by Kimberly Nee
Shadows stretched through the office, making it even gloomier despite the candles’ glow. It was a small office, crammed with furniture and practically covered with tubes that most likely held more drawings. She sat back in her chair, staring up at the window high on the wall. The sky was a darker shade of gray and rain pattered against the panes, beading it with droplets that slowly slid into rivulets down the glass. “The rain’s coming down even harder now.”
“Wonderful.” Julian turned to look out the window. “This weather is wreaking havoc on my schedule. I need to get these drawings up to Boston by the first, or this could fall through.” He riffled through the sheaf of drawings and plans.
She nodded. No McKenzie liked foul weather—especially when a McKenzie was at sea. And since two of them were out now…“Momma’s worried something is going to happen to Drew or Garrett if this weather doesn’t break soon. I can’t wait for warm weather.”
“Amen to that.”
Julian bent over his drawing again.
She sat back to watch as he added a notation, adjusted an angle, then checked it with one of the many small instruments cluttering his desk.
“You look so serious.”
He looked up. “I beg your pardon?”
“You. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look so serious.” Because she’d never seen him in any situation aside from social ones. For so many years, she saw him as not exactly a boy, but not quite as a man, either. Until now. Now, for the first time, she saw him as he was, and now, as she sat back in her chair, warmth flooded her. With it came all the feelings she thought she’d managed to lose all those years ago.
“Would it be better if I smiled while I worked?”
“Oh, absolutely.”
And smile he did as he bent back over his drawing. The candle flickered in its brass dish, the golden light softening Julian’s features, casting an ivory glow over the left half of his face. The light danced over the unruly waves of his hair, showing the gold highlights she never knew existed. Hidden among the dark strands were those highlights and some reddish ones as well. He’d been blessed with a head of thick hair, one any lady would give her eyeteeth to lose her fingers in.
He suddenly looked up again. “Now what is it?”
She jumped. “What is what?”
But if her face did betray her, he didn’t let on. No brow rose. No knowing look came into his eyes. He didn’t even smile. Instead, he shook his head. “You look as if you’ve just solved every problem you’ve ever had. What’s brewing in that mind of yours?”
She brought her thumb to her mouth to nibble at its edge. He didn’t repeat the question, but sat there, watching her as she pondered the entire situation with Rose and George.
Then, she smiled, lowering her hand to say, “I think I might have a solution. A perfect solution.”
The pencil went still and a suspicious look came into Julian’s eyes. “I know I’m going to be sorry I asked, but what’s this perfect solution?”
She sat up in her chair. “Well, I’m sure George is jollying Rose along, playing with Darcy for now. And when he tires of Miss Perfect, he assumes Rose will be right there waiting for him. We need to find a way to make him jealous. Something to make him think he could, in reality, lose Rose forever if he doesn’t yank his head from his backside.”
At Julian’s wide-eyed surprise, she wrinkled her nose at him. “Don’t look at me as if I’ve said something shocking. And besides, it would serve him if he stewed in jealousy.”
At the first mention of the word jealousy, Julian sat up straighter.
She ignored the wary look that accompanied it. She had to convince him to help her, but first she had to convince him that it would work.
“We need to make George jealous. Wild with jealousy. Crazy-out-of-my-mind-if-I-can’t-have-her kind of jealousy and there is only one way to do that.” And with that, she turned her brightest, most beaming smile on him. “Only one way.”
“No.” He shook his head. “I want no part of it, Emma. You’re really overstepping now, and Rose will never forgive you.”
“She most certainly will, when I tell her that her new suitor is none other than you.”
“Emma, that’s a terrib—wait a minute? Me? Why me? Why not Garrett or Drew?”
“Because they aren’t here and you are. And let’s be honest, you’re far better looking than those two combined. And more importantly, you are here and they aren’t. This needs to happen as soon as possible.” She bounced up from her chair, over to crouch before him and clasp both of his hands in hers. “It’s the easiest solution there can be. Make George so jealous that he has to come crawling back to her.”
