“Decidedly masculine?” he offered with a smug expression.
She laughed, despite herself. “You never let up, do you?”
“Of course not. Why on earth would I do that, especially on a rare occasion when I have you weak and at my mercy.”
“I am not weak.”
“Care to prove it?” he challenged, leaning toward her.
“Go away,” she muttered, shoving the tray at him with enough force to rattle the teapot.
“Ungrateful woman,” he taunted, taking the tray. “We’ll finish this discussion later.”
“Don’t count on it,” she said, suddenly feeling drained.
“Ah, Annie, you really should stop fighting me. It’s such a wasted effort.”
“Not in this lifetime,” she murmured, yawning.
She couldn’t seem to keep her eyes open another second, not even when Hank whispered, “Happy Valentine’s Day, sweetheart,” and folded her fingers around a small package.
Once again she was almost certain she felt the gentle touch of his lips as she drifted off into a dreamless, contented sleep.
Chapter 10
It was the hard imprint of a box pressing into her cheek and the subtle crackling of paper that woke Ann later that afternoon. Opening her eyes reluctantly she found a package on her pillow. She only dimly recalled Hank putting it into her hand. Wrapped in silver paper, it had now-crushed streamers of red ribbon and clusters of tiny white hearts.
Valentine’s Day.
Suddenly she remembered his whispered wish as she’d fallen asleep. Her heart thumped unsteadily as she picked the package up and studied it. The box was long and narrow and flat. There was a slight rustling sound when she shook it gently. It could be a gold pen, but somehow she doubted it. The prospect of what it might be made her very nervous. She didn’t want Hank giving her jewelry. It seemed too personal, too important, too committed. Especially on Valentine’s Day.
“Open it,” Hank said, suddenly appearing in the doorway.
The low rasp of his voice set her ablaze. The significance of the package fanned the flames. “I’m not sure I should.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t think you ought to be giving me presents.”
Blue eyes twinkled back, his expression a mixture of amusement and indignation. “Who made you guardian angel over my finances?”
She glared at him as desire ebbed, replaced by more familiar irritation. She hated it when he decided to be deliberately obtuse. “I am not worried about your finances. You know what I mean.”
“You mean you are not in the habit of accepting gifts from men.”
It sounded a little silly when he said it. It was also an understatement. The last time she’d received a Valentine’s card from a male she had been in the sixth grade. “Something like that.”
“Maybe you should get used to it. You deserve presents, Annie. And I intend to see that you get them. Now open this one before I have to remind you that learning to receive is as important as learning to give.”
He had a point. She had been behaving ungraciously. It was only a small gift, after all. Unexpected excitement bubbled up inside her as she gently removed the ribbon. She was picking carefully at the tape, trying to prolong the anticipation, when Hank groaned and took the package from her.
“That’s no way to open a present,” he said. “This is how you open it.”
He grabbed an edge of the paper and gave one quick rip. Grinning, he handed her the box.
“My way gives you more time to savor it,” she grumbled as she caressed the velvet covering.
“Sorry. I’m not a patient man.”
“So I’ve noticed.” She snapped open the box before he could take over that as well. With trembling fingers, she lifted away the tissue paper inside. Nestled on the satin lining was a sparkling diamond heart dangling from a delicate gold chain.
Her own heart filled to overflowing with all sorts of unexpected emotions. She lifted her gaze to meet Hank’s. “I’ve never had anything so beautiful.”
He touched the diamond with a finger that seemed to shake. “It’s mine, Annie,” he said in a low voice that tugged at her senses. “The heart is mine and now you have it.”
Tears glistened in her eyes and clogged her throat as she whispered, “Oh, Hank.”
“Do you really like it?”
“I’ll treasure it always,” she said, fumbling with the clasp. Hank took the necklace from her and settled it around her neck. His fingers followed the chain of gold from her nape to the hollow at the base of her throat where the heart now nestled, warmed by her skin and fired by his touch.
Maybe it was just her weakened condition or maybe it was the magic of the traditional lovers’ holiday, but with Hank gazing so tenderly into her eyes, Ann almost believed in love.
For the life of her, Ann couldn’t remember actually agreeing to go to Miami. On Friday afternoon, though, she came home to find that each of the kids had a bag packed and that they were all in the living room waiting for her. They looked so excited, she didn’t have the heart to protest. After a heated competition, Paul and Tommy won the right to ride with Hank on the trip up. Everyone else piled into her minivan.
“Now you’re sure you understand the directions?” Hank asked for the tenth time as he closed the door of the car. “I don’t want you getting lost.”
“Hank, it is a straight drive up U.S. 1. How could I possibly get lost?”
“Okay. Just remember, if we get separated in traffic, I’ll wait for you at the Suniland Shopping Center. I’ll park at the north entrance. Finding my place in Coconut Grove is a little confusing. I want to lead you in from there.”
“And if I get ahead of you?” she teased.
“You won’t,” he said with that familiar confident wink.
Before she could react, he walked away. She stared after him. As his taunt sank in, she was suddenly seized by doubts.
“Hank Riley, you be careful how you drive with my children in your truck,” she shouted. He waved back cheerfully.
“What are we going to do in Miami?” Tracy
