Why had he changed the subject so quickly? She really needed to tell him what she expected once they were married. After all, this marriage would be in name only.
His nearness made her quiver in the worst way, so she stepped away from his touch. “Oh, yes. It was nearly impossible not to see their mouths agape as we walked by. Did they say anything to you?”
“Actually yes.”
He moved closer, so she took another step back. Already his masculine scent of spice made her dizzy and her limbs were weakening by the second. He had a power over her that even she couldn’t understand.
“Hank asked if I was serious in my pursuit.” Blake’s grin broadened. “I told him yes.”
“Splendid. They are falling into our trap perfectly.”
“Henry mentioned that he noticed the way ya kissed me.”
She sucked in a breath. Although she knew their kiss was for his betting friends, it still unsettled her heartbeat whenever she thought about it. “What... did he say?”
Blake took another step closer. This time, he touched her arm. Incredible waves of heat surged through her, making her more confused. Why was this man able to make her quiver when Johnny Evans had yet to accomplish making her weak in the knees? Unless he had and she’d forgotten. Seven years was a long time.
“He said he couldn’t believe his eyes,” Blake continued. “He’s never seen ya kiss another man before.”
On shaky legs, she withdrew from his nearness again. She released an uneasy chuckle. “Yes, well... your friend is correct. I haven’t fancied any of the men around here for quite a while.”
“Why is that? Yer a very beautiful woman. I can’t believe the men in Charleston are that blind.” He came closer and reached out and caressed her cheek. “I’m surprised men aren’t fallin’ all over themselves to be in yer company.”
She laughed and shook her head, taking another step back until the wall stopped her. Oh, dear. Where could she go now to keep out of his reach? But, did she really want that? Her body reacted very strangely around him, and the foreign feelings made her giddy. The different emotion climbing inside her made her feel like a real woman – something that had never happened to her before.
“I’m quite sure men fall over themselves,” she said in a voice deeper than she’d expected, “but they do not do that in my company. They only want to court me in hopes of obtaining my plantation. Did I tell you that my plantation is one of the few in South Carolina that’s so productive? And of course, I’m the only plantation owner who is an unmarried woman.”
“Oh, I think if these men knew how charmin’ ya were, they’d not think about yer plantation at all, but they’d want ya for yourself.”
He braced his hands on the wall behind her and leaned forward. His face was so close to hers. Her mouth felt parched, and it was hard to swallow.
“The whole time I’ve been with ya today,” his voice was deep, “I haven’t once thought of obtainin’ yer land.”
Her mind was growing blank. She couldn’t have that. Especially not in this situation. “Wh... what have you been thinking about, then?”
“How much pleasure I’ve received by merely bein’ around ya, and how much ya make me smile.” His gaze dropped to her mouth. “And since our kiss earlier, I haven’t been able to think of anything else.”
Her mouth was completely dry now, and yet her palms were damp. The rhythm of her heart pounded faster, and all she could look at was his tempting lips. “W-w-why?”
“Because although I enjoyed kissin’ ya, I think it could have been better.”
As his hot breath fanned her face, drying her lips that much more, she tried to ponder his words. Had he meant that as an insult? And yet, the passion in his eyes told her differently. She licked her lips, bringing back a little more moisture. He grinned in a wicked way that made butterflies dance in her tummy.
“Better?” Her voice cracked. “How so?”
Using his thumb, he caressed her bottom lip. “Hank had hinted that ya didn’t appear seduced – as if I hadn’t done my job very well. Ya were too stiff. And the kiss wasn’t long enough.”
“I... I...” She swallowed hard again. “I didn’t think our first kiss needed to be long. In fact, I’m quite certain that even now—”
“Shh...” He pressed his mouth against hers, moving his lips gently across hers. “If we want to convince Phillip, we need to make our kiss look real.”
“Blake, I really think we shouldn’t—”
“Claudia, my sweet,” he muttered against her. “Stop talkin’ and just enjoy.”
