"Then what do I make you feel? Old?" Luz stalked back to the bed and sat down again.

"Of course not. I was only trying to say that she was fun to be with."

"And was it fun kissing her good night?" She dragged the brush through her hair once, then clutched it between her hands to stare at the bristles.

"I don't believe this," Drew murmured. "Luz, I kissed practically every woman goodbye when she left." She bit at the inside of her lip, realizing that was true. He walked over to the bed and sat down beside her, bending his head to peer at her face. "I believe you're jealous."

"Wouldn't you be? Everyone was making sly remarks." She flashed him an accusing look. It had all been bottled up inside too long for her to get over the hurt so quickly-imaginary or not.

"I regret that. I'm sorry." He gazed at her with contrite affection, yet it was his handsome looks Luz saw-that artful silvering at the temples and the deep cleft in his chin.

Again, the brush absorbed her attention. "Maybe you've had other women since we've been married. I don't know. Infidelity seems to be a male characteristic. But don't ever flaunt an affair in front of me, Drew. I won't stand for it." She felt she had to say that so that there would be no doubt in his mind.

His hand cupped the side of her jaw, the pressure of his thumb lifting her chin to force her to look at him. "How could there be another woman? After all this time, don't you know how much I love you?"

She softened under his intent regard, the corners of her mouth deepening in a whisper of a smile. "It might take some convincing."

He leaned toward her and covered her lips in a kiss that grew steadily stronger. Luz relaxed against him, tilting her head farther back to invite more ardent pressure. He obliged for several satisfying seconds before slowly ending the kiss. She opened her eyes to see his heavy-lidded glance follow the trail of his hand as it slid down her neck to finger the string straps of her gown.

"It's been a long time since I undressed you," he murmured, and he gently pushed the strap on one side, then the other, off her shoulder.

A tremor of excitement quivered through her. It deepened into a wonderful shudder when his hand slipped underneath the lace bodice, cupping her right breast in his palm. Her nipple hardened to a nub in its center. The invasion of his hand forced the material downward, and Luz pressed her arms close to her side to let the straps fall the rest of the way, then slipped free of them.

With the gown loose about her waist, Drew hooked an arm behind her to lift her back until she was lying crosswise on the king-sized bed. The action pulled the gown lower until it was resting on her hips. After that, a single movement of his hand drew it away from her body, the satin gown gliding over the satin quilt to land on the floor.

Drew stepped back to admire her naked figure, lingering over her high, rounded b.r.e.a.s.t.s, and her parted legs, while he unb.u.t.toned his shirt and stripped off his clothes. His slow study of her body made Luz feel hot all over, and aroused. When he moved onto the bed to lie beside her, his muscled body so trim and tan, she watched him in antic.i.p.ation. His hand stroked her, traveling over the tips of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s to the pale, curling hairs on her pubic bone.

"You're beautiful." He nuzzled her lips as she reached to hold him and feel his warm flesh.

With his hands, his lips, and his body, he worshiped her. It was a wild and heady sensation that made her body hum with need. This intensity of pa.s.sion was almost a forgotten thing. Yet there was no haste about it. They spent time savoring and enjoying the delight they found in each other. When the coupling came, it was a sweet and fiery culmination that left them both happily drained.

Afterward, Luz lay stretched at full length on the bed, smiling in blissful contentment, the thin sheet drawn across her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and an arm flung above her head on the pillow. Drew was beside her, his head cradled on his own pillow. She knew he wasn't sleeping; he was just lying there, as she was, still warmed by the glow of their lovemaking. She turned her head to look at him, staring at the ceiling, his expression lazy and pleased.

"That was wonderful," she murmured, but it had been more than that. Leaning over, using her elbow for a pivot, Luz kissed the curved point of his shoulder. "It was the best s.e.x we've had since our honeymoon."

He quirked an eyebrow. 'That isn't saying much for all the years in between."

She laughed. "That isn't what I meant."

His arm circled her waist and pulled her across his body to lie on his other side. "Then you'd better explain yourself, woman," he ordered with mock menace.

This playing reinforced her feelings. "It all seems so new and exciting. It was like-discovering each other all over again." She could feel the light of reborn love inside her, glowing brightly. Her fingers threaded into his chest hairs as she snuggled closer to him. "I guess I feel like a bride."

"You'll always be my bride." He pressed a warm kiss on top of her head, now pillowed on his shoulder.

"What time do you think it is?" she wondered.

"Don't ask." His chest lifted with a warning chuckle that vibrated into her. "It was going on three when I came upstairs."

Luz craned her head around so that she could see the digital clock on her nightstand. "It's almost four." Drew groaned. "Let's stay up and watch the sunrise."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes, I am." She playfully pulled at the hairs on his chest. "I'll go make some fresh coffee and we can drink it outside on the deck."

