The Bridal Swap (7 page)

“Exactly,” he drawled. “For if you women exercise your vast intelligence, you’ll soon realize you have no need for men.”

Kate burst out laughing. The musical sound warmed him straight through to his soul.

“You have a nice laugh,” he said softly.

She blushed and looked away. He could’ve kicked himself. Why had he said that out loud?

“Well, I’d better change and get the wagon ready.”

He did move on then, before he said something else best left unsaid.

It was a perfect afternoon for a picnic, a flawless autumn day with startling blue skies and sunshine that soothed the soul. Perched on the patterned quilt spread out across the grass, Kate was content to listen to the conversation flowing around her.

Megan and Nicole sat on her left and directly across were Nathan and Josh. While she and the girls sat primly with their skirts arranged just so, the men had removed their boots and stretched out their large frames so that they were half sitting, half lying on the quilt. Josh was nearest to her, his pant-clad leg an inch or so from her taupe linen skirt.

Kate felt the weight of his every glance as if it were a physical touch.

His classical features put her in mind of the marble statues in the estate gardens—Roman soldiers of noble beauty and strength. His skin wouldn’t be cold to the touch, of course, but certainly as smooth. His trim mustache and goatee gave him a dangerous air, and it wasn’t difficult to picture him as a fierce warrior, a leader among men.

The sunlight made the tips of his hair shine liquid gold. No doubt its texture was that of the finest silk…
Enough
. Like every other upstanding, morally upright man, he was out of reach. Him especially. To daydream about her sister’s former fiancé was utterly unacceptable.

Wrenching her gaze away, she scanned the lush, green fields sloping gently to the stream and the trees along the bank. On distant hills stood row upon row of corn. Black shapes were some farmer’s cattle grazing. The landscape’s verdant beauty imprinted itself on her mind and settled deep in her soul. Never before had she been so affected by her surroundings.

As Josh had said, this place really was a slice of paradise.

Kate turned her head at the sound of Mary’s laughter. She and Sam, along with Alice, Sam’s late brother’s wife, occupied a second quilt closer to the water. Mary had introduced Kate to the girls’ mother that morning at church, and she had seemed sincere in her welcome. In fact, everyone who’d gathered around at the completion of the services had been kind, expressing their delight at meeting her. It had been as pleasant as it had been unsettling. Their lack of formality had been wholly unexpected. She couldn’t picture the affluent people of her church acting in such a manner.

Megan and Nicole’s younger sisters, fifteen-year-old twins Jessica and Jane, strolled arm in arm along the bank. Caleb wasn’t here. He’d escaped immediately after breakfast. Kate wondered where he spent all his time.

“Kate, tell us more about New York.”

Nicole’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. Of all the O’Malley sisters, the seventeen-year-old wore the finest dresses, and her glossy black mane was at all times meticulously styled, not a hair out of place.

“What would you like to know?”

“How far do you live from the dress shops?”

“There are a number near our home, but oftentimes the designers come to us with new arrivals from London and Paris. If my mother, sister or I need an outfit for a special occasion, they bring sketches and materials to choose from.”

Josh scowled in disapproval. She hoped he didn’t assume those things were important to her.

“Can you believe that, Megan?” Nicole nudged her sister, her eyes like saucers. “I am so envious!”

Kate lifted a shoulder. “It’s convenient. I’m not an avid follower of fashion, like my mother and sister. There are certain colors and fabrics I prefer, of course, but my interests lie elsewhere.”

Megan looked up from the book in her lap, a volume of poetry Kate had lent her, blond curls tumbling across her forehead. “How did you come to be interested in photography?”

“My father has friends in that field—both amateurs and professionals. Whenever he visited their studios, he didn’t mind my tagging along if I promised not to disturb anything. The cameras fascinated me—the different sizes and wood grains and gadgetry.”

“When did you decide to try it for yourself?” Josh shifted, and his knee brushed hers.

The casual contact jolted her. Swallowing hard, she struggled to keep her voice steady. “I wanted my own camera for a long time, but my father made me wait until I was fifteen. Up until the last year or so, the process of taking a photograph and exposing the image was a daunting one. Chemicals were—and still are—involved, although now with the dry plates it isn’t rushed.” She addressed Megan. “I could take photographs of you and your sisters if you’d like.”

“That would be wonderful! Thank you.”

Nicole appeared thoughtful. “What should I wear?”

Nathan chuckled. “Clothes.”

She stuck her tongue out. “Hilarious, Nathan.”

“You’ve looked fetching in every outfit I’ve seen you wear,” Kate assured her. “Anything you choose will do splendidly.”

She blushed prettily. “That’s nice of you to say.”

Kate caught Josh’s appreciative smile, his eyes communicating his approval. It was obvious he cared deeply for his family. Unlike the ambitious, shallow men of her acquaintance, Josh stood for honor and compassion. He was the kind of man who put the needs of others before his own and would sacrifice everything for those he loved.

