him sighing and picking up the plastic horn. Definitely a bossy little thing, he thought…but he supposed he could indulge her for one more holiday.
There was something inherently thrilling about the stroke of midnight at the dawn of a new year, Lucy thought as she began to count down along with the crowd on the screen. There were so many possibilities. So many surprises waiting to be discovered.
“Ten…nine…”
Tim seemed to be as excited as Lucy about the countdown. She figured that he was experiencing many of the same emotions she felt-eagerness, anticipation, hope. A little nervous about what lay ahead for him and whether he had finally found the key to his ultimate fulfillment.
“Seven…six…”
Banner, on the other hand, seemed to be going through the motions of the celebration. As if he was clinging to the safety and familiarity of the old year.
“Three…two…one! Happy new year!” Lucy blew an enthusiastic blast on her plastic horn, echoed almost as heartily by Tim, and very briefly by Banner. And then she rested a hand on Banner's arm and lifted her face expectantly toward him.
“More imaginary mistletoe?” he murmured.
“It's customary to kiss at midnight,” she prompted him.
“Is that right?”
She could tell by his expression that he'd known all along. Whether he had been teasing her or simply stalling, she didn't know, but when he bent his head to press a long, firm kiss against her lips, she found she didn't particularly care.
As far as Lucy was concerned, the new year was starting out very well. It looked as though Santa had come through very generously on her Christmas wish this time.
They turned in an hour or so later. Tim took the guest bedroom. He didn't seem to find it particularly surprising that Lucy would be sharing Banner's bed.
Banner closed his bedroom door, then looked a bit uncertainly at Lucy. “Sorry about my brother showing up like this. I hope it doesn't make you too uncomfortable about…well, you know.”
“I like your brother very much. I've had a lovely New Year's Eve. And I'm not at all uncomfortable about…you know,” she teased him, sliding her hands invitingly up his chest. “Not if you're referring to the fact that you and I are lovers.”
Apparently,
“You go ahead. I need to get some things out of my bag.”
Banner was already in bed when Lucy emerged from the bathroom later. He had left the bedside lamp on for her. Lucy was satisfied that the romantically dimmed light was quite flattering to the slinky ivory silk nightgown she had purchased in Springfield for this special night.
At the sight of her, Banner rose slowly to one elbow. The beddings were draped at his waist, leaving his chest bare. His sleek, tanned skin gleamed in the golden lamp light, making Lucy's mouth go dry.
“You are beautiful,” he said.
Three simple, well-worn words-and yet they made her knees go weak, and brought a lump to her throat.
She wouldn't expect flowery compliments from Banner. He would never wax poetic or shower her with practiced flattery. What she could depend on from him was simple honesty. Banner thought she was beautiful. How could she not be swept off her feet?
He patted the bed beside him. “What are you waiting for?”
You, she thought. I've been waiting for you all my life.
Without a word, she moved to join him. Banner welcomed her with open arms.
A long time later Lucy listened to Banner's heartbeats beneath her cheek. The sound was steady and reassuring, and she thought she could happily listen to it for the rest of her life.
The bedcoverings were tangled around them. Her expensive nightgown lay tumbled on the floor beside the bed. The bedside lamp was off now, but enough moonlight filtered through the window for her to see Banner's face when she looked up at him.
He looked thoughtful, she decided. As though he was mulling over something very important.
Apparently sensing her gaze on him, he glanced down. “Aren't you sleepy?”
“No.” It wasn't a lie. Lucy was wide awake, unwilling to miss one moment of this magical night. “Are you?”
“No.”
Crossing her hands on his chest, she propped her chin on them. “You want to talk?”
“About what?”
“Maybe whatever it is that you're thinking about so seriously?”
He lay in silence for a while longer, and she didn't press him, figuring he would talk when-and if-he was ready. After a while he cleared his throat. “When do you have to go back home?”
“I have to be back at work next week.”
He waited another few beats and then said, “Maybe you can give me a call next time you plan to visit your family? Maybe you could drop in to see me for a few hours.”
Something about that awkwardly worded suggestion made her frown. “I'm not sure I understand…”
“I thought we could see each other again sometime, if you like. I'm pretty much here all the time, and since you have to go right past here to get to your family, anyway…”
Lucy swallowed. Hard. “And perhaps you could come visit me in Conway soon? It really isn't that far, you know.”
“I'm not much for visiting,” he said without inflection. “You know me. I tend to be more comfortable here, with my own company. But you would be welcome anytime.”
“How hospitable of you.” She rolled away from him, reaching for her nightgown.
Banner pushed himself to his elbow. “Is something wrong?”
Without answering, she pulled the nightgown over her head, feeling only somewhat less vulnerable when she was covered by the thin fabric.
“You and I live very different lives, you know,” he said, as if sensing her disappointment with his suggestion that they see each other only on occasional, fleeting visits. “I can't imagine you would be content to give up your career and the life you've made for yourself to sit around here with Hulk and me.”
He spoke lightly, as if expecting her to be as amused by that suggestion as he was pretending to be.
“You're right,” she said without smiling. “I wouldn't be at all content with that.”
“Of course not. My ex-wife nearly went crazy from boredom before she finally escaped. But maybe I'm not so
