By Honor Bound

by Ruth Ryan Langan

  “Did it help?”

  He chuckled. “I’d hate to tally the number of times we bloodied each other.”

  She looked startled. “You fought?”

  “Like cats and dogs.” His grin widened. “I can see that you’ve led a very sheltered life. You haven’t lived until you’ve humbled a mouthy kid sister, or given your brother a shiner.”

  “Did they ever get even?”

  “You bet. That’s the name of the game. I’ve had to take my share of bruises. Especially when they decided to gang up on me. But Pop was a very wise man. He knew we’d be able to leave our anger outside. At least until the next time, when he’d send us out to butt heads again.”

  “You make it sound like a family of goats.”

  “I think he’d agree with that.” Micah laughed. “Or maybe a family of mules. Pop always says we’re the most hardheaded bunch he’s ever known. And it takes one to know one.”

  Pru heard the note of affection in his tone. “Despite what you’ve just described, I’d bet good money that the Lassiter family is short on temper and long on love.”

  “Long on love. Definitely. But the only thing short about our tempers is the fuse. We still head out to the hoops after dinner if we have to settle a hot political argument. Which happens at least once a week.”

  He walked with her up the steps to their apartment building and held the door.

  Once inside, they walked together to the door of Pru’s apartment. She unlocked her door, punched the code on her alarm and paused in the doorway.

  “Thanks for dinner, Micah.” Her smile was radiant. “I had a great time.”

  “So did I.” It was true. She was so easy to be with. With Prudence Street there was no artifice. Nothing contrived. And though he hadn’t intended to touch her, he found himself running his hands across the tops of her arms as he stared down into those laughing eyes. “In fact, this has been one of the best and most relaxing nights I can remember.”

  He was studying her closely. “You have the most beautiful eyes.”

  She blushed. “It’s the contact lenses.”

  He shook his head. “They say the eyes are the mirror of the soul. If that’s true, you have one beautiful soul, Pru.”

  It seemed the most natural thing in the world to lower his face to hers. To brush his mouth over hers. He’d intended it to be no more than a simple good-night kiss. But the moment their lips met, everything changed.

  He’d taken blows to the body before. Whether from fists or clubs or both. And he certainly knew how it felt to be flattened by a bullet to the chest. It was all part of the job. But he’d never before believed he could feel that same reaction from a simple kiss.

  But then there was nothing simple about it. Her mouth was the softest, sweetest confection he’d ever tasted. Prudence Street put the dessert they’d shared to shame. And her body fit against his like the missing piece to a puzzle.

  He was fully into the kiss before he realized what was happening. And by then it was too late to escape. He could feel himself sinking into her. Into all that sweetness. And losing himself completely in her, his head spinning, his heart doing a crazy dance in his chest.

  Pru started to pull back, but she was held as surely as if she’d been planted in concrete. And then it was too late to resist. Her arms curved ever so slowly around his neck as she offered him more. The purring sound that came from her throat was as much a surprise to her as to him. And then, as he took the kiss deeper, she hung on, feeling her world begin to tilt and sway.

  She’d known passion a time or two. But this was something far different. This was need. Raw. Urgent. Catching her by the throat and holding on until she couldn’t breathe.

  She felt his hands in her hair and something deep inside began twisting. Aching.

  He pressed her back against the open door and kissed her long and slow and deep until they were both gasping. And still he kept his mouth on hers until the ache became a hungry yearning.

  “Well, look at this, Octavia.” Odelia Vandevere’s wispy voice broke the spell. “I believe it’s our dear Prudence and Mr. Lassiter.”

  Pru jerked back with such force she nearly fell. If it weren’t for Micah’s hands at her shoulders, keeping her steady, she would have embarrassed herself even further by running like a rabbit. As it was, she felt her cheeks turn every shade of red.

  “Well.” Octavia Vandevere paused a few steps from them, looking from one to the other. “It seems our young friends have been out on the town.”

  “Just…dinner.” Pru knew her voice sounded breathy, but she felt the need to explain.

