The Marriage Recipe (17 page)

She opened her eyes, and saw Colin concentrating on nothing but her pleasure. The intensity of this man overwhelmed her. As he brought her to orgasm again, she let her head fall back onto the pillow and forgot her worries.

She'd ached for Colin for far too long. He was making love to her because he wanted
her,
no one else. She'd fallen in love with him. If nothing else, this past week had cemented those feelings. Rachel couldn't deny herself this night, even if it caused her heartbreak later. The future could take care of itself. She'd think about it tomorrow.

He brought his face next to hers and kissed her lips, and it was then she realized he had way too many clothes on. She ran her hands underneath his clothing, touching his chest everywhere. She tugged at his shirt, and, as if sensing her intentions, Colin broke their kiss, pulled off the offending apparel and threw it aside.

“Do you know how much I want you?” he whispered. She arched her back and he moved his mouth down her body one last time before resting over her on all fours. She reached for the buttons of his pants and made him take everything off. Her fingers found him, and he groaned as she continued her caress.

“Look at me,” he said, escaping her touch.

Her gaze connected with his. He leaned over her, face close, blue eyes intense. Not one part of his body touched hers and she desired that contact.

Colin gave her lips a quick kiss. “This is real for me. I care about you, more than you know. Once we do this, it changes everything. Are you positive you want this? That you're ready?”

Was she? Rachel blinked. She'd been certain the moment she'd gotten in her car and driven over here.

He leaned closer, still not touching. “I might have a little caveman in me, because I'm feeling damn possessive about you. When I enter you, you're mine.”

Maybe it was the way his eyes seemed to twinkle or the way his eyes crinkled that took the edge off how serious his words were. Maybe it was just her overwhelming need to make her lifelong fantasy a reality.

Whatever it was, she needed Colin as much as she needed to breathe. She trusted him, treasured him deeply. “Yes. I'm sure,” she said.

Tears formed as the enormity of the moment struck her. They were joined. Colin was her other half. He had made her whole.

 

“Y
OU OKAY
?” Colin asked her about ten minutes later. After each had used the restroom, they'd crawled back onto the bed and simply held each other without speaking. Rachel was afraid words might cloud things. Already her mind and heart conflicted.

They'd finally made love and it had been everything she'd ever dreamed and more.

Her decision to give herself to him hadn't been easy. She still planned on returning to New York. Colin was like chocolate. Ask any woman and it would be the last thing she could give up if she had to diet. So how could Rachel walk away from the best man she'd ever met, who'd just given her the best lovemaking of her life, whom she'd loved since childhood?

That was why, although she'd agreed to date him, she'd wrestled with her choice over the weekend. In the final analysis, she'd realized that she was like a tumbleweed, caught up in the whirlwind that he was to her, and unable to control her destiny when it came to him.

Being with Colin, in the most fundamental way possible, was simply ordained, maybe from the day she'd been brought home to the house next door, where an eighteen-month-old Colin toddled around in diapers.

She'd seen his childhood bedroom, but this adult room reflected the man he'd become. The furnishings were sparse, just a king-size bed, a nightstand and a chest of drawers. He had miniblinds, no curtains of any kind on the two windows flanking the bed. Overhead, a ceiling fan circled lazily in the vaulted ceiling, pushing the warm air down on their cooling bodies. All the room required was a woman's touch.

And yet, despite her strongest feelings for him, she couldn't be that woman.

Colin couldn't believe it. By the time he left New York City around 2:00 Tuesday afternoon, he had the entire outcome he'd hoped for, including a check for two thousand dollars to cover Marco's portion of the nonrefundable deposits. Colin had scored the hat trick.

The win was bittersweet. He'd scored a great victory, proving his merit as a legal mind. However, at the same time, Rachel was free. Free to go back to New York and work, free to start her own business, free to keep her recipes. Marco hadn't even bothered to appear at the law office, letting his attorneys decide everything. Word from Colin's tabloid-reporter contact was that Marco Alessandro had already found someone new and simply wanted to put this “mess” behind him.

Since Alessandro's didn't open until five and that was still a few hours away, Colin had flown home instead of going over to the restaurant and punching the man in the nose for declaring Rachel a mess he simply had to “mop up.”

“So you like it?” the company representative in the copilot's seat said, interrupting Colin's thoughts.

“Love it,” Colin replied. The Cessna 182 he and his friends had bought was everything they'd hoped for. For years they had flown a variety of planes and finally settled on this one. Of course, he'd had to beg to fly the plane first, but his friends had capitulated once Colin had agreed to pay for everyone's round of golf at the next course they flew to play at. He had no doubt they'd hit him up for somewhere expensive, like Pebble Beach. He really didn't mind.

