The Lady Who Saw Too Much

by Thomasine Rappold

  She didn’t seem fine at all.

  “Where were you?”

  “I went downstairs for a cookie.”

  While her craving for a late-night treat came as no surprise, she seemed strangely out of sorts. He eyed her warily.

  “Good night,” she said, turning away and nestling into her pillow.

  Her breathing still stounded labored, and he could feel her body trembling beneath the thin sheet. Had she had another of her nightmares? That he may have slept through her terror and left her to face her demons alone made him feel like a heel. He moved toward her. Without a word, he pressed his body against the warmth of her back.

  The sound of her small sigh of pleasure filled him with joy. He kissed her neck, burying his face in the citrus smell of her hair. God, he’d missed her so much. She rolled over to face him and kissed him fiercely, almost desperately.

  The taste of gingerbread invaded his senses. She plunged her tongue into his mouth, surprising him with the force of her fingers raking through his hair. She’d missed him as much as he’d missed her, and her eager response drove him wild.

  He kissed her face and her throat, yanking open her robe. He kneaded her breasts. The feel of her soft flesh in his palms sent a surge of heat through his veins. He lowered his head, sucking a taut nipple into his mouth. Moaning against the luscious mound at his lips, he savored the taste of her skin on his tongue as her quick breaths of pleasure spurred him on.

  Parting her legs, she cued she was ready, arching her wetness to the press of his thigh. His heart raced as she ground against his leg, writhing for more. Shifting between her legs, he drove his rock-hardness into the heat of her.

  Pleasure engulfed him, seeped through his flesh to his bones. She cried out, clutching his back. Glancing into her face, he saw her eyes flutter in desire, her lips parted and uttering those beautiful sounds he’d come to live for. Sounds only he, and he alone, could inspire.

  He moved faster, pumping into her body with the force of his need. He was so close to the edge of perfection, so close to falling. But he wanted her to plunge with him, needed her to cling to his body as she soared through that space where nothing else mattered and all was right with the world.

  The sound of her release freed it all, sent him reeling. Through his shattering orgasm he heard her sweet moans, felt her breath on his cheek. She stared up at him, disheveled and spent and so damn beautiful he could barely breathe.

  She had consumed him completely, but he no longer cared. He was hers—mind, body, and soul. Kissing her softly, he succumbed to this truth. If Gia truly was insane, so was he.

  * * * *

  “We get on so splendidly here, in this bed.” Had she said that out loud? A flush of shame heated her face.

  Landen laughed. “That is true.”

  He kissed her temple, and her eyes fluttered closed. The tender gesture affected her more than she could have imagined. She nestled into the crook of his arm, wanting so desperately to tell him about what Kit had done to her downstairs. The man was despicable, and Landen deserved to know the truth about the man he’d allowed under his roof.

  A shiver of fear crawled up her spine at the memory of Kit’s kiss. Even the gingerbread she’d forced down hadn’t erased the sickening taste of brandy—of him—from her mouth. The sound of his laughter still echoed in her head. As did Landen’s words.

  I can’t believe a word that comes from your mouth. No. She couldn’t risk telling Landen about Kit. He might not believe her. Why should he after all the lies she’d told?

  She’d feared he’d never touch her again, but she was back in his arms—back in the bliss of these nights she’d come to need so much. No. She’d not ruin this moment with him. She’d keep quiet about Kit. There was really no reason for Landen to know. Kit certainly wasn’t about to tell anyone, and she wouldn’t, either. Kit would only be here for another few days. Gia could tolerate his presence until then.

  After that, she’d never have to lay eyes on the reprehensible cad again.

  Chapter 25

  Gia was arranging Alice’s hair for the picnic at Sandy Cove when Aunt Clara swished into the room to check on their progress.

  “Sissy is almost ready,” Clara announced, plopping into a chair. “And the picnic hampers are packed.”

  “Are you certain you don’t want to come with us, Gia?” Alice asked.

