Satin Sheets and Strawberries Read online

  "Why?"

  "I wanted to know what kind of man he was. After all, you were taking a bath with him the other day!"

  "Maybe you should be checking out my morals instead?" she muttered. She glanced in sympathy toward Logan. "It looks like he had more than a few spiked drinks."

  Logan finished his coffee and studied the two spinning Kellis. His vision was improving, but his hearing had a way to go. What were Josh and Kelli arguing about? What in the hell had been in those drinks?

  "Well, once he started talking, it got real interesting."

  Kelli slammed her half-full mug on the table. "What got interesting?"

  "Sorry, love, it isn’t my place to tell you." Josh grinned.

  "Tell me what?"

  Josh rose to his feet and placed his and Kelli’s cups in the sink. "There are certain times in a man’s life when he’s entitled to get drunk."

  Kelli rose to her feet and shouted, "Such as?"

  "His bachelor party."

  "Logan’s not getting married."

  "Loss of a loved one."

  "No one died, Josh, yet."

  Josh heard the hostility in her voice, but he didn’t think she was as upset as she sounded. "How about shore leave?"

  "Logan’s a geologist, not a sailor."

  Logan wanted to agree with Kelli, to tell them he wasn’t a sailor, but didn’t want to call attention to himself. As long as she ranted and raved at Josh, he was safe. Logan didn’t want the full force of that temper turned on him. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew Josh was the cause of him sitting on the kitchen floor. Revenge—namely having Kelli yell at the offender—was sweet.

  "Listen, Kelli," Josh said, "I can’t tell you any more. It isn’t my business."

  "You just can’t leave him sitting there."

  "Come on, I’ll help you put him to bed. How he’s still conscious is beyond me. I’ve never seen anyone drink ten Bronco Bill specials and still stand."

  She placed Logan’s arm across her shoulder and with Josh’s help managed to pull him to his feet. "He had ten of those death traps?" She looked at him in sympathy.

  They successfully navigated the hazardous trip up the stairs. "He actually had eleven," Josh admitted.

  Kelli issued a string of curses on Josh’s head, his future children’s, and into the seventh generation, as they maneuvered Logan into his room. With Josh’s help she managed to get Logan out of his clothes, except for a pair of white boxer shorts that boasted comical pink rabbits.

  "I don’t know, Kelli. The man has strange taste in underwear."

  Logan smiled as Kelli tenderly pulled up the comforter beneath his chin and tucked him securely into bed. He opened his eyes and focused on one wavy Kelli. "You got to peek after all."

  She placed a kiss on his forehead. "Yes, Logan." She looked directly at Josh and sweetly said, "And tomorrow you get to kill Josh."

  Logan muttered, "Good," as sleep overtook him.

  Chapter Seven

  Logan made the final adjustment on the carburetor of Kelli’s lawn tractor. He smiled in satisfaction. The ancient, rusty pile of bolts was purring like a kitten once again. Two days earlier Logan had thought Snippy had seen its last days. But Kelli had looked so crushed and anxious that Logan had promised to do what he could. Twenty hours and a small fortune later, Snippy was roaring to go.

  With great care Logan closed the once shiny green hood and wiped his greasy hands on a rag. Test-run time. Time to put the smile back on Kelli’s face.

  For the past four days they had been circling each other, acting friendly and polite but not really talking. When he had opened his eyes Tuesday morning, Logan saw Josh standing next to his bed with a tall drink in his hand.

  "Which direction to the elephant graveyard?" Logan asked, gripping his throbbing head. Josh hid his smile and handed Logan the drink. "Drink this and I’ll promise within half an hour you will be back to normal."

  "I’m not sure but I think you’re responsible for the chain saw in my head."

  "Afraid so."

  Logan pulled himself up to sit on the edge of the bed. "Then why in the hell would I drink anything you hand me?"

  "Because if you don’t, my best friend will never speak to me again."

  "Kelli?"

  "Yeah, the little tyrant who is in the kitchen this very minute still ranting about doing unspeakable things to some of my favorite body parts."

  A visible shudder shook Josh’s frame. Logan would have smiled, if his lips didn’t hurt so badly. He eyed the drink with a great deal of speculation. He couldn’t possibly feel worse. Logan raised the glass and downed it. "You realize that I owe you one?"

