Sensual Winds. Carmen Green

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      It struck him that there wasn’t any pretentiousness about Doreen. She was honest about her fear and he didn’t feel right teasing her like he would have Emma. He’d have to be gentler with Doreen.

      He got in and coasted to the automated exit, paid the fee and accessed the highway before taking an early exit and driving through the residential streets.

      The first thing he noticed was that Doreen didn’t have an open magazine on her lap like Emma would have. Doreen was looking at the houses, muttering that she liked this or that. She rolled her window down even though a light mist fell from the sky.

      “That is so sweet,” she declared, pointing as they drove by a small, weather-worn white house. “How much do you think it’s going for?”

      He’d checked into the house for investment purposes just a week ago. “Just short of a million dollars. Nine twenty-nine, to be exact.”

      “No! Slow down. I need to see that again. What’s inside?”

      “Two tiny bedrooms and one bathroom still decorated in the seventies green and yellow. Been in the same family for four decades.”

      He drove on and had to wipe the dopey grin off his face before she saw it.

      “They’re crazy. They might get three hundred thousand, but not a penny more.”

      He couldn’t tell her they’d already received three full-price offers.

      “What took you to New York City?” he asked.

      “An internship with Regents Cable. I worked for a few different companies and then Regents called. They had an excellent educational program that paid for me to get a degree, so I went back to school. Things are finally falling into place and I’m being promoted to director of special events.”

      “Is work all you do? Isn’t there someone special in your life?”

      She looked kind of wary. They’d never ventured into this territory before. Before, they’d been protected by the rules of his engagement to Emma. Now their status was different.

      “There isn’t anyone, but I’m happy.”

      Her gaze was intelligent and assessing. He felt like he was on one of the court shows his mother was fond of watching when she was home. Right now, she was in Cairo, sightseeing and having the time of her life, no doubt.

      “If I’m getting too personal, just let me know.”

      Doreen crossed her left leg over her right. “I’m letting you know.”

      Lucas took a mental step back. “All right, city girl. I’ll leave you alone.”

      “Thank you.”

      The unapologetic stop sign had been thrust into his face, halting his forward trajectory down the road of her personal life.

      There was time, he knew, but everything was happening at breakneck speed, and for some reason he felt the need to know so much about her. But he didn’t rush. He was sorry he pressed Doreen.

      The silence stretched as he drove the back roads, cutting through the residential neighborhoods he loved to scout.

      “That blue house looks familiar. I know that sounds ridiculous because I’ve never been here before, but the white spindles on the front porch, the picket fence leading to the curb…Is that the first house you renovated?”

      How long ago had he described that house to her? Seven, no, eight months ago? How many conversations had they had since then? He looked at the house and pushed back his baseball cap.

      “That’s the one. You have an incredible memory.”

      “Are the owners still there or was it resold?”

      “No, they’re still there. He’s a former mayor and she was a state senator of Ohio. My guys built them a garage last month.”

      “Too small a job for you?”

      “No, I was finishing my house.”

      “Right. Sorry.” The tension in Doreen’s face was etched around her mouth and forehead. “What’s that clicking sound?”

      Lucas pulled over and shut off the engine. “Just wait a couple seconds and look in that direction.”

      “It sounds like a herd of horses.”

      “When have you ever heard a herd of horses?” he teased.

      “On TV.”

      “Just watch. Listen.” He touched her shoulder, his fingers grazing her soft dark hair. A man could easily learn to love holding the strands all night long.

      Just as the thought shocked him, the rain had the same effect on her. It stormed up the block like the infamous running of the bulls, overpowering the truck, thumping the roof, causing her to flinch. Her shoulder bumped his and he chuckled.

      Doreen punched him in the thigh.

      “What did I do?” he protested.

      “You’re laughing at me.”

      “You should see your face. You look like a kid. Like you’ve never seen rain before.”

      “I’ve seen it, but I’ve never heard it like this before.” They sat there for a few minutes as she watched it rain all around them. “I feel vulnerable out here. I left New York and it was a beautiful day, and now I’m trapped here and I can’t leave. I feel as if I’m not safe.”

      For a second she’d scratched his leg with her nails, but now she held her hands in her lap.

      This wasn’t a case of hysterics. Her fear was contained but just beneath the surface.

      The clouds were ominous and the tide high. The storm promised to be strong and it could turn deadly at any time. Hurricane Ana had already proved herself to be formidable and had drifted back out to sea. No one wished for her return, but the Weather Service predicted she’d make landfall again in a couple days.

      Lucas looked at Doreen, whose eyes reminded him of the time he’d been in Africa and had seen liquid gold flecked with tidbits of coal. He’d seen nothing more beautiful.

      “I won’t let anything happen to you,” he told her. He knew his reassurance might not hold much weight, but she was here because of him. He had to help her get through this.

      Doreen didn’t believe him. She folded her arms across her chest, her neck tilted and her eyebrow quirked up on the end. Words were unnecessary.

      “Let’s just get to the house, Lucas, and tomorrow your babysitting job will be over.”

      This was the first crack in her facade. “Hey.” He unbuckled his seat belt and slid across the seat. “Come on now. I promise not to let anything bad happen to you. All right?” Some of the tension eased from her body and she looked at him and then away. “Are we friends again?”

      “Maybe,” СКАЧАТЬ