by Cajio, Linda
“Really, Anne, you’ve been working too hard if you can’t remember your own things,” Lettice said. “And you’re worried about Missile Shout.”
“Battle Cry,” James and Anne said together.
They looked at each other and laughed. James could feel the emotional foundation strengthening between them. He couldn’t rush this. He’d waited a long time for her, longer than he had ever realized. A little more patience on his part and all the walls would crumble.
• • •
After dinner Anne loaded the dishwasher, then walked over to the back door and removed her jacket from a peg beside it. James took the jacket from her and held it out for her.
She hesitated for a moment, then slipped her arms in. Her fingers brushed her shoulders lightly, and a hot wave of reaction rushed through her. He lifted his own jacket from the rack and put it on.
“Leaving?” she asked, annoyed with the breathlessness in her voice.
He just smiled in answer and called a good night to Lettice and Philip. Then he curled his lip at Tibbs, who wagged his tail in return.
Anne had to smile. “Come on, Tibbs. Want to go for a walk?”
James groaned. The dog looked to Lettice first, who said “go.” Anne curled her lip at her grandmother. “When you go back home, take five things with you.”
“She doesn’t mean it,” Philip said to Lettice.
“Don’t tempt me,” Anne muttered.
She opened the back door. Tibbs raced past her, and she stepped over the threshold. James followed. She walked down the back porch steps. James followed. She walked along the path toward the farm buildings. James followed.
She stopped and whirled around. “Are you following me?”
“Nope.”
She turned around again and took two steps. James followed. She looked back. Even in the darkness she could see his grin.
“I thought you weren’t following me.”
“I’m not.” He closed the gap between them and took her arm in a courtly gesture. “I’m escorting you.”
Her heart pounded heavily at his touch. He had only to look at her these days, and she responded. His touch sent her right off her personal Richter scale. But she resisted the urge to jerk away. Calmly, she stepped back out of his grip. “I have Tibbs to escort me.”
“He’s not nearly as protective as I am, believe me.”
James took her arm again, effectively trapping her. To pull away once was understandable, twice was blatantly announcing his touch was disturbing. He started walking up the path, and she had no choice but to join him.
“Have you give any thought to what I said about a security service?” he asked.
Relief washed through her at the topic of conversation. She’d love anything that would distract her from her acute awareness of the way his fingers curved around her elbow, the way his body moved. The closeness …
“I’m thinking about it,” she said, forcing herself under control.
Okay, so he was touching her. A couple of inches of contact through her heavy tweed jacket and sweater was nothing to get excited about. So why the hell was she so excited?
“Somebody means to do some harm,” he said.
“I agree somebody’s trying to do something.” She stared up at the night sky, then at Tibbs, who was sniffing every tuft of grass with doggy concentration. “But whoever did it had to know we’d discover it. It was almost as if they wanted to be discovered. I don’t want to panic. I talked with my entire staff today, and we’re taking a number of added precautions to keep the animals safe.”
She stopped walking. She knew she would have to tell him what she didn’t even want to admit to herself. “James, dammit! Curtis and I have gone over and over how somebody could have fed the steroids to Battle Cry. To create this kind of problem in a horse, the drugs had to be fed into him regularly. Not in one or two big doses, but a little at a time, almost daily, until they built up in his system. No outsiders have been here that often. That means either someone has been sneaking in at night—all the stables will now have somebody there at night, all night. One of my people, one I can trust.”
She stared at the pastures. Usually there were horses out there at night—most liked the outdoors except in the worst weather. But there were no graceful shapes in the darkness tonight, or any other night from now on. The reminder was all too poignant.
“You said ‘either,’ ” James prompted.
She swallowed. “I did. The other ‘either’ is that someone who is here on a daily basis did it. Someone I employ.”
She had bristled at Mac’s remark that morning. But after a discussion with Curtis and looking over the recent delivery schedule, she had concluded there was a real possibility that the culprit was one of her employees. The thought made her sick.
“I’m sorry, Anne, but the idea had crossed my mind too.”
James rubbed her arm in a gesture of sympathy. She didn’t even think to stiffen in protest and pull away. Instead, she stepped into his embrace as if it were the most natural thing in the world for her.
It was, she thought as she was enveloped in his strong arms. She felt as if she were under siege by outside forces she couldn’t even imagine. She had no idea how to counter them, and save her farm and James from disaster.
She tilted her face up and met his lips with a kiss she couldn’t deny. The perfection of it, the sensuality of his mouth on hers, was unmatched. It always had been … and it always would be.
She wrapped her arms around him and opened herself to the storm lying in wait just below the surface. Comfort turned to passion. Sympathy to naked emotions. She had been too long on her own, without the simple comfort of support from a man. Not any man, she thought. James. Each day she had tried to resist him. Each day the task had become more impossible. She was being pulled toward him helplessly, as if he held all the strings and could command her to his whim. The kiss contained so much more than simple physical attraction. She sensed that each kiss would bring more, much more.
The thought disturbed the layers of need, rippling through them with doubt and logic. It was enough to bring her back to her senses. Confused, she turned away, out of his embrace. Immediately, humiliation set in at her lack of control.
