Passion Of Sleepy Hollow

by Lexi Post

  Kat breezed by him, leaving a whiff of warm chocolate cake behind, and he took a moment to enjoy the scent before closing the door. He wanted to offer his arm, but something about the way she held so tightly to her wrap made him refrain. “So where to first?”

  She appeared startled by his voice, probably going over her to-do list in her head, but she didn’t face him. “I suggest we visit the village center. There you will find stalls of food, goods and animals.”

  “Animals?”

  She turned toward him and met his gaze. “Yes, animals. Mostly chickens, cows and pigs. I do believe there’s a batch of baby chicks this weekend.”

  He liked the way her face softened when she talked about the animals. They were obviously a favorite of hers. “Please, lead the way.”

  They strolled toward the village center where most of the visitors gathered. Kat explained the festival setup and how each booth was arranged strategically to avoid unwanted smells. They were almost there when a group of three women left the center and sauntered toward them. Braeden silently groaned, but Kat was blissfully unaware.

  “I know you didn’t eat breakfast, but I believe Janna has waffles for sale. Or if you prefer, Ria is selling koekjes this morning.”

  The three women approaching were almost upon them and Braeden tensed. Maybe it would be different in Sleepy Hollow. He could certainly hope so. “Which treat do you recommend?”

  As Kat pondered her answer, the women stopped in front of them, halting their progress. The tall one with long black hair and a tank top that read Laconia Bike Week addressed him. “Hi, I’m Lea and these are my friends Tina and Stacey. We were wondering if you wouldn’t mind showing us around. We heard the wooded path to the church is beautiful, but we’re nervous about going out there by ourselves. Having someone who is strong with us would make it feel safer.”

  Braeden glanced at Kat to find her back ramrod straight, but he couldn’t see her face because of the ruffles on her cap. Frowning, he wished they’d go away. “I’m sorry, ladies, but I’m being given a tour myself. I’m sure the three of you would be more than a match for any possible ghosts.”

  The blonde next to Lea sidled up to his side and grabbed his forearm. “But it would be better if you came along.”

  Kat turned at that, hooking her arm through his other arm and placing her hand on her hip. He warmed at her touch, bending his elbow to hold her against him.

  “I believe the gentleman said no. Now if you will excuse us, we are touring the festival and you are not welcome to join us.” Kat stepped forward, so Braeden moved with her as she directed them between two of the women.

  He was admiring her forthrightness when one of the ladies hit his butt. “Ouch.” He stopped and looked back. The blonde wasn’t happy.

  Kat tugged his arm. “What’s wrong?”

  He should ignore the episode, but an imp he didn’t know he possessed had him confessing. “One of those women slapped my ass.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean exactly what I said. She slapped my backside.”

  As the truth dawned for Kat, she looked affronted, but then she turned, ready to battle all three women at once, and he was fairly certain she would win. To avoid the confrontation, he scooped her into his arms and strode toward the village center.

  “Ah! What are you doing? Put me down. This is highly improper.”

  He smiled but continued walking.

  “Braeden. I will not say it again. Put me down now.”

  He stopped, amused that she had her arms crossed and gave him her best angry look. The problem was, she had such a cute button nose that her lowered brows combined with it to make her look like a five-year-old pouting.

  “What are you waiting for? Put…me…down.”

  She hadn’t raised her voice, but her tone was so stern, he had no choice. Dropping her legs, he carefully set her on her feet.

  She straightened her clothing and rewrapped her shawl before looking at him. “Now why on earth did you do that?”

  “Many reasons. First, I was afraid you were going to do bodily harm to those women. Second, I wanted to feel what it was like to hold you in my arms. And third, I saw more people approaching, so I kept you in my arms longer to discourage them from interrupting our stroll.”

  “Oh.”

  Proud of himself for having struck her silent, he offered his arm. When she absently threaded hers through it, contentment seeped into his soul. “Now which treat were you going to recommend I try?”

