Cole turned off her headlights and followed her into the house.He turned on the living room lamp so she could see the dial.
“Yes, yes, he’s fine.I’m fine, too.”Lesley laughed at the relief in her sister’s voice.“I won’t be long,” she promised and replaced the receiver.
Cole took her by the hand and led her into the long hall before pulling her into his arms and kissing her soundly.
Lesley looked up at him through thick lashes, her eyes warm with the effect of his touch.“Why are you kissing me here?”She glanced behind him into the narrow hallway.
Cole held her roughly against him, his chin rubbing back and forth across the crown of her head.“No windows,” he muttered.
“Windows?”The word didn’t make sense until she realized that they would have made an easy target standing as they were.Closing her eyes, Lesley accepted the comfort and warmth of Cole’s enveloping embrace.“Have you missed me?”
“Like crazy,” he whispered thickly.
“Want me to sing a few bars for you?”
“Nope.”His breath felt warm against her ear as he took a small nibbling bite.
“The...The last time I was in your apartment you were saying something about not bothering to get new furniture because...Because you’ll be leaving soon.”
“Is that what upset you?”He grew still, but his hold didn’t relax.
“Yes,” she admitted honestly.How could he say how desperately he missed her one minute and speak of leaving her the next?
“Would you feel any better if I explained that I have no intention of leaving Coeur d’Alene without you?”
Lesley felt as if her heart were about to explode.“You don’t?”
“I had no intention of falling in love when I moved here.Love was the last thing on my mind.”
“You love me, honestly love me?”Lesley cried, spreading eager kisses over his face and neck.
A hand at both sides of her face stopped her long enough for him to kiss her quiet.
“I kept telling myself it would never work, especially not now.Not at the most difficult time of my life.I couldn’t drag you into this mess.But there you were dressed as a pillar of salt for a church social.I should have been laughing at you, but I don’t know when I’ve seen anyone more desirable.”
“But you left me.”
“Honey, I really didn’t have much choice.”
“I know,” she murmured, teasing his lips with fleeting kisses.“I was pretty angry with you at the time.”
“Once this thing with Jennings is settled, we’ll leave Coeur d’Alene and be married.”
“Married?”Lesley gasped and tightened her hold on his waist.“Oh, Cole, I love you so much.”
“The hardest thing I’ve ever done is keep my hands off you.This is going to be a short engagement.”
“Very short,” she agreed.
“We’ll fly into Boston so you can meet my parents.”
“And then to Arizona so you can meet mine,” Lesley added.
“And be married as soon afterward as possible.”
“I’m not going to argue.”
“The money I earn from the air bag invention will be enough to set us up for a lifetime.But it might be a good idea to set some of it aside in a trust fund for our children.”
