Page 36 of Conail

"Yes. She's feeling so much better. I'm preparing her something light. Would you like to speak to her?"

He felt a jolt straight to his heart and tamped it down ruthlessly. "Why would I want to do that? I'm just making sure she's okay. Well--" he searched for something else to say. "I'll be in touch."

"Darling, why don't you come over for dinner?"

"I have plans." It alarmed him that he was tempted. Sorely tempted to say yes. "Which were interrupted when you called me to come over last night."

There was a pause, and he felt the guilt cramping his chest.

"If you change your mind, we would love to have you."

He hung up without responding. He wouldn't change his mind of course. The best thing to do was to keep things at a professional level. Go back to getting reports.

The image of her on her knees retching would vanish with time. She was not his responsibility. If his mother wanted to take on the role of supporter, then that was her problem. He wanted nothing more to do with the situation.

Last night was a fluke, a normal reaction for a red-blooded man with a healthy sex drive. She was a very attractive woman, and he had been in close contact with her.

It was just that simple. No need to overthink anything. It could have happened to anyone. They had shared an emotional and highly charged moment, and he had reacted to it.

With a nod of satisfaction at the justification, he felt the tension around his chest easing. She was not his type anyway.

With that settled, he reached for the contract. Work was his panacea; it would help him to keep things straight. He had no business thinking about her anyway. So, it was settled.

*****

"When are you going to tell your parents about us?" Maddy was trying desperately to play it cool and not allow the frustration to seep through, but it was getting harder.

After that first fateful night at the cabin, she had foolishly thought that things had changed between them, that he was giving her a second chance. But aside from stealing away from the farm to meet at the cabin, he refused to discuss anything else.

They did not talk much. As soon as they came together, passion would take over and rule them. She adored the fire, the feel of his callused hands on her skin, but she wanted more. She wanted a commitment. One he was reluctant to offer.

"I need time." He responded evasively. After a very strenuous bout of lovemaking which had left them both gasping for air and shaken to the core, they were lying on the rumpled sheets as they tried to get their breaths back.

He had no idea where his parents thought he was going every night, because they never asked. He was at the farm bright and early to perform his many and varied tasks and wouldn't leave until everything was taken care of.

The winter had stalled the outdoors activities, but the greenhouse was coming along nicely.

Pushing his hands away, she started to climb off the bed when he grabbed her. "What's wrong?"

"Oh nothing." She told him airily, eyes flashing. "What are we doing here Colin?"

"Want me to show you?" he leered at her, sighing when she continued to glare at him. "Please don't spoil it."

"You want me to keep my mouth shut, is that it? Be grateful for the fact that you're with me." She was damned if she would cry in front of him, even though her heart was breaking. "I love you--"

"You said that before and then you left. I'm sure you also said it to the bastard you were with in Chicago."

She stared at him dry eyed, her heart breaking into pieces. "I didn't." She told him quietly. "I made a mistake, but you're never going to let me forget it, are you?"

"You broke my goddamn heart!" Letting go of her, he pulled himself up on the pillows. "You broke my heart, and I cannot move past the fact that you left." His hands were clenched into fists. "This is as far as I can go right now. I need time." He hissed out a breath.

"How much?"

"What?" He swung his gaze towards her and felt his heart doing a dive at the sight of her. She was naked and rumpled. Her hair was a mess, made by his restless fingers.

Her lips were swollen from the savage way he had kissed her. He had left marks on her delicate skin and fed on her nipples like a man starving. She was addictive, had always been and it scared the crap out of him.

"How much time?"

---