“And you want me—”
Even though she couldn’t believe what she was about to say, she still drew in a deep breath to blurt, “You, Mr. McCallister. You are going to court Rose.”
Chapter Five
SHE WAS MAD. She had to be, if she thought for one minute he wanted any part of her insane plan. Julian could only stare at her as if she’d lost her mind.
He shook his head. “No. I am not doing this, Emma. I’m going to wait for the weather to break, and then I am going to Boston. I don’t have the time to spend on a courtship that isn’t real.”
Her eyes grew pleading. “But I can’t do this without your help.”
“No, Emma. I’m sorry, but you’ll have to talk one of your brothers into helping you when one of them wanders home. I’m not taking part in what I think is a terrible idea.”
“Why is it so terrible? She’ll be flattered and he’ll steep in jealousy. The only one who might be hurt is the only one who deserves to be hurt.”
Julian groaned. “Do you even hear yourself? I’m not playing about with anyone’s feelings, especially not a lady who was just devastated by the man she thought she was going to marry. People get hurt that way, Em, and I’m not torturing Rose more than she’s already been tortured.”
“No one is going to get hurt,” she insisted. “Oh, George might, but who cares? It’d be his own fault for stirring this pot in the first place. I’d hardly feel sorry for him, in that case.”
“And Rose? What about her?”
“We’ll tell her what we’re doing,” she shot back.
Julian gritted his teeth. “No,” he ground out. “It’s a terrible idea and I want no part of it.”
“Julian, please.” To his dismay, a wheedling note crept into her voice. “You have to help me. No one would believe Drew or Garrett, but they would believe you.”
He’d never seen her beg so openly. It made him wish he was anywhere but here.
He leaned back in his chair, the ominous knot forming in his stomach the only indication of how much he disliked this idea, and he didn’t even know exactly what she had in mind. But still, he wanted no part in it.
Another denial lay on the tip of his tongue. He didn’t want to do it, but he had the sinking feeling that, before the day was through, he’d be doing whatever it was she asked. In fact, he’d go through with marrying Rose if Emma thought it needed to happen.
The hell he would.
“Emma—” he sat forward, clasping his hands on the desk “—you do not want to play this game. You can’t manipulate Hadley into doing what you want, and what makes you think Rose will even be interested in such nonsense?”
She stood and glared down at him. Her scowl deepened, and tiny grooves creased her forehead as she brought her brows together. He’d seen that look before, usually whenever one of her brothers teased her to the point where she would either kick one of them or cry. Fortunately, she wasn’t normally one for tears, although he didn’t relish being kicked much more. “It isn’t nonsense, and I’m not manipulating anyone.”
“Yes, you are. You want to create an illusion to get what you want from George. If it were me, I’d be furious when I found out, and he most likely will find out. Then what? Do you think he’ll want to marry her then? Are you so certain that’s something you’d want on your consc
ience?”
“My conscience will be just fine, although I thank you for your concern.” Her stare turned hard. “Besides, what if he doesn’t find out? All is well, isn’t it?”
“He will.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and offered up an obstinate stare. “But he might not.”
Julian smothered a groan. Were all women this pigheaded, or was it just her? “It would all be based on a lie, because you and I know that I’m not the least bit interested in Rose Adams. And unless you want to let Rose in on the scam, I’d be lying to her as well.”
“So we’ll tell her. Didn’t I already say that she would know?”
He should’ve listened more closely. She did mention something about letting Rose in on their plan. Wait a minute. When had it become their plan? He had to fight to keep from clapping his hand to his forehead. Perhaps Rose would know, but that didn’t help matters. Somehow, he knew that would be her response. His chair squeaked as he rose, and the warped floorboard creaked with each step. He stood before her, folding his arms across his chest. “It’s a bad idea, Emma. And one I want no part of.”
