The Gift of Love (Finding Love Book 9)

by Delaney Cameron

  “I can remember when you weren’t so patient about how long it takes me to get ready.”

  He grinned. “Aristotle isn’t the only one with a good memory.”

  “That’s right. You might want to keep that in mind.”

  “It never leaves my mind. I’m fully aware that I’m working from a disadvantage.”

  “How so?”

  “You know me too well. There aren’t any surprises left.”

  “I wouldn’t say that.”

  His mouth quivered. “Touché. How’s your day been so far?”

  “Not bad. Saturdays are always busy at Holly’s shop. Today we were decorating for Halloween. Devon and Jordan carved a few pumpkins for us to put in the windows. We had the most fun with one of those bowls shaped like a witch’s cauldron. When you reach in to get a piece of candy, a skeleton hand grabs at you.”

  “That sounds like something Faye would like for the office. Where did you find it?”

  “Holly picked it up at Party City.”

  “I’ll have to go by there and get one for Faye. Do you work every Saturday?”

  “Usually. Holly and Devon have done so much for me. I lived with them for the first eight months I was here.”

  “Her husband is the army ranger, right?”

  “He was. Now he’s in the landscape business with his brother-in-law.”

  “What did you tell your family about us?”

  “Not much. Given the circumstances, it wasn’t necessary to say a lot.”

  He nodded. “It was the same for me. Jade still hasn’t forgiven me, though.”

  “For what?”

  “Not trying to make our marriage work.”

  “It’s hard to make something work that was never real in the first place.”

  “Some parts of it were real enough.”

  Leah didn’t ask which ones. “What did you do about your house when you came here?”

  “One of the residents at Hutchison Clinic is renting it. He’s married with two kids under four years old. Maria is loving it.”

  “I bet she is.”

  “This is off-topic, but who is that terror of a woman living in your old apartment? There was a point in our very short conversation when I actually feared for my life.”

  Leah laughed at the thought of anyone being able to intimidate Stratton. “She’s Lydia’s stepsister.”

  “Lydia is another person who let me down when I was trying to locate you.”

  “She left town right after me. Her boyfriend got a better job in Florida so she decided to go with him. They got married over the summer.”

  “Wasn’t she dating that medical equipment rep?”

  “Yes. Roland Carter.”

  “You wouldn’t recognize Hutchison’s now. There are so many new people.”

  “And here we thought they couldn’t survive without us.”

  He laughed. “I think we get off at the next exit.”

  “Which resort are we going to?”

  “The Cloister.”

  “That’s where Devon took Holly, but they stayed in one of the cottages.”

  It wasn’t long before they were approaching the sprawling Spanish-style building surrounded by palm trees and live oaks. When they pulled into the covered drop-off area, a formally dressed valet appeared to park the truck.

  The cathedral ceilings, marble floors, and massive crystal chandeliers in the reception area gave Leah the feeling of walking into a palace. “It’s even more beautiful in person,” she murmured, slipping her arm through Stratton’s.

  * * * * *

  Stratton reluctantly moved his glance away from his companion long enough to check out his surroundings. In his mind, there was nothing here that could compete with the woman at his side. Like the building, her beauty was timeless. “It has all the elegance of a bygone age. I wouldn’t mind coming here again when we have time to walk around the grounds and explore.”

  “We? Am I coming, too?”

  “It wouldn’t be the same without you.”

  She didn’t say anything, but the look she sent him spoke louder than any words she might have said.

  The architectural opulence of the ballroom combined with excellent food and service was everything one would expect from a five-star resort. As Faye had foretold, those things did help make everyone more amenable to the round of speeches that followed. Stratton had the added inducement of being able to do this while engaged in silent appreciation of his companion.

  Once the structured part of the evening was over, the lights dimmed and the band he’d seen earlier reappeared. Dancing wasn’t one of his strong points, but he knew Leah liked it. To better hide his own deficiencies, he waited until a decent amount of couples were swaying under the silver ball hanging from the ceiling before turning to her.

  “Would you like to dance?”

  “I’d love to.”

  “You may change your mind once we’re out there. I haven’t danced in years, and I wasn’t that great at it before.”

  “I refuse to believe that. I’ve seen your karate moves.”

  As they weaved their way through the circular tables to the dance floor, Stratton felt as if every eye was focused on them. It had been this way since they walked through the door and took their seats. Part of this unsought attention was because he never brought anyone to anything, but most of it was due to Leah herself. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say she was the loveliest woman in the room.

  The second his arm slid around her waist and her hand came to rest on his shoulder, Stratton forgot about everyone else. The only thing that mattered was the two of them, caught in a moment that had only existed in his dreams. His senses registered the silky material of her dress, the subtle scent of her hair, the whisper of her breaths, and the warmth of her body next to his. When she laid her head on his chest, his heart contracted with enough force to suspend his breathing. If this wasn’t heaven, he didn’t know what else it could be.

  Long before Stratton was ready, the last dance was announced. He knew this was an evening that would remain with him long after tonight.

