She sighed and finished walking over to Mr. Templeton. “Good afternoon.” She smiled at him, hoping it could’ve been more genuine. “I hope you enjoyed the message at church today.”
“As always.” He grabbed a basket out of his wagon and held out his arm for her. “Are you ready for our picnic?”
His interest was flattering, but when she took his arm, nothing happened. She didn’t feel even a fraction of the fluttering and electricity that shot through her when Cam had held her hand.
She swallowed hard. She couldn’t think about that right now. I shouldn’t think of it at all! Nothing could come of it.
“I hope you enjoy pot pies. I also have some salads and thick slices of lemon cake.”
She turned her attention back to him. “Sounds lovely.”
He stopped in front of a large shade tree. “This all right? I figured you wouldn’t want to sit directly in the sun.”
She did want to sit in the sun, actually. She wanted to lift her face toward the light and soak up its warmth until her pale skin turned pink. “How thoughtful, thank you.”
He smiled like a school boy who’d gotten a compliment from his teacher. And maybe that was the problem. He seemed more boy than man.
She helped him spread a blanket wide before they took their seats under the tree. She opened the basket and served him as she knew he expected. She didn’t mind really, but for once, it might be nice if a man wanted to do it for her. Perhaps, she hoped for too much. Her mother had certainly thought so.
He murmured his thanks as he took his plate, and she finished making her own.
“This looks lovely,” she said, eyeing the perfect top crust. “I’ll have to give Sally my compliments.”
“I’m sure yours would’ve turned out equally as good.”
She suppressed a laugh. “You’re too kind.” She wasn’t sure it was the best idea to tell suitors that she was a terrible cook. Her mother had repeatedly tried to teach her, but she was never any good. What kind of husband would want a wife who couldn’t cook?
He placed his hand over hers and turned his bland blue eyes to her. “I hope I get to sample one of your dishes someday.”
He was leaning in a little too close to her, licking his lips, and she swallowed hard, praying he would control himself since there were other families picnicking around them. She did not want to have to dodge a kiss right now.
Heavens, why had she accepted his offer? She knew he wasn’t a good match for her from the beginning. Perhaps she shouldn’t automatically say yes to anyone that asked anymore, and only accept offers from men she had things in common with. Or at least from men she was attracted to.
“Aria… If I may call you that?”
She wanted to inform him that he absolutely did not have permission to call her that. It sounded too intimate, like he had a right to.
“I hope it’s not too bold to ask you to join me another night for—”
“Miss McKinnon!”
Aria closed her eyes and discreetly tugged her hand away from Mr. Templeton’s, never more grateful to hear Phoebe’s call.
The young girl flew onto Aria’s lap and wrapped her arms around her neck. “I’ve missed you so much!”
Aria kissed the top of the girl’s head and shifted her in her arms. “You have? But you saw me yesterday.”
“Only for a few minutes.” Her lip poked out.
Aria tapped the adorable expression and said, “Well, I’ll be there tomorrow morning. How about that?”
“But I want to be with you now.”
Cameron Grant jogged to their blanket and frowned at his daughter, before looking between Aria and Mr. Templeton. “Forgive the interruption,” he said to Aria, before looking to his daughter. “I told you that Miss McKinnon was busy right now and you were not to disturb her.”
Phoebe bit her lip and looked down. “Yes, Father. But I just wanted a hug.”
His expression softened a little, and he knelt down in front of her. “I know, honey, but sometimes you have to wait for things in life. You can’t always have what you want, right when you want it.” He stood and held out his hand for her.
Phoebe rose from Aria’s lap and took her father’s hand before turning back to her. “Can we come picnic with you?”
Her dad shook his head. “Miss McKinnon is busy but—”
“Sure.” The word just kind of leapt out of Aria’s mouth, and once it was out, she couldn’t take it back. She winced and then turned toward her date. “If that’s all right with Mr. Templeton, of course.”
She could tell he was disappointed and was trying to think of a way to turn them down, but with Cameron remaining silent, there wasn’t much Mr. Templeton could say besides, “Of course.”
Thomas whooped from a little ways away when he heard the answer and dragged their basket over. Aria stood from her spot next to Mr. Templeton and helped the Grants spread out their blanket before returning to her seat.
As she sampled her pot pie, she wondered why Cameron hadn’t told the children no?
Her fork paused halfway to her mouth. And for that matter, when had Mr. Grant turned into just Cameron? He hadn’t given her permission to call him that, but for some reason, after their conversation in his office the other day, she wasn’t able to think of him so formally. Not after he’d told her intimate details of his marriage.
This was getting confusing. She shouldn’t be focused on Cameron at all. She was still on a date with Mr. Templeton.
Feeling guilty that she’d neglected him, Aria gave her date a bright smile and asked, “So tell me, what do you like to do for fun?”
“Fun? Well, there isn’t time for that since I’m still working the claim. I’ve been working extra hours to clear it.”
“It’s a solid mine,” Cameron interrupted. “You’re fortunate.”
