Threads of Steel (Bayou Cove) (23 page)

“You look good in here, like you belong here.”

Was that his way of telling her that New Orleans was her home and she shouldn’t consider moving?

Maybe not.
Maybe he was just giving her a compliment. She chose to believe the latter. “Thank you, but I have a feeling it’s the dim lighting working its magic. Anyone could look good in the dark.”

He laughed,
then
gave a young waitress their orders. She’d said that anyone could look good in here, but Doug looked good everywhere she’d seen him.

She watched him as he told her about the golf tournament. Being with Doug was wonderful but a small, nagging question kept reminding her she didn’t know much about the man. After the waitress returned with their order, Anna Marie took her chance to see if he’d open up to her.

She tasted her wine,
then
inhaled deeply. “You know, on the first day we played golf, I asked you about your wife and the only thing you told me was that she was no longer in your life. Does that mean you and she divorced?”

He got serious,
then
Doug took a sip of his wine. “Jennifer died about five years ago.”

Anna Marie was shocked. “I’m so sorry. Why didn’t you tell me when I asked you?”

He looked out over the lounge, then back to her. “I didn’t know anything about you then. I learned a long time ago that if I told people—women specifically—it changed everything. They felt sorry for me and wanted me to talk about her, or they started telling me about friends and family members they’d lost. I simply started saying she wasn’t in my life anymore and that usually shut them up.”

Anna Marie wasn’t sure what to say. “I understand. You’re right. You didn’t know me then, but you didn’t feel comfortable enough with me before now that you could tell me?”

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t sure how you’d react either. We seemed to have such a good time together that I didn’t want to ruin it for us.”

“Okay, I can accept that. You’re forgiven.”

He took her hand. “Thank you. I wanted to tell you, but there wasn’t the right time.”

Anna Marie wasn’t sure how to feel about that, but she did know how she liked the feel of his hand on hers. It was wonderful, but she gave him a small squeeze then slid her hand out of his.

She wanted him to feel comfortable with her and really hated that she had to ask him about his wife. She wanted him to elaborate, but since he’d already said he didn’t like others to ask him about her, she changed the subject and talked about her week
.

They sipped a glass of wine and listened to the piano player, talked quietly, but mostly just relaxed. When the music changed to a slower number, several couples got up to dance.

Doug put down his glass and offered her a hand. “Are you too tired to try it?”

“I’m never too tired to dance.”

When she turned into his arms on the small dance floor, she lost herself in his masculine scent. When she laid her head against the soft fabric of his shirt, he wrapped his arm around her body and pulled her close as they swayed to the rhythm of the song.

Sparks went off in her head when she realized she didn’t want this night to end. Doug McCall had stepped into her life when she was vulnerable and lonely and probably as needy as she’d ever been, but she didn’t care why she wanted to be with him. If it was a phase she was going through, then she’d enjoy every minute of it.

If it was more than a passing moment—well, she’d think about the situation later. Right now, the feel of his arm around her, his hard body rubbing against hers, and his warm breath in her hair made her forget Bayou Cove, weddings, sewing schedules, and the promise to herself never to allow a man to dominate her life again.

Tonight she was going to enjoy this man and deal with the aftermath tomorrow.

* * *

Doug heard Anna Marie’s breath hitch when he pulled her into his arms. He loved to dance, but since Jennifer had died, he avoided situations where he’d have to dance with anyone. He and Jennifer had been good on the dance floor, and he couldn’t imagine anyone making him enjoy the activity again. Tonight, as he escorted Anna Marie to the tiny dance floor, he prayed his thoughts of Jennifer wouldn’t ruin his night.

As soon as Anna Marie turned into his arms, he knew his fears were for nothing. She melted into his arms and followed him with fluid motion. Against his better judgment, he pulled her tighter, feeling the curve of her breasts against his chest and her warm breath on his neck. A hot surge of desire shot through his veins.

He closed his eyes and didn’t pull away from the woman who had caught his attention from the moment she’d walked up to him at the country club. For all these years he’d lived alone, he’d tried to keep his distance from the women who sought him out because he was eligible. This lady was different. She acted as if she liked him, but other than that, she didn’t throw herself at him like some of the other females he’d met.

He’d been to bed with a few of them along the way—after all he was human—but he always made it clear that he wasn’t looking for an attachment. If they still wanted in his bed, he didn’t refuse, but he never let it get beyond that.

With Anna Marie it was so different. He definitely wanted to make love to her, but he could tell she wasn’t eager to form any attachments either. Maybe that’s why he was so attracted to her. Whatever the reason, right now he needed to feel Anna Marie against him, and if he were lucky tonight, maybe she’d invite him into her home.

“That was lovely,” she said with a beautiful smile as he escorted her back to their table. “I love to dance, but I never find
the
. . .” she hesitated, “. . . opportunity to get out on the dance floor.”

Once they were seated, he took a long drink from his glass. “Don’t tell me that someone like you in this city of constant parties doesn’t find herself out on the town every weekend?”

He watched her look down at her glass. She ran her thumb along the rim before answering. Did she know how sexy she was when she did that?

“I’m not much of a partier,” she said. “My life consists of my business right now. I don’t find a lot of extra time to go out.”

“You can’t tell me there’s no time on the weekends for enjoyment.” He reached over and took both of her hands in his. He felt the muscles tighten in her hands. “Relax, Anna Marie, I’m not going to eat you alive. I just want to hold your hands.”