  “Dinner. The two of you. Oh, that’s grand. Just grand.” Octavia studied the frown on Micah’s face. Her own smile widened. “Well, don’t let us keep you two from whatever you had in mind. Good night, Prudence, dear. Good night, Micah.”

  “’Night.” Pru watched their retreating backs, then glanced shyly at Micah. “Good night.”

  “Yes. Good night.” His frown was more pronounced as he turned away.

  He waited until her door closed and the lock was thrown. Then he stepped into his own apartment.

  He ought to be grateful for the arrival of those two old busybodies. The way he’d been feeling with Pru in his arms, there was no telling where that kiss might have ended.

  Not a good thing, he reminded himself for the hundredth time. He was quickly losing all objectivity where Prudence Street was concerned. And that could be deadly. For both of them.

  Still, a part of him couldn’t help wishing they’d had a minute more. The abruptness of their parting left him feeling a wave of bitter frustration.

  That kiss had only whetted his appetite for more. Much more.

  It would be, he realized, a long and frustrating night.

  Chapter 6

  “Why, Odelia.” Octavia Vandevere beckoned to her sister. “Look who’s out here in the garden. It’s our dear Prudence.”

  Pru looked up from the bed of pansies she was weeding. “Good evening, Octavia. Odelia. You know I’m always out here on Saturday evenings, unless it’s raining.”

  “Of course. A creature of habit, that’s you, dear. I guess we just forgot.” Octavia planted herself on a lovely stone bench and patted the spot beside her.

  When Odelia joined her, they looked like two hungry cats about to pounce on an unsuspecting canary.

  “So.” Octavia glanced at her sister. “You and Micah Lassiter were out on a date last night.”

  “Not a date, exactly. He just took me to dinner.”

  “In my day, that was considered a date.” Odelia’s eyes were twinkling with mischief. “Where did you go?”

  “To the Café Paris.”

  “Oh.” Octavia clapped her hands together. “Sister and I love that place. It’s so romantic. Did you sit indoors or out in the courtyard?”

  Pru dug her hand trowel deep in the soil and removed several weeds, which she dropped into a bucket. “The courtyard. It was such a pretty night.”

  “That it was. I don’t believe I heard your car.” Odelia pulled a lace handkerchief from her pocket and touched it lightly to her forehead.

  “We walked.” Pru poked at another weed, trying to loosen the soil around it without disturbing the pretty violet pansy beside it.

  “My.” Odelia made a great show of folding the handkerchief precisely as it had been before returning it to her pocket. “It was the perfect night for walking. A full moon.”

  “Really?” Pru sat back on her heels and stripped off her gloves before turning toward the two old women. “I didn’t notice.”

  “How could you miss it?” Octavia leaned forward and put a hand on Pru’s arm. “Sister and I think Micah Lassiter is just about the best-looking young man we’ve seen in many a year. Isn’t that right, Odelia?”

  “Oh, indeed.” Odelia lowered her voice as though sharing a great secret. “There’s something so rugged and manly about him. With just the most fascinating hint of danger. He could certainly play the
part of a hero in one of those adventure movies Sister and I love so much. Don’t you agree, Prudence, dear?”

  Before Prudence could say a word, the object of their discussion stepped into the garden and headed toward them. The two old women gave matching sighs.

  “Good evening, ladies.” Micah tucked his hands into the back pockets of his jeans. His first glimpse of Pru was, as always, a jolt to the system.

  She was wearing simple cotton garden pants, the knees smudged from kneeling in the dirt. Her shirt was pale pink, with little embroidered flowers on the pocket. Her hair was tied back with a matching pink bandanna. There was a smudge of dirt on her left cheek, another on the tip of her nose. It was so endearing, it was all he could do to keep from touching a finger to the spot. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

  “Not a thing, Micah.” Octavia gave him a bright smile. “Doesn’t our dear Prudence look just as pretty as her flowers?”

  He nodded. “Even prettier, in fact.”

