A Rainbow in Paradise by Susan Aylworth Page B

project going so smoothly. Maybe I can help you out around
here some weekdays and free you to take time off on evenings and
weekends to spend with me, if you'd like."
    "And when we're together? What will we
do?"
    "There are some things I'd like to show you
out on the rez. We could make a day trip every now and then, maybe
have an occasional picnic, and just enjoy some time together before
you have to go back to your life in Phoenix."
    "That's it?" she asked, feeling a touch
bemused.
    He shrugged. "That's it."
    “This isn’t some kind of ‘friends with
benefits’ proposition?”
    He blanched. The poor man actually blanched.
“No. Oh no! Nothing like that. I respect you too much even to think
that…not to mention Chris would kill me. I’m just talking about
hanging out, sharing some time together, maybe some kisses--if we
both want them.”
    "Logan, if that's all you had in mind, why
has it been so difficult to say it? And why were you so sure we
shouldn't see each other again?"
    Because I'm afraid a few weeks in paradise
will spoil me for the life I've always planned to live. Because I'm
afraid of you, of the magical power you have over me. He
dropped his eyes when he said, "I always seem to be tongue-tied
around you, Eden."
    She made another quick sound then, but this
time he was almost sure it was a laugh. "Yes, I certainly know how
that feels. I'm not exactly Miss Glib when I'm with you."
    He smiled. "So I guess we'll spend lots of
quiet time around each other. What do you think?"
    This time Eden did laugh, and then she drew a
deep breath . It sounds like playing with fire in a
dynamite factory. "I think that sounds like fun."
    "Great, then. Since tomorrow is Saturday,
would you like to go up to Many Farms? Meet our goats?"
    She smiled at that. "I'd love to, and thanks
to your help, I'm ahead of schedule on the painting. Tomorrow
sounds good."
    "Can we start early? Say, six-thirty?"
    That's inhumane! I'll have to be up at
five ! "Sure. I'll be ready."
    He stood, crossed the distance that separated
them, and laid his hand on her shoulder. The warmth of his touch
shot through her, permeating right to the bottoms of her feet and
the depths of her thoughts. "Eden, are you okay with this?"
    She stood. Okay? I'm confused and
frustrated and a little hurt, but ... "Yes, I'm fine."
    He held her by both shoulders. "I'm glad,"
Logan said, and the power between them whirled like a vortex,
sucking all the air from the room. "I will enjoy spending some time
with you."
    "I'll enjoy it, too," she answered
breathlessly. Right up until I drive away from here and leave
you . She looked into his eyes, smiling a warm invitation.
    The kiss, though expected, still caught her
by surprise. She had rationalized that first kiss, assured herself
it was only the newness of touching Logan that had moved her so
deeply. She'd have bet money that she couldn't be moved like that
again. She'd have lost.
    When he finally drew away, she clung to him,
fearful that if he let her go, she might simply crumple to the
floor.... "Logan?"
    He took his hands away; she instantly felt
the loss. "Yes?"
    "You know I wouldn't ask you to stop if I
didn't like it so much."
    He smiled, a wry look. "I know," he said.
"Me, too." He kissed his index finger, then placed it on the tip of
her nose. "See you tomorrow."
    She smiled back. "Right. Bright and
early."

Chapter Four
    Well, it's early, but
I'll be darned if it's bright. Then again, neither am I . Eden
almost grumbled aloud as she faced the bathroom mirror, cringing at
the red eyes and bloated face that were reflected back at her. What
with the incessant dreams of Logan and the hours of wakefulness
mixed in, she hadn't had much of a night. Now it was going to take
some fine alchemy to get herself into a condition that wouldn't
send people running in panic if they looked at her, and to
accomplish that before Logan got here? She looked at the clock on
the bathroom wall, and groaned.
    Carefully, lest she break something