When she’d arrived in Promise Creek, fully expecting to marry the man she’d exchanged letters with, she been shocked, they’d all been shocked, when nine brides arrived and Ivan had passed away. What kind of man sent for nine brides?
Sighing, she stepped into the living room and took off her hat, collapsing on the sofa.
“Aria?” Juliette entered the room from the hall, smiling when she saw her. “I thought I heard you. You’re home early. Is everything all right.”
That was such a loaded question. Physically she was fine, and her job was going well. But emotionally, she was a mess. “Sort of.”
Juliette frowned, and Aria briefly thought of Jimmy Thornton. Juliette’s coloring reminded her a lot of him. Both had pitch black hair and dark brown, almost black eyes, but their skin was like unblemished snow. Juliette didn’t seem to have even one freckle marring her visible body. Aria would happily give her some of her Irish freckles if she could.
Juliette moved into the room and sat next to Aria on the sofa. “Did something happen at work?”
“No. Nothing like that.” Aria blew out a breath and leaned her head back. “Cam sent me home early, because he’s leaving town tomorrow and I’m needed to work longer.”
“How much longer?”
“All night.”
Silence filled the room, and Aria finally turned to Juliette. “Is that bad? Was it a mistake to agree? He said Mrs. Farnsworth would stay there, so I didn’t see harm in it.”
“No one will see anything amiss there, if that’s what you mean,” Juliette said. “But I can’t help but notice you’re calling him Cam. Is there something going on between the two of you?”
A humorless laugh escaped Aria. “If only. He doesn’t want anything to do with me in that way. He appreciates how I am with the children, but he doesn’t want to get involved.”
“But you do? Does he have something against you?”
“No. You misunderstand.” She leaned forward and rubbed her forehead. “He doesn’t want to get involved with me, because he doesn’t want to get involved with anyone. Apparently, he didn’t have the best marriage, and he doesn’t want to be in that kind of situation again.”
“He told you that?”
Aria nodded. Aria had noticed Juliette’s ability to get others to talk about such personal things. She was soft spoken, and didn’t say much, which was probably why everyone opened up to her.
“Oh, dear. Is there anything we can do?”
Aria thought of the other women. They’d had to pull together and make the best of the situation to survive, but none of them expected to find a second family together. They were sisters in a way, bound by circumstances and close living quarters. At times, it was a trial with so many women in the house, but they’d gotten by just fine.
And since the town had given them Ivan’s former house and his mine to share equally, they were independent. What more could they wish for? Then an image of Cam and Phoebe and Thomas filled her mind, and she knew what more she wanted.
She buried her face in her hands. “There isn’t anything anyone can do. I’ve gotten myself in quite the pickle.”
Juliette remained quiet, allowing Aria to work through her feelings and see the truth. “I love him. Oh, heavens!” She gasped. “I do. I truly love him.”
Juliette rested her hand on Aria’s shoulder. “Will you tell him?”
“Absolutely not. He’d most likely fire me on the spot.” She sniffed, overwhelmed by her realization. “But I do have a plan.”
Aria told Juliette about her plan with Jimmy.
“It’s a good idea, and that’s very kind of him,” Juliette said. “But are you sure it’s a good idea? You’d be spending a lot of time with him, and things could get serious between the two of you.”
Aria had thought that over, and she knew Juliette was right. “I have to try. Besides, Jimmy isn’t bad. A little more flirtatious than others, but he’s a good man. I can tell.”
Juliette hadn’t spoken to him much from what Aria had seen, but her friend nodded. “It’s nice of him to want to do this for you.”
Aria winced. She couldn’t let Juliette think the man was a saint. “He was kind to offer, but when I asked him why he would do it, he said it was because if I was rejected, he’d be there to comfort me. I think he thinks I’ll fall into his arms.”
Juliette laughed at that. “What an ego. But if the man is willing to help you as a friend, I don’t see the harm in it. And who knows, perhaps if you spend more time with him, your feelings for him will grow and the situation with Cam won’t matter as much.”
“Maybe,” Aria agreed, but now that her heart had accepted her feelings for Cam, she would do whatever it took to win him over.
Chapter 9
Aria was exhausted after a long day with the children, but she’d never felt better. Placing the single daisy Phoebe had given her on the nightstand in one of the guest bedrooms at the Grant’s home, she looked around the room and was pleased with the unexpected comfort she felt. It was like she’d been there forever, instead of just this one night.
It was dainty in looks, with handwoven rugs on the floor, and she couldn’t stop running her fingers over the satin bedspread. She wondered if Cam had decorated the room, or if his late wife had.
She sighed as she climbed underneath the coverlet, her body relaxing in the softness of the bed. She didn’t mind if his late wife had decorated the room, she didn’t harbor any ill will toward the woman. In truth, she was grateful to her. Penelope had given life to Thomas and Phoebe, and Aria couldn’t stand the thought of never having them in her own life.
Just thinking of their sweet faces, their hugs and snuggles, and their antics that day alone, caused a satisfied grin to turn up her lips.
