LOST AND FOUND HUSBAND (3 page)

“Are you hungry for dessert?” he asked, his voice cutting into her thoughts. “Or do you want a cup of coffee or a soda or anything?”

“I wouldn’t mind having a milkshake. Chocolate always does the trick for me.”

“I think the soda fountain place is getting ready to close. But I’ll hurry and nab you one.”

He left her standing at the rail with her shawl billowing and her mind on his wedding. She was also thinking about her own life and the part of her future that mattered most to her family.

When he returned with her milkshake, she thanked him, took a sip and said, “I want to get married and have kids someday. I promised my mom that I would never repeat our family history.”

“What history?”

“Of unwed mothers. My mom was a single mother and so was her mother. It’s not a very romantic legacy. Women raising children by themselves.”

He frowned. “Why weren’t the dads involved?”

“I was the product of a one-night stand so I have no idea who my father is. That was the only time Mom had ever done anything like that, and she’s ashamed of her behavior, even until this day.” Dana drank more of her milkshake, taking comfort in the chocolate. “She loves me and she’s been a good parent, but there was still shame attached to my birth.”

“I’m sorry.”

“My grandmother’s story is worse. She slept with a married man and that’s how she got pregnant with my mom. She had a reputation for being a loose woman in her day, but it wasn’t true. He’d seduced her into believing that he would leave his wife for her, and she paid the ultimate price when he spurned her afterward and refused to claim the baby. So you can see why they’re pinning their hopes on me to have children the legitimate way. Mom calls their experiences sins of the past.”

“I don’t think there’s anything sinful about having babies.”

“Me, neither. But I still don’t want to be an unwed mother. It would crush my family. Actually, it would probably crush me, too. I felt tainted as a kid, and I’d never want my child to feel that way.”

“I’m sorry,” he said again. He reached out as if he meant to stroke her cheek, but he lowered his hand before contact was made. After a moment of silence, he added, “My daughter’s birth parents weren’t married. They were only sixteen when she was born.”

Confused, Dana blinked. “Her birth parents?”

“We adopted Kaley.”

She couldn’t hide her surprise. “All this time I thought she was yours.”

“She is mine.”

Dana apologized for the gaffe. “I didn’t mean it that way. It just wasn’t what I expected to hear.”

“That’s okay. There’s no way you could have known,” he quietly explained. “Corrine was adopted, so when we discovered that she couldn’t conceive, we turned to adoption, too. Only Corrine wanted an open adoption for our baby because hers had been closed and she always felt a sense of loss not knowing who her birth parents were.”

“So Kaley’s adoption was open?”

“No. It didn’t work out that way. But Corrine encouraged Kaley to search for her birth parents if she ever felt the need. And recently, she did. Kaley found her birth mother, and soon after that, she met her birth father.”

“Wow.” Intrigued, Dana tilted her head. “How did that go?”

“Remarkably well. For everyone. Not only did they embrace Kaley and welcome her into their lives, they got back together. They’re getting married this summer. Kaley is going to be the maid of honor and I was asked to be the best man.”

“That’s a beautiful story.” Homey, romantic. “Things don’t usually happen that way.” Or she assumed they didn’t. All she knew was her own fatherless family. “I used to wonder about my dad when I was kid. Sometimes I still do. But I could never search for him. The only thing my mom knew about him was his first name. John. Can you imagine me trying to hunt him down?”

“That would be next to impossible, unless your mom was able to remember anything else about him that might lead you in his direction.”

“She doesn’t like to talk about him, and there’s no point in putting her through that or making her relive what she considers her shame. Of course I compensated by becoming a bohemian.” She flapped her fringe and made him smile. She shared her milkshake with him, too.

He drank from the straw and handed it back to her. “Where did you grow up?”

“You’re going to laugh when I tell you.”

“Why would I laugh?”

“Freedom, Ohio.”

As predicted, he laughed. “You’re from a town called Freedom?”

“Yep. The girl who’s determined to be free. Actually, there are lots of Freedoms scattered throughout the States, but mine just happens to be in Ohio.”

“When did you move to California?”

“After I graduated from high school.” She glanced at the ocean again. The waves were getting bigger. “When I was about twelve, we came to Southern California for a vacation. I made up my mind then that I was going to live here someday.”

“Is your mom still in Ohio?”

She nodded. “My grandmother, too. Neither of them ever got married. They’ll probably go nuts when I get engaged.”

He smiled. “The bohemian bride.”

“Marriage is going to be the only traditional thing I’ll probably ever do.” They shared the last of her shake, and she got tingly putting her mouth where his had been.

“I’m glad I went on this date,” he said.

The tingly feeling went off the charts. “It’s not over yet. You still have to kiss me at my front door.”

“That’s pretty much all I’ve been thinking about.”

Her, too. “The buildup is exciting.”

