Blast! Was he becoming as much of a lovesick dolt as Blake?
Mac tucked in his shirt then made his way over to where Lily stroked his mules’ necks. She pulled two apples from her apron pocket and fed them the treats. They nuzzled her for more, and she rubbed their noses.
Even his mules were falling in love with the woman!
“Miss Laughlin.” Mac inclined his head. “How may I be of service?”
She whirled around. “As I said, I’m here on business. This is not a social—”
Her hand clamped down on her hat as the mules attempted to make it their next snack. Lily lifted her shoulders and giggled, a sound that turned Mac’s heart inside out.
“Stop that,” Lily chided the animals.
The mules voiced their complaints with their whinnied hee-haw snorts.
Lily faced Mac again, her face set in a serious expression. “I’ve come to speak with you about important—”
One of the mules nudged her, and Lily stumbled forward into Mac’s chest. He instinctively caught her around the waist. A plume of lavender and fresh air drifted to his nose. She gazed up at him with dancing blue eyes, and her infectious laugh made him grin.
“I’m afraid your mules are partial to my hat and nibbling my neck.”
Lucky mules.
He stared into her face, mesmerized. How simple it would be to lower his mouth to hers in the sweetest of kisses….
With her hands splayed across his chest, she gently pushed him away. “As I said, I’ve come on official business.”
“Of course.” Mac stepped back and cupped her elbow, coaxing her forward. “I would suggest stepping away from my hat-hungry mules.”
“What are their names?” Lily moved to Mac’s right and stared at the pair. They tossed their heads in protest at the loss of Lily’s attention.
“Names? They’re mules. They don’t have names.”
“Are they yours?”
Mac inclined his head. “After renting them from James for a time, I realized what prized mules they were—for mules. James quoted me a fair price so I bought them.”
“Then you must give them names.”
“Why?”
“Because.”
As if that was a good enough reason. Mac folded his arms. “What do you suggest, Miss Laughlin?”
She tipped her head, studying the animals. “A male and female.”
“Correct.”
“How about Diamond and Dusty? The female has a white diamond on her forehead and the male … well, he should have a name that starts with the same letter as hers.”
“And why is that?” Mac rubbed the back of his neck. Female reasoning was always a curious thing.
“Because they are a pair, of course.”
“Oh, of course.” Mac still didn’t see the connection. “So what is this official business that brings you over here?”
Lily’s expression lost all brightness. “I have two points of business. Can we speak out of the hot sun?”
“As you wish.”
They stepped over to the shade falling off one side of the barn.
“I saw Shona yesterday evening. He and his native tribesmen hire themselves out as farmhands. My father took them on the past few years, and they’re hard workers. They promised to return in a fortnight to help me with the harvest. They work for a portion of what they bring in from the fields and pick from the fruit trees.” She licked her lips, momentarily distracting Mac. “Would you like to include your portion of the crops? The truth is, I may not get to them otherwise.”
Mac didn’t see any harm in it. Besides, better he had some than none. “Yes, include my portion. Thank you.”
“All right.” She dipped her head. “For the next order of business, did Mr. Blake tell you that Jonah and Jed will be sharing the stage with him?”
“No.” Mac wondered why his friend hadn’t said anything.
“My brothers are traveling with Mr. Everett to Alexandria, where he has business. He’s promised to show the boys the grand ships docked in the city’s harbor. You can imagine their excitement.”
“And you’ve allowed this?” Mac set his hands on his hips.
“I didn’t have a choice. Mr. Everett is their guardian, after all.” Lily looked away, her crystal-blue eyes turning stormy.
“And what does that have to do with me?” The words came out harsher than Mac intended. “Allow me to rephrase.”
“No need. I understood the question perfectly.”
“I didn’t mean to sound cross.”
“Yes, you did. You don’t want me here. Unfortunately, this business involves you, otherwise I’d not be here.”
“Proceed.” Mac despised himself for his waspishness. If she only knew her effect on him, perhaps she’d truly understand and stay away.
