Page 5 (1/2)

After Alex left, Carmen threw the sheets in the dryer, washed dishes and cleaned his kitchen It had all the e disposal, and even a built-in oven It was going to be delightful cooking in this kitchen

Patio doors gave access to a small courtyard at the back of the house The broad arches allowed fresh air and the clear fiberglass roof let the sunshine in while keeping the rain out It wasn’t a grand place, but it was a mansion next to what she was accustomed to Still, Alex seemed at home in her old house – and she would have been perfectly content to keep hi up to a cold house wouldn’t be near as bad after a night sleeping next to his warht Here she was, thinking iain She paused – or was it? After all, he was her fiancé and they would soon belike a woirl Come to think of it, would he have been content to live in her house? Would he be content to live with the farhed heavily and opened the door to the porch She illing to change for his, anyway

Brutus ju for her She patted hi a lot of time over here now "

He licked his face and went back to panting, his eyes half open as he waited patiently beside her

Locking the door, she snapped the shirt back up and walked down the porch steps Behind her, claws clicked on the concrete as Brutus followed She walked down to the creek and waded through the water Cli the other bank, she headed across the field to the old house Brutus stopped to anoint a bush and then took out ahead of her

She walked through the grass with her head down Of course Alex would expect her to change in so all the decisions about her farm It would be a relief to turn all that stress over to him He had the money to take care of it and he was confident She would be taking care of the animals and house He had his job at the clinic as well as the responsibility of two properties That hardly see a stay-at-hooing to be an option – unless they adopted children She wasn’t ready for that yet and she hadn’t cood meant for them to have children, they would – no ht that she didn’t notice the gray truck parked in her yard until she opened the gate

Josh was glowering at her "Are you just getting houst in his eyes

Warmth rushed to her face "I met Alex for lunch – not that it’s any of your business"

"And he gave you his shirt? Where are your clothes?"

Anger washed over her in a bold wave She grabbed the front of the shirt and jerked the snaps open to reveal the sear

"I was at the creek swi when he came home And I repeat – not that it’s any of your business"

Josh stared at her swi back and fourth from surprise to embarrassment

In a belated modest moment, she clamped the shirt shut and headed for the house If it was none of his business, why had she explained - given him proof? And why had he looked at her that way? He was married now After a few steps, she ran the rest of the way to the porch Unshed tears of e to burn her eyes

"Carmen!" he called after her

She didn’t stop until she was inside the house and had the door locked Racing to her rooht shirt Hopefully he hadn’t colanced out the , he was gone Maybe he realized how inappropriately they had both acted

She was cleaning the oven when the phone rang Pealing off her gloves, she headed for the phone Her cell phone was in her pocket, but Alex probably figured she didn’t have it with her She caught it on the fourth ring

"Hello?"

"What took you so long?" It was Josh

"I was busy cleaning the oven" Again with the unnecessary explanations "What do you want?"

"Well, that’s not very friendly," Josh said with a note of indignation in his voice

"I’ I’ht now"

He snorted "Yeah? I’ll bet you don’t talk to hilared at it Without another word, she hung up If he wanted to talk to her, he’d have to stop referring to Alex as him In fact, she’d just as soon not talk to hiet through the door before the phone rang again It crossed her mind not to answer it at all, but et to the point In any case, it could be Alex

"Hello?" Her voice was controlled – just in case it was Alex

"Carain!" Josh snarled

She lifted her brows and lowered the receiver, hanging up again No, he hadn’t learned a thing This ti with every step Who did he think he was, ordering her around that way?

Again the phone rang With every step toward the phone she told herself she shouldn’t answer it – shouldn’t lose her temper But when she lifted the receiver, herto herdone around here!" She started to hang up, but the silent line perked her curiosity She lifted the receiver back to her ear

"Josh?"

For a moment the silence continued, and then a deep voice stated flatly – "Alex"

Blood rushed to her head in a painful flush and one hand shot to heron over there? Why is Josh calling you, and what’s he bothering you about?"

"I don’t know He came by earlier anddidn’t say"

"So what are you two fighting about?"

She ive hihed

"He was here when I caht I didn’t have anything on under it and asked if I was just now getting home"

For a moment Alex was silent "So you proved to hi on," he said dryly

Her face was burning "So like that – and then I ran into the house and locked the door"

"Why?"

"I don’t knoas euess" She sat down on the couch "So ere you calling?"

Silence again "Do you have your cell phone with you?"

"Yes," she said triuht here in my pocket this time It’s been there every since I caain blood rushed up into her face She pulled the phone frolanced at the blank display

"No"

"Well, I guess that’s why I called"

"Whyto catch me with my phone off?"

He chuckled "No, I can do that any time That’s why I called your house phone I called to find out if you neededat the store on the way ho back over to your house as soon as I finish cleaning ain"

At themore than to be in his arms She leaned forward on the couch

"Alex?"

"I’m still here"

"I love you – so much"

"I love you too, sweetheart I’ll see you in a few hours" He paused "Turn your cell phone on and ignore the land line I won’t call you again on it tonight"

"All right" He was telling her to let it ring, which was an excellent idea Josh was the last person on earth she wanted to talk to right now

After she hung up, she made sure her cell phone was on and then headed for the kitchen As she pulled her gloves on, the phone rang again She sers the rest of the way into the glove Grabbing the scrub sponge, she started cleaning the oven again The phone ran six ti situation

By the ti down her face It was miserably hot and she was exhausted She showered and put on a white sundress with a full skirt and spaghetti straps With a heavy sigh, she headed for his house It wouldn’t take long to fix supper

At the creek she pulled off her sandals and waded for a fewover rocks and the coolness of the water lifted her spirits Picking a few of the Tiger Lilies, she tucked them into her hair She carried her shoes up the hill and stopped under the big oak tree to put the heat, as if winking up at her She breathed deep, throwing her head back and fluffing her hair with her fingers to cool her scalp

Footsteps sounded behind her and she whirled, half expecting to see Josh Alex alking doard her She let out a sigh of relief

"Oh, I didn’t know you were hoaze traveled over her body, a pleased sel"

Waro in and start supper"

"No need I brought some stuff home from the deli Come on up and eat" He took her arm and assisted her up the hill "You look especially nice tonight"

"Do I? It’s just an old sundress I orking in the house all day and wanted to wear so cool"

He followed her up on the porch and opened the door for her His hand lightly touched her waist as he guided her into the cool roolanced up at hiry?"

"Starved Why did you cos were a little slow this afternoon and Dr Worthington offered to stay I took him up on it this time I stayed last time that happened"

"The last two, ifplates from the cabinets

"I’d never question youropen a drawer, he dispensed a spoon, fork and knife for each of the about the methodical way he set the table that was cute – yet utterly lass at the same tine was disturbing and she stepped back

"Excuse et it," he said "Why don’t you open up everything and put serving spoons in it?"

She opened the flatware drawer again and got out spoons As she leaned over the table to put thelass came down on the table on each side of her – his hands still attached She continued placing the spoons and the hands disappeared - only to end up on her waist She straightened, turning around to face hi yesterday? His hands loosened so she could turn, but never left her waist

She aze innocently

"Are you ready to sit down and eat supper?"

Keeping his hands on her waist, he pulled her closer "In a minute" His warm hands finally left her waist and slid up her back He lifted her arms to his shoulders and drew her close When she didn’t resist, he lowered his head and claimed her lips

It was impossible not to respond The faint sne His lips were so soft and war an answer to a pri only passion to direct her In a ry kisses with pro of emotion she felt his hand cup her breast She instinctively pushed it away

"Carainst her neck