The Novels of Nora Roberts, Volume 5 (50 page)

“Here?” He gawked at her. “Now?”

“I’d bet my budget for the next five years you’ve got the ring in your pocket here and now.”

“I can’t take that bet. I need to save my money.” He looked back around, his face full of excitement and concern. “You think I could ask her here?”

“It’s a pretty afternoon, Farley. She loves this place as much as I do, so yeah, I think you could ask her here. I’ll make sure everyone gives you some room.”

“You can’t tell them why.”

“Have some faith.”

He had plenty of faith in Lil, and the more he thought about it, the more it seemed like the right thing. After all, he and Tansy had gotten to know each other right here at the refuge. He’d fallen in love with her here. And she with him, something he thought she was just about ready to admit.

Lil didn’t have much in the way of picnic food, but he found enough to put a couple of sandwiches together. He took apples, a bag of chips, and two Diet Cokes—since that was all she had.

Then he nagged Tansy over to a picnic table.

“I can’t take much of a break.”

“Neither can I, but I want to spend what I’ve got with you.”

She went soft, he could see it. “Farley, you just kill me.”

“I missed you last night.” He tipped her face up for a kiss before he gestured her to the bench he’d already brushed off.

She sighed. “I missed you, too. I really did. But I’m glad you went back. It was the right thing. Everyone’s trying not to be jumpy, and that makes me more jumpy. I spend a lot of my time in what most people consider a danger zone. And there is risk, of course. But it’s calculated and it’s respected and understood. I just can’t understand any of this. Humans are, to my thinking, the most unpredictable of animals.”

“You got that scar right here.” He reached out to trace the mark on her forearm with his finger.

“From a cheetah who saw me as a threat. And my fault more than hers. None of this is Lil’s fault. None of it.”

“We’re not going to let anything happen to her. Or you.”

“He’s not interested in me.” Tansy laid a hand over his. “And I’m spoiling this quick picnic. What’ve we got?” She picked up a sandwich, laughed. “Peanut butter and jelly?”

“Lil didn’t have a lot of choices on the menu.”

“She always has pb&j.” Tansy bit in. “How are things at the farm?”

“Busy. Time for spring plowing soon. And we’ll be turning some calves into steers shortly.”

“Into . . . oh.” She lifted a hand, made a scissor motion with her finger. “Snip, snip?”

“Yeah. It always pains me a little.”

“Not as much as the calf.”

He smiled. “One of those got-to-be-done things. Living on a farm, well, it’s a lot like here. You get to see things as they are. You get to work outside, feel a part of things. You’d like living on a farm.”

“Maybe. When I came out here to help Lil, I really thought it would be temporary. I’d help get her up and running, train some staff, and then go to work for one of the big outfits. Make a big name for myself. But this place got its hooks into me.”

“You’re home now.”

“Looks like.”

He drew the ring out of his pocket. “Make home with me, Tansy.”

“Farley. Oh.” She held up a hand, thumped the other on her heart. “I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe.”

He dealt with the problem by spinning her around then shoving her head between her knees. “Take it easy.”

“This is crazy.” Her breath hitched and pitched.

“Just in and out a few times.”

“Farley, what have you done? What have you done?”

“Bought a ring for the woman I’m going to marry. Couple more times in and out.”

“Marriage is huge! Huge. We’ve barely dated.”

“We’ve known each other a long time now, and we’ve been sleeping together regular the last little while. I’m in love with you.” In firm strokes he rubbed her back to help her settle. “And if you weren’t in love with me, you wouldn’t have your head between your knees.”

“That’s your gauge of love? That I’m dizzy and short of breath?”

“It’s a good sign. Now, are you ready to sit back up so you can get a look at this ring? Lil helped me pick it out.”

“Lil?” She popped straight up. “She knows about this? Who else?”

“Well, I had to tell Joe and Jenna. They’re my parents in every way that matters. And Ella at the jeweler’s. It’s hard to buy a ring without her knowing about it. That’s all. I wanted to surprise you with it.”

“You did. A lot. But—”

“You like it?”