“I want to invest in one of your family’s merchant ships. Mr. Blake said a man could double, even triple his money, so I figured a woman could be equally as fortunate.”
“I think you should hang on to your coins, Miss Laughlin.”
“And I think I should invest them.” She lifted her chin, and Mac almost grinned at her stubbornness. “Two hundred pounds.”
Mac shook his head. “It’s too much a risk and you’re going to need that money.” His chest constricted. “Unless you’ve decided to accept Mr. Everett’s tyrannical rule.”
“No, I have not accepted his rule or anything else. But my family and I cannot exist for long with only three hundred pounds. I must either find employment or invest. Marrying Mr. Everett is not an option. So, at this point in time, I’ve chosen to invest.”
“I see, and I am sympathetic to your cause. But investing in merchant ships is a gamble that only the wealthy can make.”
“My money isn’t good enough?”
“It’s good enough.” Mac thought of his father and how much he’d appreciate another two hundred pounds to fund his struggling business. Last year’s attack on Alexandria destroyed a couple of vessels, and Albright & Son Shipping lost a lot of money. “But there are factors beyond the best sea captain’s abilities. A tempest could arise and sink the merchant vessel. Pirates are always a threat. A mutiny could occur and the goods might get stolen. Investors stand to lose far more than they make.”
Lily’s frown melted away and her features lit up, reminding Mac of sunshine breaking through the morning mist. “Oh, I’m sure none of those terrible things will happen. Each time I pray about it, the prompting grows stronger. Nonetheless, Mr. Blake said a woman’s money might not be welcome and that’s why I need your help. With a letter of recommendation to your family, I’m sure my two hundred pounds, as trivial as it might be, will be accepted.”
“And if something happens, you will hate me forever.”
“I will not.”
“Surely you hate me now. I’ve been rude and cross and … plain old mean spirited.”
“Yes, you have, and you should be ashamed of yourself.”
A smile worked on Mac’s lips but he dared not laugh. The woman was adorable, especially when her sky-blue eyes glinted with aggravation.
“It’s not funny.” She jerked her chin.
Mac couldn’t hold back a chuckle.
“I can see I have wasted my time.” She marched toward overgrown brush that hid the stone bridge.
“Watch out for the snakes.”
She came to an abrupt standstill and Mac supposed he shouldn’t have teased her. She pirouetted around on her tiptoes and faced him.
“Why did you have to remind me? I’d forgotten all about those awful creatures.”
Mac traipsed toward her. “Snakes are in your flower and vegetable gardens. Have you never seen them there? Even the small garter snakes?”
“No. I ask God to get them out of my way, and He has not failed me.”
“Well, send up a prayer right now, or doesn’t God work at midday? Perhaps He, like Blake, needs an afternoon rest.”
“You, sir, just proved how ignorant you are of God’s
ways. He never slumbers. He is ever mindful of His children.”
“Then walk on, Miss Laughlin.”
“I will.” With another prissy thrust of her chin, she tiptoed back around within an inch diameter.
Mac released a peal of laughter. Oh, how his sisters would berate him for such taunting, but he couldn’t seem to help it. Lily Laughlin was so much fun to tease.
“Would you like some assistance?” he asked between chortles.
“No, thank you.” She didn’t move.
Mac folded his arms. “Why are you not headed for your own side of the creek?”
“I’m merely giving God some time to get His creation out of the way, if that’s all right with you, sir.” She sneered the last word.
Mac heard that same tone when Lily spoke of Silas Everett, and it was sobering to think that he may have sunk to that level of animosity with her.
He walked to where she stood. “Lily, I was teasing, and I humbly apologize.”
“Humbly? I daresay you don’t know the meaning of the word.”
Mac arched a brow. “I do, I assure you, and I’m sorry for teasing you.”
“You may keep your apology, Captain.” She scanned the grass, causing Mac to grin.
Moments later, he could stand it no longer. He bent over and took hold of her hand then tossed her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes—a wiggling sack of potatoes.