  At his scrutiny, Pru flushed.

  “She has such a way with plants.” Odelia gave a sigh. “Why, you wouldn’t believe the way these gardens looked before she moved in here. Just a few bare patches of earth, and the professor’s pitiful attempt at growing azaleas. And now look around you. Isn’t this simply splendid?”

  “Yes, it is.” Micah glanced at his watch. “If you ladies will excuse me, I’m running up to the car wash.”

  Octavia stopped him with a hand on his. “Did you come out here for a reason, Micah?”

  “No reason in particular.” He shot a quick look at Pru. “I just wanted to say good evening. Now I’ll say goodbye.”

  As he turned away, the two sisters hurried after him. When they caught up with him, Odelia quietly asked, “Do you think you’ll be back before supper time?”

  Micah considered. “I’m sure I will. Why? Is there something you need?”

  “No, indeed. But it seems a shame not to take the time to enjoy such a beautiful spot on this per fect evening. Don’t you think it might be fun to surprise our dear Prudence with a picnic?”

  “A picnic.” He seemed to mull that over a moment before giving a nod of his head. “Sounds like a great idea. Will you ladies join us?”

  “Oh, aren’t you sweet.” The very thought generated such heat, Odelia began to fan herself.

  Seeing it, Octavia gave her a quick nudge with her elbow. “That’s very kind of you, Micah. But Sister and I have plans.”

  “We do?” Odelia turned big eyes on her older sister.

  Octavia shot her a frown before saying, “You remember. Those plans we made for this evening.”

  “Oh. Oh, yes. Those—plans.” She turned to Micah. “But I’m sure you and Prudence could have a grand picnic here alone in the garden.”

  Micah managed to hold back his laughter until he was in his car. Then, as he backed out of the garage and headed toward the car wash, he threw back his head and roared with laughter.

  Those two old busybodies were about as subtle as a train wreck. And he’d lay odds they were having the time of their lives playing the oldest game in the book.

  Not that he minded. It gave him the perfect excuse to be with Pru. Strictly for professional reasons, he told himself. He certainly couldn’t protect her if he wasn’t by her side. He’d spent the better part of the day watching her through the window. After all, that’s what he was being paid to do. Just the sight of her working in the garden had brightened his day considerably.

  There were certain perks to this job that made it all worthwhile.

  “What’s all this?” Pru looked up when Micah stepped into the garden, his arms laden with bags and cartons.

  “Dinner.” He set down his burden on the round, glass-topped table positioned beneath a rose arbor.

  Pru walked toward him, stripping off her gloves. “Perfect timing. I forgot to eat today, and I’m positively starving. I hope you brought me a jumbo burger and fries.”

  “I brought something even better.” He began setting out an assortment of fresh fruits and cheeses arranged on a covered crystal server, along with a basket of croissants. He removed the top from a silver bucket to reveal champagne on ice. A domed pedestal cake plate held tiny éclairs and hand-dipped chocolates.

  He handed her a scented, moistened towel. She wiped her hands, then shook her head in amazement. “This doesn’t look like something you ordered in a fast-food drive-through.”

  “You haven’t heard of Instant Drive-Through Feast? It’s the latest thing here in Georgetown.”

  She was laughing as she settled herself on the wrought-iron chair he was holding.

  He popped the cork and filled two fluted glasses with champagne before handing one to her.

  She sipped, then sat back with a sigh. “Oh, Micah. This is such a wonderful surprise.”

  “I’m glad you approve.” He offered her a small crystal plate. “Fruit? Cheese?”

  “Yes. To both.” After her first bite she glanced over at him. “This tastes even better than it looks. Where in the world did you find all this?”

  “There’s a lovely little specialty shop nearby. I told them what I wanted, and by the time I returned from the car wash, they had everything ready. I didn’t bother to ask how they did it. Maybe they have a magic genie in the back room.”

  She took another sip of champagne, and felt it go straight to her head. Or was it her heart? At this moment, she wasn’t sure of anything except that no one had ever made her feel so special. So pampered. If there was a magic genie, she was certain it must be Micah Lassiter.

