kicked off her shoes before she went into the kitchen. But she still wore that tantalising blue dress. He had to stop fantasising about stripping it off her, of releasing those chains that were all that held it together. She was wearing panties under the dress, he’d ascertained that in his first explorations. But no bra. Unhook that chain and the dress would fall to the floor leaving her in just panties and her silver stilettos—and then not even them.
He forced himself to think thoughts other than of undressing Shelley and carrying her into the bedroom. He leaned against the countertop.
‘Tell me about the party,’ he said, though he had no real interest in it. She’d come home to him and that was all that counted.
‘I met a television producer. A friend of a friend of Keith’s. He was really nice.’
Jealousy speared him. ‘I’ll bet he was.’ What male wouldn’t be nice to Shelley in that dress?
‘Not in that way,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘He was there with his wife, and she was really interesting too. He produces a lifestyle show for one of the cable channels. As soon as he heard what I did he asked me would I be interested in being their gardening presenter. They want gardening to be seen as younger and...and sexier.’
Declan couldn’t help his growl of possessive jealousy. ‘What do you mean “sexier”?’
‘Not me. Well, yes, maybe me, in that I’m young and female compared to the older guy they already have who is retiring, but they want to appeal to younger viewers who might think of gardening as something for their grandparents. He said he was excited about me because I was...well...attractive but also authoritative and knew my stuff.’
The growl subsided. ‘Fair enough.’
‘I was really flattered that he was interested in me.’
‘Of course he’d be interested in you. Why wouldn’t he? He must have thought all his Christmases had come at once. What did you say to him?’
‘I told him about my plans to go visit the gardens in Europe.’
‘So you’d put those plans on hold if you were to take him up on the offer?’ Which would give him more time with her.
‘I’d have to audition first before there would even be an offer,’ she said.
‘You’d be a natural for it,’ he said.
‘That’s what he said,’ she said with a delighted smile. ‘He also said they could work around my travel plans if need be, that I can pre-record a series of segments filmed at those famous gardens. It would be like bringing them into the viewers’ homes.’
‘You obviously like the idea,’ he said, knowing he sounded stilted but unable to do anything about it. She would leave here no matter what he did and he couldn’t stop her. Not until he had something to offer her.
‘I do,’ she said. ‘Gardening is really hard physical work. I don’t know that I could do it for ever. This could be a really wonderful opportunity to still do what I love but in a different way.’
‘It’s certainly worth considering,’ he said. Anything that might delay her departure would be worth considering.
He helped her to carry the chamomile tea and plate of muffins to the coffee table. Then sat down beside her. She kept a polite distance away from him but he pulled her close and she snuggled in next to him with a contented little sigh that pleased him inordinately.
‘Aren’t you going to have a muffin?’ he asked as she sipped her tea. ‘Mine is absolutely delicious.’
She shook her head. ‘Too tired to eat,’ she said. ‘The muffins are for you and I’m glad you like them. I thought you might.’
The muffins were everything he’d hoped his ill-fated muffin delivery would have been, and more.
She put down the pretty old-fashioned teacup that he doubted was part of the apartment’s inventory. ‘I’m even too tired to drink the tea—which is fine as it’s meant to help you sleep and I don’t think I need any help. I was digging and moving shrubs all day and it’s way past my bedtime. It’s suddenly hit me.’ She stifled a yawn with her hand.
He pulled her closer and she snuggled her head against his shoulder. He could not resist dropping a kiss on her hair, inhaling the fresh, sweet scent of her. It was intoxicating.
‘Tell me more about what the television producer said,’ he asked.
‘Well, the studio is in Sydney but they shoot at gardens all around the country. The producer was really interested when he heard how familiar I was with Victoria. There are some really beautiful gardens in Victoria, South Australia too. I reckon some of my former clients would love to have their gardens showcased. Or just used as a location for me to demonstrate gardening techniques.’ She yawned again and her body relaxed against his. ‘People don’t know...don’t know...about pruning and...and stuff,’ she murmured and her voice trailed into nothing. Her breathing became deep and even and he realised she had fallen asleep.
He held her there for a long time until he started to get sleepy too—blessedly sleepy. Carefully he shifted on the sofa, planning to slide off and help her lie down. ‘No. Don’t want you to go. Stay with me,’ she whispered. He wasn’t sure she was even awake. But he didn’t want to leave her either.
Declan tried to get comfortable but both he and Shelley were tall and the sofa wasn’t long enough. His leg started to cramp.
There was only one thing to do. He got up from the sofa, despite her sleepy protests, then swung her effortlessly into his arms and carried her through to the bedroom. He pulled back the quilt and laid her on the bed, her honey-blond hair spilling out over the pillow. She shifted and opened her eyes, though they were unfocused and again he wasn’t really sure she was awake. She held out her arms. ‘Stay with me. Please.’
He would stay just until she fell into a deep sleep—a luxury that had been denied him for too long.
Cautiously, he took off his shoes and lay down next to her. She immediately burrowed close, pressing the length of her body against his.
I’m sorry, Lisa, he said in his mind, feeling as if he was betraying her memory, but immediately had the feeling that she wouldn’t mind at all, that Lisa was giving him her blessing.
He held Shelley close as he in turn drifted off to sleep.
* * *
Declan awoke to morning sunshine filtering through the blinds to find Shelley spooning into his back, one arm wrapped around his waist, the other resting above her head on her pillow.
He was aroused. How could he not be with her breasts pressing into his back, her long, slender legs entwined with his, her sweet womanly scent heady and exciting? He placed his hand on her bare shoulder and she murmured throatily in her sleep as she pressed herself even closer. But it would not be right to stroke her into arousal to wake her by—
He rolled onto his back, gently disengaging her arm. The sunlight picked up glints of gold in her hair and her make-up was smeared dark around her eyes. Her lips were slightly parted as she breathed deeply and steadily. He had never seen her look more beautiful.
It
