by Karen Welch
In answer, she lifted her hips, pressing up between his thighs. “Did I ask for your protection?”
He laughed, releasing her hands and falling onto the bed beside her. “No. But you’re going to have it anyway. In another minute, I’m going to take myself off to shower, making sure to lock the bathroom door, and you’re going to put on those hideous pajamas and leave. And when we meet at breakfast, you will keep that wicked gleam out of your eyes and we will pretend that both of us slept peacefully in our beds last night. Do I make myself clear?”
“Oh, yes. And I’ll play along, provided you promise me something.”
“That depends on what sort of something you have in mind.”
“Let me come to you again tonight. And teach me more.” She turned on her side, bracing on one elbow to stare down at him.
“You’re taking too many chances, Peg.” He couldn’t resist sifting her hair through his fingers, letting the soft length fall across his skin.
“No one will suspect a thing. I’ll be very careful.”
“And what about the chance you take with me?” His hand drifted downward for one last journey along the captivating rise and fall of her body.
“I’m willing to take that chance. Are you, with me?”
With a sigh, he pulled her across him chest. “I must be. I doubt I’d have the strength to chase you away from my door.” Her hand went again to his waistband, simultaneously setting off a flood of desire and a clamor of warning. He lifted her aside and rolled off the bed. “But that’s tonight. For now, you’re leaving.”
She stayed where he’d left her, her eyes following him as he moved to the foot of the bed. He’d never been shy about women looking at his body. He’d been blessed with a well-proportioned, adequately muscled frame which required little maintenance. Since it was nothing he could take credit for, he was neither vain nor proud. Still, standing half-naked beneath the sparkling blue gaze of Peg Shannon set off an inexplicably anxious flutter in his gut.
Without a word, she sat up, drawing her knees to her chin and staring him up and down, tilting her head critically to one side. She might as well have been touching him, for all the sensations her slow appraisal fired off along his nerves. Finally, with a husky sigh, she tilted her head to the other side and said softly, “You’re absolutely delicious. I can’t believe a man who looks like you held me in his arms last night and did such beautiful things to me.”
There were two obvious options. With an exasperated moan, he took the less rewarding. “I’ll see you at breakfast, brat. Don’t forget to take that tray when you go.”
By the time Peg appeared, he’d almost finished eating. Dressed in a sleeveless shirt and circular skirt, her hair again in braids pinned at the back of her head, she bounced into the kitchen with a sweet smile for Mrs. Leary and a cheery “Good morning, Kendall! Did you sleep well?”
He grinned behind his coffee cup. “You obviously did. You’re a little ray of sunshine on this gloomy morning.” He nodded toward the looming thunderheads above the rooftops.
“Looks like we’re in for rain. Are you out and about this morning, Miss?” Mrs. Leary set a basket of popovers on the table and stood by as Peg reached for one with an appreciative “ooh!”
“Kendall, you have to have one of these while they’re hot. They’re absolutely delicious.” Breaking the muffin, she held out one half. As he leaned in to take a bite from her hand, she met his eyes with a look that effectively stripped him naked. “No, Mrs. Leary, I thought I’d stay in this morning. We should go over the menu and seating for tomorrow night, shouldn’t we?” she answered politely.
Unless Mrs. Leary was blind and deaf, he felt sure she was aware of the current crackling across the table as Peg took a healthy bite and moaned her pleasure. The girl was seducing him over breakfast, and he was helpless to stop her. Another few minutes of this and he’d have to snatch her up and kiss that ecstatic little smile off her lips right here, Mrs. Leary or no.
“In that case, I think I’ll try to get in a couple hours of practice.” The fact that his voice was relatively normal was surprising. In his head, that had sounded more desperate than dispassionate.
“Oh, good. I was afraid you’d feel neglected this morning. I have some things to get out of the way before I go to the hospital.” She paused to delicately dab the corners of her mouth with her napkin. “Will you come with me, to the hospital, I mean?”
“If you like.”
