into it. She pulled on a pair of wispy panties then went into the bathroom and brushed her hair and teeth.
She returned to the bedroom and opened the top dresser drawer Kane had left empty for her undergarments. Reaching beneath the froth of silky things, she retrieved the wedding gift she’d bought for him when she’d gone into the city two days ago to do some shopping. Holding the silver-wrapped present against her chest, she padded down the hallway in search of Kane.
She found him in the kitchen, leaning against the open back door and staring at the yard. He wore a pair of soft faded jeans that made him look too sexy for her peace of mind. His pensive expression made her momentarily pause. They were good together in bed, but what about dealing with the everyday intimacies shared between a husband and wife? Would Kane allow them to have that kind of relationship or would he forever hide his emotions?
She wasn’t going to let him. Determination propelled her forward, and he turned and looked at her. The instantaneous flare of hunger in his eyes caught her off guard, as did the spark of pure male possessiveness. Her body flushed from head to toe. The one thing he couldn’t hide was his desire and physical response to her.
Gratified that she affected him on some level, she stopped at the kitchen table, waiting to see if he’d come to her. “Hi,” she said, her voice sleep soft and a little husky from his open appraisal of her.
“Mornin’,” he murmured, eyeing the present in her arms with a slight frown. He didn’t move, increasing the awkward morning after tension filling the room.
They stood there for endless seconds, each one waiting for the other to make the first move. Finally, she gave in and crossed the distance separating them. Grabbing his hand, she led him to the table and pushed him into one of the wooden chairs, then draped herself over his lap before he could object.
The look of surprise on his face made her laugh. “I have something for you.” She handed him the flat, square package, eager to see if he liked the gift she’d selected for him with such care.
Tentatively, he took the present. “My birthday isn’t until November.”
Sensing he wasn’t used to receiving surprises, she sifted her fingers through the hair at his nape and smiled encouragingly. “I’ll remember that for future reference. This, however, is a wedding gift.”
His mouth tightened. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I wanted to. I saw it when I went into the city and I knew you had to have it.” Impatient and anxious to see his reaction, she nudged the gift in his hands. “Go ahead and open it.”
“All right.” He tore off the paper, revealing a thick, leather-bound book. He stilled, the wrappings fluttering to the floor unnoticed as he stared at the cover, the title and author inlaid in gold lettering.
“What’s this for?” he asked, an odd, almost defensive quality to his voice.
She tilted her head curiously, certain he was teasing her. “It’s for you. Open it up and take a look.”
He did, slowly flipping through the pages. Glossy pictures of various pieces of furniture graced the pages, along with detailed instructions on how to build each. The pieces were intricate and elegant in design, requiring the skill of an experienced carpenter like Kane.
“I’m sure you have a collection of books on cabinetry,” she said quickly when he said nothing, “but this is a new edition, and I couldn’t resist.” She searched his face, seeing a muscle in his cheek tick and something similar to anger darken his gaze.
Confusion doused her earlier exhilaration, and she touched his jaw, making him look at her. “You don’t like it?” she asked, unable to keep the hurt from her voice.
Kane swallowed the huge knot in his throat and forcibly schooled his expression so he didn’t disappoint her. He loved her thoughtfulness, but how could he like something that made him feel so inferior? Every time he looked at this leather-bound book he’d be reminded of the giant chasm that separated him and Megan. Other than the showy and striking pictures, he’d never be able to enjoy this book, never be able to duplicate one of the beautiful pieces of furniture for Megan like he suddenly wished he could, just to surprise her.
“It’s great,” he said, shoving his regret way down deep inside, to that dark place where it had lived for so many years. “But I have nothing to give you.”
She gave a soft little sigh tinged with relief, which to his ears translated to,
She shifted on his lap and rested her hands on his bare chest, her gaze capturing and holding his. “You’ve given me more than I ever possibly dreamed I would have.”
“Andrew?” he guessed. He set the book on the table and dropped his hand to her knee, deciding he liked the way she looked in his shirt. Liking better, though, how she looked in nothing at all but a warm flush tingeing her body.
“Andrew, and you,” she whispered.
“I’m not such a great bargain,” he said gruffly, not wanting the responsibility of trying to remain balanced on that pedestal she was putting him on. One false move and he’d fall and break his neck.
“Oh, yes, you are.” She smiled a siren’s smile and wiggled her bottom. “I happen to think you’re quite handy to have around.”
Desire rocketed through him and he groaned, unable to resist her. “You’re using me?” he teased.
“Absolutely. What’s a husband for, if not to use properly?” She slowly unbuttoned the shirt she wore, revealing lush curves and smooth skin. And as Megan set out to seduce him and his body eagerly responded, a disturbing thought filtered through his mind.
His wife had discovered one of his weaknesses. Her.
Megan darted out of the bedroom from where she’d just changed into a short outfit and picked up the phone in the living room as it rang for the third time. She answered with a breathless hello.
Her greeting was met with silence, then a tentative female voice asked, “Is Kane there?”
She could still hear the water running in the bathroom where she’d left Kane ten minutes earlier, after they’d shared a morning shower. Megan found herself blushing at the memory, which was ridiculous. It wasn’t as though the caller could read her thoughts.
“He’s in the shower,” she said, curious as to who this woman was and what she wanted Kane for. “Can I give him a message?”
Another pause. “This is his sister, Diane. Would Andrew happen to be there?”
“No, he’s not.” Realizing the intimate scene she’d just set for Kane’s sister, she thought it wise to introduce herself before Diane jumped to the wrong conclusion. “I’m Megan, Kane’s wife.”
“Kane’s wife?” Shock and disbelief filled Diane’s exclamation. “Kane got married? Why didn’t he tell me?”
“Everything happened so suddenly.” And it had, a whirlwind of events that had irrevocably changed her and Kane’s life. Knowing Diane would want details, she explained her friendship with Andrew and learned that Diane already knew of her from Andrew’s letters. As for her marriage to Kane, she told her the same thing she’d told Mrs. Henderson, that she and Kane had been corresponding for the past year and a half and their long-distance relationship had evolved into something more. If Kane wanted to tell her the truth, she’d leave that to him.
She followed her brief story by saying, “I’m sure Kane was going to call to tell you the news.”
“Hmph,” Diane said indignantly. “Kane is terrible about calling, and he’s even worse about answering my letters-which he’s never, ever done. But maybe that’s because he’s been spending all his time writing to you.” Her voice held a teasing quality.
Megan didn’t correct her assumption, but she did find it odd that Kane wouldn’t respond to his sister’s letters.
“I’m sure I would have found out sooner or later from Andrew that my big brother got married,” Diane went on. “At least
Megan smiled. “I’ll make sure he continues to do so.”
“Good,” Diane said, sounding satisfied. Then she grew more heartfelt. “Megan, take care of my brother for me, okay? He’s been through so much. He raised me after our parents died, and I know he didn’t have an easy marriage with Cathy. It was so difficult for me to move away and leave him, but my husband got a better paying job, and, well, we have a young family of our own and knew he’d never be able to make the kind of money he is now if we stayed in Linden. But I miss Kane and Andrew so much.”
Megan was certain the sentiment was returned by both Andrew and Kane. “I’ll have to see what I can do about coercing Kane into taking us on a vacation.”