She nuzzled her pillow and tried to drown out Mrs. Farnsworth’s snoring in the next room. She was lucky the Grant’s had two guest rooms, or she would’ve ended up sharing a bed with the housekeeper. And with the snoring, Aria would’ve never slept.
She blew out her lamp when her eyes grew heavy, and her nose twitched at the small stream of smoke curling into the air.
Cam would be home tomorrow, and she couldn’t wait to see him. She’d gotten too used to seeing him each day. She drifted to sleep with Cam’s image in her mind, her body relaxing in complete peace, before a shattering sound jerked her awake.
She sat up in bed, focusing all her effort on listening, and wondered after a moment if she’d dreamed of glass breaking.
When a soft thump sounded downstairs, she threw her blankets off. Everyone else was asleep, and they would’ve had to walk past her door to get downstairs.
Someone’s in the house!
Frantically, her eyes scanned the room for a weapon, anything she could use to protect the children and herself. Spying the bed warmer, she gripped the handle and tested the weight. It would do if she had to defend herself.
She slipped out of the room, tiptoeing down the hallway, before pausing at the top of the stairs. Papers rustled, and a few more soft thumps, came from the direction of Cam’s office. Her skin chilled as she strained to listen.
Gulping, she gripped the bed warmer tighter as she took a step, then another, down the staircase, praying her feet remained silent. On the last step, she silently said a prayer of gratitude that she’d made it down without noise, but as she shifted her weight, a squeak filled the air.
Her eyes flew open and she froze.
The intruder must’ve heard her, because everything went silent. Why didn’t she have a pistol? She wished Cam were home.
Gathering her courage, she knew she had to confront whoever was there, waiting was only making it worse.
She charged toward Cam’s office and flung open the door, yelling a war cry. But as she entered the room, brandishing her weapon, she found it empty, but the window was open, it’s curtains softly billowing in the breeze.
She carefully stepped around the broken glass bottle on the floor and walked to the opening and pe
ered out, but only saw a white cat darting across the lawn. She pulled the window closed and latched it, before sinking to the floor. Gulping breaths, she tried to calm her racing heart. She was sure the window had been closed before everyone had retired to their beds, but maybe she’d forgotten to check the office. So had it been an intruder, or the cat? It had sounded like a person, but she hadn’t seen anyone. Doubts crept in and she trembled, unsure of the answer.
Just in case, she stayed there the rest of the night, bed warmer in hand.
Cam arrived home at sunrise, wondering if anyone was up yet. As he entered the house, everything was still and quiet, and he grinned. Aria was lucky. Most days the kids were already up and wreaking havoc by now.
Hoping to let them sleep a little longer, he softly set his hat and bag down in the entry and went to his office. He might as well get some work done while he waited for the day to start.
He rounded his desk and was startled to find Aria on the floor, asleep and leaning against the wall with a bed warmer in her hands.
What in the world?
“Aria?” He crouched in front of her when she didn’t respond. “Aria?” He brushed fingers across her face and was relieved by the warmth there.
Her eye lashes fluttered as she slowly came awake, before locking eyes on him and screaming.
He fell backward against the desk and just barely avoided being hit with the bed warmer. “Aria! It’s me!”
When she swung again, he grabbed the handle from her and stilled the swinging object.
“Cam?” Recognition filled her eyes, and her arms sagged, as if the bed warmer weighed a ton.
“Yes. It’s me. Are you all right?”
She bit her lip and nodded, but obviously wasn’t all right. How did she end up on the floor in his office, still in her nightgown?
“Did something happen last night?”
She sniffled a second before launching herself in his arms. He thudded against the desk again from the unexpected suddenness of her weight, but didn’t push her off. “What is it?”
She burrowed into him, hiding her face and her tears, if he had to guess. He wrapped his arms around her, wanting to protect her, but not sure from what.
“Did you have a bad dream?”
“No.”
“Then tell me what happened. Why are you down here?”
She sniffled again and leaned back, refusing to release her arms from around his neck. “Someone, or something, was in the house last night.”
Dread pooled in his gut. “Are you certain?”
She nodded. “I was almost asleep when I heard glass break, but when I came down to confront them, no one was here, but the window was open.”
“You tried to confront them on your own?” Fear licked at him and gave his tone an edge. “You saw them?”
“No. I only saw a cat darting away, so I’m not even certain it was a person.”
“Are you sure you weren’t dreaming?”
She gestured to the floor on the other side of the desk. A bottle that had once decorated his work space was smashed into pieces.
When he thought of what could’ve happened had Aria encountered an intruder — he forced himself to stop; he could barely handle thinking about it. Anything could’ve happened. She could’ve been injured or killed. “Why would you confront them?”
Her back straightened, but she remained in his lap. “Are you saying I should’ve stayed upstairs? What if they had gone there next? What if they’d hurt the children? I wasn’t going to allow that.” She flushed after a moment. “In any case, I think it must’ve been the cat. The window was probably left open and it came through. I probably would’ve seen someone running if they’d been in here.”
It made sense, but he didn’t care. Just thinking of her fighting off someone scared the tar out of him. He gripped the back of her neck and brought her closer until their foreheads touched. “I’m sorry. I just can’t stand the thought of you hurt.”
