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harassing phone calls. Miles stood and crossed the room to Hawk.  I appreciate what you're doing. I know we
have no concrete evidence against him, but every cell I have screams he's the one. I'm not sure how far Guy
will go in his quest to cheat Hope, but I want him stopped. Since Zacke won't allow me to kill him, then you'll be
our eyes and ears to get the evidence we need.
 It's in the bag, Miles. Just do me a favor.
 Name it.
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Dunbar's Curse
 Make sure Hope doesn't play matchmaker for me at your wedding.
 Who clued you into the wedding?
 Hope did. I stopped by there before coming here.
 Did she say something about fixing you up with a date?
 Not verbally, but she had this appalling glow in her eyes and it makes me uneasy.
Miles and Zacke guffawed.
 It's not funny. Both of you want to be leg shackled. I don't. I enjoy my life like it is and don't plan on
changing it for any woman.
 Famous last words, my friend. Miles clapped Hawk on the back.  But, I'll make sure that you don't get
shanghaied at the wedding.
 Good.
 Well, I'm out of here. Hope was waiting on a pizza when I left, and I need to make sure she eats. That
woman is already causing my hair, if it could, to turn gray.
Zacke smiled but his eyes were serious when he asked.  Did you come up with anything to placate
Hope about your aging problem?
 Miranda must have told you.
 Yeah, we don't keep secrets from one another.
 No problem, I figured Hope would talk to her.
Miles closed his eyes for a moment before opening them again and meeting his friends' gazes.  I did
come up with a plan. I'll use artifice to age right along with Hope and when she dies, I plan to follow her.
 You're sure?
 Yes, I am Zacke. I watched Hope grow up for decades, then I fell in love with her without a clue she
would ever be mine. When I lose her, the reason for my life will be gone.
Although the other two men remained silent, he 141
Faith V. Smith
could read their faces. Hawk looked shocked. Zacke's expression, bless his heart, held understanding.
Miles threw up his hand in goodbye and then left to go back to Hope and home.
142
Dunbar's Curse
Chapter Twelve
Thanksgiving's dawn held the promise of being a beautiful day. Hope resisted the urge to skip as she
took her cup of tea to the guest room. Miles would be getting ready for his long day's nap, and she wanted to
talk to him first.
She eased the door open and promptly lost her breath. Miles stood near the bed, naked as a jaybird. His
expression when he turned his head and looked at her held amusement.
No doubt due to the embarrassment heating her cheeks.
 If you keeping staring, love, I may have to take you up on your thoughts.
 Dang it, Miles. You said you wouldn't read my mind.
Miles stripped the top sheet off the bed and wrapped it around his waist.  No, I said I would try not to. I
couldn't help it. Your thoughts were screaming in my head.
 Stop it. It's your fault. No man should look like you do.
Miles' smile was sheer devilment.  So I've been told by a number of women.
Hope advanced to the other side of the bed. She grabbed a pillow and watched in amazement as it
floated out of her hand.
 No fair.
 Yes, fair. If you hit me, we'll just get into a tussle. That will lead to me groping several of your 143
Faith V. Smith
body parts which would lead to something else. If I even halfway make love to you now, we'll both end
up in this bed. I'm eventually going to have to sleep and you'll have to stay with me.
 Why is that?
 You'll be too exhausted to get up.
The image his words invoked turned Hope's knees to gelatin. No point in arguing with the truth. The man
knew what he was talking about.
 Now, give me a kiss before you start your cooking marathon.
 That reminds me. I came up to tell you, we have to leave for Miranda and Zacke's around six. Is that
okay?
 It's fine.
Hope moved around the bed and allowed Miles to pull her into his arms.  It's nice of them to have dinner
so late.
 Yeah, Miranda started doing that the year they got married. She wanted to make sure her adopted
brothers-in-law as she calls me and Hawk took part in the holiday.
 Well, next year, we'll return the favor. It'll be great having family and friends here for holidays.
 Yes for both of us. Now, enough talk woman. The sun is almost up and 
 I know. It's time for your nap.
Miles leaned down and touched his lips lightly to Hope's before coaxing her to open her mouth. Not that
she needed any encouragement. Miles had been missing in action for the last several nights, only coming in as
she was going to bed. But then again, she'd been exhausted after returning to work. The ER had been hit with
a multitude of accidents, assaults, and even a couple of rape victims. Her days had been long and part of her
evening hours had been taken up with addressing invitations. The engraver Morgan Rarities had used in the
past for 144
Dunbar's Curse
special occasions had been more than happy to rush her wedding job. She'd dropped the envelopes in
the mail a couple of days before.
Miles deepened his kiss, and Hope forgot all about the wedding preparations. She felt the proof of his
desire against her belly and welcomed the heat of his love as he caressed her breasts through the material of
her robe. She shifted closer. She wanted to feel his touch on her naked skin but instead of taking what she
offered, Miles released her lips, removed his hands, and stepped back. His eyes shone a deep jade, and his
lids began to droop.  Sorry, darling, we'll have to continue this another time.
Once Miles lay comatose on the bed, Hope pulled the coverlet over his body. She kissed his rapidly
cooling lips before making sure no hint of sunlight showed through the drapes. One more lingering glance at
his still form and she headed for the kitchen.
She popped half of a bagel in the toaster and sat down with pen and paper to make a list of what she
needed to do. She'd promised Miranda she'd make potato salad and green beans for their dinner. She'd also
promised Zacke, who Miranda said had developed a sweet tooth in place of his fangs, a red velvet cake.
The grocery store had been packed the night before when she did her shopping and with all the
ingredients at hand, she hoped to get everything ready with time to spare.
That extra time would be spent looking through magazines for a dress style and adding the newest
employee to Morgan Rarities' payroll. Miles and Zacke had explained Hawk's role as a security guard. She
didn't like the implication that Guy could be the one stealing pieces of merchandise but she'd never thought
he'd be making out with a secretary 145
Faith V. Smith
at work either. He certainly wasn't like his dad. Luke Evans had been a good soul who had loved her
and her parents like his own family. Her breakfast popped up and after slathering on butter and strawberry jam,
she went back to her list. A few minutes later when she'd placed the last bite in her mouth and finished her list,
her thoughts returned to Guy. She hoped he wouldn't disappoint her or tarnish the memories of their families.
But either way, she planned on filing charges against the lowlife culprits whoever they were.
****
A couple of hours later, Hope sat back down and gave a sigh of satisfaction. The potato salad chilled in
the refrigerator, the green beans, flavored with a piece of bacon, bubbled fragrantly on the stovetop. She'd
checked on the cake layers and they were almost ready to come out of the oven. The cream cheese icing
ingredients lay ready on the countertop, and she now had time to skim through the first of the wedding
magazines.
Most of the gowns were way too modern looking for Hope. She wanted something more in vogue with
what Miles' bride would have worn back in the day. Her gaze caught and stayed on a cream-colored gown.
The neckline was square cut and the sleeves were tight and met in a point at the tips. The dress flowed freely [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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