Haunted (37 page)

“I'm not a native,” she told him.

Clint waved a hand in the air. “Half the Southerners today are from New York. Who cares? And there's still a romance about the Southern Cause. Oh, don't get me wrong. I have great friends who are true loyal Yanks! But it doesn't matter, we're reenacting history. Dress up, and ride with us. Not in the actual battle, of course. But you can be one of our wives. It'll be great.”

“Or she can belong to all of us,” Carter said with a wink. “Camp follower, you know.”

“Carter, really!” Harry said with indignation.

“I'm sorry—prostitute. Penny did correct us, right?”

“That's not the point. Darcy is far too…dignified to be a camp follower!”

“It's a reenactment!” Clint said, laughing. “We're not really going to put a ‘for hire' sign on her, or anything.”

“We'll see,” Darcy said, laughing. “I think I'm fresh out of camp follower clothing, though.”

“Penny can set you all up,” Clint said cheerfully.

“Let's ride on,” Harry said. “It's getting dark.”

 

Matt had been soundly sleeping when he felt the fingertips moving down his cheek.

Then he woke with a vivid start.

The room was mostly in shadow, with dusk upon them, and yet he knew, instinctively, who it was.

“Lavinia!”

He bolted out of the bed and turned on the light. She was still seated on the side of the bed, smiling.

“What the hell are you doing in my bedroom?” he demanded.

She pouted, something she did very well. “What a greeting! When I took the first plane down from New York just to show myself.”

“That was great of you, Lavinia, really. But did you ever hear of knocking? Who let you up here?”

“No one let me up. I told Penny I'd run up and see if you were awake.”

“You could have knocked.”

She waved a hand in the air. “I know my way around.” She smiled. “Look at that! I think you're getting a touch of gray in your hair.”

“Time does go by.” And it had. It had been years since he had seen her. With the initial shock of her arrival over, he had to admit, it had been pretty decent of her to come. He was actually going to enjoy seeing Darcy's face when she met Lavinia. “But you,” he said magnanimously. “You look great.”

She did. Her hair was still long, red, and shining. She seemed to have acquired more of a lithe, hourglass figure.

She stood. “You think so.”

“Yep. You're even more…voluptuous than ever.”

She grinned. “Okay, so I had a boob job. They did great work though. Want to see?”

He laughed. “No, but thanks.”

“Ah, so there's something going on with the ghost chaser, huh?”

“Did you come because you were bored, Lavinia, or to help me out?”

She reflected the comment honestly for a minute. “Okay, maybe I was a little bored. But I did come to help you out.”

“Want to really help me?”

“Sure.”

“Get out of my bedroom. I'll be right down.”

Lavinia rose regally, stretching like a cat. She walked by him, rising against him, planting a kiss on his cheek. “Maybe I'll still be bored if the little ghost chaser goes away.”

“Lavinia, we've been that route before. Let's be friends, huh?”

She shrugged and started toward the door. “Your cousin still hanging around here? And that handsome friend of his?”

“Clint—and Carter.”

“Carter, yeah.”

“They're still around, Lavinia.”

“And they've gone through women like toilet paper, I take it. But then again, I'm not the usual country fare, am I?”

“If you're trying to make me jealous, Lavinia, I told you, we've been that route before.”

Her smiled deepened. “I'm not trying to make you jealous. I'm just bored.”

“I'm sure that both Carter and Clint will be around for dinner.”

“Good. I am hungry,” she said, and at last departed his room.

 

Darcy insisted on taking care of Nellie when they returned to the stables, though Sam was waiting for them, and managed to remove the horse's saddle the minute she had crawled out of it. “They're waiting for you, up at the house,” Sam told them.

“Waiting for us? Are we late for dinner? It's early,” Carter said.

Sam rolled his eyes. “We've got a visitor.” He turned his back on them, leading Tannenbaum back to his stall.

“A mystery. How cool,” Clint said.

“What is it?” Carter asked Sam, frowning.

Harry linked an arm with his. “Let's just go on up and see.”