“I do like. I hate hospitals. Poor Dad, he does too. I guess I come by it honestly.” She got to her feet. “Speaking of hospitals, I should call to check on him. Mrs. Leary, thank you for the popovers. I’ll be back in a little while to go over the menu, if that’s all right with you.”
“I’ll be right here.” Peg was gone, still bouncing, and the housekeeper looked after her with a chuckle. “That girl, she’s like a whirlwind, in and out. Can I pour you another cup of coffee, sir?”
“Thank you, Mrs. Leary. And I’d like it if you’d join me. There’s a little something I wanted to mention to you.” He hadn’t realized it was on his mind until the opportunity suddenly presented.
Seemingly at ease with his suggestion, Mrs. Leary poured a second cup and took the seat Peg had vacated. “What can I help you with, Mr. Gregg?”
“There was a little incident on Tuesday night. I’m afraid it was overshadowed by Mr. Shannon’s illness, but I felt it worth mentioning.” It was clear he had her attention now. “I left Peg alone in the theater during intermission and when I returned there was a man speaking to her. She said she had no idea who he was, but I could see he had upset her. He apparently mentioned he’d known her mother, or seen her on stage, at least. I know you are all very protective of her and I wondered if there was some actual reason to be concerned. Other than the absurd fascination some people have with the very wealthy, of course.”
He was struck by the immediate change in Mrs. Leary’s attitude. Her eyes narrowed as a blush of what might well have been anger spread up her face. “Can you tell me what this man looked like, sir?”
“Not very tall, slim, fifties maybe. Judging from what I could see of his clothes, he wasn’t what you’d call well-to-do. I only got a glimpse of him, but before he vanished, he caught sight of me and frankly, I didn’t like the look he gave me. I could be all wrong. . .”
“No, sir. You were absolutely right to tell me.” Mrs. Leary set down her cup with a clatter.
Kendall’s pulse quickened. “Do you know who he is?”
“I may well. I’ll have to tell Mr. Adamson, sir. And he may want to ask you more about this.”
“Mrs. Leary, is Peg in any real danger?”
She seemed to take his measure before answering. “No sir, not in the way I think you mean. But I’m afraid there are those who remember things, from the past, you know, and might try to bring them up now. Peg’s mother was a wonderful girl, don’t ever think otherwise. But show business is full of all kinds. And sadly some people never change.”
“Who is this man? Can you tell me?”
“I can’t be sure, but it sounds like a fellow called Brendan O’Hara. Back in the day he fancied himself a talent agent. He knew Molly, Mrs. Shannon, that is, and a lot of other girls, only because he was forever pestering the life out of them to hire him on. I thought we’d heard the last of him way back when she married Mr. Shannon, but I suppose scum will always rise to the surface.”
“Is there any real harm in him?”
She folded her lips, and he knew his question would go unanswered. “I’ll tell Mr. Adamson about this, Mr. Gregg. And I thank you for keeping a watch on Peg. She’d like to think she can go and do as she pleases but I’m afraid that’s not to be.”
He’d made it to the ballroom, opened his violin case and dragged a chair near the French doors before Adamson appeared. “I’m sorry to interrupt, Mr. Gregg, but. . .”
“That’s quite all right. I was expecting you.”
“Mrs. Leary tells me someone approac
hed Miss Shannon at the theater Tuesday evening?”
He repeated the story just as he had told it earlier, adding that Peg had commented on the number of strangers who’d recognized her from newspaper photographs recently. “She seems to deal with it quite easily, but this fellow obviously made her uncomfortable. And he did me, as well. Hairs raised on the back of the neck sort of thing, if you know what I mean.”
“I’m afraid I do, sir. I agree with Mrs. Leary. This chap is not dangerous in a physical sense, but he could well prove to be a nuisance if given the opportunity. Thank you for bringing it to our attention. I’ll put Simon on alert as well.” He turned as though to leave, then appeared to have another thought. “If I may, Mr. Gregg, we all agree, that is Mrs. Leary, Simon and myself, that you are a most suitable escort for Miss Shannon.” Momentarily dropping his imposing façade, he went on, “We’ll be sorry to see you go, frankly. It’s a relief to know she’s in such good hands. I heard about the incident at the O’Hallaron’s party last week, and I must say you were praised as quite the hero.”