  After eating the koekjes, she’d chosen the strawberry jam cookies, and perusing the many wares of the goods stalls, where Braeden bought her a new coffeepot that came with a wooden handle, they approached her favorite area. She tried to shake off her guilt at the surprised and questioning looks she received from the villagers. They had marked Braeden’s likeness to Brom and were understandably concerned, but they didn’t say anything directly. After all, it was clear Braeden was a Newtimer and no village secrets were spilled in front of strangers. She ignored her own confused feelings at being held in his arms. They didn’t bear examining as he would be leaving soon. Instead, she was determined to enjoy the day, something she never did during festivals.

  They strolled to the fenced-in area where the chickens were for sale. Unhooking her arm from his, she leaned on the sturdy wood. Below was a small wooden crate with baby chicks making a lot of noise. She sighed, engrossed in the cute yellow balls of downy feathers. “I love baby chicks.”

  He leaned his forearms on the fence next to her. “I think you like anything smaller than you.”

  She turned her head to respond but her words stuck in her throat. His position put his head next to hers and she didn’t have to look up for once. Unfortunately, that gave her a full dose of his sculpted profile and in particular his masculine lips. Heat rose to her face as she remembered his kiss from the night before. She wanted him to kiss her again.

  “Katrina! There you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

  At the sound of Irwin Crane’s nasal voice, she straightened and looked over her shoulder, more irritated than usual with his presence. He moved through the crowd like a runaway rooster, complete with wings flapping, only instead of a red comb, his was black. The red t-shirt he wore added to the image.

  Braeden, still bent at the fence, spoke into her ear. “A friend of yours?”

  She shook her head to hide the shiver of excitement his breath sent along her skin. “No, just a regular festival attendee who is as nosey as my neighbors.”

  They turned around to watch Irwin’s approach, Braeden’s arm resting on the fence behind her. She stepped closer to him. Not just to give Irwin the wrong idea, but also because she liked the feel of Braeden next to her.

  He glanced down, one eyebrow lifted in question. She raised her chin, unwilling to acknowledge her movement toward him, but then his hand left the fence and found her shoulder. She wanted to purr like a well-fed alley cat, especially as Irwin stopped before them.

  Chapter Three

  “Hello, Irwin. I’d like you to meet Braeden Van Brunt. Our latest festival participant.”

  Braeden extended his free hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  Irwin glanced upward before finally focusing on Braeden’s face and shaking his hand. “Van Brunt? I’ve heard that name before.”

  “I’m here for my brother, Stephen.”

  Irwin nodded quickly, like a chicken pecking at the ground. “Yes. Yes. Stephen. That’s where I know the name. You’re his brother?”

  Kat held up her hand before Braeden could speak. “Yes, he’s Stephen’s brother. Are you enjoying the festival?”

  Again, the nodding ensued. “Wonderful! The bonfire last night was amazing. Why aren’t you at your inn? I stopped there to find you but no one was there.”

  She shrugged. “I like to enjoy the weekend too, not just work all the time.” She smiled to take the bite from her sarcasm. “Did you bring anyone with you this year? I thought you said yo
u had met a special someone.”

  Braeden’s squeeze on her shoulder made her take her eyes off Irwin for a moment. She didn’t like that two women approached, smiles wide, hips swaying.

  Irwin put his hand on the fence next to her, boxing her in. “I did, but I learned they don’t allow dogs on the grounds. I really wanted you to meet Summer.”

  “Summer?” Kat kept part of her attention on the two brunettes as they sidled up next to Braeden.

  “Summer is my new husky. I just know you’d love her. Here, I have a picture on my cell.”

  As Irwin concentrated on his phone, Kat gave her full attention to the women. One placed her hand on Braden’s bare forearm. Kat saw red. Before the woman could say anything, Kat stepped in front of Braeden and pulled the woman’s hand off him. “Excuse me. But I don’t think you’d enjoy a strange man touching you like that, would you?”

  The woman raised her brows. “I would if he was as strong as that.”

  Kat turned and grabbed Irwin’s arm. He tripped as he moved forward, bumping into the woman’s chest. “Oh, excuse me.”

