Spring Flowers, Summer Love

“Aren’t you the guy Wall Street applauded for never sleeping?” she asked. “A new deal every day?”

Surprise flickered across his face for an instant before he grinned. “The small-town rumor mill?”

She shook her head, chuckling. “Nothing so juicy. The Internet.”

“Ah.” He nodded. The serious look returned. “Work addicts don’t make for pleasant people, Rowena. Believe me, I know that better than most.”

She didn’t know how to respond. “If you’ve got a bag I’ll put my coat in it, take yours home with me and wash it. I’ll bring it back later, I promise.”

“It wouldn’t be much of a loss if you didn’t,” he mumbled but he handed her a plastic bag from a drawer. Rowena stuffed her coat into it, walked to the door. Her filthy boots sat outside, still covered in muck inside and out.

“Can I borrow those rubber boots of Dad’s back?” she asked.

“I’ll go you one better. These look like a better fit.” He handed her a pair that had to belong to one of his uncles. “I’ll pick you up at six-thirty tomorrow evening, shall I?”

“I can drive,” she told him, refusing to look at his face.

“Yes, but why should you when I’m already driving?”

“Okay. Thanks.”

He waited while she pulled on the jacket he’d lent her, gathered up the bag and pulled open the door.

“I won’t be around much tomorrow,” he said quietly. “Apparently I have to inspect the animals who are to be featured on Wingate’s menu.”

“Oh.” She turned up her nose.

“Exactly my opinion. But it seems the farmer wants to prove I’m getting a very good quality of beef.”

“Have fun.” She giggled, then pulled open the door.

“Rowena?”

“Yes?” She paused; when he didn’t speak she looked at him. All gaiety had leached from his face.

“Stay away from the terraces,” he ordered so softly it could have been a whisper.

“I will.” Something in his eyes compelled her to add, “Thanks for saving my life.”

Before Connor could respond, she scooted down the stairs and hurried over to her truck, squishing her way through the mud.

In spite of herself, she found herself looking forward to tomorrow evening.

Chapter Five

“You look lovely.” Connor couldn’t stop staring at the gorgeous woman who’d just stepped through the rickety front door.

Tonight Rowena looked like anything but a landscape designer. She wore an exotic skirt in some kind of orange-red-gold pattern that wrapped around her hips and fluttered down to her toes peeking out from flat leather sandals.

Her red top made her hair come alive as it framed her face and accented her big hazel eyes.

“Thank you.” She stepped into his car with an easy grace that came not from some past schooling in ballet, but from an ease and lithe comfort with her own body.

He closed the door and got in beside her, grateful that the car’s interior gave him a close-up look.

“The seat belt is here.” His hand brushed against her skirt as he showed her the catch. “It’s a great fabric. Silk?”

“Thai silk. A friend who is a textile designer gave me a few meters when I left Thailand several years ago.”

“He’s very talented,” Connor said, noticing that she didn’t correct his assumption that her friend was male. He found himself curious about her past. “Did you spend a lot of time overseas?”