Mesmerized by the place, Rachel stayed. She utilized family contacts to get her sketchings purchased by the local paper, shed gone to college at night studying art and the rest was history.
Home sweet home.
Mom? Emily moved in front of her and kneeled. Its only natural to be this tired, right? Didnt the doctor say so? I mean, coming home took a lot out of you.
Yeah. Rachel felt the burning need to throw something or have a good cry. Even her daughter had changed, as now suddenly Emily didnt want to do anything to upset her. Rachel wondered how long that would last, how long before they went back to being two circling, snarling tigresses. Lying in that hospital bed for five weeks was hard work all right.
The way you stress it was. Do you want to lie down?
Id like to never lie down again.
Emily laughed. Dont worry, in no time youll be yelling at me to go out and play instead of doing homework.
Rachel sighed, it was all she could do. Im proud of your grades, Emily. So proud. But youre too young to work so hard.
I like working hard.
But Rachel frowned as the thought flew from her head. Frustrated, she closed her eyes and concentrated so hard it hurt, but it was no use. She couldnt remember what shed wanted to say. I really hate that. How can I yell at you if I cant keep a thought in my head?
Practice, Emily assured her, looking cocky. Probably because she was in charge here and knew it. Role reversal was a powerful tool in the hands of a preteen. Terrifying.
The doorbell rang, and suddenly Emilys grin dissolved. Her healthy glow faded as she stared at the door.
Its the nurse. Rachel looked at the door with what she imagined was a twin expression to her daughters.
Early. Emily chewed on an already gnawed fingernail. Go figure.
Definitely that good cry would have to wait, because Emily looked more nervous than she did. Oh, honey. Itll be okay. It had to be. Besides, its temporary, remember?
Early. Emily chewed on an already gnawed fingernail. Go figure.
Definitely that good cry would have to wait, because Emily looked more nervous than she did. Oh, honey. Itll be okay. It had to be. Besides, its temporary, remember?
Yeah. Umyou might want to remember that.
It was instinctive, wanting to hug her daughter. So was the move to do just that, which had her body shooting sharp little bites of pain as a reminder that she couldnt do anything on the spur of the moment. As she sagged back in her chair, she took a deep, careful breath.
Mom?
Im okay. Okay being relative of course. Careful to not move a muscle, all of which were quivering, she said, Lets get this over with. Im sure you and Mel did a great job picking her out.
Uhnows probably a good time to mention Aunt Mel had nothing to do with this. Emily continued to chew on her fingernail, staring at the door with a curious mixture of dread and joy. She doesnt know, no one has any idea
The bell rang again, following by three raps on the wooden door.
An impatient nurse. Great. She really was getting Attila the Hun.
Emily tossed her chin high and headed for the door. Then, ruining the confident stance, she hesitated. Quick as a bullet, she shot back to Rachel and dropped a sweet kiss on her cheek, and gave her a very wobbly smile. Im really sorry, okay? You know, like, in advance. Then she strode to the door and opened it.
Standing there, one shoulder braced, his other hand flat on the opposite jamb, head bowed as he waited with a barely contained edginess, was the one man Rachel had thought to never see again.
Ben Asher lifted his head, and his dark, melting brown eyes unerringly found her across the foyer. Hello, Rachel.
Hed come. Hed come back. And unbelievably, all she could think about was her hair, or lack of. Though it screamed in protest, she lifted her weak, shaking arm, checking the position of the soft cap shed used to cover her bald head. You.
Yeah. Me. He straightened to his full height, which was considerably over six feet. Without being asked, he moved inside, dropping a duffel bag and backpack to the ground with a heavy thunk. Then he hauled Emily close for a big hug. Hey, sweetness.
Hi, Daddy. She squeezed him back, then untangled herself and grinned at him.
Bigger than life, he stood in the foyer, set his hands on his hips, and with frank curiosity, looked around him, taking in the large open airy room with the bricked wall, the hardwood floors, the fire pole in the center.
Mom. Emily licked her lips, dividing a look between her parents. I sort of asked Dad to come.
Ben shot his daughter a wry glance, complete with arched brow, and Rachel had to wonderhad Emily really askedor begged?
Did it matter? He hadnt come for her, hed come for Emily. Of course hed come for Emily, to take her on one of their trips. How shed ever thought otherwise, even for that brief, humiliating flash, was beyond her. She closed her eyes against the sight of him, but it didnt matter; his image was indelibly printed on her brain. He was so much the same yet so different, her breath was gone, simply gone.