  Josh smiled with understanding as he took the empty glass. "Paybacks, huh?"

  Logan closed his eyes as his stomach rumbled against the concoction he had just swallowed. "When you’re least expecting it, I’ll be there. From the way I’m feeling, it won’t be a pretty sight."

  Josh headed for the door with a full-blown grin plastered on his face. "I don’t have to worry. Kelli would never allow you to do something totally degrading to me."

  "What does Kelli have to do with it?"

  Josh winked knowingly. "Her opinion matters too much to you."

  Logan raised an eyebrow.

  "You’re in love with her," Josh explained. Logan had watched Josh stroll from his room and groaned. What had he said to make Josh think that?

  As Logan climbed on the mower now, he was positive he’d never told Josh he was in love with Kelli. He still hadn’t figured out what his feelings for Kelli were. He respected and applauded her courage. He understood her desire for a family and sympathized with her feeling to be needed. The work she did for the drama club was admirable, and the time and energy she put into Fairyland was amazing. She had the body of a goddess, a face as fresh as the morning sun, and the most kissable lips he’d ever tasted. Every night, she plagued his dreams, stirred his body, and made his life hell. But was that love?Logan maneuvered the small tractor over the rough dirt path and headed toward where Kelli was raking.

  Kelli heard the sounds of the approaching tractor and smiled. Logan had fixed Snippy and hadn’t even made a derogatory remark about its name. She dropped her rake on the ground and stretched. And thought.

  Since the morning Josh had brought him home three sheets to the wind, Logan had been acting very helpful, friendly, and polite. She had expected the worst when Josh showed up to check on Logan; instead they became friends. Within an hour of Josh’s arrival, Logan was showered, dressed, and eating a hearty breakfast. Afterward he and Josh put on boots and unjammed the massive log from the creek. The friendliness continued after Josh left for work, with Logan insisting he was having fun clearing unwanted logs and branches.

  That had set the pattern for the days that followed. Logan managed to show up every morning in the kitchen moments after her, always wishing her a pleasant morning and inquiring if there was anything special he could do to help around Fairyland. They both worked outside from sunup to dusk, only stopping briefly to grab a quick lunch. Dinner was a four-way conversation centered around Fairyland: What was done, what must be done, and what should be done. After the dishes were washed and Ruth and Henry headed toward their cottage, she and Logan cleaned the house. It was mutually agreed that Ruth wasn’t to know who was cleaning, and if she believed it was the fairies, no harm was done.

  Saying good night to Logan was the hardest part of her day. Every evening he sat at her kitchen table with a preoccupied expression, perusing a stack of magazines. There hadn’t been any more stolen kisses or mention of bunny skivvies.

  In short, life had been the pits.

  Kelli sighed and picked up her rake as Logan came around the bend and waved. She saluted back and quickly stepped out of his way as he brought the tractor to a halt. His smile was contagious. "You did it. You fixed Snippy," she said.

  "Of course. Did you doubt it?"

  "Not for a moment." She lovingly placed her hand on the hood. "
When can I try her out?"

  Logan couldn’t resist the excitement twinkling in her gray eyes. His arms ached from not holding her and his body cried out for her warmth. His smile held the wistfulness of a man and the power of the devil as he slid back, and gently patted the seat in front of him. "Hop on up and well take her for a spin."

  Kelli arched one fine golden brow, trying to look undecided. But the rhythm of her heart increased as she thought about being nestled so close against Logan. Was this his way of making an overture, or was he just being friendly? Come on, she told herself, this is your big chance. Climb on up there, and if all he wants to do is shift gears, you could accidentally drive him into the creek. "Isn’t it going to be a little crowded?"

  Logan smiled wickedly. "I’ll try to control myself."

  Kelli took a step closer and muttered under her breath, "That’s what I’m afraid of."

  "Did you say something?"

  "No." Kelli was almost ready to grab his helpful hand when Tinkerbell came charging out of the woods. She watched with amusement as the dog made a beeline straight for the tractor, barking furiously. "Stop that, Tinkerbell."

  Then the dog jammed her nose under the tractor and started to dig.

