Sweet Surrender Page 6

  Pierce’s mother had often scolded him on his pride. If she were still with them, she’d click her tongue and shake her head at his current boastful thoughts. He couldn’t help it. Laura and Beth had done a great job with the table, making it look homey and inviting.

  “All we can do is wait.” He gestured to the living room where they had planned to surprise Haley.

  Less than a minute later, they heard the key in the lock. He tried not to stare at the front door.

  “Beth, I’m home.” Haley dropped her pocketbook and keys on the side table. She looked up and immediately took a step back. “Pierce, what are you doing here?” Her smile was replaced by a worried frown. “Good grief, did something else happen?”

  “No. No.” Pierce popped out of the chair and went to her side. “It’s all right.” He wanted to smooth the frown from her forehead. Even if she didn’t have a frown, he wanted to touch her face, taste her lips, hold her in his arms.

  Beth came up beside them. “Surprise, Mom!”

  Haley didn’t respond, but she didn’t have to. The broad grin on her face said it all. When she’d walked through the door, her shoulders were drooped, her face shadowed with obvious fatigue. Pierce couldn’t be more satisfied to see delight brighten her features. Already he was thinking of what more he could do to keep that joy in place.

  “Who did all of this?” Haley looked at Beth. “I was driving home wondering what I could scrape together for a meal. My head hurt, my feet ached, my body felt like a truck ran over it.” She walked around the table, shaking her head. “How did you prepare all of this?” Haley asked no one in particular. She hugged her daughter. And looking over Beth’s head, her eyes didn’t leave Pierce’s face. She mouthed, “Thank you.”

  “Haley, meet my sister Laura. She is the savior of the day.”

  The two women shook hands. He knew Laura’s sharp mind was recording every detail of the interaction between him and Haley and his ease with Beth. Undoubtedly she would pass her findings on to the rest of the Masterson clan. Sheena would be contacting him in time for the upcoming weekend. Her curiosity would be too much to handle. Tonight’s happenings would get him access to the family dinner for sure. His ticket to the Sunday fete would be having his brain picked clean.

  Haley had walked through the door completely exhausted by the day’s events. She grew more tired when she thought about the evening’s to-do list. She had promised to watch TV with Beth; she would have to make dinner, and some time during the evening, she would have to lecture Beth about her recent behavior.

  Her main thought had been to kick off her pumps and slide out of her panty hose. Whoever had invented control-top stockings must have hated women, she’d thought tiredly. She’d unzipped her skirt, enjoying some freedom, before unlocking her front door.

  She’d had to grab her skirt to keep it from falling when she’d realized that she had company. She was frazzled, but all she could be was grateful for Pierce’s kindness to Beth. At least she got the added benefit of seeing him after thinking about him all afternoon. One look at his face and those sculpted lips and she was ready to climb over the chairs to get to him.

  Thinking about kissing him caused her to blush. She put a hand to her cheek to see if her skin was as hot as she felt inside. “I’m going to head upstairs before we settle down to eat. I need to get out of these clothes.”

  “I know what you mean,” Laura acknowledged with a chuckle. “I did the same thing as soon as I got home. The hose was the first thing to go.”

  Haley held on tightly to her skirt and headed to her room. She didn’t linger over the clothing selection. Everyone was casual except Pierce, who she suspected had come directly from work.

  “Hey, Mom.” Beth poked her head through the door.

  “Come in, sweetheart.”

  “Wasn’t this an awesome surprise? The doc is a pretty cool guy.”

  “Yes, he is.” Haley fluffed out her hair, which had gone askew after she’d pulled a blouse over her head. “Hey, kiddo, am I forgiven?” Haley turned to look in Beth’s face trying to read if she remained angry with her.

  “Only if you’ve forgiven me.”

  “Nice touch. I’ll forgive you, but we still need to talk and you’re still on punishment.”

  “Okay.”

  “Can you believe it, we’ve got company. Bet you didn’t think that I’d ever say that any time soon?”

  “You’re right, Mom. And we’ve got food that’s getting cold.”

