Secretive in Sacramento

by Marie Higgins

  Indeed, this was one annoying man. “I appreciate your kindness, but it’s not needed, Oliver. I don’t need you looking after me.”

  “I think you do.” He stroked his palm over her fingers. “Twice now someone has tried to kidnap you, and if you let me help you, I’ll keep you safe.” He lifted her hand and brushed a kiss across her knuckles. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  Her stomach churned and she pulled her hand away the best that she could without appearing disgusted. “As charming as that sounds,” she nearly spit out each word, “I am declining your offer. After all, I have already hired someone to help me.”

  He arched an eyebrow. “You’ve hired someone?”

  “Yes. I’ve hired the Drake Detective Agency.”

  Oliver grimaced. “Is that why Mr. Lennox was with you yesterday?”

  “It was.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Must I point out that he hadn’t done a very good job since you had been accosted yesterday.”

  “Actually,” she held up a finger, “I had told him not to follow me home, but he insisted, and because he was following, he saw when the kidnapper snatched me out of the coach. If Mr. Lennox hadn’t been there, I would have been taken.”

  Oliver scowled. “I would think a friend would be a better person to help protect you. It’s what your father would have wanted.”

  “Stop right there, Oliver.” She folded her arms and lifted her chin. “I see what you’re doing, and you can just stop trying to guilt me into allowing your assistance. I told you that I don’t need your help, and I mean it. So,” she pointed toward the door that was still open, “I wish you would kindly leave before I get upset with you and throw you out.”

  Oliver’s eyes widened and his face grew red. His jaw dropped, and she tried her hardest not to laugh, but the spectacle he made was humorous. But laughing would make him think she didn’t mean what she’d said – and she did mean it.

  “Do you need my help, Miss Bradford?”

  A deep and familiar voice came from the porch and she swung her attention to the man sauntering toward her. The rhythm of her heart kicked up and she nearly sighed. How could she have forgotten how incredibly handsome he was when he wasn’t dressed up in a business suit?

  “Gavin,” she whispered, composing herself.

  Oliver’s back stiffened. “Mr. Lennox? What are you doing here so late?”

  Gavin removed his black Stetson cowboy hat. “I have an appointment to see my client.”

  A loud gasped ripped through the air as Oliver’s head whipped around to look at Justina. She kept herself in control, especially when the man’s demeanor made her want to slap his face.

  “Justina... you can’t, I mean... it’s improper.”

  “Actually, it’s not, because Mrs. Meyers will be joining us,” she lied. The truth was, she’d sent her housekeeper home and told the rest of her servants to take the night off. “Besides,” she continued, “Mr. Lennox is here on business. He won’t be long.”

  Oliver lifted his chin haughtily. “Then you won’t mind if I stick around and—”

  “I would mind it very much,” she snapped, glaring at Oliver.

  “I’ll repeat, Miss Bradford, do you need my help?”

  Still staring at Oliver, she cocked her head. “I don’t know. Do I need his help, Oliver? Because if you don’t leave on your own this very minute, I’ll have Mr. Lennox toss you out.”

  Oliver grumbled and stormed passed Gavin, bumping shoulders with him. Gavin stumbled, but quickly righted himself. She watched until Oliver was well enough away from the house before looking back at Gavin.

  “I’m sorry about that scene. Mr. James has a habit of showing up around suppertime and inviting himself in.”

  “Oh, forgive me. Are you eating now?”

  She shook her head. “I ate an hour ago. Come in, please.”

  Once Gavin was inside, she closed and locked the door. He gave her a small grin and pointed to the lock. “I’m glad you remembered.”

  “Yes, well... after what has been happening to me lately, I have no other choice but to lock my doors.”

  She turned and walked toward the sitting room, smoothing her palms down her maroon gown. Earlier this afternoon, she’d changed her clothes and refreshed herself. As she had prepared to look her best, she tried not to think that she was looking this way for him. Then again, Gavin had always told her she looked lovely wearing maroon.

  Inwardly, she groaned. Why did she have to send her servants away? But she didn’t want anything disrupting her conversation with Gavin, and she especially didn’t want her servants knowing what had really happened four years ago.

  SIX

  Gavin’s head pounded with each step. Unwanted memories resurfaced. He didn’t want to think about how much he thought he’d loved her four years ago. He didn’t want to remember when they sat together on the two-seater porch swing, holding each other, knowing that her father was at work and wouldn’t catch them together. Gavin had always worried that he wouldn’t be good enough for Mr. Bradford. If only Gavin had listened to his feelings then and had gotten out of the relationship sooner, maybe he wouldn’t be hurting so much right now.

  He ran his gaze over Justina from head to toe and grumbled silently. Why did she have to wear that dress? Didn’t she remember how much he’d complimented her when she wore that color? She’d been beautiful back then, and now... she literally took his breath away.

  She sat on the loveseat first, and he moved to a chair to sit, not wanting to sit so close to her. It was bad enough his memories were leading him down the wrong path.

  Nothing was said for a few awkward moments. Her gaze was on her clasped hands, and although he couldn’t take his eyes off her, he couldn’t get his mind to grasp at what he’d wanted to talk about. They needed to put the past behind them in order for him proceed with finding her kidnapper. However, it was easier said than done.

