Page 53 of The Playboy and the Widow
“If so, just do it,” she said, and whirled around to face him, shoulders stiff. She was on the defensive now and growing more impatient by the minute.
“I want to apologize for...”
“That’s exactly what I thought,” she flared, resisting the urge to place her hands over her ears to blot out his words. “And I don’t want to hear it... so you can save your breath.”
“For the night at my condominium,” Cliff continued, undaunted. “I set up that seduction scene because we both felt the magic, and I wanted you.” He lowered his voice to an enticing whisper of remembered desire. “Heaven knows I wanted you.” And nothing had changed.
Now it was Diana’s turn to pace, and she did so with all the energy of a raw recruit eager to please his sergeant. She stopped when she realized how ridiculous she must look and slapped her hands against the sides of her thighs. “Just what is your point?”
For a minute Cliff had forgotten. “When you walked out on me that night, I can’t remember ever being angrier with anyone in my life. I figured if you were into denial, then fine, but I was noble enough to be honest about my feelings.”
“I wonder if there’s a Pulitzer Prize for that,” she murmured sarcastically, and wrapped her arms around her waist.
Cliff ignored her derision. “Later I had a change of heart and decided I could be forgiving, considering the circumstances. I gave you ample time to come to me, and when you didn’t, I was forced to swallow my pride and bridge the uneasiness between us. You may be impressed to know that I don’t do that sort of thing often.”
A snicker slipped from Diana’s clogged throat. She tightened her grip on her waist. The longer he spoke, the more uncertain she was as to how to take Cliff. He was being sarcastic, but it seemed to be at his expense and not hers.
“That night you lowered the boom and told me a few truths,” Cliff continued. “Basically, let it be known that you weren’t interested in falling into bed with me because of some mystical, magical feeling between us. You also took it upon yourself to point out a couple of minor flaws in my personality. As I recall, shortly afterward I was left to lick my wounds.”
A smile cracked the tight line of Diana’s mouth. “Was I really so merciless?”
“Wanna see the scars?”
“I didn’t mean to be so ruthless,” she said tenderly, filled with regret for having injured his pride, although she’d known the nature of their talk would be painful for him.
“The truth hurts—isn’t that how the saying goes?”
Diana nodded.
“I’ve done a lot of thinking since that night.” Only a few feet separated them, and he raised his hands as though to reach for her and bring her close to him. Reluctantly he dropped his fists to his side and took a step in the opposite direction.
“And?” Diana pressed.
“And I think we may have something, Diana. Something far more valuable than magic. Something I’m not likely ever to find again. I don’t want to lose you. I realize I may have ruined everything by trying to rush you into bed with me, and I apologize for that. I’d like a second chance with you, although I probably don’t deserve one.”
His eyes softened and caressed her with such tenderness that Diana stopped breathing until her lungs ached. When she spoke, the words rushed out on the tail end of a raspy sigh. “I think... that could be arranged.”
“Whatever it is between us is potent—you’ll have to agree to that.”
Diana couldn’t deny the obvious.
“I know you have your doubts and I honestly can’t blame you. But if you agree to letting me see you again, I promise to do things differently. I’m not going to pressure you into lovemaking—you have my word on that.”
“I’ve made my share of mistakes, too, and I think it would only be fair if I came up with a few promises of my own.”
He looked at her as though he hadn’t had a clue as to what she was talking about.
“I have no intention of rushing you into making a commitment. And the wordlovewill be stricken from my vocabulary.” Feeling almost giddy with relief, she smiled warmly.
Cliff smiled in return. “I wonder if we could seal this bargain with a kiss.”
“I think that would be more than appropriate.”
Cliff had reached for her even before she’d finished speaking. He needed to hold her again and savor her softness pressing against him. She was halfway into his arms, when the front door burst open.
“Cliff!” Katie leaped into the living room with all the energy of a hydroelectric dam. Her pigtails were swinging, her eyes aglow. “I didn’t think you’d ever get here. You forgot to sign my cast, and I saved you a space, but it’s getting dirty.”
Joan followed shortly after Katie. “Hi, Cliff,” she said nonchalantly. She tossed her mother an apologetic look.