  “First one at the table is the queen for a day.” Haley ran down the stairs, leaping from the third step to the bottom with a loud whoop. Beth wasn’t far behind as they rounded the corner with arms and elbows blocking each other.

  Sensing a loss, she bumped Beth with her hip and ran full speed to the table. “Queen for a day!” Haley yelled in triumph. She immediately felt as if she’d interrupted brother and sister, or shocked Pierce and Laura by her juvenile behavior. She shrugged. “It’s a mother-daughter thing.”

  “Didn’t say a word.” Pierce stepped behind her chair and pulled it out. His hand lingered on her shoulder before he took his seat.

  She reached for a glass of water. She might need a steady serving of ice cubes to get her through the night. “I’m starved.”

  “Then let’s eat.” Pierce served each of the ladies at the table a large square of lasagna, before serving himself.

  Haley inhaled the bold aroma of tomatoes, garlic and cheese. Her stomach pangs urgently sent her a message to stop inhaling and start eating. “Laura, this is so delicious. I love three-bean salad.”

  “Thanks. We all helped. You may have noticed the formal setting of the table. Beth wanted to show off her secret talent.”

  Beth looked mortified at the attention. Haley restrained herself from grabbing her daughter and showering her with kisses. She looked at her plate. “Aren’t you eating?”

  “Pacing myself. I’m starting with the three-bean salad.”

  Haley didn’t know why Beth always talked about herself as if she were overweight or chubby. She hoped it was a phase. It worried her that her daughter’s cheeks were so hollow. She’d have to keep an eye out for signs that Beth had a serious problem with food and dieting.

  “I’m loving all of it.” Haley helped herself to a forkful of lasagna. She didn’t want to indulge her overactive imagination. “This sauce is to die for.”

  “Actually Pierce taught me how to make it when we were kids. We used cheaper substitute ingredients and had to spread it a long way.”

  “And who taught you, Pierce?” Haley wanted to know as much as she could about this thoughtful, handsome man.

  “My mother taught me how to make easy recipes. As I got older, I experimented.”

  “He was an ogre. We had to tell him that it tasted good or he’d have his nose out of joint.”

  Everyone at the table erupted in laughter. Haley looked at Pierce over the top of her glass. He had a charming manner that would always serve to make him the center of attention. She watched him as he gave Beth his undivided attention, asking pertinent questions, joking with her, lightening her mood. Haley wished that she could get a guarantee that this lightheartedness could last for a long time.

  “Haley, I’ve heard so much about you. I’m glad that we finally met,” Laura said. “No need to worry. It’s been all good. I’ve been wondering, do you have any friends in Hampton Mews?”

  “No. And since I’m working long hours, I haven’t been able to know my neighbors. But I’m planning a cookout and will invite my friends and brothers.”

  “Brothers?”

  “Two brothers, Stan and Theo. My parents are still around, but I’m not sure whether they will make the drive. I wish that they would attend, since they haven’t seen the house at all.”

  “Here’s hoping that they can come.” Pierce held up his glass of iced tea and everyone else followed.

  Laura stifled a yawn. “I hate to eat and run, but I think that my energy level is taking a nosedive
.”

  “Don’t apologize. As soon as I clean up, I’ll be hitting the bed.” Haley might have felt fatigued when she’d first come home, but seeing Pierce and spending time in his company was like a shot of caffeine to her system.

  “We’ll help clean up, so that’s not a burden.” Pierce took charge of the cleanup process. He was adamant that she not do anything.

  “Since I’m sitting here doing nothing, I’ve come up with a plan,” Haley said. “Why don’t I return the favor? Let me fix brunch for the both of you. This Saturday?”

  “That sounds great to me,” Pierce said.

  “That does sound good,” Laura said. “But I’m afraid I’ve already made plans to go antiquing early Saturday morning,” Laura said to Haley. “Hey, how about I take a rain check, you and Pierce enjoy brunch and you let Beth come antique shopping with me?”

  “Oh, Mom, please? Say yes.”

