by Diane Darcy
Her shoulders rose and fell with her breathing. Her body felt awkward, unraveled, and adrift. She should never have opened that window in the first place.
She glanced into the foyer then gingerly made her way up the stairs. When she arrived in her room, she went to the window and looked down. Her breath left her in a rush.
He was gone.
That was good right? So why did she feel so confused?
She climbed back into bed, punched a pillow, and tried to get comfortable. She relived the way he’d pulled her close, pressed against her. Remembered the feel of his mouth against hers. She punched the pillow again and turned over. She wasn’t going to feel guilty over this. She wasn’t going to lay awake thinking about him, either. She certainly wasn’t going to relive every touch, every taste, every breath, and emotion.
She moved onto her back. Without realizing it at first, she touched her lips and felt herself smile. Her first kiss. A much-talked-about caress she hadn’t been sure she’d ever experience.
Enough!
She clasped her hands over her stomach. She was going to go right to sleep, and she certainly wasn’t going to dream about Luke.
Chapter 10
“I’m sorry; I still don’t know where she is.” Mrs. Phillips snapped the outside kitchen door shut.
Luke blew out a breath. Grace wasn’t in the house. She also wasn’t at the pie shop, the mercantile, the dress shop, or the bank. He’d found Mrs. Simpson earlier, but she’d been no help either. She’d kept him standing on the porch, hat in hand, as she questioned his interest in the girl with obvious amusement. Which would have been fine, if she’d told him where to locate Grace.
As he walked down the street, he asked everyone he met if they’d seen her.
Finally, after a lead from Mrs. Tennyson’s oldest son, he ended up at the park.
With a sigh, he sank beside Grace on a bench, stretched his legs out, and acted like he didn’t have a care the world.
“What are you doing here?” Grace asked.
“Enjoying the park. You?”
“That’s not what I meant. We’re not supposed to see each other anymore, remember?”
Luke arched a brow. “I thought we came to an understanding last night.”
She wouldn’t look at him. “Last night was a mistake.”
Luke couldn’t help it, her prim tone, the upward tilt of her chin, the way she avoided his eyes, all made him want to tease her. “Hmm. Mistake might be the wrong word. One kiss, now you might be able to call that a mistake. Last night, was more like twenty kisses, or maybe even—”
“Enough. I hate to say it, but you are no gentleman, Mr. Carrington. I told you I don’t wish to discuss last night.”
“Oh, of course. My apologies. Most ungentlemanly of me.”
She snorted—a judgement on his sincerity.
He managed not to laugh. “I was searching for you.”
“If you think we’re having a repeat of last night—”
“I thought you didn’t want to talk about last night.”
She eyed him warily. “I don’t.”
“Then I’m shocked you’d bring it up. Unless you can’t get the experience out of your mind, in which case I’m available to offer a repeat performance.”
Her lips pressed tight and she rocked forward to stand, but he caught her arm. “No, wait. I have something for you.”
She frowned and sank back. “You do?”
Luke gave her the wrapped package he’d been carrying around all morning, though he didn’t know why he’d bothered to cover it as it was obviously a book.
“Is it a book?”
“If I tell you, then it won’t be a surprise.”
She shot him an excited glance, which made his stomach clench, as she unwrapped the package and beamed. “Black Beauty. I haven’t read this one.”
“It was on my bookshelf at home. My mother must have purchased it. I read the first few pages and the main character is a horse. I thought maybe you could read it to some of the children in town.” And if that kept her from reading to all the men, so much the better.
She pressed the book to her chest. “Thank you. I’ll do just that. I’ll be sure to return it afterward so your mother doesn’t miss it.”
“No need. Keep it. If my mother knew I was giving books to pretty girls, she’d purchase them by the cartload and send them to my house.”
“Well, thank you.”
“Would you like to go for a walk?”
She looked tempted, which did crazy things to him—left him feeling pleased, powerful, irresistible. It was a heady combination and it was all he could do not to pull her into his arms.