Maybe some women could have resisted taking a good look, but Tansy wasn’t one of them. “It’s beautiful. It’s, oh, it’s gorgeous. Really. But—”

“Like you. I couldn’t ask you to wear a ring that wasn’t. It’s rose gold. So that makes it a little different. You’re not like anybody else, so I wanted to give you something special.”

“Farley, I can honestly say you’re not like anyone else either.”

“That’s why we suit. You just listen a minute before you say anything. I know how to work, make a decent living. So do you. We’re both doing what we’re good at, and what we like. I think that’s important. This is our place, yours and mine. That’s important, too. But most important is I love you.”

He took her hand and kept his eyes, so clear and serious now, on hers. “No one’s ever going to love you the way I do. Joe and Jenna, they made me a man. Every time I look at you, I know why. What I want most in this world, Tansy, is to build a good life with you, to make you happy every day of it. Or most every day, because you’ll get mad at me sometimes. I want to make a home and a family with you. I think I’d be good at that. I can wait if you’re not ready to wear this. As long as you know.”

“I have all these arguments in my head. Rational, sensible arguments. And when I look at you, when you look at me, they all seem weak. Like excuses. You’re not supposed to be the one, Farley. I don’t know why you are. But you are.”

“Do you love me, Tansy?”

“Farley. I really do.”

“Are you going to marry me?”

“I really am.” She let out a quick, surprised laugh. “Yes, I am.”

She held out her hand. He slipped it on. “It fits.” Her quiet murmur was thick and shaky.

Dazzled, he stared at the ring, then at her. “We’re engaged.”

“Yes.” Now she laughed, full out, and threw her arms around him. “Yes, we are.”

Lil kept the staff working on the other side of the compound as much as possible. She had to shift her own position to keep the picnic table in view when interns led a group around the habitats.

She told herself it wasn’t like spying. She was just . . . keeping an eye on things. And when she saw Tansy go into Farley’s arms she didn’t quite muffle the cheer.

“Sorry, what?” Eric asked.

“Nothing, nothing. Ah, can you make sure everything’s set up for the school group tomorrow morning? In the education center. Take a couple of the other interns along.”

“Sure. Matt’s going to do his exam of the new female tiger this afternoon. I was hoping I could observe. Maybe even assist.”

“If Matt clears it.”

“The word is you’re going to take the barricade down between the enclosures.”

“Yes. When Matt finishes the exam. She’s still caged, Eric. It’s a bigger cage, and it’s clean, it’s safe. Once we take the barrier down, she’ll be free to interact with her own kind, and she’ll be able, when she’s ready, to roam her habitat, walk in the grass, run. Play, I hope.”

“I wanted to make sure it wasn’t just rumor. I hate what they did to her. Cleo was different. She was so sleek and arrogant. But this one, she just seemed sad and tired. I guess I feel for her.”

“That’s why you’ve been getting better at your work. Because you feel for them.”

His eyes brightened. “Thanks.”

Was she ever that young? Lil wondered. So that a compliment from an instructor or trainer put that look in her eyes, that spring in her step? She supposed she had been.

But she’d been so focused, so absolutely determined to carve out her route. Not only to reach the goal but to make up for what she’d lost. To make up for Coop.

She drew a breath as she studied the compound. All in all, it had worked out for her. Now it would be her decision, her choice if she wanted to open back up, take back what she’d lost.

She heard the steps on the gravel, slow steps, and whirled to defend. Matt wheeled back so quickly he slid and nearly went down.

“Jesus, Lil!”

“Sorry, sorry.” Had she been braced like that all day? she wondered. “You startled me.”

“Well, you scared five years off my life, so we’re more than even. I want to set up to examine the female tiger.”

“Right. Eric wants to assist.”

“That’s fine.” Matt gave her just the lightest pat on the shoulder. For Matt, Lil knew, it equaled a hug from anyone else.

“There’s a lot of inside work. You could be doing that.”

“He should see me. If he’s watching, if he’s out there, he should see me. See that I’m doing what I always do. It’s about power.” She remembered what Coop had said. “The more I hide, the more power I give him. And hell, Matt,” she added when she saw Farley and Tansy exchange a kiss by his truck. “It’s a really good day.”

“Is it?”

“Wait and see.”