“Put me down, you ogre!”
“I’m saving you from the snakes.”
“You are a snake!”
“Then you should not have trespassed!”
“You are a despicable neighbor.”
Mac made his way through the brush, ducking lower than usual beneath a thick tree branch to save Lily a whack in the back of the head.
She beat against his back. “How I’d like to darken your daylights.”
“Would you, now?” Chuckling, Mac turned off the path to the stone bridge and headed for the creek. “Perhaps you need a bit of cooling off. I know I do.”
“Don’t you dare! You’ll ruin my leather boots.”
Despite her kicking, Mac held her around the knees with one arm and pulled off her boots. He tossed them to higher ground near the bridge.
“Would you like your stockings removed also? I would be happy to oblige you.”
Her reply was a shriek of outrage and a pounding to the kidneys that made him wince.
Mac waded into the water and, when he reached the deeper swirls of what her brothers deemed the swimming hole, he tossed Lily off his shoulder. She hit the water, screaming what a cad he was, and Mac could hardly wait to hear the names she resurfaced with.
Except she didn’t resurface.
Seconds passed and Mac grew uneasy. Had she struck her head on a rock, hidden just beneath the surface? Mac followed the slow current for a ways, hoping for a glimpse of Lily’s citrine locks or blue apron. His heart drummed out a frantic beat when he saw only the creek’s sandy bottom.
“Lily!” The desperation in his voice echoed back to him. The overhanging willows stirred as if equally troubled.
He circled the creek. Fear left him feeling oddly cold. Every second that she was injured and submerged meant less chance for survival.
“Lily, for the love of all that is decent, show yourself!” She had to. She must!
Mac wouldn’t be able to live with himself otherwise.
Lily glided beneath the water’s surface until she reached a familiar sandbar—one she knew was a good distance away from her loathsome neighbor. She surfaced and pushed her hair from her face, as the pins that held it in place only moments ago were long gone. Heaven knew which tree branch claimed her hat. She tipped her head, finding it odd that Mac’s gaze was trained on the depths of the creek.
“You, sir, are ratsbane and a barnacle!”
“Oh, thank God …” Mac’s expression registered relief. “I thought you’d drowned.”
Lily’s entire body tensed. “Was that not your intention? To drown me—so I don’t trespass anymore, perhaps?”
“Lily, if you knew what a scare you gave me, you would not so flippantly throw out such an accusation.”
“I should accuse you in all seriousness then?” She rolled her eyes. The man was impossible.
“I hope you would not accuse me at all.” Mac dunked himself then floated on his back. “I decided we should be friends again.”
“You are a presumptuous oaf. I will never be your friend. Never!”
“You wound me, Princess, but alas, I deserve it.”
“Indeed you do.”
Standing, Mac finger-combed back the waves of his short, ebony hair. Water dripped from his bearded chin and turned his linen shirt transparent. It clung to his muscular chest. While Lily had seen bare-chested men before, they never resembled a living Zeus.
“Let’s not be enemies.” Mac came toward her. “It requires far too much effort.”
“Too much effort … oh, pish!” Lily pointed her finger at him. “Know this, sir. I will never marry you, so don’t even entertain the notion.” She’d seen the way he’d looked at her when Diamond or Dusty had given her a playful nudge.
“I’m not asking for your hand in marriage.” Mac’s tone rang with amusement, fueling Lily’s desire to slap his handsome face. “I’m merely proposing a truce.”
“You are refused on both accounts.” She blushed as his gaze lazily roved over her gown, now equally as plastered to her figure as his linen shirt clinging to his masculine frame.
“I will not dance with you at your party, and be warned, sir”—she worked her way toward the bank—“I will never kiss you, either.” Clearly, the man was ninety-nine percent rapscallion and one percent rake. He’d even admitted it the first day they’d met. She was remiss in not taking him seriously.
“Never?” He arched his brows. “You’ll never kiss me?”
“Never!” She hated the way her voice left room for doubt.
“Are you sure about that?”