  While they waited for the truck to be brought to the entrance, she turned to him. “I had a great time. Thanks for bringing me.”

  “I should be thanking you for coming. You turned something I was dreading into something very enjoyable.”

  “I’m glad I could help. What was all that nonsense about you not being a good dancer? You dance very well.”

  “The best that can be said about my dancing is that I only stepped on your toes one time.”

  “That was my fault. I blew in your ear.”

  “I thought I imagined it.”

  “I had to do something to get your attention. You hadn’t spoken a word in ten minutes.”

  Stratton chuckled. “For good reason. Making conversation with you standing close to me is the brain-to-jelly phenomenon magnified by a thousand.”

  “Believe me, I know the feeling. It starts as soon as I see you and just goes down from there.”

  “It’s such a relief to hear I’m not the only one afflicted with this condition. The good news is there’s a way we can improve the situation.”

  Her lips curved into a smile that brought his gaze to her lips. His mind easily and rapidly conjured the memory of the one and only time he’d kissed them.

  “I can’t wait to hear about it.”

  “It’s all about building up tolerance. The more you’re exposed to something, the less you react to it. This means the answer to our dilemma is to spend more time together. If we do it right, we should reach the point where we can stand nose to nose for hours on end without any adverse effects.”

  The sound of her laughter turned more heads than his.

  “I guess it’s worth a shot. I mean, I’m sure you’re just as anxious as I am to rid yourself of this pesky problem. What do you suggest?”

  “I was thinking of checking out the farmer’s market tomorrow afternoon. You could come along, and we’ll see wh
at happens.”

  Her blue eyes sparkled like jewels in the light coming from the hotel. “I’ll go on one condition.”

  “Oh, boy. This oughta be good. What’s the condition?”

  “You tell me what this is all about.”

  Stratton scratched his chin. “I had a feeling you were going to say that. I’m attempting to court you. Notice I didn’t use the word date. How do you feel about that?”

  “I thought you’d never ask.

  “Sooo…is that a ‘yes’?”

  She reached for his hand and squeezed it. “It’s definitely not a ‘no’. What time did you want to go tomorrow?”

  “How about two?”

  “Sounds good.”

  Later when they stood outside her front door, he wished he could forward the clock fifteen hours. The voice in his head was urging him to kiss the lips that had teased him all evening, but he wasn’t going to ruin what had been a perfect night by rushing Leah into something she wasn’t ready for. Kissing her cheek might have been the correct gesture for the circumstances, but it wasn’t harmless. Even that brief contact with her soft, sweet-smelling skin sent fire licking along his veins.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Leah was ready long before the time Stratton was due to arrive. The smile that refused to go away still hung on her lips just as the magic of last night lingered in her mind. The reality of dancing with him had been every bit as thrilling and romantic as she imagined. The warmth of his gaze and the gentleness of his touch spoke more loudly than the teasing words they exchanged. Was she finally on the cusp of attaining something she thought she’d never have?

  Her anticipation led her to the window a few minutes before the hour. Her smile grew when she saw Stratton’s truck already sitting in the space next to hers and his tall figure within a few feet of her front door. Turning away from the window, she walked over to let him in.

  “Hello, there,” she said, smiling at his surprise.

  He flipped his sunglasses into his hair. “Hello. I take it there wasn’t a crisis today.”

  “I only allow myself one crisis per week.”

  “That’s great. We don’t have to worry about another one for six days.”

  She laughed. “Let me get my jacket, and I’ll be ready to go.”

  “You’ll definitely need one. It’s chilly outside.”

  “I don’t mind the cooler weather. It gives me an excuse to break out the hot chocolate.”

  When they got in the truck, she noticed a score card from Sunset Hills Golf Club sitting in one of the cup holders.

  “No need to ask what you’ve been doing this morning.”

  He sent her a smiling glance. “Reggie needed a partner for a four-ball tournament he entered.”

  “Did your team win?”

  “Only because Reggie is good enough to play golf professionally. Did you get all your chores done?”

  “Yes. I even had time to do some cooking. I made Maria’s turkey chili and firecracker corn bread.”

  “I talked to her day before last. I needed her recipe for chicken salad.”

  “For yourself?”

  “Who else?”

  “I was under the impression you don’t cook. Maria and Jade prepared all the meals at your house.”

  He looked as if he wanted to laugh. “Maria didn’t come with me to St. Marys. Who do you think is fixing my meals here?”

  “I have no idea. This is the first I’ve thought about it.”

  “It’s somewhat discouraging to learn that you’re not interested in my living arrangements.”

  “Since you’ve taken the time to arouse my interest, don’t keep me in suspense. Please enlighten me on how you’re doing on your own.”

  “I’m barely keeping it together. Can’t you tell?”

  “Well, now that you mention it…”

  “Please don’t feel you have to elaborate,” he broke in. “My fragile ego can’t take much more.”

  She blew out her breath. “This is the first I’ve heard of a fragile ego.”

  “Naturally. It’s not the kind of thing I admit to just anyone.”

  “So I’m one of the privileged few?”

  “Few? You’re the only one.”

