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Cecelia had all loved the gushing and attention of the customers. Leah
hated it. It was one reason she had been so embarrassed when Will
had drawn attention to her feat in attracting new clients.
Will frowned at Leah, but he didn t say anything. He finished
packing up the boxes and turned to Gavin. Let s get these loaded into
your car. Dad, Mom, can you help?
Sure, Mr. Dannaker said. He grabbed a couple of boxes and
handed them to Zorah. He held the next stack out to Leah.
Leah s going to rest, Will said. He took the boxes from his
father. She s done too much today already. We can manage without
her.
Gavin and Mr. Dannaker each took two boxes. Zorah and Will
carried the rest. When they had all gone, the condo was strangely
124 Debora Ryan
silent. The day was catching up with Leah. She went into Will s room
to lie down and didn t hear him return.
A gentle pressure on her shoulder roused Leah from a solid sleep.
She opened her eyes to find Will leaning over her. The colors of early
evening diffused through the window and reflected from Will s eyes,
turning them light brown. What time is it?
I m sorry, honey, he said. You haven t been asleep for very
long, but I thought you should eat. You skipped lunch, and you
haven t had dinner. I made you some macaroni and cheese.
Leah smiled. My favorite.
You deserved it after all your hard work today. I really do
appreciate it, and I know Jaden does, too.
Leah sat up. I m glad she liked them. It s been so long since I ve
made anything like that. It was kind of nice.
You know, if advertising doesn t work out for you, the baking
business is a good alternative. You re very talented.
No, thanks, she laughed. I don t mind doing it every now and
then, but day in, day out. She shook her head. I would go crazy.
He kissed her lightly on the nose, and she caught the subtle scent
of his shampoo and aftershave. Why don t you freshen up? I ll have
everything ready for you in about five minutes.
Macaroni and cheese wasn t the only thing on the menu, Leah
found out when she sat down at the heavy oak dining room table. Will
had also prepared a salad and crab cakes. It s an odd combination, I
know. But I was limited to working with what I had on hand. Pasta by
itself is not a well-balanced meal.
You sound like Anne, Leah said, smiling brightly. I think it
looks delicious. Thank you.
Will sat across from Leah and began eating. Speaking of Anne,
she called. I told her you were sleeping, but that you still wanted her
to pick you up tomorrow morning.
Leah had mixed feelings about him answering her phone. On one
hand, he d bought it for her. On the other, was she not entitled to a
Crimes of the Heart 125
little privacy? The phone came with voice mail. Did she want me to
call her back?
He shrugged. She told me not to wake you.
After dinner, Leah called Anne, but got her voice mail. She left a
message that was probably not different from what Will had said to
her and put the phone back on the long, thin table behind the larger
sofa. She was staring at it when Will came up behind her and put his
hands on her shoulders.
You should go to bed, honey. You need your rest.
Leah had been pondering Will s gift and all the other things he
had done for her over the last several days. What did it all mean? She
was afraid to ask him in case she had misinterpreted his motives.
Instead she closed her hand over his and turned to face him. Come
with me.
The suggestion in her eyes was too much for Will to resist. He
bent down and kissed Leah, pouring all of his passion into that one
act.
His kisses moved, and his teeth caught her ear. I find it amazing
that you refused to consider dating me. His mouth traveled along her
neck. We re so amazing together. Aren t you glad I blackmailed
you?
Suddenly reminded of her reason for being there, Leah froze. Yes,
the sex was good. She had deluded herself about Will for so long it
had become a habit. But to have it thrown in her face was too much.
Will drew back, a frown on his face. Sweetheart, what s wrong?
She looked up at him. I m sorry, Will. This isn t easy for me.
You ll have to be patient if you re going to draw my attention to the
fact that I m your whore.
Will s jaw dropped. It was several seconds before he spoke, and
even then he stumbled over the words. I& What& Lee& He paused
to summon coherent thought. I don t understand.
Leah wiggled out of his embrace. I ve never been the kind of
woman who sleeps around, Will. My last two relationships lasted for
126 Debora Ryan
over two years each. This is a bit different for me. It ll take some time
to acclimate.
Tears burned hot behind her eyes. She was tired, so incredibly
tired. She headed for the bedroom.
Will followed. But you were fine last night.
She grabbed her bag and began stuffing her things into it. There
was nothing she wanted to do more than leave. She laughed bitterly.
I managed to convince myself that there was something between us.
It s a little easier to create the illusion of a relationship if you re not
throwing it in my face. There is really nothing more between us than
the agreement that I would make myself available to you. I ve kept up
my end of the bargain as well as I could.
Dragging the heavy bag behind her, she emerged from the
bedroom to look around the living room. Nothing of hers was visible.
Will had followed her from the bedroom. He looked like a lost,
frightened puppy. His deep, brown eyes were wide with shock. She
resisted the tugs at her heartstrings and gathered her courage.
I can t do this anymore. I thought I could, but I can t. I m leaving
now. Our agreement is ended. I guess you ll do what you have to do.
Wait! He reached for her, grasping her shoulders and roughly
pulling her close to him. Desperately, he searched her face for
something. She gave him nothing. You only slept with me because I
blackmailed you?
