Wings of a Dove (35 page)

    "That's what I'm offering you tonight, Allie all the love I've stored up for you over the years. I'm offering you myself." James paused, his light brows drawing into a small frown. "I'm not big and handsome like some others. But I'll always be here for you, Allie. I'll take care of you and cherish you and love you. I'm offering you all that I am all that I'll ever be. I want you to marry me, Allie."

    Unable to react to James's unexpected declaration, Allie remained motionless as he lowered his mouth to hers. She did not resist as he slipped his arms around her, drawing her close. She felt the touch of his lips, the trembling that shook his frame, even as her mind echoed with shock at the depth of the love James had revealed to her. It was a love she did not share.

    Desperately wishing that she did, Allie allowed James's hungry kiss.

    He was separating himself from her when she saw the hope in his eyes. Oh, James…

    He paused as he drew back. "Your face is an open book, Allie."

    "It is?"

    "Yes. And I don't want you to suffer because the loving is all on my side right now."

    "James, I don't want to hurt you."

    "You won't, Allie, because you're going to grow to love me just as much as I love you."

    Allie did not respond and James drew her close once more. He brushed her lips lightly with his.

    "How did that kiss make you feel, Allie?"

    Allie hesitated, her dark eyes intent on his face. A shaft of moonlight penetrated the branches above their heads, illuminating her countenance, and James's love for her swelled anew at the innocence he saw there.

    "Answer me, Allie."

    Allie searched her heart for a truth that would not sting. "Your kiss is like you, James. It's soft and gentle and caring. I want you to care for me because I care for you, but"

    James pressed a hand across Allie's lips, halting the conclusion of her statement. "Allie, listen to what you said. You said you want me to care for you because you care for me. We can build on those words, Allie, until you feel the same way I do. And I promise, you'll never be sorry."

    Tears welled in Allie's throat. She did not deserve James's love, not when she couldn't return it. But he had always given her more than she had given him back. She still could not understand why.

    "Allie? James?" Mother Case stood in the doorway behind them with Jacob at her side, anxiety apparent in her expression. Her gaze searched the shadows where they stood unseen, relief lifting the planes of her face the moment they stepped into view. Her smile was apologetic.

    "I'm sorry, dears. I was concerned. I thought perhaps… Well, now I know I needn't have worried. I'm sorry if I disturbed you." Turning, Margaret took her husband's arm. "Jacob, next time you must make certain an old fool doesn't intrude on young people's privacy."

    Waiting only until his parents had moved out of sight, James slipped his arm around Allie's waist. He brushed a wisp of hair from Allie's cheek with a tender smile. "Come on, Allie. It's time to go inside. You can think about what I've said, or not think about it, whatever you want. But I promise you, Allie, you're going to love me one day with your whole heart."

    Turning at James's urging, Allie looked toward the hall where the vigorous dancing continued. Still in the circle of James's protective arm moments later, she joined the cheerful crowd.

    She would not think about anything James had said now. Not tonight.

    Dancing couples whirled around her, but Allie was uncertain how much longer she could continue to force her feet to move and make her smile shine. Refusing to allow her gaze to return to the hall entrance where it had lingered in frustrated hope the entire evening, Allie acknowledged for the first time that Delaney might not come. Her spirits plummeted even as she forced a new brightness to her smile and looked up at the badly concealed despair in her partner's eyes.

    Poor Bobbie. If there was one person at the dance who was more unhappy than she, it was Bobbie Clark. He cast a glance at the couple dancing beside them, his heart in his eyes as his gaze touched on Sarah's animated face. She had all but ignored Bobbie the entire evening as she danced with the other young bachelors who had swarmed around her the moment she entered the hall. It was difficult for Allie to comprehend that Sarah was enjoying Bobbie's despair.

    There was no understanding Sarah. Bobbie was a good-looking fellow, with heavy dark hair, dark eyes, and a well-built physique. His family had one of the best farms in the county, and he adored Sarah. He only had one shortcoming: He was not Delaney.

    Allie's forced smile tightened. Sarah would never get Delaney. She was a fool for believing she would.

