by Kitty Margo
Joshua had not failed to notice Lynna's quaking reaction and was pleased to note he had not been so easily dismissed from mind, either. In retrospect, he hadn’t changed in the last few years, whereas she had blossomed into the most breathtakingly beautiful woman his eyes had ever beheld. Turning to Silas, he said, “You do grow stunning women in Georgia, sir.”
“Yes, I will be the first to admit that there are some enchanting women in our fair state.” He beamed, proudly. “However, few to rival Lynna and Suzanne.”
“Why, Joshua!” Suzanne quickly left her seat, almost colliding with Beth in the process, and grabbed his arm, while wheedling for a compliment. “I’m sure that a few of the young ladies here in Charleston and some of the ladies you have met during your travels abroad fair put Lynna and little ole me to shame.”
Ignoring an infuriated Suzanne and looking straightway across the room into Lynna's azure eyes, Joshua smiled a most besotting smile and said, “Oh, to be sure, I have had the privilege of meeting some exquisite and exotic females in my travels. But I said it then and I will say it now. I have never seen one more beautiful,” he added as an afterthought, “than the two of you, of course.” Joshua was tempted to reach out and touch Lynna, to see if she was real or only a figment of his imagination.
He had dreamed of her so often, dreamed of her standing in front of him just as she was now. Dreamed of her sweet, soft lips and smooth satiny skin. His eyes fell to her swelling bosom and he had an almost overpowering urge to cup her breasts in his hands and bring them to his lips. To feel and taste the soft curves displayed so abundantly before him.
Taking a step toward her, he was unaware of what his true intentions were until Beth rushed to grab his arm and quickly say, “Shall we go in to dinner, Joshua? You must be starving!” Beth had known her reaction would have to be swift in order to avoid a scene. And what a spectacle Suzanne would have created had Joshua succeeded in his mindless endeavor to embrace Lynna! Having witnessed Joshua's initial reaction to Lynna's dazzling beauty, she realized her sister-in-law was in for a rude awakening. Good grief! Beth already dreaded that dramatic scene.
Turning to go into the dining room, Lynna felt a warm hand pressing her elbow and relaxed. She needed Daniel's calming presence and reassuring touch. Clutching his arm, she breathed deeply and leaned against him for support as she tried to still her racing heart.
“I should be more than happy to escort you to your boudoir should you feel the need for repose before the meal,” Joshua whispered insolently for her ears only.
What? A second ago, Beth had him firmly by the arm and was leading him into the dining room. The odious oaf! Did he expect her to fall breathlessly into his waiting arms again, as she had on his ship? Did he imagine her to still be the young naiveté that had capitulated heedlessly to his lustful advances?
He would soon learn that she was no longer the dewy-eyed child, unversed in the ways of the world that she had been on his ship. Her uncle had forced the harsh realities of life down her throat shortly after her arrival at Magnolia House. And now, hearing Joshua’s smooth, southern drawl so close to her ear caused the memories of his cold, callous treatment to return in a rush. Lynna froze for a second before jerking away from him faster than a duck after a June bug. She turned toward him, lambasting him with her eyes.
“Is anything amiss, my sweet?” he questioned guilelessly.
Moving a few steps away to a more respectable distance, Lynna chose to disregard his question and ask one of her own. “I am not your sweet, Captain Jordan, and shouldn’t you be escorting Suzanne? You are her dinner guest, are you not?”
He once again flashed a disarming smile that sent her heart to flutter wildly. “I have terrible manners, to be sure. I almost did not come tonight.” He moved closer and slid his hand down her arm to rest on the small of her back. “Only now I see what a grave error in judgment that would have been on my part. Believe me, Lynna, I would not have missed this night for the world.”
Trying to remain aloof, she gave him a withering glare and calmly moved out of his reach. “Sir, you forget yourself. Please do not attempt to besmirch my reputation by forcing your unwanted attentions on me.”
Joshua threw back his head and laughed uproariously, then leaned toward her to whisper, “Madame, I have never found it necessary to force myself on any woman, as you should well recall.”
