Moonlight on Water (20 page)

“I'm sure Rachel will see that they're delivered as soon as possible so you can continue your business along the river.”

Did Rachel recoil at Foley's use of her name or was that just wishful thinking on Wyatt's part? Hadn't Rachel said something about folks using proper names unless they were family? His jaw tightened as he wondered if she had married Foley already.

“I've seen,” Wyatt drawled, wiping the back of his neck with a handkerchief, “that she can be very efficient about such matters. A rare talent in a woman.”

“We have many women with many skills here at River's Haven.” Foley was puffing up like a boiler taking on steam too fast.

Thin arms were thrown around his waist, and Wyatt swung K. C. up in his arms. Cool water spewed over him. K. C. giggled as he tossed her atop his shoulder. The refreshing water flowed from her feet and from her hair down both sides of him.

“What have you been up to?” he asked as she wiggled on his shoulder.

“Put me down! Put me down!”

He set her on her feet, wiping his hands on her soaked hair. When she beamed a smile up at him, he asked, “Where have you been swimming?”

“In the river, silly!”

“Kit—Katherine,” Rachel said in a chiding tone, “remember what we just talked about with speaking to one's elders.”

K. C. rolled her eyes. “I remember.”

Wyatt chuckled under his breath, then said, “I know this is your brother's wedding, but I'd like an update on those last parts, Rachel.”

“Certainly,
Mr
. Colton,” she replied with a glance toward Foley who was frowning. “Follow me.”

“Of course,
Miss
Browning,” he said with the same emphasis she had used. Apparently Foley could use her given name without being dressed down, but no one else could. Again, that piercing sting of jealousy seared through him. If she had married Foley, then Wyatt's plans would be ruined.

“Mr. Colton,” Foley snapped as Wyatt stepped aside to allow Rachel to lead the way, “you shouldn't be asking her to do business on her brother's wedding day.”

“Why not? It isn't as if this is his one and only wedding day.”

“Are you belittling our ways, Mr. Colton?”

Wyatt held up his hands and smiled. He did not want to end up punching Foley in the nose. Well, he would have enjoyed that, but it would upset both Rachel and K. C. “Just stating a fact. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“If you'll come with me,” Rachel said. “Excuse us, Mr. Foley. This shouldn't take long.”

“I'll be glad to go with you.” Foley flashed a superior smile at Wyatt.

“That isn't necessary and—”

Another woman interrupted Rachel to say, “You promised this reel to me, Mr. Foley.”

Wyatt eyed the voluptuous blonde. She was a beauty, but there was a coldness in her eyes as she glanced at him—appraising him candidly—that did not appeal to him. He had met her along the river. A beautiful woman who knew what she wanted and would do whatever she had to in order to get it. That was a dangerous sort of woman for anyone who got in her way.

Foley must have realized that, too, because he excused himself and went with the blonde.

Wyatt whistled through his teeth. “Put a ring in his nose, and she could lead him around.”

“Can't you say something pleasant just once?” Rachel asked.

He smiled. The blonde was stunning, but Rachel was the woman he wanted. Maybe the blonde would waylay Foley from his plans to marry Rachel. He rubbed his hands together. His plan might still be able to work … if she would agree to it.

“You sure look pretty today.” He winked at K. C. “Is that pleasant enough?”

“Kitty Cat, go and play with your friends,” Rachel said, “while I get some information for Wyatt.” She glanced at him, frowning. “You know, I told you that I'd get those parts to you as soon as they were ready.”

“I'm not a patient man. Haven't you noticed that?” He let his gaze slip along her slender throat to the firm fullness of her breasts, which were accented so perfectly by the velvet strips on her lapels.

“Of course I've noticed that.” Her chin was raised in the pose she always assumed when she did not want him to guess how his words or actions delighted her with his unspoken invitation. “And I don't like to waste time. Maybe
you've
noticed that.”

“Sure have, so why are you wasting time jabbering? Are you hoping I'm going to ask you to dance?”

