by Karen Welch
“You have nothing to fear, love. They don’t eat American cousins for breakfast, I can guarantee. If you’d like, I’ll stick close until you get reacquainted. I seem to recall you helped me sort things out that summer in Ireland. It’s the least I can do now.”
The smile took on a different quality, closer to affectionate. “I’d love for you to stick close, as close as you like. I’ve missed you so much. I don’t want things to be weird between us now.”
He grinned at the way her nose twitched on the word ‘weird.’ “Not sure just what constitutes weirdness, but since I’ve missed you as well, I doubt there’ll be a problem.”
She glanced away, her face unreadable. “Have you? Missed me, I mean?”
Taking her hand, he pressed it between his. “Peg, nothing has changed. My feelings for you are just what they were three years ago.” She looked up, the light in her eyes bringing a catch to his throat. “But. . . other things have changed. Our lives have gone on and we’re different people now. Don’t you think it would be wise to get to know one another again, before we try to pick up where we left off?”
“I don’t feel different. Oh, I’ve learned lot, and I’ve probably grown up a little bit, but Kendall, I still think of you as my Galahad. And here you are tonight, saving me again.” Once again she looked away. “Maybe you’ve changed. Maybe you don’t want me the way you did then.”
He let out a groan, dropping his forehead to their clasped fingers. “You’re going to force me to have that drink! Here I am trying to do the proper thing, not just toss you over my shoulder, haul you up to your ‘nice little suite’ and forget all about this wretched party, and you’re making it nigh unto impossible. What would you have me say?” He heard her laughter, soft and throaty, and drew a deep defensive breath.
“I think you’ve said enough. For now.”
“Good. Then let’s find your guard dog and get on with it.” He tossed some coins on the bar. “And just for the record, I’m not planning to carry you up any stairs this time around. You’ll have to walk.”
Chapter Twenty-nine
“It wasn’t so bad really.” Raising the hem of her dress, Peg bent down to rub her foot. “But my big toe’s going to be black and blue tomorrow. Nice to know some of us haven’t changed. Seamus is as big an oaf as ever. Well, bigger really. How much do you think he weighs now?”
“Oh, at least ten stone. The boy obviously never misses a meal. Did he crush your foot badly?”
“Couldn’t you see me discreetly wiping away tears?”
He chuckled. “And I thought you were just overjoyed to see him after all these years.”
“Surprisingly, it was nice to see them all. Not as awkward as I expected, except for Seamus practically falling into my arms. Here, hold these. I’ll just walk into the hotel barefoot. I can’t stand putting my foot back in that shoe again.” She passed him her pumps, the toe of the left one wearing a black smudge of a battle scar. Hammonds slowed the car to the curb in front of Brown’s and Peg said softly, “You are coming up for a while, aren’t you? It’s still early.”
“Just for few minutes. I have an early student in the morning. But I suppose I’ll have to help you to your rooms, considering your injury. I was joking about carrying you, remember. You’ll have to hobble along on your own.”
Linking her arm through his, she rested her cheek on his shoulder briefly. “I’ll manage.”
They made their way rapidly to the elevator, Peg giggling and holding up her skirts to keep them from dragging the floor. “I suppose they see people doing sillier things than this all the time. The staff here is really very nice, which is a relief. I was afraid they’d be stuffy and look down their noses at me because I’m just an American college girl.”
He shot her an incredulous scowl. “You’re hardly any old American college girl. If memory serves, you’re that rich and famous American banking heiress. I’m sure they were thrilled to learn you’d be gracing the halls here at Brown’s this summer, barefoot or not.”
“I doubt that. But they have been awfully nice. Did I tell you I have my own personal maid?”
“Do you now? She doesn’t double as a bodyguard, does she? I’d hate to find myself looking down the shaft of a feather duster some morning.”
Peg eyed him from beneath her lashes as she unlocked her door. “Does that mean you’re planning to stay over?”
“Would I be welcome?”
