An Engagement in Seattle - Debbie Macomber [119]
“Yours was the only one I took seriously.”
His words were sweet and soft and precisely what she needed. She rewarded him by throwing her arms around his neck and directing his mouth to hers. Their kisses were slow and lazy and pleasurable.
Chase wasn’t ready to leave for another hour. He needed to finish up some last-minute details with the answering service and the billboard company. After that, she lingered with him on the front porch for ten minutes, neither of them eager to separate even for a few hours.
“I’ll be back soon,” he promised. “Where would you like to have dinner?”
Lesley smiled. “Are you in the mood for another hamburger and a rematch at the golf course?”
“You’re on.”
Lesley stood on the porch until his car was out of sight. She glanced at her watch and realized that in twenty-four hours they’d be married.
The house felt empty without Chase. In fact, not just her house but her whole life felt different now that she was marrying him.
She showered and changed clothes, and was packing her suitcase when the doorbell chimed. Her steps were eager as she ran across the living room. Chase could come in without the formality of waiting for her to answer the door. She should have said as much.
Her smile bright, she opened the door.
“Hello, Lesley.”
Her heart, which had seemed light only seconds before, plummeted like a deadweight to the pit of her stomach.
“Hello, Tony.”
Eight
“Lesley, oh, Lesley.” Tony’s hands reached for hers, gripping them tightly. “You don’t have any idea how good it is to see you again. I’ve been desperate to talk to you. Why didn’t you return my calls?”
The immediate attraction was there, the way it had always been. That shouldn’t have surprised her, but it did. Lesley had hoped that when she saw Tony again, she wouldn’t experience this terrible need.
She jerked her hands free.
“Lesley.” Tony’s eyes widened with hurt disbelief.
“I didn’t return your calls for a reason. We don’t have anything to discuss.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. Lesley, my love—”
“I’m not your love.”
“But you are,” he said in a hurt-little-boy manner. “You’ll always be my love…you always have been.”
“You’re married to April.” He obviously needed to be reminded of that, and so did she. The strength of her love for him, despite his marital status, was nearly over-whelming. All the feelings she’d struggled to vanquish threatened her now.
“I know…I know.” He sounded sad and uncertain, a combination that never failed to touch her heart. Part of her longed to invite him into her home and listen to his troubles, but she dared not and knew it.
“I’m making a new life for myself,” she insisted, steeling herself against the pleading in his eyes. “I’ve given notice to the school and to my landlord.”
“A new life? One without me?”
“Yes. Please, Tony, just leave.” She stepped back, intending to close the door, but he placed his foot over the threshold, blocking her attempt.
“I can’t,” he said. “Not until I’ve talked to you.”
“Tony, please.” This was so much harder than she’d imagined it would be. He must have sensed that because he edged closer.
“Tony.” Her voice shook with the force of her desperation. “We have nothing to say to each other.”
“Lesley.”
Chase’s voice sounded like an angel’s harp. She was so grateful he’d arrived that she nearly burst into tears.
“Chase,” she said, breaking away from Tony and rushing forward. She must have appeared desperate, but she didn’t care. Chase was her one link to sanity and she held on to him with both hands.
“What’s going on here?” Tony demanded. “Who is this man?”
“Actually, I was about to ask you the same thing,” Chase said stiffly.
“I’m Tony Field.”
Lesley felt Chase stiffen as soon as he recognized the name. He reacted by placing his arm possessively around Lesley’s shoulders and pulling her closer to his side.
“Who is this man?” Tony asked again.
Lesley opened her mouth to explain, but before she could utter a single word, Chase spoke.
“Lesley and I are going to be married.”
“Married?” Tony laughed as if he