Heat Wave (15 page)

As they boarded the ship, Karen grabbed Marilee’s arm. “There! look, the perfect man! Let’s all say a short prayer he’s single.”

Marilee smiled, feeling ancient. “You two are hopeless! You can stand here and drool over every handsome male all you want, but I’m going to look at the stateroom.”

She located their cabin and started to unpack, but instead sat down on the bunk and stared into space, her mind far away. What was Cole doing? Was there another woman in his life now?

That hurt too badly to contemplate. She lost track of time until a knock stirred her. Karen and Gina burst in, each taking one of her arms.

“We’re going to sail,” Gina said. “You have to come watch.”

“And guess what?” Karen asked brightly. “Without waiting for Marilee to guess, answered her own question. “The entire Fort Lauderdale water polo team is on board. Isn’t that marvelous?”

“I’m so glad, Karen,” Marilee said absently. She wondered if Cole was still in Oklahoma. Her thoughts drifted from the conversation around her.

“Wait ‘til you see a blond giant named Willie.”

“I’d rather stay here.” She tried to pay attention to Gina.

“You’ve been teaching too long. It did something to your brain this winter.”

“Are you well, Marilee?”

“I’m fine. I’m just not interested in man-hunting, ladies.”

“You’re not interested in anything!” Karen exclaimed. “What’s happened to you? You don’t eat, you don’t sleep, you can’t keep your mind on anything!”

Marilee shrugged. “Sorry. I don’t want to put a damper on your fun.”

“You won’t,” Gina said. “But you have to watch us sail. Come on.”

Reluctantly, she went with them. Standing at the rail on deck, she gazed at Miami, then up at a blue, blue sky. But it only reminded her of Cole’s blue eyes. “Marilee, here they come!” Gina hissed, then said, “Hi. Here’s our friend.”

Gina introduced Marilee to one tanned, fit handsome member of the water polo team after another, yet they might as well have been posts for all the interest they stirred in Marilee. The men crowded to the rail around the three women and talked to Gina and Karen. Marilee only noticed the vibrations that the ship’s engines sent through the deck as they sailed slowly away from the dock. The wind caught wispy tendrils of her hair, blowing them against her cheeks. Ignoring the farewell shouts, the conversations swirling around her, the sunshine beating down, Marilee clung to the rail and stared into the murky water below.

Cole. Could she ever forget him?

Nothing held importance any longer. Not one single thing.

Miami dwindled to almost nothing as the gap of water widened. A large ship passed them, heading into the dock, its whistle drowning out all conversation momentarily.

Suddenly Gina pointed toward the shore and said, “Hey, look! They’re headed for our ship.”

Marilee turned to see a small launch approaching, cutting through the blue water and sending a spray of white behind it as it sped toward them.

“Someone who missed the boat,” one of the polo team said and everyone laughed.

The launch raced toward them, its bright flags fluttering. Two men stood in the bow and another sat at the stern. High above its brown deck a gull circled, spreading its wings and rising on air currents.

In a few seconds the launch cut its motor and slowed its approach, swinging in a wide circle to come alongside the ocean liner. Marilee glanced idly beyond them to the faintly visible Miami skyline.

Over a megaphone came a loud, clear call. It rang across the narrow expanse of water between the launch and the ship, carrying clearly over the babble of conversation at the rails.

“Marilee O’Neil! Marilee O’Neil!”

Shock. Shock froze her, numbed her. She stiffened, her gaze moving to the launch, to the two men standing in the bow.

And then the sun came up in her world. She wanted to shout, to jump up and down, to climb over the rail and fling herself into the ocean in front of the small craft. Cole. His dark hair was blowing in the wind. He was half-turned from her, standing with that familiar, unforgettable air of authority with one hand on his hip. Dark glasses hid his eyes. His white shirt sleeves whipped against his long arms and the ends of a navy tie fluttered slightly. Cole. Everything inside her came to life.

“Marilee, that’s you they’re calling!” Gina said.

“Cole!” Marilee yelled. Everyone around her turned to stare as she waved frantically, but her cry and gesture were lost in the mass of people.