Lynna's outraged gasp drew the attention of everyone, including Suzanne, who glared at her with blazing eyes. Then she hurried to the table, relieved to find her place between Daniel and her aunt, who were observing her with questioning eyes.
Suzanne had made a point of being seated next to Joshua, but try as she might, she could not gain the man’s full attention. He dutifully answered her questions, but his gaze remained firmly fixed on Lynna. It was Silas who succeeded in gaining Joshua's interest with a question about Sea Grove.
With Joshua's head turned to answer Silas, Lynna took the opportunity to peruse him more closely. He was just as she remembered, not a hair on his head had changed. And she remembered him well. She should. Each night her dreams were filled with him. She watched as he carelessly brushed a lock of raven hair from his forehead. Lynna was just getting to an inspection of his broad, muscular shoulders when his head suddenly turned toward her and their eyes locked. She quickly pivoted her head toward her aunt. Unfortunately, not before seeing his emerald gaze dip purposefully down to her breasts.
Her cheeks flushed crimson as she realized the man had lost none of his brash effrontery. Ignoring him, she placed a trembling hand to her throat, hoping to slow her erratic pulse, which now pounded in her temple. She turned to her aunt to speak, deciding that under no circumstances would she look his way again. At that very moment, Samuel drew everyone's rapt attention by tapping on the side of his glass with a spoon and addressing her with a broad smile. “Lynna, darling, rumor has it that I may soon be permitted to claim you as my sister-in-law.”
His sister-in-law! Oh, good Lord! This night was taking disastrous turns by leaps and bounds. Lynna nearly choked on her food as her aunt commenced to pounding her back. When she could breathe again, she took a sip of Madeira and turned to Judith, who seemed as confused by Samuel's startling announcement as she herself had been. How dare Daniel! He had informed Samuel they were to be wed? When she had yet to accept his marriage proposal! However, one glance at Daniel's apologetic expression assured her he was every bit as startled by Samuel's remarks as she herself had been.
She took a deep, steadying breath, released it, and asked in as calm a voice as she could muster under the circumstances, “May I ask where you gathered this information, Samuel?”
Samuel had known Lynna long enough to realize that even though her temper was rare, she was indeed in possession of one. He could also tell by her glittering eyes that the emotion she was trying so desperately to conceal was threatening to spill forth at any moment. “Evidently, I was misinformed. Perhaps I was a bit hasty in my eagerness to welcome you into the family fold, Lynna. Now, don’t go getting your feathers all ruffled. Suzanne was the rumormonger, as usual. He glanced askance at his sister, but she only shrugged. “She was so overjoyed at the news she had to tell someone. You know my sister never could keep a secret.”
Daniel smiled lovingly at Lynna and took the opportunity to set the record straight. “It is true. I have asked Lynna to become my wife, that is no secret. As yet, she has not consented. Rest assured, however, I will keep trying until I eventually wear her down. Although, I did have my heart set on a June wedding.”
“June?” Lynna cried, incredulously. “But Daniel, this is May already.”
“I know. I do not mean to cause you undue pressure, my darling. But by the same token, if the matter were left exclusively up to me, we would be man and wife before the sun sets tonight.”
“Perfect timing,” Samuel joked, teasing his younger brother.
“Now, Lynna dear, you take all the time you need to be sure.” Mary smiled, giving Samuel
a chastising glance for his off-color remark. “Daniel will simply have to be patient. Why, I myself have always been partial to fall weddings.”
Lynna lowered her eyes, feeling miserable. How could she tell Daniel's mother that after tonight, after the effect the handsome sea captain was having on her emotions, she was more sure than ever that she could not marry her son?
Then, as usual, Suzanne jumped in feet first to make matters much worse. “Oh, Mother, honestly! We all know Lynna and Daniel will eventually wed. We have known it for months now. Why not proceed with the festivities? We haven’t had a decent party in ages. Why, their wedding would be the social event of the season.”
Lynna marveled at whether she was to have any input whatsoever on the subject of her own betrothal.
Mary hushed her outspoken daughter with a stern glance. “Darling, you do not make a decision as important as marriage simply because it is the social season. Whenever they decide to wed will be reason to celebrate.”