Cupping her face in his large hands, his body pressed hers against the wall. She clung to his shoulders while he coaxed her lips to move with his. Gradually, she relaxed and allowed him to kiss her. The moment she surrendered, a small groan came from his throat and he tilted his head, deepening the kiss.
The tingles flowing through her had become hotter than she anticipated, and a deep sigh slid from her throat. At that moment, her legs weakened even more, and she fell against him. He wrapped his arms around her body, probably to hold her up, as she wound her arms around his neck.
His kiss was so incredibly passionate. It was obvious that this kiss was so very different from the first one they had – like night and day. He certainly knew how to seduce a woman, and for the life of her, she didn’t care that she wasn’t the first woman he’d kissed. She was the woman in his arms now and that’s all she cared about.
When another deep sigh escaped him, she realized he must be as caught up in the passionate moment as she was. His heartbeat thudded against her chest, and she knew her heart raced with the same rhythm. Never had she been in a man’s embrace and held this closely. Although she’d kissed Johnny, she’d never been in her nightdress. Her lack of clothing made a huge difference in the heated moment.
This was wrong. So improper! Yet, she didn’t want to stop kissing him, and she didn’t want his hands to stop sliding over her back as he continued to pull her closer. She gently caressed his neck. His skin was so warm, so smooth. And so muscular... She breathed heavily, never realizing a robust man could make her mind whirl with excitement.
The floor outside her bedroom creaked, sounding like thunder booming throughout the room. Both of them stopped. She held her breath, listening closer. Had Grandmama come to check on her? And yet, the woman had never done that before. Who then would be sneaking around in her house at this time of night?
Her heart dropped. It could only be one person – the arrogant cousin who thought the plantation and Claudia – should be his.
SEVEN
We’re going to get caught!
It was one thing to plan a fake marriage, but it was another thing to be caught in a scandal and forced to marry. Claudia couldn’t have a forced wedding. Her plans would never turn out if that happened.
“Quick! Under the bed.” She pushed Blake toward her bed.
“What?” he asked in a whisper. “Why do ya want me to—”
“There’s no time for questions. Just do as I say.”
She pushed him harder, and thankfully, he complied. Once he was under the bed and out of sight, she turned toward the door again. Running her shaking hands over her wrapper to make sure it was still together, she tried to control her breathing. At this moment, she didn’t know what made her breathless. Was it his passionate kisses, or was it the fact that she could have been caught in an intimate embrace?
Taking soft steps toward the door, she listened for the noise she’d heard only a few moments ago, but her fiercely beating heart wouldn’t allow her to hear if the person was still in the hallway. Anger built inside her the longer she wondered about the identity of the person sneaking around. She’d bet good money it was her foolish cousin.
She placed her trembling hand on the doorknob and gently cracked the door open. The hallway was dark, and the single light inside the bedroom didn’t give her much light to see. However, she detected a shadowy figure slowly making its way toward her grandm
other’s room. It couldn’t have been a servant, because they wouldn’t have crept up the hallway.
“Who goes there?” she snapped.
The shadowy figure jumped and spun toward her. As her vision adjusted to the dim lighting, she realized it was the man of her nightmares, just as she’d figured. “Phillip!” She raised her voice. “What are you doing here?”
He straightened his shoulders and walked toward her as if he hadn’t just been caught sneaking about in the hall. She hoped he would at least be apologetic.
“Good evening, Claudia.” He stopped directly in front of her. “I hope I didn’t disturb your sleep.”
“Seeing you always disturbs me.” She folded her arms. “Now tell me what you’re doing in my home.”
“Your grandmother invited me to spend the night.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but then she realized her grandmother would do something like that without telling her. Phillip had wormed his way into her grandmother’s mind, and there would be no arguing with the woman now. The only way to get her grandmother to change her mind was to prove how underhanded Phillip really was.
Claudia scowled. “The guest bedrooms are not on this floor, and you know it.”