Hed always done that to her, way back when theyd been seventeen and hed been her entire world. God, had she really ever been that young? Shed thought her pain couldnt possibly get any worse, but just looking at him made her want to double over with the agony from the inside out, making her feel like she was nothing but an emotional powder keg ready to blow. I dont want you here, she said with remarkable calm. Not even for a few minutes. She wanted him gone so she could concentrate on her Attila-the-Hun nurse still to arrive.
Bens lips curved, forcibly reminding her of Emily. Oh yes, her daughter was indeed a true gorgeous chip off the old gorgeous block. Shed just forgotten how much.
I understand the sentiment, believe me. Gaze still on Rachel, he extended an arm, bringing Emily back into the crook of it, hugging her again. How are you holding up, Emmie?
The voice. The face, the same rugged, tanned, open face, framed by the same sun-kissed, light-brown hair Rachel had loved to run her fingers through. It was still long to his collar, with the same tousled look that assured her he used his fingers far more often than his comb. His clothes were clean but nondescript, allowing him to be the chameleon he was, fitting in wherever he felt the need. Even so, an aura of strength and confidence exuded from him, and Rachel could only return his stare.
Itd been thirteen years since shed last seen him. Why did it suddenly feel like yesterday?
His movements, as he held his daughter and came farther into the room, were fluid and litheeverything hers werent. Muscles rippled beneath his T-shirt and faded jeans, reminding her of her own weaknesses. But his eyes, still holding hers, reflected her same discomfort.
Finally, Ben broke the unsettling eye contact to look at Emily. Tell me you asked your mom before you called me.
Asked me what? Rachels heart started to beat heavy in her chest, threatening to burst not yet healed ribs right open.
Ben shook his head at Emily, love and irritation swimming in his gaze. Chicken, he chided softly.
Emily lifted a shoulder and gave him her saddest, most pathetic look.
With a soft sound of annoyance and love all mixed in, Ben let go of Emily and came toward Rachel in long, easy strides, hunkering down before her wheelchair with such casual strength she wanted to kick him.
If only she could have lifted her casted leg.
He sported a days worth of dark stubble, but it didnt hide the fact he had beautiful cheekbones and a strong, wide jaw. His mouth was full and, she had to admit, still sexy as hell. How in Gods name she could look at him and notice such a thing, after all this time, was beyond her.
But those eyes, those dark, haunting eyes. Such a deceptively soft color, and yet there was nothing soft about him. Try sharp. Probing. Blunt.
You look like hell, he said, proving the point.
Yes, well, Ive been in hell.
Nodding slowly, he reached out and touched her pale fingers with his sun-kissed, callused ones. She felt the jolt all the way to her toes. So did he if his quick inhale meant anything, which proved one thing-as much as it shocked her, for she was not a sensual, sexual creature by nature-they were still explosive in each others presence.
Im sorry youre hurting, he said.
He spoke the truth; it was his nature. Stifling an emotion wasnt in his genetic makeup. Which made his pity more than she could take. Dont feel sorry for me.
Amusement flickered briefly across his face. I wouldnt dare.
Trussed up as she was, her senses were on overload, especially her sense of smell. His scent came to her-warm, clean, earthy male-and it was so achingly familiar, her traitorous nose flared, trying to catch more of it. He always had been a disturbing combination of untamed outdoors and infectious sensuality, full of passion, of fire, zest for life.
No, he hadnt changed a bit.
But she had. He might have once walked away from her, but she was tougher now. Impenetrable. She just wished he hadnt come for Emily now, when she was shaking with the effort not to fall over with exhaustion.
Youre in pain now? he asked, perceptive as ever.
Hell, yes, because just looking at you brings me pain, stabs into my carefully hoarded memories. Reminds me of my failures. I dont want you h-here. Stuttering on the last word as her brain once again failed her was the ultimate insult, and as if it was his fault, she glared at him.
Hell, yes, because just looking at you brings me pain, stabs into my carefully hoarded memories. Reminds me of my failures. I dont want you h-here. Stuttering on the last word as her brain once again failed her was the ultimate insult, and as if it was his fault, she glared at him.
Ben pursed his lips as he studied her, rubbing his jaw. The growth there made a raspy noise that seemed to cause a mirroring tug in her belly. God, she remembered him, just like this. Looking at her, through her, in her. Shed always been positive he could see far more than shed wanted him to.
Which was all tied up into why shed asked him to go. Once upon a time hed been everything that had been missing in her life, and everything that could destroy her. When hed done just that, she remembered thinking how naive shed been to think she could handle a man like him.