The man with a megaphone standing beside Cole, called her name again.

“What’ve you done, Marilee?” Karen asked. “Who is that?”

Marilee wanted to sing, to laugh with glee. “Cole!”

She turned and grabbed the arm of the man beside her. “You guys, will you please call to him. His name is Cole Chandler.”

The tall blond next to her grinned. “Sure thing.”

In unison, the entire Fort Lauderdale water polo team shouted, “Cole Chandler!”

His dark head turned and Marilee waved wildly. Her heart thudded against her ribs as his hand raised and he waved in return.

“Marilee! Who is that?”

“I’ll tell you later.” She watched as the launch came alongside and Cole started up the rope ladder.

They met amidship in a throng of people, but no one else existed for Marilee. One look at Cole’s irresistible smile, his long, hard body, and she forgot the world. Cole reached for her and she went into his arms, into his heart forever.

Holding her tightly, he tilted her chin up and kissed her. When he released her, she reached up to remove his sunglasses, then stared into his marvelous blue eyes in stunned silence.

“Come on,” he said, his voice gruff. “I’ve only a few minutes to get you off this ship. Get your things while I find the captain.”

She didn’t question him or hesitate. Nothing mattered except Cole. She didn’t care if he wanted to see her for just a few days. She had to go with him.

She rushed to the cabin with Gina and Karen trailing behind. “Marilee, what are you doing?” Karen asked.

“Aren’t you going on the cruise?” Gina said.

“Who’s Cole Chandler?”

“He’s gorgeous! Marilee, I think you’ve held out on us.”

“I’m sorry,” Marilee said hurriedly over her shoulder. “I’ll write and explain. I can’t now. Cole said to meet him.” She snatched up her purse and bag and rushed back to find him waiting with the captain.

Marilee said good-bye to Karen and Gina, listened to Cole talk to the captain, and climbed into the launch without a glimmer of what she was doing.

As they stepped down into the rocking launch, the crowd on deck shouted, “Good-bye, Marilee! Good-bye, Cole!”

Cole grinned and waved with her while the launch started and turned to speed back to Miami. They couldn’t talk above the roar of the launch’s motor, but Cole held her close until they reached the dock.

Within minutes they stepped ashore on the dock at Miami. Cole tipped the men who had brought them ashore, shook hands, and thanked them. The sun was bright and warm. People were milling about them and somewhere nearby a ship’s whistle blew.

As the two men left them, Cole set her suitcase down on the dock and turned to her.

“Will you marry me?” he asked.

Out of the corner of her eye, Marilee saw a few heads turn their way. She didn’t care.

“What happened to your damned self-sufficiency?” she said. More heads turned and Cole’s white teeth flashed.

“It left with a gorgeous redhead.”

She folded her arms across her chest. “And that song and dance you gave Sandy about marriage being ‘trouble and misery’?”

Cole’s expression grew somber. “Please understand, Marilee. My parents’ marriage was awful and I’ve seen Sandy go through two heart wrenching divorces. Is it any wonder I was a little skeptical about marriage?”

“And now?”

He took a deep breath. “And now I’ve found a woman I can’t live without, a woman I want beside me all the time, a woman I need, I—”

“Oh, Cole!” She had waited as long as possible. As she rushed into his arms, she cried, “Yes! Oh, yes, I’ll marry you.”

He leaned down to kiss her and she knew she could never get enough of him, not even in a lifetime. When he finally released her, he glanced around. “Let’s get out of here. We can talk where it’s private.”

He hailed a taxi and as they sped toward the airport, he pulled her to him.

“Will you tell me what we’re doing?” she asked as she nestled against him.

“He grinned, making her heart pound faster and her whole body long to be wrapped around him.

“Honey, when I blew a fifty thousand dollar deal because I couldn’t keep my mind on simple little details, I knew I needed you desperately.”

She met his blue eyes, then glanced at the cab driver. “Cole, I wish you wouldn’t say things like that to me in public.”

