Winds of Heaven (14 page)

With a wry frown Kylie walked from the kitchen. Who was she kidding? From the moment she’d met him, she had had precious little control over any part of her life. Why should today be any different?

In all honesty, though, she had to admit that Nick made a concerted effort to consult her wishes during their leisurely tour of Santa Fe. With the expertise of an experienced guide and a patient half smile, he accompanied her through the fiesta-like atmosphere of the central plaza.

The casual touch of his hand at the small of her back made Kylie achingly aware of him. Even amidst the crowd that strolled the block-long avenue of native vendors, she was conscious of Nick, of his deep voice, the latent amusement in his eyes, his elusive masculine scent. She was glad they weren’t alone and in the same instant wished they were.

If he suspected her ambivalent feelings, Nick gave no indication of it. He was lighthearted, attentive, and witty and displayed a considerable knowledge of the history and culture of New Mexico and her people. And to his credit he showed no surprise at her rather curious choice of a souvenir when she bypassed the displays of turquoise and silver jewelry to purchase a cactus-shaped salt and pepper set.

Kylie snapped pictures with a reckless finger, trying to capture the old-world charm of adobe buildings, and succeeded in capturing Nick in the frame more often than not.

When he insisted he would pass out from lack of nourishment if they didn’t stop for lunch, Kylie was glad of an excuse to leave history behind. It was becoming difficult to concentrate on her surroundings, no matter how charming, with Nick so close by her side. With so much still to discover about him it seemed almost frivolous to spend any time discovering a city that had been around for centuries and would certainly be around for years to come.

The drive from Santa Fe into the national park was accomplished in comfortable silence. It gave her time to take a deep breath, relax, and adjust to the change from noisy crowds to the quiet murmuring of nature—and time to study the easy way Nick drove and kept her fascinated by the simple movement of his hands.

The picnic spot he chose bordered a swift mountain stream that flowed musically past the stones in its path. The clear water, desert hues and varied green vegetation provided a colorful setting for the blanket Nick spread over the grass. Kylie eyed the blanket doubtfully before she sat cross-legged on one corner.

“A tablecloth?” she asked. “Are you always so well prepared?”

He placed her lunch sack in front of her and seated himself before opening his considerably larger sack. “Oh, this is just spur of the moment. If I’d had more time, we would have had a picnic to remember, complete with red-checkered cloth and woven basket.”

“Packed with a wedge of cheese, a loaf of bread, and a jug of wine, no doubt.” Kylie unwrapped her sandwich and nibbled at the crust.

Nick followed her example. “That certainly is poetic, but I think I prefer a picnic with more substance.”

“I noticed.”

“No snide remarks from your side of the blanket, please. You should keep it in mind that I have the only two cans of soda in the immediate vicinity.”

“That is something to consider. Would you trade one can of soda for half of an orange?”

He reached inside his sack and withdrew the can, holding it for a minute before passing it to her. “There’s something unfair about this transaction, but in the interest of my future as a tour guide, I won’t quibble.”

“Hmmm,” Kylie murmured after taking a sip. “I had a feeling this would cost me. I suppose you expect my eternal gratitude.”

“That wasn’t exactly what I expected.”

Kylie ignored the question inherent in the words and focused her attention on lunch.

“Well?” he asked finally. “Aren’t you going to ask what I did expect?”

“No.” Her lips formed an innocent curve. “In the interest of your future as a tour guide, I think it’s best that I not know. I’m afraid it might lead to a personal and possibly unprofessional
discussion.”

Nick stretched out on the blanket, propping himself up on an elbow and lifting his brows in mock surprise. “I see you’ve been picnicking here before.”

“Let’s just say I recognize a line when I hear one.”

He laughed with quiet enjoyment. “Where have you been all my life, Kylie?”

Waiting for you,
her heart said so clearly she wondered that he didn’t hear it. Her brown eyes met his gray ones, and for a moment she shared his smile. “I’ve been learning how to handle fresh tour guides who get out of hand.”

“You can handle me any way you like.” Nick grinned as he reached for a bag of chips. “It would be nice if you’d wait until I’ve finished lunch, but if you’re anxious—?”

