What a Woman Wants (15 page)

Zach was standing
in the kitchen leaning against the counter sipping a cup of coffee when Anna, who didn’t appear to be quite fully awake yet, strolled into the room early the next morning. He thought she had a sexy rumpled look, and the midriff-baring tank top and shorts she was wearing weren’t helping matters. “Good morning, Anna.”

She glanced up. “Good mor—”

Instead of completing the sentence, she rushed across the kitchen and when she came to a stop in front of him, he looked at her questioningly. “I need a sip. Bad,” she said in a desperate plea.

He looked at his coffee cup then back at her. “Okay.”

He handed her the cup. She took a sip and closed her eyes as if the coffee was exactly what she’d needed. She let out a deep sigh before taking another sip. She then returned the cup to him after smacking her lips. When she opened her eyes, a satisfaction shone in them. “Thanks. I needed that.”

He smiled. “No problem.” And for Zach it hadn’t been a problem. In fact, it had been a real turn-on to watch her drink from the same coffee cup that he had. It made him feel good that she had no qualms about sharing it with him with her lips touching the same spot that his had.

“Do you want me to pour you a cup?” he asked when she walked over to the table and sat down.

“Please. I hate to be a bother, but I didn’t get to sleep until a little before dawn.”

“Really? Why?”

“The sound of crickets, frogs, and no telling what else. I could hear them as clear as day even with my window down.”

Zach walked over to her with her cup of coffee, amused. “Welcome to Glendale Shores. The sounds are always annoying the first night, but then you finally get used to it.” He sat down across from her. “Don’t you remember how things were the last time?”

She smiled at him as she took a sip of her own coffee. “I was too busy looking through all those photo albums that when I did go to bed, I was out like a light.”

He grinned over at her. “You know what that means, don’t you?”

She raised a brow. “No. What?”

“I’m going to have to keep you up late tonight so you can sleep.”

Anna wondered how he intended to do that. She had plenty of her own ideas, but none was safe to mention. “So what time do you want us to hit the water?”

“As soon as you finish your coffee.”

She picked up her cup to take another sip. “But don’t you have to get the boat ready?”

He smiled. “It’s done. I also packed our lunch already.”

“How long have you been up?”

“At least a couple of hours.”

“You couldn’t sleep either?”

One corner of Zach’s lips lifted in a grin. “No, I couldn’t sleep either.” He didn’t add that the reasons were vastly different from hers. Nature had kept him up too, but it had nothing to do with the local wildlife. “Would it make you happy to know Trey’s new boat has a cabin below?” he asked.

Her sleepy eyes lit up. “With a bed?”

He laughed at that. “Yes, with a bed.”

She grinned with delight. “Umm, you wouldn’t think badly of me if the first couple of hours I got into that bed, would you?” she asked, looking at him over the rim of her cup.

Not if you don’t think badly of me if I crawl in that bed with you. “
No, I won’t think badly of you.”

She leaned over and patted his cheek. “Thanks, Zach. You’re a sweetheart. What would I ever do without you?”

With great effort he kept his head from turning, even slightly, or else he would have been tempted to kiss the hand she still had resting on his face. “Does that mean you’re going to keep me around?” he asked in a low voice.

She released her hand from his face, leaned back in her chair, smiled before sipping more coffee, and said softly, “For always.”

For always.

Three hours later Anna’s words were still all Zach could think about as he inhaled a breath of cool morning air while keeping the boat on its course around the island. She was down below in the cabin sleeping, and he wasn’t two seconds in finding a good spot to anchor and join her in the bed. He couldn’t help wondering how she would react if he were to do something like that.

He had gone down to check on her around an hour ago to find her curled up in bed lying on her side and dead to the world. That gave him a chance to study her, thinking he’d never seen her sleep before. Even in peaceful bliss, she was beautiful, the thing fantasies were made of.