Her forehead smoothed, but judging by the thin line of her lips, she wasn’t quite ready to give up. “I don’t know how else to fix it, then. And I have to fix it.”
“You don’t have to fix anything. Just leave them be. They’ll fumble their way through.”
“Darcy Penrose, Julian. She’s losing him to Darcy Penrose.”
“He’s not a prize, Em.”
“Oh, I know he’s not a prize,” she snapped, waving his scolding away as if it were nothing more than a fly buzzing about her. “In fact, there is no way George Hadley could ever be considered a prize of any sort, the lowly—” She cut herself by pressing her lips tight. The tension in her jaw eased and she rose with a sigh of resignation. “Fine. You’re right.”
He’d never seen her this way, with her shoulders slumped and her head down. What happened between Hadley and Rose troubled her. And although she did what she thought was the right thing, guilt weighed on her. He couldn’t fault her for wanting to put everything right, but it wasn’t enough to make him change his mind. Wasn’t enough to make him want to manipulate anyone.
She wasn’t a contemplator. She moved. She did. She didn’t sit back and wait for something to resolve itself when she could force it into motion. True to form, she didn’t sit and think now. Instead, she paced.
And watching her was amusing, as the office layout made walking in a straight line impossible. She had to weave her way around desks, and the racks that held the larger drawings, and the chairs left haphazardly pulled away from their tables. Yet, she did so, and deftly.
But the respite was short-lived. She stopped halfway between him and the smaller of the racks. “I have to fix this, and I don’t know how I can if no one will help me.”
He knew how difficult this had to be for her and that she didn’t beg easily or often didn’t bode well for him. Although it went against his principles, he knew he’d end up helping.
Her pacing resumed and he caught her on her next pass, his hands curving against her shoulders. “Em, stop. You’re making me feel seasick, and I don’t even get seasick. What if you’re worrying yourself over nothing? Things do have a way of working out on their own, you know. Perhaps this is how this is meant to play out.”
“You keep saying that, but how do you know? I should have just kept my big mouth shut and minded my own business. That’s my problem; I think I know what’s best for everyone. I should know by now I don’t know anything about anything. And even if I did, who ever wants to help? No one ever wants to help me.”
“You know I’ll help you if I can.” Might as well admit it now, before she resorted to something even worse than those pleading eyes. Something like crying. He couldn’t recall ever seeing her cry, but he had the feeling that one sight of tears in her eyes, and he’d bend over backwards to make them stop.
But when he saw the mischievous gleam spark in her eyes, he quickly added, “Within reason, Em. Within reason. And before I do that, you need to stop feeling sorry for yourself. Trust me, it doesn’t suit you.”
The oddest thing happened when she lifted her head and he met her gaze. It felt as if time ground to a halt. The fire didn’t burn any brighter, and yet the air swirled hot around them, much like it would do come summer, when the humidity lay like a weight in the breeze. Only this time, weather had nothing to do it.
It wouldn’t take much movement to enclose her in his arms. He was halfway there already. The expression on her face mirrored the one she wore the day she told him she loved him. But that was nine years ago and she was just a child back then. And now?
Now she was no child, and that only worsened the ache that took root deep inside him. Drew would kill him if he knew what Julian was thinking about Emma. Garrett would take great delight in dismembering him.
And Julian wouldn’t fault either of them.
It was as if the air had been sucked from the room, and he almost groaned as the tip of her tongue darted out to touch her upper lip. His heart thudded in a dull beat against his ribcage at the thought of simply leaning in and capturing her lips with his. What would her kiss taste like? How soft were her lips? Would she be shy and hesitant, or would she eagerly welcome his tongue in to do a little exploring of its own?
Her lips parted, her chin rose, and he leaned in toward her. Without thinking, his fingers tightened on her. Something pressed in on his sides. Her hands. She curved them on his hips. His reaction was swift and sudden, every muscle tightening, his blood racing through his veins as it sharply changed course to head south. Damn it. He hadn’t even kissed her, and he was getting hard. If she were just a bit closer, she’d feel it for herself. Then what would happen?