  The hopeful look in Alice’s eyes made Gia feel guilty for abandoning her. She knew Alice would be more comfortable at the picnic with Gia at her side, but Gia had other plans for her morning. She had to search Landen’s study for something that might inspire a vision of Mr. Whithers. Landen had gone into the city this morning, and once the others departed, she would have the perfect opportunity. “I prefer to wait for Landen and go with him.”

  Alice sighed. “But what if he’s detained in the city?”

  “Denny left for Troy at the crack of dawn this morning,” Clara reminded her. “He’ll be back in plenty of time to meet us for lunch.”

  Clara’s reasoning seemed to suffice, and Alice conceded with a nod.

  “We shall see you there,” Gia said with a reassuring pat to Alice’s shoulder.

  Alice gave a small smile, looking so pretty. She was still the shyest creature Gia had ever known, but she was also the sweetest. The possibility Kit might turn his unscrupulous attentions to Alice snaked through Gia’s mind. Alice’s intelligence outweighed her naivety, but she felt comfortable around Kit and thought him a friend. Gia shook off her trepidation. Aunt Clara would be there, and Gia couldn’t imagine Kit would be so foolish as to try anything inappropriate with the perceptive woman nearby.

  “Will Ben be joining you for the picnic?” Gia asked.

  “Not today,” Aunt Clara interjected. “We have only a short time left in Misty Lake, and we can’t have the young man monopolizing all of her time.”

  “He is not monopolizing my time,” Alice said.

  “He most certainly is,” Clara shot back. “I imagine by now even your roses are feeling neglected.”

  Alice huffed. “I would never neglect my flowers. I’ve been rising with the birds every morning to care for the garden to free up my afternoons for…visitors.”

  “Visitors?” Clara humphed, turning to Gia. “The girl finally peeks out from beneath her shell but sees only the gardener.”

  “They have a lot in common,” Gia said.

  “Precisely. And one Green Fingers in the family is quite enough.” She tilted her head. “I am counting on you, Gianna, to act as chaperone while I’m in Saratoga tomorrow.”

  Alice rolled her eyes.

  “Of course,” Gia said.

  “I wouldn’t usually leave guests to their own devices, but this is the last chance Bea and I have to indulge in a soak at the Springs before the close of the season.” Clara waved her arm. “Hurry along there, Gianna, the others are waiting. We must be on our way.”

  Gia put the finishing touches on Alice’s hair, then followed them downstairs. A few excruciatingly long minutes later, Gia had the house to herself.

  She hurried down the hall toward Landen’s study. She had to locate something that Whithers had touched. Perhaps he’d given Landen one of his cards. Since Gia had had a vision upon touching one of Landen’s cards, this seemed the most likely object on which to focus her search.

  Suddenly she was stricken by the fear her ability might have deserted her. She swallowed back a surge of panic. The failure to summon a vision at the creek, despite her best efforts, came as no true surprise. Her visions appeared through objects, and yet she hadn’t had a single vision in weeks.

  Pushing her doubts aside, she regained her confidence as she strode to the desk. She pored through the clutter of ledgers and documents. Finding no cards or correspondence bearing Whithers’ name, she directed her search to the pile of portfolios next to the inkwell on the opposite side of the desk.

  Opening the portfolio on top, she scanned
the contents inside. Landen would be furious at the invasion to his privacy, and she hastened her search. Like a thief, she ransacked past the risks to the pay dirt beneath. And there it was—Whithers’ name listed on a document regarding a business investment or some such matter. A jolt of excitement shot through her. Grasping the page in both hands, she took a deep breath, clearing her mind. She closed her eyes.

  The feeling hit quickly, and she swelled with relief. Welcoming the familiar hum in her ears, she released herself to the consuming sensations, the dark embrace of the future and its unmerciful truth. Her heart pounded. The buzz in her ears grew louder. Clouds of darkness parted to the picture forming behind her closed eyes.

