Finding Ashley by Danielle Steel (free ebook reader for iphone txt) 📗

living room, and they kissed again, and his hands drifted all over her and under her sweater. Her eyes were closed and she arched her back as he kissed her breasts, took off her sweater and bra, and unzipped her jeans.

“Let’s go upstairs,” he whispered, and then kissed her neck, and she nodded. He pulled her to her feet, and at the foot of the stairs, he swept her off her feet and carried her easily to her bedroom and deposited her gently on the bed. He was a strong man. She unbuttoned his shirt, and then his jeans, and a moment later, their bodies were intertwined on the bed, their clothes a tangled mass on the floor.

It had been six years since she’d made love to any man, and she’d almost forgotten what it felt like. But it had never been like this with Carson. Their lovemaking had been familiar and predictable. The passion had gone out of it early on. Love had remained, but not excitement. Making love with Norm was like being swept away on a wave into the sky and beyond. He played her body like a finely tuned instrument, and together they reached heights she’d never been to before. She felt totally spent and sated when it was over and she lay blissful in his arms.

“Oh my God, Norm, what did you do to me?” He smiled with pleasure at the look on her face, and kissed her nipples, which hardened at his touch.

“I’ll show you again in a little while. I need to rest for a minute,” he said, settling down next to her with an arm around her, and he saw that she was smiling broadly. He loved to see it. As she kissed him, all she could think of was that her life had been empty for years, and suddenly she had a daughter, a son-in-law, grandchildren, and a man in her bed. An amazing man, and she was falling in love with him.

He made a fast comeback, and they made love again a few minutes later, and this time she was exhausted when they stopped. He was tireless and an extraordinary lover.

“Your lovemaking is even better than your cooking,” she said in a husky voice as she kissed his throat, and he laughed.

“And you haven’t even had my soufflés yet!” he said, still laughing, and rolled over and made love to her again.

Chapter 11

After her first few days back after meeting Michaela in New York, Melissa was thinking quietly one morning over coffee, and decided to make a phone call. Norm had stayed with her almost every night, and she already felt as though they had been lovers forever. Their lives seemed in perfect harmony, and she was so comfortable with him, in and out of bed, that she felt totally at peace. She had never expected this to happen to her.

She poured herself another cup of coffee and called Carson on his cellphone. He saw her name come up, as his phone sat on his desk, and he looked startled. He thought something bad must have happened, maybe to Hattie, or to Melissa herself, and answered immediately.

“Mel?” he answered, worried.

“Hi,” she said, not sure where to go from there.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, I am,” she said, sounding at ease and grounded. It was odd hearing his voice again. The call was long overdue, and she had decided to reach out. She had been thinking about it for days. “I just wanted to say hello, and tell you I’m sorry.” She sounded sincere and he was surprised by what she said.

“About what?” She hadn’t done anything to him lately, or even before. They’d had no contact, except her brief emails on Robbie’s anniversaries, and at Christmas, and when the fire was threatening.

“I’m sorry I’ve been so cut off. I just couldn’t talk for a while, to anyone. Something wonderful just happened and I wanted to share it with you.” He wondered if she’d met a man. She sounded like it. But he knew better than to ask. He wondered if she was getting married.

“Hattie did something crazy this summer. She went to Ireland. The convent there gave her the same runaround they gave me, but she met an ex-nun who had worked there. Hattie found the baby.”

“What baby?” He sounded shocked. The baby she’d had at sixteen was the farthest thing from his mind. It was surprising enough to hear from her, let alone figure out what she meant. She was speaking in riddles.

“The baby I gave up.” She jogged his memory, and he reacted instantly.

“Oh my God. How’d she do it? I thought they burned all the records.”

“They did, but the nun Hattie met knew enough to piece it together. It was a long shot, but she found her.”

“In Ireland?”

“No, in L.A. I just spent two days with her last week. She’s a lovely girl, with a nice husband, and two very cute kids.” Melissa had a family again. It didn’t make up for losing Robbie. Nothing could ever replace him, but it was a gift nonetheless, and made an enormous difference. “I think I understand now how you feel about Jane’s two daughters. I hated that you were close to them, but it’s nice having kids and young people in my life again. I’m not sure how you bridge the gap of thirty-three years in this case, but she has a big heart and we seem to be doing it. I’m going to L.A. to spend Thanksgiving with them.”

“I’m glad, Mel,” he said, sounding deeply moved to hear from her. “I think about you all the time. I hope you’re happy.”

“I am. It’s better now. It’s taken a long time. It’s taken all four years I’ve been here to start to heal.” And finding Michaela had made a big difference. Somehow it gave her hope again, and a new outlook on everything. Her life was suddenly about who was in it, not