Stormy Passion (47 page)

Much better than my heart
, she wanted
to say.

“
Can you wiggle your
toes?”

“
Yes,” Brenna answered,
then demonstrated. “But my foot itches like crazy.”

“
I bet it does.” The doctor
nodded, but offered no suggestions or sympathy.

“
When can I get the cast
off?”

Dr. Mac turned his head to the side, then
looked up at her. “Oh, probably in about three weeks.”

“
That long,”

“
Afraid so. Your foot is
healing nicely.” Dr. Mac finally said before he stood. He looked at
Taylor. “I think you've been taking excellent care of our
patient.”

“
Thanks, doc,” Taylor
answered with a grin. “It hasn't been easy.”

“
I bet not.” Dr. Mac looked
back at Brenna. “Now, Brenna, what I want you to do is to start
putting a little weight on your foot so it will be stronger by the
time we take off the plaster.”

After listening to a few other instructions,
they thanked the doctor and left, then proceeded to the grocery
store to buy goodies and a cake mix for Lisa's birthday and sleep
over.

While Taylor filled up the grocery cart, he
couldn't help thinking how much fun he was having with such simple
things like grocery shopping and cooking. It was as if he'd found
the meaning of life here in this little town. He felt younger than
he had in years, but he had one major problem to
solve  his engagement to Carol. What was he going to
do?

It was a question he was going to solve, but
before he made
that
decision he needed to have a long talk
with Brenna. Would she run out on him again with no explanation?
Could he ever trust her? They had some old issues to work through
before they could have any kind of a future. That is, if there was
going to be a future.

“
Are you going to stare at
the cookies all day?” Brenna asked as she jabbed him in the
side.

“
Sorry.” Taylor blinked and
stared at her.
Do you love me, Brenna Fox
? Why couldn't he
just come out and ask her? What if they just cleared the air right
here in the store?

He must have had a strange expression on his
face, because Brenna asked. “Is something wrong?”

“
No. I was thinking about
asking you something.”

“
Such as?”

He stared at her with a half-grin, deciding
the grocery store wasn't the place. But the time was coming ...
coming soon. “Want to get some marshmallows?” he asked.

Somehow Brenna didn't think that was what
Taylor had on his mind. She knew he longed to question her. And of
course she would refuse to answer, but she wanted to be able to do
it so they could stay on friendly terms. She might have lost him to
Carol, but Brenna still needed his friendship. She wasn't ready for
any emotional scenes ... at least not yet. “That sounds good.
Roasted marshmallows with fifteen young ladies.”

They went by the deli for cold cuts, and then
picked up some soft drinks and they were on their way home through
the frosty, snow-filled streets. What a record snowfall Sleepy
Hollow had experienced this winter. Enormous snowflakes moved in
slow-motion landing in big globs on the windshield until Taylor had
to finally turn on the wipers.

As they drove down Main Street, Brenna
remembered the building she'd wanted to see earlier. “Don't forget
to stop at our new business.”

Taylor obeyed and slowed down. “I think it's
a little too congested for you to get out. I'm sure they'll have a
sign up before long. I'll stop right here, and you can view it from
the car.”

A truck backed up in the lot next door was
off-loading plywood. Brenna shivered and wondered how the workmen
stood working out in the frigid air. They had built a fire in an
oil drum and two men stood warming their hands.

“
Look.” Brenna pointed.
“What's that tall black thing?”

“
Appears to be a vault. I
think your little town is getting a bank,” Taylor said. “Too bad I
didn't think of it myself.” A horn blew behind them and he started
driving again.

“
That's wonderful.” Brenna
sighed. “Now I won't have to drive forever to get my banking
done.”

She stared out the window on the way home,
thinking how nice it would be to have a local bank. The town had
tried to get one two years ago, but it was considered a bad
investment at that time because of the small population. Sleepy
Hollow was growing and Brenna would love to kiss the person who
decided to invest in their town. But who in the world could that
be? It wasn't Taylor. He'd just said so.

