“Haggard,” Jason muttered, staring at his reflection in the mirror the next morning. He rubbed his hand over his chin. The description fit. He looked and felt like something the cat had dragged in.
He supposed he could blame the Garrison wedding. The reception had stretched until well past midnight. Only, he’d never had problems rolling out of bed on the mornings when other parties had lasted into the wee hours.
Maybe it had been all the paperwork. Even with Evelyn’s help, reports and requests had piled up on his desk. Last night, while he’d waited for the festivities to wind down, he’d done his level best to catch up on it.
That was, when he wasn’t lingering by the door, hoping for a glimpse of the woman he’d vowed to treat purely as a business associate. Sheer force of will had been the only thing that had kept him from wandering into the ballroom and offering to take Tara for another spin around the dance floor.
He checked his reflection in the mirror one last time. The black Polo shirt he wore over a pair of jeans made him at least look presentable. He ran a comb through his hair and double-timed it down the stairs, more determined than ever to protect his heart and his town.
The chatter that drifted from the dining room mingled with the soft clinking of silverware, the occasional scrape of a fork across a plate. Jason lifted an eyebrow in surprise that anyone from the wedding party had rolled out of bed after such a late night. Or that, unlike him, they sounded no worse for wear. He detoured to the doorway, where Evelyn’s insistence on increasing their bakery order finally made sense. Though the bride and groom were conspicuously absent, both sets of parents, as well as assorted relatives from both sides, had gathered for an early breakfast. With a reminder to thank his cousin for keeping him out of hot water, he made his way through the room, shaking hands and offering congratulations.
Having done his duty as host, he carried on to the corner table Tara had made her own. The urge to lean down and brush a light kiss on her cheek whispered through him. He resisted, barely. Firming his resolve, he turned to the one topic everyone in the Cottage was discussing.
“How was the Garrison wedding? Did you enjoy it?”
Tara rested her fork on the side of her plate. “It was beautiful in a different sort of way. The bridesmaids wore sarongs and leis. The groomsmen had on white suits with Panama hats. They brought in instructors to teach us all the hula.”
Jason’s breath hitched. Deliberately, he stared out at the front lawn of the Captain’s Cottage while he tried to erase an unbidden image from his mind. It was no use. Asking about the wedding hadn’t been a smart move, after all.
“The food was amazing, even though there weren’t any sausage balls.”
He couldn’t ignore the comment any more than he could overlook the teasing glint in Tara’s eyes. “How about the cake? Were there coffee-infused layers separated by a chocolate rum filling and topped with a vanilla bean frosting?” The combination had been her favorite out of all the ones they’d tried at I Do Cakes.
“No, but this was every bit as good. Coconut and mango. Positively dreamy.” She licked her lips. “Oh, and I caught the bouquet.”
“Congratulations,” he said, despite the feeling that he’d just taken one on the chin.
So much for his idea that talking about the wedding would steer the conversation away from dangerous territory. He was looking for an escape route when Evelyn appeared in the doorway. She beckoned, pointing at her watch.
“I have to run.” He and his cousin caught the early service at the church each Sunday and had brunch afterward with friends in town.
“Sure. See you around.” And with that Tara picked up her fork and returned to her breakfast as if she hadn’t just rocked his world.
Telling himself that spending the day apart was a good thing, Jason headed out the door with his cousin. But a short while later, Tara lingered at the edges of his thoughts while he listened to the Sunday sermon. Though their paths didn’t cross while he ate lunch with friends and looked over the repairs to the gazebo, her sweet smile was constantly on his mind. As a result, Sunday afternoon and evening dragged by. Listening to the ticking of the clock in his room that night, he counted the passing hours and wondered if Monday would ever arrive.
But at last, it did, and he trotted down the stairs with a fresh spring in his step. Soon, he and Tara were in the car once more, headed to one of his favorite haunts. He rounded the sharp curve at Boutonniere Drive where Bridal Carriage turned into Boston Neck Road. A quarter of a mile farther, he pulled onto a wide dirt apron in front of a two-story barn.
“Here we are,” he announced.
“A farm?” Tara’s eyebrows rose.
“Not exactly. C’mon.” He popped the latch on his seat belt and sprang from the car. Rounding the front of the vehicle, he held her door for her. “This is Your Ride Awaits.” He pointed to a discreet sign on the barn door.
“I should’ve known.” Tara tapped one finger to her nose. “Horses.” She swept the empty barnyard. “Where is everyone?”
Jason shrugged. “Probably out on calls. But the owner said we could make ourselves at home. Want to look around?”
