Читать книгу Two Little Secrets - Linda Randall Wisdom - Страница 13

“Vacation is starting out to be even more than I wished for,” Ginna said aloud as she wrote on a postcard she’d already addressed to the salon. “If you only knew.” She signed her name and stuck a postage stamp in the corner. “This will make them crazy wondering what’s going on.” She went on to write short notes on several other postcards to family members. She made sure each note hinted at something good without giving anything away.

She’d hoped to spend most of the day with Zach, but then she thought it over and decided maybe it was better if they didn’t spend too much time together. She didn’t want him to think she was too eager.

Even if she was feeling pretty impatient to see Zach again.

He might have thought he was less than macho for losing his battle with the sailboard, but she saw it as adorable. A description she knew he probably wouldn’t appreciate, but she thought he was pretty special. She’d met more than her share of men who wouldn’t have dared admit any type of weakness. It was nice to meet an honest man.

“I’VE COME to the conclusion I wasn’t the one having a problem with the sailboard,” Zach told Ginna over dinner. They were tucked away in one corner of the hotel’s Chinese restaurant. “It was the sailboard. It was definitely possessed by an evil spirit, and I was the idiot who had to battle it.”

“So you’re thinking if you try a different sailboard, you won’t have the problem you had with that one,” she guessed.

“I’m not sure it would be a good idea.” He moved his rice around on his plate. “Second time around, I might push my luck, get too cocky and really get hurt.”

“You’re afraid that sailboard will kick your butt,” Ginna said bluntly.

Zach winced at her candid, and all too realistic, assumption.

“That, too,” he admitted. “Death by sailboard isn’t my idea of a suitable epitaph.”

She used her chopsticks to corral a piece of ginger chicken. “Don’t worry, my brothers wouldn’t be able to do it, either. They’re happy as clams on a football or baseball field and can do their worst on a basketball court. Anything to do with water is way out of their scope. Even Denny could beat them at water polo,” she muttered, choosing a water chestnut next.

“Denny?”

Ginna grimaced. “My ex-husband,” she explained. “I usually refer to him as the scum formerly known as Denny. Even if it’s because of him I was able to take this trip.”

“He wanted you out of the state and sent you here?” Zach asked.

“If he wanted me out of the state, he’d send me to the Amazon jungle, since he knows how much I hate bugs and snakes,” she said. “About a month before we got divorced, he cleaned out a bank account that was in my name only. He claimed the money was his. I took him to court. One of my clients works on one of the TV court shows. When she heard I was planning to sue, she suggested I apply to the show. As a result, we ended up on camera. He looked like a total idiot, which wasn’t too difficult. The judge saw what an idiot he was, awarded me not only the money he took but punitive damages, since he kept saying he had the right to take the money.” She looked embarrassed. “Not one of the finer points in my life. So what about you? Any ex-wives?”

Zach shook his head. “I was married for six years, but my wife died four years ago,” he said in a low voice. “Complications from surgery.”

The way it was explained to him was that she basically bled to death. They couldn’t control the hemorrhaging even when they performed a hysterectomy in hopes of stopping the heavy flow. But it was too late. Cathy only saw her babies for a few seconds after they were born. She didn’t even have a chance to discuss their ideas for names. In the end he took the names that were at the top of the list. Names written in Cathy’s delicate script.

Ginna’s expression softened. She reached across the table and covered his hand with hers.

“I am so sorry,” she said softly. “I can’t imagine what you went through. I bet she was special.”

“She was,” he said. “She was an artist. She liked to work in pastels. Chalks. She’d create these incredible landscapes and seascapes that seemed to leap out at you. I wouldn’t have thought someone working with chalk could come up with anything so powerful, but she managed to do it.”

“Denny’s talent was that he could burp ‘Jingle Bells’ and crush a beer can against his forehead,” she told him. “I’d say you definitely had the better deal. I was really into my stupid period when I met him. He seemed adorable in a Neanderthal way. I was blind to his faults, and by the time I realized what a major mistake I’d made, we were married. Since I was brought up to face my mistakes, I decided to make the best of it. Which didn’t work out at all. My parents wanted to throw a party the day I told them I filed for divorce. My dad declared I’d finally come to my senses.”

“But it was still hard on you,” Zach guessed. “Because you saw it as a failure.”

“I wanted a marriage like my parents,” she conceded. “But that meant meeting someone who had the same ideals I did. And Denny didn’t have them. He wanted things that weren’t possible.” For a moment pain flashed across her face. “And when he couldn’t get them, he blamed me.” Her words ended on a bare whisper.

“Because it was easier than blaming himself.” Now he was offering the comfort. “We guys are pretty bad about things like that. If he screwed things up between you, it wasn’t because of you. It was all him.”