  Whithers stood here, in this room, arguing with Landen. Their mouths moved with angry words she could not hear, but she felt every one. Their rage bit like teeth through her skin. With a violent swipe of his hand, Whithers cleared the desk’s surface. A blizzard of papers flew through the air, and then the vision was gone.

  Gia clutched at the desk for support. Her knuckles were white against the paper still trapped in her grasp. Her legs trembled. She took several deep breaths to combat the crushing wave of exhaustion.

  “What are you doing in here?”

  Gia spun around, leaning back on the desk for support. Landen stood in the doorway, arms crossed, feet planted, impatiently awaiting an answer.

  She fought to collect herself, fought for her voice. “I didn’t expect you would be back so soon.”

  “Obviously.” His arms fell to his sides as he walked into the room. “I passed the others on their way to the cove,” he said. “Is this why you didn’t go with them? So you could spend the morning snooping through my study?”

  “A good part of the reason, yes.”

  He blinked at her honest response. “And here I thought nothing you could say could surprise me.” He pointed to the paper she held. “What do you have there?”

  She lifted the page. “You must be careful, Landen. Mr. Whithers—”

  “Is not your concern.” To her surprise, Landen didn’t seem angry. He merely shook his head, then eased the paper from her grip. “I will take care of Mr. Whithers.” He tossed the page to the desk. “I made some inquiries in Troy,” he said. “To find out more about him.”

  “You did?” Her voice rose with the joyous lift to her spirit.

  “Yes. I wish to put an end to this matter, and I will do my best to make that happen.” He tilted his head, his words soft yet stern. “If there is any chance to set things right between us, you must do the same. You’ve lost much in your life. I understand that. But you are safe—I am safe,” he added before she could object. “You must try and get past this fear.” He placed his hands on her shoulders, his touch as gentle as the look in his eyes. “Can you do that for me?”

  She stared into his handsome face, knowing she would promise him anything if it meant he would look at her like this. She nodded, too moved by his tender regard to speak.

  “Good.” He smiled, touching his forehead to hers. “Very good.” He released her. “What do you say we go for a ride?”

  She blinked. “Really?”

  “You can borrow Alice’s horse,” he said. “We can take the long way to the cove before meeting up with the others at the picnic. Since you’ve agreed to leave the spying to me, you have the spare time.”

  She smiled, so pleased by his invitation to join him on his morning ritual she was tempted to kiss him, right there where he stood. “All right.”

  After changing for the ride, Gia found Landen in the stable, saddling Alice’s horse. Gia watched as he moved, bending to tie the cinch. His broad back and firm shoulders strained beneath his shirt as he worked. Suddenly she wanted nothing more than to touch him. Kiss him.

  The pull of her attraction affected her like the onset of a vision, but in a good way. Her body felt feeble against the potent impact of her desire. Her pulse quickened. Her blood stirred with the restless need that consumed her whenever she looked at him, thought of him, dreamt of him.

  “Are you ready?”

  The question drew her from her reverie, and she nodded as she came down to earth.

  “It’s been years since I’ve been on a horse,” she said.

  “Velvet will take good care of you.” He patted the horse. “Won’t you, girl?”

  Gia smiled at his affection for the horse. For whatever reason, Landen smiled too. All at once he looked so young and carefree. She basked in this lighthearted side of him as he led Velvet from the stable.

  After helping her mount, they were on their way. The ride was lovely. The sun shone overhead as they rode side by side through the nearby field. Gia hadn’t realized how much she missed riding, and she picked up the pace, smiling against the wind as they trotted along.

  “Let’s stop over there.” Landen pointed to a tall tree atop a hill in the distance.

  He hopped from his horse, then helped her dismount. She slid from the horse and into his arms and the heady scent of him. Soap and wind, and the heated flesh of a virile man. The feel of his hands on her waist rippled through her. A drift of tingles branched from her core. He led her to a large boulder beneath the tree. They sat on the flat rock in the peaceful seclusion overlooking the glistening lake in the distance.

  “This is my favorite spot in Misty Lake,” Landen said.

