by Mari Carr
Still wanting to set Ben straight about Hayley, Jack took a moment before replying. “Templeton was with her. The two of them kept Wilshire occupied for well over an hour before finally giving him the slip. Because the horses were exhausted and they were soaked to the skin due to the storm, Templeton thought it best to bring her here rather than attempt to make the longer trip back to the Grange.”
“That makes sense,” Alex said. “Ben, would you mind asking Hayley to gather her things? We need to leave soon. Erin will be out of her mind with worry and angry as hell at missing out on this adventure.”
“Uh, Ben. I should offer you a warning.” Jack wondered what his friend would think of Hayley tied to a chair. “Miss Garland is likely to be angry. I hope you will have a care.”
“Angry?” Ben asked, intrigued. “Don’t worry about me. I love a feisty woman.”
“Don’t even think about that feisty woman,” Jack yelled.
Ben groaned. “Oh God, not you too. I’ll be a raging drunk if I have to deal with two love-struck friends.” Chuckling, he walked across the room and paused at the door. “Do try not to kill each other while I’m gone. I’d hate to have to offer a consoling shoulder to both your lovely ladies. Then again, perhaps I wouldn’t.”
Jack watched Ben walk out without warning his friend of the whirlwind he would have to unleash in the bedroom. Served him right.
Alex, ignoring Ben’s comments and departure, cut to the chase immediately. “What the hell happened between you and Hayley last night?”
“I don’t suppose you would believe me if I said nothing.”
Alex rolled his eyes in response.
“It’s more complicated than merely doing the right thing, Alex. You of all people should understand that. I’d marry the woman tomorrow if I thought she’d have me, but she still expects to return to her own time through that blasted tree.” Jack ran his hands through his hair.
“Ah, I see. Blasted tree, is it?” Alex said. “So Ben was correct.”
“About what?”
“You are in love with her,” Alex stated, no question in his voice.
Jack began to deny the claim, but shut his mouth. “Oh hell,” he muttered. “Yes, I am.”
“What do you intend to do about it?”
“What can I do about it, I told you, she doesn’t plan to stay.” Jack walked over to the fireplace, gazing into the empty grate.
“Take it from me, old friend, if you truly love her, fight for her.”
“Fight whom? Or rather what? A tree? The future? Her life in another time?”
“I suppose,” Alex replied, “Hayley.”
“How did you convince Erin to give it all up? Didn’t you feel guilty? Asking her to forsake everything for you?”
Alex smiled sadly and shrugged. “Yes, I felt guilty. Hell, I still feel guilty. And I can’t believe she chose me, but honestly, to keep Erin by my side, I would have fought a hundred Napoleons.”
Jack grinned at his friend. “Yes, well, fighting Hayley will be like fighting a hundred Napoleons. I don’t know…” Jack faltered.
“Yes, you do. You love her and if she feels the same, then the rest will be easy. I’m surprised at you. You aren’t a man to give up what he wants.” Alex crossed the room to rest a comforting hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Isn’t she worth the fight?”
“God, yes,” Jack whispered.
“Then, there’s your answer.” Alex poured them each a brandy, sipping it quietly, while giving Jack time to consider his next move.
Chapter 22
Hayley’s lighthearted attitude toward being bound in Jack’s bedroom lasted exactly five minutes, at which time she became angry again. How dare he leave her like this for so long. By the end of twenty minutes, Hayley had plotted no less than ten very violent, painful ways she was going to kill Jack Campbell when he finally came to set her free.
Slowly, the door opened. Ready to appear docile, she sat still and was surprised when Ben—not Jack—entered the room. His obvious shock proved Jack had thrown his friend into the lion’s den unprepared. She actually felt sorry for Ben until his face broke into the charming smile she thought she’d admired when first seeing him, but that now only served to add fuel to her growing furor.
“Miss Garland.” Recovered from his immediate astonishment, there was a gleam of mischief in Ben’s gaze.
