Free It's Only Make Believe by Roseanne Dowell Page B

furniture shopping. He hated the stuff their parents picked out as much, but he liked the colors Michele chose for the walls. He’d been surprised when he went in the guest room last night. Even with having too much to drink, he noticed the color and different comforter. Much more appealing to him then the pale yellow walls. His mother’s decorator must have gotten a deal on the paint. She used the same color in all of the bedrooms. The blue was much more to his liking. This morning when he went into their room, he found the green walls welcoming and calming. Michele definitely knew her job, and he had the utmost confidence in her decorating ability. Still, it might be fun to shop with her. He had a feeling their taste in furniture would run as similar as their taste in vacation spots.
    Maybe he could take the afternoon off. He went to the kitchen for coffee.
    “Morning, Anna, Louise.” He approached Louise who stood against the refrigerator. Poor thing looked scared to death. “Ah, here’s little Miki.” He reached his hands out to the child who willingly raised her chubby arms out to him.
    “May I?”
    Louise lowered her eyes as she gave the baby to him. “Hey, pretty little girl.” He raised her over his head, enjoying the delightful giggles that only a child this age made. He noticed the surprised look on Louise’s face, and wondered who the father of this beautiful baby was. He didn’t think Louise was married, but he didn’t know much about her. His parents hired both Louise and Anna. He had a suspicious idea they were supposed to report everything that went on here directly to either his or Michele’s mothers.
    “What would the Mister like for breakfast?” Anna hovered nearby, watching him play with the baby. “She sure does like you, Mister.”
    “Bacon and eggs, Anna, and white toast.” He handed Mikayla back to Louise and rubbed the top of her silky dark head. He poured a cup of coffee and picked up the morning paper, sat down, and waited for breakfast. The memory of Michele’s face when she came home and saw him yesterday filtered through his mind. She looked happy to see him, and it promised to be a great evening until Ruby called.
    Damn Edgehurst, but better him here then California. Either way the man kept him from spending time with Michele. After entertaining him half the night and dropping him at his hotel, it was too late when he got home to bother Michele so he slept in the guest room. Again. Not a habit he intended to keep. He wanted to go into their room, wanted to wake Michele, to take her in his arms, and make love to her. He had been tempted as he stood in the doorway watching her sleep. The moonlight cast its glow on her, making her look so damn sexy. Something stopped him. She’d been receptive to his earlier advances, before Ruby called, but then something changed in her. Something in her eyes when he told her he had to leave. Relief, maybe, he wasn’t sure. It was a strange look. One he’d seen when he was packing for California.
     
     
     
    CHAPTER SIXTEEN
     
     
    Michele met Sarah at the office doorway. “Morning.” She held the door for her tired looking secretary. “Late night?”
    “Oh,” Sarah groaned. “You can’t imagine.” She went to the coffee pot and started the coffee.
    “Well do tell.” Michele leaned against the counter, while Sarah fumbled with the filters. “Give me those.” She took over the job and waved Sarah aside.
    “I don’t think you’re going to like it very much.” Sarah moved aside. “I met this guy...”
    With the coffee started, Michele went to the desk, sat down opposite Sarah, and laughed. Nothing new about that, Sarah was always meeting guys. Always the same story, this time it was real, he was the one. Sometimes she wanted to shake Sarah. The girl fell in love with every guy who gave her the time of day. “Okay so what’s new about that?”
    Sarah sat at the desk, rubbed her temples and looked out of the top of her eyes.