Page 25 of Suzanna's Surrender
“Only because I promised Aunt Coco.”
“No.” He increased the pressure on her spine and brought her an inch closer. “Not only because of that. You wonder what it would be like, the same way I’ve wondered half my life.”
A little line of panic followed his fingers up her spine. “This isn’t the place.”
“I choose my own ground.” His lips hovered bare inches from hers. He watched her eyes darken and cloud. “I want you, Suzanna.”
Her heart had leaped up to throb in her throat so that her voice was husky and uneven. “Am I supposed to be flattered?”
“No. You’d be smart to be scared. I won’t make things easy on you.”
“What I am,” she said with more control, “is uninterested.”
His lips curved. “I could kiss you now and prove you wrong.”
“I won’t have a scene at my sister’s wedding.”
“Fine, then come to my place tomorrow morning.”
“No.”
“All right then.” He lowered his head. She turned hers away so that his lips brushed her temple, then nibbled on her ear.
“Stop it. My children—”
“Should hardly be shocked to see a man kiss their mother.” But he did stop, because his knees were going weak. “Tomorrow morning, Suzanna. There’s something I need to show you. Something of my grandfather’s.”
She looked up again, struggling to steady her pulse. “If this is some sort of game, I don’t want to play.”
“No game. I want you, and this time I’ll have you. But there is something of my grandfather’s you have the right to see. Unless you’re afraid to be alone with me.”
Her spine stiffened. “I’ll be there.”
The next morning, Suzanna stood on the terrace with Megan. They watched their children race across the lawn with Fred.
“I wish you could stay longer.”
With a half laugh, Megan shook her head. “I’m surprised to say I wish I could, too. I have to be back at work tomorrow.”
“You and Kevin are welcome here anytime. I want you to know that.”
“I do.” Megan shifted her gaze to meet Suzanna’s. There was a sadness there she understood, though she rarely allowed herself to feel it. “If you and the kids decide to visit Oklahoma, you’ve got a home with us. I don’t want to lose touch. Kevin needs to know this part of his family.”
“Then we won’t.” She stooped to pick up a rose petal that had drifted from a bouquet to float to the terrace. “It was a beautiful wedding. Sloan and Mandy are going to be happy—and we’ll have nieces and nephews in common.”
“God, the world’s a strange place.” Megan took Suzanna’s hand. “I’d like to think we can be friends, not only for our children’s sakes or for Sloan and Amanda.”
Suzanna smiled. “I think we already are.”
“Suzanna!” Coco signaled from the kitchen door. “A phone call for you.” She was chewing her lip when Suzanna reached her. “It’s Baxter.”
“Oh.” Suzanna felt the simple pleasure of the morning drain. “I’ll take it in the other room.”
She braced herself as she walked down the hallway. He couldn’t hurt her any longer, she reminded herself. Not physically, not emotionally. She slipped into the library, took a long, steadying breath, then picked up the phone.
“Hello, Bax.”
“I suppose you considered it sly to keep me waiting on the phone.”