She shook her head. “I can’t be seen with you.”
“I’ll take that as a challenge.”
She rolled her eyes. “Please, don’t.”
“That’s all right. We can just sit here where the fine folk of Orchard City will be sure to see us. I’m convinced no one will gossip, so Mrs. Braxton will probably never hear of it.”
She immediately stood and headed for the pond.
He hurried and caught up. “Or we can walk. That’s good too.”
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?”
“I have a meeting, but not for an hour or so.”
She shot him an impatient glare. “Perhaps you need to prepare for your meeting. I’ll understand if you need to leave.”
“No, I’m happy in my current circumstances.”
After a moment she asked, “What’s your meeting about? The gambling tournament?”
He saw no reason to deny it. “Yes, as the construction of the hotel is about finished, we’re going to discuss what needs doing in the next week.”
Luke took a couple of steps, realized Grace had stopped, and halted. He followed her gaze to see Elizabeth Rowland walking toward them. Grace sighed and started forward again, so he did the same.
“Hello!” Elizabeth giggled and smiled prettily. “Mayor Carrington, you are just the man I wanted to see!”
The three of them came to a stop and faced each other, and Grace smiled politely. “Hello, Miss Rowland.”
“Miss Carmichael.” Elizabeth’s tone was cool, but when she looked at Luke she clasped her hands, her excitement palpable. “The town picnic is in two days.”
“So it is.”
“I’ve already made my basket. Remember how you purchased mine last year? Do you recollect how much you enjoyed the crumble cake?” Elizabeth shot a quick, superior glance at Grace. “I’m planning to make it again early Saturday morning. I just thought you should know.”
“That was very good crumble cake. I’m looking forward to the picnic.” Luke tried to keep his tone noncommittal.
“Are you planning to give a speech again? Do you recall the way I stood beside you last year?”
Luke folded his arms across his chest. Was the girl truly pushing the issue? If he’d wanted to start a relationship with Elizabeth, he would have done so by now. “Did you?”
She nodded, her gaze dropping shyly to the ground. “So, will you? Be giving a speech, I mean?”
Luke happened to glance at Grace at that moment. The way her lips pressed together made him smile. Was she jealous?
“I definitely will. I’m looking forward to seeing you there.” Grace shot him a narrow-eyed glare. He’d perhaps said that a little more warmly than he’d intended.
Elizabeth giggled. “I’m looking forward to the same. Well, I’d better get going.” She hurried off, shooting Grace another look of triumph as she did so.
Grace started walking again. “That was cozy. Only the next time you want to spend time with your lady friend, please leave me out of it.”
He quickly caught up. “You don’t need to be jealous, but I like it when you are.”
“I’m not jealous!” Her face heated, amusing him all over again. “Shall I call Elizabeth back for you? Perhaps you can walk her wherever it is she’s going? Then I could finish my own day in peace. You must k
now I have no interest in you whatsoever.”
“That’s not what it felt like last night when your mouth was pressed to mine.”
Grace huffed out a breath. “I’m not going to discuss last night. Or listen to your overweening, exaggerated take on it.”
He laughed.
Grace slowed to a stop when they reached the canoes. She glanced out at the pond.
“Do you want to ride in a canoe?” Luke asked. “It might be fun. If you’re worried about your overwhelming attraction to me, I can ride on one side of the boat, and you can sit on the other.”
She snorted, a sound he was starting to love.
She glanced at the canoes, then up at him. “Actually, I really would like to ride in a canoe. I’ve been thinking about it ever since the last time. Only on this occasion, I’d like my own boat. We could have a race.”
“If I win, do I get a kiss?”
She glanced around. “As long as nobody sees.”
Luke expelled a sharp breath at her unexpected capitulation and barely kept himself from sweeping her into his arms. “I’m in.” He cleared his throat to dismiss the sudden huskiness and, taking her hand, helped her into her own canoe, handed her the paddle, then climbed into his own. “The middle of the pond. Ready?”