She was searching for the exact right words to excuse her actions, but he beat her to it. Rubbing her arm again, he said, “Sometimes you shock me, Anne.”
He ought to see what she did to herself, she thought. “It was …”
“Yes?”
“Never mind,” she said primly, continuing her night tour of the grounds.
“I’ll let you off the hook,” he said, joining her. “This time.”
She wouldn’t ask, she decided. She didn’t want to know what he had in mind for next time. She didn’t want to examine what was behind her whirling emotions when it came to James Farraday. She didn’t think she’d like the answers.
“We’ll do it your way for the moment,” he added.
“You mean about the security firm?” she asked. If he meant anything else, she definitely had a problem.
“Yes, the security firm. What did you think?”
“Just that.” Her voice cracked, and she cursed under her breath.
“If something else happens, then we do it my way.”
“James—”
“No, Anne.” His tone held a determination that even her grandmother would have found hard to circumvent.
“If,” she conceded.
Nothing else would happen, she decided. Nothing else could.
Nine
The problem with great plans was that they took so damn long to implement.
James shoved his hands into his pockets and admitted that his patience with Anne was running out. He watched Digby canter down the drive, Anne sitting proudly astride the animal. He never thought he’d envy a horse. It was as if he’d opened a Pandora’s box when he’d finally acknowledged how he felt about her. All those pent-up urges and emotions were now refusing to stay caged in
spite of his best efforts.
He forced his body to calmness as he waited for her to ride into the yard. Unfortunately, he could hardly pull her off the horse and make wild love with her right on the spot. It was bright morning, in the open, and Tibbs, who was sniffing around the bushes, would probably mistake his actions and go for his throat. James grinned reluctantly. It was the thought that counted.
“James, honestly,” she said when she was within speaking distance. “This is the fourth day you’ve been here at the crack of dawn.”
“And it’ll be the fourth day that I’m here until after midnight,” he said, walking over to help her off the horse. “I agreed not to hire a security service or move in.”
She made a face. “We didn’t agree to your being around every waking hour.”
“That’s not my fault,” he said, grinning at her. Nothing else had happened, and he hoped his constant presence was a reason.
“Next time I’ll negotiate better.”
Chuckling, he reached up and steadied her at the waist as she dismounted. It was an automatic gesture, one he hadn’t thought about beforehand. If he had, he never would have touched her.
The soft knit of her sweater did nothing to hide her slender curves. His hands seemed made to fit the gentle angle of her hips. The small of her back was enticing, daring him to explore further. Her waist was taut yet supple, and he could feel her breath coming faster.
His own lungs seemed devoid of air. To hell with the dog, he thought as he pulled her to him. Her eyes were wide with bewilderment, then knowledge. She didn’t move away from him. He touched her hair, letting the dark tendrils curl around his fingers. To his amazement, she didn’t protest, didn’t pull away. He lowered his head until her mouth was under his in that unique way that was Anne. Her body touched his, breast to chest, hip to hip, thigh to thigh. His senses were filled with the sweet taste of her. The scent of her perfume, subtle and completely feminine, mingled with the earthy scent of her riding. “Pandora’s box” was about to explode.
“Ahem!”
Anne jerked away from James at the loud exclamation. She turned around to find Lettice grinning at the two of them. Philip stood next to her, his mouth open in surprise. She smiled weakly at the boy.
Lettice nudged Philip. “Who knew your mother was such a kissy-face.”
“Grandmother!” Anne glared at Lettice. “Don’t be so …”
“Accurate?” James suggested.
Philip was blushing … and giggling. “Boy, Mom, good thing it was only in front of Grandmother Lettice. You could really embarrass a guy, ya know.”
“You could really embarrass a grandmother,” Lettice said.
Anne grabbed Digby’s reins, muttering to herself. James couldn’t hear the words as she walked toward the stables. He didn’t have to; her murderous expression said it all.
“You two cut her a break,” he said to Lettice and Philip when Anne was finally out of sight. He walked over to them. “I was the one kissing her.”
“So I saw,” Lettice said, smiling gleefully.
“Does—” Philip stopped, then said with the understatement of the young, “does this mean you like my mother?”
James smiled. “Yes. I can’t help it. I hope you don’t mind, Philip.”
He ducked his head, shy. “I—I don’t mind.”
“You had better get going, young man, or you’ll miss your bus.” Lettice swatted Philip on the backside. “I don’t think your mother’s in the mood to drive you today.”
“Right.” Philip dashed off the portico without a good-bye.
“He’s a special boy, James,” Lettice said.
“Yes.” He was grinning at the knowledge the boy approved of him.
“He’s been very hurt by a father who didn’t love him. Or his mother.”
“I think it’s time they stopped being hurt.”
He kept his gaze steady on Lettice. He knew they were talking about his intentions with Anne as much as with Philip’s feelings.
After a moment Lettice smiled in satisfaction. “I couldn’t agree more. But if you two are going to be kissing like that, you’ll need some privacy.”
