Mail Order Meddler by Kirsten Osbourne Page A

said and did.”
    Tracy shrugged, not liking him sitting so close.  She felt herself drawn to him, as she’d imagined she would be when she first agreed to move to Texas as his bride.  “It doesn’t matter.” 
    “Yes, it does.  I said some things to you that I shouldn’t have last night.  I can see Francis was right.  I do need a wife.  You’ve already made my home so much better than it was.  I want you to stay.”   It wasn’t easy for him to ask her to stay after the things he’d said.  He felt as if there was a giant lump in his throats that the words had to force their way around.
    “I will stay until my month is up, just like I promised.”  She got to her feet and pushed the chair back under the table.
    Andy didn’t think about what he was doing, he just acted to keep her in his life.  His hand reached out and grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her down into his lap.  He slipped his arms around her and nuzzled her neck.  “That’s not what I’m saying,” he whispered into her ear.
    Tracy stiffened.  “What are you doing?”  Hadn’t they decided he wasn’t going to touch her just the night before?  What was his problem?
    Andy smiled.  “What does it feel like I’m doing?  I’m kissing my wife.”  He drew her head down to his, and he kissed her softly.  “I’ve wanted to do that again ever since I kissed you at our wedding.”
    “You have a strange way of showing it.”  Tracy tried to keep her voice disapproving, but she couldn’t.  She liked what he was doing to her too much.  She felt like melting into his lap. 
    “I’m sorry.  I was wrong.  Marrying you was the right thing to do.”
    Tracy shrugged.  “I’m not so sure.”  Did he decide it was the right thing to do because he had a decent dinner?  Or because the house was clean for a change?  She knew he wasn’t overwhelmed by her beauty, because that would have happened the day before.
    Andy cupped her face in his hands and drew her down for another kiss, their first real kiss.  He kissed her gently, his lips toying with hers.  His tongue probed at her lips, asking for permission to enter her mouth. 
    She let out a low moan and parted her lips, granting him access.  Turning her torso so she was facing him fully, she put her hands on his shoulders.  She may not like Andy, but she certainly liked his kisses.  What was wrong with her that she wanted to be kissed by a man who made it clear he didn’t want her in his life?
      He moved his hands up and down her back as his tongue gently explored the inside of her mouth.  He pulled her closer to him with her body flush against his. 
    Tracy was out of breath when she finally broke the kiss, looking into his brown eyes.  “I don’t think this is a good idea.”
    “We’re married.  Why isn’t it a good idea?”
    “I’m leaving in a month.”   The answer should be obvious.  Had he forgotten their agreement?
    Andy shook his head.  “I don’t want you to go.  I want you to stay here with me and be a real wife to me.”
    “Because I’m a good cook?”  She jumped up from his lap as if he were on fire.  “I don’t think so.  Good night, Andy.”  She rushed from the room and into their bedroom, pulling her nightgown on as quickly as she could.  She wasn’t going to agree to stay after the way he’d made it clear he didn’t want her the night before.
    She got into bed and covered herself with the sheet, taking up the smallest place possible.  She didn’t want to accidentally touch him in her sleep. 
    Andy sat still for a moment after she left, his body still worked up by their kiss.  There was such passion between them that he was shocked she’d been able to run off that way.  He groaned.  How was he going to spend the night in the same bed with her feeling as worked up as he was without touching her?  It would be impossible.
    He groaned, walking into the bedroom he shared with her and undressing, noting she was already lying