My Sunshine (31 page)

Isaiah knotted his fist over a clump of paper. He should have felt elated. The woman he adored with all his heart loved him just as much as he loved her. But instead he felt heartsick. It wasn't only that he'd been holding back sexually, never kissing her or touching her to let her know that he desired her. He'd also failed to let her know how wonderful he thought she was.

When the mess had been cleared away, Isaiah stepped outside for a moment to make a phone call. When he reentered the house he wasted no time in collecting his birthday presents, his pretty houseguest, and the puppies.

“I'm beat, Mom.” He hugged his mother from behind where she stood at the sink rinsing dessert plates. “Would you mind if we bail out early? I want to go home and crash.”

Mary turned in his arms to go up on her tiptoes and kiss his cheek. “Not at all, dear heart.” She cupped a hand to the side of his face. “Maybe soon you can bring in some partners and stop working so hard all the time.”

Isaiah meant to do that far sooner than his mother imagined. He didn't intend to get married and leave his bride alone twelve to fourteen hours a day. “Tucker and I are working on it.” He placed a soft kiss on Mary's forehead. “Thank you for the surprise party. It was wonderful. And the prime rib was out of this world.”

As Isaiah drew away, Mary patted his arm. “I'm so glad Laura managed to get you here without letting the cat out of the bag.”

His birthday party wasn't the only cat that Laura hadn't let out of the bag. She loved him. The thought circled endlessly in his mind, as unbelievable to him after an hour as it had been when the realization first struck.

He definitely had some fences to mend when they got home. If nothing else, she would go to bed tonight knowing that he thought she was the most wonderful woman in the world.

After making the rounds to tell everyone good-bye, Isaiah carried his gifts out to the Hummer, then returned for Laura and the puppies. When they were all settled in the vehicle, he peered at her through the gloom, trying to make out her
expression in the light from the streetlamp that angled through the windshield. She was smiling, as always, only now he noticed how she avoided looking him directly in the eye. According to Isaiah's dad, the eyes were windows to the soul. Now Isaiah realized they were also windows to the heart.

 

Isaiah was quiet on the way home, making Laura wonder if he was angry with her about something. When they entered the house, Hapless leaped up on Isaiah's leg, then on Laura's. Then he ran in figure eights around them, growling deep in his throat and wagging his tail.

“Hello, Hapless.” Laura set the puppy basket down so she might give the older dog some individual attention. Hapless shivered with delight when she crouched down to pet him. “I think he missed us,” she told Isaiah.

Isaiah put his gifts on the sofa and peeled off his jacket. After a quick trip to the coat closet, he returned to the living room to add wood to the dwindling fire. With Hapless following at her heels, Laura carried the puppies to the bedroom. Because she had to leave for work in less than an hour, she decided to leave her charges in their basket. She had washed all the bottles at Isaiah's mother's house. She set the sack of formula and feeding paraphernalia on the floor by the wicker carrier.

She jumped with a start when she straightened and saw Isaiah standing in the doorway. He looked pensive, brooding, and so handsome that her breath hitched in her chest.

“You can put them in the pool,” he said. “You aren't going in tonight.”

Laura gave him a bewildered look. “But I—”

“I called Ellie Kingston. She's covering your shift tonight and tomorrow night.”

“But—”

“It's my birthday,” he reminded her. “Having you here the next two nights is my gift to myself. I'll pay you your usual wage if you're worried about the money.”

“Don't be silly. I don't need the money.”

“Good. Ellie needs the hours. Christmas and all that. You're doing her a good turn and making me happy, both at once.”

Laura wished she could spend the rest of her life making him happy. But she would have to settle for only three more weeks. The puppies would be seven days old tomorrow. Her time here was flying by. Before she knew it she'd be going home to her apartment.

“Let's read for a while,” he suggested. “I'll turn on the tree lights. It'll be a nice ending to a wonderful evening.”

Something in his eyes—an intensity in the blue depths that she'd never seen before—made her nervous. She wondered once again if she'd said or done something at the party to upset him. Before she could ask, he turned away from the doorway. She put the puppies in their wading pool and returned to the living room.

Isaiah was already reclining on a beanbag, his back supported by the hearth, his long legs extended and slightly bent. On his lap he held the
mystery novel that he'd been reading to her. The blue plaid shirt he wore brought out the color of his eyes.

Laura gingerly sat on the beanbag beside him. Hapless immediately launched himself onto her lap. She cuddled the overgrown puppy to her chest, ruffling his ears as she glanced over at Isaiah.

“Ready?” he asked huskily.

Laura nodded and settled back, trying to recall the scene he'd read to her last night. A burglar had been rifling the home of the main protagonist, looking for a handgun. The implication was that the burglar meant to do murder. It was a strange novel, in Laura's estimation. No crime had yet been committed. She didn't know who was going to be killed. She only knew that the burglar meant to do the deed and pin the crime on the hero.

Isaiah began to read, his voice deep and silky, his pronunciation of every word perfect. Lulled by the story, Laura soon felt totally relaxed. Hapless fell asleep with his head nestled between her breasts, his snores adding yet another layer of coziness to the winter night.

Isaiah suddenly stopped reading and reached for another book lying on the hearth. As he opened to the first page, Laura gave him a questioning look.

“I'm in the mood for something lighter tonight,” he explained. “Do you mind?”

Laura shook her head. In truth, she was growing impatient with the mystery, waiting for something to happen. So far it was all buildup with no delivery.

