Hero For the Asking (Reed Sisters: Holding out for a Hero 2)

He wanted to argue, to demand her reasons for holding back when they both knew she wanted him as badly as he wanted her. He wanted to pick her up in his arms and sweep aside all her objections in a flurry of kisses. But he only reached down to retrieve her purse from where it had fallen on the tapestry carpet and hold it out to her. She had her reasons. She would share them with him when she was ready. He had to make sure she was ready soon, before she left California and the opportunity to make love with her was lost.

He stayed only a short time at the Anderson home, just long enough to tell Summer what had happened and thoroughly embarrass Spring with his lavish praise. He left with the excuse that he was going to see what he could do for Thelma. Just before he walked out, he gathered Spring into his arms and kissed her hard, right in front of Summer and Derek. Her face was stained a vivid scarlet when he left her with a cocky grin and a promise to pick her up the next evening for their date.

"Don't say it," Spring warned Summer the moment the door had closed behind Clay.

"You must be hungry, Spring," Derek interceded quickly. "I'll go put some steaks on the grill. How do you like yours?"

"Medium," she replied, still glaring at her giggling sister.

Derek made a prudent, hasty escape.

"If you could have seen your face," Summer murmured, her blue eyes dancing. "You should know Clay well enough by now to realize that he has no regard for spectators."

"How long have you known that man?" Spring demanded, ignoring Summer's comment.

"I met him soon after I moved to San Francisco. I'd found a job working as a hostess in an elegant little restaurant near Nob Hill. Not exactly my style, but it paid the rent on the tiny apartment I'd found. I didn't know many people and I was lonely, though I'd started to make a few friends here and there. Then one night Clay came into the restaurant with a date. I couldn't help but watch them. He was so gorgeous—"

"I've noticed," Spring muttered.

Summer ignored her. "And his date was drop-dead beautiful. Tall brunette with coal-black eyes and a figure that would make most women want to sob."

Spring found that she really didn't want to hear Summer's description, but she continued to listen in reluctant fascination.

"Anyway, the woman bitched from the time she walked into the place. I don't know what her problem was that evening or why Clay was out with her in the first place, but she was a real honey. They had to wait to be seated because Clay had forgotten to make reservations, which didn't exactly go over with his date. I caught his eye a few times and tried to look sympathetic, and then, all of a sudden, he and I started laughing. Once we got started, it was hard to stop. The wicked witch got all huffy and walked out, refusing to let Clay take her home, though to give him credit he tried. So he stayed and had dinner alone, and by the time he left, he and I had a date for the next evening."

"You went out with him?" Spring frowned, disturbed at the thought. Was Clay still attracted to Summer, despite her being married to someone else?

"Yes, we went out. By the end of our first date, we were the best of friends and we knew that's all we'd ever be. We've been the best of friends ever since. He's a very special man, Spring."

Spring looked down at her lap, rubbing at a streak of dirt with one fingertip. "I'm sure he is. He seems very committed to his young people."

"Oh, he is. He makes a big difference in their lives. He's also a good friend, always willing to offer a shoulder or a hand when he's needed. He hasn't had an easy life, but he never lost his sense of humor."

"Why wasn't his life easy?" Spring asked curiously.

"Clay was one of those troubled kids that he works with now. A real hard case. Ran away, got into trouble, came much too close to drugs and other illegal activities. He ended up in a home for incorrigible teenagers, where—fortunately—he was able to turn himself around with help from some very good counselors."

That explained a lot about the man. Spring frowned as she thought over what Summer had told her. "Didn't his family try to help him?"

"His family was his problem. Very old-money. Snobs who cared more about having a 'perfect' child than a happy one. He was ignored when he was good, viciously criticized when he wasn't. It's no wonder he rebelled."

"He was an only child?" Spring asked, her tender heart twisting at the story. She would never have imagined that happy-go-lucky Clay had come from such an unhappy background.

"Yes. He inherited a near fortune when his parents died a few years ago. Still, he works as a school counselor and lives pretty much on his salary. Other than his weakness for his house and his sports car and his crazy clothes, Clay uses his money mostly to help the less fortunate."

"As you said, a very special man," Spring murmured.

Summer shrugged. "He's not perfect, of course, but then, he never wanted to be. He only wants to be accepted for what he is. Now about that kiss—"

"The steaks are ready," Derek announced from the doorway, much to Spring's relief. "Summer-love, why don't you bring out the salad you made earlier?"

Spring shot him a grateful smile, her mind full with everything that had happened to her and everything that she had learned that day. She excused herself to change into clean clothes before dinner, and not once did Clay McEntire leave her mind.

* * *

After a leisurely breakfast Monday morning, Derek left for his office and Summer for her college class, both encouraging Spring to make herself at home. Summer had only morning classes that day and would be home by lunch, she promised. Derek planned to come home for lunch, as well. Spring waved them off, then indulged in a lazy swim in the temperature-regulated pool. She felt almost decadent enjoying such leisure after the hard pace she'd sustained at home for so long.

After her swim she took a long, hot shower. Her skin was glowing bright pink by the time she stepped out and reached for a fluffy towel. Her reflection in a mirror caught her eye, and she paused, staring thoughtfully at her nude image. A bit too slim, she thought critically, but not bad on the whole. Would Clay find her appealing if he should see her this way?