Long Time Coming by Bonnie Edwards Read Free Book Online Page A

see her grin falter from open to hesitant. She was
so damn appealing he could eat her up. "Good to see you, Leigh. I'm glad
you made it. Have you been to Marion's yet?"
      She
nodded, stepped out of his arms and concern flashed across her face. "The
doors were locked and lights all off. Where is she?"
      Surprised,
he said, "She was there this morning. I moved furniture for hours."
Worry dampened his sexual focus. He shook his head because Marion wouldn't have
left the house unless absolutely necessary, not with Leigh on the way.
"She was excited to see you."
      "So
you have no idea where she's gone?"
      "Come
on in," he said as he dug his phone out of his pocket. "I'll call her
cell."
      But
before he could pull her number up, his ring tone played. He checked call
display, ready to hang up on the caller if need be. "It's her."
      Leigh
gave her car door a hip shot to close it, then stepped close enough for his
nose to catch her scent again. He answered, relieved to hear Marion's normal,
rushed voice. He passed Leigh the phone. "She wants to speak with
you."
      Thirty
seconds into the conversation, Leigh's voice warmed with concern. A problem
with Marion’s sister. He straightened when Leigh said goodbye. She handed back
his phone.
      "Marion had to leave for her sister's place. Heart trouble. She won't be here all weekend.
She said we could go over to the house in the morning and she'd call
then." Her lips moved into a classic Leigh pout. He wanted to kiss it
away. "I suspect she'd prefer we deal with a lot of the decisions for her.
This can’t be easy for a woman who’s as vital and active as Marion.”
      "She
was pretty wracked up over that projector and the old film reels. I found the
projector screen, but it's ruined."
      "If
it had been her choice to retire she might handle this better.” She smiled, her
wide blue eyes a symphony of kind memories. "In the meantime, we have an
evening to kill."
      "Stay
here tonight, we can get caught up." And there it was. Stay with me.
Sleep in your big brother's house. Where you'll be safe.
      Her
smile turned sultry. "Let me get my bag.” She turned and gave him a view
of her lush backside. Round, smooth, high and oh-so-inviting, his hands itched.
      Unless
and until, Leigh gave him the go-ahead to touch, he'd keep his hands to
himself, even if it killed him.

Chapter Two
    W hile
Leigh settled into the guestroom, Kurt opened a bottle of red wine to let it
breathe. Then he called Marion.
      Her
sister had the constitution of a tank. Heart problems didn't ring true. Maybe
this move into the retirement residence had been harder to accept than he
thought. But Marion had faced too many angry and confused foster kids to be
frightened by downsizing her home. He listened to her soft-voiced explanation
of family duty and hung up, no more convinced than when he’d called.
      Footsteps
made him turn to watch Leigh's expression as she approached through the great
room. What he read in her eyes pleased him. As did his home. He'd worked hard
on the design and it showed.
      Log
walls, gleaming wood floors and high ceilings made for rustic luxury. French
doors flanked the fieldstone fireplace and led to a lakeside deck that appeared
to extend the width of the house.
      "Your
home's lovely, Kurt," she said as she took the wine he offered. She'd let
her hair down into waves that tipped at her clavicle. He wanted to trace those
fine bones out to her smooth shoulders. Trace her skin lightly, lightly,
lightly until she shivered with need.
      "Thanks,"
he said, and pulled back from the errant thought. "I never seem to finish
the place though." He grinned and nodded toward a walk-in pantry. The
scent of fresh cut pine filled the air. Shelves he had yet to install leaned
against the inside wall.
      She
took in the granite counters, the breakfast bar, the view over the lakeside
deck. "I'd love a kitchen like this."
      "Feel
free to cook whatever you'd like. I'll eat your cooking