Orchard Valley Grooms by Debbie Macomber Page A

surrendered herself to his kiss, to his need and her own.
    With what seemed like reluctance, he broke away and slipped his mouth from hers.
    She felt cold when he lifted his face. Opening her eyes, she glanced toward the waiting room, grateful to see that it was empty. They were alone in the shadows of the hedge, but a few seconds earlier it wouldn’t have mattered if they’d been standing in the middle of the bustling emergency room.
    “I shouldn’t have let that happen. We both—”
    Valerie placed her finger over his lips, silencing him. “Don’t say it. Please.” Her hands cupped his face and she gazed into his eyes, dark now with desire. “I need you. Right or wrong, I need you. Just hold me.”
    A faint quiver went through her as he brought her back into his arms. Closing her eyes again, Valerie surrendered to the strength and safety she felt in his embrace.
    He kissed her forehead lightly. His breath was uneven, and she found pleasure in knowing that he was no less affected by their encounter than she was.
    As she’d already told him, Valerie didn’t want to question the right or wrong of it now. Neither of them was in any real danger of falling in love. Colby had explained the reasons a relationship between them was unfeasible. And she agreed with him. But their calm, rational words didn’t take into account what she was experiencing. This excitement, this weightless sense of release and longing. She didn’t want it to end. Apparently Colby didn’t, either, because he made no move to let her go.
    “You shouldn’t feel so good in my arms,” he told her.
    “I’m sorry.” But she wasn’t, not really. Soon they’d both regret this, but she’d save all the remorse for another day.
    While she was in Colby’s embrace, she didn’t have to think about the future. She didn’t have to worry about facing the world without anyone to guide and support her. For the first time since she’d come home to Orchard Valley, Valerie didn’t feel inadequate or alone.
    True, Norah was with her and Steffie was due to arrive soon. The three of them had each other, yet Valerie couldn’t quite escape the old roles; she was the one they’d always depended on for encouragement, guidance, a sense of strength. Only Valerie didn’t feel strong. She felt shaken, knocked off balance. She felt completely helpless….
    “Norah’s looking for you,” Colby said.
    Valerie sighed and grudgingly broke away from him. She peered into the waiting room and noticed her younger sister. Norah’s eyes found her at the same time. She didn’t do a good job of concealing her shock.
    Valerie stood and turned to Colby. “Thank you.”
    He remained sitting on the concrete bench and sent her a smile full of private meaning.
    Norah met her at the door, eyes shifting from Valerie to Colby. “Is everything all right?”
    Valerie nodded. “Dad’s holding his own at the moment.”
    “I didn’t mean Dad. I meant with you.”
    “Of course,” Valerie answered, forcing a casual tone. “I…just needed a good cry, and Colby lent me his shoulder.”
    Norah slipped her arm around Valerie’s waist. “His shoulder, you say?” she asked, with more than a hint of a smile. “It looked like more than that to me.”
     
    It was the following night, and once again Valerie and Norah had taken up residence in the waiting room.Several small groups of people were scattered about the area, either silent or speaking quietly.
    “Dad’s been asleep for nearly twenty hours.” Valerie voiced her concern to Norah, who was far more knowledgeable about what was and wasn’t usual after this kind of surgery. “Isn’t that too long? I realize the anesthesia has a lot to do with it, but I can’t help worrying.”
    “He’s been awake for brief periods off and on today,” Norah said. “He’s doing very well, all things considered.”
    Her father wasn’t Valerie’s only concern. It was now after nine in the evening, and she’d been waiting since