Joshua had held his breath during their conversation, fearing that Lynna might even be considering accepting Daniel's proposal. Then, when he caught her eyes and witnessed the pain reflected in their sorrowful blue depths, he knew he had nothing to fear. It was obvious she had no desire to wed Daniel Fletcher. But his family, each of them, it seemed, was pressuring her into holy matrimony. Why did that thought rip at his gut so?
Inwardly Lynna groaned. She loved Mary and Silas deeply and hurting them was what she least wanted to do. If she refused their son, evidently they, too, would feel the sting of rejection. It was a hopeless situation, one with no easy way out. No way to avoid someone getting their feelings trampled.
A deep voice speaking her name brought Lynna out of her reverie. “How long will you be visiting Charleston, Lynna?” Joshua queried before biting into a chunk of savory venison.
It was some moments before she found her voice as his twinkling green eyes fused with hers. “I am not sure, exactly.” She didn’t miss the sparks that shot from Suzanne's eyes at his soft words. If looks could kill! “Samuel and Beth were kind enough to invite us and we certainly hope not to overstay our welcome.”
“Impossible,” Samuel assured her. “You and Judith are family, and more than welcome to stay as long as you wish.” Turning to his wife, he added, “Right, darling?'
“Absolutely, our home is your home.” Her warm smile convinced them her words were sincere.
Lynna was grateful that Daniel had been engrossed in conversation throughout dinner and had not noticed Joshua's unwavering attention. She didn’t dare hope Suzanne had, by some grand stroke of luck, overlooked it as well. She had glanced up from toying with her food several times to find Suzanne glaring at her with untold volumes of hatred shining in her eyes. The message her eyes had imparted was clear, “He is mine! Stay away!”
After dinner, during which Lynna had been unable to take a single bite of food for fear her fork would fall clattering to her plate, or she would choke on a mouthful of turnip greens, the group adjourned to the parlor. Lynna went to stand by the open side doors to breathe the cool scented breeze as flashes of lightning began to play across the sky and distant thunder rumbled.
“Joshua, Suzanne tells us you are the Captain of your own ship, but that you have docked the vessel while you oversee your family's plantation.” Mary seemed quite interested in her daughter's latest beau.
“That is correct, madam.” A hint of sadness crept into Joshua's voice and he looked at Lynna with undisguised longing. “The Windjammer will weather her storms without me henceforth.”
Hearing the name of the ship caused another flood of memories to wash over Lynna, leaving her visibly shaken. Ever observant, Joshua did not fail to notice her reaction.
“That is very admirable on your part,” Mary stated. “But after all your years at sea, I fear plantation life may be a drastic change and even a bit boring.”
“Now, don’t go feeling sorry for Joshua, Mother. It is without warrant, I assure you. Captain Jordan has enough memories stockpiled to last the average man a lifetime.” Samuel grinned, slapping Joshua on the back. “Don’t you, my friend?’
Once again Joshua's eyes sought Lynna as he spoke softly, “I have many treasured memories from the Windjammer, true, but only one that was unforgettable and routinely torments my dreams.”
Everyone in the room witnessed this passionate exchange. It was then that Mary gave up all hope of ever having Joshua as her son-in-law.
Unfortunately, her daughter did not accept defeat quite so gracefully. She rushed to take Joshua's arm, pressing her bosom against him as she fluttered her lashes wildly, successfully embarrassing her family. “It is such a beautiful evening, Captain Jordan. Could we perhaps take a round through the garden?”
Lynna needed to be away from Joshua’s suffocating nearness and Suzanne’s persistent whining. “It has been such an exhausting day,” she said to Beth. “If you will excuse me, I will retire for the evening.”
Joshua immediately pulled away from Suzanne, leaving her positively livid, and hurried to Lynna’s side. She feared his purpose was to seduce her then and there as he gripped her small hand in his. “I understand, but I do hope to get the chance to visit with you again before you return to Georgia,” was all he said, mercifully.
Glancing over his shoulder, Lynna cringed at the unbridled rage glistening in Suzanne's eyes. At that moment her greatest desire was to be away from both of them. Jerking her hand from his, she bid everyone good night and raced up the stairs. Why had she come here? How could she have been so dense? Dense. The very word Joshua had once used to refer to her mentality.
