Cradle and All (28 page)
Excerpt
A
LISON
ROLLED
THE
flat of her right palm along the edge of the steering wheel while holding it steady with the left. “Have you ever heard the saying that today is the first day of the rest of your life?”
“Sure. It's pretty corny, but I guess it could work for some people.”
“No. In my case, it's true. I'm starting over, going for the gusto, so to speak.”
“What was wrong with your life before today?” Ethan asked.
“I wasâI don't know why I'm telling you this. It's nothing you'd be interested in.”
“But I am interested. Besides, sometimes it's easier to talk to a stranger, especially one you won't be seeing after this weekend.”
“That's true. And you're...”
“You can finish the sentence, Alison. You don't have to be afraid to acknowledge the fact that I'm visually impaired, or visually challenged, if you go with the popular theory that no one's really impaired and everyone faces challenges.”
“I was just thinking how people always say that when one sense is lacking, the others make up for it. If that's true, you've probably already sensed that I'm trying out a new personality tonight.”
“Oh, I get it. You're one of those women with multiple personalities that I read about in psych class.”
“I certainly am not.”
“Then I guess you'd better explain.”
She slowed to a stop in front of the B and B. “The old me wasâboring. All work and no play.”
“All rules and no risks?”
“That's probably even more accurate. Now I want to experience life. That means I have to change a lot of things about me. I know you can't see it, but the dress I'm wearing is totally out of character for me.”
She killed the engine and planned to do the same with this conversation.
Ethan leaned closer. “I know this may sound strange to you, but do you mind if I touch your face?”
Her grip tightened on the wheel, but she turned toward him. “Why would you do that?”
“Touch is how I see my world.”
“Of course.” She released the wheel and reached across the space that separated them. Her hand trembled as she took his right hand and placed it on her left cheek.
He roamed the flesh with his fingertips, skimming her eyes, her cheeks, everywhere except her nose, before stopping at her lips. She was trembling, aroused. If she didn't stop him, he was going to kiss her. Or she was going to kiss him. She brushed his hand away. “I need to go now, Ethan. I really need to get home.”
“Then I'll see you tomorrow at the wedding.”
“Right. The wedding.”
“Thanks for the ride,” he said as he picked up his cane.
She watched him walk to the door, his cane pecking along the edge of the walk, while her senses whirled like crazy. The touch of his fingers against her face had been incredible, like a kiss, only much more sensual.
Of all the things she'd expected tonight, reeling from a blind man's touch had not been on the list. The one man who couldn't possibly have been impressed by her new nose, her sexy dress or her flawlessly applied makeup, and he was the one she was sitting here drooling over like a schoolgirl.
A love 'em and leave 'em kind of guy.
Wendy's words of caution flashed into her mind, and Alison had no trouble believing them. The guy might be visually impaired, but he was a smooth operator. He'd managed to catch her off guard and had kept her reacting to him all night. Here today, gone tomorrowâwell, day after tomorrow. If she wasn't careful, she'd blow the weekend she'd been waiting for all her life on a man who used his impairment like an aphrodisiac.
Tonight, she'd played into his hands, literally and figuratively, but tomorrow night would be a different story entirely. She'd be pleasant, but aloof. She wouldn't give him a chance to use that touching routine on her again.
Still, a warm, gooey sensation that felt a lot like melted marshmallows on chocolate bubbled in her stomach as she drove home.
ISBN: 9781460320730
CRADLE AND ALL
Copyright © 2002 by Harlequin Books S.A.
Mary Johnson is acknowledged as the author of this work.
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