As If You Never Left Me Part 3

"How are things?"

"Quiet," Perry said. "How's Fine Flatlander Man?"

"Very Flatlander-ish at the moment. The alt.i.tude knocked him for a loop. Thanks for covering for me."

"No problem. If a man that looks like that ever shows up on my doorstep, I'll expect you to return the favor."

"There's more to a man than looks, you know."

"I know, but it's a nice place to start. Is he going to be all right?"

"Yeah, he'll be fine. He'll probably wake up completely adjusted and ready for a hamburger. I'll drop by the shop as soon as I get him squared away."

"You take your time. And when he wakes up, I suggest you do something creative with him."

Joely laughed. "Thanks, Perry. I'll keep that in mind."

Rey woke shortly before noon, not quite completely adjusted, but definitely on the mend. The chills had

receded along with the vertigo, and the headache had faded to a dull throb behind his eyes. He blinked a few times at the sunlight streaming in through the open window, then turned his head, searching for the vague scratching sound that caught his ears.

Joely sat in a chair next to the bed, her sketchpad balanced in her lap. The pencil in her hand moved fluidly across the paper, drawing long, graceful lines. He couldn't see the picture from here, but the set of her body and the way her hand moved was a work of art in itself. He cleared his throat and she looked toward him, smiling.

"Feeling better?" she asked.

"Much. I guess it wasn't a bug after all."

"I told you." She straightened, stretching her back.

"Let me see."

"What?"

He nodded toward the drawing as he sat up in the bed. "The sketches. Let me see."

She hesitated, then turned the pad toward him. Rough-penciled lines described the symmetrical arcs of a

vase, a simple pattern of columbines decorating the curves of its belly.

"It's lovely."

She tilted it back toward herself, looking at it with a crinkle at the corners of her eyes. Being critical.

"It needs a little work."

"They were fools to let you go, back in New York. You could have made that company a household

name."

Her mouth tightened. "They might not have 'let me go' if I'd had a better lawyer."

He looked away, stung, and she sagged in her chair. "I'm sorry, Rey. That wasn't fair."

"No, it wasn't."

Standing, she tucked the sketchpad into her voluminous handbag. "As long as you're feeling better, I'm

going to head back to the shop. Perry might need the help."

He nodded. "Okay. But don't forget, my car's still at the diner."

"Oh, right. I'll take care of it for you."

He smiled. "I think I like being taken care of."

"Yeah, kind of a novelty for you, isn't it?" Grinning, she headed for the door. "I'll see you later."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

She paused, looking at him, then found herself walking back to the bed. She bent over him and caught

his mouth with hers.

She thought she'd forgotten. But as her lips touched his, she was flooded with the taste of his mouth, not only in reality but in her memory. Her closed lips remembered the touch of his tongue, remembered surrendering, opening to let his mouth take hers utterly, but in the real moment, the kiss remained carefully

chaste.

This was not an easy thing to do.

After what seemed an eternity of hovering on the edge of complete surrender, she drew back. Looking

down into his soft smile, her face went hot. With desire or embarra.s.sment, she wasn't sure. At least he didn't look smug.

She straightened, clearing her throat. "I'll see you later."

This time, she forced herself to leave.

Chapter Three.

Perry was helping a customer when Joely entered the shop. She looked up with a question on her face and Joely shook her head, going into the office. She knew Perry was concerned, and Joely hated putting her off, but the customers had to come first. So Joely would have a few minutes to gather her scattered, confused, and admittedly rather aroused feelings before she tried to talk to Perry.

She couldn't believe she'd kissed Rey. She really couldn't believe it had felt so ...good. No, so right. It wasn't supposed to feel right. They were supposed to be on their way to a divorce.

"Don't kid yourself," she muttered. She sat at the desk and put her face in her hands. "You should have divorced him fourteen months ago."

"So why didn't you?"

Joely jerked, looking up. She'd been so lost in her own thoughts, she hadn't even heard Perry open the office door.

"I wish I knew, Perry."

Perry sat down in the chair in front of the desk and smiled. "I just sold a four-hundred-dollar necklace.

Not your work, but it's a nice commission."

"Wow. The turquoise piece?"

"That's the one." Perry's smile faded into a put-on frown. "I really liked that one."

"You couldn't have afforded it, even with your employee discount."

"Yeah, but what about that Christmas bonus you promised me?"

Joely laughed. "It isn't going to be that big."

"d.a.m.n." Perry scooted closer to the desk. "Okay, now tell me what's up with the ex. Oh, wait, he's not technically the ex, is he?"

Joely groaned. "No, he's not. Don't remind me. This situation is difficult enough without having to deal with that particular wrinkle." She pressed the back of her hand to her mouth a moment, remembering the touch of his lips. The taste, the warmth, the flood of memories that had come back to her. "He wants a second chance, Perry. I don't know what to do."

Her voice broke. Perry's expression shifted to one of concern. Joely never cried. Perry leaned her elbows on the cluttered desk. "Do you have any reason not to?"

"The fact he's been across the country for fourteen months and never bothered to make any contact isn't enough?"

"But you said he called a few times, wrote you letters."

"Which I never read."

"Thinking about digging them up?"

"I kissed him."

Perry's mouth dropped open. "What? When?"

"Fifteen minutes ago. Before I left him at the lodge."

"Was it good?"

She closed her eyes a moment. He had tasted so good. "Oh, G.o.d, it was fantastic."

"The spark's still there, eh?"

"In spades." She covered her face with her hands again. "Perry, I don't know what to do. I'm so confused."

Perry leaned back in her chair, studying her friend and employer with a sympathetic eye. "You said he

wants a second chance. What exactly did he propose?"

"He wants me to give him a month to be my husband again. Totally my husband again. He wants to move into my house." She wrapped her arms around herself protectively. "I'm not sure I want him that

close."

Perry nodded. "It seems like a big step, especially after all this time."

Relieved, Joely let out a breath. "You don't think I'm crazy? I mean, being nervous about the possibility

of sleeping with my husband?"

"It does sound crazy when you say it that way, doesn't it?"