Harlequin Historical May 2021--Box Set 2 of 2

by Elizabeth Rolls

  Seth slapped the table, laughing. “Serves him right.” He scratched his head then, and said to Franny, “I never knew that Stephanie Graham was pregnant, or that she moved to California.”

  Franny laughed. “Because that was the year you met me, and from then on you only had eyes for me.” She kissed her husband’s cheek. “And that old jalopy you drove.”

  “I loved that car,” Seth said, waggling his brows at Franny. “Connor helped me rebuild the engine. Remember that?”

  “I do,” Connor answered. It had been shortly after Jenny had disappeared and he’d used working on the car to get his mind off her. It hadn’t worked. He hadn’t known about Stephanie being pregnant or moving, either, because his mind had only been on one girl. Jenny.

  “That had been right before your dad died,” Seth said. “Remember how he let us use his tools, and even helped us that one whole Saturday?”

  “I do,” Connor replied. “He liked doing things like that.”

  “He was a good man,” Seth said.

  Connor’s heart warmed. “Yes, he was.”

  Jenny touched his arm, and he flashed her a smile.

  “Well, um, we should be leaving, now,” she said softly.

  Franny held a finger in the air. “Hold on. I still have an hour before Betsy needs to nurse again, so you two can’t give us the bum’s rush yet. Let’s visit the back room first.”

  “Connor has a long drive,” Jenny said. “Taking me home and then back—”

  “It’s not that late,” he told her. “I’ll still get you home well before midnight.”

  “But then you have to drive all the way back to your house,” she said.

  “It’s not that far, and I’ve driven all night before.”

  “Settled,” Franny said. “You guys get us a table while us gals visit the powder room.”

  That’s what happened and as soon as the women joined them at a table in the back room, Franny grabbed her husband and led him to the dance floor.

  Connor smiled. “Shall we join them?”

  Her eyes were on the dancers as she said, “I haven’t danced since high school.”

  “It’s like riding a bike,” he said.

  “I haven’t done that since high school, either.”

  “Me, neither.” He stood, and held out his hand. She took it, and he guided her onto the dance floor. There he drew her close and placed his other hand on her waist.

  The floor was thick with dancers, from young flappers and drugstore cowboys, to dames and billboards kicking up their heels to the beat of the jazz music filling the air by the full band on the stage.

  He two-stepped to an open area, giving them more room, then twirled her under their clutched hands. Seeing the sparkle in her eyes, the smile on her face, he twirled her again. This time he spun, so their backs bumped together midway through her twirl, and rejoiced in her giggle that filled his ears.

  This. The burst of happiness within him was exactly what he’d been looking for every time he’d led a doll onto the dance floor, but it had never been there. As much as he’d faked it, his soul had never enjoyed the movements, the connections, until this very moment.

  The smile on her face, the shine in her eyes, said she was enjoying it too, and that was exhilarating.

  They danced three dances. Each one more exciting than the last. Her face was lit up brighter than the overhead lights, and her laughter more musical than the band.

  “Shall we get something to drink?” he asked as the music faded.

  “Yes, please.” She waved a hand before her face. “It’s hot.”

  “It is!” Stepping off the dance floor, he plucked two glasses off the cigarette girl’s tray and handed one to Jenny before steering her to the back door. “We’ll go out on the balcony. It’s cooler out there.”

  The breeze blowing off the bay was a welcome relief as soon as they went outside. “That feels good,” he said.

  “It does.” Glancing at her glass, she asked, “What is this?”

  “Don’t know yet, but it’s wet and I’m thirsty.” He nodded toward the railing as he took a sip. “It’s good—try it.”

  She waited until they stood near the rail and took a tentative sip. “It’s refreshing. Minty.” Took a longer drink. “And sweet.”

  “It is.” He held the sprig of mint aside with one knuckle while taking another drink. “It’s a Southside Fizz.” He winked at her. “Al Capone’s favorite drink.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “I have my sources.”

