New Lease on Love Page 12

  Chelsea clung to him, weak and trembling with the fire coursing through her. From the moment they'd met, she'd known he was special. The attraction had not been imagined.

  He moved his hands over her back, pressing, drawing her closer. He worked his way down to her hips, bunching the soft material of her gown in tightly clenched fists.

  Chelsea arched against him with an abandon she'd never known. First kisses were not supposed to be like this, she thought. They should be gentle and shy. But this…this was madness. Wild, thrilling madness.

  With a long, shivering sigh, he loosened his embrace. He shook his head, blinking his glazed eyes, as if trying to shake off a spell.

  "Oh, my goodness!" Chelsea whispered as humiliation finally burned through her.

  "I'm afraid goodness has nothing to do with what just happened," Nick answered. They stepped apart.

  "I'm sorry, Nick."

  "Don't. Don't apologize. It was my fault entirely."

  "I don't know what to say." She fidgeted with the folds of her nightgown, remembering how, just a moment ago, he'd seemed about to tear it apart.

  "Let's…not say anything then." His brow lowered in an angry frown. "If you don't mind, let's not say anything to anybody, okay? I'd prefer we just forget this ever happened."

  She nodded, feeling her throat tighten. Okay. She got the message.

  "I'd better leave now." He hadn't met her eyes for several seconds. "The earrings look nice on you. I'm glad I bought them." That said, he strode down the walk, his head jerking as if he was berating himself.

  "Thank you," she finally remembered to say, but his taillights had already winked out of sight.

  CHAPTER TEN

  "Why aren't you outside, Spud?" Nick tossed his suit jacket over the couch and loosened his tie.

  Katie continued to glower at the TV screen. "Grace won't let me." Nick sat down beside her. Not another incident, he prayed.

  Grace appeared in the doorway, her cheeks unusually flushed. "How did your meeting at the bank go?"

  "Fine." Actually, more than fine. He'd just convinced a board of stuffed shirts to cough up a few million dollars. But he didn't want to talk about bankers right now. He rose and ushered Grace into the kitchen. "Why is Katie being kept inside? It's a nice day, and she has that new bike."

  Grace's eyes filled with tears. "Because she's being punished, that's why." A surprising vehemence underscored her words. "You wouldn't believe the hard time she gave me at the hospital. It was dreadful."

  Just then Nick noticed the long, red scratch marks on her right arm. "Did she do that?"

  Grace covered the scratches, but slowly, so that he could fully take them in. "I'm sure she didn't mean to."

  "And I'm sure she did. She certainly deserves to be punished. But, Grace—" Nick clutched the nape of his suddenly aching neck "—did it have to be the bike? Couldn't you have taken away TV privileges instead?"

  "I'm sorry." She lowered her eyes, her voice tremulous. "It seemed easier, that's all. When she's on her bike, I have to stop everything I'm doing to go out and watch her. You know how the traffic is on this street."

  "We don't have traffic."

  "Oh, yes, we do. It's awful."

  "Well, that's not the point." Nick paced to the window and peered out at the quiet street. "Did she accomplish anything today?"

  "At therapy? Not much." She paused. "Nickie?"

  "Yes?"

  "Will you go with me next time?"

  He tried to smile. "Sure."

  After he'd given Katie a sound talking-to—and taken away TV privileges for three days—he hurried to the den and sat at Chet's rolltop desk, staring at the phone.

  He'd been trying to avoid Chelsea all week. That visit he'd paid her raised too many questions. Such as, did he love Grace Lockwood? And had he really kissed Chelsea as passionately as he remembered?

  Nick groaned.

  Neither he nor Grace had ever pretended to be starry-eyed lovers, and until recently he'd liked that arrangement just fine. When stars got in your eyes, reason flew out the window. You made mistakes and got hurt. Laura was proof-positive of that.

  But now Nick wondered if he'd be satisfied married to someone he didn't love passionately. Grace elicited no deep, vital emotion from him—which would be perfectly all right, except that lately someone else did.

  Nick felt increasingly confused. Grace was such a good, sure person, a safe harbor. How could he give her up for the thrill of a second adolescence?