This island was also something else fantasies were made of. No heavy traffic and sirens going off. Other than the ruffle of the waves off the Atlantic and seagulls flying overhead, this was a place of calm and peace. Of course there were the occasional sounds of the night, the same ones that had kept Anna awake, but even that couldn’t take away from the island’s serene magnificence.

“Is it lunchtime yet?”

He turned at the sound of Anna’s voice. She looked well rested, gorgeous, and he couldn’t help but lean back against the rail and stare at her.

She stared right back. “Well, is it lunchtime?”

“No such luck, woman. It’s not ten o’clock yet. Do you think all you’re going to do on my watch is sleep and eat?”

“Doesn’t sound like a bad thing to me” she said, grinning. Her hair was loose and seemed to be flying in the wind. He liked it that way. He also liked the way she was dressed. She was wearing a pair of black shorts and a white tank top that bared her belly.

With a bigger smile she asked, “Are we going to fish or spend your entire Saturday hunting for the lost treasure?”

Anna tried to stop the butterflies from fluttering around in her stomach. Now that she was refreshed, so were her thoughts, and the main thing they were latching on to was Zach. He was leaning against the rail dressed in a pair of khaki shorts and a white sleeveless shirt that showed off his muscular chest and strong arms. Then there was that wide and sensuous-looking mouth he had. He seemed to be watching her the same way a hawk would eye a mouse before swooping down on it. Was she imagining things or was he actually looking at her differently today? She swallowed deeply, overwhelmed by the mere possibility.

“Oh, you remember our tale of the lost treasure, do you?” he asked.

She turned her gaze to all the water beyond the boat, forcing her body to calm down. “How could I not remember when you and Trey convinced me it was true?”

Zach laughed, and the sound seemed to wrap itself around her. “Growing up, Trey and I always believed it since Grampa Murphy was convinced it was true. But then your uncle Randolph said if it had been true that he and your father Ross would have found it by now, since they spent a lot of their childhood searching the island for it and always came up empty-handed. He thought it was a tall tale Grampa Murphy fabricated to keep them busy and out of trouble during their summer visits.”

“But you and Trey thought differently?”

She could tell he was remembering those times, entertaining pleasant childhood memories. “Yes. We were convinced your uncle and father didn’t look good enough and that we would eventually find it.”

“But you never did.”

“No, but the fun is in looking, so whenever Trey comes here, we can’t resist looking around again just in case we overlooked something.”

She nodded. “Well, I hope you find your treasure one day.”

It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her he had already done so. Whenever he gazed at her he saw something so valuable and priceless that he knew he wanted to keep) her
for always.

And he knew that before they left the island she would understand that their relationship had taken a turn, and it would be up to her to decide where it would go from there.

Lyle thought that
Beaufort, South Carolina, situated between Savannah and Charleston, exuded much of the same charm as both cities but on a smaller scale. They had made good time, leaving the island by ten that morning. He had driven the scenic route from Hilton Head, and the moment he and Monique entered the city, they could immediately tell the town was rich in history.

The historic district was filled with elegant homes that had been built in the 1700s and 1800s, and the quaint but bustling waterfront shopping district was brimming with numerous stores and a huge assortment of eating places.

He glanced over at Monique when he parked the car on Bay Street in front of a very picturesque old house that had been made into a bed-and-breakfast inn. From the smile on Monique’s face, he could tell she was pleased with his choice of where they would be spending the night.

When a strand of Monique’s hair caught a breeze off the nearby Beaufort River and blew in her face, as if it was the most natural thing to do, he reached out and pushed it back away from her face, tucking it behind her ear.

“This place is beautiful, Lyle,” she murmured, looking at him and then back at the huge two-story inn. “I bet it’s as nice on the inside as it looks on the outside.”

“I got it from a reliable source that it is, and I was lucky to get two rooms, which surprised me with this being the weekend heading into the Fourth of July. Ready to go inside?” He gave her a slow grin.

Excitement flowed through Monique. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

When Lyle and
Monique had unpacked, they met back downstairs. He was standing at the bottom stair the moment she descended.