He took the spark of interest in Tara’s eyes as a positive sign. Resisting the urge to take her hand, he crossed to the entrance of the barn, where a pair of enormous wooden doors had been propped open. Stepping from the bright sunlight into the cool, darkened interior, Jason led the way. Halfway down the wide corridor that ran between rows of stalls, he stopped in front of the pen that housed his favorite.
“This is Lady,” he said when a large white horse stuck her head over the railing. “She’s retired from the carriage business, so she gets to spend her days here or in the paddock out back.”
Blowing softly, Lady nudged Jason’s shoulder.
“Just a minute, old girl.” He stroked her long cheek. “Would you mind giving her some attention while I scour up a treat for her?”
Tara smiled broadly. “I’d love to.” She moved closer. Without a moment’s hesitation, she ran her fingers through the mare’s silky mane.
“You’ve spent some time around horses, have you?”
“I know my way around a muck rake, if that’s what you mean. In college, I was assigned to the stables as part of the work study program. I never quite figured out what that had to do with my Journalism studies, but I enjoyed it.”
While she treated Lady to a good scratch, he aimed for the snack bins at the end of the aisle. He returned with a couple of carrots, which he broke into quarters and handed to Tara. Holding a piece in the palm of her hand, she offered it to Lady. The horse nipped it gently. Tara’s answering giggle warmed his chest.
“Their lips are always velvety soft,” she said in a breathy gasp.
Tara looked so cute, standing there with her hand outstretched as she offered the horse a second piece, that Jason had to give himself a stern reminder that she was off-limits. He settled for brushing shoulders with her while they listened in companionable silence as Lady’s powerful jaws made quick work of the carrots.
On their way out of the barn minutes later, Tara glanced around. “We aren’t far from the center of town, are we? You’d think this would be farther out.”
“It was,” he acknowledged. “Heart’s Landing grew up around the barn and stables. The town is filled with businesses that have been handed down from one generation to another. Your Ride Awaits is one of the oldest. It’s been here nearly as long as the Captain’s Cottage. Tom Denton—he’s the current owner—he makes a big production out of getting brides to the church in style. When he’s not busy with that, he takes people on carriage rides.”
“I’ve heard the carriage business can be hard on horses.” Tara’s lips tugged hard at the corners. Her arms folded into a protective stance across her chest. “There were some instances in New York—”
“That doesn’t happen here,” he said, interrupting before she could finish. “We have one of the best large-animal veterinary clinics in the state, just over that hill there.” He pointed to a small rise behind the barn. “Doc Cooper, he keeps a close eye on things, and he flat-out won’t tolerate neglect. Not that he needs to worry about Your Ride Awaits. Tom cares more about his horses than he does some of his family members.”
Tara’s arms relaxed. “Well, Lady certainly did look healthy. Her coat is soft. There wasn’t a single tangle in her mane.”
“That’s what I’m talking about. She might be past her prime, but she gets excellent care, plenty to eat, and regular exercise.”
He’d barely finished when, with a jangle of metal, two high-stepping black horses rounded the curve and pranced into sight. Silver trim on the gleaming white carriage caught and reflected the sun’s rays. Seated on a high bench and resplendent in top hat and tails, the driver steered his team into the barnyard. He circled the parking area and pulled to a halt with a creaking of leather and wood.
“Your ride awaits, madam.” The driver doffed his hat.
Jason risked a quick glance at Tara. She stood entranced, her lips slightly parted, her eyes wide. After a little bit, she turned to face him. “What’s this all about?”
“Tom and I—this is Tom, by the way—we thought you’d like to take a carriage ride through Heart’s Landing. See the town from the perspective of a bride on her way to her ceremony.”
An excited grin stole across Tara’s face. “I’d like that very much!”
Tom set the brake and smoothly climbed down from his perch. “Allow me,” he intoned. The step he lowered from beneath the carriage snapped into place. Extending a hand, he assisted her onto the leather cushions.
But when Tom bent to fold the step back into place, Tara leaned forward. Her pointed gaze landed on Jason. “You aren’t coming?”
“I’ll drive and meet you at Bow Tie Pasta.” The more time he spent with Tara, the more difficult it became to maintain his distance. A task that would be impossible if he joined her in the buggy’s tight space.
“Well, then…” Tara gave the cushions a wistful look. “If you’re not riding in the carriage, I’m not either.”