Isaiah cleared his throat and began to read.
“Looking back on that evening, I can only wonder why I didn't know the moment that I clapped eyes on her that she was the love of my life.” He coughed again and settled deeper into the beanbag. “When I opened the office door and saw her for the first time, I was instantly attracted to her. But I blamed it on mere physical attraction. She was just another pretty woman, I told myself. But then, slowly, as I came to know her as a person, I realized she was far more. She literally changed my life, at first only in little ways, but over time all the little things added up and became huge. Now I love her so much that I feel panicky at the thought of losing her. Even worse, I'm not sure how to tell her.”

He paused to look over at her. Laura wiggled more deeply into the cushiony beanbag. “A romance?” She flashed him a pleased grin. “How nice.”

He gave her a long, penetrating look. Then he cleared his throat again and resumed reading. “I thought I could content myself with simply being friends. Best friends, I guess you'd say. Only now I want and need more than that. I'm praying that she wants more, too.”

He stopped reading to turn the page. Laura shifted Hapless in her arms. “It's not in third person,” she observed.

He gave her another odd look, then returned his attention to the page. “I don't know when it happened. When I fell in love with her, I mean. I wonder now if it was the first time that I saw her lovely face. Or maybe it was later, when I started to realize what a wonderful person she is. She has the
most incredible hazel eyes. When I look into them, I feel as if I've been lost all my life and have finally found my way home.”

Laura's heart caught. Hazel eyes? She searched his dark profile. Then she thought,
Get real, Laura. You're really reaching.

“When it started doesn't really matter,” he read on. “I only know it
did
happen. She fills my life with laughter, she makes me happy in a way no one else ever has, and sometimes I think she understands me better than I do myself. She knew how torn up I was when an old lady's cat died. She listens when I need to discuss my patients. She makes me fudge because I love chocolate.”

Tears sprang to Laura's eyes. She wasn't imagining it. He was talking about her. “Oh, Isaiah.”

He slowly closed the book and met her gaze. “Corny, huh? I never thought I'd have a problem telling a woman I was in love with her. But every time I try to tell you, I freeze up and the words won't come.”

She could barely see him now for the tears. “You love me?” she squeaked.

He gently thumbed a tear from her cheek. “I adore you, Laura. You're the most wonderful person I've ever known. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” He gestured at the room around them. “I love the house. Now I want you to live here with me, not just for a few weeks, but always.”

She shook her head. “But—”

“Please don't say that word. Whenever you say that word you're about to add something really dumb. I love you. My mother finally found me the
perfect woman, God love her. You're beautiful, you're smart, you're funny, and you're my best friend. Even better, as a cook you're second to none.”

Laura nearly choked on a giggle. “You love me because I can cook?”

He smoothed another tear from her cheek. “When you're in the kitchen, you aren't just cooking. You're preparing gifts.”

It was true, she realized. When she cooked, she thought of the people who would enjoy the dishes. She especially enjoyed cooking for Isaiah, not only because he needed the nourishment but also because he was so appreciative.

He lightly grazed his fingertips along her cheekbone and then furrowed them through her hair. “Well?” he asked huskily. “I've had a great birthday so far. Are you going to make it the most memorable one of my life by telling me you love me back?”

It took all Laura's self-control not to throw her arms around his neck. “I have brain damage, Isaiah. There are a hundred little things I can't do now, things that may become huge irri-irri—”

“Irresistible glitches?” he supplied.

She laughed again. He had a way of making her laugh. “You know the word I'm trying to say.”

“Irritations,” he said. “But you're wrong about that. We balance each other out, Laura. It's true that there are a number of things you can no longer do, but there are also a number of things I'm miserable at. Together we're dynamite.”

“You need someone who can help with your career.”

“A surgical assistant in emergencies, maybe?”

Her cheeks went warm.

“Or possibly someone who's great with animals?” He leaned closer—so close that she could feel the steamy warmth of his breath on her lips. “Do you love me, Laura?”

Her heart squeezed with yearning so intense it made her bones ache. “I don't want to be a chain around your neck.”

He cupped her chin in his hand. “Do you love me? It's a very simple question.”

“Yes,” she finally whispered.

Before the word had completely passed her lips, he angled his dark head and settled his mouth over hers. Wet silk. The kiss was as soft as a whisper at first, and then he deepened it, making questioning forays with the tip of his tongue. Laura's head spun. She couldn't breathe. Making fists on his shirt, she clung to him as she surrendered her mouth to him, parting her lips in invitation.

Hapless, squished between them, suddenly awakened and stuck his cold, wet nose between their chins. Isaiah cursed and pulled away. Laura fell back on the beanbag, her head reeling.

“It's time for you to go outside for a while,” Isaiah told the pup.

He pushed to his feet and went to the front door. Once Hapless was dispatched, he strode slowly back to the fire. Laura stared dazedly up at him, aware of his raw masculinity as she'd never been—the decisive tap of his boots with each lazy step he
took, the way his broad shoulders worked in harmony with each shift of his lean hips, and the play of muscle in his thighs under the faded denim of his Wranglers. His eyes burned with desire, turning them the dark blue of cobalt. A tendon along his jaw bunched with each clench of his teeth.

He stopped a foot shy of the beanbags and started unbuttoning his shirt. “I want you,” he said in a voice gone gravelly with need. “I want you as I've never wanted anyone.”

That was good. That was
great.
Only she needed just a little more lead time. “Isaiah,” she said shakily. “There's just this one little thing.”

He dispensed with another shirt button. “What's that? Just name it, sweetheart.”

Laura cringed inwardly. At thirty-one years of age, she felt it was an embarrassing thing to admit, especially in view of the fact that he'd clearly been with countless women. “I've never—done this.”