  Laughing, she shook her head and took another drink. The moonlight shining off the water of the bay below the balcony reflected up onto her face, giving it a golden glow.

  “What’s in it?”

  It took Connor a moment to pull his mind together enough to know she was asking about the drink. “Gin, lemon juice, club soda, sugar syrup.” He picked the sprig of mint out of his glass and popped it in his mouth. “And a sprig of mint for fresh breath.”

  “Fresh breath?” There was no sarcasm in her question. That was in her eyes.

  “Yes, fresh breath.”

  She blinked slowly, then turned to stare out over the water. “I didn’t realize this place was right on the Irondequoit Bay.”

  He set his empty glass on the railing ledge. “It’s built in the hill. You can walk out of the basement onto a dock on the bay.” He bumped her shoulder with his. “Makes it easy to sneak in booze.”

  “I can’t believe I’m at a speakeasy.” Lifting her glass to her lips, she added, “Drinking gin.”

  “I’m a bad influence, am I?”

  She emptied her glass and set it on the ledge beside his glass. “No, I’d give that credit to Franny. I couldn’t say no to her.”

  “But you can to me?”

  Her smile never faltered. “That’s almost as difficult.”

  He touched one knuckle to the underside of her chin, and used it to encourage her to twist enough so he could see her full face, not just her profile. “Almost?”

  She nodded.

  The enormity of his desire to kiss her was too strong to ignore, and the flash of anticipation that slipped into her eyes as he leaned forward sent his heart into a tailspin.

  A soft sigh escaped as their lips merged. It could have come from him, but he chose to believe it had been her sigh and pressed his lips more firmly against hers.

  She twisted, faced him completely and her arms slipped up around his neck. He folded his arms around her, pulling her as close as possible. The tenderness that filled him was like an old friend coming home. He’d only felt that with her, years ago. He’d searched for it, but had never found it.

  Something else opened up inside him. A willingness to sacrifice all he had, all he wanted, for her. For her needs and wants. He would do that this time. Go to whatever lengths it took, face any obstacles, because her happiness was worth it.

  He parted her lips with his tongue,, and her eagerness met his as their tongues met, twisted, tasted and explored. It was as if the world was once again a forgotten place. Nothing mattered except the two of them and this moment in time.

  * * *

  Jenny’s insides were still humming when Connor closed her car door and walked around the front of the car. She probably shouldn’t have kissed him like she had, or even danced with him like she had, but wasn’t going to regret it. Not tonight. Not ever. She had enough to regret and he wasn’t one. Not any part of him. Today had been amazing. All of it, and she was going to hold on to each and every memory. Forever.

  Franny and Seth had been at the table when she and Connor had returned from the balcony, and with remorse, especially from Franny, claimed it was time to go home.

  Franny had insisted that they do this again, go out to dinner and dancing, and though Jenny had nodded, and agreed with how good it had b
een to see Franny, she couldn’t promise that she’d be back to Rochester any time soon.

  Tonight, today, had proven that she still harbored very strong feelings for Connor. Feelings that she’d never have for another man. She didn’t want to have those feelings for another man, but she also couldn’t have them for him, either.

  It had taken all her will to hide her trembling when the conversation had turned to Donald, and to hide her anger when she’d learned things she hadn’t known before. About Sarah, and Stephanie, and how he’d been at the train station when Connor had left for New York.

  She’d been so foolish to believe Donald that night, to believe that Connor had lied to her. She’d known Donald had hated Connor, and had fallen into his snare so easily. Yes, she had been young and foolish, and she’d hurt so bad that night, she’d wanted to hate him, but those had only been excuses.

  Truth was, she’d been so insecure, had felt so unloved, that she’d just wanted someone, anyone, to hold her, to tell her that she was lovable. Was wanted.

  For years, she’d blamed that on her mother. On how that once she’d married Richard, no one else had mattered. She’d forgotten she had a daughter.