She stuck her hands in her back pockets and strolled toward Tansy as Farley drove away.

Tansy turned, and her shoulders went up and down with a bracing breath as she walked toward Lil.

“You knew.”

“Let me see how it looks on you.” She grabbed Tansy’s hand. “Fabulous. Perfect. I am
good.
Though he actually picked it himself, unless my mental shove actually worked.”

“It’s why you were babbling this morning. You thought I was talking about Farley asking me to marry him. Not the e-mail.”

“There was momentary confusion,” Lil allowed, “but no babbling.”

“He told me, just now, how he’d planned to ask me last night. He had a bottle of champagne and candles. He was going to set the stage in my apartment.”

“And instead he went to take care of family.”

“Yes, he did.” Tansy’s eyes went damp. “That’s who he is, and that’s one of the reasons this ring’s on my finger. I figured it out. So he’s younger and paler than I am. He’s a good, good man. He’s my man. Lil? I’m going to marry Farley.”

With a laughing hoot Lil grabbed Tansy to dance in a circle.

“What the hell is this?” Matt demanded.

“I told you it was a really good day.”

“So the two of you are yelling and jumping?”

“Yes.” Tansy ran to him, leaped, and nearly knocked him over with a hug. “I’m engaged. Look, look, look at my ring!”

“Very nice.” He eased her back, out of his personal space, and smiled. “Congratulations.”

“Oh! I’ve got to go show Mary. And Lucius. Well, mostly Mary.”

When she ran off, Lil just grinned. “See? A really good day.”

 

 

 

FAMILY CAME FIRST, Lil reminded herself and tried not to worry as she sat at her parents’ dining room table. Her mother wanted—insisted on—a celebrational family dinner, so she was where she should be. With them, and Farley and Tansy, with Lucy and Sam, who’d stood as Farley’s unofficial grandparents. And, of course, with Coop.

But her mind kept turning back to the refuge. Security system up and running, she reminded herself. Matt and Lucius and two of the interns on-site.

Everything was fine. They were fine, her animals were fine. But if something happened when she wasn’t there . . .

As conversation buzzed around them, Coop leaned over and whispered in her ear. “Stop worrying.”

“I’m trying.”

“Try harder.”

She lifted her wineglass and made sure she had a smile on her face.

Late summer wedding. She tuned in. And here it was already April, so much to be done. Debates ran on the venue. The farm, the refuge. On the time. Afternoon or evening.

Did he know she wasn’t there? Lil wondered. Would he try to hurt someone just to prove he could?

Under the table, Coop took her hand and squeezed. Not supportive and lover-like, but
cut it out.

She kicked him, but pulled herself back. “If I get a vote, it’s for here at the farm, afternoon. That way we can party right through the evening. We’ll close the refuge for the day. There’s more room here, and if we have any sort of bad luck with the weather—”

“Bite your tongue,” Jenna ordered.

“Well, the house is more accommodating than the cabins.”

“Close for the day?” Tansy pushed that single point. “Really?”

“Come on, Tans. It’s not every day my best friend gets married.”

“Oh, boy, we have to shop!” Jenna winked at Lucy. “Dresses, flowers, food, cake.”

“We were thinking to keep it kind of simple,” Farley put in.

To which Joe muttered, “Good luck, son.”

“Simple’s no problem. But simple still has to be pretty and perfect.” Jenna emphasized the point by jabbing a finger in Joe’s arm. “I hope your mother can come out soon, Tansy, so we can put our heads together.”

“There’s no stopping her. She’s called three times since I told her, and already has a stack of bride magazines.”

“We’ll have a girl trip when she comes. Oh, this will be fun! Lucy, we have to have a shopping safari.”

“I’m already there. Jenna, remember the flowers at Wendy Rearder’s daughter’s wedding? We can outdo that.”

“Simple.” Sam rolled his eyes at Farley.

“Before you women get too far along and start talking about releasing a hundred doves and six white horses—”

“Horses.” Jenna interrupted her husband by clapping her hands together in delight. “Oh, we could do a horse and carriage. We could—”

“Just hold on, Jenna. Farley’s looking pale.”

“All he has to do is show up. You leave the rest to us,” Jenna told Farley.