  "What is she after?" Logan asked."I didn’t see anything. Maybe it was a chipmunk?" Tinkerbell let out a howl and continued to tunnel under the idling mower. Kelli tried to pull her dog away and was rewarded with a growl. In exasperation she blew the whistle. Kelli blew three times before Tinkerbell paid attention. "What is with you, girl? There’s nothing under there." Kelli suppressed her laugh as Tinkerbell sat proudly in the middle of the path with her tongue hanging out panting.

  With a loving pat Kelli praised Tinkerbell. "Good girl."

  In the darkness beneath the tractor a cotter pin dropped unnoticed to lie in the dusty soil. A four-inch spring followed and rolled into the small hole the dog had dug. The air was still as a piece of brass linkage swung wildly for a moment before slowly coming to rest against the dented crankcase.

  Kelli jumped back as Tinkerbell shot to her feet wildly barking. In a flash, Tinkerbell crashed through the surrounding woods in pursuit of the unknown.

  Logan laughed as Tinkerbell disappeared from sight. "Did you see what she was after?"

  "Afraid not. Whatever it was I’m sure it got away."

  He reached out and gently captured her hand. "Come on, my lady, your chariot awaits."

  Kelli ducked her head to hide the pleasure she felt when he called her "my lady." She settled in between his thighs and felt his arms tighten around her waist. "Are you sure this is going to work?" she joked.

  Logan felt his body’s immediate reaction to her closeness and silently groaned. "Trust me. You’re going to do all the driving, I’m going to sit right here and hang on. Place your feet on the brake and clutch and it’s all yours."

  She expertly took the controls and started down the path. Snippy bounced with vigor as it plowed over dips and valleys. The rocking motion set off friction where their jeans were connected. With every jerk of the tractor his hands bounced from her stomach to beneath her breasts, and back down. She was amazed at how she could feel every movement of his fingers through a flannel shirt and a zipped-up sweatshirt. A fiery blush tinted her cheeks as her breasts grew heavy and her nipples hardened.

  She tried to concentrate on maneuvering Snippy around any gullies or sudden dips. "She runs like a champ, Logan," she finally said. "Thank you."

  With a sudden intake of breath, Logan groaned as Kelli’s sweet bottom connected with a part of his anatomy that never knew how exciting mowing the lawn could be. His voice was husky as he whispered in her ear, "You’re welcome."

  Kelli felt his breath caress her neck and shuddered. With a sudden twist to the wheel she headed the tractor toward the pond, the closest route home.

  Logan felt her shiver and tightened his hold. He resisted the temptation to kiss her delicate neck. "Cold?" he asked.

  The wheel slipped from her trembling hands as Logan’s lips nipped at the sensitive skin of her exposed neck. Recovering herself, she wildly grabbed the wheel and slammed on the brakes as the tractor bolted down a grassy hill straight for the pond. Nothing! The mower was picking up speed at an alarming rate. "Logan!" she cried fearfully.

  From behind her he reached quickly, smashing her foot with his, trying to hit the brakes. Nothing! What in the hell had happened? Seeing the cold water of the pond come rushing closer, he yelled, "Jump!"Kelli caught a blurred look at Logan’s determined face before he stood up and jumped, pulling her along with him. Soft, moist soil cushioned her fall as she landed a few feet from the water’s edge. Laying flat on her back she turned her head and watched, astonished, as Snippy splashed into the pond. Then the engine died. The heavy tractor started to slowly sink into the mud.

  "Kelli, are you okay?" Logan asked, staring at the sight.

  "Yes." Kelli looked at the five inches of her tractor still above water and silently laughed. She turned her head and stared up at Logan, who was leaning over her. "I don’t think Snippy knows how to swim."

  "Lord, I’m sorry, Kelli." He tenderly wiped a streak of mud off her cheek. "What happened? The brakes were working perfectly before. Are you okay? You didn’t break anything when you jumped, did you?" He cautiously ran his hands up both of her jean-clad legs and started on her arms. "Don’t worry about Snippy, I’ll fix her again."

  "Logan?"

  "Yes?"

  Kelli’s heart almost burst with joy. Logan did care! He was blabbering about broken bones and a water-logged tractor. With a loving smile she said, "Shut up and kiss me."

