Unlikely Lover by Diana Palmer

Author:Diana Palmer [Palmer, Diana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781460335994
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Mari hardly slept. She felt his hands all through the night, along with a new and curious kind of frustration that wouldn’t subside. Every time she thought about Ward, her body began to throb. These new feelings frightened her because they were so unexpected. She didn’t know what to do. The urge to cut and run was very strong.

Lillian was hobbling around putting platters on the table for breakfast. She looked up, smiling, as Mari came into the room dressed in jeans and a pullover burgundy knit blouse.

“Good morning, glory,” Lillian said brightly. “Isn’t it a beautiful day?”

It was, in fact, but Lillian seemed to be overjoyed at something besides the great outdoors. “Yes,” Mari returned. She glanced at the empty chair at the head of the table.

“He’ll be back in a minute,” the older woman said knowingly. “Looks like a storm cloud this morning, he does. All ruffled and absentminded. Been staring up that staircase ever since he came downstairs, too,” she added wickedly.

Mari darted into the kitchen. “I’ll help you get breakfast on the table,” she said quickly, avoiding that amused gaze. At least Lillian was enjoying herself. Mari wasn’t. She was afraid.

She and Lillian had started eating before Ward came back. He looked tired, but his face brightened when he spotted Mari. He smiled without really wanting to and tossed his hat onto a side table before he sprawled into a chair. His jeans were dusty and his blue checked shirt was a little disheveled.

“I’ve washed up,” he told Lillian before she could open her mouth. “I had to help get a bull out of a ditch.”

“How did he get into the ditch?” Mari asked curiously.

Ward grinned. “Trying to jump a fence to get to one of my young heifers. Amazing how love affects the mind, isn’t it?”

Mari flushed. Lillian giggled. Ward leaned back in his chair, enjoying the view, watching Mari try to eat scrambled eggs with forced enjoyment.

“Don’t you want something to eat, boss?” Lillian asked.

“I’m not really hungry,” he said without realizing what he was giving away to the old woman, who beamed at him. “But I’ll have some toast and coffee, I guess. Sleep well, Mari?” he asked as Lillian handed him the carafe.

Mari lifted her eyes. “Of course,” she said, bluffing. “Did you?”

He shook his head, smiling faintly. “Not a wink.”

She got lost in his green gaze and felt the force of it all the way to her toes. It took several seconds to drag her eyes down to her plate, and even then her heart ran wild.

Ward watched her with evident enjoyment, caught up in the newness of having a woman react that way to his teasing. Everything was new with Marianne. Just ordinary things, like sharing breakfast, took on new dimensions. He found that he liked looking at her. Especially now since he knew exactly what she looked like under her clothes. His eyes darkened in memory. God, how exquisite she was!

Mari felt his intent stare all through her body.

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