Michael's Discovery - By Sherryl Woods Page 0,64

suddenly turned shy.

Michael kept the sheet just out of reach. “Don’t,” he chided. “I like looking at you.”

She seemed startled by that. “You do?”

He grinned. “Come on now. You’re a gorgeous woman. I’m a red-blooded male. Who knows what looking might lead to.”

Her eyes sparkled with sudden fascination. “Really? Tell me.”

“Why don’t I show you?” he said, reaching for her. It took him over an hour to make his point to his thorough and complete satisfaction. Kelly gave herself up completely to him, holding nothing back. She was remarkable.

For Michael, the effort proved one thing beyond a shadow of a doubt. He had to be able to come to her as the kind of man she deserved…or he had to let her go.

Kelly knew she was probably behaving like a giddy schoolgirl when she arrived at the rehab clinic early Saturday morning for her weekly coffee and sugar-laden treats date with Moira, but she couldn’t help it. Last night had been the most magical night of her life. If it showed on her face, if she couldn’t seem to stop smiling, well, too bad. Moira was the one person she could count on to understand completely. She’d been grinning a lot lately, too.

Kelly walked into her boss’s office and plunked the bag of doughnuts on Moira’s desk, then handed her the paper cup of latte from the trendy coffee shop down the street. Moira glanced up from her pile of paperwork, tossed down her pen and studied Kelly’s face with searing intensity.

“Uh-oh,” she said eventually. “Something happened between you and Michael, didn’t it?”

“Did I ask you to tell all when you and Bryan got together?” Kelly inquired airily.

“You didn’t have to ask,” Moira pointed out. “I babbled like an infatuated idiot. You owe me the same courtesy.”

“You’ll just tell me what a mistake I’m making by mixing business and pleasure.”

Moira sketched an X across her heart. “No, I won’t. I promise. I’m taking a break from making judgments. Today I’m just your friend.”

It was true. Moira really was the best friend she’d ever had. If it weren’t for their professional relationship, Kelly would have spilled everything the second she’d walked into the room.

Finally she sighed. “I didn’t believe it was possible, but I am more in love with him than ever.”

“In other words, you slept with him,” Moira interpreted. “And it was fabulous.”

“Beyond fabulous.”

“What about Michael? Is he in love with you?”

Kelly wished she could say an unequivocal yes, but the truth was, she’d detected shadows in Michael’s eyes this morning. She hadn’t pressed for answers, because she honestly hadn’t wanted anything to spoil what had been so incredibly magical for her.

“He cares about me,” she said slowly. “I know he does.”

“And that’s enough for you?” her friend asked skeptically.

“It is for now. He still has a lot to sort out. His whole world has changed. He can’t go back to doing the work that he loves. He’s known that all along, but I think he’s just now starting to face the full ramifications. I’m pretty sure he’s finally willing to start looking for an alternative line of work, rather than bemoaning what he’s lost.”

“Facing it could leave him bitter and resentful. He could even blame you—irrationally, I know—for not finding some way to make things turn out differently.”

Kelly hadn’t even considered that scenario. A man in Michael’s position might well look for someone to blame. She frowned at Moira. “Why not blame the sniper who shot him? Why would he ever turn on me?”

“Because the sniper was a faceless enemy. You’re right here and you’re the person who’s supposed to be helping to make him whole again.”

“I can only do that within limits,” Kelly said defensively.

“I know that, but does he?”

“Of course,” Kelly said, but she wasn’t entirely certain of it. She set down her half-eaten doughnut and now-cold coffee. Frowning, she added accusingly, “You’ve certainly managed to put a damper on my good mood.”

“I’m sorry. I just want to be sure you’re facing facts.”

“Possibilities, not facts,” Kelly argued.

“You know I only want you to be happy, don’t you?” Moira asked, her expression plaintive. “I would never deliberately try to hurt you.”

Kelly gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “I know that, especially since you know I could tell my brother all your secrets,” she teased.

“I don’t have any secrets,” Moira retorted, then grinned. “Darn it all.”

Kelly laughed. “I could always make some up.”

“I’ll think about it. Bryan might respond well to a few hints that my life hasn’t been