Her eyes widened, and for a moment he thought she would say yes. The very idea of holding her in his arms as they moved to the music was inebriating. His arms were rising toward her before he realized he was letting his thoughts lead him—and her—into trouble. The dance he wanted with her—a most intimate, sensual dance—must wait until they were not being watched by half the residents of River's Haven.

When she walked up the sloping bluff, Wyatt chuckled under his breath. He followed, watching her furious steps. Was she angry at him or at herself for considering his offer? His amusement vanished. If she was upset by a joking invitation to dance, she might be even more distressed by the arrangement he intended to suggest. Maybe today would not be the best time. He would ask her away from River's Haven. All he needed to do was get her away from here. His smile returned as he knew there was one easy way.

He glanced back at the river and the children who were playing in it. His smile broadened.

“Are you coming?” Rachel called, impatience in her voice. “I thought you were in a hurry for the information.”

Wyatt walked to where she was regarding him with a vexed expression. Hooking his arm through hers, he said, “You're a bothersome woman.”

“Only to you.”

“Not to Foley?”

Her steps faltered as she looked away.

Wyatt cursed silently. Pretty Rachel believed she belonged to Foley, even though he knew she did not want to marry the man. If he had thought she truly loved Foley, he would have stepped aside.

Or could he? His senses were filled with the scent, touch, and sight of her. Not only when he was close to her, as he was now, but every breath he took was flavored with the memory of her in his arms.

“Don't say things like that.” Rachel stepped away from Wyatt and continued toward the metal shop. Why hadn't she told him to come back tomorrow? By then she would have been able to deal with him professionally. She almost laughed aloud at that thought. Tomorrow or the next day or a thousand days after that would not make any difference in how he thrilled her.

“Why not? It's a legitimate question. Don't you bother Foley?”

“He's bothered that I haven't agreed to marry him yet.”

“Not that I noticed. He just went off with another woman to dance.”

“Miss Turnbull and he enjoyed dancing when they were married.”

“She is his former wife?” He frowned. “They look very cozy still.”

“They're friends. It's our way.”

He snorted. “A stupid way.”

“So you've said before.” She opened the door to the unusually quiet metal shop. Heat puffed out, and she had to gird herself to enter the shop that was even hotter than outside. Sweat trickled down her back as she wiped more from her forehead.

“It's hotter than Hades's kitchen in here,” Wyatt said.

“Let me see if I can find Mr. Dow's work schedule.” She lifted a small board off the wall and sat in the foreman's chair. She tilted the board so she could see the writing in the scanty light coming through the window.

As she ran her finger down the page attached to it, her hand was taken. She looked up to discover Wyatt leaning one hand on the back of the chair. All teasing had vanished from his face.

“Honey, you've got to start seeing things clearly,” he said.

“I wish you wouldn't call me that.”

“You're lying. You like when I call you honey.”

She could not argue with that, because it was the truth. Rather she said, “I know you disagree with the tenets we live by here. You've made your opinion very well known on that. Now, if you want to know when the parts you ordered will be ready, I can—”

“I want to know what you're going to do about Foley. He's already calling you Rachel. He must consider your marriage a done deal.”

She put the board on Mr. Dow's desk. “Is that why you asked me to come here with you?”

“No.” He gave her a swift grin. “I do want to know when the parts will be finished.” He became serious again. “But I also want to know what you're going to do about Foley.”

She stood and hung the board back on the wall. “The last few parts should be ready in about a week.”

“And Foley?”

“I don't know.” She turned to face him. “He's offered to help arrange for the children to go into Haven for preparations for the Centennial celebrations.”

“So you'll marry him because of that?”

She yearned to let her fingers explore his rough cheek, but she kept her hands by her side. “I told you that I didn't want to marry him or anyone else. But if I turn down his proposal, I have to offer a reason to show that doing so is in the best interests of River's Haven.”