Kendall’s jaw dropped. “You heard. . .but how?”
“Word passes between households. This particular report came directly from the O’Hallaron’s butler during our Saturday evening bridge game. He said you took young Canaday instantly to task without causing the least stir. Miss Peg would do well to have someone like yourself available. . .on a more permanent basis, if you know what I mean, sir.” He was stunned to see the man blushing.
“Thank you, Mr. Adamson. I take that as a real compliment. I feel sure she’ll find someone far better suited given a little time. But while I’m here, I promise you, she won’t come to any harm if it’s within my power to prevent it.”
He watched the butler leave, feeling like a total fraud. The people who loved her most trusted him with Peg, and so far he was the one who presented the gravest danger to her. Without their knowing, he had violated their trust in the worst sort of way. No matter his feelings for her, he had no right to what she’d offered last night, and less right to allow her to offer it again. Worst of all, he knew without a doubt he would do just that.
“I wish it weren’t raining. I really wanted to take a ride through the park today. But I guess that will have to wait.” Peg stared out the car’s window at the steady drizzle. “I suppose we could take in another museum. What would you like to do?”
He laid his hand over hers on the seat between them. “See you smile for starters.”
She turned to him with the tense, hollow-eyed expression he’d seen earlier. “I’m just being silly. I so wanted Dad to come home today, and I don’t really understand why he couldn’t. He looks better than he has in weeks.”
“The nurse said they just want him to pass another good night, and he’ll be discharged first thing in the morning. Surely a few more hours can’t matter so much.” Looking around, he thought he recognized a landmark or two. “Aren’t we somewhere near the Opera Café?”
“Yes. Columbus Circle is just up ahead. Why?”
“What say we stop in for one of those fabulous milkshakes? Would that cheer you up, do you think?”
She actually smiled. “Sure, why not?” Leaning forward, she tapped Simon on the shoulder. “Could you drop us at the Opera, please? We’ll take a cab home when we’re done.”
The chauffer’s eyes instantly sought Kendall’s in the mirror. Obviously, Adamson had already spoken with him. “I’ll see she gets home safely, Simon. I just want to load her up with ice cream and chocolate first.” He hoped he’d conveyed the proper signal. He was hardly experienced at this sort of security detail.
Simon wheeled the car across lanes of traffic and pulled to the curb in front of the café. “I’d be happy to wait, miss.”
“Don’t be silly. Go home, Simon. If the rain stops, we may take a little stroll.” She waved him away and turned to Kendall with a pout. “I thought he was bad when I was a little girl, but he’s getting worse all the time. Come on, let’s see if Figaro is here.” Taking his arm, she ducked beneath the awning. “It looks like the clouds are moving out. Maybe the day isn’t lost, after all.” At the door, she paused to look up at him. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Caring.”
“Always.”
“That seemed to lighten your step, but I must say it slowed mine. Following you around is hard on my waistline.” Back on the street, they fell in stride with the other pedestrians crowding the sidewalk. The rain had stopped and the clouds parted to allow for an afternoon sun that quickly raised the temperature.
“Your waistline is just lovely. Perfect in fact. And I like that little strip of hair that disappears into your trousers.” She shot him an impudent grin.
“Have you no shame, brat? What if someone overheard?”
“Who’s going to care? For all they know, we’re just two people in love.”
He flinched at her use of the word. “I seem to recall you promised you wouldn’t fall in love with me.”
“I did. And I haven’t. But my crush has definitely gotten bigger. Right now, you are my everything, friend, lover and hero. The stuff every girl dreams of. Let me have a little fun while I can, will you? Before too much longer you’ll run back to London and leave me all alone again.”
They walked on in silence. Peg tucked her hand securely in his, from all appearances much happier than earlier in the afternoon. Her moods, he’d learned, swung easily from high to low, most often influenced by anything to do with her father. Right now, she seemed to have thrown off her worries, but he knew this was only temporary.