She waited patiently as he crossed the room. There was little she could do or even say until he saw fit to remove the gag in her mouth. If he didn’t do it soon, he was going to share Jack’s fate.
“I am shocked to find you thus. Please don’t tell me some horrid villain broke in here and did this to you. And three able-bodied soldiers just down the hall. Tsk, tsk, tsk.” He shook his head as if he actually believed his farfetched tale. “Very distressing. Yes, very distressing.”
Her fury reached a new level. She struggled to speak from behind the gag. Ben acted as if the sound suddenly reminded him of her predicament.
“Oh my dear woman, please let me remove that.” Ben slowly untied the knot holding the gag in place. “There, that’s better.”
“Untie me.” She was in no mood to play games with Lord Sinclair.
“Of course. I certainly will.” He paused before his hands reached the cravats as if suddenly thinking better of it.
Hayley glared at him. “What are you waiting for?”
“It may be a bit premature of me to simply let you loose without first discovering why you are bound.”
“I’m tied up because your friend, Jack Campbell, is a gigantic asshole. Now let me loose.”
“Ah, I see,” Ben replied with a wicked gleam in his eye. “Then it would be thoughtless of me to untie you without first asking for some reassurances.”
“What the hell do you mean?”
Shocked by her coarse language, Ben’s eyebrows rose. Pleased to be able to turn the tables on the devious Lord Sinclair, Hayley smirked.
He recovered quickly. “I see you’re not happy in your present state. Yet, it might be imprudent of me to untie you only to suffer your wrath myself. Don’t kill the messenger—that sort of thing.”
“Fine,” Hayley replied, “please let me reassure you that I won’t take my anger out on you.”
“And Captain Campbell?” Ben asked, as if concerned for Jack.
“He can rot in hell.”
Laughing, Ben replied, “Fair enough.” He untied Hayley, then hastily retreated a safe distance lest she change her mind.
Hayley grinned at his mock fear, shaking her hands in an attempt to restore the feeling in them. “Damn that man,” she murmured as the numbness gave way to sharp, shooting pains.
“Mademoiselle, I find your language quite colorful. It’s apparent you and Erin are mates. She’s the only other woman I’ve ever met who could out-curse a sailor. Americans.”
“Erin is the queen of foul language.” Hayley laughed. “She loves the shock value of those words. It was always a surefire way to bring attention to the June girls.”
“June girls?”
“Oh, just a silly name for our little group of friends. There are only three of us. Erin, Tori and me. We grew up together and named ourselves the June girls, as we all have birthdays in June. Sounds a bit juvenile, but we were only ten at the time and the name seemed terribly clever back then.” Hayley sat back down, pulling on her shoes and lacing them up.
Ben sat down in the chair opposite hers. “Well, I’ve met you and Erin. Where is Tori?”
Her smile faded as she thought of Tori. “She’s still in America.” Or at least, she would be soon. Hayley wondered if Tori had given up the search for her yet. It was the end of July and her new school year would be starting in a few weeks. Hayley’s heart ached to think of Tori going home alone.
“So how do you plan to punish Jack and can I help?”
Hayley laughed. “Oh I have several revenge schemes in mind. I’ll let you know if I need your assistance.”
“Clever girl like you,
” he added thoughtfully. “I can’t imagine how you got yourself into such a spot to begin with.”
Blushing slightly, she recalled the kiss that had caused her to let down her guard. “He tricked me, but I can promise you, I’ve had ample time to plot my retribution.”
Jack entered his bedchamber to find Ben and Hayley laughing by the fire like lifelong friends. A curiously strong heat coursed through his blood while black spots hindered his vision. For the first time in his life, he seriously considered hurting one of his best friends.
“Isn’t this cozy?” Jack leaned nonchalantly against the doorframe, trying to keep from crossing the room and wringing Ben’s neck.
Ben, sensing his friend’s anger, obviously decided a quick retreat was in order. “It has been a pleasure meeting you, Miss Garland. I look forward to speaking to you some more as we journey back to Fernwood Grange.”
