He bought a new station wagon, and, much to Katherine’s dismay, paid cash for it. Coming from a home where every penny had been stretched to its limit and budgeting was a way of life, Katherine couldn’t conceive of someone having that much cash at one time.
The thought plagued her. She hadn’t been cured of her aversion to the Mannings even though she was now married to one and bore that name herself. The thought that she was living on their money was repugnant. She broached the subject as they drove home from their shopping expedition.
“Jace—” she said timidly.
“Hmm?” He was snacking on a Hershey bar. She’d learned over the past few days that he had a constant craving for chocolate. Why didn’t he get fat?
“You paid for Ronald Welsh’s hospital bill, didn’t you?”
He stopped his munching and glanced at her as he stopped the new car at a traffic light. “Yes,” he said.
“And you sent some money to his wife?”
He answered with a nod.
She pleated the skirt of her sundress between her fingers as she continued hesitantly. “You have a lot of money. I mean, buying the car with cash and all. Is… your salary? I mean—”
“You’re asking if the money is mine or my parents’.” It wasn’t a question. He had pulled the car to a stop in Happy’s driveway and turned to look at her.
“The money is mine, Katherine.” He showed a hint of a smile. “And I came by it honestly by working my buns off. When I left Africa, I was due a large bonus. Willoughby Newton, the owner of Sunglow, is very fair. I have a share in every well I bring in. Since I left for college, I’ve not taken a penny from my parents.”
“I didn’t mean to pry into your private affairs. I just didn’t—”
“You didn’t want to live on any money from Eleanor and Peter Manning, Sr., because you have a lot of pride.” His voice lowered in volume and pitch as he said, “I have a lot of pride in you.” He edged across the seat toward her and tilted her chin up with his finger, forcing her to look at him. “And my private affairs are your affairs now. You’re my wife, remember?”
His lips caressed hers softly and gently. It was a brief kiss, passionless, but Katherine could feel the constrained desire behind it. Her heart thumped wildly when he pulled back and looked at her with his fathomless blue eyes. She was drowning in them before he moved away and got out of the car.
Happy took the news of their marriage with immediate joyful acceptance. If she speculated on a former relationship or the brevity of their courtship, she kept her conjectures to herself. For that Katherine was grateful.
Happy offered to watch Allison for the rest of the afternoon while they painted a wall in Jace’s bedroom. Katherine insisted that they do it before the bed was delivered the next day.
“With the two of us painting, it won’t take long, I promise,” she said when her suggestion was met with grumbles.
“Who ever heard of laboring on Labor Day?” Jace asked, but approached the project enthusiastically when Katherine changed into the painting costume she had been wearing the first time he saw her.
“You look great in that get-up, you know,” Jace said as they took a break from their efforts. She was sitting Indian fashion on the floor, sipping a soft drink. “Just don’t ever let me catch you answering the door in it again,” he threatened with a growl.
He stared at her through slitted lids and said softly, “The first time I saw your legs, it took all of my self-control not to accost you right then.”
“What?” She was startled by this revelation. “When?”
“Uhh, let’s see.” He closed one black-fringed eye in concentration. “I think it was the second day after I got to town. I went to the campus and stalked the halls of your office building. I was curious and wanted to catch a glimpse of the elusive Miss Katherine Adams who so daringly took a premature newborn out of the hospital and drove across the country with her.”
He sipped the soft drink and leaned back against the wall. “You came out of your office and walked to the water fountain. I think you took a couple of aspirin. Anyway, when you leaned over to get a drink, I had a very advantageous view of your legs… and other things.” His eyes were twinkling with devilry.
Embarrassment closed Katherine’s throat for a few moments before she said tartly, “But that couldn’t be true! I’d have seen you in the hall. I’m sure I would have noticed you.”
He raised an eyebrow, as his interest was piqued. His voice was low when he said, “Oh, yeah?” He scooted across the floor on his bottom, propelling himself with strong arms. “Does that mean, Mrs. Manning, that you find your husband to be somewhat attractive?”
“It… I mean… you—”
“Yes?” he asked softly as his hands settled on her shoulders. Gently, but firmly, he lowered her to the floor. “What were you about to say?” His face was less than an inch from hers. He stretched out full length beside her, and she felt the weight of his body pressing close.
“I was about to say—”
“It can wait,” he barely managed to whisper before his mouth descended on hers.
Katherine eagerly welcomed his kiss. She knew what a delicious, tingling warmth it could spread through her body. She opened her mouth under the unhurried, seeking lips. Shyly she touched the tip of her tongue to his. A low groan issued from deep in his throat as his mouth became more urgent. His hand stroked the bare skin of her midriff.