Free TouchofTopaz by N.J. Walters Page B

turtleneck sweater in a russet color that set
off her black hair. She didn’t have a hairdryer but it didn’t matter with her
short hairstyle. She brushed it and fluffed it with her fingers. Then she added
mascara and some lipstick. Nothing heavy.
    Topaz stared at her reflection. She looked like herself, but
yet something wasn’t quite right. There was a knowledge, a haunted quality in
her eyes that hadn’t been there before. She thought the first time they’d made
love last year was a fluke, that the explosion of passion between them was an
anomaly. But it had happened again last night. If anything, the heat between
them had skyrocketed, leaving her wondering how long it could continue without
burning out.
    A knock sounded on the door. “You almost ready?” He didn’t
sound impatient, but concerned.
    “Be right there.” She waited until she heard his footsteps
fade, gathered her belongings and left the bathroom. She dumped everything in
the bedroom for now, grabbed her coffee mug and hurried to the kitchen.
    John had two plates on the table filled with bacon, eggs and
toast. There was a glass of orange juice in front of each plate. “Want more
coffee?” He held up the coffeepot.
    “Please.” She offered him her mug and thanked him when he
filled it. They sat at the table and ate in silence for a few minutes until she
couldn’t stand it any longer. “What are our plans for the day?”
    John shrugged. “Thought we might take a walk, maybe have a
nap after lunch. There are a few books tucked away on the shelf and a few more
in the bedroom closet if you want to read.” He reached out and cupped her cheek
in his large, warm palm. “You need to have a day where you don’t do anything
but relax.”
    Well, that wasn’t exactly what she’d expected him to say. Of
course, what could he say? I want to get you naked and make love to you all
day. She squirmed uncomfortably on her seat before she could stop herself.
She was aghast that she was slightly aroused just sitting at the breakfast
table with John. Something about last night had splintered all the barriers
she’d erected to keep that from happening.
    “What’s wrong?” He skimmed a finger down her jawline, worry
in his pale eyes.
    “Nothing.” She leaned back and his hand fell away from her
face. To cover her awkwardness, she grabbed her mug and drank deeply.
    She sensed John’s frustration, but he let things be, at
least for now. He cleared his plate and sat back, resting his hands on his flat
belly. “Last night was special,” he began.
    Topaz jumped up from the table and started clearing the
dishes. “You cooked, so I’ll clean up.”
    John shook his head and slowly pushed back from the table.
“I know you’re not ready to talk about us. But you’ll have to before we leave
tomorrow morning.”
    Tomorrow morning was a lifetime away. Right now, all she
wanted to do was enjoy the moment. She’d spent her entire life setting goals
and attaining them. She was tired of thinking and planning. Tired of making
decisions and wondering about the consequences of her actions, both in life and
in business. For the next twenty-four hours, she wanted to do whatever she
wanted and damn the cost.
    “Do you want more coffee?” She didn’t even acknowledge what
he’d said. He shook his head and sighed.
    “No. I’m good. I’m going to take a quick walk around the
cabin. I won’t be long.” He dropped a kiss on the top of her head, grabbed his
coat and headed out the front door, leaving her alone.
    She set the pot back on the coffeemaker burner and turned
off the machine. The room seemed so much larger now without John in it. She
scrubbed her hands over her eyes, pushing back the tears that threatened to
fall. “You’re just tired,” she assured herself.
    Pushing up her sleeves, she went to work on the dishes. Work
would help keep her mind off her troubles. It always did. She scoured and
scrubbed the dishes and pans before wiping down the table and