  On the other hand, was it fair to bury his life in a relationship of, at best, courteous compatibility? And what would he do with all these rising feelings he'd thought he'd lost forever?

  He gripped the receiver. What he'd do, he decided, was not think about it right now. His attraction to Chelsea was bound to fizzle, anyway. Nothing like that ever lasted long. In the meantime, he'd be very careful, back off and use restraint. That's what he'd do.

  "Hi, Chelsea? Nick here. Remember that idea you had about Katie going for a balloon ride? Well, I think I'm just about ready to let her- But we have to make her work for it. Can you tell me more about those tickets you make kids earn?"

  Even before Nick reached the meadow, he realized this was going to be no ordinary balloon flight. The field was alive with people, vans and at least six or seven balloons in various stages of readiness.

  "Hi, guys." Chelsea waved as Nick, Katie and Grace got out of the Volvo.

  "What's going on?" Nick stood with his hands on his hips, smiling at the dazzling colors and whimsical designs shimmering against the sky.

  "I thought Katie'd get a kick out of it."

  "Amazing." Nick knew he was grinning like a fool but couldn't stop. "Who are these people?"

  "Friends. We get together whenever we can. Ballooning's more fun in a group. Larry's here, too, with his new balloon."

  Chelsea looked pretty, Nick thought. Achingly pretty. Her outfit consisted of nothing more elaborate than sneakers, a plain yellow T-shirt and drawstring crinkle-cotton pants in the same soft shade. And his earrings, he noticed. Still, Nick had trouble keeping his face composed as he gazed at her.

  Katie ran over and hugged Chelsea's waist. "I can't believe it. I can't believe it's finally happening." Then she danced off in search of Larry's boys.

  "How did she do this week?" Chelsea asked over the sound of the fan.

  "I thought she'd wear out the equipment. She kept hollering to the nurses, 'Am I doing good, huh? Do I get a ticket? Make sure you tell my dad I'm doing good.' She had everyone rooting for her."

  Chelsea's laugh, her bright eyes and peach-fresh scent all combined to deal him a dizzying punch.

  "Can I help out?" he asked.

  "You bet."

  Nick glanced guiltily at Grace, standing by the car.

  "Go. Go." Grace fluttered one hand. "I'm fine."

  But was she? She looked so out of place in her white ruffled blouse and gray pleated skirt. Her white pumps and nylons were no match for the rough field, either.

  She could've stayed home, Nick thought. All week she'd made it clear she didn't approve of this flight. She'd called it dangerous and, since Nick was paying Katie's way, a terrible waste of money. Her face had remained pinched, her silences drawn out. She shouldn't have insisted on coming along. Nick had to wonder if she just wanted to make him feel guilty.

  Katie was beside herself with excitement by the time Chelsea's balloon was ready. She'd been climbing incessantly in and out of the basket and asking one question after another. "I can't believe it!" she kept crying.

  Nick's pleasure would've been complete if it weren't for Grace's calling to Katie just as incessantly to sit down and rest, or to zip up her jacket and put on her hat. She'd bought Katie a hat he'd never seen any other seven-year-old wearing. When he'd questioned Grace about it, she'd said it was to protect Katie from earache. Then just before Katie climbed into the basket to take off, Grace rushed over with an extra sweater.

  "Will you leave the kid alone!" Nic
k finally hollered.

  Grace reared back, stunned, and then looked as if she might cry. Nick felt miserable. He'd never raised his voice to her before. Why now? She was only trying to be helpful.

  "Sorry, Grace, but it's a warm evening," he explained in a conciliatory tone, "and Katie's already wearing a jacket."

  "Fine." She spit the word out like a bitter seed. "Fine," she repeated and walked off with stiff little steps.

  "Grace."

  She turned.

  "Want to give it a try?" Nick jerked his thumb toward the waiting basket.

  "No, thank you." Such cold pride in that voice.

  He pulled in a long breath and turned toward Chelsea, who was trying to act as if she hadn't heard. "Mind if I go up with you and Katie? I suddenly feel the need for a balloon ride."

  Frowning thoughtfully, Chelsea asked, "Are you sure?"

  "Yes." Nick was dead sure.