Her fingers twitched against him, as if she was urging him to just do it already. Her breath was soft, her eyes already closing. His heart quickened its pace. He couldn’t remember the last time any woman affected him this way, with only the touch of her fingers against him.
The rain fell harder, pattering on the windowpanes in a staccato rhythm that just seemed so perfect for that moment, and with the slight tilt of his head, he moved to close the space between them.
“Mr. McCallister?”
Julian jumped back, stumbling over his chair as his assistant, Peter Carter, came around the corner.
Carter’s gaze fell on Emma, and he halted. “I beg your pardon, Mr. McCallister. I didn’t realize you were indisposed.”
A scarlet flush swept up Emma’s cheeks to disappear into her dark hair, but to Julian’s surprise, she didn’t look away from Carter. Thankfully, neither one looked at him, as he fought his lust into submission.
Then, clearing his throat, Julian said, “I’m not indisposed, Mr. Carter. This is Miss McKenzie, Captain McKenzie’s daughter. Miss McKenzie, this is my right hand, Mr. Carter.”
Carter’s eyes widened and he smiled. “Oh, so you’re the Miss McKenzie Mr. McCallister has spoken of so often. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
Was it Julian’s imagination, or did Emma’s blush deepen? She glanced up at him and then over at Carter. “It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Mr. Carter.”
“What did you need, Mr. Carter?” Julian asked.
“I came in to check the schedule for Mr. Doyle.”
“We’re still waiting on the timber for the spars. When it arrives, that and the sails are all that are left. Mr. Doyle should have his ship by the last week in February.”
“He’ll be relieved to hear that.” Carter moved around them, to his desk, which was the one Julian had been sitting at. He flipped through a small sheaf of papers, coming up with the one he sought. “I only hope Mr. Percival is as understanding as Mr. Doyle.”
“Is Mr. Percival the man in Boston you need to see?” Emma asked.
“He is, and he knows I have no control over the weather.” Julian smiled at her as he lifted his greatcoat from the back of Carter’s chair and shrugged i
nto it. “I’m going to see Miss McKenzie home. With any luck, I will be able to leave for Boston before the end of the year.”
“Momma will be disappointed if you leave before Christmas,” Emma said, and perhaps it was only his imagination, but he thought he heard a note of hope in her voice. “And why would you wish to spend it so far away from home?”
Carter smiled at her. “I’ve asked him that more than once, and now I really wonder why he would.”
Emma returned Carter’s smile. This time, her blush looked more pleased than embarrassed.
Julian’s gut kinked. For a moment, he wanted to punch Carter as hard as he could, dead center in the middle of his face. Instead, he opted to guide Emma from the office and so caught her by the elbow. “Unfortunately, I can’t put this meeting off. I’ve worked too long to get Mr. Percival, and I’m not about to let anything jeopardize this. He owns a shipping company and lost a third of his fleet in a nor’easter last autumn.”
“But what about Eagleton? Don’t you still build our ships?” Emma asked, tugging her arm free to look up at him without taking a single step. She wasn’t going anywhere until she was good and ready. “Or is Boston more appealing?”
“Is Eagleton in need of any new ships?” Carter asked.
Julian swallowed his irritated groan. That was part of the problem. Eagleton hadn’t needed a new ship in almost two years. “Boston is just different. Carter, if James McKenzie needs a new ship, he knows he can come to you. I’m only going to be gone for a few weeks. Now—” he turned back to Emma “—if you’re ready?”
She nodded, fastening the silver frogs at her throat.
He let his gaze linger on her lips. It was too bad Carter chose to return when he did. Although it was probably for the best that he had. Julian allowed himself a momentary pang of regret and then ushered her out into the rain.
When they were tucked into the carriage, she said, “I wasn’t lying. Momma will be disappointed. Christmas is only three days away, and since both Drew and Garrett should be home—God willing—she thought she’d have her family together.”