“How’s your accommodations?” he asked, tucking her arm in the fold of his and leading her out the door.

“Simply beautiful. Thanks for inviting me here with you.”

“You’re welcome, and thanks for coming.”

“Where to first?” she asked, glancing around when they stepped outside into the sun.

“I thought we would take a stroll through that waterfront park we passed and then grab lunch at one of those sidewalk cafes nearby.”

“Sounds like a great idea.”

Hand in hand they walked through Chambers Waterfront Park, a pleasant swath of luscious greenery between Bay Street and the Beaufort River. Monique appreciated the wide walkways and swinging benches, thinking it was the perfect place for strolling or for sitting and catching a breeze off the nearby water.

A short time later, while sitting on a park bench enjoying the view of the river, Lyle answered her questions about his seminars and explained whether he preferred being in the classroom versus in the hospital treating patients.

“I prefer being in the hospital treating patients,” he said, turning her hand over in his and looking down at how small it was. “But it’s good meeting with other physicians and researchers to discuss the latest medical breakthroughs in the area of heart disease. It’s not enough that we treat more heart patients but what’s really important is that we support research to make sure whatever methods we use are affordable and practical. Health care costs have skyrocketed in recent years.”

Monique nodded, fully understanding what he meant. Her mother’s medical expenses had been extremely high, and she and Arnie had appreciated the fact that her father had maintained good health insurance on both him and their mother.

“The reason for the seminar” Lyle was saying, “is education. As physicians we need to return to our communities and work with whatever volunteer groups that are out there to support projects that encourage people to make the right lifestyle choices for a healthier heart.”

The overall impression Monique got from listening to Lyle was that he was a dedicated physician. “How did you decide on a career in the heart field versus another medical field, Lyle?” That was something she’d often wondered about.

“My dad,” he said simply. “When we were in high school, my father suffered a light heart attack. That episode scared me and my brothers to death. Before then we assumed Jeremiah Montgomery was invincible, made to last forever, and there was nothing that could or would ever get the old man down. That year we discovered differently, and the thought of losing the one person in our lives who was constant and kept things normal sent us into a tailspin.”

Lyle didn’t say anything for a few seconds, as if remembering that difficult time. “Luckily, he listened to the doctor and made lifestyle changes, but it made me realize that something as fragile as the human heart, and how well you took care of it, was the key to determining your longevity. I decided to dedicate my life to finding out everything I needed to know and to help others who want to live longer to do so.”

“And how is your father doing?” Monique asked and then watched as a huge smile spread over his face.

“Pop is doing great. With Carrie happily married, he’s finally begun devoting time to himself. There’s a lady he’s seeing now, and although Logan and Lance don’t think it’s all that serious, me and Carrie do. Time will tell. As far as I’m concerned, it’s about time he gets some real happiness in his life.” He released her hand and stood. “Ready for lunch?”

Monique sighed, missing the warmth where his hand had been holding hers and realized they’d been sitting there on the bench talking for almost an hour. She smiled up at him. “Hungry, are you?

“Yes. Dinner last night was great, but I missed breakfast and my stomach is letting me know it.”

She nodded. He was right. Dinner last night was great, and she had thoroughly enjoyed his company. When he returned her back home, he had walked her to the door then kissed her on the cheek before leaving. On the drive over from Hilton Head, she had entertained more than a few thoughts that in time maybe their relationship could move beyond friendship, but now she wasn’t so sure how she felt, or if that’s what she really wanted. She was attracted to him, that was a gimme, but how did he feel about her? What if the attraction was one-sided?

They stopped walking, and Lyle leaned forward to look into her eyes. “You okay?”

“Yes, why do you ask?”

“Because you’ve gotten quiet on me.”

“Umm, I was wondering about something.”

“What?”

“Why you don’t have an important person in your life. And please don’t give me the excuse of having too much work, because I don’t think a man’s plate is ever too full for a woman if he’s interested.”

He chuckled. “Now you sound like the old Lance Montgomery, spouting off some of his playa’s theology.”