It looked as if Carter still wanted to protest but he was dragged along. As they walked up the porch steps, Darcy knew
that she was curious herself. They walked into the foyer, and saw a group sitting in the parlor.

Adam, up and dressed and looking very regal. Penny, flushed and a little flustered. And Matt, casual in jeans and a knit polo shirt.

And a woman.

A really gorgeous woman in tight black pants and a blue silk shirt that enhanced her assets to a T.

She stood with the others as they entered.

“My Lord!” Clint breathed.

Matt smiled broadly at Darcy across the room. “Darcy! I think the others have all met. This is Lavinia Harper. Lavinia, Darcy Tremayne.”

M
att might have been mad as a hornet that morning, but now, he was as smug as the Cheshire cat. He somehow refrained from shouting,
“She's alive. See, see! My ex-wife is alive and well.”

And stunning. Smooth, elegant, and with perfect poise and sophistication, though her eyes were still curious and judging when they fell upon Darcy.

“Miss Tremayne! I've been reading about you all the way up in New York.” Lavinia took her hand in a truly decent shake.

“Have you?” she said dryly, then, “It's a pleasure to meet you.”

“Well, of course, it is,” Lavinia said. “With bones popping up all over, I'm happy to prove that they're not mine. But if you're a psychic, shouldn't you know that?”

“I've been trying to explain to Lavinia that dealing with the mind is not always such an obvious thing,” Adam said.

“Lavinia, you are gorgeous!” Clint told her.

“Clint! I haven't given you a hug yet.” The woman flashed Darcy a smile. “If they wanted to be honest, they'd all tell you that it's not such a thrill to have me here, but these are true old-time Southerners, determined on the old hospitality!”

“Lavinia, really. We're certainly pleased to have you,” Penny said stiffly.

Lavinia broke into laughter. “Her words a lie, her tone the truth! Oh, Penny, don't go getting all flustered.” She offered her
smile to Darcy again. “The boys, however, really don't mind too badly, hm? Clint, I'm still waiting on the hug.”

She walked toward him. Clint winked at Darcy and mouthed, “Yow! Come to me, baby!”

She turned. Matt was looking at her. Still smug and pleased.

“Hey, any luck finding the bones?” Carter asked Matt.

He shook his head. “But we will find them.”

“What can I get you all to drink?” Penny asked.

“Beer for me, thanks, Penny,” Clint said. Lavinia had gone on to hug Carter and Harry.

“Ditto!” Carter said, over Lavinia's shoulder.

“A Coke for me,” Harry called, next in line for the buxom hug.

“Darcy?” Matt asked politely.

She met his eyes and smiled sheepishly. “A big anything,” she told him.

“Not too big. I just found out myself that Adam bought you a present today,” Matt said.

“Oh?” Darcy looked at Adam.

“I've been thinking about it a long time. Sam helped me out after I made it out of bed,” Adam said.

“How are you feeling?” Darcy asked him.

“Much better. Sleep helped a lot,” Adam said.

“Yes, it does,” Matt said. “Darcy, I'll get you a beer. Better yet, come with me to the kitchen—if that's all right with you, Adam?”

“Certainly,” Adam said.

“What's going on?” Darcy asked.

“Your present is in the kitchen,” Matt told her.

She followed him, and as he walked to the refrigerator, she looked around. Then she heard a sound and solid bark. Matt grinned, handing her the beer.

“A dog?” she said.

“Adam thought that, since you didn't seem able to stop yourself from running around in the middle of the night, you
should have a big dog. She's around the counter in her crate, waiting to meet you.”

Darcy walked around the counter. Her tail wagging away, one of the most beautiful German shepherds Darcy had ever seen was waiting impatiently.

“She's gorgeous!” Darcy said.

“You can let her out.”

“She full-grown?”

“Almost full-grown, and fully trained. And once she gets to know you, she'll be your most loyal fan, and most ardent protector. Hopefully, you won't send her after me. Now that you know that Lavinia is alive and well.”