  “Hey, I didn’t mean to put your mom on the spot…”

  Haley looked at Beth, amazed at the girl’s transformation. She seemed to blossom under Laura’s attention. Maybe their relationship was so volatile because Beth didn’t have enough social interaction with other people.

  Having brunch with Pierce on Saturday morning paled in comparison to waking up next to him. Now where had that thought come from, Haley wondered.

  “Beth can go,” Haley said before she lost her nerve.

  Chapter 5

  On Saturday, Beth and Laura got an early start on their adventure to West Virginia. Haley offered to make brown-bag lunches, but they wrinkled their noses at the suggestion. They had already planned their day, which included visiting a highly recommended family-owned restaurant in the neighborhood.

  After they left, Haley considered sliding back into bed and savoring a few more hours of lazy indulgence. The other option was vacuuming and dusting, washing several loads of laundry and mopping the kitchen floor. With a loud groaning stretch, she scratched her stomach and headed for the stairs. Maybe after she slept for another couple hours, she’d have the energy to complete and generate some excitement for her household chores.

  If Beth thought she’d gotten away without tasks, she would be surprised at the list being held by two magnets that had been placed on the refrigerator door. Cleaning the basement and organizing their storage boxes should take a good week. Haley left that burden to Beth. She suspected that her daughter would protest the assignment with lots of logic and teenage angst.

  Someone knocked at the door.

  “For heaven’s sake, go away,” she muttered as she stomped back down the stairs. She hoped that it wasn’t some kid trying to sell cookies or magazines. No wasn’t in her vocabulary. Inevitably she’d buy out their inventory or add magazines, like Horse Breeders, to her reading list.

  She opened the door ready to battle.

  “Pierce?” Her pulse did its usual flip-flop, causing that annoying hitch in her breath that made her voice sound whispery.

  “Good morning. Got a call from Laura that they were on the road.” Pierce held up several bulging shopping bags in each hand. “You did promise to treat me to brunch, but I decided to do the honors.”

  His boyish grin disarmed her. She’d forgotten all about her offer. But there he stood with groceries in hand, in a crisp white polo shirt—chiseled forearms revealed—tucked into navy-blue pants. “I like a man bearing breakfast,” she told him with a teasing smile.

  For the next few hours her taste buds would feast on breakfast, while her eyes would feast on Pierce.

  “What’s that?” She tilted her chin to the bags on the counter. Some of their contents spilled, revealing a carton of buttermilk, flour and eggs.

  “Breakfast. There will be no frozen pancakes for heating up in the toaster oven. And we’re not consuming any preserved bacon that sits on a regular, unrefrigerated shelf.”

  “Have you been looking in my pantry?” She picked up the box of instant oatmeal and restored it to its spot in the cupboard next to the stove.

  “Didn’t want to risk you not having key ingredients. Plus, I’m always prepared. Cuts down on surprises and delays.”

  “Then you’re missing out on spontaneous fun.”

  “I’m as spontaneous as the next guy.” He took out the potatoes and washed them. “Just not right now.”

  “Name one thing that you’ve done that was impulsive.” She took a bowl out of the dishwasher and set it on the counter. Then she took the egg carton and a fork. Pierce came over and took the eggs from her.

  “Here’s an impulsive act for you. Going into a dirty storage shed to look for a nonexistent cat,” he said.

  “Not exciting, but acceptable.”

  “Allowing a teenager to draw a mural in my waiting room.”

  “Dangerous, but not really sexy,” she replied.

  “Making love to you right after we eat,” he murmured.

  Haley wished that she had a witness. The lack of sleep had muddled her brains and her hearing. Pierce didn’t seem affected by the statement. Meanwhile her body tingled on hyper-mode. She fidgeted with the bags, her clothes, her hair. She bit her lip to keep hysterical giggles from erupting from her mouth.

  “That doesn’t count as spontaneous.” She took a deep breath. The image of her and Pierce getting their groove on did weird things to her belly and beyond. “Sounds more like an ulterior motive.”

  “The thought didn’t enter my mind until your arm brushed against mine when I took the eggs.” He tossed the cleaned potato in a bowl with the others. “But if it doesn’t qualify, then I’ll have to think of something else.”