“What did Kate bring for you to read, Megan?” he asked, his gaze never wavering from Kate’s face. Like a moth to a flame, she was drawn to him. She couldn’t look away.

“
The Count of Monte Cristo, Great Expectations
and
Mansfield Park
.”

“That should keep you occupied for two or three days.” He winked at Kate.

“Maybe one day Megan and I can come and visit you in New York,” Nicole said wistfully.

Kate did break eye contact then. “I’d like that,” she said, meaning it.

“Honestly?”

“Yes.” She laughed. “You’re welcome anytime.”

“Josh said Francesca is the same age as our eldest sister, Juliana. Twenty-one. How old are you?”

“Nicole.” Josh’s voice deepened in warning.

“Nineteen.”

“The same age as Megan,” she gushed. “Do you have a steady beau?”

“You shouldn’t ask such things, Nicki,” Nathan admonished with a nudge of his foot.

She whipped her head around. “Don’t call me that!”

Kate sensed rather than saw Josh’s sharpened gaze. “You don’t have to answer.”

“I don’t mind.” Nicole hadn’t meant to be intrusive. She was young and in awe of Kate’s life in the big city. “I don’t have anyone special in my life.”

“All three of my cousins are single, you know. Well, I suppose Josh isn’t ready to court anyone just yet after what your sister did to him. And Caleb—” she scrunched up her nose “—is not what I’d call a catch. A bigger grump I’ve never met! That leaves Nathan. He’s real nice most of the time.”

Nathan had tugged on his boots and was hauling Nicole to her feet before anyone could utter a word. He led her, sputtering her displeasure, toward the water. The three of them sat there in heavy silence for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, Megan cleared her throat.

“I think I’ll join Jessica and Jane.”

Face averted, her gaze on the distant trees, Kate wished she could disappear. Her cheeks burned with humiliation.

“Kate.”

“Hmm?”

“Will you look at me?”

His eyes seemed to see straight into her soul, exposing her secrets. “I’m sorry about that. My cousin rarely thinks before she speaks. I’m sure she didn’t set out to embarrass you.”

“Poor Nathan.” She dredged up something resembling a smile. “He won’t be able to look me in the eye.”

“Nathan may seem shy and unassuming, but he can be tough when the need arises.”

She glanced to where Nathan was walking with Nicole beside the water, his arm around her shoulders. She was a spirited girl. For any man to calm her would take a strong will and finesse.

Kate moved to rise. “Now is probably a good time to speak with your parents about arranging for another place to stay. It slipped my mind yesterday.”

A tiny gasp escaped her lips when Josh took abrupt hold of her hand. She’d forgone gloves for this outing, and the sensation of his rougher skin against hers shot fiery tingles up and down her arm. His grip was both gentle and firm, anchoring her to the spot.

“There’s no need to go anywhere else. Unless you want to, that is.”

She bit her lip. “I do enjoy being around your family. They’ve been extremely kind to me.”

His expression remained neutral. “Then it’s settled. You’re staying.”

Chapter Seven

E
ast Tennessee was weaving its way into Kate’s heart.

The more she explored, the more enthralled she became. At Mary’s urging, Kate had set out after lunch Monday with her camera and supplies. She’d returned to their picnic spot and spent the better part of two hours setting up the equipment and taking various shots. Though hot from working in many layers of clothing, she was satisfied with her efforts. She couldn’t wait to develop the prints!

Walking back to Sam and Mary’s, she soaked in her surroundings. Sunlight streamed through the trees overhead, dappling the firm, brown earth. The forest was both mysterious and peaceful and, above all, breathtaking in its beauty. A testament to God’s limitless imagination.

The prospect of leaving and returning to city life saddened her.

Spotting the stream she’d tumbled into the other day, Kate decided to stop and rest. Her equipment was heavy, the tripod awkward to carry. Her neck was damp with moisture, her hair heavy and straining against the pins.

Setting everything at the base of a sugar maple, she lowered herself onto the same rock Josh had occupied. The sparkling water meandered past. Wouldn’t it feel wonderful to dip her sore feet in?

The woods stood silent and empty. No one was around to see her unladylike behavior. And her mother’s voice seemed further away today.

Unlacing her boots, she tugged them off and removed her stockings, wriggling her stiff toes. Pulling her skirts up to her knees, she plunged her feet in the water. The bracing cold stole her breath at first, but she quickly adjusted to the temperature.

Leaning back, supporting her weight with her hands braced against the rock, she lifted her face to the sun.
Thank You, Father, for the gift of Your creation.

She wondered where Josh had disappeared to after lunch. Since establishing that she would remain in his cabin for the duration of her visit, his manner had been polite yet reserved, his expression carefully neutral.