Once in the safety of her room, she slipped into a pale pink nightgown and fell breathless and numb on the bed with her mind a chaotic jumble. If only she could return to Georgia tonight! Why did Joshua have to live nearby? Why did her skin burn where he touched her? Why did he smell so good? And why, oh why, did he have to be so sinfully handsome?
For these and other questions, she had no rational answers. Accepting that sleep would be a long time in coming, she went to stand on the balcony, watching as the lightning flashed in jagged forks across the sky and booming thunder drew nearer. Thank God Aunt Judith was here if the storm should get too fierce. A gust of wind blew across the land to rustle the leaves and cool her heated skin as she leaned over the balcony and breathed deeply of the unmistakable smell of rain. The moon cast its golden glow over the earth, lending to it a rosy hue as a multitude of insects played their nightly concert.
“Good night, my sweet. I fear sleep will abandon me tonight as well.”
Joshua did not miss her muffled gasp, as one hand flew to her mouth and the other clutched her gown more tightly around her bosom. Evidently, Suzanne had failed in her effort to secure a private audience with him.
His deep laughter drifted up to her. “I don’t suppose you could be persuaded to come out and take a walk with me?”
“You should have accepted Suzanne’s invitation, sir. I can assure you that I have no desire or intention of ever being alone with you again.” Incredulous, she spun around and rushed into the room, confident that if she ignored him, he would go away.
After waiting for what seemed like an eternity and hearing nothing, she tiptoed to the balcony and peered over the railing.
“Just as I feared.” He grinned, blowing her a seductive kiss. “We will have our walk soon, my sweet.” With those words he turned, and Lynna could hear him whistling softly as galloped into the night.
Sleep was impossible as she struggled with feelings she had hoped were long dead. “You had your walk …and so much more, Captain Jordan.”
Chapter Ten
Joshua spurred his horse forward as fat drops of rain splashed his face and quickly soaked his clothes. Heat lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating the heavens in a brilliant display. He flashed a triumphant grin as he raced across the field toward home at a full gallop. Good! The pouring rain would prevent Suzanne from going to the pond to
wait for him. The girl was too demanding by far. He had been with her almost nightly during the last fortnight and she never seemed satisfied. Hell, he doubted if one man was even capable of such a herculean feat. No doubt there would be hell to pay when he put a halt to their nocturnal rendezvous, but it must be done.
He still could hardly comprehend the fact that Lynna's Aunt Judith was employed by the Fletchers, and Lynna had been living with them all these years. Many times Suzanne had pleaded and pouted with him to visit her family home and he had promptly dismissed her requests. Damn! Had he known Lynna was in residence, he might have been a frequent visitor at Magnolia House and worn out his welcome years ago.
The mystical Lynna had certainly woven an enchanted spell over him. Many was the night he had lain awake in his lonely cabin and brought her clearly to mind, often wondering if she was safe and out of harm’s way, while at the same time longing for the feel of her soft, ample curves against his burning skin. He had been content with his dalliance with the insatiable Suzanne, his frequent scintillating visits with Resa, and many gratifying encounters with the provocative upstairs maid, Juanita. Until now!
The memory of his passionate encounter with Lynna was as fresh as if it had happened only yesterday. He laughed out loud remembering how his heart had thundered in his chest at dinner when Samuel had inquired about her marriage plans. Greatly relieved, his galloping heart had returned to its normal rhythm after realizing the lady had no desire or intent of speaking her vows anytime soon. That left the door wide open for him and he did not intend to waste a single minute.
They could make a fresh start. Granted, he had made a grievous error in his treatment of Lynna, but after seeing her tonight he could no longer deny his feelings. He wanted her. She ignited a fire in his loins no other woman could come close to smothering and he would not allow her to carelessly slip through his fingers again. “Will you marry me, Joshua?” she had asked once. If she were to ask that question of him today, she would most likely get a very different response than she had then. True, he had been a colossal fool. But now, with his decision made, he arrived home soaked to the skin, feeling better than he had in…three years.