“I do.”
“Then what were you doing up here?”
“I’d heard a disturbing noise, so I came up here to make sure you and your grandmother were safe.”
Panic filled her. Had he heard Blake sneaking in the window not too long ago? “We are fine, so leave.”
He nodded slowly. “I shall retire to my room now.”
She gritted her teeth and watched him slither away. She wouldn’t move until he was out of sight.
As much as she wanted to slam the door, she knew that would definitely wake her grandmother, and then Blake would be stuck in this room all night. A warm shiver passed over her as she closed the door. Although the idea was tempting, she found her courage and realized that she must get Blake to leave.
She walked toward the bed. “You can come out now.”
Blake slid on his belly until his whole body was out from underneath the bed before he stood. His hooded gaze met hers as he brushed off his clothes. Gone was his lazy grin or seductive stare. A serious expression had replaced it.
“Claudia, it’s not good for you or your grandmother to have Phillip in the house.”
“This I know.” Frowning, she sank to the edge of the mattress. “I’m worried that he’s winning over my grandmother. Why else would she allow him to stay?”
“I agree, but,” he sat beside her and held her hand, “now, more than ever, I need to stay here with you. I cannot trust that man. We know what he’s after, and we know he’ll stop at nothing.”
Her mind returned to the doubts she’d had about him and her cousin, especially during dinner and the strange conversation the two men had had. “Blake? Do you know my cousin?”
“Not as well as you do.”
“But you still know him, correct?” Blake’s silence unnerved her. He couldn’t lie to her now. She could read him well. “Blake,” she caressed his hand, “I really need to know.”
She held his stare for the longest time it seemed, until he exhaled deeply, and his shoulders sagged slightly. “You’re right. I suppose now is a good time to tell you.”
He stood and moved toward the window, stopping beside it as he looked down into the yard. He leaned his shoulder against the window frame.
“I’ve been following Phillip Matthews for a few weeks now. In fact, he is the reason I came to your party tonight.”
She didn’t like the wary tone of his voice, but it was more than that. His manner of speech sounded off. In fact, his heavy accent had disappeared, which made her even more curious. “Go on.”
He turned and leaned his back against the wall as he looked at her. “I’ve not been fully honest with you, which I’ll rectify right now.” He folded his arms. “I’m not the man I’ve led you to believe. Blake Bentley is my name, however, I’m not out of work. I’m a Pinkerton agent.”
At this moment, she wasn’t sure how she felt about his confession, knowing that he’d lied to her. And yet, part of her was relieved that he wasn’t the man those rumors made him out to be.
“What is a Pinkerton agent?” she wondered.
“I work for a man named Allan Pinkerton. During the war, he worked with President Lincoln as a spy and uncovered many assassination attempts. After the war was over, Pinkerton started his own detective agency. His agents are sent on many cases as we try to capture criminals. That is how I ended up in Charleston. I’ve been following a jewelry thief from one state to another. The man has used many identities, but it wasn’t until I came here that I learned his true identity – Phillip Matthews.”
She sucked in a quick breath of air. She’d known for years that Phillip wasn’t an honest person, but could he really be that bad? “Is that why you asked him about Mr. Lewis Christensen? Is Phillip involved with something he cannot handle?”
“Lewis Christensen was a wealthy man in Texas, and he made certain his wife was adorned with expensive necklaces and rings. Phillip was acquainted with Lewis, and I caught your cousin overtly flirting with Mrs. Christensen many times. One day all her jewels were stolen, and Phillip suddenly left the city and was never heard from again.”
Claudia stood and slowly made her way toward Blake. “Do you have any proof that he is the thief?”
Blake frowned and shook his head. “Not yet, but my gut feeling tells me if I keep my eyes on that man, he’ll lead me to the stolen treasures.”
Ideas swam in her head, and she hoped Blake was right. If he could find the proof needed to arrest Phillip, that would solve most of her worries.