“Why?” Her voice was so small and soft, and he couldn’t help it. He needed her.
Instead of answering, he tilted his face and brushed a soft kiss against her lips. She whimpered, and the sound shot straight through him.
He kissed her mouth firmly, gently biting her lip at the end, then released a groan.
Her hands flexed and dove in his hair a moment before she fastened her lips to his. His brain stopped working then. He didn’t think, didn’t hold himself back, but just gave and took, as Aria did.
He licked her mouth open and kissed her deeper, reeling in the taste and feel of her. Needing more, he readjusted her so she straddled him, and he pulled her in tight, wanting no space between them.
She gasped at the contact, but he didn’t let her escape. Tangling his hands in her lush hair, he pulled her back in — kissing her, holding her, doing exactly as he’d fantasized since the moment she’d walked into the bank.
When she moaned, reality crashed into him, and he wrenched her off him and set her on the ground beside him.
He dragged in air like a dying man and closed his eyes, while trying to get his body under control. He’d never felt such need in his life, and had never felt like his body would explode, or as if his blood boiled in his veins. He’d never wanted to take a woman so desperately, so greedily.
He couldn’t even look at her for several minutes, for fear he’d pull her right back onto his lap. Sanity slowly returned, and his passion dissipated like fog. Regret quickly filled its place. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”
She stilled next to him, before wrapping her arms around her body, and he wondered if she was cold. “Can I get you a blanket?”
“My nightgown is protection enough.”
Her voice sounded wounded, and it gutted him. Not only had she had her life threatened last night, but he’d practically mauled her almost the moment she’d awakened. Great job.
“Listen, I’m sorry about last night. Nothing like that has ever happened, and I can only imagine how frightening it must’ve been. You’ll never be in a position like that again.”
She didn’t respond, and he wondered if she were angry that he’d had her stay the night, only to end up terrified. “I promise you’ll never have to stay the night again. If something comes up, I’ll have someone else stay over.”
“I don’t care about that.”
Incredulous, he finally looked at her. “You don’t?”
She shook her head, the soft curls cascading around her shoulders and down her chest. A chest he tried really hard not to focus on.
“No, I don’t. Yes, I was scared. It terrified me, regardless if it was a person or animal. I was afraid an intruder would hurt Mrs. Farnsworth or the children, but I realize there wasn’t any real threat now.”
If she wasn’t upset about that... “Either way, I’m sorry. For everything.” There was only one other thing she could be upset over.
She shook her head, as if she didn’t want to hear what he had to say, but he had to apologize.
“I shouldn’t have kissed you. I’m your boss and it was unprofessional to put you in that situation. Forgive me. It’ll never happen again, I promise.”
With every word he spoke, she appeared more and more upset. What else could he say to make this right? He’d endangered her, and then taken advantage of the situation, whether he’d meant to or not. She’d been scared and in his lap, and so warm and close, he hadn’t been able to think of anything but her.
But it was no excuse. “Aria—”
“Just stop.” She stood from the floor and smoothed her nightgown. “I understand you didn’t mean to kiss me, and that you regret it. You don’t need to apologize again. It’s been a long night, and I’m going to go upstairs and get dressed for the day. I’m glad you’re home.”
He didn’t know what to say or how to make it right, but it didn’t matter, because she raced from the room and was gone.
As much as it tortured him, he knew he would never forget the taste of her until the day
he died.
Chapter 10
Aria sat across the table from Jimmy at Sally’s Café, wondering if Jimmy’s plotting was a huge mistake. She’d been driven to this though. Not that going out with Jimmy was a hardship. He was kind and charming, and he genuinely seemed to like spending time with her. But he wasn’t the one she wanted to be with.
Jimmy looked toward the door to the café for the tenth time since they’d sat down and asked, “And you’re absolutely sure they’re coming?”
“Mrs. Farnsworth mentioned that Cam and the children were coming here tonight. She didn’t say when exactly, but this is usually around the time they have supper.”
He nodded, before looking at the menu. “What sounds good?”
“Um…” She hadn’t even bothered with the menu yet, as her nerves were completely frazzled thinking of how Cam would react when he saw her with Jimmy just a day after they’d kissed. But she forced herself to look at the menu and chose the first thing she saw. “The pot roast.”
He gave her a small smile. “You didn’t even look at all the options.”
She wanted to argue, but couldn’t, so she laughed instead. “You’re right.”
“Go ahead, take your time. We’re not in a rush.”
She folded her menu in toward her. “You’re really too good for me, you know that right?”
“Nah. I’m just being extra nice so you’ll like me.”
“You’re incorrigible.” She shook her head in amusement and looked at the menu. “The chicken sounds good too.”
“And some cherry pie after?”
Her stomach took that moment to growl, and she quickly placed her hand against it, hoping to stifle the noise.
He whistled and laid his menu down. “That settles it.”
He really was too good for her. The woman he ended up married to would be lucky, indeed. “Thank you again for doing this.”
He reached out and took her hand. “I told you, I want to spend time with you. This whole thing just gives me a good excuse.”
A Mail-Order Dream (Miners to Millionaires Book 4) Page 6
