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anything but quick.
He reached for his backpack and dug out the elastic bandage.  Swing  round here
and let me wrap that ankle.
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Ari Thatcher
Her heel cupped in his hand, he brushed the other hand over her foot to be sure it
was clean and dry. She wriggled and tugged as he stroked her sole. He lifted an
eyebrow.  Ticklish?
Maggie squirmed but he kept a grip on her foot.  I was as a kid. No one has tried in
years. I ve probably outgrown it.
He chuckled, having seen the proof already. As tempting as it was, he didn t try
again. When he finished wrapping the bandage, he pulled her sock over it and helped
put her shoe on.
She slipped on the other shoe, then stood, favoring the bad ankle.
 Does it hurt?
 Not too badly. I ll be okay.
Lifting the backpack onto his right shoulder, he slipped his left arm around her.
 Lean on me. If it gets too bad I can carry you.
Her chin snapped up.  It s what, a mile back to the car? I ll kill you.
He squeezed her closer.  Not a chance. I probably bench press twice your weight.
Once they reached his home, Gabe helped Maggie to a chair in the dining nook in
his kitchen and pulled out another chair to prop her foot on.  How s the ankle?
 It doesn t hurt if I stay off it. I think it s just a minor pull. It ll probably be fine in
the morning.
 Do you want an aspirin or something? He hovered, the need to inspect her injury
battling with an instinct that told him she needed space.
 No. I m good, really.
 Okay. I m going to trust you to ask if you need anything. He walked around the
prep island and pulled two wineglasses from the rack beneath a cupboard.  Do you like
wine? Red or white?
 White wine, please.
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Maui Rekindled
He opened the bottle he d put in the fridge that morning and poured two glasses.
Once he d seen to her, he pulled out the ingredients for stir-fry. Working at the island,
he could keep Maggie in his line of sight.
 Can I help? she asked.
 Sure. He took out another cutting board and knife and picked up the bok choy,
all of which he set before her at the table. He lifted her chin and kissed her, letting some
of his building need show. When he pulled away, she smiled shyly. Stifling a groan, he
moved back to the work area.
Maggie hobbled to the island sink and washed her hands. As she chopped, she
repeatedly glanced at him.
 What? He was dying to know what she was thinking.
She shrugged.  I m just having trouble adjusting the Gabe in my head with the man
in front of me. Not only are you all grown up, but you re domesticated.
His deep, rich laughter bounced off the walls.  You don t have to sound so
surprised. I wasn t a wild child.
 No, you weren t. I think my mind is trying to fill in the gaps.
Turning to the fridge, he took out the scallops and shrimp, setting them near the
wok.  I thought I had done that already. I graduated, went off to New York, made some
money and realized my soul was MIA.
 Yeah, that s what you said. But that s only the headlines, not even the condensed
version of the story. What did you do for a living?
 I was a day trader. A pretty good one. There was a time or two that I had to adjust
how I did business, but I survived all the downturns.
As she chopped the last of the vegetable, she set the knife down and held the board
up to him. He circled the island to take it, grabbing her glass at the same time for a
refill.
 Did you marry? Have a family?
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Ari Thatcher
Carrying her full glass back to her, he said,  No. Had a long-term relationship but it
kind of faded away. When we realized we had nothing left to offer each other, we split
up.
Another brief kiss held off the urge to take her to his bed. If he weren t careful,
they d spend the night making love and not eat until midnight.
When the oil in the wok began to spatter, Gabe tossed in the scallops.  You said
you re divorced.
 Mmm-hmm, she said, turning to look out the window. She was shutting down
again.
He wanted to let it slide, but part of him said it wasn t healthy to keep avoiding the
subject. If it was still a tender wound, maybe talking about it would begin the healing
process.  How long were you married?
 Thirteen years. She made a noise between a sniff and a snort.  Lucky thirteen.
 You must have married right after college.
Maggie swallowed more of her wine, continuing to stare at her glass after setting it
down. She took a deep breath.  That s right. We married the summer after I graduated.
That fall I went to work as a teacher. He went on to law school.
Holding her glass by the stem, she spun it on its base, back and forth, the wine [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]