  “How did you ever think of such a thing?”

  “The idea was passed along to me by two very adorable angels.”

  Her hand paused in midair. “Angels?”

  He nodded. “Named Octavia and Odelia.”

  “The Vandevere sisters dreamed this up?”

  He chuckled. “Apparently they feel you and I are lacking a certain amount of romance in our lives. And they see it as their mission in life to change the situation.” He picked up his glass and touched it to hers. “So here’s to Octavia and Odelia Vandevere. I, for one, am grateful. If not for them, I’d probably be out in the garage polishing my car. Or up in my room going over financial statements for my company.”

  Pru laughed. “And I’d still be pulling weeds, and thinking about making a grilled-cheese sandwich to stave off hunger.”

  He lifted the cover from the fruit and cheese and waited for her to make another choice, before doing the same. After one taste he added, “This is definitely better than grilled cheese.”

  Pru gave a dreamy smile. “Much better.”

  The exotic food was enhanced by the serenity of the garden. Birds splashed in a fountain set in the middle of spectacular azaleas, in shades of pink and purple and white.

  Micah sipped his champagne and sat back, taking the time to enjoy the view. He indicated the neat row of jewel-toned pansies edging a bed of white geraniums. “Where’d you learn to do all this?”

  Pru’s cheeks turned the most becoming shade of pink. “My father had a gardener who was always very patient with me. I think I must have asked him a million questions while I was growing up. And he never got cross with me, or suggested I go play somewhere. In fact, the hand trowel I use is one he gave me years ago so I could work alongside him.”

  “He was probably flattered that you took an interest in his work.”

  She nodded. “I suppose. But I think, too, he recognized a lonely little girl who was more comfortable with adults than with children.”

  There was something so wistful in her tone, Micah found himself taking her hand in his before he even realized what he was doing. “Who else did you pester while you were growing up?”

  Pru absorbed the rush of heat, then felt her heart do a series of somersaults when he continued holding her hand. “The housekeeper. The cleaning staff. Our handyman. When I followed him up on the roof to see how he adjusted our satellite dish, he made me swear I’d never
tell my father, or he’d have been fired on the spot.”

  Micah threw back his head and roared. “Smart man. What in the world were you doing on the roof?”

  “I’ve always loved everything electronic. And I just had to know about the satellite dish. How did it trap signals from so many locations? What would happen if it were moved slightly? Would it pick up more signals, or less? And why did storms over the Northwest blank out certain signals?”

  He released her fingers and picked up his fluted glass. He needed a taste of champagne to cool his suddenly dry throat. It was amazing what the touch of her did to him. “Did you learn the answers?”

  She nodded. “Of course. Then I drove him crazy until he taught me how to implant microchips in the coffeemaker and the dishwasher so I could program them from my laptop.”

  Micah couldn’t help grinning at the image of this very prim-and-proper young lady making the handyman’s life miserable with impossible requests. “Did you have many chances to use this amazing skill?”

  “Oh, yes. It drove my father crazy to find the coffee perking before anyone stepped into the kitchen.” She rested her chin on her hands and regarded him. “Of course, it didn’t take him long to figure out what I’d done.”

  “Was he pleased or annoyed?”

  “He pretended to be annoyed. But I’ve always thought he was secretly pleased. Did I mention that I was only nine at the time?” She saw the look on Micah’s face. “Sorry. I don’t often admit to that.”

  He was shaking his head, as though he couldn’t quite believe what he’d just heard. “It had to be a little scary having a daughter that clever.”

  “Actually my father had no way of comparing me with other kids. So he just accepted that I was simply imitating him.”

  Micah’s laughter grew. “I’ll bet that made him glad he wasn’t a bank robber.”

  “I never thought of that.” She joined in the laughter. “Oh, look.” She pointed to a tiny yellow-and-black bird darting among the flowers. “A goldfinch. I haven’t seen one here before. Isn’t it pretty?”