As she dropped the key on the little console by the door and switched on the lights, he had the feeling she was playing out the moment for effect. When she turned to him, her eyes were glittering. “What do you think?” Before he could answer, she’d slipped her arms around his neck and risen on tiptoe, stopping just short of a kiss.
“I think I might be. But only after we’ve had a little time to get reacquainted. I meant what I said, love. We should take things slower this time.”
Sliding her hands down his chest, she made a little face. “Fine. We’ll do things your way.”
She led him into the sitting room, dropping down on the couch and lifting her skirts. Extending her injured foot for further examination, she displayed a wealth of nylon-clad leg, not unintentionally, Kendall felt sure. “As long as I know you’re still interested, I’ll try to be patient. At least until this wedding’s over, it would probably be better if they didn’t all suspect we’re more than friends anyway. I’d hate to draw any attention from Maeve and I think that just might get their attention, don’t you?”
He chuckled, keeping his eyes on her face despite the tempting view. Those legs of hers might be as stunning as ever, but he was determined not to succumb to their lure. “It might. And this should be Maeve and Reggie’s big moment. What did you think of old Reggie, by the way? I thought he at least held his own among all you Shannons.”
“I think Maeve is a very lucky woman. She probably doesn’t deserve such a nice guy, but I can see he loves her. And I can see what good friends the two of you are. That was nice, seeing you with your friend. I’ve only seen you with my family, which I guess didn’t give me a true picture of the real you.” Tucking her legs under her, she turned to him with an innocent smile.
“Why, Miss Shannon, how insightful of you.” When she playfully punched his arm, he chuckled. “Perhaps while you’re here, you’ll have the opportunity to finally get to know me, see me against the dingy backdrop of my boring, middle-class world. Might tarnish my armor a bit, but then perhaps you’d see why I keep telling you I’m not the man for you.”
“I doubt that very much. But I’d love to see you in your world. Will I get to see you perform? Does the orchestra play during the summer?” She idly began to remove her jewelry, slipping off her earrings and reaching over to drop them on the table behind her.
“Not here. We go out to Glyndebourne, in East Sussex. We’re the orchestra for the opera festival all summer.”
“You won’t be here in London?” She looked up sharply.
“In and out. I’m a busy man, my love. I have to eke out a living you know. No slacking. The quartet has a pretty full schedule as well, I’m pleased to say.”
“When will I get to see you?” He took perverse pleasure in her pout. “You won’t have any time for me.”
“Considering you just showed up without any warning, it would serve you right if that were the case. But never fear, I’ll have a few spare hours here and there. Of course, I do have my students, and the quartet rehearses at least once a week. Then there are a number of gigs scheduled, weddings, teas, and in August we’ll play the Proms, twice this year. A real coup for us, I must tell you.” He ran out of fingers as he ticked off the list. “Of course, there are your lectures, too. We should be able to manage breakfast on Sunday mornings or tea now and then.”
He watched her face fall, her eyes darkening. “Breakfast and tea are not what I had hoped for, Kendall. I thought in three months, we could. . .well, I was hoping. . .”
“What were you hoping, Peg?”
“I don’t know exactly. I guess I wanted what we had in New York. We’re not going to have that, are we?” Her shoulders slumped and she dropped her head.
He couldn’t keep up the pretense, not in the face of her disappointment. “We’ll have as much as I can manage, love. I promise. You’ll have to be a little bit patient, that’s all. Now don’t look so down. Don’t you think I want that, too? I’ve thought of little else since I found you on my couch, you know.” Leaning closer, he cupped her chin gently.
Her eyes brightened instantly. “You have?” Just as instantly, she scowled and set her lips in another pout. “Kendall Gregg, you’re just being mean! Why are you teasing me like this?”
“Because, my darling, I had to be sure you’re not teasing me. As I recall, I let you down rather badly last time, and you have every right to seek revenge. It would be just like a woman to tempt a man into revealing his vulnerabilities, only to remind him what a cad he’s been in the past.”
“Were you a cad?” He was aware of her eyes scanning his face, coming to rest on his mouth. He knew that look all too well, and where it could lead.