“I hope I don’t let you down.”

“You won’t.” She was certain of it.

And she was right. Later, he took her home, and they stood on her stoop, with a fairy-tale moon in the sky. Eric moved closer, and her heart pounded up a magical storm. As he took her into his arms, she went downright goose-bumpy.

She was going to be kissed the way she longed to be kissed: tenderly, deeply, thoroughly. They’d been waiting all evening to make this happen.

It started off slowly, a flutter of sweet warmth. She wrapped her arms around him, basking in the strength of his body. She parted her lips, and their tongues met and mated.

Then things got hotter.

Dana moaned and pressed tighter against him. He slid his hands down her spine, resting on the curve of her rear. Her moan turned to a mewling, as they continued to kiss like hedonic fiends.

She rubbed against his fly. He swore beneath his breath, but that only made it better. He backed her roughly against the door.

A gust of wind rustled through the yard. She could hear it stirring the plants and flowers. Dana had the wicked urge to remove her dress.

“Stay with me,” she heard herself say.

“I can’t,” she heard him reply.

“Yes, you can,” she countered. They were whispering in between lusty sips of each other.

He groaned and ended the kiss, but his pelvis was still fused to hers. “Do you know what you’re asking me to do?”

“Yes.” She knew exactly what she was suggesting.

“I couldn’t promise more than one night, Dana.”

“It’s okay, as long as I get to be with you.” For now, all she wanted was him warm and naked in her bed.

“It would be too much like what happened with your mom.”

“It’s nothing like that. You’re not a stranger. I know more about you than your first name. And we’re going to be responsible. I have a whole box of condoms in my nightstand drawer.”

“We still shouldn’t.”

“Why? Because of our age difference? We’re both consenting adults, and I’ve been fantasizing about you since I met you.” Fantasies she wanted to make come true.

She turned and unlocked the door. Determined to have him, she reached for his hand, beckoning him to be wild and free with her.

And have the night of their lives.

Chapter Three

E
ric went inside with Dana, but he didn’t jump into the sweet flame of desire. He needed to slow down, to take a deep breath, to be absolutely positive that she understood his uncommitted position. He rarely acted on impulse and this wasn’t the time to start. Nor could he bear to take advantage of her.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked, as they stood in her living room.

“I’m certain. If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t have invited you to stay with me.”

“What if we don’t go on another date again?”

“You already said that you couldn’t promise anything other than one night.”

“How would you feel afterward if I stopped coming to the diner?”

She flinched a little. “Why would you do that?”

“Because it might interfere with our lives. And if it does, then I might not come back.” He was giving himself an out, but he knew that he needed one. “If I keep coming to the diner, we might be tempted to do this again. And I don’t think that would be a good idea.”

“Stop worrying, Eric. I can handle this, however it turns out. I get that you don’t want to enter into a relationship. But honestly, you can still eat at the diner.” She sent him a teasing smile. “I won’t serve you a side of sex with your meat loaf.”

He couldn’t help but laugh. She was a silly delight. “Can you imagine if that was on the menu?”

“It’s on the menu tonight.” Like the seductress she was, she dropped her shawl and removed her dress, giving him a sample of what he’d just ordered.

Heat. Hunger. A sensual agreement. She’d just assured him that she could handle a one-night affair, and he could no longer resist her charms, making him crazy hot.

She was crazy beautiful. He couldn’t wait to touch her. She tossed the dress on the sofa and it landed in a pool of fabric dahlias.

She stood before him in her panties and bra and high heels. The longing to caress her, to feel the silk and softness of a woman engulfed him even more. He could barely breathe. She looked as if she were holding her breath, too.

“Are you ready?” she asked.

He nodded. He was more than ready. He wanted to drag her into his arms and sweep her into bed. Only it was her bedroom. Her house. Her rules.

She came forward and kissed him, much too softly. It was all he could do to stop from going caveman. The years he’d been celibate felt like a lifetime.

“Let’s go,” she whispered, and took him to her room.

It was a girlish mess, with clothes all over the floor. Her sheets were rumpled, too. He’d never seen such pretty chaos. Amid the clutter was more of her gypsy styling, with embroidered pillows and lacy doodads.

She shrugged, smiled. “I wasn’t expecting company in here. But I hardly ever make my bed, anyway.” She gestured to the clothes on the floor. “Those are from last night, when I was figuring out what to wear for our date.”

“And now here we are.” Only minutes from being naked together. He took off his jacket and draped it over a chair.

“I’ll get the protection so it’s handy when we need it.” She kicked off her shoes, crawled onto the bed and dug around in her nightstand drawer, leaning over with her rump in the air.

He doubted that her provocative pose was deliberate. She just seemed focused on her task. And damned cute while doing it.

“Shoot,” she said. “I can’t find them.”