He’d spent enough time with Tara these last few days that he recognized the futility of arguing with her once she’d made up her mind. Oddly enough, he liked that quality in her. “Do you mind dropping us off at the restaurant?” he asked Tom.
“It’d be my pleasure,” the livery owner answered with a knowing grin. “Guess she’s got your number,” he whispered as the carriage sank beneath Jason’s weight.
She had his number, all right. And here he’d been doing so well with the whole keep-your-distance thing. But how was he supposed to remain detached and separate from Tara in a carriage built for two?
Now what have I done?
She should’ve done the smart thing and just gone along with Jason’s plan, but she hadn’t been able to resist asking him to join her on the ride. And when he’d refused, she’d known that he’d insist on coming with her rather than let her miss out on the experience. He was caring and generous like that. But what was she going to do now? No matter how much she wanted to, she couldn’t very well rest her head on his shoulder or enjoy the feel of his arms around her. She’d simply have to make the best of the awkward situation.
While the coach dipped and swayed under Jason’s weight, she scooted over as far as she could, but there was only so much room in the cozy carriage. There certainly wasn’t enough for her to avoid the press of Jason’s thigh against hers when he sank onto the plush cushion beside her. Her shoulder brushed against his arm no matter how far she leaned in the opposite direction. Even with the top down, there was no escaping the pleasant smell of his aftershave mixed with the masculine scent that was his alone.
Nor did she want to. And that was a problem.
The carriage dipped again as Tom took his seat on the high bench in front of them. With a quiet “Cluck-cluck” to the horses and a gentle slap of the reins, he headed in the general direction of town. Springs creaked and wheels turned beneath the coach. Unable to face Jason, to let him read the thoughts that most certainly played across her face, Tara pretended the passing landscape demanded her full attention.
She might as well admit the truth, to herself if to no one else. Her feelings for Jason ran far deeper than they should considering the short time she’d known him. His very presence inspired trust. She wasn’t the only one who saw that in him, either. The people of Heart’s Landing could’ve chosen anyone else to fill in as her escort when the mayor had fallen ill, but he’d been their first pick. He might not think she’d noticed, but she’d seen how everyone relied on his leadership and strength. Nor could she help but admire how he’d returned home when his father got sick, or that, after his passing, Jason had thrown himself into the family business. He’d earned her respect for the way he’d dedicated himself to preserving the Captain’s Cottage as a place where brides and grooms started their new lives together. The more she knew about him, the more certain she felt that there was something between them, something more than just the usual friendship that sprang up between two people who’d spent as much time together as they had over the past few days.
Unless she was seriously mistaken—and she didn’t think she was—her feelings weren’t at all one-sided, either. Jason had shared his thoughts, his plans for the future with her. He’d sought her company when he didn’t have to. When he was around, they were always laughing, telling jokes. On more than one occasion, she’d caught him admiring her when he didn’t think she was looking. He could have treated her like a business associate, but when they’d danced together, he’d leaned in closer than friends did. As if that wasn’t enough to send warmth flooding through her whenever she thought of him, Jason had encouraged her to pursue her dreams and hopes.
Which brought her to the main reason why snuggled next to him was the last place in the world she should be right now. Because, in order to achieve her dreams, she’d have to destroy the very thing he valued the most—the legacy he’d inherited. She had no doubt there was something amiss in the legend of Captain Thaddeus. Over the years, there’d been too much speculation, too many hints, that the facts of his story wouldn’t hold up under close scrutiny. The proof she needed existed in the ship’s logs and journals—she just had to find it. But when she did, it would destroy even the faintest hope she and Jason had for any kind of relationship.
If only they’d met under different circumstances. Or in a different time altogether. Then maybe things would’ve turned out differently for them. But as things stood, they had no hope for a future. So, why had she asked him to ride with her?
Because she couldn’t resist him any more than she could resist breathing.
Beside her, the man who was foremost in her thoughts cleared his throat. “You’re awfully quiet,” he said when they’d ridden in silence through half of Heart’s Landing. “Is everything all right? Tom can turn the buggy around and take us back to the barn if you’d rather.”
“No. This is great.” She summoned a smile for the gentle sway of the carriage, the clop-clop of the horses’ hooves on the pavement, the happy couples who walked hand-in-hand on the city sidewalks. One day, she hoped to have that kind of relationship with someone. But not with Jason. Not when her main purpose in coming to Heart’s Landing was to challenge his long-held beliefs about his ancestor. She shivered at a sudden chill.
Ever attentive, Jason asked, “Are you cold? I didn’t think to bring a blanket. I should have.” Without waiting, he stretched his arm around her shoulders and snuggled her closer.