"Luz, I don't think the sun comes up until sometime after six. Do you know how tired we're going to be?"

"Are you tired?" She sat up, looking back at him.

"Not right now," Drew conceded.

"Then get out of bed, lazybones." She pushed him toward the side. "Let's go." He caught at her hands, and they wrestled for a few minutes in fun until Luz escaped his clutches and scampered out of bed. Drew immediately settled back against the pillows, folding his hands under his head to watch her slip on the red kimono. "You'd better be out of there when I come back upstairs with the tray," she warned. "Or you're going to find yourself having coffee and orange juice in bed-and I don't mean in a cup." He smiled, unconcerned.

But when she returned with the tray laden with coffee, orange juice, and a basket of Danish rolls, the bed was empty. The French doors to their private balcony were ajar, and Luz found him outside, his hair damp from a shower and his face freshly shaven.

"Rolls." He spied them first. "How did you know I was hungry?"

"You always are after you exercise." She set the breakfast tray on the gla.s.s-topped wrought-iron table and tried to remember the last time she had engaged in such wordplay, infusing ordinary words with intimate meanings. Romance seemed to have reentered their marriage. The night air touched her. "It's cool." She shivered slightly as she poured their orange juice and coffee.

"Come here." When she brought the coffee, Drew wrapped an arm around her and cuddled her to the warmth of his body. It made drinking awkward, but the compensations more than made up for it.

An hour later, they lay crowded together, sharing the lounge chair. A double-knitted afghan was bunched high around their necks to keep out the predawn chill. The pearly horizon showed its first shadings of pink in the east.

"Are you awake?" Luz stirred, glancing upward to see if his eyes were still open.

"Mmm." She supposed that answer was affirmative.

"Before he left, Rob asked me to talk to you about something." Luz doubted if she'd find Drew in a more responsive mood.

"What?" It was a drowsily worded question.

"It's about college. He wants to wait a year."

"What? Why?" He was fully awake.

"He says he wants to concentrate on improving his polo game, but I don't think that's the whole reason."

"And what do you think is?"

Luz shifted onto her side to watch his face while she argued Rob's cause. With the tip of her finger, she traced the deep pit in his chin. "You know what a tough time Rob has with school. He's had to study hard the last four years to keep his grades high enough to meet college requirements. I think he just wants a break from the pressure."

"I don't like the idea at all."

"I didn't think you would."

"And you approve, I suppose."

"I understand." Luz emphasized the difference, tapping him lightly on the lips. "What he's asking isn't so unusual. There are any number who sit out a year on the pretext of touring Europe or some such thing."

"That's true."

"So? What should I tell Rob?" She ran her finger around the corner of his mouth.

"You don't want to insist that he start college this fall, do you?" Drew held her gaze.

"No."

"I can hardly argue against both of you, can I?" He smiled wryly.

"Drew." His easy capitulation after so little argument stunned her. She tunneled her fingers into the hair at the back of his neck and pulled his head down so she could kiss him. It turned into a long one, with a breath of the magic they'd shared in the bedroom. "I love you." She sighed when it was over.

"Guess what?"

"What?" Luz smiled, expecting him to return the phrase.

"You're missing your sunrise."

She turned to see the golden arc of light crowning the horizon. It was the birth of a new day-a new love, a new rapport. This is what they'd done on their honeymoon night, stayed up to watch the sunrise, a symbolic way to start their new life together. Luz wondered if Drew remembered. She hugged his arms more tightly around her middle and settled back to watch the sun climb into the sky.

CHAPTER V.

Sunlight glistened on the smooth surface of the swimming pool; the pool's blue bottom matched the sky. Luz adjusted the brace on the chaise longue to a more comfortable angle, then leaned back against the colorful plastic webbing. A wide-brimmed white hat protected her hair from the sun, but the strapless multicolored swimsuit exposed much of her oiled flesh to its tanning rays. Mary reclined in the chair flanking hers, close enough so talking wouldn't be an effort while they concentrated on soaking up the sun.

"I can't believe how angry I was that night." Luz had her eyes closed behind the dark sungla.s.ses and she talked without turning her head. "I hated Claudia so much I could have cheerfully clawed her eyes out."

"I believe that."

"I had no reason. I felt so foolish afterward. I never should have doubted Drew, but I'm glad I did."

"That's a strange thing to say," Mary declared.

"Not really. If I hadn't told him all my nasty suspicions, none of the rest of this would have happened. These last two weeks have been like a honeymoon." She smiled. "Honestly, I think I'm falling in love with Drew all over again. After twenty years, a lot of the spark was gone. We'd taken each other for granted too long, dwelt more on the failings and faults, let the little things irritate us."