Just as Eric was thinking that he’d better dash out to buy some, she turned around. “Maybe they’re in the bathroom. Give me a sec.”

Off she went to continue the search. He was still preparing to go to the store, if need be. She was cute, but she wasn’t very organized.

She reappeared with a grin. She’d found them. In fact, she held them up like a trophy. He’d never been so glad to see a box of rubbers.

He got rid of his shoes and joined her in bed, anxious to get his hands on her. She was anxious, too. She started undressing him, tugging at his clothes with feminine fury.

Once they were both bare and pressed together, he buried his face against her neck and breathed her in. Sweet heaven. Was it his imagination or did she smell like his favorite dessert?

“Am I crazy?” he asked.

“What?”

“I could swear you smell like cherry pie.”

She smiled, her lipstick lustfully smeared. “It’s cherry blossom perfume. I wore it just for you.”

“I didn’t notice it until now.” But damn, he was glad that she’d sprayed it on her skin. “If I had some ice cream, I’d gobble you up a la mode.”

She put her hand between his thighs. “If you had some ice cream, I’d let you.”

He felt as if he was going to explode. Had he ever been this aroused? They rolled over the bed, tangling the bedding more than it already was. They did thrilling things to each other, too.

Hot, wild foreplay.

He grabbed for the condoms, tore into one and put it on. Dana arched beneath him, eager and willing. He saw the fire in her eyes, so blue, so blazing, so enticing.

Fast and furious, they made hammering love. He couldn’t slow down if he tried. But she obviously didn’t want him to. She matched him, stroke for heart-thundering stroke.

They reached the peak together, or that was how it seemed. He couldn’t be sure. He was too blinded by his own hunger to gauge her orgasm.

By the time it was completely over and they separated, they were beaded with sweat and staring up at the ceiling, their fingertips still touching.

“Wow,” she said.

“Double wow.” He turned to look at her. “That was fun.”

“Just as it was supposed to be.” She planted a soft little kiss on his shoulder.

Now that it had ended, her affection made him uncomfortable. But most women got cozy afterward, he supposed, so why would she be the exception? He told himself that it didn’t mean anything.

Eric got up and used her bathroom to dispose of the protection. He returned to Dana, and her tousled blond hair made him smile. He’d run his hands through it during their foreplay. He’d messed it up but good.

“Will you stay the night?” she asked.

“Sure. Why not?” He got back into bed with her. His discomfort had lessened. Besides, she deserved to be cuddled. To leave her alone now would have been disrespectful.

She said, “I can’t wait to tell Candy how amazing my date with you was.”

“Candy?”

“My landlord.”

“You’re not going to tell her you slept with me, are you?”

“Of course I am. That’s a major part of how amazing it was.”

“Why are girls allowed to kiss and tell and boys aren’t?”

“Boys tell plenty.”

“I never have.”

“You’re one of the good ones.”

He didn’t consider himself good or bad. He simply was what he was. “I’m just private about things like that.”

“Candy is different from most girls. She hardly says anything about herself. She’s divorced and is having a tough time with it. But she hasn’t told me any of the details.”

“It takes time to get over someone.” He frowned. “I’ve heard that divorce can be as traumatic as what I went through. They say it’s like death, only without the body.”

“I’ve never thought of it like that before. But I never had cause to think about it before now. Candy is the only divorced friend I have.” She nuzzled closer. “And you’re the only widowed person I know. I’m so sorry you lost the woman you loved.”

“I appreciate that you’re able to discuss it with me without acting strange. I learned early on to keep most of it to myself. But with you, it’s been easy.”

“Maybe it’s because I’m so easy.” She nudged her nakedness against his and laughed at her own bawdy joke.

Such joy. Such innocence. He envied her that. “Someday some young guy is going to fall desperately in love with you.”

She made a dreamy sound. “I hope so.”

“It’ll happen. Mark my words.”

“Marking them now.” She grabbed a pen off the nightstand and wrote L-O-V-E on her stomach.

He poked a finger into her navel. “That looks like a really bad tattoo.”

“That’s what we should do if we ever see each other again. We should get tattoos. A hunky guy like you should have something tribal and a bohemian girl like me should have something...” She seemed to be at a loss when it came to knowing what she should have.

He went ahead and made a few suggestions. “How about something flowery? Like cherry blossoms? Or something magical? Like a unicorn or a winged tigress?”

“Those are great ideas. I think I like the tigress the best.” She purred playfully at him.

“That’s sweet. But tigers don’t purr. They chuff, like this.” He made a breathy snort, mimicking the big cats.

“Oh, that’s sexy. Maybe you should get the tiger tattoo.”

“I think we should get some sleep.” He adjusted his arm, giving her room to nestle in the crook of it.

She accepted his invitation and closed her eyes, and he watched her until she dozed off. He couldn’t help it.