And heaven help her, she leaned into him. It didn’t matter that she told herself it was the wrong thing to do. As she soaked up the warmth of Jason’s chest, she couldn’t retreat from the firm press of his fingers on her arm. Even though she knew she should move away, should hug her side of the carriage, she remained exactly where she was all the way through town.
Long before she was ready for him to, Tom signaled the team to a halt in front of a canopy cover that stretched to the curb from the doorway of Bow Tie Pasta. While the horses snorted and tossed their heads, she reluctantly straightened. The time had come to put a stop to whatever was happening between her and Jason before one—or both—of them got hurt. She’d indulged herself for as long as she could. She had to say “enough.”
Her lips parted, the words on the tip of her tongue. Before she could speak, however, Tom dismounted and held the door to the carriage open.
“Text me when you’re finished, and I’ll come back to pick you up,” he told Jason. Tom doffed his tall hat. He extended a hand and helped Tara disembark. “Ma’am. I hope you enjoyed the ride.”
“Very much,” she said. Feeling the loss of Jason’s arm around her and knowing that she needed to tell him it could never happen again, she added a silent “too much.”
But holding what was sure to be an awkward conversation on a public sidewalk didn’t feel right. Besides, she’d hardly had a chance to recover her balance after stepping down from the carriage before, with his hand at her elbow, Jason guided her up the covered walkway to the entrance of the most popular restaurant in Heart’s Landing. Once inside, she was too entranced by exposed brick walls, cherry-wood trim, and curved windows overlooking lush plantings to broach the subject that should’ve been first on her mind.
Within minutes, the maitre d’ ushered them to a center table. A veritable phalanx of waitstaff stood at attention nearby. They sprang into action the moment she took her seat, and soon she found herself paging through a menu the size of a novel while a tuxedoed waiter reviewed the day’s specials. Next, the sommelier stepped forward with his recommendations, followed by the ritual tasting and approval of their selection. Shortly after the wine steward poured their first glasses of an outstanding pinot, another waiter appeared bearing a basket of bread and rolls, along with a trio of flavorful dipping oils.
If she thought she’d have a moment for a quiet discussion with Jason once they’d placed their orders, she was proven wrong again. Word that they’d be dining at Bow Tie Pasta must have spread. Either that or practically every business owner in Heart’s Landing had developed a sudden urge for Italian food. In groups of two or three, they stopped by her table to chat. Between interruptions and bites of excellent pasta, the lunch hour sped by. Almost before she knew it, Jason had texted Tom and arranged their return trip to Your Ride Awaits.
But she couldn’t get in the carriage again. Not and keep her wits about her. She was too weak, her attraction to Jason too strong. Once she climbed the steps into the buggy, she knew, she just knew, she’d cuddle against him again. And that wouldn’t be fair. She wouldn’t, she couldn’t mislead him like that. It was time to pull the plug. She had one final chance to clear the air between them before it was too late. A few words were all it would take to destroy any misconceptions either of them might harbor. She just had to say them.
Except, she couldn’t. She couldn’t end things between them. Not now. Not yet.
On the sidewalk outside the restaurant, she took the coward’s way out. “I think I’d like to stretch my legs a bit,” she said, putting several steps between them before her new resolve weakened.
“You don’t want to wait for Tom?” Confusion and something that looked an awful lot like disappointment clouded Jason’s features.
“No. If you don’t mind, I’ll walk back.” She needed time away from the man who made her pulse race. Needed to gather her thoughts and figure out what to do next. “I’ll probably work in my room for a while. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“About that.” Jason stuck his hands in his pockets. “If we get an early start, we can check out the widow’s walk first thing in the morning. After that, though, the weatherman says we’re going to have quite a bit of rain. Tomorrow might be a good day to work indoors. I was thinking I could help you in the library. If you still want my help, that is.”
Great. Jason had given her exactly what she didn’t want—a chance to back away gracefully. She should take it, should tell him she was fine, thank you very much, but she’d prefer to finish her evaluation of Heart’s Landing without him at her side. Only, there were problems. Seeing the widow’s walk firsthand was a must if she was going to complete her assignment. As was ferreting out the truth behind the myth of Captain Thaddeus. And who better to help her than the man who’d spent his childhood reading the ship’s logs and journals? Yet, as much as her head told her that enlisting Jason’s help was the smart career move, her heart warned that spending more time with him wasn’t the wisest choice.
“I’d love to have your help,” she answered, throwing caution to the wind and taking her chances.