Temptation - Brenda Jackson [29]
She opened the door and her breath caught. He stood there looking both rugged and handsome, dressed in a tan rawhide jacket, Western shirt and jeans and a Stetson on his head. The reflections from the candles played across his features as he gazed at her. “I heard the reports on television. Are you and the baby okay?”
She nodded, at the moment unable to speak. Swallowing deeply, she finally said, “Yes, we’re fine.”
“That’s good. May I come in?”
Their gazes stayed locked and she knew what her response should be. They had agreed there was no reason for him to visit her and Sunnie. But the only thing she could think about at that moment was the loneliness that had been seeping through her body for the past few hours, and that she hadn’t seen him in four days. And whether she wanted to admit it or not, she had missed him.
“Please come in.” She stepped aside.
Removing his hat, Zeke walked past Sheila and glanced around. Lit candles were practically everywhere, and the scent of jasmine welcomed his nostrils. A blaze was also roaring in the fireplace, which radiated a warm, cozy atmosphere.
“Do you want me to take your jacket?”
He glanced back at her. “Yes. Thanks.”
He removed his jacket and handed it to her, along with his hat. He watched as she placed both on the coatrack. She was wearing a pair of gold satin pajamas that looked cute on her.
“I was about to have a glass of wine,” she said. “Do you want to join me?”
He could say that he’d only come to check on her and the baby, and because they seem to be okay, he would be going. That might have worked if he hadn’t asked to come in…or he hadn’t taken off his jacket. “Yes, I’d love to have a glass. Thanks.”
“I’ll be back in a minute.”
He watched her leave and slowly moved toward the fireplace. She seemed to be taking his being there well. A part of him was surprised, considering their agreement, that she hadn’t asked him to leave. He was glad she hadn’t. He watch the fire blazing in the fireplace while thinking that he hadn’t realized just how much he had missed seeing her until she’d opened the door. She looked so damn good and it had taken everything within him not to pull her into his arms and kiss her, the way he’d done those other two times. Hell, he was counting, mainly because there was no way he could ever forget them.
And as he stood there and continued to gaze into the fire, he thought of all the reasons he should grab his jacket and hat and leave before she returned. For starters, he wanted her, which was a good enough reason in itself. And the degree to which he wanted her would be alarming to most. But he had wanted her from the beginning. He had walked into the hospital and seen her standing there holding the baby, and looking like the beautiful woman that she was. He had been stunned at the intensity of the desire that had slammed into him; it had almost toppled him. But he had been able to control it by concentrating on the baby, making Sunnie’s care his top priority.
However, he hadn’t been able to control himself that day at his place when she had gotten in his face. Nor had he been able to handle things the last time he was here and he’d nearly mauled her mouth off. Being around her was way too risky.
Then why was he here? And why was his heart thumping deep in his chest anticipating her return? At that moment he had little control of what he was feeling; especially because they were emotions he hadn’t ever felt before for a woman. If it was just a sexual thing he would be able to handle that. But the problem was that he wasn’t sure it was. He definitely wanted her, but there was something about her he didn’t understand. There were reasons he couldn’t fathom as to why he was so attracted to her. And there was no way he could use Sunnie as an excuse. Sunnie might be the reason they had initially met, but the baby had nothing to do with him being here now and going through the emotions he was feeling.
“Do you think this bad weather