"I know what you mean. It drives me crazy to listen to Ross's jaw pop when he chews. And Lord knows, he does a lot of eating."

"I've noticed."

"So what about Claudia? Is she still around?"

"Of course. Drew still talks about her frequently, but it doesn't bother me anymore." When Luz attempted to shrug her shoulders, her skin stuck to the plastic webbing. "I'm starting to perspire. Maybe it's time we moved to the shade."

"Not yet." There was a pause before Mary added, "I'm glad you and Drew are spending more time together. For a while there, you hardly saw him at all."

"I still don't see that much of him. Things haven't slowed down any at the office."

"And you call it a honeymoon?"

"I didn't mean it literally." Luz smiled faintly. "I was trying to describe the feeling, the mood."

"If you say so."

A salt breeze from the ocean fanned her heated skin. Luz felt like a well-fed cat lazing in the winter sun, purring softly. It was quiet and peaceful, the only noise the rustling of palm fronds stirring in the wind, and the tumble of the surf rushing onto the beach on the other side of the Kincaid winter estate. She opened her eyes to gaze at the landscaped lawn of her parents' home, its towering palms and flowering shrubbery bronze-tinted by her sungla.s.ses. This place had never seemed like home to her, maybe because she wasn't raised here. For Luz, Virginia was home.

A figure dressed in capri pants and an oversized broadcloth shirt approached from the direction of the estate greenhouse. A floppy wide-brimmed hat completely shaded the face, but Luz had no difficulty recognizing her mother. A shallow basket filled with cut flowers was hooked over her arm.

"Here comes Audra," she said.

"Right," Mary acknowledged in a dry voice.

As Audra walked onto the sandstone deck that ap.r.o.ned the round pool, she glanced their way. "You girls had better get out of that sun before you ruin your skin. A little gives you a healthy glow, but too much and you'll look like old saddle leather." Without a break in stride, she continued to the umbrellaed tables near the low, geometrically designed house.

Luz and Mary exchanged a silent look and pushed out of their lounge chairs. "I wonder if I'll ever be able to sit by a pool without hearing her say that," Mary murmured as both women slipped on long caftans. "Oh, well, it was getting too hot."

A uniformed maid was at Audra's side when they joined her at the table. Once Luz had believed servants stood by windows watching for their employer's return or else possessed some uncanny sixth sense. It had been disappointing to learn they were usually warned in advance by a phone call, such as now-the gardener had likely called the house to advise the staff that Mrs. Kincaid was on her way back.

Audra handed the basket of flowers to the maid. "Be sure to put them in water immediately. And bring some tea."

"Yes, ma'am." Then she disappeared through the sliding doors on the gla.s.s-walled side of the house facing the pool and lawns.

Within minutes, she returned with a pitcher of tea and tall gla.s.ses of ice. After the drinks were poured, the talk flowed easily into family news. With everyone so spread out and the grandchildren in school, Audra insisted on these weekly visits so that they could all remain in touch with what was happening.

"I mentioned to Michael your decision to let Rob skip college this fall," Audra said. "He agreed with it. Rob is so serious. Michael felt it would teach him to relax and have fun."

"The change in Rob is remarkable since I told him that Drew had agreed to let him sit out a year. He had a party that weekend to celebrate. It must have been some party," Luz declared with a laugh. "He phoned the following Monday and said he was broke-and could I deposit some more money in his checking account."

"I know at the moment he's keen on polo, but I hope that you'll see that he does some traveling."

"I think I've found a way for Rob to do both. You remember I promised to take Trisha to Paris in June, as a graduation present. June is also the month when England's polo season is in full swing. So I'm trying to arrange, through some of Jake's British polo friends, for Rob to play on one of their teams. We can all three fly to London first, then Trisha and I can go to Paris. It will be perfect for both of them." She was pleased with her plans.

"That's very clever. I'm surprised you thought of it, Luz," her mother remarked, then continued, "Speaking of plans, I have decided to close the house in Virginia permanently. I've spoken to Frank about possibly selling Hopeworth."

"Oh, no," Luz murmured.

"I know. We all have a sentimental attachment to the place, but I thought it was a shame to let the house sit vacant, unused." Audra had never approved of waste. Luxury was one thing and waste was another. "However, Frank reminded me how advantageous the stud farm is as far as taxes are concerned and advised me to keep it."

"Bless Frank," Mary muttered under her breath, and Luz silently agreed.

"Now comes the matter of actually closing the house. I was hoping that one or both of you girls would supervise the packing that needs to be done. There are paintings that should be crated and stored. I don't know how many trunks are in the attic, a lot of them filled with things you children had when you were small. You might want to sort through some of them to see if there is anything you want to keep. You can check with Michael and Frank to see what they might want done with their things." Audra took their agreement for granted.

Luz glanced at her sister. "It might be fun."