“I’d say so. I took full advantage of your generous affections and then chose a seat with an orchestra over you, or at least that’s how it must have seemed to you.” Dropping his hand, he drew away slightly.
“I suppose it did. I was pretty unhappy for a while. But I knew it was best for your career. And I had things to do, too. I don’t think I hold any grudges, if that’s what you’re afraid of.” She slid closer, resting an arm along the back of the couch. He caught a whiff of her perfume, watched her lips part as if to say more.
“I’m glad to hear it. It’s getting late. I really should be going.” He’d fully intended to get to his feet, but before he could move, Peg deftly wound her arms round his neck. With a rustle of brocade, she turned across his lap, leaving him no choice but to cradle her closer.
Words would have been wasted. Peg would have her say without uttering a syllable, and he was lacking a plausible argument anyway. If he hoped his resistance to her might have strengthened over time, all hope vanished in that embrace. He managed to stop himself from taking advantage of the zipper pull conveniently beneath his fingers. He did not however, succeed in curbing his instant arousal beneath the sweep of Peg’s fingers as they slid inside his collar to caress hyper-sensitized skin.
“Peg, please, we can’t do this, not tonight!” He tore his mouth from hers with a gasp. “The last thing I want is to begin again this way.”
“Why?” She seemed undeterred as she teased at his tie.
“Because. . .!” He disengaged her fingers, pressing them against his lapel. “Because we’re supposed to be getting reacquainted, remember? And there’s no need to rush. We have time to do things properly now, if you’ll just be patient.” Seeming to ignore him, she resumed her assault on his tie, which had become stubbornly knotted. “Peg! Will you please stop?”
Pulling back with a stunned expression, she moaned softly. “You really want me to? Kendall, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. I just don’t want to fall into bed at ‘hello.’ Well, truthfully, that’s precisely what I want to do, but it would make better sense to take our time. I do have an early day tomorrow. I’d have to rush out of here at the crack of dawn.” Her hands fell away to her lap, her eyes dropping to study them. “Peg, look at me. You deserve better and this time around I mean to give it to you.”
A slow smile raised the corners of her mouth. “That’s very sweet. As long as you’re sure it’s not that you’re aren’t attracted to me anymore.”
He shook his head slightly at the double negatives and the absurdity of her doubts given his current raging arousal. “Oh, no, love.” Tenderly, he raised her chin. “Attraction has never been a suitable word for what you bring to my mind. I adore you, Peg Shannon. Can’t you let me court you a little, wine and dine you, even if only on my meager budget? I’d like to show you my London, introduce you to some of the people in my life. Now that I know we have this time to spend together, I want to make the most of it.”
With equal tenderness, she reached up to stroke his cheek. “I’d like that. But promise me something?”
“What’s that?”
“You’ll show me your bed, the one in the wall, sometime soon.”
He threw back his head and laughed. “Fine. I’ll show you my bed. I won’t promise what might happen after that, but I’ll at least give you a look at it. How’s that?”
She smiled, the sparkle in her eyes turning to blue fire. “Wonderful.”
Chapter Thirty
“They’re absolutely hideous! Maeve must have been drunk when she chose them!”
Kendall winced at the wailing timbre of Agnes’s voice through the bedroom door as Peg burst through, a startling vision in pink and white. When she skidded to a halt before him, he detected just a hint of a grin on her face.
“Oh, good heavens!” Adelaide McGill, seated beside him on the couch, threw up her hands in dismay. “Are they both like that?” Her question prompted a further howl from the bedroom.
“I’m afraid so. Agnes, you might as well come out so your mother can get the full impact,” Peg called over her shoulder. “Kendall, stop laughing!”
“I’m not laughing. But I must admit I’d like to. Are you sure you have it on right way round?”
Peg twisted to get a view of herself, brushing at the spiral of ruffles circling the dress from shoulder to hem. White with bright pink dots, featuring a large bow at the waist and a short train at the back, the dress resembled nothing so much as an inverted strawberry parfait. “Really, Aunt Addie, do you think she meant for us to look like this? Maybe the dress shop made a mistake?”
