Part 33 (1/2)
”Yes, but he didn't come back because of me.”
”Maybe he's just shy.”
”Tyler never had any trouble saying what he wanted to say. Most of the time that was nothing. I guess it still is.”
”And you love him?”
”Stupid isn't it, but I can't help it.”
”Why?”
”For a lot of reasons you'll probably think very silly. He's the first man who ever made me feel pet.i.te.”
”Guy said he was very tall.”
”It isn't that. He simply isn't aware that there's anything different about me. He thinks I'm pretty, doesn't mind my freckles, prefers my hair short, and he was burning to make love to me.”
”You didn't--”
”No, but now I wish I had. Does that shock you? It shocks me, but no one has ever kissed me like he did.”
”How was that?” Adora asked, shock fading in the face of rampant curiosity.
”I had dreamed of being kissed by the man I loved, but it was nothing like this. He was out of control. It happened too fast. When he took me in his arms, I felt powerless to stop him. He pressed me to him until my entire body threatened to explode from the heat of him.
”Then he kissed me, and I could hardly believe such a powerful sensation could be produced merely by touching a man's lips. His mouth was hard and demanding. I felt as though the energy had drained out of me. I felt owned, possessed. But he kept demanding more and more until I couldn't do anything but give in to him.”
”Give in to him?” Adora repeated, breathless.
”His tongue thrust its way into my mouth and fire shot all through me. I felt he had invaded me, was searching out all of me and making it his own. I felt like I had been released from a coc.o.o.n, suddenly transformed, freed to meld with him.
”Then he broke off, and I feared I would collapse. If he hadn't held on to me, I would.”
Adora stared at Daisy, her eyes wide with amazement.
”A kiss like that can't happen with a man who only admires you or who will wait respectfully to make you his own,” Daisy said. ”Only a man who must have you despite all the rules of society, despite his own sense of honor, despite your objections can make you feel that way.”
”But you said--”
”I said almost, but part of the excitement is the danger, not knowing for sure.”
”You were never like this before.”
”Don't I sound foolish? Daddy would have locked me in my room until I was over it. That's why I can't marry Guy. He would expect a quiet dutiful wife. He'd never understand.”
”What are you going to do about Tyler?”
”Nothing.”
”If you love him, you must do something. You can't just let him ruin your life.”
”I have no life to ruin, but I'm going to make one. I'm going to run my ranch. Tyler said I could do anything I made up my mind to do.”
”And you believe him?”
”I have to. Believing him means believing in myself.”
”But you'll be by yourself.”
”I know.”
”I could never do anything like that. I'd be too afraid.”
”I'm petrified,” Daisy admitted.
”You really do love him, don't you?”
Daisy nodded.
”Then he'll come back for you. If you love him that much, he can't do anything else.”
But Daisy wouldn't let herself hope. She didn't think she could stand to be disappointed again.
”You told her you came back to learn how to run a hotel?” Laurel stared at Tyler like he was a certified fool.
”What was I supposed to tell her?”
”Anything but that. I'm surprised she didn't slap you then and there.”
”I warned her about the killer.”
”Do you love her?”
The question startled Tyler into silence.
”Don't tell me you haven't thought about it. She has. She's in love with you, you know.”
”How . . . ” Tyler was unable to finish the sentence.
”I could tell by looking at her, by the way she talked about you. She was in love with you the night you brought her here.”
Tyler didn't know what to say. He just stood there like a huge wooden carving.
”I don't know why men have to be so stupid about these things,” Laurel complained. ”It makes it so much harder on women.” She gave Hen a severe look. ”Randolph men seem to be particularly hard headed.”
”But we do finally learn,” her husband said.
Laurel's sternness melted. ”You did, but I don't know about your brother.” She turned back to Tyler. ”Do you love her? You're got to decide. You can't leave her wondering. She deserves to know, to be able to forget you, to make room for someone else.”