Stormy Surrender - By Nicole Andrews Moore Page 0,10

hold, she realized that she really could make a home here. Martha couldn’t wait for Blaine to come and share this with her. Glancing at the clock, she decided it was too late to call him. She’d reach him at the office in the morning.

She stretched and wandered lazily over to the bed. For the first time ever, Martha didn’t wear pajamas, or panties. Wearing only the robe, she pulled back the duvet cover and climbed into bed promising herself to use every pillow on the bed. And before she knew it, she was fast asleep.

The sharp rap on the front door was quickly answered by Keely, who ushered the man in nervously. He was not overly tall for a man at 5’10”, but something about his build made him appear to be larger than he was. As soon as he shrugged out of his work jacket, wearing that tight thermal shirt, it was obvious that he hadn’t a spare ounce of fat on him.

“Come right this way, my little doll baby,” Keely crooned as she led him to the utility room.

The man, in his early thirties, blushed until his pale skin nearly resembled his striking red hair. “How can I help you, Keely?” He asked. “You were pretty vague on the phone.” He rubbed his hands together. “Man, it seems a bit chilly in here,” he commented idly as he glanced around the room.

“Ah hah,” she said happily. “It’s the furnace. The pilot light has gone out again and the guests are going to notice once their fires die down, and I don’t know how to light it. I mean, I could try to do it, but I know it’s dangerous, and damn it, I want to live!” She babbled endlessly for a moment then stopped to see his reaction.

Joe wore a grin that could charm the panties off any woman in a 100 mile radius. Rumor had it; a long time ago he had put that to the test. More recently, however, experience had him shying away from relationships of any kind and learning to enjoy the single life. Many had tried, but none had succeeded in even stirring his interest. While he had the rare and occasional dinner date, no one had been able to claim that elusive second date. Really, what Joe did, couldn’t be considered dating. He kept a stable of women that he could call on a moment’s notice to serve his need, but that was all they would ever be.

“Let me give it a try,” he said, his grin quickly fading. He confidently walked over to the furnace, played around with a few buttons, and the furnace soon magically roared to life. “Now, we have talked about how you need to get a specialist in here to replace this old heap, right?” He gave Keely an admonishing look.

“Yes, Joe,” she said, eyes seemingly downcast, trying her best to look contrite. “You know that I don’t have money for that right now. What with the two residences and business being slow and the real estate market in a slump. Don’t worry though; it is at the top of my repair list.”

“Yeah. Somehow I doubt you even have a list,” he teased. Walking back toward the front door, he turned just before leaving, “Looks like you have a few guests. And I’d love to know who owns that bright orange hybrid out there.” He shook his head. “The only kind of person who drives a car that bright is someone who wants to draw attention to himself.”

With a knowing smile, Keely smirked, “I wouldn’t be so sure of that.”

“I bet I can tell you right now, without ever meeting mind you, all about the owner of that vehicle.” He crossed his arms over his chest, preparing for the challenge.

Keely threw her head back and laughed. “You’re on. The usual?”

“The usual.” He held out his hand and they shook. “Do I get a closer look?”

Keely shrugged, confident that she had already won. “Why not?”

They walked out the front door, but Joe walked down the porch steps and over the graveled drive to the parking area alone. Slowly, he circled the vehicle, struggling to see inside the tinted windows to the interior. He scratched at his chin some, a subconscious thinking gesture on his part, running his fingers through the short shorn goatee he wore from under his lip to his chin, one direction, repetitiously. He glanced up and saw Keely smiling at him from the porch.