  The ride was different from Nick's first flight, but every bit as wonderful. He found himself laughing exuberantly when the signal was given and all seven balloons began to ascend. His deepest joy, however, came from watching Katie. He'd never seen her this animated, her eyes so bright.

  Larry had his sons with him, and Chelsea let Katie talk to them briefly over the radio. When the two balloons drifted only yards apart, Chelsea had the children in a fit of giggles as she played "elevators" with her brother.

  "Sixth floor. Lingerie," she called as they rose and Larry's balloon drifted downward. Then, reversing direction, "Second floor. Pots, pans, kitchen utensils." Soon the children were imitating her.

  Nick stood by in something akin to awe. Chelsea had quite a way with kids. As they passed over Pine Ridge she pointed out things he wasn't aware of himself. A rock formation that resembled a man's profile. A cave on the sheer side of a hill. She called it Fairy's Flute because of the sound the wind made passing through it.

  "Some people say they've heard the sound even when there isn't any wind," she said, her cheek pressed close to Katie's. "People say they've seen bright little lights, too, dancing inside the cave."

  Katie's eyes grew larger with each word.

  She sailed them over a lake, her balloon and all the others mirrored on the bright rippled surface below. She brought the basket down until they actually rested on the lake and water seeped through the wicker. Katie shrieked in delight, while Nick worried that perhaps something had gone wrong.

  When she fired up the burner, however, he knew this was all part of her gift to Katie. As the basket rose, long chains of water streamed away, catching the low slanting sun like fiery strings of diamonds.

  She took them over an orchard, which from the air seemed like a cloud of blossoms. Their fragrance perfumed the warm evening. Katie smiled, enraptured, as Chelsea brought them down right into the narrow corridor between two rows of trees. Blossoms surrounded them on either side, so close that Chelsea was able to snap off a small branch. It formed a full bouquet.

  "Here you go, Katie. A souvenir."

  She kept them aloft for two glorious hours. Still, time passed too quickly for Nick. Before he knew it, he was back on the ground, Judy and Rob were dismantling equipment, and he was feeling an ache return to his heart. Grace, more tenacious than he'd ever figured her to be, had followed the balloon and now was persistently calling Katie to the car.

  But Katie was having none of it. She was too busy helping with the packing up.

  "Katie, let's go. Nickie? We have to get home."

  Nick was still savoring his champagne and thinking of having another glass. He looked from Katie to Grace with mounting frustration. "Grace, slow down. Come have a drink."

  "No, thanks. I have a casserole waiting."

  Nick pressed a hand to his cheek where a muscle was beginning to jump. "She's having fun, Grace. Let her be."

  Rob and Judy were just rolling the basket onto the trailer. "Want to come out for pizza with us, instead?" Judy inquired.

  A moment later, Katie was circling her father. "Can we, Dad? They're all going. Matt told me."

  Nick's attention shifted from his daughter to Grace. She'd been driving for two hours and looked like she wanted to be home.

  "Aw, come on," Judy prodded. "Who feels like cooking on a Saturday night?"

  "It's a nice family restaurant," Larry called, crossing the field where he, too, had landed. "We usually go there after ballooning on Saturdays. The kids look forward to it."

  Nick was amazed at how much like a kid he felt himself. He wanted… no, he had to go. He'd miss something important if he didn't. He gazed instinctively at Chelsea and knew exactly what that was.

  "Grace? How about it?" Nick held his breath.

  "If you want to go, then go, but I'm leaving." Grace got into his car and waited, her face pinched and red.

  Nick knew he was facing a choice, knew something was hanging in the balance. He supposed the right thing to do was put down this champagne and leave.

  But he didn't. Grace was playing on his guilt—and hurting Katie in the process.

  "Okay, Grace," he called as congenially as he could. "I'll catch a ride home with somebody here."

  She gave him, and then Chelsea, a malicious look before driving off.

  The restaurant was a small, unassuming building sitting in the middle of its gravel parking lot on a winding rural road. But it was known for its good food, and Chelsea felt lucky to get a table without a wait. There were ten in her party tonight—Larry's family, Judy and Rob…and then there were Nick and Katie. Chelsea's heart raced at the thought of their actually being part of her family's Saturday night.