“Lily.”

Startled out of her reverie, Kate bolted upright. When her gaze connected with that of Tyler Matthews standing on the opposite bank, her stomach lurched. Apprehension shot through her limbs. Her ears buzzed. What did he want with her?

Her precarious position wasn’t lost on her. She was well and truly alone—far enough away from the cabins that no one would hear her if she screamed.

“Don’t be afraid.” He held his hand out. “I would never hurt you. You know that, don’t you?”

Tyler’s dark eyes pleaded with her. Judging by the expression of profound sorrow on his face, he must’ve loved Lily very much. A tiny part of her felt sorry for him. Still, he must be drunk to mistake her for his dead wife. And that meant he was unpredictable.

“I—I’m not Lily, remember? My name is Kate. Kate Morgan.”

Expression hardening, his large hands curled into fists. “My eyes work jus’ fine, Lily Matthews.” He slurred his words. “I’m weary of living without you. So you can either—” Closing his eyes tight, he pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. “You can—”

Her movements slow and calculated, Kate eased her feet from the water and stood up.

Opening his eyes, he stumbled forward. “Come back home of your own free will or I’ll take you by force.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you!”

Adrenaline pulsing through her system, she bolted. The sticks and rocks scraping her bare feet hardly registered.

“Lily!” he gasped.

She heard a splash. He was following her!

“You can’t run forever!” His breathless voice was a mix of anger and desperation.

Kate’s confining skirts tangled around her legs. Terror turning her blood to sludge, she yanked them up and ran faster. Her lungs burned. Her side ached under her ribs.

Where was he? She couldn’t hear him behind her. Still, she expected to feel his beefy hands on her any second. Suddenly his yell rent the air and she stumbled, glancing over her shoulder in time to see him crash to the ground, his feet twisted in a thatch of overgrown ivy. Gasping, she pushed herself to the edge of her limits. She didn’t see Josh until she was almost upon him.

“Kate?”

“Josh!” she gasped.

Seeing her distress, he ran to intercept her.

Shaking now, she fell against him. His strong arms closed around her, sheltering her. She was safe.
Thank You, God.

“Is it Matthews?”

Her cheek pressed against the hard wall of his chest, she fought to catch her breath. “He appeared out of nowhere.”

He eased back to peer into her face. “Are you all right?”

At her nod, he pulled his troubled gaze away to scan the forest behind her. “He’s gone now, but don’t worry. I’m going to have a talk with him. This has to stop.” He curled his arm around her shoulders. “Let’s get you back to the cabin.”

She took a step and swift pain radiated across the soles of her feet. She sucked in a harsh breath.

Josh stopped. “What is it?”

She didn’t want to admit to being barefoot. “Nothing. I’m okay.”

His eyes narrowed. “What hurts, Kate?”

“I left my boots back at the stream. My feet are just a little scraped up.”

“You ran all this way barefoot?” he demanded. Without warning, he scooped her up and strode in the direction of the cabin.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“Put your arms around my neck.”

Hesitantly, she complied. Pressed against him as she was, it was impossible not to notice the strength of his chest and muscular arms. He didn’t seem bothered at all by her weight, supporting her with ease as his long strides ate up the distance.

The honey-brown hair at his nape tickled her fingers, tempting her to explore the soft strands. Her gaze traveled along his temple and the sun-bronzed skin cloaking his cheekbones down to the mustache and goatee framing his firm mouth.

Josh O’Malley was the epitome of strength, confidence and masculine beauty.

And he was her sister’s ex-fiancé. She had to remember that.

Thankfully no one was out and about when they arrived, and Josh headed straight for her cabin. Kicking the door closed with his foot, he deposited her gently on the sofa.

“Don’t move.”

He rifled through the cupboards and shelves in the kitchen and disappeared into the bedroom, returning with a bowl and a pitcher of water, and a towel draped over his wrist. When he knelt at the far end of the sofa and reached to brush aside her skirts, Kate panicked. Her mother’s cold recriminations marched through her mind. This was not proper in the least!

“What are you doing?” she exclaimed.

His expression was calm and controlled. “Your feet need attention.” His voice deepened. “I promise to be gentle.”

“I can do it myself then.”

Crossing his arms, he dared her with a look. “I’d like to see you try.”

Kate knew with her restrictive clothing, especially the tight corset she’d barely managed to fasten that morning, it would be difficult to bend and doctor her feet. Josh knew it, too. He was too much of a gentleman to voice that fact out loud, however.

When she broke eye contact, he pressed her shoulders back against the cushions. “Close your eyes and relax. Think of something pleasant. It’ll be over before you know it.”

Mortified, certain her face would burst into flames, Kate squeezed her eyes tight and clenched her hands. Her body tensed at the first brush of his fingertips on her tender skin. Gradually though, she relaxed. True to his word, his touch was gentle and efficient as he cleaned off the dirt and applied a medicinal cream to the scrapes and scratches.

