All Claire had to do was imagine Garrett kissing the beautiful blond woman and her pride was replaced by jealousy. She hated the thought of Garrett kissing anyone except her.
At the sound of footsteps coming down the hall, Claire felt her nerves tighten. A light tap on the door from Libby brought a forced smile to her face. The pretending was beginning to take its toll and Claire wasn't sure how much longer she could keep up the façade of being the happiest woman alive. She dared not think too far ahead for fear that she'd lose her nerve completely. If Grams noticed a change in her personality, the older woman would start asking questions Claire wasn't prepared to answer, not until she found her brother.
An hour passed before Claire walked down the steps and into the parlor. Grams was waiting along with Garrett. Claire's forced smile took on a genuine quality as she stepped into the room and heard the two people arguing. When Garrett and his grandmother exchanged opposing viewpoints, the conversation was always a lively one.
“I didn't reach the ripe old age of seventy-eight by always doing what I was told,” Grams said. “I'm going to the picnic and I'm going to have a good time."
“It's too hot for you to be there all day,” Garrett pointed out. “Rest today and attend the dance this evening."
Grams made a sound and wrinkled up her nose. “I'll come back before the heat is unbearable and take the blasted nap you always insist on, but I'm not going to miss all the excitement. Now, say hello to Claire, and stop fuming like a medieval dragon. We'll be late."
Garrett let out an exasperated sigh as he turned his attention toward the doorway. Claire met his gaze, fully expecting his face to show the same rigid expression he'd been wearing for days. When he flashed her a warm smile, she wasn't sure how to react.
“You look lovely,” he said, walking across the room to take her hands. He pulled her toward him and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek. The fleeting touch of his mouth was enough to make Claire's body churn with excitement. “Grams is being stubborn again."
“So, I heard,” Claire replied. She looked past Garrett to where his grandmother was placing a thin lace shawl around her shoulders. Feeling suddenly impish and not knowing why, Claire said, “Stubbornness must be a family trait."
Grams laughed while her grandson frowned.
“Feeling feisty, are we?” Garrett said in a low whisper meant only for Claire's ears. His smile of greeting turned into one of pure devilry as he laced her arm through his and turned toward the door. “That's going to cost you a kiss, Miss Aldrich. A real kiss."
Claire was so surprised by the unexpected remark all she could do was stare as Garrett went in search of his jacket and hat. By the time Grams joined her, Claire was back to looking perfectly happy. She prided herself on her acting abilities as they got into the carriage and began their way toward Russ Gardens. Garrett cast several promising glances in her direction and by the time she stepped down from the carriage, Claire was back to feeling as though her stomach were tied in knots.
Russ Gardens was an elaborate park with large trees and colorful, fragrant flowers. Claire was amazed at the number of people already gathered around the tables and booths that offered everything from lemonade to Italian sausages rolled in crisp bakery dough. Streamers of red, white, and blue ribbon decorated everything. Musicians were seated in a large gazebo in the center of the park and music drifted on the crisp breeze blowing inland from the bay. Women dressed in their summer finery mixed with gentlemen and children of all ages.
“Let's claim a place for our picnic before there isn't a tree left in the park,” Garrett said, reaching for the large basket Mrs. Smalley had packed. Since it was the nation's anniversary, Garrett had given everyone in the household the day off. “I want to get Grams out of the sun."
“Stop hovering,” his grandmother retorted. “I want to mingle before I'm forced to take root under some tree for the balance of the day. Find a place for our basket, then enjoy yourself."
With that, she gave her grandson a quick smile and started walking toward a group of elderly women standing beside a table that was offering fresh watermelon for a penny a slice.
“I wasn't hovering,” Garrett said, looking toward Claire.
“Yes, you were,” she chided him. “Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on her."
“Good,” he said. “Then I can keep both eyes on you."
Claire pretended to be busy with her gloves and parasol. The tone of Garrett's voice had taken on the seductive quality he only used when they were alone.
