Marion Ekholm - An Act of Love

Oh, the years had added more muscular weight, and his hair had a trimmer cut. Laughing, teasing, virile. The same old Richard, she thought as she clamped her teeth into her lower lip.

“Sheba.” The single word came out in a whisper. Obviously not one of his favorite playmates. The Baroness jumped on the bed and came over to be petted. A welcome distraction.

He still appeared stunned, so she asked, “Who’s she? Some exotic belly dancer?”

“No.” He stared right into her eyes. “My mother’s poodle.”

Marley’s stomach knotted at his easy admission. He didn’t even have the grace to look disconcerted. She bristled. “A dog? You thought I was a dog?”

“Yeah. It’s your hair.” He flipped his fingertips through his own blond waves. Another reference to her hair. One more time and she’d shave it all off. “I thought my mother left her dog here.” His voice got softer as he continued to stare at her. “She sometimes brings her when she takes care of my cat.”

“Really?” Adrenaline poured into her from her aborted fear. “Lindy said she was taking care of the Baroness.”

Richard collapsed against the wall, rubbed his head and closed his eyes. “Right, I forgot. When the Baroness was scratching at the closed door, I came over to see why.”

“The dog and cat get along?”

He nodded, straightening, his eyes still on her. “So why are you here? I hoped we’d have a chance to get together. I just never figured you’d take the initiative.”

“Hey, wait a minute.” Marley jolted upright. If he thought she’d planned this... “You’ve got the wrong idea here. I didn’t expect you home.” She paused. “I needed a place to stay, and Lindy gave me the key.” Had Lindy planned this so that Richard would discover her this way?

Richard rubbed his head again. “I should have told her I changed my plans.” He faced Marley. “I’m in charge of Denny’s bachelor party tomorrow night...tonight, actually...I think. Tonight’s Thursday, isn’t it?”

Marley reached for the clothes she’d placed at the end of the bed. “I should go.”

“No. Stay. The room’s available. Not exactly how I planned our first meeting but...”

“You had something planned?”

Richard chuckled. “Not really. Just figured us meeting again would be a surprise. Figured you probably weren’t aware of your sister marrying my brother. I know it certainly shocked me.”

The humor in Richard’s voice helped ease her tension. “Say, I’m wide-awake now. Want to talk?” He started out, but at the door he turned. “I’ll meet you in the living room.”

After dressing in her shorts and another blouse, Marley settled on the brown leather couch, her legs curled under her. Richard had added a white T-shirt. After flopping onto a leather recliner, he sent the bottom out to support his legs.

“Not much has changed with you, has it?” Marley said.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“That woman’s stuff in the bathroom, the discarded lace underwear. I remember you were quite the ladies’ man in college.”

“What should I have done after you brushed me off?” He pushed the handle on the side of his chair and his legs came down. He leaned toward her. “Why did you? I thought we had something good going.”

Marley sighed. “I don’t know. Immaturity, I guess.”

“I was immature?” He looked about ready to jump out of his chair.

With another sigh, Marley fluttered her hands to indicate he should stay seated. “Don’t get your hackles up. I was the immature one. You were this real popular guy, and I didn’t know how to handle you.”

Richard leaned back in his chair. “That’s great. I had to be handled in some special way.”

Marley bit her lower lip. “I’m not saying any of this right. Back then, I was having issues with my father returning.”

“I remember.”

“And I thought you might be like him.”

His voice nearly exploded. “You thought I was like that womanizing cheat you complained about all the time?” He gripped the chair arm, getting control of himself before adding, “I wouldn’t do that to you. It wasn’t until you ended it that I even looked at another woman.”

“I was young and naive.” Marley averted her gaze. “It wasn’t my grandest hour.” Oh, if only she could relive those days with some maturity. “The issues I faced got in the way, and I confused them with you. I didn’t want to go through what my mother did. What she’s going through now,” she added in an aside.

Richard glanced at her, then looked away. “He’s back?”

“Yes. Lindy wanted him to give her away. This is the first time he’s been at any of the weddings, and he’s staying in the house.”

After a long pause, Richard asked, “You have any extra room in your luggage?”

Perplexed, Marley nodded.

“Then you might want to pack the other things you mentioned. They belong to Lindy. She stayed here a few times when I was gone while taking care of the Baroness.” As if prompted by the sound of her name, the cat jumped onto Richard’s lap.

“Did your brother stay here with Lindy?”

“I wouldn’t know. I haven’t been invited to watch the videos.”

“Oh, you!” Marley tossed one of the cat’s toys at Richard, but he managed to catch it in midair and gave it to the Baroness.

After a long pause, Marley asked, “So how many times have you made it to the altar?”

“Once. No kids, and it ended several years ago. What about you?”

About to say never, Marley sat up with a start. With nervous energy, she tucked her hands between the cushions and found an earring and some change but not the ring. Where had she put it? After a quick search around the couch, Marley headed for the bedroom.

Brant sat forward. “What are you doing?”

When she didn’t answer, he followed her.

“I lost it.”

“Lost what?”

“My ring. I took it off and put it in my shoe while I was taking a bath.” She paused before sputtering, “My open-toed, you-can’t-put-a-ring-in-it shoe!” On her hands and knees, Marley crawled across the plush rug, sweeping her hand around.

“This it?”

Marley turned to find Richard standing above her with the ring. She accepted his offered hand and got to her feet. “Yes. Where was it?”

“By the tub.” He dropped it into her hand and returned to the living room.

She slipped it on the proper finger before following him. “You’re engaged?” Without waiting for an answer, he continued in an emotionless voice, “I’m going to bed. See you in the morning.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

MARLEY COULDN’T SLEEP, not after seeing Richard’s disappointment. More than a decade ago, she had loved this man, and at one point had expected to marry him. Now...now she was “engaged” to Brant. Marley turned over and pounded her pillow. Why was she stuck with Brant when Richard was available—and interested?

Marley tossed again. An engagement bound two people. She had to respect that...mainly because the truth would make a liar out of her. Still... She flipped again, unable to dislodge her thoughts. And why did Brant have to continually invade them?

Brant, needling, flashing that smile. She hated this engagement. She hated him for his utter enjoyment in being engaged to her. She hated him....Finally, exhaustion set in, and she fell asleep.

Marley awoke to a light tap on the door and the smell of bacon and coffee. Richard peeked in. “Breakfast’s ready. I have to make a quick trip to the office.”

She joined him a few minutes later. “Nice,” she said, taking a tall chair at the bar. An array of jams in jars plus wheat toast sat on the counter along with two plates filled with scrambled eggs and bacon. The Baroness came over and rubbed against Marley’s ankles.