  Jenny sucked in air, remembering how hard she’d sought for her mother’s attention.

  “I’m thinking that we should plan on being in New York City for two nights,” Connor said.

  Letting the memories go, she asked, “Why?”

  “We’ll drive down Monday, but even leaving early in the morning, it will still be too late to meet with Senator Hughes. We’ll do that Tuesday, and then drive back home on Wednesday. Will that work for you?”

  “Yes, but I don’t understand why we’re going to New York City. Albany is the capital of New York. That’s where the capitol building is. That’s where we’ve always sent out letters to before.”

  “Because of Governor Smith. Since he took office, he’s been pushing to have the capital changed to New York City. He’s turned the Waldorf Astoria into his own private capitol building and rarely goes to Albany. Oklahoma changed their capital several years ago, and he believes it’s time New York does.”

  She hadn’t known that, and couldn’t help but wonder what else she didn’t know by not reading newspapers and staying so secluded over the years. “Why?”

  “I can’t say for sure, but am assuming it’s so he can be the governor that got it done. Others have tried, but been unsuccessful in making it happen.” In the next breath, he asked, “Who will take care of Emily and the others while Gretchen is delivering her flowers?”

  Having already discussed everything with Gretchen and the other women after she’d returned home last night after securing a ride to Rochester with Alice, she explained, “Gretchen will stay at the house. Joyce and Meg will deliver the flowers. That’s what happened today. Lora could have her baby at any time, but Meg is a couple months away from her due date. So is Tina. She’ll go with us to New York, and so will Rachel, along with baby Annie. Lora, Meg, and Joyce will write letters for us to deliver to the senator, and Gretchen will contact some of the girls from the past that keep in contact with us to write letters, as well.”

  “Did you have a chance to review the list of regulations in the envelope I’d given you?”

  He probably thought she’d burned it. She hadn’t. “Yes. Gretchen reviewed them, too, and we made a few changes...”

  They discussed the changes, the trip and the overall plan, for the length of the journey home. It helped keep her focused, but at the same time, it scared her to think of being with him for three full days. Tina and Rachel, as well as Annie, would be with them the entire time, so that would help.

  Hopefully.

  Because the last thing she needed was to fall completely in love with him again. After today, that could happen.

  Easily.

  Too easily, and the following morning didn’t help ease her fears of that.

  Lora’s water had broken in the middle of the night, and she still hadn’t delivered the baby when Gretchen entered the room.

  “I’m sorry, Jenny, but I was so busy getting the truck loaded and the girls out of here, that time got away from me and Emily missed the school bus.”

  Jenny’s heart sank. She’d wanted the time she was gone to be as normal as possible for Emily, but this morning had been overly chaotic. “Where is she?”

  “Sitting on the front steps,” Gretchen said. “I told her it’s just too far to walk, and that I will need her help here today, but it didn’t help. She’s upset. I’ll take over here.”

  Jenny quickly filled Gretchen in on Lora’s progress, and then went downstairs. She paused in the kitchen to wash her hands and glanced at the clock. Connor was due anytime. It was truly just one of those mornings.

  She walked into the living room, where her suitcase, as well as Tina’s and Rachel’s bags, sat on the floor. Tina was looking out the window.

  “Is she still on the steps?” Jenny asked.

  “Yes. Mr. McCormick just arrived.”

  As if her heart didn’t know she was already dealing with enough this morning, it fluttered to the point she had to stop and catch her breath. By the time she moved to the door, which was open, leaving only the screen door between her and the steps, Connor had sat down on the steps next to Emily. Her stuffed bear was on her lap and her lunch box beside her.

  “Now, why would the prettiest little girl I know be sitting here looking so glum on this fine morning?” Jenny heard him ask Emily.

  “Because I’m sad,” Emily said.

  “Is there anything I could do to make you not be sad?” he asked.

  Emily shook her head.

  He rested a hand on Emily’s back. “How do you know? Maybe if you told me why you are so sad, there might be something I could do.”