Ben took Hayley’s hand in his and lifted it to place a light kiss on her knuckles. Jack was across the room in three large strides. He grabbed her hand from Ben’s grip.
“Fernwood Grange? Are you planning to go there?” Jack asked.
“Of course I am. I wouldn’t miss the Grange’s end-of-summer party.
Jack groaned, suddenly recalling the weeklong house party, an annual event held at the Grange each August. He’d been attending the event since his youth. Alex and Erin, in keeping with the tradition started by Alex’s grandfather, invited the local gentry and many friends from London. On the final day of the party, the tenants and surrounding neighbors came for a day of food and games, followed by a ball. It was the highlight of the year for most of the local folk, as they celebrated the last days of summer.
“I forgot. With Julia’s disappearance and other things,” Jack glanced at Hayley, “I suppose it slipped my mind.”
“Well, the party is in two weeks and Alex has graciously invited me to stay at the Grange until then. As things are slow in London right now, I took him up on the offer.”
“I see,” Jack replied. “Alex is in the stables preparing for the return trip. He asked me to send you out to assist him.”
“Can I trust you to be a gentleman alone here with Miss Garland?” Ben asked. “I would hate to find her tumbled in your sheets again or even worse, trussed up.”
Jack gritted his teeth at his friend’s attempts at humor. “She’ll be fine.”
“Do you mind if I leave you alone?” Ben turned to Hayley and offered her a friendly wink. “I don’t mind staying here to protect you.”
“Ben,” Jack said angrily.
“I’ll be fine,” she assured Ben with a wicked grin. “It’s probably Captain Campbell you should be offering to protect.”
With a laugh, Ben headed toward the door. “I have no doubt you’re correct. I look forward to the return trip to the Grange, Miss Garland. I find you highly amusing.”
Jack turned as if to attack, but Ben simply saluted the couple with a smug grin and closed the door.
“I’m going to kill him,” Jack muttered.
“And I’m going to kill you.” Hayley cuffed him on the back of the head. “How dare you tie me up like that. What the hell did you think you were doing?”
Jack pivoted before she could strike him again and grabbed both her arms. Putting them behind her back, he lowered his head for a kiss, ceasing anymore of her criticism. After only a moment, he felt her sink into the kiss, parting her lips and sighing. Releasing her arms, he grasped her to him, feeling her breasts crushed against his chest. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she took the initiative to deepen the kiss. With tongues dueling, Jack touched her breasts, rubbing firmly through her shirt.
The sweet moan that escaped her lips erased all reasonable thought from his mind as he backed her up to the bed and pushed her on to it. Following her descent, he lay on top of her, running his hands over her arms and breasts, down her hips and buttocks, all while kissing her senseless. Her hips pressed against the firmness in his pants, the sensation of her innocent gesture driving him wild.
Reality crashed over him in a rush. Jack rose on his elbows and looked down into her passion-filled eyes. Shuddering slightly, he muttered more to himself than her, “Dammit Hayley. What am I going to do with you?”
His words seemed to bring her to her senses as she realized she was lying beneath him on his bed. “Oh,” she said, startled. “Get off me, you oaf. You tricked me again.”
Jack laughed at her words. “Tricked you? How?” He placed a light, teasing kiss on the end of her nose.
“You know I can’t think straight when you kiss me like that. Get off.” She shoved at his shoulders.
Jack refused to release his hold on her. “Hold still. No more kisses, I promise.”
“Jack—let me up. What if Alex and Ben come in again?” Hayley glanced nervously toward the door.
“They won’t,” he said. “I want to talk to you and you have this rather annoying habit of trying to run away when a conversation doesn’t suit you.”
“That’s not true.” She continued to squirm under him.
“Damnation, woman,” he said. “If you plan on remaining a virgin, you will hold still this instant.”
At his words, she froze, suddenly aware of what she had been rubbing against.
“That’s better,” he said through gritted teeth.
“What do you want to talk about?” She was obviously hoping to finish the conversation quickly, so she might be allowed to get up. “We’re going to be riding back together for at least an hour. Can’t we have this discussion then?”