  He cleared his throat and her gaze jumped up, meeting his. “So,” he said, exhaling slowly, “let’s talk about what happened between us.”

  She nodded. “All right.” She licked her lips. “I suppose you are waiting for an apology.”

  He arched an eyebrow. “You suppose? Do you mean to tell me you don’t already know that?”

  Her expression hardened. “Apparently, you can’t remember very well, because I did apologize. If I remember correctly, it was while you spouted hateful words at me.”

  That day had been so hard, and honestly, he couldn’t remember every little thing that was said. He was upset and hurt. His world – and love – had just been shattered. “I remember that I had asked you to marry me a few days before we had that argument. You had happily accepted, and you told me that you needed to convince your father that you wanted to marry me.”

  She nodded. “Yes, that’s right.”

  “When I hadn’t heard from you in those two days,” he continued, “and I decided to go and convince your father on my own, so I went to the company and met with him in his office.” He swallowed hard. “Your father was appalled that I would interrupt his very busy schedule. Not only that, he was shocked to hear that I was in love with you because you hadn’t once mentioned my name.” Anger rose inside Gavin just as it had done that heartbreaking day. “When I tried to tell him that I’d been seeing you for several weeks, he pushed me aside and told me something that nearly killed me. He told me that his daughter had been betrothed to Mr. Michael Hamilton the third.” Gavin took a deep breath. “Can you imagine my surprise, Justina? Especially since you had known about the betrothal the whole time I’d been falling in love with you.”

  Her eyes blinked rapidly, and he could see the sheen of tears that she was trying to hide. Her chest rose and fell deeply. Even her throat constricted.

  “Gavin, I hadn’t told my father about us because I was frightened. I’d known for a few months before meeting you that he wanted me to marry one of his friends. I agreed only because my father had tried so hard to be both
a mother and a father to me as he raised me the best he could. I had never been a disobedient daughter, and yet, I knew I would have to be one in order to get out of the agreement with Mr. Hamilton.” She took another breath, slower this time. “When I met you and fell in love with you, I knew Mr. Hamilton would never make me happy. I was trying to figure out a way to get out of the contract without upsetting my father. That’s why I hadn’t said anything to him when you met him that day.”

  Gavin leaned back against the chair and folded his arms. “Your father would have never approved of me. I wasn’t good enough for his daughter. I realized that after meeting him.”

  She nodded. “I suspected my father would not approve of you, but that didn’t stop me from loving you.” Her voice cracked, so she quickly cleared her throat. “You had once accused me of toying with your feelings because – and I quote – that’s what wealthy women do to men’s hearts.” Her frown deepened. “That was not the case. I truly loved you, but I didn’t want my father to hate me, either.”

  Glancing at her finger, he noticed there was no ring. Of course, because she was using her maiden name, he’d already figured something had happened to stop her wedding with Mr. Hamilton the third. “Why didn’t you marry him?”

  Her gaze dropped back to her hands as she wrung them on her lap. “He called off the betrothal two months after you’d left Sacramento.”

  Gavin’s heart clenched. It was a good thing he hadn’t heard about it back then. He’d still been heartbroken, but he would have dropped everything to come back and marry her if she would have taken him. However, things worked out for the best for both of them, he was certain.

  “Tell me, Justina, why are you so upset about seeing me again? Clearly, my reasons for seeing you are understandable, but I don’t know why you are acting this way toward me.”

  Her gaze jumped up and met his. “You don’t?” Her eyes widened. “Then obviously, you cannot remember those mean things you said to me that last time we talked. Some of the words you called me...” Her voice broke again, but this time, she kept silent.

  “I was upset,” he explained softly. “Under the circumstances, I’d allowed my anger to guide my tongue.”

  “Did you mean any of them?”

  Oh, dear... How could he answer that? Some of the things he’d meant, but he could have said them nicer. “Some of them.”

  “What about now? Do you still consider me an ill-mannered... cow?”

  Inwardly, he groaned. Had he really called her that? “No, I don’t think you’re a cow.”

  “Ill-mannered?”

  He shrugged. “I haven’t really seen any proof of you being ill-mannered today.”

  “Do you believe...” She sucked a section of her bottom lip into her mouth as if she was stalling.

  “Do I believe what, Justina?”

  “Do you still think I set out to break your heart... that I had it planned from the first day we met?”

  Gavin did remember saying that to her. “I suppose you didn’t plan it.”

  “I didn’t, Gavin. When I realized we couldn’t be together, it crushed my heart, too.”

  “Fine.” He nodded. “Then I suppose we were both in agony over the situation.”

  “Yes, we were.”

  Silence grew between them, and he didn’t know how to end this topic. He felt things were now out in the open and that they could finally get past their anger for each other. That was the only way he’d be able to help her. “Good.” He slapped his palms on his knees. “Now, let’s get back to the case. Did you write those names for me?”

  “I did.” She stood and moved to the desk against the outer wall, picked up a paper, and brought it back to him. “These are the only people that I’ve been communicating with during my mourning period.”

