Free Heat Wave by Sara Orwig Page A

moment wasn’t the end of the world. She glanced at her reflection
    In her dresser mirror, staring at wide green eyes, the freckles across her nose, the auburn hair that curled softly over her shoulders. Yet all she could really see was her mind’s image of thick-lashed laughing blue eyes, deep lines bracketing a full smile with flashing white teeth, dark brown locks of hair tumbling over a wide, intelligent forehead. He was so independent, accustomed to taking charge all the years he had been on his own and responsible for his sister, his work. Yet there had been moments when he’d sounded as if he needed her as badly as she did him. She shook her head. That kind of daydreaming could earn her a broken heart.
    “Damn you. Cole!” she whispered. Wellington’s tail thumped vigorously, arousing her from her reverie. She looked down at her dog and laughed.
    “That’s right. Damn Cole Chandler.”
    Both dogs wagged their tails and Marilee patted their heads before placing her book on the dresser. She bathed, determined to fight her memory of the day, but as she lathered a long, shapely leg, she recollected Cole’s warm hands caressing her knee, her thigh. Shifting, she scrubbed vigorously, rushing through her bath before climbing into bed to find more agonizing memories taunting her. Forcing her thoughts to school, she contemplated the work she needed to do the following week.
    Early the next morning, she called Ted Workman to ask him and Grant to look at Cole’s house and give him an estimate, promising that whatever sum they decided to charge would be agreeable with her. She dressed, attended church, went by her parents’ house for Sunday dinner, and didn’t return home until almost dark.
    She hadn’t been there ten minutes when the phone rang. “Hello,” she said into the receiver.
    “Chicken.”
    Her heart jumped at the sound of Cole’s deep voice and she laughed. “No,” she said, “but I’m busy and I do have a little sense.”
    “I lost all mine yesterday when I was invaded by a gorgeous redhead.”
    “Yeah, sure,” she answered lightly, but his words recalled their meeting, the image of Cole standing beside the pool.
    “That was a dirty, rotten, low-down, sneaky trick to send two guys out here. I was showered, had on my Sunday best, all ready for a marvelous day. …”
    “Cole, it’s useless.”
    “That’s what you think, honey. Your heartbeat relays a different message. Will you go to dinner with me tonight?”
    “No, thanks. I have to get ready for school tomorrow.”
    “A short dinner?”
    Don’t argue with me, she thought. I’m far too vulnerable. Please don’t push. “Sorry,” she said. “Did you get an estimate?”
    “Yep. You have a lot of male acquaintances. What do you mean you have no men in your life? Are those guys married?”
    “I told you. Both are single and they’re just good friends.”
    “Okay, if you say so. I know you have to eat dinner. You say no, but your voice changes each time.”
    She wanted to answer, ‘Look what happened the last dinner we had!’ Instead, she said, “No, thanks. I better go. …”
    “Hey, wait. On the estimate for the house …”
    Marilee gently replaced the receiver. If it made him angry, it was just as well. Within seconds the phone rang again. She stared at it for a moment, then unplugged it from the wall.
    Standing in the quiet living room, her voice sounded hollow and loud as she said, “Smart girl, Marilee. That was the right thing to do before you get hurt.” She sighed. If only he didn’t have so much appeal … She changed into jeans and a halter, fixed a cheese sandwich, and settled at her desk to grade papers.
    Monday, when she was at school, she was able to forget Cole for whole minutes at a time. Two fans were humming at the front of her class room and every window was raised. Marilee smoothed a wisp of hair off the back of her neck, securing it again in the bun on top of her head. Even though she wore a white cotton