He pulled her closer. “Who cares? I love you. I need you. Marilee, I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t work. I couldn’t eat. …”

Every sentence filled her with joy. She ran her finger down his cheek, noticing for the first time that he did look thinner. “I know,” she whispered. “Why didn’t you just call and ask me to skip the cruise?”

“I told you, I’m old enough to be set in my ways.

It didn’t get through my thick skull what I was suffering from until after you’d gone. I’ve been to Kansas. I’ve chased all over the country for you.”

His blue eyes enveloped her in their depths. She forced her attention back to the matter at hand. “Would you mind telling me our schedule? My family might like to know.”

“Oh, here.” He started to reach into his pocket, then stopped. “Never mind. We’ll be catching a plane for Kansas so you can see your family, get your things, and get married. I have to be in Alaska a week from today. Think you’ll like Alaska for a few weeks?”

“I think I will. Cole, what’s in your pocket?”

He grinned. “We’ll wait for a romantic setting.”

“I don’t think I want to wait. You’re here, that’s enough.”

His blue eyes darkened and he reached into his pocket. “This isn’t what I planned”—his blue eyes twinkled—”but then with you, nothing ever is!”

“Oh, really?” She watched as he withdrew a small box and placed it in her hand.

“I love you, Marilee.”

He was solemn, his eyes filled with an unmistakable need. His voice deepened with a vulnerable note she hadn’t heard before. “I need you, desperately. You gave me something, Marilee, that I haven’t found before. I can let down completely with you, trust you with everything. I’ve missed you, your laughter, your kisses. …What we found was so special. I only feel that way with you.”

She felt as if she would burst with joy. Never had she dreamed Cole would return her own feelings so strongly.

He caressed her cheek with his warm hand. “That day you crashed into my pool, you came down past all the barriers. The ones on my farm and the ones in my heart. I’ve had to be independent for so long, Marilee, so damned long. When you left, I finally realized that I needed you, your laughter, your love—”

“Oh, Cole! You’re not the only one. I haven’t been the same either.” He crushed her to him for another hungry kiss until she shifted to ask, “You’ll never know what a shock it was to hear my name called like that!”

He chuckled. “I couldn’t just saunter up and tap you on the shoulder. I wanted your full attention.”

“You have it, now and always.”

“Sure enough, luv.” He grinned at her and Marilee grinned back. She felt like laughing deliriously, like crying for joy. She trailed her fingers down his throat.

“We won’t be alone until when?”

“Too damn long. Hours from now. We’ll just have to make the best of a hardship.” He pulled her to him and kissed her fiercely. When he released her she opened the box and gazed tearfully at the glittering diamond inside.

“Cole, look!” Marilee stepped out of the truck and flung herself into a snowbank, relishing the cold. She stood and shook the snow off her skirt, feeling it fall over her stockinged legs and pumps.

Cole climbed down from the truck, the wind whipping the fur parka around his face while he carried their suitcases to the door of the small cottage.

“They promised to have this ready for us,” he said. “They better have kept their word or heads’ll roll.” He disappeared inside.

Oblivious of her cold legs and high heels, Marilee stomped through the snow, pausing with her hands on her hips to survey the Alaskan scene. They were above the timberline; on the mountainsides below were tall dark green pines The rustic log cottage had a wide roof that sloped down to hang over the porch. Behind the house was a small barn and corral, a garage for the truck, and a toolshed. She raised her head to look at the snowy mountains, the brilliant blue sky overhead. The wind swept up the snow, swirling flakes into the air.

Her shadow was dark over the sparkling snow. She kicked her foot, sending a spray of snow flying. Movement caught her eye and she looked up to see a plume of gray smoke curl out of the chimney.

She walked in a circle, making tracks, waiting for Cole to return.

“Marilee.”

He stood on the porch, his blue eyes squinting in the bright light. He looked so masculine, his hands on his hips as if he owned all he surveyed, he made her heart lurch violently.

“Hey, handsome!” she called. “I’ve got everything now. Snow, a sexy male …”

He took the two porch steps in one leap, strode rapidly along the walk to her, scooped her into his arms, and headed for the house again.

“I thought you’d never come out of there,” she teased.