“I don’t think his new wife would say that.” She laughed softly. “But thank you.”

“I bet you wished you’d given him a lousy haircut,” he said in hopes of lightening the atmosphere.

“I was tempted to offer to give him a haircut, then shave something on the back of his head. ‘Kick me’ seemed like a good idea.”

“Oh, come on, with a little thought you could have come up with something better,” he teased.

“Only if I could have insured he’d be arrested the minute he stepped outside.” She trapped another piece of chicken with her chopsticks. “Wow, how did we fall into such a heavy subject?”

“It wasn’t easy, but we somehow accomplished it.”

“You never did say what type of column you write,” she pressed. “Do I get a hint?”

“A men’s column,” he replied.

Ginna nodded. “Sports? Tools? Cars?”

“Single men in today’s world.” He opted to give her an edited answer.

“Isn’t it pretty simple what single guys do in today’s world? They hang out in sports bars where they talk about sports, tools and cars,” Ginna said. “Not to mention they talk about women, but that’s a given.”

“Just as women get together and talk about men,” he countered.

She inclined her head in silent agreement. “We do have that nasty habit of dissecting the male gender. But you men stand around moaning and groaning all the time that you don’t understand us. When all it would take to understand us is to sit there and listen to what we have to say.” She stabbed the air with her chopsticks for emphasis.

“But do you always give us the four-one-one we need to understand you?” he argued, using the slang term for information.

Ginna rolled her eyes. “Hello!” she sang out. “Let me give you an excellent example.” She closed her eyes in thought, her chin resting in her cupped hand. Her eyes popped open. “Denny’s and my sixth-month anniversary. I spent the day at the spa getting gorgeous because we were going to go out for dinner. Wore the slinky dress and everything. Denny comes home from work and asks why I’m so dressed up. Oh, sure, it’s our sixth-month anniversary, and yeah, we’re going out to dinner. But his idea of dinner was a hot dog at a hockey game.”

“Wow, I’m impressed,” Zach said with mock reverence. “Not many guys would consider feeding you first.”

She shot him a fierce glare that experience had taught him only a woman can give.

“What about your sixth-month anniversary?”

Zach got an edgy hunted look.

“I thought we were talking about you,” he muttered, refusing to meet her eyes.

“And now we’re focusing on you. So give.” Her brilliant blue eyes turned steely.

Zach looked away, mumbled something, then quickly returned to his food. He stabbed at a piece of beef with his fork.

“Zach, tell me.”

He mumbled again.

“Excuse me?”

He blew out a breath. “Fine.” He snapped off the word like an icicle. “I bought her a new washer.”

“A washer,” Ginna repeated. “As in optional second rinse, dual agitator, heavy-duty-load capacity washer?”

“Yes,” he grudgingly admitted.

“And I thought my night at the hockey game was bad,” she mused. “At least Denny bought me a T-shirt.”

“It was a top-of-the-line washer,” Zach huffily informed her.

“Which means the salesperson suckered you in to buying more than you needed,” she translated. “And what did she say about her oh-so-romantic gift?”

Zach looked as if he wished he was anywhere but there. “I thought she was hinting for a new washer because she kept talking about my clothes. What she was saying was that if I didn’t start picking up my dirty clothing and tossing it in the hamper where it belonged, she’d throw it in a bucket and add bleach. Instead, I lost four perfectly good shirts to a bleach-filled washer.”

“I wish I’d thought of that.” She pantomimed writing on her hand. “Definitely something to write down and keep for future reference. You didn’t buy a new dryer, too?”

“We got a new one a few months later.” He looked as if he wanted to chew nails.

“Oh, the nine-month anniversary. Good idea.” She said it as if it wasn’t.

“It was practical.”

“This from the man who writes a column for single men? What do you suggest they give a woman who’s going on a first date with them? A pipe wrench?”

“No, actually, I go with the tire-pressure gauge,” he said, deadpan.

“Zach, Zach, Zach—” she shook her head “—I do hair for a lot of single women who are preparing for their first date. Their routine is simple. Hair done in a deceptively casual style that doesn’t look styled at all. Hands paraffin-dipped, nails manicured and feet pedicured. Sometimes even a facial and massage. They walk out looking gorgeous. And what happens when their date picks them up? He tells her, hopefully, that she’s beautiful and hands her a tire-pressure gauge, instead of flowers? Not a good idea. I can tell you now if a man brought me something like that, he’d be informed just where that tire gauge could go, and I don’t mean in a tire, either.” She waved her hands for emphasis. “I can see I have my work cut out here.”

“Work?”

“Of course!” She laughed. “On how to be the perfect sensitive man. You forget, I listen to women all day long. And I am a woman. If anyone can set you on the right path, it’s me.”

