Читать книгу Sultry - Mary Baxter Lynn - Страница 9

“Good morning.”

When she heard Mary Jane Morgan’s voice on the phone, Lindsay’s face brightened. M.J., as she was affectionately called, had been her friend since grade school. A divorcée with no children, she worked as a paralegal for a prestigious law firm.

“Hey, I was thinking about you,” Lindsay said, reaching for her coffee cup and taking a healthy sip, hoping the caffeine would nudge her into action. She hadn’t slept well; as a result, she felt a tad hungover.

“But not enough to call me, you wretch.”

Lindsay laughed. “Hey, give me a break. I just got home.”

“Excuses, excuses.”

“So when are we going to get together?” Lindsay asked, already feeling much better. M.J. was like a strong tonic. Her jaded sense of humor could cure almost any ills, especially hers.

During the months and years following Lindsay’s mother’s suicide, she didn’t know what she would have done without M.J., who had stuck by her side through the worst of times.

Even though her own life hadn’t been littered with roses, Mary Jane never complained. She’d gotten divorced shortly after she married, having learned her husband was gay. That blow had been so severe, it had taken her a long time to get over it. Now, however, she was on the prowl again, a fact she would readily admit. Her honesty about it tickled Lindsay.

“So how’s the lord of the manor?”

Only M.J. could refer to Cooper in such a manner and get by with it. But she did it in such an unmalicious way that Lindsay never took umbrage.

“He’s still lording over everyone.”

M.J. giggled. “Figures. All joking aside, how’s he doing?”

“He’s good, which is actually a miracle, considering what he’s been through.”

“Then you really didn’t have to cut your trip short—but I’m glad you did. I hate it when you’re gone. I don’t have anyone to whine to.”

“Well, it’s good to know I’ve been missed—for whatever reason,” Lindsay said drolly.

“So what’s up now that you are back? Same old one and two?”

“I hope not.”

“Don’t knock it, my friend. I could handle being spoiled and rich and a lady of leisure.”

“So that’s what you really think of me,” Lindsay said with forced lightness, trying not to take what her friend said as anything other than a joke. “Some friend you are.”

“I’m just green with envy, that’s all. But hey, I was only teasing. You know that. You do more for others than anyone I know—or will ever know, for that matter.”

“I’d do more if only Daddy was more understanding,” Lindsay said. He’s after me big time to marry Peter.”

M.J. groaned. “I thought you had that all settled before you went to Europe.”

“I thought so, too, but I guess I was mistaken.”

“I hope you’re not weakening. Peter’s a jerk.”

Lindsay sighed. “I agree one hundred percent. However, Daddy thinks he’s the man for me.”

“Screw whether you love him or not, right?”

“Right.”

“If it’s grandkids he wants, why doesn’t he go knock on Tim’s door?”

“Because Tim would tell him to butt out in a heartbeat.”

“So why don’t you do the same thing?” M.J. hesitated. “Don’t you think it’s past time? You’re strong now, Lindsay. You’ve come a long way, and you don’t need Cooper like you once did.”

“I know, M.J. It’s just that old habits die hard.”

“What you ought to do is move out of that house, get an apartment.”

Lindsay was silent for a long moment, choosing her words carefully—not that it would do any good. Mary Jane could read her like a book without a cover. “You’re right, only I don’t have the guts. I’ll admit it.”

“At least you’re honest.”

“But I do have something in mind.”

“Oh?” Mary Jane’s voice perked up considerably.

“Don’t ‘oh’ me. I’m really serious.”

“Are we talking about a plan, or what?”

“I guess you could call it a plan. Yeah, that’ll work.”

Lindsay could picture Mary Jane’s petite features scrunched in a frown while the wheels were turning inside her head.

“So?”

“So I’ll tell you about it another day, over lunch.”

“That’s a dirty trick to play on me.”

“Well, it’ll get you out of that office for a little while, anyway.”

“I’m out today.”

“Only because it’s Saturday,” Lindsay pointed out. “And the day’s not over yet.”

“Boy, have you got my number.”

“Just like you’ve got mine.”

M.J. laughed. “So are you going to the shelter?”

“Maybe this afternoon.”

“Any news from there?”

“No,” Lindsay said. “But then, I haven’t called Rita.”

Rita Thomas, director of the women’s shelter, was another person Lindsay adored and could identify with, the main reason being that they had both suffered great heartaches in their lives.

Even though Lindsay hadn’t been associated with the shelter all that long, her newest charity project had quickly turned into one she was quite passionate about.

“Call me when you’re ready to share the big secret.”

“Actually, my news involves the shelter.”

“That’s great, especially if it keeps you out of the shrink’s office.”

“So far, so good,” Lindsay said.

“Well, I’ve certainly seen a difference in you since you took the shelter under your wing.”

“We’ll see if it pans out.”

“My, but you sound mysterious.”

“Well, you’ll just have to put your curiosity in cold storage for a while longer.”