Kylie managed to keep from choking and took a drink of soda to restore her composure. “I’ll restrain myself somehow.”

“Just until I’ve finished lunch,” he amended.

“Which by the look of it could be sometime tomorrow afternoon.”

He glanced defensively at the remaining sandwich, bag of chips, pickle, and sack of cookies. “If I start now, I’m sure I’ll be through in time to show you the sunrise. Maybe even a little nature by moonlight.”

Images flooded her mind—of Nick, of his face shadowed and tender in the light of a thousand stars, of a whisper of wind brushing across her skin, of the midnight sounds of a summer night, of the blended scents of high desert and mountain stream.

It was all there in her mind, so vivid she could almost feel the touch of his lips on hers.

“Of course,” he said, his voice sending the images flying to the far corners of her dreams, “there is an extra charge for late-night tours.”

With an effort Kylie imitated his teasing tone. “Let me guess—breakfast?” She shook her head. “I’m afraid my expense account will never stretch that far. You see, my employer isn’t very open-minded.”

Nick smiled at the sally, but she could tell he wasn’t particularly amused by it. Kylie turned her attention to the rest of her sandwich and wished she hadn’t mentioned their business relationship. All day Nick had skillfully directed the conversation away from controversial subjects to ensure that the time they spent together was light and enjoyable.

And she had enjoyed every minute, every smile. It was pleasant to feel so relaxed with Nick, and she didn’t want to spoil it.

Tossing the empty sandwich wrapper into the sack, Kylie shifted her position and then settled back to observe the area as she peeled the orange. She glanced at Nick and wondered what he was thinking behind his pensive expression.

Was he thinking of her? Imagining how she would look with moon dust glinting in her hair? Kissing her in his daydreams? Or were his thoughts distant, back at the office and far removed from this idyll?

Impulsively she broke the orange in half and leaned toward him, knowing it was a ploy to gain his attention again, knowing that she didn’t want to share his thoughts with anything else at the moment.

“Here’s your half,” she teased coaxingly.

He swung his gaze to her outstretched hand as if he’d forgotten her presence. Then he shook his head. “No, thanks. I’m full.”

Slowly she withdrew the proffered fruit. “And here I thought you had the appetite of a growing boy.”

Nick lay back, cupping his hands behind his head and closing his eyes. “Boy,” he repeated quietly. “I haven’t been a boy since I was eight years old. Before my father died, he told me I was the man of the family, that I should take care of my mother.”

“And you did,” Kylie stated in a voice little more than a whisper.

“I didn’t know there was a choice. At that age I took promises very seriously.”

“Somehow I don’t think age would have made any difference.”

“Maybe not,” he conceded. “Perhaps it’s just that time teaches you how to avoid making promises you can’t or don’t want to keep.”

Kylie tried to visualize Nick as a child, but the image slipped through her mind too quickly to take form. “Do you regret keeping that particular promise?”

“How can I answer that, Kylie? I don’t regret it, but there are times when I wonder what it would have been like to grow up with a little less responsibility.”

She nibbled on an orange section and mulled his words over in her mind. “I would have thought you had a dramatic example of irresponsibility in Alex.”

Nick gave a soft chuckle. “If you ever met my Aunt Rosemary, you’d understand Alex’s belief that the sun rises each morning expressly for his benefit. I’m not making excuses for him. I think he should have cut the apron strings long ago. But my aunt can be very persuasive, and she never gave him much opportunity to make a decision on his own.”

“Until my seminar,” Kylie added. She felt the caution in Nick’s studied pause and pretended not to notice his hesitation. “You said yourself that Alex had to take full responsibility for that.”

“Alex may have made the decision all on his own, Kylie, but you can be sure he was counting on his mother’s support in case there were any repercussions.”

“Which there were, as a matter of fact.”

A soft breath left his lips. “I wouldn’t touch that line for a two-week vacation in Tahiti.”

With a fleeting smile Kylie shifted back to a safer subject. “What about Alex’s father?”

“No one ever had the nerve to ask about him. It’s possible that he left her. Few men could live with my aunt’s dynamic energy level and fierce independence. You can see what happened to Alex.”

“She sounds like quite a formidable person.”

