Free Dream Lover by Té Russ Page B

doing this?" she whispered more to herself than to him.
    "Because it feels good."
    She whirled around to see him standing. She hadn't even heard him move. She shook her head. "Just because something feels good doesn't make it right."
    He stepped around the bed. "And who says it's not right?"
    "Me."
    " You? On what basis? That we're friends? We've had that discussion before Lizzie."
    "And I still believe it John."
    He shook his head. "I don't buy it. And the sooner you accept the truth, the better."
    She folded her arms defiantly and asked, "What truth is that?"
    "That I'm falling in love with you and you are falling in love with me too."
     
    She dropped her hands to her side and stared at him shocked.
    "We are not falling in love each other."
    "I'm sure we are."
    "You're sure?"
    "Yes."
    "How? How are you so sure?"
    He took a few steps closer and pointed to the bed. "Do you honestly feel what just went on in that bed wasn't right?"
    She shook her head. “That kiss was just a lapse in judgment."
    "That first kiss, the night of the party, might have been, but not this one. This one was meant to be and you wanted it just as much as I did."
    She stared at him confused. He pointed at the bed again. "I've slept in that bed with you every night I've been here taking care of you. Every time I got ready to go to the guest room, you would grab me and tell me not to leave. You wanted me there Peaches, whether you realize it or not."
    She tried to search her memory, but she was still a little groggy.
    "Laying with you, sleeping with you in that bed...nothing has ever felt as right as that. Not since I knew I wanted to open my own restaurant."
    She knew she might regret saying her name after the last time but she decided to risk his wrath. "Not even when you wanted to marry Susan?"
    He laughed a sad laugh. "With Susan it was just a series of steps. We met and dated. Then we fell in love, or so I thought. The only logical next step was to get married. But it wasn't true love."
    She didn't know what to say. "I still need time."
    He nodded and walked to the door. "Do you need anything?"
    "No. I can manage now. Thank you for taking care of me."
    He turned to look at her, and caressed her cheek. "You know I'll always take care of you Lizzie. Call me if you need anything."
    He turned to leave and stopped with his hand on door handle. "You know even if you're not falling in love with me now, you will. I'll make sure of it."
    She laughed in spite of herself. "Ha! John you are crazy."
    He turned leaned over and gave her a deep quick kiss. He inhaled loving her scent, then exhaled through his nose and murmured, "We'll see."

Chapter 10
     
    We'll see.
    Those words reverberated in Liz's mind.
    Try as she might, she could not focus on the task at hand. She was in the process of creating a new sculpture. But there was only one thing on her mind. The words resounded over and over.
    I'm falling in love with you and you are falling in love with me too.
    Who did he think he was, she wondered as she squeezed the clay in her hands. She looked down when she realized she wasn't making anything productive.
    As she was cleaning her hands, the ringing phone interrupted her thoughts.
    “Good morning Elizabeth.”
    “Oh good morning Mr. Randall,” she responded to her manager at the museum.
    “Do you have a minute to talk?”
    “Of course.” She wondered if he was going to offer her the job full time again.
    “I know you are not interested in working here full time at the moment. Never the less, there is a conference coming up for innovative restoration techniques and I was wondering if you would be interested in attending.”
    Before she could speak, he continued. “The conference is a week long and we would take care of all of your expenses.”
    A week long, all expense paid trip would be exactly what she needed to put some space between her and John so she could clear her head.
    “Mr. Randall, I'd be more than happy to attend the