The day was clear and sunny, perhaps a good omen that maybe Rachel wouldn't flee so fast. They'd been together all last week, spent the entire weekend together. He smiled to himself, thinking how lucky he was. She'd been insatiable last night, not that he minded. He called Rachel, got her voice mail, told her he had news and that he'd try her again but to meet him at eight at his place.

His phone rang as he was getting into his car after parking the plane in its hangar. “So what's going on?” Rachel asked.

“I have news,” he told her when she answered.

“Okay? So what is it? Is it about this past weekend? Or last night? Wait, for a minute I forgot. You went flying today. You love your new plane,” she said.

“Well, that's part of it,” Colin hedged. He'd decided to keep the secret that he had a meeting with Marco's lawyers from her. He'd wanted to tell her but hadn't been able to. He didn't want the best relationship or lovemaking of his life tainted by thoughts of her leaving him.

“There's more?” Rachel asked.

He adjusted his earpiece. “Yes. I have a surprise for you.”

“Ooh. Does it involve candles? I got invited to a candle party on Thursday night. Since the last home party wasn't bad, I'm going. I can buy you something for your bland, beige house then.”

He chuckled. “I can make tonight involve candles. But then you better meet me at eight-thirty so I can prepare.”

“No, eight's fine. Candlelight's overrated. And do you mind if we order pizza? Now that Easter's over, my mom's been on a salad kick. There's nothing good to eat.”

Colin laughed. That was his earthy Rachel.

He said goodbye and disconnected, then drove to the quick mart located inside a gas station at the Highway 74 overpass. By the time he got home, took a quick shower and changed into more casual clothes, he had only ten minutes before Rachel arrived.

However, she didn't want pizza or his news. The minute she stepped in the door and kissed him, passion ruled.

 

“S
O WILL IT
always be like this?” she asked him afterward, overwhelmed by how he made her feel. With him she was not only well sexed, but she was cherished. Loved, although he hadn't yet spoken the word to her.

“I hope so,” he said, tracing a finger along her jaw. “I meant what I told you the first time we made love.”

She stared at the ceiling, watching the wooden fan circle around as she tried to remember. “About what?”

“You being mine. Not that I own you or anything. But Rachel, you're it for me. I don't think anyone could ever follow you.”

That could simply not be possible. “You're giving me too much credit,” she protested.

He leaned on an elbow, edging closer. “No, you're not giving yourself enough credit. You've stolen my heart. I knew you would going into this, and I'm prepared. Or so I thought until…” His words drifted off.

“Lovemaking does change everything, doesn't it? And then it changes nothing,” Rachel said with a sigh, depressed. She loved him, yet her city beckoned. “At some point, I'm going to have to walk away from you and go home.” She paused as a hopeful thought took hold. “You could come with me.”

“To New York?”

“Yes.” While making the offer surprised her, the idea held appeal. “I'm sure they need attorneys there.”

He shook his head, dashing the possibility. “I've thought about it, believe me. I even made a pro-con list last week. I'm up for partner this year. I don't want to be a faceless attorney in one of those supersize firms that concentrate only on billable hours. I like being in a small town, where everyone knows everyone else and actually cares about your well-being. Lancaster and Morris is my father's legacy and my destiny. Once I stopped running and accepted who I am, I was content with my future, and ready to embrace it.”

“Morrisville is so stifling,” she argued, a tad angry at his rejection.

“Not when you have a plane. It's just a jumping-off point. Chris—” he named one of his plane partners “—is taking his wife to Maui for a week. He plans to fly over the islands, take pictures of the volcano vents and lava flows that other tourists don't get to see.”

That sounded absolutely wonderful and she focused on that to calm her tumultuous feelings. “I've never been to Hawaii.”

“Neither have I. Let's go,” he proposed.

She stared at him. He was serious, and the invitation so tempting. But life wasn't that simple or easy, at least not in her experience. She exhaled slowly, accepting the sad truth.

“You'd hate New York City,” she stated, getting back to the matter at hand.

He nodded. “Living there, yes. But I think it's a great place to visit. You might even get me to one of those Broadway shows once in a while. I've heard many of them are quite good.”

“Would you do it for me?”

She meant live there, and he understood, because he shook his head and said, “We'd hate each other.”

Rachel closed her eyes, savoring the bittersweet irony. He'd move to New York and be with her. But he wouldn't be happy. She couldn't relocate Colin.

“I know. You'd resent it there,” she said quietly, accepting the truth.

“I'd try not to,” he replied. “But it's not right for me. We'd suffer. Maybe fight. I think that would be worse. If…”

She put a finger to her lips, silencing him. He'd give her the world if he could, but this was not something he could do. She slowly shook her head as sadness consumed her.

“You're right. It won't work. It's like caging a wild animal. Animals need their habitats. You're one who can't be transplanted. You thrive here.”