“She can be,” Nick said. “But she is also one of the most charming women you could ever hope to meet. In fact, with the exception of my mother I can’t think of another woman I admire more.”

A ripple of wounded vanity wound through Kylie. It was foolish of her even to think that she might be the woman he most admired. Foolish and so typically female. She frowned at her own stupidity. “Does your mother work in the home office too?”

“My mother is content to let me look out for her interests in the corporation. She tells me she simply has no business sense, that men are better with financial reports and sales charts. Actually she just likes to have someone take care of the things that she feels are a man’s responsibility. She needs someone to make life’s mundane decisions for her so that she can concentrate on making life gracious.”

Kylie let her gaze trace his profile with intuitive understanding, “And you’re that someone, aren’t you, Nick?”

“There wasn’t anyone else for her to depend on until a year ago, when she remarried. He’s a southern gentleman who treats her like a fragile magnolia blossom, and she’s blissfully happy these days.”

“And are you blissfully happy these days too?”

Nick rolled onto his side and trapped her in his amused gaze. “Only on alternate Saturdays when it doesn’t rain.”

“It isn’t raining today,” she answered warily.

“No, it isn’t, is it?” His lips curved, not with a smile but in caressing invitation. “Come here, Kylie.”

A butterfly feeling danced wildly inside her, and she wanted nothing more than to obey him, yet she hesitated. “My hands are sticky, Nick. I’ve been eating an orange.”

His gaze dropped to her hands, then backtracked to her lips. “I’ve always liked the taste of oranges.”

Pushing herself to her feet, Kylie looked down at him. “I’ll just wash the stickiness off and be right back,” she announced as if her voice wasn’t shaky and lacking in conviction.

As she made her way to the stream’s graveled bank, she wondered why she was so reluctant to give in to her own longing to be in his arms. Was it possible that she recognized the danger in each surrender, no matter how small? That she knew each soft word and gentle touch brought her closer to the time when she would be unable to reclaim even the tiniest section of her heart?

The water swirled around her fingers in soothing ripples, and she admitted it was more than possible. She sensed Nick’s presence behind her before she felt his hands on her shoulders. With a sigh she acknowledged her reprehensible feeling of relief that he had made the decision for her.

“Here, let me help,” he said, bending beside her. His large hands captured hers beneath the surface and sent shivers of pleasure racing up her arms.

“That’s all right, Nick. I can manage.” She shifted her weight and lost her balance, leaning precariously over the stream.

“Watch out.” He brought his hands up to catch her and splashed water over them both. When she was settled back on her heels, Nick took his hands from her sides, leaving two wet patches on her T-shirt as a reminder of his help. “I thought you were just going to rinse off the stickiness,” he said. “But if you’re intent on a bath, I’ll have to guide you to a more secluded spot.”

Kylie arched an eyebrow at his teasing. Then she cupped some water in her palm and flipped it toward his face. “Anyone can lose their balance, Mr. Braden. Even you.”

Nick blinked at the watery assault and retaliated in kind before she could defend herself. “It takes a very assertive push to knock me off balance, but if you care to give it a try, come on.  I’m ready.”

Kylie laughed as she wiped the drops from her face. “I wouldn’t want you to get all wet.”

Taking her by the shoulders, Nick grinned wickedly. “Well, I would like very much for you to get all wet. Then you’d have to get out of those uncomfortable clothes, wouldn’t you?”

Her eyes widened with suspicion. “Nick? You wouldn’t
really
—!’

He did, and Kylie found herself sitting half-in and half-out of the stream. The only consolation was that Nick lost his balance and got twice as wet as she did. She intended to give him her best disapproving scowl, but at the sound of his rich laughter her intention fled. His amusement was just too infectious to resist, and she joined him.

Then she was leaning toward him, offering her lips, wanting to taste the moistness that lingered on his mouth. As their lips met, Kylie knew it was a taste she would always associate with Nick. A kiss both tender and demanding, full of the gentle strength so characteristic of him.

Bringing her palms up to cup his face, she let her body relax against him, let the kiss deepen as he shifted his weight to support her. Kylie gave in to the subtle pressure and felt desire swirl and eddy inside her.