The piece of beef Zach tried to swallow seemed to have grown in size.

“Why do I feel as if you’re going to throw me into the deep end without a life preserver?”

“You can do it.” Ginna patted his hand. She grabbed a morsel of her chicken and held it in front of his lips. “Lesson number one—just nibble,” she purred softly.

“Something tells me this lecture series will be the death of me.” He obediently followed her instruction.

“Only if you don’t listen to the teacher,” she cooed, this time taking a piece of chicken for herself. She nibbled on her jasmine rice. “Home appliances are not romantic. You need to be careful with flowers in case the lady in question is allergic. Candy isn’t always a good idea because so many women are watching their weight. But one lovely chocolate rose could be a good idea. Or a silk one. Teddy bears are cute, but make sure they’re cute-looking teddy bears, not just generic ones.”

Zach frowned. “You must date a lot.”

Ginna shook her head. “I just do a lot of hair and women talk about dates, where they went and so on. And if it’s a bad date, I still get every detail. Sometimes more than I ever wanted to know.” She leaned over the table to confide, “One thing to tell your readers? Revealing you’re wearing edible underwear is a big no-no.”

Zach realized he had in front of him a wealth of information about the opposite sex. And what could turn out to be interesting tidbits for his column. His agent had suggested he do more than write about a single father’s life, more about a dad’s life beyond the kids.

It didn’t hurt that he was strongly attracted to her.

It wasn’t difficult when he looked at her with her hair held back from her forehead with a multicolored scarf, the vivid colors of a sunset echoed in the simple sleeveless dress she wore.

“Maybe I should take notes,” he commented in a low husky voice that implied he wouldn’t mind doing much more than merely taking notes.

“I have an idea you’re one of those pupils who learns quickly.” She smiled back, as caught up in the flirtation as he was. “This is the first time someone’s been interested in anything other than my skill with hair.”

“That I can’t believe,” he argued amiably. “You’re breath-stoppingly beautiful.”

“Breath-stoppingly beautiful?” She laughed. “You do have a way with words, Zach. I could have used you in middle school when I was taller than most of the boys and skinny as a rail.”

“Sorry, at that age I was the typical male teen who didn’t look at a girl unless she was amply endowed. Namely, anyone with a D cup.”

“Ah, a breast man,” she said sagely. “Two of my brothers are breast men, the other strictly a leg man. His fantasy is dating either a hosiery model or a Las Vegas showgirl.”

“You can’t fault a man for having attainable goals,” he pointed out.

She nodded. “True. I thought the basketball-team captain was cute. And he was taller than me, which made it even better.”

“But?” He knew there had to be more to the story.

“But—” she drew the word out “—my brothers thought he was a jerk. They told him if he even looked at me, they’d make sure he didn’t play basketball again. I gave two of my brothers a black eye and the other one got ratted out for sneaking out of the house in the middle of the night.”

“So you’re one of those who gets even, instead of mad,” Zach said.

“You betcha.” She picked up her fortune cookie and broke it open. She pulled out the narrow strip of paper and crunched down on her cookie while she scanned the fortune. She tossed the paper onto her plate and reached for Zach’s cookie.

“That happens to be my cookie,” he said. “My fortune.”

“I didn’t like mine. Maybe yours is better. But you can have the cookie back.” Ginna wrinkled her nose. “Yours isn’t much better.”

Zach reached across the table and picked up her fortune. “‘Your future is like the grains of sand on the desert,”’ he read. “This is bad.”

“No kidding and yours wasn’t much better.” She held the paper up. “‘Watching the clock will only slow down time even more.’ They’re almost depressing.”

Zach took care of the bill while Ginna excused herself. When she returned, he noticed her lipstick had been reapplied. She slipped her arm through his.

“Another walk on the beach?” he asked.

“I’d love to.” Her smile warmed him more than the sun.

As they walked along the beach, they passed other couples out enjoying the evening. The farther they walked, the fewer people they ran across, until they were the only ones.

“Look behind you,” Ginna said, spinning around. “It’s as if we’re suddenly the only people on earth. You can’t see the lights from the hotel or even hear the music from the lounge. Our music is the sound of the waves, and the only light comes from the moon.” She waved an arm to encompass their surroundings.

“I couldn’t be stranded with a better companion. Just think of all the tutoring you could do.”

Her hand reached for his and lightly squeezed it. “You’d be a real Romeo by the time I finished.”

Zach kept hold of her hand and turned her to face him.

“We’re alone now,” he murmured, caressing the delicate planes of her face with his fingertips. He lowered his head and easily found her mouth. She moved closer, sliding one hand up his arm until it reached his neck. Her fingers curved around his nape, keeping him there.

