HIS By Design -Coveting Claire by Helen Karol Read Free Book Online Page B

with such
a familiar gesture those years fell away as if they’d never been.
 When he asked her to pass him the skillet, she instinctively
opened a cupboard and passed it to him, voicing her thoughts.
    "Everything's in the same place, it's almost
as if I never left."
    Pouring the beaten eggs into the pan, adding
the onions and mushrooms, he said. "Yes, I’m a creature of habit,
I'm afraid"
    "Habits can be fun to break," and she let her
fingers walk up his back.  "Sorry, I forgot," removing her
fingers when he looked reprovingly over his shoulder, but she
wasn't the least bit remorseful.  "You’d better give me
something else to do with my hands."
    Laughing, he told her to set the table.
 She completed the task quickly and then looked around.
 The house was built in California style; open plan with
varying levels.  The table where she sat was nestled in a
large bay window, making it a cozy nook looking over the ocean.
 The working kitchen was separated from her in part by the
breakfast bar that followed round in a semi-u.  To her left
were the glass doors leading to the deck and further away the three
steps led down into the living room. The east wall was taken up
with a high tech media center coupled with shelves of books from
floor to ceiling ranging from gold embossed leather to well-worn
paperbacks.
    From there, and at the other end of the
wooden railing that divided the living room from the rest of the
house, the two steps Claire posed at the top of the night before
led up to the bedrooms and across to the dining room.  This
room adjoined the kitchen, although it was one step lower and also
led to the entrance to the double garage at the side of the house.
 The house possessed four bedrooms, one of which Claire knew
Julian had converted to a workroom so he could work at home if he
wanted. The decor was predominantly Spanish, although it was
stylish and comfortable rather than overpowering.  In fact, it
was a lot like the man who lived in it.  
    Claire sighed contentedly. "I love your
house, Julian."
    He placed a plate filled with omelet in front
of her and one in front of him, asking as he sat down. 
"Enough to live in it, some day?"
    Claire stared at him.  "Now who’s
breaking the rules?"
    He didn't apologize as she had. Instead he
began to eat.
    Claire followed suit, but her fork froze on
the way to her mouth. She remembered his reaction when she'd told
him of Richard's suggestion she move in with him and the full
import of Julian's words sank in.  Quickly, she looked at his
face, but it was emotionless, as if he’d merely commented on the
weather and Claire didn't have the confidence to probe further.
Instead, she began talking of the weather herself.

Chapter
Six

    After breakfast, they went for a walk on the
beach, catching up on old news, closing the gap of the years she'd
been away.  On the way back to the house, Julian suggested
driving down to Long Beach for lunch and spending the afternoon
there.
    "Sounds like fun.  Should we
change?"
    He looked down.  They’d walked barefoot
along the shore with their jeans turned up at the bottom.
 Despite this, the cuffs of both had been soaked by the waves
and when they sat down the sand stuck to the wet material.
 Claire followed his gaze and smiled ruefully.
    "You're right," and then added challengingly.
 “Bet I can change faster than you."
    He laughed.  "As if any woman could
change faster than a man."
    "Well, we'll see about that!"
    Catching him off guard, she pushed him and
then tripped him, sending him sprawling on the beach.  Then
she dashed for the house intent on using her unfairly gained
advantage.  His cry of cheat reached her just before she
entered the house.  Chuckling merrily, she realized she hadn't
felt this light-hearted for months, maybe even years. It struck her
that she hadn't only missed the surf. She'd missed him.
    Changing into light green slacks and a blouse
in a small check of white and matching green, she decided to