Agnes, the fury in her eyes magnified by the thick lenses of her spectacles, shuffled into the room and took her place next to Peg. Unceremoniously, she flattened a large pink picture hat on her head. “Mother, I refuse to be seen in public like this. Kendall, please close your eyes. Your vision may be permanently damaged by the sight of us. And if you laugh, I swear I’ll box your ears.”
It was Adelaide who burst into gales of laughter. “Agnes, take that hat off now!” She took a moment to wipe her eyes and catch her breath before going on, “I don’t know what your sister was thinking, but I promise you girls will not be walking down the aisle in those things. I’ll just have to call the shop and see what we can do. Fortunately, Maeve is in Birmingham for the next two days meeting Reggie’s grandparents, so whatever we work out, she’ll have to approve.” Watching the girls march toward the bedroom, she pulled on her gloves and straightened her hat, a warrior preparing for battle. “Take them off, girls, and pack them back in the boxes carefully. Agnes, you and I will take them round to the shop right now. Peg, if you’d like to come along, you’re certainly welcome, but I’m sure you have better things to do this afternoon. Don’t worry, dear. I’ll make sure to find something suitable. It won’t do to have you two looking like clowns on carnival day.” Adelaide turned to Kendall with an innocent smile. “I’m right, aren’t I, that you and Peg have plans? It’s not just a coincidence that we find you here this morning?”
“I promised to take her for a pub lunch. And for some reason she wants to hear the quartet rehearse this afternoon. No accounting for taste, I suppose.” In spite of himself, he grinned in response to the knowing gleam in Adelaide’s eyes.
“Have a lovely afternoon, Kendall. Peg is a rare prize, in case you don’t know it. But then again, I’m pretty sure you do.”
He carried the boxes downstairs and put the ladies in a cab, returning to Peg’s suite to find her standing at the window overlooking the street. “Poor Maeve may not survive to see her wedding day if Agnes doesn’t calm down. I had no idea she has such a temper.”
He joined her, laying his hands lightly on her shoulders. “Agnes has hidden depths. And no patience with her sister.” When Peg turned to slide her arms around his waist, he dropped a kiss on her forehead. “You wer
e a good sport about the whole thing. Sure you still want a ploughman, or would you like something a bit more elegant as a reward?”
“No, a ploughman sounds fine. I’ll just get my things and we can go. I told Hammonds I’d be with you all afternoon, so he could take the day off. I’m pretty sure he thinks we’re up to something, but I really don’t care. As soon as Dad gets here next week, I intend to negotiate for a little more freedom.” With a gentle hand at the back of his head, she urged him down for a kiss. As she’d always done, Peg took kissing very seriously, calling forth visions that led him far beyond the simple act.
“We should go, brat. I’m on a schedule, remember. The lads will not appreciate standing on the landing waiting for me.” He couldn’t resist resting his cheek against her hair, breathing in her fragrance.
“Call me that again, please.”
“What? Brat? I’d have thought you’d outgrown it by now.”
“Oh, no. I love it when you call me that. Much more so than those lovely things like ‘darling’ or even ‘sweetheart’, which is a close second, for sure. ‘Brat’ brings back such nice memories of our times together in the past.”
“Nice? You mean like the delightful day you broke your ankle, and that enchanted moment when you were ill all over both of us?”
She laughed softly against his shoulder. “Those have their place, but I was thinking more about our time in New York, the walk in the park and that carpet picnic in your bedroom. We made some very special memories, things I’ll never outgrow.”
Kissing her seemed the only suitable response. While he’d managed to keep himself under commendable control, many moments alone like this and he knew he’d abandon his noble intentions. Had not the image of three irate string players leaning in the hallway outside his door come to mind, he might have thrown said intentions over and carried Peg into the bedroom now. His reasons for putting her off were a fading echo against the clamor of his need for her and her obvious willingness.