Page 26 of Beyond Reach

Even as she looked at his lips, she recalled how warm and firm they were and how they tasted. A man who was so strong and big with such a gentleness about him, had covered her mouth with his. He’d put all the love and affection in the kiss from the first brush of their mouths.

She couldn’t think straight, being hyperaware of the large hand on her back and the cradling of the other one around her shoulders. She had tilted her chin up and let him have all of her. Garner’s lips on hers caused her to open her mouth to let him invade with his tongue. She’d quivered and clung to him, pleading for God to let it go on forever—and it seemed to.

Coming to startled alertness, she realized as hard as she was thinking about that kiss, she could have stretched up to kiss him tonight. For a few seconds, she wasn’t sure she didn’t. Her lips tingled just from the strong memories, and she covered them, jerking away from his hold.

She wrestled to break the tension crackling in the air. “We should get back to your party.”

He said nothing. She was reluctant to leave him alone in the room. Perhaps he needed a little more time to work through what she told him. Maybe not tonight, but soon, she should share the details of the accident with him.

“Have lunch with me tomorrow,” he said.

“Don’t you think that’s inappropriate?”

“I want to know.”

Her gut stirred painfully. “You’re right. We could invite Marcella…”

God, she was ashamed of herself because she didn’t want him to invite Marcella. The last thing she desired was to make herself vulnerable in front of her perfect cousin. Marcella wasn’t the most sensitive of people.

“No.”

She waited for him to qualify or rather justify his answer. He didn’t explain. She bit her lip to keep the amusement at bay. This was no laughing matter.

Steps sounded in the hall. Garner seemed to act on instinct more than anything when he shoved Chanda backward. She stumbled behind one of the wall screens, out of sight of the door. Before she could react, the door opened, and Marcella stepped into the room.

“There you are, baby,” she chirped. “Oh, you’re in here alone. I knew Lanae was being an idiot, and you weren’t running off for a secret assignation with Chanda.”

“You trust me more than that.” To Chanda’s ears, Garner sounded impatient with his fiancée. It could be her imagination, but Marcella picked up on the attitude. Her voice when she spoke sounded nearer, just around the screen from Chanda.

“What’s wrong? Are you in a bad mood?” Marcella teased.

“I had some bad news. I’m fine.”

Marcella made coddling noises, and Chanda clamped down on her jaw. She hoped Garner would remember she was present and take Marcella away. The last thing she wanted to do was spend the evening listening to Marcella coo to Garner. That would be too much to bear before Chanda threw up on the two of them.

“I can’t find my cousin,” Marcella was saying. “I hope she hasn’t gone to snoop in our house. She can be nosy sometimes, and I’m still not sure she isn’t resentful of us getting together.”

“You shouldn’t talk about her behind her back, Marcella.”

“You’re defending her?”

“I’m saying—”

“Never mind about her. Come on. Our guests want to hear your version of our story.”

“I’m sure you told them every detail several times.”

Chanda could imagine her cousin’s frown. “What’s wrong with you? If I didn’t know any better I’d think you didn’t want me to interrupt you in here. What were you doing?”

r /> Garner remained silent. Chanda started to feel like the jig was up. But they hadn’t done anything. If she was going to be “caught out” she’d like to at least be guilty of something.

Like kissing him. No, girl, get your head straight. That’s not happening. Don’t think about it.

“This is your private room,” Marcella said in distaste. “The last time I came in here, you ran me out, talking about it’s where you like to unwind. Well what’s so special about it? I haven’t looked around at all these paintings.”

Garner cleared his throat. “You’re right. We should go. It’s rude to keep everyone waiting.”

He shuffled Marcella out of the room, leaving Chanda alone. She didn’t move until the sound of their footsteps faded to nothing. “Don’t even think about it, Chanda. The room isn’t special because your portrait is here, and he didn’t keep it from her so she wouldn’t complain about it. He probably just forgot it was here.”

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