“Whatever. Meanwhile, get rid of that prick Peter.”

Lindsay’s lips twitched. “Yes, ma’am. Talk to you later.”

The instant she placed the receiver back in its cradle, her smile fled. She wished Mary Jane hadn’t mentioned Peter again. The thought of him could ruin her day.

She got up and stretched. When Mary Jane called, she had just finished dressing in leggings, a long shirt and her running shoes. Now she was ready to hit the outdoors. Losing sleep had definitely put a damper on her body and her spirits. However, a trek outdoors would remedy that. It would also serve as a morale booster for when she approached Cooper later with her idea—something she didn’t have to put off, since he was definitely on the mend.

Still, it wasn’t a discussion she was looking forward to.

A few minutes later, Lindsay strolled through the kitchen. “Morning, Dolly.”

“Mornin’, child. Want some breakfast?”

Lindsay kissed her on the cheek. “Not until after I exercise.”

Dolly snorted, her black eyes looking Lindsay up and down. “That’s the last thing you should be doing. You need some meat on those scrawny bones.”

“Don’t start. Exercise keeps me sane.”

Dolly merely sniffed this time, but kept her silence.

“So where’s Daddy? Has he been down?”

“Hours ago, or so it seems. He’s having coffee with some of his men friends.”

“That’s a good sign.”

Dolly positioned her hands on her hips. “You should worry more about yourself than him, you know?”

“I know.”

Lindsay smiled, walked out the door, and immediately wavered. For a late June morning it was hot and muggy, a rarity. The eighties was the norm. She shuddered to think what the remainder of the summer would bring. She considered returning to her room and putting on shorts. But she didn’t. It wouldn’t hurt her to perspire; if nothing else, it would clean out her pores.

Suddenly Mitch Rawlins came to mind, and her good mood instantly disappeared. Still, she couldn’t stop herself from wondering if he ever broke a sweat. Somehow, she doubted it. After all, he had a crew to do the manual labor.

That was why, when she rounded the corner of the big house and saw him in the flesh, she pulled up short, barely able to keep her mouth from flying open.

She was shocked enough at having come upon him unexpectedly, but the fact that he wasn’t wearing a shirt made matters worse. And droplets of sweat were flying off him as he dug a shovel into the rich earth.

She stood mute and swallowed hard. What to do? For some inexplicable reason, she wanted to turn and run. Yet she wanted to stay put, too. The latter won out, especially when he stopped what he was doing and faced her.

“Mornin’,” he said in a low, mocking tone, though he was looking at her with something akin to a fluid passion that seemed to link them.

“Hi,” Lindsay responded in a breathless voice, while her eyes—half wild, half afraid—stared greedily at him.

Was her face red? Probably. She couldn’t stop staring, totally captivated by his six-foot-plus frame, her gaze homing in on that bare chest matted with dark crisp hair that curled its way down to his navel, stopping at the waistband of his jeans.

And though she had no intention of taking her gaze any farther, she did, then jerked her eyes upward again, warmth climbing into her cheeks.

Heat boiled inside her suddenly, and her insides felt scalded. Jerking her gaze away from him, she schooled her features to show none of the turmoil raging inside her.

“You’re Lindsay Newman,” he said in a low, easy-sounding voice.

Lindsay forced her eyes back on him. “And you’re Mitch Rawlins.”

He gave her another mocking smile at the same time that he took several fingers and wiped a thick layer of sweat off his forehead. Besides having a billboard body, his face was easy on the eyes, though not handsome in the true sense of the word. His features were too strong and his beard too heavy, giving the impression that he needed a shave, which in itself was a bizarre turn-on.

His eyes were a dark blue, complementing his dark hair, which had a gray streak running through it, another turn-on. While his looks had certainly garnered her attention, it was the fact that he was actually working the ground himself that upped her curiosity another notch.

“Is there anything I can do for you?” he asked, interrupting the growing silence.

His words were pointed, which boiled her blood again, but for a different reason. “I can’t think of anything,” she said, forcing a casualness to her tone that she didn’t feel.

“Well, then you won’t mind if I get back to work.”

His straight-from-the-hip directness drew both her anger and her admiration. “What are you going to plant there?”

He paused, raised his head, and though his lips twitched, she couldn’t say he was smiling.

“Do you really care?”

This time that directness hit a raw nerve. Nonetheless, she didn’t blink. “Not really.”

The corners of his sculptured lips rose in a real smile. “Didn’t think so.”

Even if she’d wanted to move, she couldn’t have. The power of that smile held her feet to the ground. “I guess I’ll see you around,” she finally managed to say.

He leaned on his shovel. “Probably will.”

She watched the sweat trickle down his belly before she lifted her eyes to his. Though the contact was brief, it was lethal.

“Have a good day, you hear?”

His drawling words broke the spell and jolted her into action. She turned and took off, her heart beating faster than her feet could possibly run.