He placed one knee on the inside of her thighs and applied sweet, but earnest, pressure. He, too, was wearing shorts, and the touch of his skin on hers was an electrifying sensation. Tantalizingly, he rubbed his leg along hers. The hairs on his long thigh prickled her smooth skin. How different were the smell and feel and texture of his body in contrast to hers. The differences ignited her with a longing to know them better.
He buried his face in her neck, murmuring unintelligible words, planting ardent kisses on her warm flesh as he groped for the buttons of her shirt. “Katherine, Katherine, I want—”
“Hey, you two, I made some sandwiches for you. You must be getting hungry. Come open the door. My hands are full.” Happy’s voice came to them from the front door.
“I can’t believe it!” Jace smacked his forehead with his palm as he stood and stalked into the living room to let the overzealous landlady in.
* * *
“That’s the second time Happy has interrupted an intimate moment. Am I going to have to tie a necktie on the doorknob like Ryan O’Neal did in Love Story each time he had Ali McGraw in his room?”
“Jace, please!” Katherine acted indignant, but she giggled.
Happy had come and gone quickly. She wouldn’t leave Allison unattended for more than a minute. Katherine and Jace ate the sandwiches and returned to their work. The painting was finished and now they were clearing away the mess.
“I like the room this way,” Jace commented. “I thought the brown wall would make it too dark.”
“Not with all the windows on the south side.” Katherine had given the room’s decor careful consideration. She hadn’t thought that it would ever be occupied by a man and had immediately made some adjustments in her original plans.
The bed would go against the toast brown wall. Today on their shopping spree she purchased linens with a shell motif in browns and beiges. The only feminine touch she allowed was accents in a soft apricot.
“Eventually, I’d like to get a brass headboard. I think it would look super against that dark wall. Then I’ll use brass for decorating too. Lamps, things like that.” She was envisioning her finished project even as she mused aloud. “Of course, it might get crowded in here. I’ll have to see how much floor space that bed is going to take up.”
“I hope it’ll get even more crowded in here—soon.”
Jace’s tone of voice catapulted her out of her musings and she looked at him suspiciously. He stared at her from under hooded eyes, but the light radiating from them made his implication clear.
She was flustered, but refused to show it and tossed her head indifferently. He saw through her ruse and grinned broadly. “I’ll run down and get Allison. I think the paint fumes have cleared out enough.”
He went toward the door, but turned back to her. “Katherine.”
“Hmm?”
“I really was in your office building one day, and I did see you walking down the hall.” He winked. “I only fantasized the rest.”
She blushed to the roots of her hair. But he didn’t see it. He was already gone.
* * *
“Hi, Miz Manning, I’m Jim Cooper.”
Katherine smiled at the friendly young man who stood at her front door, but was puzzled at his reason for being there. He seemed to expect her to recognize him.
She shook her head slightly and said, “I’m sorry—”
“I’m Happy Cooper’s son.”
“Oh.” Katherine laughed. “Come in. I’m sorry. For a minute the name didn’t do anything for me.” She extended her hand and Jim Cooper shook it heartily.
“I guess Mom forgot to tell you that I was moving back for a while. Not here,” he clarified. “Another guy and I are sharing an apartment across town. I ran up to see if Mr. Manning was home.”
“No, I’m sorry, he’s not. He went out to do some shopping for himself. He only moved in a few days… I mean… we haven?
??t…”
“Yeah. Mom told me you were newlyweds.” His grin was engaging. “Best wishes.”
“Thank you,” Katherine mumbled. She was unaccustomed to thinking of herself as a married woman, being addressed as Mrs. Manning. She wondered if she would ever get used to bearing that name. And it seemed strange having to account for someone else. Only a week ago she had herself and Allison to care about. Now her life included the very dynamic presence of Jace Manning. His whereabouts, habits, and personality were becoming entwined with hers.