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Rachel giggled, and no doubt sounded like a schoolgirl "Oh, yes, there’s a very special reason My last appointot basketball tryouts after school"

Bruce caught on right away "You led again

"Give ot it" Rachel closed the phone and held it against her heart, grinning wildly She saw Joan watching her, eyebrows raised

"I take it you don’t wantfor the rest of the day?"

"Please" Rachel hurried into the back room where she threw on her coat She was a woot home first and tore into the bedroom, where she closed the drapes, then pulled off her clothes and hopped into the shower Her best friend, Teri Polgar, had bought her a sheer negligee as a wedding gift, which Rachel had yet to wear She was finally going to initiate it

The front door opened and Bruce dashed inside "Rachel?"

"In here," she called back, hoping she sounded sultry and sexy She cli hi far more than it concealed Her chin was propped on one hand

Bruce ca for someone?" Rachel purred

He sed visibly It was a moment before he was able to move or speak "I need a shower," he croaked

Rachel rolled onto her back "Hurry"

"Oh, I’ll try" He started throwing off his clothes as he trotted toward the bathroom His shirt fell onto the carpet next to the bed It was a testaarment that the buttons hadn’t been ripped off in his haste His shoes were next; one was kicked under the bed and the other bounced against the wall and into the bathroom

"We have all afternoon, you realize," she said "Shall I pour us a glass of chaift froaze was riveted on her "You are so beautiful"

"That’s how you make me feel," she whispered

While Bruce showered, Rachel went into the kitchen Although it was an odd contrast with the negligee, she wore her old terry-cloth robe, not wanting to risk being seen through the s She opened the refrigerator and sorted through the s to the farthest reaches of the bottone Mo&eu she’d never expected to taste

By the time she heard Bruce, the flutes were out and ready She’d lit several scented candles, too The mood was set except for the music She found an appropriate CD and put it on

A minute or two later, Bruce met her in the kitchen He was barefoot and naked with a towel around his waist His dark hair fell in wet tendrils, dripping moisture onto his neck and shoulders As far as Rachel was concerned, he’d never looked sexier

Rachel turned to greet hine bottle in her hand and removed the wire top "Sone is to twist the bottle and not the cork When properly opened, it should sound like a contented woer to hear the sound of a contented worinned "Both"

Rachel attene, and the cork popped much more loudly than she’d expected

"You can be as noisy as you want, too," her husband joked, taking the bottle out of her hands He filled both flutes and gave her one Clutching his own, he leaned forward and pressed his h only theirphysical response rippled through her

Bruce groaned and put down his chane "Maybe we could drink this later?" he asked, hardly sounding like himself

"What do you have in mind?" she asked as he took the flute from her and set it on the kitchen counter

"Don’t you think it’s a bit warm in here?"

"Hmm I knohat you mean"

"You have too lanced out the kitchenno one, then peeled off her robe

Bruce led her down the narrow hallway to the master bedroom, then lifted her into his arms

"Bruce, I’m too heavy," she protested but not too strenuously

"Well…it’s not far fro it partway

Looping her arms around his neck, Rachel nibbled at his earlobe and felt his body shiver with excitement She was excited, too The freedo Jolene was heaven

Bruce reverently placed her on the bed, his eyes gloith love and wonder "These past feeeks…"

"I know, I know" Reaching for her husband, she urged him down so that he was sprawled across her They kissed until Rachel was breathless with desire "Oh, Bruce," she sighed "I want you so much"

No sooner had the words left her lips than the front door opened and closed

Bruce froze

Rachel did, too

"What’s Jolene doing home?" Bruce whispered fiercely

"She’s supposed to be at basketball tryouts!"

"Rachel?" Jolene called out "Are you home? Dad?"

"I’ll be out in a minute," Rachel called back as Bruce scrarab the towel and cover hihter appeared in the doorway

A look of sheer horror came over her She scrunched up her face and cried, "Gross!"

"Jolene" Rachel hurriedly hid her negligee with a pillow "What are you doing here?"