Garrett smiled. He knew she was doing her best to ignore him, but he didn't intend to be ignored. He'd woken up that morning determined to enjoy the day, and the night ahead of them. He hadn't danced with Claire for over a week and he missed having her in his arms. “Let's try over there,” he said, pointing toward a large tree with long, sprawling branches and a canopy, of rich green leaves. A wrought-iron bench decorated with blue and red streamers sat underneath the tree. “We can stake out our share of shade and then take a walk around the park."
Claire walked alongside him as a cheer broke out. She looked toward a group of older men playing horseshoes. One of the men, as thick as he was tall, with a bald head that gleamed in the late morning sun, was wagering that he could win the second game as easily as he'd won the first. His opponent, several inches taller and a good deal slimmer, reached into his pocket and pulled out some money, apparently willing to take the bet.
“Ben Corwin takes his horseshoes very seriously,” Garrett told her.
“You know him?” Claire asked. The plump little man with thick suspenders holding up his pants didn't look like someone who had ever made the banker's acquaintance.
“I loaned him the money to start his own business,” he said. “Ben's one of the best cabinetmakers in the city. He's one of those rare people who can turn wood into a work of art."
Claire smiled in spite of her apprehension over Garrett's promised kiss. “Did he work on your house?"
“For over a year,” Garrett replied as they reached the shade of the tree and he sat the basket on the bench. “Ben's a good man."
“Which means he makes his bank payments on time,” Claire teased.
Garrett laughed. “Be careful, Miss Aldrich, or you'll find yourself owing me more than one kiss."
Claire did her best not to blush. “I don't owe you any kisses. You only think I do."
“We'll see about that,” Garrett said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a coin. He tossed it to a young boy standing a few feet away, promising the child another one if the blanket and basket were still there when they got back. “Let's walk awhile."
With a firm grip on her arm, Garrett led her away from the tree and back into the sunlight. Claire opened her parasol and allowed herself to be guided through the park. They walked, stopping to talk to people along the way. The park's population was growing as more families flocked into the gardens to enjoy the variety of games and foods being offered to celebrate the summer holiday. When they reached the pond, Claire pulled away from Garrett long enough to help a small, pink-cheeked little girl unravel a kite string.
When she returned to his side, he gave her a pensive look.
“What's wrong?” she asked.
“Nothing,” he said, much too quickly for her to believe him. “Would you like something to drink?"
When she said no, he maneuvered her away from the pond and toward a cluster of small trees. Their leisurely stroll ended under an arbor heavy with dark leaves and plump grapes that wouldn't be ripe enough to eat for several more weeks. The tangled vines created a natural wall between them and the other people milling about the park. Claire knew the moment she looked up at Garrett that he was going to collect on his promise to kiss her.
Claire tried to pretend that Garrett's closeness wasn't having a powerful effect on her, but she couldn't. She reminded herself that he wanted to make her his mistress. The insult alone should be enough to make her hate him. It wasn't. All she could think abou
t was how wonderful it was going to feel when he finally lowered his head and put his mouth over hers.
The day was growing warmer and the park was alive with the sound of voices. The sun was playing hide-and-seek through the thick grapevines, casting small shadows on the ground as it tried to penetrate the natural shelter of the arbor. Birds chirped and insects buzzed, but all Claire could hear was the thumping of her heart as Garrett stepped closer. His hand slowly snaked around her neck, forcing her head to tilt back so he could have better access to her waiting mouth.
“Tell me you want me to kiss you,” he said in a low husky voice.
Claire kept silent although she was screaming inside for Garrett to stop talking and get on with kissing her until her mind went blank and all her reasons for doubting him and the future melted away. Her lashes lowered in perfect timing with the descent of Garrett's head. His mouth brushed lightly over her slightly parted lips, but it didn't stay. Instead she felt the light touch of his teeth on her earlobe and the soft rush of his breath.
“Say the words, Claire. Say them so I can hear the need in your voice. Let me know you want what I want."