  “You jerk. Get away from me.” The woman recoiled, disentangling herself from Irwin’s ever-present hands.

  Kat crossed her arms. “I thought you didn’t mind strangers fondling you.”

  The woman glared. “Come on, Liz, let’s go check out the oxen pulls. This is obviously not the ‘strongman’ we heard about.”

  Kat stayed where she was, breathing hard. How dare they? Braeden wasn’t an oddity from a traveling show.

  Two large hands on her shoulders transferred the vibration of quiet laughter from the man behind her, but before she could give him a piece of her mind, he bent down and whispered in her ear, “Thank you.”

  The light kiss he placed on her neck before he straightened had her whole body flushing.

  Irwin stopped ogling the women and turned back to face them. “I said I was sorry. Guess they’re just uptight bitches.”

  Braeden’s voice came from over her head. “That’s not the right language to use in front of a lady.”

  “Oh, it’s okay. It’s just Katrina.”

  Braeden started to move from behind her and she quickly placed her hands over his on her shoulders and caught his gaze. “How about if we get those chores done now. I think you have learned enough for one day. And so have I.”

  His face was taut with anger, but he nodded once before pulling her arm through his. He turned them back toward the inn.

  “Bye, Katrina. See you later.” Irwin’s voice followed them and she sighed. She hoped not.

  As she and Braeden made their way through the crowd, she caught the gazes of many of the villagers. There would be a lot of questions to answer come tomorrow.

  * * * * *

  Braeden leaned back on the settee, keeping his eye on the door to the kitchen where Kat had disappeared to once again. After an afternoon of sweeping, hauling in logs and emptying wash bowls, he was thankful they used outhouses in the 1790s, but he wasn’t tired. Far from it. As usual, the physical labor energized him.

  Kat had insisted she make him dinner before he left. Since he’d found himself in no hurry to make the two-hour trek home, he’d been pleased to accept, never expecting her to disappear into the kitchen, leaving him to eat alone.

  She was a puzzle in a sexy package that she seemed completely unaware of. Her feistiness told him she had a passionate nature, but did that extend to the bedroom? Why did he think about the bedroom? He needed to go home, back to his computers and the stock market and making his clients happy.

  The splashing noises of dishes being washed had long since stopped coming from the kitchen. He would bet she hoped he would leave while she was in there. He smirked. Maybe he should stay another night, just to rile her. He enjoyed challenging her and then defusing her irritation with a little charm. He had to admit, it was an addictive pastime and made his errand in Sleepy Hollow bearable. No, more than bearable. Pleasant.

  Hmm, if he stayed another night, he’d be putting her out of her bed again and that didn’t sit well with him. He’d seen how hard she worked. She was no delicate flower. Maybe they could share her bed. He locked his hands behind his head at that possibility. Though she wasn’t impressed with his physical bearing, he could always entice her.

  Voices from the kitchen had him standing. Kat shushed someone, but he distinctly heard a male voice. He didn’t like it. He didn’t care why he didn’t like it, he just didn’t and strode toward the kitchen.

  “Katrina. What were you thinking? You can’t let him stay here.”

  “Don’t you tell me what to do. This is my inn and I decide who stays here.”

  Braeden grinned at her spunk.

  The deep voice wouldn’t take no for an answer. “People will not be pleased. Do you really want to face them?”

  “I’m not afraid of anyone. Now go.”

  “You have to make him leave. Do you understand me?”

  “Stop it, Jurgen. Let me go. It’s fine.”

  Braeden pushed the door open wide. A blond man with streaks of brown in his hair and a few inches taller than Kat gripped her shoulders. The muscles in the man’s arms bunched, showing the strength with which he held her. Every nerve in Braeden’s body tensed. “I believe the lady asked you to let her go.”

  The man turned with a scowl, but in seconds his face changed as his mouth dropped open and his eyes grew wide. His arms fell to his sides.

