Page 9 of Gentle Persuasion

He laid her down in the midst of his unmade bed, shifting cover and pillows that he’d abandoned only hours before. The pale-green jumpsuit she was wearing would be wrinkled, but there was nothing he could do about that. The thought of trying to remove it without waking her did cross his mind. But the thought came and went so fast, he knew it was only a notion, not an intent. He unbuckled the straps of her sandals and slipped off her shoes.

The moment Debbie’s head touched the pillow, she turned on her side, slid her hand beneath her cheek, and burrowed beneath the loose covers like a little mole.

Cole’s smile was as gentle as the touch he left on her cheek. He closed the door and walked away.

“Is she all right?” Morgan asked. “We didn’t mean to be thoughtless. She was sleeping so peacefully, it seemed the only kind thing to do.” He shrugged, softening his explanation with a smile.

“She’s in my bed,” Cole said. “She’s exhausted. We’ve been expecting entirely too much of her. Have you looked at her lately?” He fixed Buddy with a pointed stare that sent him scurrying into his computer room without answering. “Hell’s fire, she’s so damned little, I don’t know where she keeps the energy she has, but it’s obviously used up. From now on, we give her some space.”

“You’re right, son,” Morgan said. “You’re absolutely right!”

Cole nodded, glad that his concern had gotten through to at least one member of this family.

Morgan whacked Cole’s back in fatherly fashion. “Tomorrow, she’s all yours. You two take the day off. Go to the beach. Maybe you could do some sightseeing. Whatever Debbie wants. If I need anything, I’ll shut the power off in the breaker box. That’ll get Buddy out of his room. Anyway, the doctor said I’m healing great. The water therapy was a stroke of genius, and I have Debbie to thank for that, don’t I? Whatever it takes, show her a good time, okay?”

Cole took a deep breath. He’d asked for it. He couldn’t very well accuse everyone of taking advantage of her good nature and then be the one to refuse to alleviate her duties. He nodded. The smile on his father’s face changed. It looked suspiciously like a smirk.

But all day? He hoped he survived. It wouldn’t pay to forget she was dangerous to his peace of mind.

Hell! Who am I kidding? I have no peace of mind. All he had was a houseguest from Oklahoma with dark eyes, a slow drawl, and a smile that tied his guts in a knot.

***

Cole was leaning against the doorway with arms crossed, surveying his bed and its contents. It was the third trip he’d made in as many hours, and he was beginning to worry. By his best calculations, Debbie had been sleeping for the better part of four hours. If she didn’t wake soon, he was calling the doctor. Something must be wrong with her.

It took effort, but Debbie maintained her slow, even breathing. She watched Cole with interest. She’d realized some moments before when she’d opened her eyes to find him watching her that he hadn’t noticed she was awake. He was staring at her, but she could tell he wasn’t really seeing her. He was lost somewhere in thought, and that was just fine with her. It gave her the opportunity to look back from a very interesting vantage point—his bed.

How she got here was not a question she wanted answered. How she was going to get him to join her would have been much more appropriate to her way of thinking.

He was such an enigma. Debbie was used to men who were more forthright. Men who said what they meant and left you to decide whether you would slap their faces or hug their necks.

The red jogging shorts he was wearing left way too much tan skin showing for her peace of mind. His broad shoulders and flat belly told her that he probably maintained a rigid regimen of physical fitness. And then she remembered his occupation and knew that it was probably not just a choice of lifestyle that kept him in shape. It was also necessity.

“Am I being evicted?”

Her slow drawl made him jump. And then the look in her eyes nearly sent him to join her.

“How long have you been awake?” he growled.

“Long enough,” she said softly, and rolled over on her back and stretched.

Cole groaned. Once. Silently. It wouldn’t do to let her know that she was getting to him in more ways than lust. His eyes narrowed, his lips firmed as he watched her lithe body coming to life like a cat coming out of a deep sleep. She stretched first her arms and then her legs and then, finally, arched her back and sat up on the side of his bed as if she belonged there. She rubbed her hands across her face, ran her fingers through her hair, and then looked up at him and smiled.

“My word, I’m a mess!” Her clothes weren’t just wrinkled, they were a wreck.

“Yes, ma’am, you’re that,” he said, referring to her presence in his house. She was messing up a whole hell of a lot, and it had nothing to do with laundry.

“Well, thanks for the loan of the bed,” Debbie said. “I feel great! I must have needed the nap.”

“It wasn’t just a nap. You’ve been asleep for nearly four hours. You’re worn out, and for the next two days, you’re going to take it easy. I’ve already warned Dad and Buddy, so don’t let them coerce you into anything you don’t want to do.”

Her mouth dropped open, just a little, just once. She quickly regained her composure as she realized he was about to become defensive. He’d obviously revealed more of himself than he’d meant.

“Okay,” she agreed, taking the bluff out of the argument he no longer needed.

“Well,” he muttered, “just so you know.”

“Right, just so I know.”

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