Burning for You by Dunaway Michele

Author:Dunaway, Michele [Dunaway, Michele]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2015-04-06T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

So this is where Taylor had grown up. Joe drove down the cul-de-sac directly across from Ursuline Academy and parked in the driveway of a ranch house in the middle of the block. As he exited, he heard the roar of the train that rumbled down the tracks directly behind her childhood home.

She opened the door as if she’d been waiting for him. “Hi.”

“Hey,” he said, drinking her in. Her blonde ponytail swished, and he couldn’t help notice the tank top that showcased her assets and the blue jean shorts that showed off long, shapely legs. Open-toe sandals revealed toenails painted hot pink. A dormant part of his libido stirred. “Can I get you anything? Soda? Iced tea? Lemonade? Beer? Water? My mom stocked up.”

He knew exactly what he wanted from her, but said instead, “Ice water would be great.” Remain professional, he chided himself, trying to ignore how tempting she was.

“No problem.” Taylor moved with ease in the all-white cabinetry, stainless steel appliance kitchen, grabbing a glass and filling it from an automatic dispenser on the refrigerator. “You aren’t allergic to cats, are you?”

As if on cue, the two Himalayans she’d told him about appeared. “Those are Yin and Yang.” He arched an eyebrow and she laughed. “I know. My mom’s unique that way. It’s part of her charm. Plus, every winter she practiced her figure skating on the pond across the street until some school official finally put up a sign forbidding any skating. It was sad. The kids would also hold pick-up hockey games there.”

“Did you go to Ursuline?”

“Kirkwood. Ursuline would have been convenient, but I was quite boy crazy and Kennedy was too far.” Kennedy was a co-ed Catholic school. “Besides, Kirkwood had a great journalism program, and that’s where I fell in love with photography.”

“Yearbook staff.”

“Photo editor and proud to be a yerd.” Her grin widened as she handed him the glass. “Yearbook nerd. Follow me. Garage is this way. I’ve got everything set up.”

As Joe stepped into the garage, he saw she’d chosen a gray backdrop, which she’d rolled ten feet onto the concrete.

“Hello?”

“Back here,” Joe answered. Two women came into view. Joe introduced them. “Taylor, this is Laura and her mother Amanda.”

“Hi, Taylor.” Amanda reached out her hand.

An impish seven-year-old with red hair pointed to the backdrop. “Is that where I’m going to stand?”

“Why yes, it is.” Taylor nodded and reached for her camera. Joe caught her by the shoulder, leaned, and whispered in her ear. He’d seen the shocked expression she’d quickly masked.

“Hey, you okay?”

No, she wasn’t okay, Taylor thought. She’d never been one for surprises, and she’d assumed they were starting with Joe’s sister, not this young child who’d clearly suffered a great deal. Taylor, admittedly shaken, leaned into Joe’s shoulder, her face turned away from where Laura was chatting happily with her mother. That way they couldn’t see her shock or the tears that threatened. She inhaled a comforting breath, drawing in his unique woodsy scent. He calmed her, she realized.

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