Courtship of the Recluse, Linda Rigsbee [e novels to read online txt] 📗

morality.Anyway, things don’t just happen. Not to people who have a littledignity and self control.” At Mary’s startled look, she was afraidshe had stepped over the line. Did Mary speak from experience? Itwas none of her business and she certainly didn’t want to hurtMary’s feelings. “Well, maybe it does for some people, but not ahard hearted old witch like me.”

Mary laughed shortly. “You two make a finepair, you know that? Who do you think you’re fooling? Under thatfacade of indifference beats a heart primed for breaking.”

“Maybe so, but not right now. I’m having toomuch fun.” She launched into an explanation of the truckload ofsupplies and a description of her new room.

Mary listened thoughtfully. “Claudette has noreason to be concerned about Mrs. Cade’s furniture. It isn’t...”She cut her explanation off short as Cade pulled into the drive.“I’ll tell you about it later.”

But the opportunity to talk privately didn’toffer itself the rest of the day. As it turned out, the truckrepair was minor, so she was able to follow Cade home that evening.It would be nice to know she could leave the ranch at will withoutleaving Cade afoot, but she doubted if she would be driving to townsoon. For a while she was going to be far too busy.

The next morning, after Cade left, she threwa roast in the oven and eagerly set to work on the family room. Bynoon she had the pictures and mirrors on the walls and was hangingthe curtains when Cade came in. He glanced around the room and histroubled gaze halted on her.

“Don’t over do it.”

She glanced around the room anxiously. Shewas little more than half-done and already he thought it was toomuch? What was it he found so objectionable? Unable to discern thesource of his objection, she finally turned an inquisitive gaze onhim.

“You don’t like it?”

He actually smiled, though it was so briefthat she questioned whether she had imagined it. No, it had beenthere - brief and beguiling. And now it was gone, not even a tracelingering as he spoke.

“I meant don’t over work yourself.”

“Oh.” She took a step down and missed thenext rung - plunging her shin against the step. She gave a startledsqueal and fumbled on the unsteady ladder.

Instantly strong arms scooped her off theladder and lowered her safely to the floor. It all happened so fastthat she didn’t have time to think, only to cling to the one solidthing she could find - Cade. The arms that rescued her continued tocradle her gently, and what the fall had failed to do to her heartbeat, his close proximity completed.

Color raced to her cheeks. What must he bethinking to hold on to her like that? She chanced a glance at hisface, but he was contemplating the ladder.

“I’d better get a screwdriver and tightenthat ladder before you fall and break your neck.”

He glanced down and noted her color withobvious confusion. One arm tightened around her in a light hug. Hereleased her, striding away after a screwdriver.

She stared after him, still perplexed by thehug - a fatherly or brotherly demonstration of fondness - or maybean expression of relief that she wasn’t injured? She rubbed hershin. Not badly, anyway.

Maybe that incident inspired her dream thatnight. How the dream began, she couldn’t remember but she was inhis arms and he was gazing down at her, his expression as bland asusual. She lifted her face to receive his kiss and he leanedforward, giving her a fatherly peck on the cheek - and a friendlysqueeze. She clutched his sleeve as he turned away.

She woke, her fingers entwined in the sheet,feeling aroused and frustrated. She untangled her fingers from thesheet and punched her pillow. What was it about him that she foundso attractive? And why couldn’t she force these erotic thoughtsfrom her mind? Nothing but heartache could come of it. Cade wascompletely uninterested. Even in her dream she knew it, so why thepersistent desire? Should she walk away from this job? Could shewalk away from it - and Cade? The job would be harder to walk awayfrom than Cade - wouldn’t it? Mary was right about one thing. Shewas falling for Cade. It was time to pack up and get out - as soonas the visit from his sister was over. He could always find anothermaid and she could go back to the diner.

For the next week, she tried to stay too busyto think about him. In her spare time she read “The Lonely Hills.”Elizabeth Cade was a lonely woman - lonely and unhappy. Cynthiaclosed the book and gazed out the window. Why didn’t his mother seethe beauty of the ranch? She crossed to the window and stoodwatching another majestic sunset.

Vaguely she heard Cade close his book andcross the room. He stood beside her and they both watched MotherNature's display in rapt silence. Finally she spoke.

“It’s so beautiful. Don’t you think?”

“Yes.” Something about his tone made herglance up and she caught him watching her instead of the sunset. Hereached out and took one of her curls in his hand. “Just likeburnished copper.”

She smiled up at him shyly. “I was talkingabout the sunset.”

His eyes crinkled and a smile played at thecorners of his mouth. She was flirting with him and he knew it. Shecould see it in his eyes.

She tugged the curl from his hand and turnedto the old piano as a diversion tactic.

“Did your mother play?”

He nodded. “Do you?”

She laughed softly. “Chop sticks.”

A brow quirked and he motioned to the bench.“Have a seat. Let’s play a duet, then.”

She made her way clumsily through one episodeand then watched as his long fingers moved gracefully over thekeys. The tune was haunting and yet somehow soothing. He coaxed onemelody after another from the old piano until finally he folded thelid down.

“That’s enough. I don’t want to bore you todeath. It’s getting late.”

“I’m not bored, but it is getting late.”

“And tomorrow is a long day. I’m trying toget everything caught up so I can spend a little time withClaudette.”

“Are you beginning to looking forward toseeing her?”

He shook his head and ran his fingers