A hundred reasons not to say the words raced through Claire's head, but they were pushed aside by the singular fact that she wanted Garrett's kiss. She wanted it desperately.
“Please, kiss me,” she whispered.
The words were barely spoken because Garrett ended them with a kiss that scorched Claire's body all the way to her soul. His arms were around her and she felt a rush of pure joy as he tightened his hold, pressing their bodies close together. His mouth was hard and hot and hungry, and she loved it. He kissed her more passionately than he'd ever kissed her before. His lean fingers threaded through her hair, holding her captive, while his mouth taught and teased and made her body shudder from head to toe.
Totally defenseless against what Garrett made her feel, Claire let the sensations flow through her, surrendering to the kiss and all it offered. What he did to her was unlike anything she'd ever experienced before. Reality drifted away, leaving nothing but the feel of Garrett's arms and the taste of his mouth. The moistness of his tongue, probing gently then withdrawing, sent shivers up and down her spine.
Garrett tried to restrain his desire, vaguely remembering that they were in a public place, but it was the most difficult thing he'd ever done. His hands soothed over Claire's back, pressing her closer, wanting to feel the softness of her body. He wanted her to know that she was safe in his arms, and wanted. Very much wanted. The guilt of seducing a virgin vanished as his mouth moved from her lips to the tender flesh of her neck. His tongue dampened the skin before his teeth nipped just enough to make her tremble in his arms. She moaned softly as he returned to her mouth, taking the sound before it could be heard by anyone else. His mouth covered hers fully, his tongue moist and hot on hers as it dipped once then twice.
Claire didn't want the kiss to end. Her hands slid up the front of his jacket, feeling the hard muscles of his torso, as they moved to encircle his neck. The fierce need that had been growing day by day exploded in one wild moment as she forgot all her inhibitions and arched her body into his, telling him in a language both silent and as old as time how much she wanted him.
The laughter of a small boy chasing a wayward ball as it rolled toward the arbor brought them apart. Garrett's hands dropped away while Claire drew in a deep breath. She didn't recall dropping her parasol until Garrett picked it up and handed it to her.
“It's time to find my stubborn grandmother and enjoy our lunch."
They walked out of the arbor as they'd walked in, side by side, close but not touching. Despite the physical distance between them, Claire knew she'd never be able to keep Garrett at arm's length again. Part of her worried that he'd think her submission a few moments before would guarantee her future surrender, and another part wanted to relive the kiss. Torn between loving Garrett and knowing that that love would end with her heart broken and her future forever stained by his memory, Claire assumed her role and greeted Grams with a well-rehearsed smile on her face.
After they'd eaten lunch, Grams was content to sit with Claire while Garrett was enticed into a game of horseshoes by Ben Corwin's challenge that a banker lacked the necessary skill to win such a match.
“Hold my jacket,” Garrett said, shedding the summer coat. He handed it to Claire, then swooped down to plant a quick kiss on her cheek. While Claire did her best not to blush, he rolled up his sleeves and walked toward the flat area where small spikes had been driven into the ground.
“He'll win,” Grams predicted with a smile.
“Does he ever lose?” Claire asked, trying her best to sound lighthearted.
“Rarely,” his grandmother replied. “But then you know Garrett well enough by now to know that he doesn't make promises he can't keep, or accept challenges he isn't confident he can win. His father was the same way. And his grandfather. My Benjamin was a wonderful man. He died so young,” she added sadly. “I loved him so much, I wanted to crawl into the casket and be buried with him. The only thing that kept me alive was knowing that I had his son to raise. Then Garrett was born, another son, and I felt as if God had somehow given me back my Benjamin."
Claire looked at Grams again, but this time she didn't see Garrett's grandmother, she saw the woman, Theodora Monroe. A woman who had raised a son and a grandson without the benefit of a father for either one. “You're a remarkable woman,” Claire said, meaning every word.