  Braeden looked behind him, but found nothing there. When he turned back, the man was at the door and giving Kat the evil eye. “Nothing good will come of this. Mark my words.”

  “You’re being dramatic, Jurgen!” she yelled as he strode off. Closing the door, she faced Braeden. “That man is a pain in my, well, he is a real bother.”

  “Come here. Are you all right?”

  “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be? He’s just a nosey neighbor.”

  Braeden liked that she moved toward him as if she didn’t even think about it. When she was close enough, he gently ran his hands over her shoulders and down her arms. “Did he hurt you?”

  “What? Oh, no. I’m made of sterner stuff.”

  “I’m glad to hear that. Do you think he’ll run to all your neighbors if I stay here another night?”

  She stepped away and stared hard at him. “Stay another night? I thought you just needed to stay the one night. I’m still full if you’re wondering if a room is open, and I don’t do breakfast on Monday mornings and the festival will be gone and—”

  He put his finger over her lips. “Please?”

  Her blue eyes, so full of life, looked everywhere but at him as multiple emotions crossed her face. He didn’t want the one that meant he irritated the hell out of her. She was like a roulette wheel and he needed it to stop so the ball fell in his favor. Lifting his finger, he replaced it with his lips.

  Just a gentle kiss, like the night before. But her intake of breath parted her lips and he couldn’t resist. Not wanting to scare her off, he slipped his tongue inside slowly to explore.

  When her hands came to rest on his waist, he deepened the kiss, moving his hand behind her head to hold her in place. A tiny sound escaped from her throat and his cock came to life. He needed her closer.

  Suddenly, she pulled away and stared at him. “Fine.”

  “Fine?” Nothing was fine. He wanted to keep kissing her. What was she doing?

  She brushed past him and opened the kitchen door. “Fine, you can stay. I need to get my quilt and pillow from my room.”

  The door shut solidly, leaving him to stare at the wooden grain. “What the hell?” He ran his hand through his hair and shook his head. Obviously, he had no skill with the opposite sex anymore. His long abstinence since the debacle with Reed had taken its toll.

  His blood cooled at the thought of his best friend. He should know better than to get close to people. He was better off behind the screen of his computer where it was safe. Kat was not safe. But God, she was fun.

&n
bsp; He opened the kitchen door and strode down the hall to her room, his room…their room if he had his way.

  Kat closed the door to her room and leaned against it. Her heart raced so fast it could beat a squirrel up a tree. Licking her lips, she closed her eyes. Braeden’s kiss brought back all those wonderful feelings she used to have with Brom. The ones where her toes curled inside her buckle shoes and her body quivered.

  She crossed her arms over her stomach. She hadn’t had those with anyone else since. Not even slightly. What was she going to do? She’d been desperate to get away, and now he would be staying the night. She opened her eyes. Staying in her room. Oh Lord.

  Moving to her chest at the end of the bed, she pulled out a pillow and threw it on the floor. She’d already changed the sheets because he was supposed to leave. It had been so hard not to bury her face in his unique scent. It reminded her of the forest after a rainstorm, musky, comforting, making her want to snuggle in for a winter hibernation.

  Ugh, what was she thinking? He was Stephen’s brother, a Newtimer, and he would leave tomorrow.

  Oh no. The village would be long gone by then. What would happen to Braeden then? She glanced toward the door, listening to the floorboards creak under his weight. Quickly, she pulled her quilt from the chest and grabbed the pillow.

  Too late.

  The door opened and he ducked inside, obliterating the opening from her sight. He stood stock-still, studying her once again. The lantern light softened his features, proving how different he really appeared from Brom.

  Straightening her shoulders, she stepped toward him. “Your room is all set. I’ll just make my bed in the parlor.”

  He didn’t move, and she couldn’t go through the door unless he did.

  “Braeden? You need to step aside for me to leave.”

  “And what if I don’t want you to leave?”

  Her breath caught in her throat as tingling sped from her head to her toes. She swallowed hard. “What do you mean?” She turned away to give herself a moment without looking at his handsome visage. “Did I forget something?”