Her mouse tap-danced across the tile and lapped at the water. Dwayne gave up, went to his chair, and sat across from her. He cleared his throat.
“It’s good you came.”
“I’m so relieved you feel that way. Please know it wasn’t anything I thought of in advance. I was completely surprised.” She shifted in the chair and took a breath. “The first thing I thought of this afternoon was that I couldn’t think of going to bed without talking it over with you, without discussing every aspect of it.”
He raked a hand through his thick dark hair, a nervous tic she’d probably noticed by now. “Believe me I was just as surprised when it happened as you were.” Was that his pulse bouncing around, obscuring his vision?
Steady, soldier.
“Well, it did come out of nowhere, didn’t it? It’s something I’ve dreamed of for a long time. Then all of a sudden it’s here for the taking. I don’t know where to start.” She fidgeted and reached to pat Skip’s head. “Why don’t you say how you feel? Don’t spare my feelings. Tell me what you really think.”
He swallowed the fist-sized lump in his throat. “You’ve dreamed of it? Since when?”
Marla sighed and relaxed against the back of the chair. “I’m not sure, but I wouldn’t jump into something like this without giving it a lot of thought. I need you to help me through it. The decision, I mean.” Her eyes took on a look of soft pleading.
“Look, Red, it’s your decision. I can’t make it for you. I know how I feel. The rest is up to you.”
She gazed at him with flaming cheeks. “Would you do me a favor?” Her eyes took aim at the top of the table. She stared at the half-finished bowl of cereal.
“Name it, beautiful.” He counted the beats of the pulse in her neck.
“Could you, um, put on a shirt? Your, uh… Good grapes, Dempsey, I can’t think clearly with you sitting there half naked.”
He slapped his hands on the table and pushed himself to a standing position and grabbed his crutches. “Don’t move. Stay right there. I’ll be back in a flash.” That said, he thumped down the hall as fast as possible. Yanking open a drawer, he pulled out a T-shirt, dragged it over his head, then flopped on the side of the bed to put on his prosthesis and fastened it. His eyes scanned his bedroom. Yes, everything was ship-shape.
Back on two feet, he adjusted the loose pajama bottoms, shook himself, and walked to the kitchen. He wasn’t dreaming. Beautiful, bossy, sexy Marla still sat there. He wasn’t sure what to do next. It would probably be best to let her take the lead and then play it by ear.
He grinned and gripped the back of his chair. “Want to go to the living room?”
“Heavens no, I interrupted you while you were eating. Go ahead. Finish. I’ll just…uh, start first.”
“If you’re going to start first, we better go to the living room. I’m not hungry anymore.” He pointed to the hallway. “Come on. We’ll be more…comfortable…talking.” She wanted to start first. Ooh rah.
“Oh, okay.” She scooped up the mouse. “Come on Skippy, Dwayne wants me on the couch.”
On the couch, on the bed, on the floor, against the wall, he wasn’t picky. Wherever she wanted it. Like a good Marine, he was there to serve. Dwayne followed her gorgeous ass to the next room. His knees threatened to collapse at the view. If he didn’t get his hands on her in the next five minutes he might have a coronary.
Marla sat and sent him a welcoming smile. “This is more comfortable. Where do you want me to start?”
Dear God in heaven. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
“I’m all yours. Any place you want to start is good for me. I admit I’m surprised. But it’s a fine, fine surprise.”
“Really?” She pushed some of that glorious strawberry-colored hair over her shoulder and sighed. “You have no idea how relieved I am. I thought for sure you’d give me a hard time when we got right down to it. I’ve been gnashing me teeth all day about Miss Emmaline.”
He snapped to attention. “Say again?”
“Miss Emmaline. I promised her.”
“You promised her what?”
Eyebrows up, she said, “That she’d never have to move.”
Dwayne raised his hands in front of her like a crossing guard. “Hold it. Stop. Wait. What in hell are we talking about here?”
Her beautiful brown eyes widened, her luscious lips formed a heart-stopping O, and a blush bloomed on her cheeks. “What did you think we were talking about?”
“Getting it on?”
“Getting it…” Her hands flew to her face and she screeched, “Aaargh! I could die. I want to die.” Her head tilted up, elbows bobbing, she fell back against the cushions. Bug-eyed, Skipper yipped and bounced. He clawed frantically at her hands. “You must think I’m…oh, I could just die.”
A chuckle took shape deep in his chest, and he swallowed it back. “Marla, sweetheart, it’s cool.” He drew her into his arms. “Honey, I’m sorry.” God help him, he couldn’t hold the laugh back any longer. His chest bounced with an explosive guffaw.
Skip yipped as he got mashed between them, and he finally scrambled away onto the floor. A tiny growl curled his lip.
He stood his ground until convinced Dwayne wasn’t harming her. Marla shoved against his chest. “Let me go. Stop laughing.” But, with a fistful of his shirt, she hung on.
He held her tighter. “No, Red. Take a breath. I’ll let you go when you calm down.” He stroked her back. “That’s better.” He sighed deeply then took a breath for