  Emily looked up at him. “I missed the bus, and Gretchen says it’s too far to walk and that there’s not another way for me to get to school.”

  Jenny pressed a hand over her mouth, but couldn’t bring herself to push open the door yet.

  “Missed the bus,” he said. “That would make me sad, too.”

  Emily nodded. “Lora’s having her baby and Meg and Joyce already left in the flower truck. Mrs. Whipple said we could practice using your phones again today. I really wanted to dial that black one again. The one that has the pretty gold numbers on it.”

  “Well,” Connor said. “I have my car—if your mommy says it’s all right, I could give you a ride to school.”

  Emily leaped to her feet. “You could?”

  Connor nodded. “Yes, I could.”

  “Oh, thank you!” Emily threw her arms around Connor’s neck.

  Connor hugged her back, while saying, “We have to ask your mom first.”

  Jenny pushed open the door and stepped onto the porch. “Her mom says, yes.”

  Emily squealed. “She said yes, Mr. McCormick!”

  “I hear that.” He stood. “Busy morning?”

  “Yes, it has been.” For the briefest of moments, she wanted to lean against him.

  He rubbed her upper arm. “What time does school start?”

  “In about twenty minutes,” she answered.

  “Then we have plenty of time.” He winked at Emily. “We could even stop at the diner and get a cookie to stick in your lunch box.”

  Emily looked at her. “Could we, Mommy?”

  “Yes.” She knelt down. “How about one more goodbye hug first?”

  Jenny hugged Emily as tightly as she had this morning, when they’d said goodbye before she sent Emily outside to wait for Gretchen to walk her out to the road.

  “I’ll be extra good while you’re gone, Mommy, just like I promised.”

  “I know you will, honey.” Jenny released her. “Now get your bear and your lunch box.” She stood and looked at Connor. “Thank you.”

&
nbsp; “You’re welcome.” He glanced at the house and gave her arm a gentle squeeze. “We have all day to get to the city, so can leave after you have everything settled here.”

  Her throat felt too thick to speak, but she managed a nod.

  He then scooped Emily up in his arms. “Come on, Jenny Jr., let’s get you a cookie and off to school.”

  Emily giggled. “My name isn’t Jenny Jr.! It’s Emily!”

  “That’s right, it’s Emily,” he said while carrying her down the steps. “So the black phone is your favorite, is it?”

  “Yes! The one with the pretty gold numbers.”

  Jenny stood on the porch, waved and watched, until Connor’s car disappeared around the curve of the driveway, and for a short time afterward. This time, rather than try to ignore the warmth filling her chest, she let it spread. Fill her completely.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  As it had been doing all day, Jenny’s heart fluttered as she walked into the hotel room. She’d never seen anything so posh and luxurious. From the red-and-pink floral carpets, to the velvet-flocked wallpaper, carved woodwork on the upholstered furnishings and the gold stitching in the brocade draperies, the entire space was breathtaking.

  “The girls are next door,” Connor said. “And my room is across the hall.”

  Jenny clutched the handles of her purse. “We didn’t need anything this grand or big.”

  “There’s no sense staying somewhere else. This is where we’ll meet Senator Hughes. Senate meetings have been held at the Waldorf Astoria for years and years,” he said. “This is where they held hearings after the sinking of the Titanic. People don’t question why state business takes place here, partially because many in the city agree New York City should be the capital of the state. Actually, this building will be torn down in a couple of years, they’ve already broken ground on a new site for the hotel, leaving this location open for the capitol building to be built.”

  She nodded while staring at her suitcase that sat on the foot of the bed, ready to be opened. Two bellhops, dressed in a gold-and-red uniform, had met them in the parking lot and carried up all of their luggage. Tina and Rachel, carrying Annie, had followed the bellhops while she’d waited for Connor as he’d handed his car keys to another uniformed man and then spoke with another man at the front door who had known him by name.