“So are we going somewhere in particular? It’s getting pretty warm for strolling.”
“I suppose we could head for the park. Or we could just get a cab and go home. I guess it’s too early to go to bed, isn’t it?”
“Peg! It’s four-thirty in the afternoon. Why on earth would you want to go to bed?” Two could play at this game, and the gleam in her eyes was his reward.
“Now who’s a brat? I guess I’m feeling a little aimless. Let’s do go to the park. The carriages should be running again now that the rain’s stopped. And it’ll be cooler there.” She stepped to the curb at the intersection. It was when he turned to join her that his eye was drawn to a man just crossing a block behind. He instinctively grabbed her arm firmly enough to prompt her protest. “Kendall, what are you doing?”
He’d been seen as well, judging by the fact that the man abruptly halted in front of a shop window, feigning an interest in whatever was on display. He tried to get a better look in the daylight. Same build, same shabby haircut. The man from the theater had apparently been following them since they left the café.
“Sorry. Don’t want you to lose your footing.” Linking her arm more gently through his as the crossing light turned green, he cast a cautious glance down the street. O’Hara, if that was indeed his name, had started walking again, taking long strides in their direction. Kendall was torn between rushing toward him to demand an explanation, and getting Peg into the park before she saw him, too. His responsibility was to Peg, he decided. Best leave it to Adamson and the others to deal with this man. Still, the thought of lifting him by his scruffy lapels and seeing fear in his eyes held undeniable appeal.
They found an available carriage just inside the park entrance and once settled on the seat behind the slow-moving horse, Kendall felt more secure. With Peg tucked beside him, and one last glance to be certain O’Hara hadn’t followed them further, he looked down at her with a smile. “This is dangerously romantic.”
“I know. I’ve always wanted to do this, with a man, I mean. But you’re the only man I’d be interested in doing it with. Kendall, will you kiss me, please?”
“What? Right here in broad daylight? And behind a horse, no less? Really brat, your demands are becoming more and more outrageous.” Before she could answer, he dropped his head to take her open lips, eliciting a moan in response. “There, now why don’t we just enjoy the scenery?”
> She leaned her head back with a sigh. “You will have to go back, won’t you?”
“What, to London? Yes, I will.”
“Will you be sorry to leave?”
“Hmm. I sense a trap in that question, but I suppose you expect me to be honest, don’t you?” When she nodded without meeting his eyes, he went on. “I will have regrets, I’m sure. But we both knew from the start this was only a brief interlude.”
After a moment, she sighed again. “I know. I can’t help wondering what it would be like to have all the time in the world, to have you here in New York. You don’t think about what might happen if things were different?”
“No. I can’t afford to. That’s the danger of what we’ve done, love. And it isn’t too late to put a stop to it, you know. To pretend last night never happened.”
She lifted her head to meet his eyes with a gaze so intense it took his breath. “I don’t want to pretend it never happened. I loved being with you like that. For a few hours, I was just an ordinary girl in the arms of a man who wanted her. You gave me that, Kendall. Don’t take it back, please.”
He had no answer, other than to cup her cheek in his palm and kiss her. If he had sensed himself in danger earlier, now he knew he was doomed.
Chapter Twenty-one
Peg had asked Mrs. Leary to serve dinner in the garden. “Why should we stay indoors when it’s such a beautiful night?” The rain had blown out on a cooling wind, which now settled to a soft breeze. The air was fresh and the darkening sky clear. Kendall saw immediately that Mrs. Leary had taken this opportunity to promote what she must consider a budding romance. The table was centered with candles and flowers and situated near the fountain, far enough from the house to ensure their privacy.
“Isn’t this a lot of trouble for Mrs. Leary? Couldn’t we have eaten at the breakfast table?”
“I think this is lovely. And she did it all on her own. I didn’t ask her to do anything but make up plates we could bring out here.” Across the table, Peg’s eyes glistened. “I think she hopes we’ll fall in love. She likes you.”