Darcy had slipped the bolt on the crate and the dog was sniffing and licking her hands. She looked at Matt. “I never really thought—”

“Yes, but now you don't even have to suspect, huh?”

Darcy gave her attention to the dog.

“I'm sorry,” she said softly.

“I'm sorry, too,” he said.

“For?” she asked, looking up at him.

“For the times I have tried to convince myself that you were just too eerie to get really close to,” he said flatly.

“I'm still eerie.”

“Not to me.”

She smiled, but wondered if she really believed him.

“Lavinia is really as gorgeous as everyone said.”

“Yes, she is,” he agreed, but he shoved his way close to her, despite the dog. “So help, huh?” he asked.

“Help?”

“Stick close.”

“You need protection from her? Do you doubt yourself?”

“Not for a minute. But she's really the touchy-feely kind.”

“Um,” Darcy said, studying his eyes. “But you really do seem to be in a good mood tonight. And I was warned that
you were in a real temper this morning. You must be happy to see Lavinia.”

“I'm happy for you to see Lavinia,” he said.

She smiled, then became serious. “But the bones were stolen,” she reminded him.

He ran his fingers down her cheek, the touch gentle, his voice like lead. “You mean more to me than the bones, but trust me, I'll find them. I have the best forensic help you can get anywhere in the world.”

“Oh? Is that why you're not still down at the funeral home?”

“I've asked a friend in the FBI for help.”

“To find old bones?”

“Do we know that they're old bones?”

She shook her head in response to his question, still studying his eyes. He shrugged then. “You don't have to mention that fact. Everyone will know soon enough. It's no great secret. But for now…”

He was interrupted by a bark. The shepherd stood looking up at them, wagging her tail.

“What's her name?” Darcy asked.

“Oola.”

“Oola?”

“According to Sam, her breeder was very fond of the play
The Producers,
” Matt explained with a smile.

“I see. Oola! Come on, let's go and tell Adam thanks!”

Darcy returned to the parlor with her beer and her dog. Matt followed behind with the two bottles of beer for Clint and Carter and a Coke for Harry.

“Thank God I wasn't drowning!” Carter said.

“A dog!” Clint exclaimed.

Darcy hunkered down with Oola, smiling at Adam. “She's beautiful and a great gift, thank you so much, Adam.”

“I've had a dog in mind for you for some time now,” Adam said. “Sam just happened to know the right folks. She's house
broken, six months old, and she'll bond to you like glue, so he assures me.”

“Great animal,” Clint said.

“Great protection,” Matt said.

“Do ghosts get dangerous?” Lavinia asked.

“Apparently, the pursuit of them may be,” Matt said. He was staring at Harry. “That uniform is great on you,” he said.

“Well, you'll be in uniform tomorrow, too,” Harry told him.

“Not me. I've got business out of town,” Matt said.

“Matt Stone!” Penny protested. “You can't go out of town.”

“Penny, I wasn't going to ride with a unit, no matter what. I was going to be crowd control, you know, act like the sheriff. Thayer can handle it all, though.”

“Matt, Penny has a point,” Adam said. “You should be here. After all, this is Stoneyville.”

“Clint is a Stone. He'll have to do.”

“Wow. Great. Thanks,” Clint said.

“Sorry. I didn't mean it that way,” Matt said sheepishly.

“You're the one so big on tourism, Matt. On showing folks our little piece of Virginia. You're so gung ho on opening historic houses and buildings. How can you fail to be part of a reenactment?”

“Yeah, Matt!” Clint said.

“I have really important business,” he told them.

“Darcy is going to be part of it,” Clint told him.

“Oh?” Matt arched a brow to her.

She shrugged. “They think I should dress up, at least.”

“What fun!” Lavinia put in. “I'd love to playact.”

“You are more than invited to join us,” Carter said graciously.

“I'll be there.”

Oola barked, as if agreeing that she'd participate as well, causing them all to laugh.

“Even Oola will be there,” Penny told Matt.