Suspicion swirled ominously through his gut. It was flattering to know that Lettice was pleased with him for her granddaughter. Still, he didn’t like her tone. He liked it even less when he heard her next sentence.
“I think I can take care of giving you that privacy.”
“No!” The word blurted out of his mouth, but this was no time for good manners. Lettice was beginning to steam-roller. “No, Lettice. This is between Anne and me—”
She patted his cheek. “Don’t you worry about a thing, James.”
“But, Lettice—”
“I’ll be subtle. I have been before, with Ellen and Joe.”
He had no idea what she was talking about, but he didn’t like it. “Lettice—”
“Nature just needs a little shove in the right direction.”
“No, nature doesn’t—”
“Let me think on just how to go about this.”
“Lettice. Lettice!”
Completely ignoring him, she strolled back into the house and shut the front door in his face. Cursing, James spun around and stared out over the green pastures striped with white fences.
Just what he needed, he thought. Lettice’s “help.”
“I am not going to Maida Appleton’s for dinner!”
“Oh, yes, you are!”
Anne glared at her grandmother. She absolutely was not going to his grandmother’s house for dinner, not after the way she had kissed James that morning. She was terrified to be around him now. Her resistance was nonexistent the moment she was in his embrace. Unfortunately, if she said exactly why she didn’t want to go to Maida’s, Lettice would only push harder.
As if her grandmother hadn’t already been pushing during the twenty-minute argument, Anne thought. Some corner of logic filtered through her panic, and she realized she was only fueling her grandmother by continuing to argue. Forcing herself to relax, she said, “Please, Grandmother, I’ve got five mares in labor, with two more possible before the night is over. I just can’t go tonight.”
“Are you sure you’re not weaseling out because of James?” Lettice asked, eyeing her speculatively.
“That would be childish. I’m not a child.” She prayed Lettice never talked to Otis, the foaling manager. The possible birth number for tonight was nowhere near five.
Lettice was silent for a moment. “I must admit you’re right. Still, Maida will be disappointed. She’s asked the whole family. It’s very impromptu. Are you sure you can’t get away for a little while?”
Anne shook her head, vowing not to blow it now be being eager. “I really wish I could, now that I think of how much fun we had at that picnic she gave last summer. But they’re going to need every hand in the foaling stable tonight. You and Philip go.”
“If you’re sure …”
“Absolutely.” A brilliant idea struck her. “James can even drive you. After all, he’ll be going to the dinner. And knowing him, he’ll be here up until the time he’d have to go anyway.”
“Well …”
Anne waited out the silence, hiding her impatience behind a forced smile.
“I suppose it’s the only logical solution to transportation,” Lettice finally said, then sighed in obvious disappointment.
Anne refused to gloat. She’d outwitted her grandmother, but it was much safer not to let Lettice know she knew she had.
At lunch James was even less pleased when he was informed the dinner party would be one short.
“I’ll stay,” he immediately said.
“No!” Anne and Lettice exclaimed.
Anne stared at her grandmother, surprised. Lettice had been pushing James at her since … since forever. She would have thought …
“I mean, how will Philip and I get to Maida’s?” Lettice asked, shrugging. “And Anne is going to be up all night delivering horse babies—”
“Foals,” Anne corrected her, grinning. Her grandmother was determined not to pick up the language.
Lettice nodded. “She simply can’t come, I do see that. And Maida will understand. We’ll be out for just a couple of hours, James. Anne will be perfectly fine.”
“She’s right, James.” Anne tried to keep the triumph out of her voice. The thought of him staying was very tempting. And that made it frightening. “I’ll be in the foaling stable the entire time. And things have been quiet—”
“That’s what worries me,” he said.
“I know.” She forced herself to hold his gaze. Looking away might reveal her inner state. “I’m not taking anything lightly, I promise. But I’ll be fine. Besides, your grandmother would never forgive you if you didn’t go.”
That seemed to be the turning point of the argument, because Anne found herself blessedly alone by evening. She sighed with relief and sprawled stomach-down on the sofa, indulging herself in some sorely needed inner peace.
“Thank you, Aunt Maida,” she whispered, tucking a throw pillow under her cheek.
Tibbs hopped up on the sofa and squeezed between her and the back cushions. Reaching around, she scratched his head. It was nice to have her dog back too.
Lying there, she was all too aware of the tension that had been building inside her. The last few days she had felt as if she were a pressure cooker about to explode. She was on constant nerve-racking alert over Battle Cry. All of them were. Combine those worries with her growing feelings for James, and it was no surprise she was a wreck. The refused dinner invitation had been a release valve, and now she had the evening with no pressure, no cares, no Lettice … and no James.
Why, she wondered, was she losing her control with him? A snort of frustration escaped her. What control? The past days he had simply been a presence—a constant presence, a comforting presence, a sensual presence. He had kept his distance until this morning.…
She sat up, any thoughts of relaxation long gone. Tibbs gave her a dirty look for the interruption. She knew exactly how the dog felt.
“Damn him, why does he have to be so … caring?” she whispered into the darkening living room. Tibbs laid his head on her lap. She petted him absently.