“I’m not returning to the Grange.”
“Oh,” Hayley tried to mask the disappointment in her eyes, but failed. “I see.”
“No,” Jack replied, “you don’t.”
“I do, honestly, and I don’t blame you. Truly, I don’t. Now if you’ll just get up. I’ll leave.” She lowered her eyes, but Jack caught the glimmer of despair on her face.
“The reason you’re on this bed is because I don’t want you to leave. And you don’t understand anything. I can see it in your face.” He studied her expression, ashamed of feeling secretly pleased to see her disappointment. It meant she cared about him, that she was slowly overcoming her fears, which relieved the small part of Jack that worried she would reject him.
“Fine,” Hayley said stiffly. “Talk.”
He took a deep breath and said what was in his heart. “I have several things to see to here in town. Business things I need to attend to. Things I’ve let go since you arrived in my life. Two weeks, Hayley. I will be returning to the Grange in two weeks for the house party, at which time I intend to court you seriously.”
“Court me?”
“Court, woo, seduce, whatever word you use in your time,” he replied quickly. “I mean to have you. You’ve infected my blood. Two weeks and then I’m coming for you.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“I want you to prepare yourself. I also want you to consider what I’m saying. You need to think about whether or not you want me. Do you understand, Hayley?” He was suddenly very afraid of her outright rejection.
“I understand,” she whispered in reply. “Jack, I’m still afraid. When you touch me—”
“I know, love.” He lightly kissed her. “We’re going to find a way to overcome those fears together—in two weeks.”
Chapter 23
“Come on. We’re going for a ride,” Erin announced one morning as she breezed into Hayley’s bedroom.
“We are? Where?” Hayley had been back at the Grange for several days, most of which she’d spent lazing about. Her body had finally given out due to the stress of the previous weeks, exhaustion from her midnight ride and the concussion she’d suffered. She’d never felt so tired and had put up very little fuss when Erin suggested she hang about the house for a few days. Curtailing her daily exercise, Hayley remained indoors, doing very little besides visiting with Erin, napping and eating. She’d never been so idle in her entire life.
Her thoughts were consumed with Jack’s parting words to her. He wanted her—all of her—exactly as she was. She had lowered all her defensive walls with him. She’d shown him her true self and he still wanted her. It was a heady, dizzy, wonderful feeling.
Since telling Jack about her father’s abuse, she’d felt lighter and happier than ever. She hadn’t suffered any nightmares since that night, even though she knew better than to be too optimistic. Her dreams always had a way of reappearing just when she thought the demons long gone.
“Hello, earth to Hayley. Are you listening to me?” Erin waved her hand in front of her face. Hayley grinned sheepishly.
“Sorry, Erin. Checked out there for a minute.”
Erin didn’t laugh at her joke, but rather looked concerned. “Maybe it’s too soon for an outing. How’s your head?”
“Fine, really. I’ve just got some things on my mind.” Hayley hadn’t confided about Jack to Erin. She wasn’t sure why. In the past, or rather the future, there was very little Hayley didn’t tell her best friend. She just couldn’t figure out how to explain her feelings about Jack. They were too intense, too raw.
Her main concern was whether or not she would be able to accept Jack into her bed—without the usual panic attack occurring. She no longer had any doubts about her desires. She wanted him—badly. If she could keep the memories at bay, he could teach her about passion, sex…love.
“Well, okay. If you’re sure you’re up to it. We really don’t have to go anywhere today.” Erin didn’t seem convinced, so Hayley bounded out of bed with more energy then she truly she had.
“I’m right as rain, Erin. Honestly. Here, help me put on this damn dress. Unless, this is an outing where my jeans would be appropriate.”
Her question had been a tease. Hayley had learned there was nowhere where her jeans didn’t raise eyebrows. However, Erin seriously considered the thought before dismissing it.
“No, perhaps a dress would be better.”
As Erin began to fasten the buttons, Hayley’s thoughts drifted back to Jack.