Chapter Eleven

Looking out over a sea of colorful sleeping
bags spread haphazardly across the floor, Brenna was glad Sleepy
Hollow Inn didn't have any guests tonight for Lisa's birthday bash.
Brenna had decided to close for the weekend so Lisa could enjoy her
birthday family style.

And enjoy it she was, if the amount of
giggling and food consumed were any indication. Brenna and Taylor
had prepared a feast of junk food. Brenna stood in the kitchen
doorway leaning against the door jamb as she watched the
entertainment in front of her.

Taylor seemed to be having a good time. She
could picture him playing with his own children. He'd have a boy
with sandy blonde hair who would look just like him and of course a
girl, too. Sadness and regret filled her with what she could have
had. Since she wouldn't be the one having his children.

Enough day-dreaming of things that couldn't
be. She only had him for a few more days and Brenna wanted these
days to be happy memories.

The girls' giggling caught her attention.
They played a game called Twister. Lisa stood on different colored
dots and reached for whatever color the spinner called out next.
And now they had Taylor playing the game with them. Brenna covered
her mouth with her hand to smother a chuckle as Taylor tried to
twist his body and reach for a blue spot. She hadn't realized what
a big kid at heart he was until tonight when all the young ladies
had voted him the life of the party.

He must have heard her laughter because he
glanced up, smiled, then tumbled over and played dead with an
exhausted sigh.

Taylor's muscles felt like they were tied in
knots after the game. “Look, girls, I'm not as young as I used to
be,” he admitted. “Why don't we roast marshmallows and tell
stories.” He rolled over to a sitting position and motioned for
Brenna to join the party.

She looked especially pretty tonight dressed
in an aquamarine wind suit. She had her hair pulled up on the sides
with silver combs making her cheekbones more defined. As she drew
near him, her face appeared radiant and her emerald eyes glistened
with happiness. Somehow, he hoped he'd caused that glimmer.

“
I'd like you better over
here beside me,” he told Brenna as he patted the spot where she
should sit down next to him.

She smiled while spearing a couple of
marshmallows with a coat hanger. “You just want to steal my
marshmallows,” she said as she held them over the flames.

“
Well, that
too.”

Brenna pulled back the toasted treats and
blew on them until they cooled. She pulled one off and offered it
to Taylor who merely opened his mouth. His expression was smug with
male superiority. She laughed and stuffed the treat into his mouth,
but before she drew her hand back Taylor reached up and grabbed it,
letting his tongue travel over her fingers.

The sexy way his mouth caressed her
fingertips made Brenna tingle in all the right places. Her cheeks
burned at his intimate suggestion, and no matter how wrong it was,
she longed to reach over and kiss him, but Lisa yelled, “I'll turn
out the lights,” reminding Brenna they were in the midst of fifteen
little girls.

Lisa jumped up, ran over, and switched off
the lights, leaving the room bathed in an orange and eerie blue
glow. Several candles scattered around the room flickered, adding
to the spooky atmosphere.

After the girls finished roasting
marshmallows, everyone stretched out in their favorite spots so the
storytelling could begin.

Lisa started, “Once upon a time on a dark and
dreary night--.” Her softly spoken voice had the girls hanging on
every word until the next young lady picked up the story line.

When Brenna looked around the room, she
caught a glimpse of shining eyes. She could see the top of Lisa's
head, but the rest of them were bathed in black as the fire
crackled in the hearth and the wind howled outside.

Brenna, too, had become completely engrossed
in the story, so she wasn't prepared when a hand touched her waist.
Startled, she jumped but, thank goodness, didn't scream. Swinging
around she realized Taylor was pulling her back toward him.

“
Afraid of ghosts?” he
whispered next to her ear as he stroked a hand down her hair. His
breath was a warm caress on her neck as he wrapped his arms around
her.
Why am I so helpless when he touches me?

