Mountain Laurel (13 page)

Laurel couldn't deny the relief coursing through her.

"When you put it like that, how can I refuse?"

Studying him, she gazed from his shining, silky hair, down his straight nose, over perfect, smooth lips, to his slightly indented chin and wondered why being close to him constantly made her come unglued, especially when he always seemed to be so calm and collected. He evoked extreme responses from her—anger and suspicion one minute, euphoria the next. She had to learn to control her responses to him, especially if they were going to work together to help Ginny.

"Come on, let's take a walk before we eat."

The suggestion shook Laurel out of her reverie. They had arrived on the outskirts of town. He had parked the truck, and Michael had spoken to her from where he stood at the open driver's side door. Sliding under the steering wheel, she stepped out and took his proffered hand.

"That's the old B&O Railroad Station. That buiIding's over one hundred years old."

Her gaze, following the directing nod of his head, swept over the archaic brick structure.

She liked the warm, almost possessive way he propelled her across the street, with one strong hand planted firmly on the small of her back. As they stepped up onto the sidewalk, she was poignantly aware of the chill where his touch had been when his hand dropped to his side.

Listening to the deep timbre of Michael's voice pointing out one sight, then another, she strolled beside him down the main thoroughfare of the small town. She was startled when his grip locked around her elbow, twirling her around to face him.

"Step over here," he whispered, pulling her with him.

He moved to the window of a small boutique, his eyes roving the silver jewelry displayed there. "Give me a second to think."

"What's the matter? And why are we whispering?" She searched his frowning profile, then she lifted her head to glance around them.

But he caught her chin, guiding her attention back to him. His warm fingers traveled up her cheek, then under her hair to caress her neck. His expression softened as his dark eyes looked into hers. Bending down, he kissed her jaw tenderly, then he leaned into her and pushed his nose into her hair to inhale deeply.

Laurel felt her knees turn to rubber. Lifting one hand to his shoulder, she held on for dear life.

"Michael?" His name left her throat in a faint breathy whisper. His light kiss on her earlobe almost made her sigh.

"We're being watched," he explained. "Eric's across the street."

Laurel's eyes snapped open. Michael was putting on a show for Ginny's friend Eric. Of course, he was. Why else would he kiss her and touch her so intimately? Wow, he was good at this play acting thing. Ignoring the burning disappointment that filled her, she realized she was going to have to stay on her toes. Getting caught up in the moment was utterly foolish, she realized, locking her knees to stop their quaking.

What was wrong with her? If someone were witnessing her reaction to him, she might be accused of being in love with the man or something.

In
love
? That was ridiculous! She barely knew him.

When Michael straightened, they both swiveled their gazes across the street to see Eric watching them. The gangly teen lifted his hand in greeting and Michael did the same. Laurel stood there unable to move, needing the time to collect her wits.

"Do you think he'll see Ginny today?" Michael asked.

Laurel could only nod.

"But do you think he'll tell her what he saw?"

Again she nodded.

"That's great!" His mouth split into a wide smile and he clapped Laurel on the back. "Let's go have breakfast. I've worked up a hefty appetite."

He didn't notice Laurel's clenched jaw or her tight fists as she walked beside him.

When the waitress brought plates of fluffy scrambled eggs, bacon and steaming biscuits, Laurel's stomach growled. She and Michael had been discussing their friendly conspiracy.

After the way she'd felt when Michael had told her why he was kissing her, she thought she'd never be able to eat. But his affable banter on the way to the family diner where they now sat helped her nerves to calm and her tensed muscles to relax. She was relieved that he hadn't seemed to notice her profound reaction to his faked attentions.

His easy, jovial behavior after their little 'love scene' cemented a reminder in her brain that she wouldn't soon forget: Michael's conduct in front of the boutique had been one friend helping another, nothing more. And it was clear to her now just how important his friendship was to her. Too important to jeopardize by some silly adolescent crush, or whatever it was she was feeling. She had to make sure she kept her emotions in check around him. It was too easy to get caught up in the seeming romance they were trying to conjure. Much too easy.

"I think we'll be able to pull this thing off," Michael said between bites. "How about you?"

She nodded. Placing her fork down on the table, she leaned on her elbows, staring at him intently. "Michael, I really do appreciate this. I want you to know that."

"I do." His eyes crinkled with a warm smile.

He wiped his hands on a napkin and placed it on the table. "Oh, I forgot. I have to work a couple of nights this week, but that's no problem. You can come with me."

"To work?"

"I won't work you too hard," he said, grinning. "The campers staying in the park like to sit around a bonfire some evenings listening to legends and ghost stories."

"Sounds fun," she remarked. "You want me to build the fire? Or tell the stories?"

He threw his head back, laughing. "Neither," he said. "Just be there. You could listen if you like."

Michael could barely restrain his urge to reach across the table and take her hand as they talked. The feel of her soft skin against his had seemed so right.

As they'd toured the town earlier, he'd wanted to wrap his arm possessively around her slender shoulders. But he'd reminded himself that he had come to her as a friend, nothing more, and to take her in his arms would have been out of line.