Zach had known he was going to kiss Ginna. He’d known that since dinner as he listened to her instruct him in the fine art of being romantic. He’d sat there watching the varied expressions cross her face as she spoke and the animation that lit up her eyes.

He couldn’t remember ever before meeting a woman who was so self-assured and comfortable with herself. One of the few times he’d dated, he spent time with a woman who obsessed over every bite of food, worried about drafts when they attended a concert at the Hollywood Bowl. But what killed the date for him was her open disdain for some children who were attending the concert with their parents. When he took her home, she bluntly asked him when they could get together again. That was when he told her he had four-year-old twins. The woman didn’t bother saying good-night and he wasn’t invited in for a cup of coffee.

He didn’t think that would happen with Ginna. She came from a large loving family and had her share of nieces and nephews. And he felt guilty not telling her about the kids right away. He was proud of them. Loved them dearly.

If he thought she was perfect before, kissing her sealed the deal. She was more than he could have imagined.

Her mouth was soft and inviting. Her skin like warm silk under his touch.

He traced the seam of her lips with his tongue, silently asking admission, which was instantly granted. Her tongue wasn’t shy as she entered into the play, daring him to follow. A dare he was very happy to accept.

She draped herself around him the way a piece of silk caresses the body. If she was a perfect fit for a kiss, what would she be like if there was more? What if he lay her down on the sand and they—

He stopped his line of thinking.

They may be alone now, but there was no guarantee someone wouldn’t come along.

“Lady, you pack quite a wallop,” he said once he could catch his breath.

She tipped her head back, eyes closed and lips slightly parted. “Thank you,” she said huskily. She swayed in his direction.

Just as he feared, he could hear voices on the wind.

“I think we’re going to have company soon.” He took several deep breaths, but all he seemed to smell was her perfume. It wasn’t helping his peace of mind at all.

Ginna moved to his side and slid her arm around his waist. “Then I guess this would be as good a time as any to go back.” Her hip bumped gently against his.

The sexual tension between them heightened with every step. When they were alone in the elevator, Zach took advantage and stole a kiss.

Their steps slowed as they walked down the hallway to her room. When they reached her door, Ginna turned to face him. He planted his hands on either side of her shoulders, effectively trapping her against the wall. His head dipped and he kissed her again.

“I’m going to be a gentleman and not ask to come in,” Zach murmured against her mouth.

Her eyes were hazy with desire. But it was her lips he noticed that were curving upward.

“And what if I invite you in?” she said in a throaty whisper.

He already felt the mental kick to his backside. A kick he’d have physically done to himself if it were possible.

“As much as I’d like to accept, I’d have to be a gentleman and regretfully decline.” His mouth slid along the curve of her cheek until it reached her ear. His tongue toyed with her gold hoop earring. “Or at least take a rain check.”

“Damn.” Her curse came out on a soft breath. “And here I was going to lure you inside and drive you insane with passion.”

“I like your plan.” He was too engrossed in exploring her ear. He kept his hands planted firmly on either side of her shoulders, because he knew if he touched her elsewhere, he’d never leave. And he should. He wanted to prove to her, and to himself, this was more than just mindless lust. But he knew if he didn’t get out of there soon, he’d never leave. “I’m still trying to be a gentleman here. How about tomorrow?”

She pulled back as far as she could, the desire in her eyes starting to dissipate.

“Maybe you’re right. Maybe we are going too fast,” she said, sensing the truth in his words. “I think it might be better if I did something by myself tomorrow. Then we could get together the next day.”

Zach felt the blow. “Twenty-four hours?”

She reached up and kissed him lightly. “More like thirty-six hours. You’re proving too addictive, Mr. Stone,” she murmured. “I need to catch my breath and I’m already finding out I can’t do it when I’m with you. I’ll meet you for breakfast the day after tomorrow.”

“How about a drink two minutes after midnight? Or if you want to stick with breakfast, we have it at dawn?”

“Dawn? I don’t think so. You’re not dealing with a morning person here,” she explained. “The best I can give you is seven-thirty.”

“Seven-thirty, day after tomorrow. If I have to wait that long, I may as well have something that will hold me that long.” He pulled her back into his arms, and this time he didn’t hold back. He demanded everything of her.

Ginna moaned softly as she melted in his embrace. By the time they parted, they were both breathing heavily.

“Go now.” She pushed him away from her.

“A day away from you isn’t going to make any difference,” he warned her.

“It will if you happen to meet someone else who rings your chimes,” she said.

Zach reached out and traced the lush contours of her lips with his fingertip. “You ring my chimes just fine, sweetheart. I’ll see you at breakfast, day after tomorrow.”

As he walked back to the elevator, he realized that he was already counting down the hours until he saw her again.

It couldn’t come soon enough.