Mr. Templeton sat a little taller at Cameron’s remarks, but Aria wondered if there’d been any skill involved, or if he’d just gotten lucky with his piece of land. Regardless, she tried again to connect with him. “Well, once you’ve cleared it all, what will you spend your time on?”
The man shrugged and took another bite of cucumber salad, before saying, “I reckon I’ll go on and try to find another mine.”
“Another mine?” Aria tried but failed to keep the surprise and confusion out of her voice. “Why would you need to do that if you’ve found such success with your current one?”
Cameron finished giving his children food and quietly listened to Aria and Mr. Templeton’s interaction, but Aria didn’t mind. Mr. Templeton didn’t seem to either. In fact, he seemed to enjoy Cameron’s attention more than hers.
Her date finally answered. “What else would I do?”
“Don’t you plan on having a family?”
The man colored as if embarrassed, but she didn’t understand why. He was courting her after all. It was obvious he wanted to marry.
His eyes flicked toward Cameron, before he said, “I don’t think that would take up much of my time. Plus, I’m sure my family would like it if I continued to work and bring in money.”
And never see them? If Aria had even a remote thought that Mr. Templeton might be the man for her, she’d just learned that he most definitely was not. She wanted a man who would be around, who would spend time with her and their children. If they were financially sound, she would expect that he would want to spend as much time as possible with them. Not kiss them and leave to go work in numerous mines he didn’t need.
Cameron cleared his throat and said, “Some men prefer to spend more time on their financial pursuits, knowing that their wives are at home to take care of things.”
“Exactly,” Mr. Templeton smiled in appreciation at Cameron. “Mr. Grant is correct.”
She cocked her head at Cameron. “But surely you wouldn’t feel that way, would you? You’re here with your kids, would that be much different if you had a wife?”
The minute the words were out, she wished she could bite her tongue off. He�
�d spoken of his past, but that didn’t give her the right to ask such personal questions.
Fortunately, Thomas decided to interrupt the conversation and ask his father to play catch. Phoebe practically threw down her plate and insisted on joining. Cameron just smiled at his daughter and told her that they could all play.
As they passed the ball to one another, Aria’s heart fluttered at the scene, and she felt overwhelmed at how much she wanted to join them.
Mr. Templeton pointed at them. “I bet Mr. Grant can’t wait to get remarried. A wife would take over a lot of that responsibility and free him up for more important things.”
What was more important than family? She wanted to ask the question, but held her tongue. She didn’t think she and Mr. Templeton would agree on the matter, and there really was little point in discussing it, when she had no intention of seeing him again except socially.
They ate their meals in relative silence, occasionally asking each other questions, but Aria’s attention kept being drawn toward Cameron, and she wondered what kind of husband he would’ve been had his wife been pleasant and loving.
Chapter 6
A week after the church picnic, Cam got the news he’d been waiting for. Although it was the middle of the day, and he was sure his children were busy attending to their studies, he didn’t care. He had to share his news with them, and for a reason he wasn’t ready to think about, he wanted to share it with Aria as well.
He walked into his house at the end of Main street and nodded to Mrs. Farnsworth.
“Is there something I can do for you, sir?”
“No, sorry to interrupt. I came to see the children.”
Her eyes wrinkled around the edges as she smiled. “They’re upstairs with Miss McKinnon.”
He’d surmised as much from the giggles floating down the stairs, and he was struck again at how little he’d heard his children laugh before Aria came into their lives. He wished there was some way to show her how much she’d affected them, and he prayed she’d be with them a long time.
It was selfish, he knew, but he didn’t care. When he’d seen her with Mr. Templeton, he’d wanted to spit nails. The feelings had startled him so much, he’d completely pushed them away. He had no right to her, and he didn’t even want to. Taking another wife would be a disaster, and he wasn’t about to open himself up for the heartache that would come with one.
Penelope had made it clear he was lacking in what a woman wanted in a husband. He was too cold, too ambitious, to give a woman what she needed. His children would be fine without a mother as long as they had a dependable nanny that cared for them. And Aria was filling her role perfectly.
As he headed upstairs, he wondered why he couldn’t get Aria out of his mind, and what on earth had pushed him to confide details about his marriage to her. He’d said he told her because it would help her with his children. But that wasn’t entirely true.
He was warning her away.
Having her so close to him, smelling her rose-scented skin, feeling the gentle edges of her fingers in his, had him craving things no decent man staying away from marriage should want. Although his body yearned for Aria, nothing could come of it. He couldn’t let it.
He listened outside the door a moment before entering. Aria was bent over between his two kids, looking at what they were writing, giving him a fantastic view of her backside. He should look away, or say something so she would stand and end his tantalizing view, but instead, he stood silently and studied her shapely curves. When his mind began to wander to what she might look like beneath her modest clothes, he snapped his thoughts away and cleared his throat so they would know he was there.
“Father!” both of his children cried out, before running over and hugging him.
“What a greeting.” He laughed. “Maybe I should stop by during the day more often.”