But, seeing Eric across the street, he knew a great opportunity when he saw one, and his natural instincts had taken over. He could still feel the silkiness of her cheek against his own, see the supple creaminess of her neck, smell the perfume of her thick hair.

Wondering what exactly he'd gotten himself into, Michael gazed across at Laurel and smiled.

Chapter Six

"D
id you ever in your life imagine that we'd be going on a double date?" Ginny nudged Laurel out of the way and peered into the bathroom mirror.

"Never," Laurel admitted, lowering the mascara wand she held in her hand.

"This is great, though." After examining her reflection intently, Ginny pulled a strand of hair down over one eye. "Don't you think so?"

"Yep, just great. But it'd be even better if you'd let me get ready," Laurel quipped.

Ginny sat down on the edge of the tub.

Having free reign of the mirror once again, Laurel finished coating her eyelashes, then quickly ran the brush through her softly curling hair.

"Do you think you're dressed up enough?" Ginny eyed her sister up and down. "I mean, this
is
a date."

Laurel set the brush on the countertop. She looked down at the warm wool sweater she wore and smoothed her palms on the thighs of her soft corduroys.

"Ginny, in case you haven't noticed, it's cold outside. And we're going to a parade." Glancing at Ginny's thin black stretch pants, Laurel remarked, "You may be the epitome of fashion, but you're going to freeze your little buns off."

"Eric'll keep me warm."

Laurel's lips twisted dubiously and she shook her head.

The knock at the door made both girls' heads turn.

"You get it," Ginny whispered excitedly, hopping up and running to the mirror. "I want to make a grand entrance."

Laurel laughed to herself at Ginny's ebullience. There was nothing in the world that would make her want to be a teenager again. But, if she were honest, she'd have to admit to a fluttering in her own stomach. It wasn't the date that worried her. It was whether or not she and Michael could pull it off. Fooling Eric from afar was one thing, but putting one over on Ginny, up close and personal as this double 'date' would be, was going to be quite another. Laurel was afraid her sister would take one look at them and recognize the whole thing for the hoax it was.

But when she opened the door and saw Michael's crooked smile, her fear melted like a crusty autumn frost under the warmth of the morning sun. What replaced it was a strong current of awareness that made her heart pound and her breath catch in her throat.

She swallowed, then ran her tongue over her lips before returning his smile and inviting him in. After he stepped inside the cabin, she pushed at the door to close it and felt it hit something solid.

"Eric!" She pulled the door open wider. "I'm sorry! I didn't see you. Come in."

"We met in the drive."

Michael's rich voice floated over her, drawing her gaze. The golden flecks glinting in his sable eyes distressed her. Did he feel the magnetic pull between them? Or was he just laughing at her?

"And we're both a little early." Michael's tone held more than a hint of humor.

He was laughing! Well she'd show him that she could play, too.

"Eager, huh?" she asked silkily.

His eyes narrowed a fraction. "Oh, yeah."

Michael came close and she instinctively slid both her hands onto his broad chest. The fabric of his shirt couldn't hide the firm muscles beneath it. When he cupped her elbows in his palms and stared down at her, seemingly lost in a visual feast, her heart raced. Overwhelming emotions made it difficult for her to breathe.

Eric cleared his throat. Laurel blinked twice then heard his long, low whistle when Ginny entered the room.

While the teens were busy with their greeting and safely out of earshot, Laurel whispered to Michael, "You ever audition for Broadway?"

"Is that a compliment?"

"Let's just say I won't worry about Ginny seeing through you."

"I'm glad. That's what I'm here for—to put your mind at ease." Michael left her to join the others in exchanging quiet pleasantries. Laurel watched the smooth movements of his body as he sat down and felt drawn to follow.

Standing behind him, she placed her hands on his shoulders. He immediately reached up, without pausing in his conversation with Ginny, his strong fingers encircling her wrists. He tugged at them until she was forced to bend over, her face next to his.

He crossed his arms, holding on to her tightly, and his lips grazed her skin as he said, "I think we should get ready to go."

Laurel sucked in her breath and tensed the muscle that ran between her shoulder and neck as she made an effort to pull away from him.

"She's real ticklish," Ginny informed him, giggling.

Michael laughed, holding her captive long enough to kiss her cheek, and then released her. Standing, he stepped around the chair in time to watch Laurel shiver involuntarily and rub at her neck.

"You rat." Laurel glared at him halfheartedly but quickly joined in the laughter.

"Well, I'm ready." Ginny grabbed her coat.

"Do you think you'll be warm enough?" Eric asked.

"I'll be fine," Ginny assured him as she sauntered out the door.

Michael helped Laurel into her coat. Leaning down close to her ear again, he said, "I'd like to see you poured into a pair of those pants."

"Oh?" She gave him a mock-angry look.

"It's a compliment. Believe me."

"You're impossible. You know that, don't you?"

"I certainly do."

The sleepy little town of Oakland had been radically transformed. The usually quiet streets were filled with noisy people and ablaze with light. Banners flapped in the chilly evening breeze. People crowded along the sidewalks, searching for the best vantage point from which to view the parade. Children clutched colorful helium balloons in tight fists. One toddler cried as he watched his drift into the night sky.