  “My goodness! What did I do to deserve such an honor?”

  “By being your sweet, lovable self.”

  “You didn’t think I was so sweet and lovable the day I took it upon myself to lecture you on how to talk to a student nurse.”

  The rumble of his laughter had her smiling.

  “That was a red-letter day in our acquaintance. I made the amazing discovery that you’re so much more than a pretty face.”

  “You’re treading on thin ice, Dr. Levy.”

  “I don’t see how. You didn’t have such a great opinion of me, either.”

  “I lived in daily fear of losing my job.”

  “You were never in any danger. I found your candor refreshing.” Stratton pulled into the parking lot and shut off the engine. After helping her out of the truck, he zipped up her windbreaker and then pulled the hood over her hair, his fingers lingering on her face. “We can’t have you getting cold.”

  If he kept touching her, being cold wouldn’t be a problem.

  They hadn’t gone but a few steps when he reached for her hand. To her delight, he showed no inclination to relinquish it. The simple gesture did more than keep them from getting separated in the crowd. It also kept them in close proximity to each other, creating an atmosphere of intimacy in spite of the fact that they weren’t alone.

  With such a wide variety of locally grown produce, it didn’t take Leah long to fill the shopping basket Stratton insisted on carrying for her. When they arrived at the register, he refused to let her pay.

  “Why did you do that?” she asked as they walked away.

  “Do what?”

  She nudged him with her shoulder. “You know what.”

  He peered at her over the top of the paper bags he was carrying. “I invited you to come with me; therefore, it’s my treat.”

  “This is food I’m going to eat during the week.”

  “It doesn’t matter when the food is consumed.”

  “I think it does.”

  His eyes began to twinkle which made it really hard to remain serious.

  “Will you feel better if I eat one of the tomatoes?”

  “Maybe, but I’m still going to give you some money for this later.”

  “You’re going to try. Whether you’ll be successful is another story. I’ll take this stuff to the truck so we don’t have to lug it around. Meet me at the kettle corn stall.”

  “Do you want your own bag this time?”

  “It’s more fun to share. I get cold chills when we both reach in at the same time.”

  That remark ended her resolve not to laugh.

  The line for kettle corn had doubled in size since their visit there an hour before. Leah was still some distance from the counter when Stratton returned.

  “What do you want to do next?” he asked.

  “We’ve seen what the local farmers are doing. Let’s see what the local artists have to offer.”

  After getting their popcorn, they headed to the arts and crafts area. Most of the vendors had set up makeshift stores in tents. With Christmas only two months away, Leah was looking for gift-giving ideas. It was always a challenge to find things to buy for her large family. Halfway down the first row, they entered a tent selling handmade wooden toys. Along with airplanes, tractors, dump trucks, and boats was a wooden train set.

  “I’ve been looking for one of these for Micah,” she told Stratton. “The ones in the stores are so cheaply made. They fall apart after a few weeks. I don’t think that would happen with these.”

  Stratton picked up the caboose and examined it closely. “No metal parts. The pieces have been doweled together, and the workmanship is top notch.”

  “That’s all I needed to hear. I’m going to get it.”

  He picke
d up the other three cars. “You can’t go wrong with trains for little boys.”

  Something in the way he said it made her look at him. She knew from his expression that he was thinking of Denver. Seeking to comfort him, she stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek.

  “That was over way too quickly,” he said as she drew away. “Would you do it again later, preferably when we’re alone and I’m not carrying anything.”

  “Wouldn’t that be asking for trouble?”

  He managed to look innocent and wicked at the same time.

  “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  “If you decide to throw caution to the wind, I’ll take it upon myself to make sure you don’t regret it.”

  Remembering their first and only kiss, she didn’t doubt Stratton’s ability to do that. Just the thought of him kissing her again sent her emotions into a tailspin, making it hard to think about anything else. For the next hour, her awareness of her surroundings was cursory at best. All her attention was on the man at her side, reveling in the brief moments when his arm brushed against hers.

  The field beyond the arts and crafts area had been converted to a pumpkin patch. The sight of hundreds of white and orange pumpkins sitting on the ground, adorning bales of hay and piled into wheelbarrows brought a grin to Leah’s face. Along the sides of the enclosure, there were bins of colorful squashes in all shapes and sizes, dried corn stalks, scarecrows and baskets of Indian corn.

  “Do you need a pumpkin?” Stratton asked.

  “Actually, I do. They’re having a decorating contest at school for the faculty and staff. I found a pattern online for a cat. It doesn’t look as if it would be too difficult.”

  “Carving a pumpkin isn’t hard, but it is time-consuming. The worst part is cutting the top and cleaning out the inside.”

  She grinned. “Who better to carve a pumpkin than a surgeon?”

  Stratton laughed. “I never thought of it that way, but I’ll be glad to help you. I’ll have to pick up some carving tools. I left all that stuff in Myrtle Beach. We can stop by the hardware store today if you have time.”

  “The rest of my day and evening are free.”

  “You shouldn’t have told me that. Now you’ll never get rid of me.”