  “No, don’t do that. Obviously you’re working on being a genuine shoot-from-the-hip sort of man. I don’t want to discourage you. Let’s take that idea and work with it.”

  Pierce nodded and continued with his task, taking each potato and chopping them into bitesize pieces. The water had already started to boil. He scooped up the potato pieces and carefully deposited them into the water.

  “How long is all this going to take?” She looked up at the kitchen clock hung over the window. “I’m not that hungry. A bowl of Beth’s cereal will suffice.”

  “Sorry, that won’t do. I came over to make a wonderful breakfast. No deviations from that plan.” He cracked an egg and dropped it into a bowl.

  “Feed me? Then ravish me?” She took out a can of whip cream, broke the seal and sprayed a dollop directly in her mouth. “Guess I’ll surrender my turf to you.” She motioned with her head. “I’m going to freshen up.”

  Pierce didn’t answer. He was too busy whipping the eggs into a frothy mixture. She surveyed the area. Her quiet kitchen had been transformed into a hub of activity with various sizes of bowls filled with contents for the morning’s meal.

  Haley turned her face up to the stream of water shooting from the shower head. The cool water refreshed her as her mind entertained steamy thoughts. She laughed into the water flowing over her face. A man was in her kitchen waiting to make love to her. The scenario should be normal, except that her life hadn’t been normal since she’d arrived in Hampton Mews.

  Two options lay ahead of her. She could dress, eat breakfast and refuse the rest of Pierce’s game plan. Or she could eat her breakfast with a high level of anticipation.

  Her stomach growled. The aroma of vanilla and cinnamon spiced the air, along with the tasty smell of bacon and eggs. She finished dressing quickly. With a few drops of expensive perfume dabbed on her neck, cleavage, thighs and dimpled indentations over her butt for good measure, she snapped the bottle closed and examined her entire look in the mirror.

  She kept the makeup light and fluffed out her damp hair, allowing it to curl in lazy waves to her shoulders. The soft pink halter outfit with fifties-style skirt had a mixture of current in-your-face fashion and nostalgic TV moms fashion. She could spice up the outfit with her white sandals. Instead she wanted to dress for her approval, not to please someone else. She wanted comfort. Most of all, she wanted to maintain her style. Pierce l
iked control and order. She wanted to break the rules. She headed for the kitchen with bare feet and a toe ring in place.

  “Oh, my gosh.” Haley’s mouth dropped open. The kitchen had been cleaned. Dishes had disappeared into the dishwasher. The countertop had been wiped with a bleach cleanser. Even the dust bunnies in the corners of the kitchen were gone.

  Pierce stood behind one chair, which he pulled out, and waited. Her feet were rooted to the spot. She’d never expected anything close to this magnitude. The dining table bore the result of Pierce’s handiwork. From one end of the table, placed in a line down the middle, she saw French toast, scrambled eggs, Polish sausages, fried breakfast potatoes, sliced fruit and orange juice that she confidently surmised had to be freshly squeezed.

  “I need you to take a seat. I have to check the muffins.”

  Haley obeyed, thanking him as she pulled her seat to the table. Then he retrieved a tray of blueberry muffins that smelled heavenly. Her stomach growled again in protest.

  “How did you do all of this?” She’d only been upstairs for twenty minutes.

  “I learned to work fast when it came to my brother and sisters.” Pierce placed the muffins on a plate and brought them to the table.

  “This is such a wonderful treat.” Haley took her plate and helped herself to two thick wedge slices of French toast. “You’ve even sprinkled it with powdered sugar. And chocolate-dipped strawberries? Most men would bring flowers, maybe a bottle of wine, and then make their move.”

  “I’m not most men. I care about you.” He proffered the plate of strawberries. “You might want to eat the strawberries first before the chocolate makes a mess.”

  “Is this the real you, Pierce Masterson? You’re a mother-in-law’s dream. Can’t believe that you escaped their wily plans on behalf of all daughters-at-large?” She finished off a strawberry, enjoying the mix of the chocolate and fruity sweetness.