Page 22 of Conail (Members From Money Season 2, #150)

He stood there staring at her and felt the hunger churning inside him.

A smile touched her lips as he stared at her open mouth.

She snored. He had noticed it when he spent the night with her in bed.

And she tended to burrow and shift in her sleep.

Crossing to the bed, he continued to stare at her and before he knew what he was about, had lifted a hand to trail a finger over her cheek.

It was still as soft as he recalled. Like satin.

No, more like silk. Her complexion was lovely and flawless.

When he found his finger inching towards her lips, he snatched it back and took several steps away from the bed.

With an impatient sigh, he turned and left. This was getting ridiculous now.

*****

"Honey are you okay?"

Colin had been so steeped in troubled thoughts, he had not heard the footsteps. Swearing silently, he tried to bury the cigarette beneath his boots before his mother could see it. But the evidence was not easily masked. Clouds of faint smoke were drifting towards the sky.

"I thought you'd quit," she remarked mildly as she handed him a cup of steaming hot chocolate.

He had come out to the little pond, now dotted with ice, to be alone.

He had performed the morning tasks and was getting ready to see to the fences and had sent the men off to help with the clearing of the snow.

The winter was dragging on with no end in sight and they still had February and March and possibly April to contend with.

"Thanks." He accepted the cup and wrapped his chilly fingers around the ceramic. "I had. This was just to relieve stress."

Her concern was quick and immediate.

"That's what I came out here to tell you. Your sister is recovering."

He realized she had misinterpreted his comment and decided to let her. "Is she?" He sipped hot chocolate laced with cinnamon, milk and whipped cream, specially made by her. It was the most delicious he had ever tasted. "When will she be coming home?"

"In a day or two." Maeve linked a hand through her son's arm and wondered if he thought he could fool her. She knew her children better than they knew themselves.

"Your jacket is too light."

"It's fine. Stop fussing."

"When you catch your death, I will be the one tending to you. And in doing so, I would have to take time off from my many and varied tasks."

He cast her a look from his lofty height, amusement twinkling in his mahogany brown eyes.

"You love taking care of us."

"That might be the case, but still, it pays to be wise." Her eyes met his, and he knew instinctively what was coming and braced for it.

"You and Maddy belong together."

"Mama--"

"Please hear me out. I'm your mother and I love you to death. So, saying, it's breaking my heart to see the two of you so unhappy. That girl is head over heels in love with you."

He tried to shrug it away, but it ended up being a jerky movement.

Ever since the night at the cabin, she had been steering clear of him, and he convinced himself that it was for the best. But tell that to his bloody body and mind.

He could not sleep and his every waking thought was filled to the brim with her.

"I don't know what to do," he admitted quietly.

"Forgiveness frees you and that was in the past. She followed her dreams and there was nothing wrong with that.

If she had married you back then, she would have had regrets, and you would have both been unhappy.

She went her way and discovered that the big town is not for her and came back home.

Accept that and accept her." She squeezed his arm.

"It's not as if you were here just keeping yourself for her.

You had your relationships too and I am betting that she would never call you out on them. "

"She left," he muttered.

"Move past that and stop being so damned stubborn."

He cast her an amused look. "You always reprimand us whenever we swear."

"Sometimes it's called for. Finish your drink and go find your woman. It's time you claim what belongs to you all along."

He watched her walk away, sensible coat fluttering in the breeze, her hands tucked into the deep pockets to ward off the chill.

A smile touched his lips as he tracked her progress towards the farmhouse.

He admired her. To him, his mother was the ultimate woman.

Beautiful, strong and capable of handling anything.

To his surprise, he realized that he could have been talking about Maddy. His Maddy. With a disgusted sigh, he finished the drink and tucked the cup into the pocket of his jacket. It was time to go and get his woman. Some groveling might have to be done.

*****

Eleanor sat daintily sipping her tea as her son paced the length of her gold and white salon. The good news that Yasmine was doing so much better had put her in a much better frame of mind. She had spoken to Maeve, and everything was back on track.