  He gazed down at the woman whose hips he was straddling and grinned. His lips were a mere inch away. "I thought you’d never ask," he murmured. With warm tenderness he gently took her mouth.

  Desire, already kindled, blazed into a raging inferno. She ran her tongue over his lips. Heat curled within her as he opened his mouth. A satisfied purr escaped her throat as he deepened the kiss and shifted his weight across her. She felt the hard evidence of his arousal pressed against her thigh and gloried in the knowledge he found her desirable.

  Logan groaned as Kelli arched her back and pressed her breasts against his chest. With a sudden movement he rolled onto his back, bringing her with him. Kelli ended up straddling his hips, tormenting him out of his mind. With sure fingers he slowly lowered the zipper of her gray sweatshirt.

  The look of concentration on Logan’s face held her spellbound as he lingered over every button on her flannel shirt.

  As her buttons were eased open, the need to have Logan touch her grew. Cool air caressed her heated skin as he slowly parted her blouse to reveal the white satin camisole she wore underneath. Desire burned in his gaze as he watched her darkened nipples harden. Twin peaks broke the smoothness of the shimmering satin. With the lightest of touches, he touched her.

  Kelli sucked air into her lungs, and released it, crying his name. "Logan."

  His pleasure turned to distress as he noticed the small mud streak that covered her breasts. He raised his mud-smeared hand and groaned. He was covered with mud, so was Kelli. They were lying in the dirt about to make love. With awe he glanced up and met Kelli’s darkened eyes. He was in love with Kelli SantaFe! When had that happened? More important, what was he going to do about it? He watched as the desire in Kelli’s gaze turned to confusion. With a sigh, he tenderly pulled her down and lovingly cradled her in his arms. He and Kelli would not make love for the first time in a field of mud. There would be satin sheets, roses, champagne, and endless hours.

  Kelli listened as Logan’s rapid heartbeat slowed. What had happened? One moment flames had ignited wherever he touched and moisture had gathered between her thighs. The next instant she was hauled into his arms while he whispered soothing words. His hands created a warm friction as they massaged her back, and his chest was the best pillow she’d ever rested her head on. Didn’t he feel the same jolt of recognition whenever they touched? Humiliation washed o
ver her as Logan noticed her whimper of distress. "Shhh, babe, it’s okay." A groan escaped him as he felt the woman in his arms stiffen. Gently placing a hand under her chin, he forced her to look at him. "It should be quite obvious that I still want you. In case it hasn’t occurred to you, we happen to be lying in mud. Personally I have nothing against mud, but what we feel for each other deserves better than a quick roll in the grime." Seeing the uncertainty on her face, he asked, "Don’t you agree?"

  A huge grin spread across her face. He hadn’t actually said he loved her, but he did just admit to some kind of feeling. Feelings so powerful that fondling each other in the dirt upset him. In surprise she realized that Logan was a romantic. He probably was looking for candlelight, dreamy music, and French perfume, while she’d supplied mud facials. How could she tell the man she loved that none of those things mattered? Material possessions never impressed her, it was the things that held no monetary value that captured her heart. With love shining in her eyes she leaned closer and whispered, "Yes," against his lips.

  #

  Kelli and Logan returned home late in the afternoon covered with mud and smiles. Ruth had raised an eyebrow at their explanation, but didn’t comment. Logan graciously allowed Kelli to use the shower first as he sat down to enjoy a cup of coffee with his aunt.

  Ruth checked on the roast slowly browning in the oven. She grabbed a bowl of potatoes and two peelers before sitting down across from Logan. She handed her nephew a peeler. "I’m really happy to see you and Kelli getting along."

  From the tone of her voice, Logan knew it was lecture time. He started to skin a potato and waited for his aunt to continue.

  "Did Kelli ever tell you about the day we met?"

  "No, she said it wasn’t her story to tell."

  "Humph! It’s more her story than ours." Ruth glanced down her nose and studied the potato she held. "You already know that Edwin came here to get us out of Suzette’s hair. She was having some kind of bridge party. Anyway, while we were here I started to have this attack. Henry got me to a bench and with the help of a nitro pill everything was under control."