“Well, I’m sure you can reschedule. I really need your help.”
“I can’t this time. Maybe Grandfather can do it? His last attempt wasn’t half bad.”
“It wasn’t good either. I need you to do this for me, Amanda. It’s an important lecture, the last in the series. Now be a dear and rearrange your plans.”
“I really can’t.” Wouldn’t. “I’m sure someone in communications can help you, especially if you offer credits for the project.”
Silence screamed disapproval for several long moments. “If you’re working, of course I understand, but I thought this was your rotation for a free day.”
Amanda bit her lip. It would be easy to let her grandmother think it was work, but though her day with Xavier was a reward for his speaking at the museum, it was too much of a stretch to call it work.
“Actually, it’s a date.”
Again a punishing pause dictated Grandmother’s displeasure. “I can’t believe you would put indulgence before duty to your family.”
“Grandmother, you know I enjoy helping you, but the university has audio visual people that can help you. I like this guy, and I’ve already rescheduled with him once.” To help her with the reception she’d abandoned him last weekend.
“I must say your grandfather will be quite disappointed in you Amanda. Obviously moving to the city has changed your priorities. I urge you to contemplate your choices so you make better decisions in the future.”
“Grandmother—” The line went dead in her ear.
Amanda drew in a deep breath and let it go in a discouraged sigh. For all Amanda never seemed to please her grandmother, the demand to try was unending.
Angry with herself for letting Grandmother get to her, Amanda brushed away futile tears. Wishing life had been different, she carefully set her mother’s diary on the nightstand.
* * *
Unsettled and looking for calm in routine she went to the kitchen to refresh her glass of cold water from the refrigerator. Back in the bedroom she set the glass on a coaster and climbed back into bed.
She was reaching to turn out the light when a knock sounded at the door. Well, wasn’t she the popular one tonight? Grabbing her lavender robe with white swirls, she pulled it on over her mid-thigh white nightie and tied the sash.
Seeing Xavier on the other side of the peephole, she swiped at her cheeks, wiping the last evidence of tears on her robe.
Genuine happiness put a smile in her greeting as she opened the door. “Hey, I didn’t expect to see you tonight.”
“I hoped I would catch you still up so I might see your beautiful face.”
“You’re so sweet.” She reached for his hand and tugged. He cleared the threshold, then stopped.
“The benefit is for a good cause, and was quite a success. However, you were not there. I stepped out for a breath of air and found myself in your neighborhood. I decided to stop by for a good-night kiss.”
“Oh.” She flushed in delight and stepped back, tugging on his hand again. “Then you should come in.”
His eyes gleamed but he shook his head and held his ground. “I better not. I must get back.”
“Of course.” She fought to contain her disappointment. “I’m glad you came.”
“Hey.” He cupped her cheek in one large hand and ran his thumb under her eye. “You are upset.”
“Not anymore.” She ducked her head, a heavy fall of strawberry blond hair falling forward to shield her. But she didn’t want to hide from Xavier, to waste this time with him. She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin to give him a shyly bold smile. “Not once I get my kiss.”
“Then I must oblige.” His hand urged her up as he lowered his head and took her mouth with his.
Yes. The caress started out slow, a soft brush of his lips over hers. But it wasn’t enough for either of them. He deepened the kiss as she lifted onto her toes and hooked her arms around his neck.
Opening for him, she welcomed his tongue with a slide of her own. He tasted of
“I can’t this time. Maybe Grandfather can do it? His last attempt wasn’t half bad.”
“It wasn’t good either. I need you to do this for me, Amanda. It’s an important lecture, the last in the series. Now be a dear and rearrange your plans.”
“I really can’t.” Wouldn’t. “I’m sure someone in communications can help you, especially if you offer credits for the project.”
Silence screamed disapproval for several long moments. “If you’re working, of course I understand, but I thought this was your rotation for a free day.”
Amanda bit her lip. It would be easy to let her grandmother think it was work, but though her day with Xavier was a reward for his speaking at the museum, it was too much of a stretch to call it work.
“Actually, it’s a date.”
Again a punishing pause dictated Grandmother’s displeasure. “I can’t believe you would put indulgence before duty to your family.”
“Grandmother, you know I enjoy helping you, but the university has audio visual people that can help you. I like this guy, and I’ve already rescheduled with him once.” To help her with the reception she’d abandoned him last weekend.
“I must say your grandfather will be quite disappointed in you Amanda. Obviously moving to the city has changed your priorities. I urge you to contemplate your choices so you make better decisions in the future.”
“Grandmother—” The line went dead in her ear.
Amanda drew in a deep breath and let it go in a discouraged sigh. For all Amanda never seemed to please her grandmother, the demand to try was unending.
Angry with herself for letting Grandmother get to her, Amanda brushed away futile tears. Wishing life had been different, she carefully set her mother’s diary on the nightstand.
* * *
Unsettled and looking for calm in routine she went to the kitchen to refresh her glass of cold water from the refrigerator. Back in the bedroom she set the glass on a coaster and climbed back into bed.
She was reaching to turn out the light when a knock sounded at the door. Well, wasn’t she the popular one tonight? Grabbing her lavender robe with white swirls, she pulled it on over her mid-thigh white nightie and tied the sash.
Seeing Xavier on the other side of the peephole, she swiped at her cheeks, wiping the last evidence of tears on her robe.
Genuine happiness put a smile in her greeting as she opened the door. “Hey, I didn’t expect to see you tonight.”
“I hoped I would catch you still up so I might see your beautiful face.”
“You’re so sweet.” She reached for his hand and tugged. He cleared the threshold, then stopped.
“The benefit is for a good cause, and was quite a success. However, you were not there. I stepped out for a breath of air and found myself in your neighborhood. I decided to stop by for a good-night kiss.”
“Oh.” She flushed in delight and stepped back, tugging on his hand again. “Then you should come in.”
His eyes gleamed but he shook his head and held his ground. “I better not. I must get back.”
“Of course.” She fought to contain her disappointment. “I’m glad you came.”
“Hey.” He cupped her cheek in one large hand and ran his thumb under her eye. “You are upset.”
“Not anymore.” She ducked her head, a heavy fall of strawberry blond hair falling forward to shield her. But she didn’t want to hide from Xavier, to waste this time with him. She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin to give him a shyly bold smile. “Not once I get my kiss.”
“Then I must oblige.” His hand urged her up as he lowered his head and took her mouth with his.
Yes. The caress started out slow, a soft brush of his lips over hers. But it wasn’t enough for either of them. He deepened the kiss as she lifted onto her toes and hooked her arms around his neck.
Opening for him, she welcomed his tongue with a slide of her own. He tasted of
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