“Quite sure.”
Lily’s backside came up against a large rock. Her folly flashed before her eyes. Mac was closing in and she had nowhere to escape in the knee-deep water.
He grinned like a wolf about to devour his prey. “Then, perhaps, being the pirate I am, I will steal a kiss.”
“Keep your distance, sir.” She held out her arm as if it alone would deter him.
It didn’t.
He took a step closer, and her hand came in contact with the hard muscle covering his ribs.
“Come, now, Lily, you cannot throw out such a challenge and expect me to ignore it. Nay, my honor is at stake.” He arched a brow and the corners of his lips formed a smirk. “Or should I say my dishonor.”
“Dishonor is correct.” So he planned to toy with her like a barn cat with a field mouse. Well, she wasn’t about to get lost in that bushy beard of his. With both hands now she strained to push him away. Her efforts didn’t budge him.
“Let me kiss you, Lily.” His voice was husky.
“No.” Her reply was but a squeak.
“One kiss.”
“Well …” The man posed quite the temptation.
As if sensing her relenting, he cupped the sides of her head, holding her captive, and Lily braced for a scratchy, prickly encounter. He brought his lips to hers, moving across them in slow, deliberate measure, and causing strange, new sensations in her limbs that left her weak.
She fell against his chest, surrendering. But suddenly it didn’t matter that he’d triumphed. All she could think about was the heavenly pleasure of his kiss.
A kiss that ended all too soon.
Lily stared up into Mac’s face, feeling delightfully dizzy. She ran her palms up the corded muscles in his arms. He placed a kiss on the tip of her nose, and she smiled.
“That wasn’t half as unpleasant as I imagined,” she murmured.
His eyes widened, and she laughed at his wounded expression.
“I meant … the beard. I never kissed a man
with a beard before.” Feeling oddly brave, she slid her fingertips over its softness. Here she’d thought it would feel like the hedge lining the front walkway. “Truth to tell, I never kissed a man. Oliver doesn’t count, as he was barely seventeen.”
She felt Mac’s amusement rumble in his chest before it left his mouth.
“Then, since it was not displeasing, perhaps I shall steal another one.”
“No need to steal, Captain.” Lily couldn’t fathom where her brazenness came from, but she wanted him to kiss her again. “It shall be freely given.”
His lips met hers, this time with fervor that emboldened her. She locked her arms around his neck, reveling in the feel of him, pressed close. She felt cherished in his embrace.
He trailed kisses across her cheek and neck. She giggled when his lips found the tender, most ticklish spot just above her shoulder. Her pleasure only seemed to heighten his passion.
“Lily,” he whispered into her hair. “I dream about you every night.”
“Nightmares, then, Captain?” She lifted her chin and smiled. “We are not even friends, remember?”
“Because I have been an angry fool.” Mac brushed his lips against hers and a chorale sung by nature’s creatures filled the air. “Angry because I didn’t plan …” His inky gaze searched her face, then glinted with something akin to unspoken mirth. “I didn’t plan to meet you and be so easily taken up by your charms.”
Lily jutted out her chin. “And I didn’t plan to be captivated by a rapscallion.”
“Captivated?” The corners of his mouth curved upward. “You flatter me, Princess.”
Before she could respond to his quip, his lips claimed hers once more …
Until Jonah’s voice broke through the euphoric madness.
Lily snapped back as her brother called her name again. Reality crept in as Jonah’s voice grew louder. What had she done? Acted no better than a shameless hussy!
“I hope you won’t think badly of me … I mean, since I enjoyed …” Her face felt suddenly sunburned. “You know …”
Mac’s eyes twinkled. “Yet another secret I shall keep for you.”
“Lily! Where are you?” Jonah sounded close enough to catch them both.
“Mac, please, don’t let my brother find me like this.” Lily’s hands pressed against his firm chest. “He’ll tell his friends, and you know how gossip spreads like wildfire through Middletown.”
My Heart Belongs in the Shenandoah Valley Page 15