  “It’s lovely.” She gazed at the mountains in the distance. The beautiful view seemed hauntingly familiar, but she was too consumed by the happiness of the current moment to reflect on the strange feeling.

  “I will miss the country and the long summer days,” he said. “Some people have already headed back to the city.”

  Clara had mentioned yesterday that Charlotte and Maude had left Misty Lake early. The relief Gia had felt at their departure now turned to despair. Was Landen missing Charlotte already? Had that been the purpose of his early morning trip to Troy?

  “Like us, several people you’ve met here this summer reside in the city, so we’ll reunite there,” he said.

  “Several people?” she asked. “Like who, for instance?”

  He shrugged. “The Martins live across from us on Pawling Avenue. And the Downeys live just next door.”

  She couldn’t help herself. “And Charlotte?” she asked. “Is her home in close proximity as well?”

  He frowned. “She lives a few blocks away.”

  How convenient. She bristled, straightening her spine against her aching dismay.

  As if reading her thoughts, he said, “I have not been unfaithful to you, Gia.”

  Her heart stilled. She took in the words, the firm look in his eyes, and hope spread through her veins.

  “Truly?”

  He nodded. “Since our very first kiss, there’s been no one but you.”

  Her spirit soared on a gust of delight. The endearments he offered in bed were inspired by his lust. But these words… She’d never heard anything sweeter.

  He was hers… She smiled, blinking back tears.

  “I never thanked you for coming to my rescue yesterday,” he said, changing the subject.

  “You still haven’t.” She bumped her shoulder to his, and he smiled at her teasing.

  “There’s no need to thank me,” she said.

  “You saved me from making a fool of myself in front of my brother. Thanks are well justified.” He shook his head. “Alex would have enjoyed seeing me swoon, though.”

  She smiled at the truth in his words. “I know.” She tilted her head. “What happened between the two of you?”

  He shrugged. “If only I knew. When we were younger, we got on so well. He used to look up to me, if you can believe it. All that changed after my father and step-mother died.”

  “But you took care of him and Alice.”

  “Yes. And he despises me for it.” He shook his head. “He fights me on everything.”

  “Such as?”

  “Such as everything. We fou
ght for months before he finally agreed to go to school in Syracuse.”

  “Which school did he wish to attend?”

  He narrowed his eyes, considering this.

  “You didn’t ask him?”

  “There was no need. I knew Syracuse would be best for him.”

  She pinned him with a recriminating look she could not contain.

  “I know what you’re thinking, but my father entrusted me to take care of his children.”

  “An enormous responsibility for someone who was as young as you were.”

  He looked at her as though no one had ever acknowledged the fact before now. A part of her ached for him and the thankless task set upon him. The other part of her felt pride for his efforts. Alex and Alice were a handful. Gia had never been responsible for anyone but herself, and she now understood more clearly why Landen tended to be so controlling with his siblings.

  “Aunt Clara offered guidance as well,” he said.

  “Oh, I’ve no doubt about that.” She smiled. “But you’ve done a fine job with them, Landen. I’m sure your father would be proud.”

  “You didn’t know my father,” he said, turning to face her. “Expressing pride in his children was not his strongest suit.” He shrugged. “But I appreciate your sentiment.” He averted his eyes, staring out at the view.

  “The point is you are doing your best. Alex is a grown man and will do what he’s going to do.”

  “Yes, and all to spite me.” He shook his head. “Good God, I sound like Aunt Clara,” he said with a grin.

  Gia laughed.

  “But it’s true. I can’t even talk to him anymore,” Landen said. “I merely asked him about Sissy’s family, and he all but took my head off.” He sighed. “Alex is planning to marry this woman. I have every right to know about her family’s financial standing.”

  “That may be a sore subject,” she uttered.

  “What do you mean?”

  For a moment, she gauged answering. While she didn’t want to break Sissy’s confidence, the deep concern on Landen’s face convinced her that she was doing the right thing. Besides, Sissy had probably told Alex by now. “Sissy’s family has no money. Her father lost everything.”