  He stood, taking the paper from her. “Thank you. I’ll start asking them questions starting tomorrow.”

  “Thank you.”

  “But will you do me a favor?”

  She tilted her head, narrowing her gaze on him. “What’s that?”

  “Please, stay home. Until I can check these people out, I won’t know who is trying to harm you. You’re safer at home, especially since I won’t be here every minute to guard you.”

  Slowly, she nodded. “I’ll do that.”

  “Wonderful. I’ll drop in from time to time and check on you.”

  “All right.”

  He began moving toward the door and she followed. “Which one of your servants do you trust the most?”

  “All of them, I suppose.”

  He grinned slightly. “Which one do you think will be able to fight off an intruder if given the chance?”

  A giggle erupted from her throat and she grinned. “Why, that would be my housekeeper, Mrs. Meyers. She’s pretty handy with a rolling pin.”

  He laughed. “Good. Make sure she doesn’t go very far.”

  “I’ll talk to her.”

  They moved to the front door. She opened it for him, and he stepped outside onto the porch. He turned and looked at her again, wishing he didn’t think she was so darn pretty. “Keep the doors locked tonight, and if you know where your father kept his guns, you might want to take one to bed with you.”

  “I will.”

  “I’ll swing by tomorrow.” He winked.

  “I’ll be waiting.”

  As he walked away, he realized he could have given her the wrong impression when he winked. Of course, trying to explain the action now would only make things worse. So, for now, he’d act like it was normal for him to wink at women.

  Then again, Justina wasn’t just a normal woman. She’d always been one in a million, which was why he’d fallen in love with her in the first place. But now things were different. He couldn’t fall in love with her again, no matter how pretty she looked or how she smiled at him, or how her eyes sparkled.

  Nope. He wouldn’t be a fool for her ever again.

  SEVEN

  Justina’s heart felt a little lighter, but she still had reservations about Gavin. Was he capable enough to help find her attacker? And would he be able to not look at her with a menacing stare? All she knew was that she wanted this behind her. She didn’t want to think of what could have happened four years ago if Gavin would have just understood and waited. Then again, perhaps nothing would have happened at all. Especially since it was around that time when her father had explained to her the secret he’d been keeping from her all these years. She didn’t think any man would want her now.

  For almost a week now, Gavin had been checking in on her several times a day. Each time he came, he seemed to smile a little more, but she told her heart that it didn’t mean anything. Gavin had always been a kind man, except for that one time when he was angry with her, which now she understood.

  Thankfully, her days went smoothly and there were no more kidnapping attempts. Mrs. Meyers kept a shotgun close by, and Jacobs also kept an eye on her, especially since he’d been with her during the times someone had tried to snatch her.

  Her days were nearly stress-free, but every day, Oliver James popped in – and not around suppertime. His excuse to see her was because he wanted to update her with what was happening at the warehouse. Surprisingly, he wasn’t pushy, because now that she knew she could push back, she wasn’t going to hesitate. Her father wasn’t here any longer, and she would live her life the way she wanted, not the way someone told her to live.

  During his short visits this week, he would try to convince her to let him help – that it was what her father would have wanted. She was sick of Oliver trying to make her feel guilty. She’d been tempted a few times to have Mrs. Meyers show him out with her shotgun, but then the man apologized and left.

  Her wandering around the house had led her to the music room today. She used to practice her piano lessons several times a day while her father was still alive, but since his death, she hadn’t felt like playing. Today she did. Her fingers stroked each key as a soothing song hummed from the instrument. Cl
osing her eyes, she let the music lift her mind away to a better place – a place where there was no heartache, and everything was in her control.

  As the piano arrangement came to an end, she sighed. She really did enjoy playing.

  “That was beautiful.”

  The man’s voice startled her, and she swung on her stool toward the voice. When her gaze rested on Gavin, she nearly sighed aloud. Why did he have to look so incredibly handsome every time he came to check on her?

  “Gavin... I didn’t hear you come in.”

  “Mrs. Meyers let me in. I didn’t want to disturb you. The music was very soothing. I could listen to you play for hours.”

  Her chest clenched. No! She couldn’t think of the olden days with him. Things were so very different now. “Thank you, Gavin.” She stood, smoothing her moist palms down her dress. “Do you have any news?”

  He nodded. “I have a few leads in the case, and I’ve been following one of them. Currently, he’s passed out cold due to his heavy night of gambling and drinking, so I’ll wait until this evening to return to his home and hide in his bushes.”

  She chuckled. “You were in his bushes?” She walked closer. On instinct, she brushed her fingers on his shoulder. “You hold no trace of the twigs on your clothes.”

  “That’s because I changed before coming to see you. I didn’t want to get your nice home dirty.”

  “Oh, really? Well, what if I wanted to see you all scuffed up? I’ve never seen you that way before.”

  “If I have my way, you’ll never see me like that.” He winked. “I’m a professional, and I like to keep up appearances.”

  “Yes, well... you’re doing a very good job of it.”

  After she’d said the words, she bit her tongue. Had she been flirting? But worse – did he think it, too?

  She cleared her throat. “Can you tell me about your investigation?”

  “What would you like to know?”