Grams shrugged. “I'm no more remarkable than anyone else, my dear. Women don't always have an easy way of things in this world. One day that may change, but until it does, we have to depend on the men we love to take care of us.” She reached over to pat Claire's hand. “Garrett is a good man. He has a loyal heart and a quick mind. He'll take very good care of you."
Claire hoped the smile she gave Grams was convincing. At the moment, the only thing certain about her future was its uncertainty. Her brother was missing and she was playing a role that could have disastrous results for both her and Grams, if she didn't find a way out of the bizarre arrangement she'd made with Garrett. The more she thought about the future, the more Claire realized that Grams was right. She had to depend on Donald's willingness to share his home with her once he was found and she had to depend on Garrett's honor as a gentleman to keep the promises he'd made. Either way, it was the men in her life, not herself, who were making the decisions. The truth bruised her pride, but there was little she could do about it for the time-being.
Chapter Ten
Russ Gardens took on a new look for the evening. Grams had elected to stay at home while Claire and Garrett returned to the park for a night of dancing and revelry that would end with Chinese fireworks to celebrate the country's birthday. The scent of wild honeysuckle mixed with garden roses and the smell of the bay as the carriage rolled to a stop. Garrett had driven the sleek single-seat buggy instead of the normal household carriage and Claire's pearl white dress, trimmed with blue velvet tapping, brushed against his legs as the buggy rolled to a smooth stop.
The ride to the Gardens had been a silent one, but that hadn't kept Claire from feeling Garrett's presence every inch of the way. The familiar spark of shocking sensation he always created in her was burning bright by the time he stepped down from the buggy and walked around to help her from her seat. The moonlight glistened all around them and music lifted and swelled from the gazebo in the center of the park. The uniformed band that had played for the picnic guests had been replaced with black-jacketed musicians in stiff paper collars.
Claire looked up at Garrett once her feet were on the soft summer grass. His black lashes lowered to cover quicksilver eyes as he returned her glance.
“Would you like to take a walk in the moonlight before we dance the night away?” he asked.
Claire lost her breath for a moment. The memory of the kiss they'd shared in the grape arbor was as fresh as sunshine in her mind. Mixing caution with boldness, Claire nodded and Garrett extende
d his arm.
They began a leisurely stroll around the park. The red, white, and blue streamers were still in place, except for the ones the children had taken as souvenirs to remember a day of fun and games. The trees were draped with colorful Chinese lanterns and the crowd that had filled the park earlier had dissolved into a well-dressed mingling of ladies and gentlemen who planned to enjoy themselves in a more civilized fashion now that the children had been put to bed. Most of the booths had been cleared away. There was one near the gazebo, where champagne punch was being served, and another a short distance away for those who preferred cold beer to quench the thirst of a warm summer night.
Large sections of wooden planks, nailed together like rafts, created a dance floor and Garrett stopped so Claire could watch for a moment. She caught sight of Christopher Landauer dancing with Belinda Belton and wondered if the hotel owner would really marry for money without any thought to Belinda's heart or his own. Probably, she realized. Garrett was right. Money had been the motivating force for matrimony for a good many years.
“Ready?” Garrett asked, as his eyes moved to meet hers.
Claire nodded and they began to walk again. The night was warm and there was just enough of a breeze to keep it from being uncomfortable. The couples, promenading around the dance floor, were forgotten as the shadows grew thicker and Garrett led her away from the party. Claire's heart and mind knew she should insist that they backtrack and rejoin the dancers, but she wanted to be alone with Garrett. She wanted to talk to him, really talk. The more she knew him the more she wanted to know him. She was curious about the little things in his life. Did he like peas? Mrs. Smalley never served them. Did he enjoy reading all the books that lined his library walls? She'd only peeked into the room, but what she'd seen had impressed her, and she longed to know what he thought about when he was secluded behind the elaborately carved doors.
“A penny for your thoughts,” Garrett said as he stopped near a large wispy willow tree.
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