Making a Comeback. Kristina Mathews

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ

      “So could you rub this lotion on me?” She looked up at him, with such desperation in her eyes he wouldn’t have refused if she’d asked him to pour gasoline on himself and set himself on fire.

      He took the bottle of healing lotion, poured a generous amount in his hands, and took a deep breath when she turned around and lifted her shirt so he could apply it to her back.

      “You’re not wearing a bra.” He was screwed. Totally screwed.

      “Too constrictive.” She groaned as he applied the lotion. “My ribs aren’t broken, but they still hurt like you wouldn’t believe.”

      “I’ll be gentle.” He rubbed slowly, gently, up and down her back. The moans of pleasure she made were almost his undoing.

      She turned slightly and his hand slipped over her left breast.

      Oh sweet lord.

      “Not as perky as they once were.” She looked up at him with fire in her eyes. It wasn’t a mad kind of fire, not even an insulted kind of fire. But the most dangerous kind of fire. Desire.

      “They’re perfect.” He dropped his hand before things could get any more out of control. “You’re perfect.”

      “You think so?” She had just a hint of doubt in her voice. “Clayton offered to have them done. After the twins were born. He even booked the appointment, to celebrate their first birthday. Can you believe that?”

      Cooper just shook his head. What kind of man couldn’t appreciate a woman like Annabelle?

      “I guess I wasn’t good enough for him anymore.” Her voice held a small quiver of regret. “Well, I should get back to my girls. They’re watching a movie and I hate to use the TV as a babysitter.”

      He grunted, not trusting himself with words. He wanted her now more than ever, but she deserved so much more than he could give.

      “Oh, thanks for the lotion.” She gave him a shy smile. “Can I keep it?”

      She held out her hand and he placed the bottle in her palm.

      “I’m glad you have that poster.” She nodded toward the wall. “It makes me think you’re not all alone over here.”

      She smiled one more time before turning and walking out his front door.

      * * * *

      As she walked the short distance to her house, Annabelle shook her head. He had a giant poster of her first swimsuit cover. She should have been offended. Six years ago, she would have been offended. Back when she was struggling with her identity as a new mom and wife to the man who always introduced her as the “former supermodel.” A man who had made it painfully clear he no longer found her attractive. She wasn’t joking about the boob job Clayton had tried to give her as a gift once the twins were weaned. He’d hinted that he would be more than happy to pay for a tummy tuck at the same time.

      Six days ago she might have been offended. But then again, the whole purpose of that picture was to sell magazines. The kind of magazine people kept, not tossed aside after reading the articles. He’d not only kept the magazines, he’d had the cover blown up into a poster he’d carried around for ten years.

      Maybe she should be flattered. Her neighbor still found her attractive. That much was very clear. Even though she was no longer nineteen, with perfectly perky breasts and flawless skin. She gently touched her stitches. She’d have to go back to the doctor to have them removed in a couple of days. And she’d have to ask Cooper for a ride. Unless she wanted to take the bus. Hopefully the doctor would clear her for driving again. But…

      She closed her eyes trying to remember something, anything from the accident. What if she couldn’t get behind the wheel? She lived in California. She needed a car. Sure, she could hire a service, but she’d never really liked the idea of a stranger driving her around. And stepping out of a limo to pick up a few groceries seemed a little much.

      Annabelle had really hoped to reestablish her modeling career before the end of the new year. She’d hoped for a reliable income stream so she could save the settlement money for the girls’ future. They would go to college. She’d make sure of it. Her daughters would have choices that she’d never had.

      They wouldn’t have to rely on the wrong man. Or even the right man, who happened to come into their lives at the wrong time.

      “Mommy, can we go to the beach now?” Sophie was less content than her sister to watch movies all day long. “Please.”

      “I think we could go for a little while. Maybe pack a picnic lunch.” Annabelle was feeling much better thanks to Cooper’s magic lotion. The one made by the little old lady from Mendocino.

      “Are you sure we can’t invite Cooper?” Her daughters were almost as smitten with the man as she was.

      “No, sweetie. He’s been great. I just don’t want him to feel like we’re imposing on him too much.”

      “Oh.” Olivia’s expression was one of mock understanding. Then she tilted her head to the side. “What’s ‘imposing’?”

      “It means getting in his way, disrupting his life.”

      “Were we imposing on Daddy?” Sophie asked. “Is that why he moved to Florida? Did we erupt his life?”

      “Oh honey. No.” Annabelle pulled her daughter into a hug. They were quickly joined by Olivia. “No, you girls had absolutely nothing to do with your father and I getting a divorce.”

      They may have been the reason they’d gotten married in the first place, but they had nothing to do with the divorce. If anything, they were the reason she’d stayed as long as she had.

      “Sometimes he’d get mad when we erupted his work.” Sophie needed more assurance.

      “Interrupted.” Olivia corrected her sister. “A volcano erupts, like the one that killed the dinosaurs.”

      “A steroid killed the dinosaurs.” Sophie argued. “Not a volcano. It was a big rock from outer space that crashed into the ocean making them all drown.”

      “Girls. Do you want to go to the beach or do you want to argue about why the dinosaurs became extinct?” Annabelle loved the way they each stood their ground, like two little scientists arguing over theories. They were already smarter than she was. Or at least, they were smarter than she’d ever been encouraged to be.

      “The beach!” Both girls stopped their argument and rushed upstairs to get their swimsuits on. It still amused her to think they could wear swimsuits in January. There was only about a ten to fifteen degree difference in temperature, but it felt so much warmer down here than in San Francisco. They often wore fleece sweatshirts to the beach in San Francisco even in the summer. And they didn’t swim in the ocean. Sure they’d dip their toes in the water, explore tide pools, and fly kites at the beach. Swimming was something they did at the tennis club.

      Still, she grabbed the girls’ sweaters. Just in case.

      The excitement on her daughters’ faces was reassuring. Moving down here had been the right thing to do. Even if her modeling career wasn’t going to take СКАЧАТЬ