“Forget about River's Haven. What do
you
want to do? Will you marry a man who'll make you miserable for the rest of your life?”

“Rest of my life? The marriage would be for only a year.”

“If you don't love him, it'll seem like a lifetime.”

“Why do you care?”

He raised his hands, palms up, in a pose of surrender, but she knew he was not going to let this go when he said, “I don't care if Foley is really the man you want. It's just that you could do better than a man who's still sniffing after his onetime wife's skirts.”

“Once the Assembly of Elders decides to give their approval to a marriage—”

His laugh was terse. “Will you just do nothing and accede to their edicts?”

“I always have. Now … I don't know.”

“How long do you think Foley's going to wait?” His hand cupped her elbow as he drew her to him.

“Wyatt, don't!”

“Don't what?” he asked in the same reasonable tone. “Don't mention Foley, or don't hold you?”

She started to step away, but he put his hand on the wall. It blocked her into the corner. Smiling, he moved slowly toward her, backing her against the wall. When she tried to slide away in the other direction, he rested his other hand on the boards.

“You
can scream if you want,” he murmured, “but I doubt if anyone down by the river will hear you.”

“Scream? Why would I scream?” She battled the quiver in her voice. It came from fear, but not for him. She was afraid of herself and how she felt when he stood so close. Time collapsed to when he had held her on the shore and lured her lips into a dangerous obsession for his kisses.

He stepped even nearer and whispered, “Do you react like this when Foley kisses you?”

His mouth on hers was gentle. When her arm curved along his shoulders, he drew her to him. He brightened her skin with kisses until her longing became a need she could not govern. She must stop this right now. He was being his most overbearing self. She should stop him … soon. His finger traced the velvet along one lapel, pausing directly over where her heart pounded. She ached with the need careening through her. Boldly she tasted the heat within his mouth in a silent request for him to continue electrifying her with his caresses.

She whispered his name, unable to say anything else as his hand moved along her, revealing the pleasure that awaited them. For a second, he lifted his fingers from her. She clasped her arms more tightly around him, bringing him back to her.

He slowly undid the first button on her coat. She gasped against his mouth when his finger slid along her blouse to reach for the next one. His kiss deepened as he continued to undo her coat. When she trembled with a longing she could not control, he slid it down over her arms. She did not see where he tossed it before he pulled her up to his chest again. His firm muscles pressed against her breasts, each unsteady breath a delicious stroke.

“You feel so sweet,” he whispered so close to her lips that his mustache brushed them on every word. “How do you taste, honey?”

“Don't you know by now?”

He grinned. “It's the most blasted thing. As soon as I finish kissing you, I'm eager to find out again every sweet flavor you've got for me.”

Knowing that she was being foolish, but unable to deny herself this pleasure, she asked, “So why don't you find out?”

“I think I shall.”

She arched her neck as his lips slid along it. When his mouth found hers again, she swept her hands down his back to press his hips to hers. Her dress bunched between them, but she thought only of where his hard body was against hers. His hard body and the need only he could satisfy.

Abruptly Wyatt pulled away. Rachel stared at him, trying to make her eyes focus. She wanted to close them and tug him back into her arms.

Her hands reaching for him froze in midair as he said, “Answer my question, honey. Do you feel like this in Foley's arms?”

Letting her arms drop to her sides, she replied, “Don't ask me that, Wyatt. Don't ask me to choose between you and River's Haven.” She reached for the latch on the door. “I must go now. I don't want Mr. Foley to become angry that I've been gone too long with you.”

“He has no reason to be angry!”

“Don't you think you'd be upset if the woman you intended to marry was kissing another man?”

Wyatt gripped her shoulders as his furious gaze locked with her eyes. “And what of you? Don't you have a right to happiness? I didn't think Rachel Browning would be willing to settle for just any man, or are you so caught up in River's Haven's dictates that you can't see the truth? If you marry him and then the next man they choose for you and the next, will you ever be happy?”