“What are you muttering about?” Josh asked as he walked into the kitchen.
He hadn’t heard, had he? Michelle eyed him warily. “Nothing, just mumbling. She asleep?”
“Yes. And as late as it is, she might sleep through the night.”
“She didn’t get any dinner.”
“She’ll ask for something if she wakes up. I think sleep’s better for her right now.”
Josh pulled out a chair and sat down with a tired sigh. Stretching out his long legs, he tilted back on the rear legs of the chair and slipped his hands in his pockets. “Penny was glad you showed up when I didn’t.”
“She kept calling for you, they said, but she stopped when I got there. Not quite the same as her daddy, but an adequate substitute, I guess.”
“No doubt about it. Thanks. I owe you.”
Michelle shook her head. “Just my job, right?”
Josh was silent for a long time. “Yeah, I guess.”
She looked over at his tone, but he appeared lost in thought. Worried about his daughter, she suspected.
Dinner was quiet without Penny’s chatter. Once finished, Josh offered to help with the dishes.
“Not necessary. There are only a few, I’ll be done in no time,’’ Michelle said, rising to clear the table.
At loose ends, Josh wandered outside. Turning on the sprinklers, he watched as the water caught the waning light of the setting sun, showering rainbows everywhere. Feeling restless and unsettled, he didn't want to watch television. Might as well watch the water spray.
He hadn’t brought any more work home. They were caught up, thanks to Michelle’s assistance.
Only part of the job, she’d say.
Which was how she viewed being married to him. Leaning against the post on the porch, he watched a car slowly drive by. She’d rebuffed all attempts to change the status of their marriage. How clear could a woman make it that she wasn’t interested?
But it didn’t stop the desire that rose whenever she was around. And it wasn’t just that. He loved hearing her laughter, seeing the startled awareness in her eyes when she discovered something new. Seeing the innocent delight she took in being with Penny.
She was good with Penny, too. Listened to her and didn’t treat her like an inconvenience.
He hadn’t planned on getting married again after failing before. But now that they were married, it wasn’t proving as difficult as he’d expected.
Of course not, it wasn’t a real marriage. Michelle looked on it as a job. A temporary situation until he found her father and Caroline had her baby. Then she’d take off.
Josh wasn’t sure what he wanted, but it looked more and more as if he didn’t want Michelle to leave.
“No work tonight?” Michelle asked as she pushed open the screen door and joined him on the porch.
“No. With the next billing cycle, I think we’ll be all caught up. Thanks for your help.”
“I enjoyed it. If you need some extra assistance anytime, let me know.”
She came to stand near him. Too near. He could smell the sweet scent she wore. Light and fragrant, he’d forever associate it with Michelle.
“It’s so hot tonight,” she said, sitting on the top step.
Josh sat beside her, forgetting every resolution to keep his distance. He’d take what he could get.
“The house’s cool,” he said, still watching the water spray. The sun had set. Twilight cloaked the neighborhood. Lights in the windows of the neighbors’ houses shone a warm yellow in the night.
“I know, but I like sitting out. We didn’t use the air conditioner a lot when I was younger. So my sisters and I used to walk along the river for whatever breeze was blowing. The spray from the sprinklers would feel good,” she said wistfully.
“So go play in it.”
Michelle looked at him with those wide eyes of hers. Josh felt like he’d been hit with a truck. How long did she think he could resist?
“I’d get soaked. The spray is too high to just go wading.”
“So, that dress is washable. It’d cool you off.”
Josh could almost see her thought process as she eyed the sprinklers. The temptation was great, he could tell. He wished she felt as tempted by him.
“That would look great to the neighbors, right? Me cavorting like a four-year-old in the sprinklers,” she said slowly.
He smiled. “They can’t see anything. It’s dark, and the tree casts shadows from the moonlight. Not that I think the neighbors would be outside now anyway. They’re all tucked up in their cool homes, windows closed, TV on.”
Josh watched as Michelle scooted off her sandals. She rose and glanced at him.
“Don’t you want to cool off?”
He hadn’t expected her to invite him. “Sure, I’ll take off my shoes. You go on.”
He kicked off the running shoes and stood, pulling the shirt off his back. The sultry heat of New Orleans in the summer often had him wishing he could wear less. Tossing the shirt on the steps beside their shoes, he watched as she dallied at the outer fringes of the spray. She almost danced in the water.
Josh took a deep breath and let out a rebel yell, running into the spray, he swooped Michelle up and swung her around and around in the cascading water.
The shock of cold water made her gasp and she let out a yell.
“Josh! Have you lost your mind? This water is freezing! Put me down!” But her giggles belied the words
“When you’re cooled off. It’s great!”
He set her on her feet, but kept an arm around her shoulder. The fine spray of the sprinklers soaked them both. Michelle's dress molded her figure. Now he wished he’d put on the porch light.
“I’m cool,” she laughed, holding her hand out to try to keep the spray from soaking her face. Her hair dripped, hung in wet strands. Suddenly she raised her hands above her head and danced again on the grass, the spray covering them both.
Desire hit suddenly and hard. Josh caught the laughter as he reached out and pulled her closer, his mouth covering hers. He kissed her, savoring every speck of