Aria walked over more slowly. “They’d like that.”
Thomas pulled on his hand and asked, “What are you doing here so early?”
“You mean, I can’t stop by whenever I like?” he teased his son.
Phoebe giggled. “You can come home whenever you want, Father.”
He tweaked her nose and she squealed.
“Good,” he said.
Aria was smiling softly at their interaction, and when her eyes met his, there was something extra there.
Heat. Desire.
He swallowed hard and said, “I actually came to take you somewhere. I have something special to show you.”
“A surprise?” Phoebe asked.
“Yes, a surprise.”
He took both his kids hands and walked toward the door, where he paused and turned back toward Aria when she didn’t immediately follow. “Are you coming?”
His question seemed to fluster her. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted me” — she blushed and rushed to add— “to join you, I mean.”
He knew what she had meant, but he just plain wanted her too. He had the first moment he’d seen her. “I’d like you to come, but it’s your choice.”
“I’d love to.”
They all headed out to the wagon, where he helped each of his kids inside, before rounding to the passenger side where Aria was preparing to climb up. “Allow me,” he offered, before wrapping his hands around her waist and lifting her.
She settled in her seat. “Thank you.”
He tried not to let his hands linger on her, but now that he’d touched her, he hands itched to do it again. He forced himself to release her and made his was to his side of the wagon, where he climbed aboard, then guided the horse down the road.
“Where are we going?” Thomas asked.
“It’s a surprise.”
“You won’t even give us a hint?” Thomas wheedled.
Aria clucked. “Patience now. You wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise, would you?”
Her laughing eyes met Cam’s as Thomas grumbled and fell silent. The look made Cam’s throat close. They looked like a family. They even acted like one.
This is how he always imagined his life would be. He thought when he married Penelope they would end up this way, that they would fall in love and have children. How naive he’d been. And how naive he was being now.
He knew if he were married to Aria, things wouldn’t be as rosy and happy as they appeared now. There’d be disappointments and bitterness, arguments and hurt feelings. Life wasn’t easy, and things just didn’t work out how you hoped.
Happily-ever-afters were only for stories. He’d learned that the hard way.
Fifteen minutes later, they’d reached their destination.
The kids looked around at the large field nestled between two hills with confusion, and Aria seemed intrigued. He helped her from her seat, but remain as detached as possible while assisting her. Still, desire coursed through him at the brief touch.
“What is this place?” Thomas asked, while Phoebe picked at the wildflowers growing in abundance.
“This,” Cam began, looking over the idyllic valley, “is going to be our new home.”
The kids gasped and hooted, before pestering him with a million questions.
“It is?”
“When are we moving here?”
“We’re building a new house?”
“What will happen to our old one?”
He held up his hands and laughed at their excited faces. “Yes, we’re building a new house, and I hope we’ll live here next spring, depending on the weather, but maybe not til summer. Do you like it?”
He asked the question with a little hesitancy. After all, they might not want to leave town. But judging by the excited responses, and how they both took off to explore the field, he knew they were happy.
Aria stepped closer to him, but she watched the kids, same as him. “This is beautiful.”
“It is. I’ve had my eye on it for some time.”
“You have?” She seemed surprised by that. “I thought you’d like the convenience of living in town.”
He shrugge
d. “There is that. I’ll miss walking to work, but it’s only a short ride away. And I never liked living in town. It’s too loud and cramped.”
“Then why did you make your home there and not somewhere like this to begin with?” She held her arms wide to encompass the vast amounts of land.
“Because Penelope insisted on the house in town. She didn’t want to be away from other people. She said she would feel isolated.”
“I see,” Aria said quietly. He was grateful she appeared to drop the subject, but he should have known he wasn’t that lucky.
“Cameron, not everyone is like your late wife.”
Hearing his name on her lips sent tingles down his spine. She’d said it so softly, with such tenderness, that he wasn’t sure how to respond.
She turned herself fully toward him and compassion shone in her eyes. “There are plenty of women out there who would love you and those two children. They’re so wonderful.”
He wanted to ask, “Would you? Could you love me?” But he didn’t, because no matter what she said, she couldn’t know what the future held, and she didn’t know him. Not really. She saw him as Thomas and Phoebe’s father, and he was certainly that, but he was also so much more.
“It doesn’t matter. There’s never going to be a mistress of this house.”
Her shoulders sank, but she said nothing more.
Could she care for him? He couldn’t fathom it. No other woman had—at least for nothing more than his wealth. He knew she cared for the children though. That had to be it.
And if there was never going to be a woman here, why had he brought Aria in the first place? Why had he needed to know what she thought of it? If it pleased her? But most of all, if there was never going to be a mistress of this house, why could he envision Aria here so easily?
Chapter 7
Renewed in her determination to marry, Aria accepted another man’s offer of dinner. She wanted the dream Cameron had presented—a beautiful home in a valley, children to cuddle, and a husband to love and adore for the rest of her life.
A Mail-Order Dream (Miners to Millionaires Book 4) Page 4