He simply liked looking at her.

* * *

Dana expected Eric to awaken first, but she beat him to it. She discovered him, rough and rugged, and conked out beside her. His straight dark hair was spiked against the pillow and his jaw bore a bit of whisker stubble.

She scrounged around for a robe and found one in the midst of the clothing pile on the floor. It was her favorite robe, a silky number with a Hawaiian print.

After wrapping herself in it, she headed for the bathroom to wash what was left of last night’s makeup off her face. She also brushed her teeth and put her hair in a twisty bun.

Then she went back into her room, sat on the edge of the bed and watched Eric come awake. He squinted at her, and she smiled.

“Morning,” she said.

After a long stretch, he replied, “I’ve never been much of a morning person.” There was a surly expression on his face.

“I’m an everything person,” she told him, without losing her smile. “I like all times of the day.”

He sat up a little straighter. “I need to go home.”

“Not before breakfast.” She didn’t want him to leave just yet. She wanted to improve his mood. “Stay and eat with me. I’m a great cook.”

“Really? You are?”

“Yes, sir. I’ll whip up a batch of blueberry waffles. How does that sound?”

“Heavenly.”

Perfect,
she thought, commending herself. His mood was improving already. “How about eggs and bacon, too?”

“Even more heavenly. I’m a sucker for home cooking.”

“In that case, I’ll throw in some hash browns.” The more food the better, especially if it was going to make him smile.

He did smile, and it warmed her all the way to her toes. He was still gloriously naked and gorgeous as ever.

He ran a hand through his hair. “Do you think I could use your shower? I’m never fully awake until I shower.”

“Absolutely. Wash away.”

“Any chance you have an extra toothbrush handy?”

“Are you kidding? I have a drawer full of toothbrushes in the bathroom. I have a ton of extra toiletries, too. There’s a dollar store down the street and I go a little nuts when I shop there.”

Another smile from the naked man. “Will you make coffee with breakfast?”

“Of course. That’s a given.” She watched him walk to the bathroom. All male. All healthy-guy muscle.

Dana went into the kitchen to whip up the meal. By the time Eric emerged, breakfast was ready. He’d obviously taken an invigorating shower. He looked refreshed. He was dressed, too, shoes and all.

She handed him a cup of coffee, and he inhaled the roasted aroma before he took a sip.

“This is better than the diner’s coffee,” he said.

“It’s the same brand.”

“It is? It takes richer.”

“Maybe because it’s more enjoyable to be drinking it at my house.” She grinned. “Morning-after coffee.”

“Maybe that’s it. You look cute, by the way.”

“Thanks.” She was still in her robe. There didn’t seem to be a reason to get dressed. She was comfy as she was.

They sat down at her table, and he thanked her for fixing the food. He ate with gusto. She smiled, glad that he’d agreed to have breakfast with her.

“Do you have any plans for the day?” she asked.

He shook his head.

“Me, neither. It’s my day off.” She waited for him to suggest that they spend the afternoon together, but he didn’t say anything. Then again, she didn’t really expect him to. Doing what came natural, she made the effort instead. “We ought to get those tattoos today, right after we finish eating.”

“I’m not getting inked. But you go ahead.”

“Not unless you come with me.”

“I’m going home after breakfast, Dana.”

“Come on, let’s be spontaneous together. You can even help design my tattoo for me.”

He shook his head. “I’ve been spontaneous enough for one day.”

“This is day two.”

“And I’m going home.”

“Then what are you going to do?” She thought about what he’d said last night about not continuing to see each other. “Disappear and never be heard from again?”

“It’s better that way, Dana.”

“I think you’ll change your mind.” She batted her lashes. “You’ll be back at the diner.” She opened her robe and flashed him. “And you’ll be back in my bed again, too.”

He laughed. “You’re something else.”

It was wonderful to hear him laugh. “Yes, I am.”

After breakfast, he kissed her goodbye. It was a warm, sexy, dreamy kiss, and Dana was certain he wouldn’t be able to stay away. In her mind, they were meant to be lovers, for however long it lasted.

After he was gone, she sat outside by the fountain, excited about when she would see him again.

* * *

The days that passed turned into weeks, but there was no sign of Eric. Dana had been wrong. She hadn’t charmed him into coming back to the diner, let alone sleeping with her again.

But that was the least of her worries. Or maybe it was the worst of them. Today she was a nervous wreck. Today she was confiding in Candy about her missed period.

Yes, Dana was late, and she’d never been late before. She could set a computer clock by her cycles.

“You better take a test,” Candy said, as they sat in Dana’s tiny living room, gazing at each other.

Dana shook her head. There had to be another reason for her missed period. She couldn’t be pregnant. She just couldn’t be. Not her. Not the girl who was determined to have babies the good old-fashioned married way.