“All done.”

Kate opened her eyes. Face averted, he smoothed her skirts back down and stood to clear the coffee table. She eased her feet to the rug and sat up, watching as he washed his hands and folded the towel into a neat square. Bright red stained the back of his neck, indicating that he wasn’t as unaffected as he pretended.

“Tell me about Tyler,” she said, partly to ease the sudden tension in the room and partly to satisfy her curiosity.

Leaning a hip against the cabinet, he leveled an inscrutable look at her. “What do you want to know?”

“You said he hasn’t always been the town drunk. What was he like before his wife died?”

His lips turned down. “A good man. He and I grew up together, though he was two years behind me in school.” Stroking his goatee, he appeared lost in thought. “Tyler was never happier than the day he wed Lily. He was crazy about that girl.”

Kate didn’t hold out much hope that a man would ever love her like that.

“Do I resemble her that much?”

His gaze shot to her face. “You share similar features and hair, although she was taller and her eyes spaced farther apart. You could certainly pass for sisters.”

Kate digested that information. She looked remarkably like Tyler’s dead wife. The one he’d loved and tragically lost. How could she ever convince him she wasn’t Lily? When would his obsession with her end?

“What do you think he wants with me?” her voice wobbled.

Josh crossed the room and lowered his large frame to the cushions. Sliding one arm behind her along the sofa’s edge, he leaned in close and cupped her cheek. “I won’t let him hurt you, Kate. I’ll protect you.”

Kate’s expressive eyes revealed her innocent trust in his ability to uphold that promise. He meant it. He would do everything in his power to keep her safe.

Silence thick with expectation hung between them. Josh stroked her silken skin with his thumb. His gaze dropped to her parted lips, and he could no more deny his wish to kiss her than stop breathing.

He lowered his mouth, brushing her lips with the slightest pressure. His heart lurched and took off like a runaway wagon.
Easy. Don’t rush it.

Sliding his hand beneath her thick tresses to curl around her nape, Josh settled his mouth on hers, testing and tasting her sweet offering. Her hand came between them to press against his chest, directly over his heart, not pushing him away yet not allowing him any closer. The heat of her fingers seeped through the cotton fabric of his shirt, branding him.

Josh inhaled deeply her subtle, pleasing scent. She clung to him with timid devotion, and his heart swelled with a fierce protectiveness. Never before had he experienced such a sure, swift thrust of emotion. Not even Francesca had made him feel this way.

Francesca! He broke off contact and, ignoring her whimper of protest, set her away from him. Surging to his feet, he began to pace, thrusting his hands through his hair. What had he done?

He was recently jilted, a man on the rebound. Kissing Kate was the last thing he should be doing!

“Josh?”

“I shouldn’t have done that. I don’t know what I was thinking.” He continued pacing. “I apologize.”

“Right,” she said on a shaky breath, “I’m not Fran.”

He jerked to a stop and shot her a dubious look. “You think I don’t know that?”

“Hard to ignore the differences between us.” Hurt bloomed in her eyes. “You regret kissing me because you love her.”

“I don’t—”

There was a knock at the door. Talk about bad timing. With a long look at Kate, he went to open it. Nathan stood on the other side, her belongings in his hands.

“My camera!”

Moving toward the dining table, Nathan’s gaze darted between Kate and Josh. “I was out walking and spotted your things. Is everything all right?”

He set her boots on the floor and placed her equipment on the tabletop.

“Did you see Matthews out there?” Josh said.

“No. Why?”

“He was on our property. And he frightened Kate.”

“Are you okay?” Nathan’s face clouded as he assessed her.

“Fine. Thanks for bringing my things.” Her gaze connected with Josh’s. “I’d forgotten.”

Because they’d been too wrapped up in each other and that kiss.
A kiss he wouldn’t be repeating
.

“What are you planning to do?”

“It’s time I paid Matthews a visit.”

“I’m coming with you,” Nathan said.

“Fine.” Josh paused in the doorway and turned to Kate. “Take it easy. Try to stay off your feet.”

Eyes troubled, she nodded. “Be careful.”

Pulling the door shut behind him, he followed Nathan down the steps. “You’re prepared, right?”

He touched a hand to the gun in his holster. “Yep.”

Josh hoped there wouldn’t be trouble, but a man had to be ready just in case. Entering the barn, they saddled and mounted their horses. The first half of the ride was made in silence. Josh’s thoughts weren’t on the coming confrontation, however. They were centered on Kate.

He growled low in frustration. He’d hurt her feelings. The apology had made things worse.

Nathan edged his mount closer. “You gonna tell me what’s going on between you two?”

No use denying it. Try as he might, he’d never been able to hide anything from Nathan.