She stopped in front of Blake. “I want to help. I have never trusted my cousin, and I would love more than anything to see him thrown in jail. The further away he is from my plantation, the easier I’ll breathe.”
Smiling, he grasped her hands and held them loosely. “The best thing for me to do is stay by your side constantly, which is why we must marry quickly.”
Her heartbeat skipped, and she tamed her overeager feelings. “I agree, but remember, it’ll be in name only.”
“Of course, it will.” He grinned. “And my friend, Chaplain Brooks, will be able to perform the ceremony.”
Hope grew inside her. “As much as I want this to happen quickly, I still believe we should wait at least a week. I don’t want friends and family to get too suspicious.”
“I think that is the perfect waiting period. I still need to inform my supervisor, Mr. Archibald Gordon who resides in Denver, Colorado. He’ll be ecstatic over the news.”
For some reason, Blake appeared more excited than she thought he should be, especially for being married in name only. However, it was strange to be talking to him now when he seemed so different now that the truth was out. “Will Mr. Gordon understand that our marriage is only temporary?”
“Of course. He will expect nothing more.”
She narrowed her gaze on him. “And why is that, may I ask?”
Chuckling, he pulled her closer as he slid his arms loosely around her waist. “Because this marriage will not only benefit you, but it will help me, too.”
“How so?”
“Archie has been trying to get his agents to train female agents, but they must agree to marry them first. After all, we wouldn’t want to ruin the woman’s reputation. I’ll tell Archie that I’m going to train you, which is why we will marry. Then, we can work together to find the evidence against your cousin.”
Suspicion sneaked into her heart. “I still don’t understand. Why is this a good thing for you?”
He grinned. “It’ll be like a promotion for me.” Chuckling, he shook his head. “And believe me, I deserve a promotion after chasing after foolish men like your cousin for four years.”
A different kind of pain twisted inside her. For the first time in her life, she felt used – as if she were just a pawn in a game. Ne
edless to say, she didn’t like the feeling at all. Blake was going into this marriage thinking only of himself. At least when she’d made him the offer to win the bet, she was thinking of him because she thought he needed the money.
As all the pieces began fitting together, her heart clenched, and tears burned in her eyes. She blinked to try to keep the tears from falling. “Is that what I am? I’m just a... promotion to you?”
His brows creased. “Claudia, what are you talking about?”
Irritation flowed through her and she pushed away from him, marching back to her bed. “Mr. Bentley, I’d appreciate it if you left now. We can talk more about this tomorrow when my head is clear.”
“But Claudia, I don’t understand.” He stepped toward her.
She threw a scowl at him from over her shoulder. “Mr. Bentley, if you know what is good for you, you’ll leave immediately. I cannot stand to look at you anymore tonight.”
He held his hands up in surrender. “Fine, I’ll leave.” He moved to the window and lifted it up enough for him to climb out, but before leaving, he looked her way. “I hope you’ll be able to explain this to me tomorrow, because I have no idea why you are so upset.”
She spun around, presenting him with the view of her back as she stared at the wall. She heard him climb out of the window, and then the grunts and groans of him shimmying down the tree.
Tears filled her eyes, and this time she let them slide down her cheeks. Why had she allowed that little bit of information to disturb her? Was it because she thought he actually cared about her? After all, men didn’t kiss women the way he’d kissed her without it meaning something.
She dabbed the tip of her finger to the corner of an eye in an attempt to stop the flow of tears. Sighing, she lay down on her bed and curled her legs up to her chest. Was she wrong to feel this way? And yet, she questioned her own feelings. How had she let this man sneak into her heart in just a half day? She was so confused, and she wished she knew why this bothered her so much.
Perhaps this marriage idea wasn’t a good decision, after all. And yet, she couldn’t think of any other way to keep Phillip from claiming her plantation, and her. It appeared that she must team up with Blake and become a Pinkerton agent, after all. Then, and only then, would she be able to stop her cousin.
An Agent for Claudia Page 5