Why else? Judging by the way he blanched, her response hit a [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl rafalstec.xlx.pl
Cecelia had all loved the gushing and attention of the customers. Leah
hated it. It was one reason she had been so embarrassed when Will
had drawn attention to her feat in attracting new clients.
Will frowned at Leah, but he didn t say anything. He finished
packing up the boxes and turned to Gavin. Let s get these loaded into
your car. Dad, Mom, can you help?
Sure, Mr. Dannaker said. He grabbed a couple of boxes and
handed them to Zorah. He held the next stack out to Leah.
Leah s going to rest, Will said. He took the boxes from his
father. She s done too much today already. We can manage without
her.
Gavin and Mr. Dannaker each took two boxes. Zorah and Will
carried the rest. When they had all gone, the condo was strangely
124 Debora Ryan
silent. The day was catching up with Leah. She went into Will s room
to lie down and didn t hear him return.
A gentle pressure on her shoulder roused Leah from a solid sleep.
She opened her eyes to find Will leaning over her. The colors of early
evening diffused through the window and reflected from Will s eyes,
turning them light brown. What time is it?
I m sorry, honey, he said. You haven t been asleep for very
long, but I thought you should eat. You skipped lunch, and you
haven t had dinner. I made you some macaroni and cheese.
Leah smiled. My favorite.
You deserved it after all your hard work today. I really do
appreciate it, and I know Jaden does, too.
Leah sat up. I m glad she liked them. It s been so long since I ve
made anything like that. It was kind of nice.
You know, if advertising doesn t work out for you, the baking
business is a good alternative. You re very talented.
No, thanks, she laughed. I don t mind doing it every now and
then, but day in, day out. She shook her head. I would go crazy.
He kissed her lightly on the nose, and she caught the subtle scent
of his shampoo and aftershave. Why don t you freshen up? I ll have
everything ready for you in about five minutes.
Macaroni and cheese wasn t the only thing on the menu, Leah
found out when she sat down at the heavy oak dining room table. Will
had also prepared a salad and crab cakes. It s an odd combination, I
know. But I was limited to working with what I had on hand. Pasta by
itself is not a well-balanced meal.
You sound like Anne, Leah said, smiling brightly. I think it
looks delicious. Thank you.
Will sat across from Leah and began eating. Speaking of Anne,
she called. I told her you were sleeping, but that you still wanted her
to pick you up tomorrow morning.
Leah had mixed feelings about him answering her phone. On one
hand, he d bought it for her. On the other, was she not entitled to a
Crimes of the Heart 125
little privacy? The phone came with voice mail. Did she want me to
call her back?
He shrugged. She told me not to wake you.
After dinner, Leah called Anne, but got her voice mail. She left a
message that was probably not different from what Will had said to
her and put the phone back on the long, thin table behind the larger
sofa. She was staring at it when Will came up behind her and put his
hands on her shoulders.
You should go to bed, honey. You need your rest.
Leah had been pondering Will s gift and all the other things he
had done for her over the last several days. What did it all mean? She
was afraid to ask him in case she had misinterpreted his motives.
Instead she closed her hand over his and turned to face him. Come
with me.
The suggestion in her eyes was too much for Will to resist. He
bent down and kissed Leah, pouring all of his passion into that one
act.
His kisses moved, and his teeth caught her ear. I find it amazing
that you refused to consider dating me. His mouth traveled along her
neck. We re so amazing together. Aren t you glad I blackmailed
you?
Suddenly reminded of her reason for being there, Leah froze. Yes,
the sex was good. She had deluded herself about Will for so long it
had become a habit. But to have it thrown in her face was too much.
Will drew back, a frown on his face. Sweetheart, what s wrong?
She looked up at him. I m sorry, Will. This isn t easy for me.
You ll have to be patient if you re going to draw my attention to the
fact that I m your whore.
Will s jaw dropped. It was several seconds before he spoke, and
even then he stumbled over the words. I& What& Lee& He paused
to summon coherent thought. I don t understand.
Leah wiggled out of his embrace. I ve never been the kind of
woman who sleeps around, Will. My last two relationships lasted for
126 Debora Ryan
over two years each. This is a bit different for me. It ll take some time
to acclimate.
Tears burned hot behind her eyes. She was tired, so incredibly
tired. She headed for the bedroom.
Will followed. But you were fine last night.
She grabbed her bag and began stuffing her things into it. There
was nothing she wanted to do more than leave. She laughed bitterly.
I managed to convince myself that there was something between us.
It s a little easier to create the illusion of a relationship if you re not
throwing it in my face. There is really nothing more between us than
the agreement that I would make myself available to you. I ve kept up
my end of the bargain as well as I could.
Dragging the heavy bag behind her, she emerged from the
bedroom to look around the living room. Nothing of hers was visible.
Will had followed her from the bedroom. He looked like a lost,
frightened puppy. His deep, brown eyes were wide with shock. She
resisted the tugs at her heartstrings and gathered her courage.
I can t do this anymore. I thought I could, but I can t. I m leaving
now. Our agreement is ended. I guess you ll do what you have to do.
Wait! He reached for her, grasping her shoulders and roughly
pulling her close to him. Desperately, he searched her face for
something. She gave him nothing. You only slept with me because I
blackmailed you?
Why else? Judging by the way he blanched, her response hit a [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]