“Well?”

“Well, the truth is that although I date occasionally, I haven’t found that particular woman with that certain spark I’m looking for.”

She was curious. “What kind of spark?”

“It’s hard to explain.”

What Monique needed at that moment was an explanation. For some reason, she wanted to understand exactly what he meant. She stopped walking and leaned against a black rail. “But I want you to explain.”

“All right, then,” he said, lowering his voice a notch. He took a step toward her and reached out and slowly caressed her arms with his fingertips. The sensations his touch was causing were immediately overwhelming, and the eyes staring into hers made them more intensely so. She could feel a light breeze flowing over her skin, but more than anything she felt, all the way down to her toes, the rush of heat flowing through her body from Lyle’s touch. The spark.

“Feel it?” he asked, his tone of voice lower still.

“Yes,” she said, as if snagged by his steady gaze.

“So can I.” He then released her hand and stepped back and smiled. “Now let’s go enjoy our lunch.”

Monique drew in a deep breath as she walked beside him. Just that quick, with a touch that still had her toes tingling, something had changed, and she couldn’t help wondering whether or not she could handle that change.

As far as
Monique was concerned, Lyle had opened a Pandora’s box that was better left closed. But then she couldn’t fully fault him since she
had
asked. But instead of explaining, he had shown her and she could still feel the results.

“You’re not eating. Aren’t you hungry, Nicky?”

She glanced up, and the moment their eyes met she felt a slight tremor pass through her. Then there was that dimpled smile. And if those things weren’t bad enough, the sound of her name from his lips was like a gentle wave washing over her.

“Evidently not as much as you were,” she said, eyeing his plate. It was clean. She wondered how he could still have such a hearty appetite after discovering “the spark.” As he’d alluded earlier, she had barely touched her food. Finding out a man could cause such havoc within your body with a mere touch was sort of nerve-wracking, to say the least.

His smiled widened at the exact moment he winked. “I have to make sure I have my strength for later.”

That got another reaction out of her. “Later? What happens later?” she asked.

“We’re going dancing at that nightclub on the corner. Remember?”

How could she forget? Especially since it had been her idea when they’d passed the establishment earlier. “Yes, I remember. Did you bring your dancing shoes?”

“No, but I can handle the slow numbers.”

Monique swallowed, wondering if
she
could handle them. Just the thought of being in his arms, barely moving around a dance floor, while their bodies rubbed against each other was too much to think about. She didn’t know if she should pretend a headache and stay in her room for the rest of the night or just roll with the flow. She quickly weighed her two options and decided to just roll with the flow. She
was
here to have fun.

“And since we’re planning to have a late night, maybe we should go back to the inn and take a nap.”

Monique glanced up. She knew he hadn’t meant it the way it sounded. They would be taking separate naps, but still his words were rather intimate to her ears. Way too intimate.

Lyle glanced across
the table at the woman who was trying to look every which way but at him. She was the same woman who had haunted his dreams for years—at least until he heard she had gotten married. After that he forced thoughts of her from his mind, thinking it wasn’t right to fantasize about someone else’s wife.

But she no longer belonged to anyone, so he was free to pursue her, and a trickle of anticipation ran through him. He intended to make sure that she understood that this weekend belonged to them, just as he’d made sure she understood she possessed “the spark” he desired in a woman.

It was hard to believe that even after eighteen years there were certain things about her that hadn’t changed, things he had fallen in love with. And it had always been more than a physical attraction for him. He always admired her zest for life as well as her keen intelligence. And then there was that degree of loyalty within her that you seldom found in people these days. Her concern for her friend attested to the fact that she was someone who cared deeply for others, especially those who meant something to her.

He looked deep into her eyes. “Ready to go?”

She took a deep breath and blew it out before saying, “Yes, I’m ready.” He studied her a moment longer before standing.

She stood up as well. “Is anything wrong?”

He shook his head and chuckled. “No, Nicky, everything is fine.”