Page 60 of The Playboy and the Widow
Joan and Katie tugged at her arms, urging her to hurry as they briskly walked down the narrow jetway. It seemed as if everyone was hurried toward baggage claim, and although Diana didn’t readily see Cliff, she knew he was there.
“Diana.”
She’d just made it past the first large group crowding around the carousel.
“Over here.”
Before Diana could think, Joan and Katie had left her side and hurled themselves at Cliff as though they’d just spent the past ten years in boarding school.
He crouched to receive their bear hugs and nearly toppled when he looked up and smiled at Diana.
“Welcome home,” he said, straightening. Lightly he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and brushed his lips over hers. He paused to inhale the fragrance of spring that was hers alone and briefly closed his eyes in gratitude for her and the girls’ safe return.
“Do you want to see my suntan?” Joan asked.
“Sure.” Cliff was so glad to have them back that he would have agreed to anything.
“I got another Pooh bear from Grandma.”
Cliff grinned down on Katie, and would have willingly given her a whole warehouse full of her favorite bear. Oh yes, it was good to have them back.
“What about you?” Cliff asked, slipping his arm around Diana’s waist. “Is there anything you want to show me?”
“Maybe.”
“Later?”
“Later,” she agreed with a soft smile.
They weren’t back in the house five minutes before Joan and Katie were out the door, eager to let their friends know everything about Wichita.
Cliff had just finished delivering the last suitcase to Katie’s bedroom. He paused at the top of the stairs and waited for Diana to meet him.
“If I don’t get to properly kiss you soon, I’m going to go crazy.” He held his arms out to her. “Come here, woman.”
Without hesitation, Diana walked into his arms as though she’d always belonged there. It didn’t matter to her that the front door was wide open, or that the girls were likely to burst in at any minute. All that concerned her was Cliff.
His hands knotted at the base of her spine as his gaze drifted hungrily over hers. “Did you see any more of Danny-boy?”
“You know I didn’t.”
“Good, because I was insanely jealous.” His mouth found hers in an expression of fiery need, and he poured everything he’d learned about himself into the kiss. Everything he’d learned about what was right for them. Nothing had gone according to schedule while Diana was away. Every second, every minute of their separation had only heightened his need to have her back. Again and again he kissed her, needing her and showing her how much. His lips branded her and cherished her, and his tongue dipped into the secret warmth of her mouth.
Fire streaked through Diana’s veins, and a delicious throbbing ache spread through every part of her body. The Boeing aircraft had landed in Seattle, she had even carried her suitcases into the house, but she hadn’t been home until exactly this minute. The realization of how much Cliff had come to mean to her in such a short time was both powerful and frightening. She slid her arms around him, needing the reassurance of his closeness. Her hands traced his back, slowly playing over his ribs and the taper of his spine. She savored the feel of this man who held her and loved her and needed her as much as she needed him.
Diana’s breathing became raspy when Cliff’s mouth moved from her lips to the side of her neck. She trembled and snuggled closer in his embrace.
“Welcome home, Diana.” His own breathing was shaky.
“If I go to the grocery store, to the dentist, to the bank, anywhere, promise you’ll greet me this way when I return.”
“I promise.” His grip on her shoulders relaxed, but he didn’t release her. Not yet.
“Oh, I nearly forgot.” She broke away and hurried into her bedroom. “I brought you something.”
Cliff followed her inside. “You did?”
Already Diana had tossed her suitcase on top of the mattress and was sorting through a stack of neatly folded clothes for the T-shirt.