  She'd had mixed feelings about piloting Katie's flight, not because of Katie, certainly; it was Nick she'd been reluctant to face again. She didn't understand what was happening between them.

  Here was this man who'd once called her business a parasite, this man who was pulling away all the underpinnings of her life—her field, her sign, her home and barn—and setting her on the road to financial ruin. Here was this man who was practically engaged to Grace Lockwood, and yet she still had a crush on him.

  No. Not a crush. She'd had crushes before, so she knew the difference. This condition wasn't going away. Rather, it was growing, becoming obsessive, and while it was all very thrilling, it was also very wrong.

  More than a week had passed since Nick's strange visit, and during that time he hadn't said another word to her about the intimacy they'd shared, which obviously meant he wanted to let the whole incident slide. Well, fine. She agreed. It had been a mistake. She didn't know how it had happened in the first place.

  Had she provoked the situation? Had she been forward? She couldn't judge anymore. Whenever she was with Nick, common sense flew out the window, and that was precisely what she had to guard against tonight.

  Chelsea opened a menu. No, she hadn't been forward. She'd seen desire in his eyes even as he'd stepped into her house. He was the one who had initiated the visit, he who'd gone to answer a false alarm with a gift of earrings in his pocket. She wasn't imagining things. For weeks Nick Tanner had been sending her all the right signals. Only problem was, he kept going home to the wrong girl.

  "I think I'll have a combination tonight, mushroom and pepperoni," Mimi said.

  "Sounds good. Mind if I split it with you?" Rob asked from his end of the table. Chelsea concentrated on the menu.

  But her mind was too full of Nick Tanner. The balloon ride had been fairly uncomplicated, with Katie along as a chaperon. Nick was a quiet person, given to long silences, and he hadn't said much. Still, she'd felt close, connected to him. Sharing the same experience had been enough to bind them in their own communication. Like wheels turning in unison, she thought. Like shadow dancers.

  Still, the feeling was all wrong, and she'd better concentrate on sitting tight tonight and holding in whatever was in her heart. Otherwise, she'd make a fool of herself in front of her family.

  Judy leaned toward her. "Care to split a sausage and onion?"

  Ch
elsea considered, then shook off the proposal. "Tonight I'm in the mood for the works." Having made a decision, she closed the menu and sat back. Her eyes linked with Nick's. He smiled, and an absurd contentment washed through her even while she was trying to deny it.

  "I hope you're real hungry, sis," Larry said.

  Chelsea searched the faces around the table. "Aw, come on. I can't be the only one who likes the works."

  "Yeah, you are," a few voices answered.

  "I'll make a deal with you," Nick offered with a flirtatious wink. "Omit the anchovies and I'll split it with you."

  The contentment she felt deepened to a mysterious excitement. "It's a deal, mister." She almost winked back but caught herself just in time. Nick didn't mean anything by that wink or that bone-melting smile. Keep your head, she cautioned herself. Remember your dignity.

  Meanwhile, the logistics of deciding who wanted which pizza toppings was becoming ludicrous. "Okay, Matt, Peter and Katie want cheese and hamburg…" Larry had pulled out a pen and was jotting the order on a paper napkin "—and Judy's the only one who wants—"

  "Wait a sec," Mimi cut in. "Change mine to…"

  The shifting had been going on for so long, everybody was now laughing. An old rhythm-and-blues number pulsing from a jukebox across the dance floor, added to their festive mood.

  Larry pushed his glasses up his nose and poised the napkin. "Grab hold of a waitress before someone here has a change of heart." A waitress heard him and hurried over, grinning.

  "To make things easier, we really should sit beside the people we're sharing our pizzas with," Judy said when the waitress had gone. "Otherwise, hands are gonna be reaching all over the place."

  A wave of groans and laughter overtook them again as they got up and rearranged themselves.

  Chelsea's heart began to pound as soon as Nick got up to move. Be calm, she told herself. The man was only going to share her pizza.

  But the damnable part about being attracted to someone, she realized, was that her mind could vow to do one thing and her heart did just what it pleased. At that moment, she suspected even her scalp must be pink.