She leaned against his chest and turned her
head slightly. “Not when you're around,” she whispered back. Seeing
the whites of his teeth, she knew he was smiling at her, but he
didn't say another word. He merely pulled her tighter to him. So
she returned her attention to the girls. But her mind wasn't on
their ghoulish stories. Her mind was on the man who held her
protectively within his arms.

She probably had no right to love this man,
but love him she did. He was everything to her. He made the sun
brighter, and the flowers smell just that much sweeter, and
everyday things so much fun. How was she going to say goodbye?

Then again maybe Taylor would change his mind
and stay with them always.
Yeah, sure,
Brenna.
Her
inner-voice laughed at her naive notions and said,
Wake up and
smell the roses
. What would a man like Taylor Rothschild do in
a one-horse town? He was used to handling big accounts and making
million dollar deals; running a bed and breakfast paled in
comparison.

Taylor's lips brushed her ear, and Brenna
melted against him. She longed to turn around and touch him, to
taste him, to become lost in the stormy sea of desire he seemed to
stir up in her.

“
Why don't we leave and go
upstairs?” he suggested and she automatically stiffened when his
lips pressed against her neck, sending chills cascading over her
body.

“
We can't. We're the
chaperons,” she gently reminded him.

“
Right. I'd
forgotten.”

As if on cue, the story ended and the girls
squealed at the surprise ending. Then they shouted, “Let's do it
again!”

Taylor whispered in her ear, “I can't wait.”
He stood and extended a hand to Brenna, pulling her up with him.
“We're going to call it a night, ladies. It's time for everyone to
get some sleep,” he said in a much too sexy voice.

Lord, I hope not.
Brenna thought to
herself. She hoped it was going to be a
long
night. She
shook herself and looked at her sister, trying to remember she was
the adult in charge. “Blow out all the candles before you go to
sleep, and we'll make sure the doors are locked.”

Lisa came running over to them, throwing her
arms around her sister's waist. “Thanks for everything. You're the
best.”

“
You're welcome,” Brenna
said as she gave her sister a squeeze. “There's some more goodies
out in the kitchen. Have a nice birthday, but clean up your
mess.”

“
Oh, Brenna.” Lisa rolled
her eyes before turning to Taylor. “Thanks for coming to my
birthday party.”

“
It was my pleasure,
muffin.” He reached out and ruffled her curly, dark brown
hair.

Lisa wrapped her arms around him. “I love
you, Taylor.”

“
I love you, too,” he said
then leaned down and kissed the top of her head.

She stood back and looked up at him. “Does
this mean you're going to marry us?”

“
Lisa!” Brenna gasped, but
she was too stunned to say or do anything else as she waited for
Taylor's reply, knowing his answer would have to be no.

“
I'd marry you in a minute,
muffin. It's your sister who presents the problem.” He smiled and
told Lisa good night.

Handing the crutches to Brenna he walked with
her to the stairs, but she didn't dare look at him. She could just
die of embarrassment. What was Taylor supposed to say? Yes, I'm
going to marry your sister and forget all the other plans I've made
for my life.

“
Do you want me to carry
you?” Taylor broke into her thoughts.

“
No. The doctor said to
start using my foot,” she said as she took the first step,
clutching the rail. She looked over to her right at the girls
snuggled in their sleeping bags for the night.

Taylor didn't argue with her. Instead he
supported her left elbow as she slowly climbed the stairs. The heat
from his fingers penetrated her sleeve and made her aware of his
masculine presence. Brenna finally summoned the courage to speak.
“I'm sorry Lisa embarrassed you in there.”

“
She didn't embarrass me.
Lisa is an astute young lady, and she just brought up the very
subject that you and I have been avoiding the last few
weeks.”

Every muscle in Brenna's body tensed. “I
guess we have.”

They entered her bedroom, and before Brenna
thought about how she was going to broach the touchy subject, she
turned on him and placed a finger over his lips. Suddenly, she
didn't want to talk. She wanted to feel. She wanted to forget. She
wanted Taylor.