“I had to get a fire roaring to take the chill off and set the mood.”

“I don’t think you’ll have to be too concerned with chills or mood.”

“Is that so?”

“Yep. You see, I have this craving for your gorgeous body.” His deep blue eyes were so filled with love that she caught her breath. “Oh, Lord, how I love you!” she said huskily, tugging his face down to kiss him.

They kissed for long moments, oblivious to the cold, of anything until Marilee became aware of the layers of clothing that were a barrier. As if he felt the same. Cole raised his head, his smoldering gaze sending her pulse into flight.

His voice was gruff, husky, and sensual. “Honey, I have the same damn craving for you. I can’t wait to see your green eyes darken, to know you need me. …“

She buried her head against his throat and clung to him while he carried her over the threshold into the living area. Braided rugs covered the polished floor and a fire was roaring in the stone hearth.

Cole kicked the door closed behind him and set her on her feet. He slipped his hands over the collar of her coat, peeling the coat away and letting it drop to the floor. “Welcome home, Mrs. Chandler.”

Her heart thudding wildly, she wound her arms around his neck. “Welcome home yourself, Mr. Chandler.”

“Want to see your new home?”

With each word his voice deepened. She looked into his deep blue eyes, then her gaze dropped to his firm jaw sprinkled with dark bristles.

“I need to shave.”

“Hmmm? Not necessarily.” .

“We’ve flown all night. Do you know how long it’s been since I had you to myself? Completely to myself?”

He pulled a pin from the bun on top of her head, then another, and a long lock of auburn hair tumbled over her shoulder.

“You have me now.” It was an effort to keep her eyes open, to talk. She tilted her face upward, wanting his mouth on hers.

“There. Your eyes are a deep green.” As he pulled the remaining pins from her hair, letting auburn curls cascade over her shoulders, she studied each feature of his face, his prominent cheekbones, the thick fringe of curly lashes. His beloved face, hers now and forever.

“Are you going to show me around?”

“Sure.” His lashes lowered over smoldering blue eyes.

He stripped off the white jacket of her suit. Over twelve hours ago in the church dressing room in Wichita, she had changed from her white satin wedding dress to the suit.

He kissed her throat, her lips, brushing her mouth with his as he tugged at the ends of the pale blue silk bow of her blouse. His parka fell beside hers and he shrugged out of his light suit coat and tossed it onto a chair.

With each passing second her heartbeat accelerated. How handsome Cole looked! She was aching with longing for him.

The single button at her waist went, the zipper next, then the skirt was a whisper over her hips.

“Everything’s here, luv,” Cole whispered. “A place for you to type and work on your next textbook, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a bedroom.”

Her fingers twisted his narrow gold belt buckle, slipping it free. She slid her hands over his hard chest to unfasten his tiny shirt buttons while he removed his gold cuff links. The gold band on his finger glittered with his movements.

“I’ll show them to you,” he continued, “but not in that order.”

“I can’t wait. It’s wonderful …” She pushed his shirt off his shoulders as he leaned down to kiss her throat, to trail enticing kisses to her ear, to tease the corner of her mouth with his tongue. “Lord, how I need you,” he murmured. “I couldn’t face coming up here without you. I couldn’t bear another day without you. You don’t know how many nights I stayed awake wanting you. Marilee … my life changed that day by the pool, changed forever, for the better.”

“It’s mutual. Cole.” She closed her eyes, tilting her head back, making her hair swing free behind her head.

Cole’s hand slipped around her waist as he pulled her to him to kiss her. Her mouth opened eagerly as she returned his kisses.

After a few minutes he lifted his head. “I wish I hadn’t had to rush you.”

“Do you now?”

A brief smile flicked across his features. His chest heaved as his eyes devoured her. His voice was raspy. “No more hang-ups?”

She smiled, looking at him beneath lowered lashes as she shook her head. “No, you gave me the cure.”

His laughter was throaty and deep as he swept her into his arms, holding her against his bare chest. “Let’s see how thoroughly cured you are, woman.” He leaned forward to kiss her while he carried her to the rug in front of the roaring fire.