Darcy was surprised to see him suddenly hesitate, which
seemed strange. He'd been so definite. “You know,” he said, “there was a General Stone. But he was nowhere near Stoney ville during the fighting. He was surrounding Richmond at the time.”

“Matt, you've always taken part before,” Clint reminded him. He looked at Darcy. “He's usually Ian Ripley, a cavalry captain, like Harry.”

“We'll see,” Matt said. “I have business, like I told you. But I'll see how far things have progressed by the morning. Hey, Penny, is something burning?”

“The roast!” Penny said with dismay. She leapt up.

“I'll help you,” Darcy offered.

As she ran after Penny, Oola followed.

She didn't go after the food; she just sat in the kitchen. And when they left the kitchen, she sat by Darcy's feet at the dining room table.

The meal was light, and fun, with everyone talking about the reenactment, and Lavinia bringing them all up to date on her social whirl, while flirting outrageously with every man at the table, including Harry. Still, after the nights they'd been having, it seemed a blessing.

Later, with the place cleaned up, the hour getting late, Matt at last rose to break up the group. “I slept all afternoon, but I'm still bushed. Harry, did you want to stay?”

“Nope, got to go home, thanks,” Harry said.

“There's lots of room in the caretaker's cottage,” Lavinia told him. He blushed to the roots—the exact effect she had intended.

“I have to go,” Harry said, “but thanks.”

Matt walked Harry to the door, then came back by Darcy's chair. She thought she was going to blush herself when he said, “Ready to go up?”

“Um, sure,” she said, trying to sound very casual.

“I'll just let myself out,” Lavinia said.

“Never! I'll escort you,” Carter said.

“Hey, I'll walk with you. He's dangerous,” Clint teased.

“Really?” Lavinia said. “I like dangerous men.”

Darcy gave Adam a kiss on the cheek and followed Matt up the stairs.

Oola followed her.

She started for the Lee Room.

“Not tonight!” Matt told her. “My place,” he said lightly. “Oola can have the office area. We'll take the bedroom. Alone. No ladies in white or any other visitors tonight.”

“This house does give new meaning to the term, ‘your place or mine,'” Darcy murmured. With the dog at her heels, she accompanied him.

The minute they locked the dog out of the bedroom area, and turned to one another, she began to whine. They looked at one another and laughed.

“I'm prepared,” Matt told her.

“For a whining dog?”

“You bet.”

He disappeared, then returned smiling. When the door closed, Oola was quiet. Darcy lifted a brow to him.

“Pig's ear,” Matt said.

“Pardon?”

“She came with a supply of pigs' ears,” he explained. “Chew toys. And now…well, you really do owe me an apology.”

“I do?”

“For thinking I might have done evil to my ex-wife.”

“I didn't really think it.”

“Um. Humor me.” He walked to her, embracing her, offering a kiss that was electric and fevered, lips tugging upon hers, tongue all but savage in its raw seduction. The same fevered urgency came damply down the length of her throat, while his fingers, at their most nimble, tugged at buttons and the zipper of her jeans. She ran her own fingers around his waistband, finding his zipper as well, and finding that just the sound of it, and the promise there given was erotic. She might have been
the one who owed the apology, but he was creating an arousal and urgency in her that was high-pitched and searing. The stroke of his fingers down the bareness of her back seemed to elicit a burning in the core of her sexuality, and she moved against him wantonly, wondering only in a very distant place in her mind if he might be determined to forget that Lavinia was on his property. Then even the whisper of such a thought eluded her, for his lips were everywhere, a caress that swept over and into her. The scent of him invaded her, and whispering a soft penance, she returned each brush of a fingertip, every steam-tipped stroke of the tongue, every intimacy, until at last they were arching, writhing, straining, and pulsing together toward a maddened crescendo that burst upon Darcy violently, climax racking her body with delicious shudders, loathe to let the least touch, taste, or scent of him leave her. And for the longest time, he did not. She lay against him, hair splayed over the vital dampness of his chest, deliciously drowsy.