“I’m sorry. I guess I’m a little out of practice.”

“Do I make you nervous?” he asked, needing to know how she felt about him. He realized he was afraid she’d tell him she didn’t want to get close to him or to give them a chance.

She raised her eyes and looked at him.
“No, not at all.
Like I said, I’m just out of practice. I don’t date much.”

“Would it make you feel better if I told you I don’t go out a lot either?”

“Now, that I don’t believe.”

“Why not?
I’m not a kid any more. I don’t need to play the dating scene, sitting around night clubs alone, or doing whatever singles
do
now.”

A low chuckle escaped her lips. “I feel the same way. I go out with lots of friends, some of them are male, but we’re just that, friends.”

Still, she looked nervous, almost frightened to let
herself
relax with him tonight so he pulled his hands away. If she needed to go slow with him, then he was more than willing to accommodate, but damn, he couldn’t believe the disappointment that settled around his heart by her lack of enthusiasm tonight.

“I have to ask,” he said with a little attack of nerves of his own, “are we just friends?”

She jerked her head up and bit her lip. “I don’t know. Are we?”

“I have a lot of friends,” he said, “but I don’t hold their hands or miss them like I did while I was at that tournament.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.
I missed you. I missed you a lot.”

He waited for her to tell him she’d missed him as much, but she bit her lip instead.

Doug sat back in his chair. “But you didn’t miss me, did you?”

Her eyes flew open. “Yes I did. I guess I’ve just been so swamped with work that I haven’t had a lot of time to think, but I have to admit I did think about you when I was up in the sewing room alone.”

“Well, then, I guess I’ll have to accept that.”

He had a feeling something was keeping her from opening up her heart to him or to any man. She’d been terribly hurt by the way her marriage had broken up. He assumed that could keep any woman from wanting to trust a man again.

Anna Marie
LaFaire
was definitely a challenge that sparked an interest in him that he hadn’t felt since he’d fallen in love with Jennifer years ago.

The piano player banged out a few loud notes then went into a fast number. Several couples jumped up on the dance floor so he stopped trying to figure out where he stood with this woman. He had a hunch he was feeling more in this new relationship than she was.

He held out his hand to her. “Want to try it again?”

With a big smile, she got up and let him lead her to the dance floor. He’d learned to live alone ever since he lost Jennifer. Leave it to him to finally find someone he’d like to get to know better—someone who probably had no interest in taking their friendship to the next level.

For the rest of the night, they avoided mentioning anything personal. They danced, laughed and talked, ate at the lounge, then walked out in the cool of the evening. When he parked in front of her house, he turned slightly in his seat to face her.

“I’m glad I stopped in New Orleans. I’ve enjoyed myself.”

“I did too, Doug. Are you leaving tomorrow?”

“Yes. I have my neighbor feeding my dog and after a week, I have a feeling she’s ready for me to get home.”

“I didn’t know you have a dog.”

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Miss
LaFaire
, but I hope one day we can get to know each other better.”

“Yes, I’d like that.”

He walked around the car to help her out disappointed that the night was going to be over,
but he was bound and determined he wouldn’t push her. He hated it when the women he took out tried to push him into something too fast. The only thing their actions did was to make him run.

They walked side by side to her front porch, neither saying a word. When she found her key to the house, she turned to him. In her eyes he saw doubt, maybe even fear, but she swallowed and smiled. Was she afraid of what would happen next?

His heart softened. No way would he put her on the spot. If he ever made love to this woman, he would be sure she was ready. He took her hands in his and was going to tell her goodnight, but she leaned into him and tilted her head up to him, silently telling him she wanted him to kiss her. He was more than ready to oblige.

With one step toward her, he took her in his arms and pulled her against his body. His lips found hers. He tried to be gentle. From what he’d learned about Anna Marie, he knew she needed tenderness, especially now after all she’d been through.

Even though she had initiated the kiss, he felt her hesitation. If it had been anyone else, he would’ve stopped. He wasn’t a beggar.

But this was Anna Marie, and he couldn’t walk away from her tonight, not unless she pushed him.

* *
*

Anna Marie leaned into Doug. No way could she control the powerful pull that she felt toward this man tonight. His mouth came down on her gently. She closed her eyes and fought the fear of letting go that threatened to strangle her. She’d kissed Doug before, but not with the intensity that burned within her now. If she succumbed to that emotion, there would be no turning back.

She tried to pull away, but her body refused to listen. Instead she leaned closer to him and she knew the instant he realized she was his. He pulled her tightly. Heat swept through her. Powerful desire sharpened every nerve. She returned his kiss with the passion and the emotions that she’d lived with for months.

She didn’t want to move.
Ever.
She needed what this man was doing to her and wanted him to take her here, but the vague sound of a car passing needled its way into her brain.

Without saying a word, Doug pulled back. He looked at her with burning desire in his eyes. Her knees weakened.

He took her house key and shoved the door open. “I think we’d better go inside before your neighbors call the police.”

His voice was husky.
His breathing rapid.

Dumbly, she nodded and stepped inside, hardly aware when the door shut, the latch snapped, and Doug pulled her into his arms again. He ran soft kisses across her eyelids, then down her cheeks. When his lips touched her neck, a deep moan escaped her lips.

He pulled away enough for her to see his eyes. They were glazed, but he managed to smile. “Where’s your bedroom?”

She nodded toward the hall.

He didn’t move. “Is this okay with you?”