Lass Small - My House Or Yours?

He’d been really, really good at it.

But that was all. And it was only sex, after all. He had not been a companion or a friend or a helpmate.

He’d been good in bed…on the floor…against the wall. She could admit that, but otherwise he’d been gone.

There were all those meetings with students in his department, meetings with lagging students, meetings with those who were exceptional and those engrossed in projects. There were faculty meetings, the faculty senate and other occasions that were formal, which had included the wives.

Chad had never been around when she had needed him. Of course, her problem was that it had only been his companionship she had wanted. It hadn’t been as important to him. Just being together and talking, or not, hadn’t been urgent. It could be postponed. Forever.

They’d reached the hotel. She got out first, and it was familiar to wait as he settled up the fares and tips. With the tips given, the cabdriver probably quit for the day.

The January weather in Fort Worth was glorious. It was warm. The TEXAS sun was assuringly benevolent, showing the non-TEXANs that the world could indeed be perfect. The ski equipped, reluctant guests were beginning to perk up and look around for entertainment. They would have a stimulating time and probably end up swimming outside.

Among the stranded strangers, there was the couple who was meeting for the first time since their divorce. So. It was no big deal. They were as ships which pass on the ocean. They would pass with a courteous greeting and some pleasant conversation and…separate…to go their ways?

He probably had papers to read. He always had a student who needed extra help. Jo hadn’t needed anything. She’d never had any problems. So she’d needed no special attention from her husband.

Or so he had thought.

His meals had been on time…or held…or stored away. The house was always clean. His shirts were pristine and the buttons were all sewn on. His clothes came back from the cleaner on time.

She’d slept in his bed and had been available. Hungrily available. She’d sought him. His laugh had been so intimate. So pleased. His sounds were so basic.

He had been a superior lover. It was quite probable that he still was.

Jo wondered who…who all had been sharing his bed. He wouldn’t even have to ask. He’d probably have to post a list for day and time. It was a wonder he looked so well, so cared for. Who was taking care of him now? He looked so rested.

Of course, he’d been away from campus. He’d been to a seminar to read a paper. No, not a newspaper. One of his. On…what all. Some subject that was so dim and distant that few others would find it interesting. He was such a niggler. He was the type whose concentration was intense. He sorted and sought and paced as he thought.

In her ear, he said, “Let me carry that.”

She lifted her brows in question.

“Your bag.”

She replied in a dismissing manner, “It’s quite comfortable, and I’m used to it. No problem.”

He was serious and his lower lip was being obvious. “It seems crass for you to have to carry your things.”

She slid her eyes over to give him a narrow, sophisticated understanding of his wiles, but he was frowning at her bag. “When did you get so thin? Are you okay?”

“I’ve lost five pounds since our divorce almost four years ago.”

He flinched. “Don’t say the word. I’ve rejected it.”

Jo lowered her eyelids and looked at him with some snide understanding. “Just recently?”

He replied like a stubborn man who hasn’t adjusted to reality. “No. Ever since you walked out on me.”

They’d stopped at the hotel’s desk to register. He said to her, “Wait here.”

She told him firmly, “I need to pay half.”

“No.”

She replied in an adult manner, “I have a credit card for my expense account.”

“No.”

Come to think of it, he’d always been that way. His way. That’s what was wrong with him, everything had to be his way. Even when he was being darling, he wanted it his way.

Jo said with her being-patient-with-a-client voice, “I pay half or I walk.”

“You’ve become a prostitute?”

She gasped in indignation.

“You were always terrific and so body-hungry that it doesn’t surprise me at all. I’ve spent a lot of time wondering who you were savoring.”

Through her teeth she spaced the three words. “I have not!”

He frowned at her and appeared censoring. “Then I feel sorry for the men around you. What do they do?”

Somewhat prissily, she retorted, “Not all men are like you, thank goodness.”

He put on an instant lecturing facade. “Goodness has nothing—”

“Be quiet!”

He grinned from ear to ear and said, “There’s my Jo. I thought I’d lost her, you’ve been so polite.”

She’d been rude? She frowned and considered. “When haven’t I been polite?”

“I haven’t had tabs on you in much too long,” he informed her as if she hadn’t realized such a simple fact. “Do you know I dream about you? Hot dreams.” He scowled at her. “Are you living with somebody else?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Well, I’d hate for some irritated guy to come bursting into our room and act upset.”

Her “lover” would…act…upset if he found her with another man? “Is that how you would have been? If I’d had an affair, would you have been.upset?”

Mildly he replied, “I’d have ripped out his jugular vein, unkindly.”

“Is there a kind way?” She looked at him in shock.

“Not where you’re concerned.”

She was indignant. “We’re divorced!”

“I’ve missed you.”

Exasperated, she demanded, “When did you have the time to notice I was gone? How long was it before you realized I wasn’t around anymore? You ran out of dishes or shirts? What caught your attention?”

“Every damned empty day.” He looked up from the registry and added, “Every lousy, empty night.”

“It’s been almost four years.”

“It’s not yet four but it seems like twenty-five.”

“I don’t believe this.”

And he had the gall to inquire, “Why haven’t you found another husband?”

“How do you know I haven’t?”

“No ring.”

Along with supercilious eyebrows, she lifted her hand. “I always remove it when I travel. Don’t you?”

He went back to filling out the hotel information. But he said, “I’ve looked around, but nobody else is you.”

His eyes were on the page he was filling out. He had marvelous eyelashes. She couldn’t believe he’d actually said the words, that, instead, she’d heard what she wanted him to say.

He finished writing and handed the page to the person at the registration desk. “Two keys.”

“Yes, sir.” And she handed him the keys.

He picked up his bags and said, “I talk to your father and he has told me you are not married.”

“Mistakenly told you? I wonder why he lied. He probably felt you would be upset.”

“I’m never upset.” Chad was firm. “I can handle most things. You being away so long has bothered me.”

“It’s taken you almost four years to notice? You probably saw me in the air terminal and thought I looked familiar. Then you’d searched your mind as to which of your classes I’d been in. And finding I wasn’t a student, you sorted me out.”

“Come back to Indy with me.” He punched the button for the elevator. Then he stood and looked at her as the elevator doors opened. He followed her inside the cage and punched the button for the sixth floor. No one else was right there, so the doors closed. They were alone in the elevator.

“Why should I go home with you? You didn’t want me. Why should you care about someone else wanting me?”