Page 40 of For the Love of Lilah
When the sun came up to pour golden light through the windows and chase away the last dusky shadows, she was in his arms. It seemed incredible to him that her head would be resting on his shoulder, her hand fisted lightly over his heart. She slept like a child, deeply, curled toward him for warmth and comfort.
Though the night was over, he lay still, loath to wake her. The birds had begun their morning chorus. It was so quiet, he could hear the wind breathing through the trees. He knew that soon the sound of saws and hammers would disrupt the peace and bring reality back. So he clung to this short interlude between the mystery of the night and the bustle of day.
She sighed and settled closer as he stroked her hair. He remembered how generous she had been in those dark sleepy hours. It seemed he had only to think, to wish, and she would turn toward him. Again and again they had loved, in silence and with perfect understanding.
He wanted to believe in miracles, to believe that it had been as special and monumental a night for her as it had been for him. He was afraid to take her words at face value.
No one’s ever made me feel the way you do.
Yet they had played over and over in his head, giving him hope. If he was careful and patient and weighed each step before it was taken, maybe he could make a miracle.
Though he didn’t feel suited to the role of prince, he tilted her face to his to wake her with a kiss.
“Mmm.” She smiled but didn’t open her eyes. “Can I have another?”
Her voice, husky with sleep, sent desire shivering along his skin. He forgot to be careful. He forgot to be patient. His mouth took hers the second time with an edgy desperation that had her system churning before she was fully awake.
“Max.” Throbbing, she locked herself around him. “I want you. Now. Right now.”
He was already inside her, already dragging her with him where they both wanted to go. The ride was fast and furious, shooting them both to the top where they clung, breathless and giddy.
When her hands slid off his damp back, she still hadn’t opened her eyes. “Good morning,” she managed. “I just had the most incredible dream.”
Though he was still light-headed, he braced on his forearms to look down at her. “Tell me about it.”
“I was in bed with this very sexy man. He had big blue eyes, dark hair that was always falling in his face.” Smiling, she opened her eyes and brushed it back for him. “This long, streamlined body.” Still watching him, she moved her hands deliberately over him. “I didn’t want to wake up, but when I did, it was even better than the dream.”
Afraid he was crushing her, he rolled to reverse their positions. “What are the chances of spending the rest of our lives in this bed?”
She dropped a kiss on his shoulder. “I’m game.” Then she groaned when the drone of power tools cut through the morning quiet. “It can’t be seven-thirty.”
As reluctant as she, he glanced at the clock beside the bed. “I’m afraid it can.”
“Tell me it’s my day off.”
“I wish I could.”
“Lie,” she suggested, laying her cheek on his chest.
“Will you let me take you to work?”
She winced. “Don’t say that word.”
“Go for a drive with me after?”
She lifted her head again. “Where?”
“Anywhere.”
Tilting her head, she smiled. “My favorite place.”
Max kept his mind off Lilah—or tried to—by focusing on the multilayered task of locating people to go with the names on his list. He checked court records, police records, church records and death certificates. His meticulous legwork was rewarded with a handful of addresses.
When he felt he’d exhausted all the leads for that day, he drove by C.C.’s garage. He found her buried to the waist under the hood of a black sedan.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” he shouted over the din jingling out of a portable radio.
“Then don’t.” There was a streak of grease over her brow, but her scowl disappeared when she looked up and saw Max. “Hi.”