“Ready.”
They carefully pushed and paddled their canoes until they could separate enough to row in earnest. He didn’t want to splash her. In fact, he didn’t want to do anything that might make her angry. He had no desire to forfeit his prize.
When they drifted out a way, they both rowed faster.
Luke did feel a little bit bad. It was obvious with his upper body strength he would easily win. He was barely trying, and kept handily ahead of her. But he didn’t feel bad enough to stop. Not with the prize on offer.
He glanced over his shoulder, glad to see that though she was losing, she looked happy enough. That begged the question; did she want a kiss too? She certainly hadn’t seemed to mind him kissing her last night. Though perhaps he ought not to have said so out loud.
He was smiling again. Who was he to disappoint a lady? He easily won the race, and slowed himself using his paddle.
She slowed her own.
When she was close enough, Luke grabbed the side of her canoe, held it close to the edge of his, and soon the two of them were floating face to face.
He smiled at her. “I won.”
Her gaze dropped. “So you did.”
“No one is watching.”
She glanced around. “Then I owe you a kiss, don’t I?”
She leaned forward and just as his eyes slid shut, she yanked the paddle from off his lap and shoved his canoe away from hers in one smooth motion. “My apologies,” she crowed. “But it looks as if you’re out of luck, Mr. Mayor. What is the expression? Up a creek and without a paddle?”
He laughed. “What are you going to do, leave me stranded?”
She quickly started paddling away with his oar. “That is exactly what I’m going to do. And, if you miss your meeting in the meantime, well that is a sad state of affairs isn’t it?”
“You know I’m not going to let you get away with this, don’t you?”
“There’s nothing you can do about it,” she called back.
“I call retribution!”
“I can’t hear you!”
He chuckled as he watched her paddle away. He couldn’t believe he’d let her catch him unawares like that. A part of him was incredulous, but mostly he was simply amused.
He briefly considered jumping in and swimming after her to give her a good scare, but why not let her win this one? He laughed again. He could pick his battles. As long as he won the war, it was all just strategy, wasn’t it? Besides, he liked that she’d be nervous to see him again; watching for him and on edge.
He chuckled again. Was this a war? He seemed to be fighting to make Grace a part of his life. Did he want that? He knew he liked her company. She made him laugh. He felt comfortable around her and loved to tease her. But there was also that unsettling possessiveness.
What was it about her anyway? She was intelligent, pretty, funny, and just the slightest bit standoffish. There was a part she kept to herself. Unfortunately, that seemed to drive him crazy, and he only wanted to get closer.
Closer, as in marriage?
He didn’t know. All he knew was that he was having fun and she was having fun, so why not just keep playing the game? As long as this continued to offer entertainment for them both, he saw no reason to stop.
She read too much. That was her problem.
If she hadn’t been reading Treasure Island to her booklovers group, this would never have happened. Imagining people stranded … surrounded by water … well, something had just clicked, and she’d gotten the terrible idea.
Well, terrible in retrospect, anyway. At the time, stranding Luke in the middle of the pond had seemed brilliant.
Grace, practically running, finally reached Braxton house. She bounded up the stairs, let herself in, shut the front door, and leaned against it. Placing her hand to her chest, she could feel her heart pounding as she tried to catch her breath.
The fear that had overtaken her finally started to dissipate. She started to giggle. She’d only looked over her shoulder about a thousand times on the way home, convinced Luke would run up behind her. That he’d grab her, and …
Kiss her?
Throw her over his shoulder, run her back to the pond, and toss her in?
Kiss her breathless?
Fly into a rage and scream?
Kiss her senseless.
Her heartbeat finally slowed as her breathing evened out.
“Grace, is that you?”