"Darling are you going to tell me what's on your mind?"

He went to stand at the mantle, bracing one arm on the marble.

He had gone home and only accomplished taking a shower to wash off the travel.

His housekeeper had fixed him a meal which he had not done justice to, causing the woman to stare in disapproval at the almost full plate of steak and baby potatoes.

He had almost found himself apologizing to her.

He had also called the hospital twice already. When the nurse asked if he wanted to speak to the patient he had taken the coward's way out and said no.

Now, here he was at his mother's place, and he had no idea why.

"She wants to go back to the farm," he told her abruptly.

"Unfortunately, I cannot force her to come back here."

"Why the hell not?"

She gave him a bland stare that had him straightening. "She would get more assistance here."

"She's not an invalid."

"She's been through hell," he reminded her tersely.

"That might be the case, but she's much better now and she misses her home and her family." A smile touched her lips. "Maeve wants to prepare some of her delicious meals for her."

"Her stomach is still vulnerable."

"She's aware of that." She eyed him for a minute. "Why not suggest she stays with you?"

His body jerked at that, and he wondered if she could read his mind.

That was what he had been battling with.

That was the reason he was at war with himself.

Ever since he left the hospital, he had been thinking about it.

She should come and stay with him. So, he could keep an eye on her, or so he told himself.

Deep down, he knew that was not the reason. Deep down he knew exactly why he wanted her at his place and was afraid that if that happened... He drew firm brakes on the dangerous thoughts. It would be wrong and stupid. He had no intention of getting involved with her.

"Why the hell would I do that?" he snapped it out, emotions in a tangle.

"To keep an eye on her." It was becoming increasingly difficult to keep her expression neutral when inside she was dancing a jig.

She had seen the look on his face when he arrived at the hospital and even Charlene had commented on it.

He was becoming deeply involved, even if he did not want to admit to it.

Right now, his expression was a torment of indecision as if he had no idea what to do next.

Yasmine was pulling something out of him.

He was reluctant about it, but it was happening, and he could not stop it.

"That's what we're paying that overpriced doctor and nurse for," he muttered. "If she goes to the farm, what then? Should we ask them to check in on her? Will her mother see to it that she rests?"

"I'm sure Maeve will see to all of it," she assured him softly. "You're worried about her."

"I'm human, am I not?" he retorted. "Of course I'm worried." He passed a hand over the back of his neck, and she noted belatedly how weary he looked.

"Darling, have you eaten a decent meal since you returned?"

His lips curved and his expression softened. "Trying to take care of me?"

"It's still my job." She held out a hand and relenting, he crossed to her and sat next to her, taking her delicate hand in his. "I've been less than civil."

Her eyes twinkled. "Really? I hadn't noticed."

He snuffled a laugh and felt himself relaxing. "The trip to China and Italy were successful."

"I had no doubt it was. You need some form of relaxation. Something to take your mind off things. The winter gala is coming up in two weeks."

Letting go of her hand, he settled back against the plump cushions and stretched his legs out.

It was a wonder he had never even thought about entertainment over the past month or so.

His mind had been so filled with thoughts of her and what she was going through that nothing else mattered.

It surprised him that she had managed to leak into every crevice and corner of his subconsciousness.

It was not just concern about her, but he was afraid it was much more than that.

He was having incredibly erotic thoughts.

He saw her lips when he closed his eyes and even when they were wide open, he still saw them.

It was getting to the point where he was going a little mad with desire.

Going to the gala might take his mind off her.

And he really should find some sort of release for all the pent-up passion raging inside his body.

"I think that's a good idea," he said slowly.

"Wonderful. This year promises to be an event. Kelly and Leesa as well as some of the other wives are putting on quite a show. One that promises to rival the Academy Awards." She squeezed his arm. "It's certainly for a very good cause."

He felt his lips curving at the mention of those rather dynamic women and it sealed his decision. Getting out there was exactly what he needed.