“I do. I also believe you will, as well. You could move back here permanently if you really wanted to. Like you did those home parties, I think you'd discover life isn't so bad. You stopped running away long ago. Admit it, Rachel, being home this time wasn't water torture. Was probably even better than you hoped. You believe a big city is what's necessary to launch your bakery. But you can do that here. You've been happy since you returned.”

No, living in New York made her happy. But it hadn't made her content. There was a huge difference between the two. Contentment lasted. Happiness could be fleeting. For the first time, she hesitated. Could her future really be here? In Morrisville with Colin? Rachel's stomach growled, saving her from a reply. “Oops.”

“Let's order that pizza,” Colin said. “Domino's in Batesville delivers here. What do you want?”

“Everything,” she said, referring to more than just pizza toppings.

About forty minutes later, she and Colin had both dressed and were sitting on his great-room sofa, eating a large thin-crust deluxe.

“So you said you had news,” she said, flipping off the television. Now that she and Colin were dressed, she wasn't interested in the nightly news, but in what Colin had to tell her.

“I did. I took out the new plane today.”

She reached for another slice. “I can't wait for you to take me up. I've been hearing all about this Blue Owl Bakery in Kimmswick, Missouri, and I want to check it out. It sounds like something that might work for me.”

“So now you're using me,” he said, washing down a bite with a drink of cola.

She wiped a crumb from the corner of his lips. He was adorable. Already she anticipated kissing him, after she'd had nourishment for the upcoming activity she intended to indulge in again. “I'll make it worth your while. Now, what is this big secret you keep refusing to reveal?”

“My flight location.” He stuffed another bite in his mouth, and as he chewed, Rachel found herself suddenly frustrated. He'd mentioned seeing her. So what was with making her ask Twenty Questions?

“Okay, next?” she prodded.

His expression turned serious. “I flew up for a meeting with Marco's lawyers. I also spoke with my friend at the tabloid newspaper.”

“So what happened?” She returned the remaining part of the pizza slice to her plate. No wonder Colin had been so hesitant. Habit had her prepared for the worst.

Colin covered her hand gently with his. “Marco's moved on. He's found someone new. Declared himself in love.”

“I know—Glynnis told me. It didn't take long,” Rachel said scathingly. She snatched her hand away. “The bastard never could keep his pants zipped. I told him this was how everything would go down, but did he listen to me? No, of course not. He had to make some silly power play and try to take my recipes. He didn't get my recipes, did he?”

Colin shook his head. “No. In fact, he backed down on that. In my briefcase, which is in my office here, I have a signed, notarized statement from Marco, as agent of Alessandro's, giving up all rights to your recipes and releasing you from your noncompete contract. I also have a check payable to you for two thousand dollars.”

Her mouth dropped. This couldn't be happening, but it was. “You're kidding. No, I can see you're not. This means…”

“You're free,” Colin said simply.

“Oh, my God! We won! You did it!” She was elated. “I don't owe him anything?”

His guarded expression never changed. He had no elation. No joy. “No. It's over. His lawyers suggested you avoid Alessandro's and Marco.”

“I don't care about either. And money! You got the hat trick!”

“I did.”

This was the best news. Excitement consumed her. She'd won! “So I have enough to get back on my feet. I have a little saved up. Those Easter cakes really helped and you just got me more.”

She tossed her arms around him; luckily, Colin had already moved his plate, or the pizza would have gone flying. “I can't believe you did it! I mean, of course I knew you could. Thank you! Thank you so much.”

He nodded. “I have a bottle of champagne to celebrate, but we sort of got sidetracked when you arrived….”

Rachel then realized Colin wasn't thrilled by all this great news. She'd expected to have everything drag out. That she'd be stuck in Morrisville until August. It was early April, and she was free to go back to New York anytime. She could be back in the city by her birthday. She could leave tomorrow if she so chose.

Elation turned to remorse as she became conscious of the implications and his somber demeanor. When he'd made love to her tonight, he'd known what she would do. He'd known the moment he told her his news that she'd want to go back to New York.

He loved her.

He didn't have to say the words, but her heart recognized the truth. “Oh, my God, I'm so sorry,” she said.

“Just waiting until you figured it out,” he said calmly. “Forgive me if I'm not as wild about you winning this case as you. I prepared for this, but it's still hard. You need to do what's best for you. I support you in everything. You know that.”

She struggled to maintain her composure. Her body still ached from his lovemaking, but she couldn't stay in Morrisville. He'd given her back her wings. She had to fly and she could only do that in New York. She pressed his hand to her heart. “I'll always have you here. I'm…” Tears threatened and Rachel stood. How ironic that she was running away again.

“Will I see you before you leave?” he asked.

She'd never felt such an immediate urgency to escape. “No. I'd rather slip out like a thief in the night. I don't want Morrisville throwing me some bon voyage party.” And if she saw him again, she'd be torn. She might not be able to make her feet move. Her dream or Colin. When had the choice become that hard? Probably the moment she'd fallen in love with him.