Surprised, Grace pushed off the door and headed into the sitting room to see Mrs. Braxton and Mrs. Simpson having tea. Two sets of eyebrows rose. “Oh. Hello.” Did she sound normal? She smoothed the material of her skirt.
“Is everything all right?” Mrs. Simpson asked.
So much for normal. “Of course. Everything is fine.” Other than the fact she still couldn’t believe she’d stranded Luke. Or rather, Mayor Carrington. She could feel her face heating. What had she been thinking?
“Are you sure?” Mrs. Simpson asked. “You don’t look fine, dear, and were you laughing when you came in?”
Mrs. Braxton’s eyes narrowed. “You actually look quite ruffled. Were you with the mayor?”
Grace froze, then forced herself to take a breath. This would actually be the perfect time to get back into Mrs. Braxton’s good graces. “Yes. I was with Mayor Carrington.”
Mrs. Braxton set her tea down.
“I went to the park this morning and the mayor came upon me sitting on a bench. He told me there was to be a meeting in town today. Now that the hotel is almost finished, the men need to finalize the details of the gambling tournament.”
Mrs. Simpson and Mrs. Braxton quickly exchanged a glance.
“The mayor and I took two canoes out to the middle of the pond. I stole his paddle and left him stranded so he would miss the meeting.”
Mrs. Simpson laughed and clapped. “Well done!”
Mrs. Braxton smiled and nodded. “Yes, indeed. Very well done.”
Grace couldn’t help a pleased smile. She started to relax. It had been pretty funny, hadn’t it? Of course, that didn’t mitigate the fear about what Luke would do the next time he saw her.
But it wasn’t exactly fear, was it? A large portion of it was anticipation, excitement, eagerness. Yes, she was afraid; but at the same time she looked forward to seeing him again.
What would he do in retaliation? And why was she anticipating it?
It was all very confusing
“Come in and see the painting I’ve purchased from Pearl Thomas.” Mrs. Braxton waved her forward. “I have to agree with you about her talent. And, of course, I’m always pleased to support local artists.”
Grace, glad for the change of subject, hurried forward to admire the painting.
After finally making it to shore, Luke proceeded to the hotel but when no one was there, headed to the sheriff’s office. With a growing sense of satisfaction, he noted the town was growing busier. More people than usual milled about, shopping, walking down the main street, chatting in groups. There were several people he didn’t recognize. Mostly men, but a few women too.
After Grace’s duplicity, Luke wanted to hunt her down immediately, but had quickly reconsidered. First, he didn’t want to run into Mrs. Braxton. And second, he decided it would be best to let Grace stew for a while. Let her worry about reprisals. His lips curled in amusement as he considered ways to get even.
He let himself into the sheriff’s office. “Hey, Gabe. Sawyer.”
“There you are. We were looking for you. Did you forget we had a meeting?”
“No, sorry. I didn’t forget. I just couldn’t get there on time. I stopped by the hotel, but everyone had already left.”
Gabe glowered. “Yes, because you never showed.”
Sawyer, leaning back in Gabe’s chair, let it bang forward onto the floor, his big frame making the crash loud and leaving Luke wondering if he’d break the chair. “Thanks for that, Luke. You might have to just walk down the road, but I had to find somebody to take my place out at the ranch. A little more consideration would be nice. Where were you, anyway?”
“I said I was sorry.” There was no way he’d tell them he was late because a girl stranded him on the pond. He should be mad at her, but he liked that she’d done it. Her actions felt playful, fun, flirty. It was crazy, the emotion she pulled out of him. “But since you’re both here, I wanted to let you know I’ve collected some of the money already.”
“For the tournament?” Gabe asked.
Sawyer, looking surprised, leaned the chair back again to balance on two legs. “Who gave you money?”
“Three different men so far.” Two of them are camping outside of town, and the other one is boarding at the Stewart’s.”
Both men still looked surprised.
Luke chuckled. “It makes it real, doesn’t it?”
“We need to finish the hotel,” Sawyer said.