    Allie squeezed Bobbie's hand sympathetically. Having succeeded in drawing back his attention, she offered encouragingly, "Don't worry, Bobbie. Sarah is beautiful and she enjoys attention, but I know she thinks more highly of you than any of the other fellows here tonight."

    Allie was comfortable with that statement because it was true. Delaney had not come to the dance not even to say good-bye.

    "Do you think so, Allie?"

    "It's the absolute truth."

    Bobbie gave a short laugh. "She has a strange way of showing it."

    Slipping his arm companionably around her waist as the music drew to a close, Bobbie leaned toward Allie. "If I could only get Sarah alone for a few minutes, I'd talk to her and find out what's wrong tonight. But it doesn't look like there's much chance of that." Giving a small shrug, he forced a smile. "Before James catches up with us, would you like to join me for some punch? I think we've both worked up a pretty good thirst."

    At her nod, Bobbie took Allie's hand and drew her toward the buffet. She felt him stiffen as the crowd separated to reveal they were heading directly toward Sarah and her current partner. Sarah waved a graceful greeting to Bobbie as they approached, her smile devastating. She detached herself from Jeremy Bellows as they drew abreast and slid her hand under Bobbie's arm with a coy glance.

    "Bobbie Clark, you've been neglecting me."

    Realizing she had been all but forgotten as Bobbie stared into Sarah's beautiful face, Allie felt a new distaste for Sarah expand within her. Bobbie was stammering a response when Sarah raised a slender, caressing finger to his cheek.

    "I would truly enjoy a bit more punch, Bobbie, but I have no desire to wait on that long line. Do you think you could get some for me?"

    Casting an apologetic glance toward Allie, Bobbie responded politely, "I… Allie and I were just heading in that direction. I'd be happy to get a cup for you, too."

    "Dear boy."

    Waiting until Bobbie had attached himself to the end of the refreshment line, Sarah turned her back on her former partner in rude dismissal. Her softly spoken words were meant for Allie alone.

    "Did you enjoy yourself outside with James, Allie dear?" Sarah laughed at Allie's startled expression. "James is such a fool for you. I suppose you realize how fortunate a plain girl like you is to have someone like James take a shine to her. If you play your cards right, you just may end up with the Case kitchen as your own." Sarah gave an expansive sigh and lifted her graceful shoulders. ''As for me, I don't expect to spend much time in the kitchen. I don't think Delaney will want his woman slaving over a stove."

    Allie's stiffening did not go unnoticed.

    "You didn't really think I'd given up my plan, did you? I think I've played my part well tonight. Everyone will think I disappeared with Bobbie or Jeremy or one of the other fellows when I finally decide to slip out. But you know where I'll be, don't you, dear? You won't warn anyone because you know I'll make a scene, and a scene could be dangerous for Mama. You also know I'll do exactly as I choose in any case, so you must try to console my parents as well as yourself if I don't come back. It may be a very long night."

    Allie gritted her teeth against Sarah's maliciousness. From the other side of the hall, James began making his way toward her as Sarah continued in a low undertone, "Oh, here comes James. Dear James. He's such a comfort, isn't he?"

    Her eyes blurred with tears as James reached her side, Allie tried unsuccessfully to avoid his glance.

    "What did Sarah say to you, Allie?"

    Sarah had already turned toward another fellow who had appeared at her elbow, and Allie shook her head. "Nothing, James. She didn't say anything."

    "Allie…"

    "Please excuse me, James." Allie managed a smile. "I'll only be a few minutes. The convenience isn't far." Not caring whether he saw through her attempt to avoid him, Allie made her way through the crowded room. She needed desperately to get away, for a short time, at least.

    Stepping outside the rear door of the hall, Allie walked slowly along the path to the convenience, grateful to be alone. She could not force her smile a moment longer. Nor could she continue to pretend

    A heavy hand clamped across Allie's mouth, muffling her startled scream as she was suddenly pulled into the heavy foliage that bordered the path. Unable to make out the shadowed figure holding her prisoner in the darkness, Allie fought and squirmed for release, flailing her arms in a vain attempt to strike at her unknown captor.

    "Stop fighting! Allie, dammit, it's me."

    The low growl of a familiar voice brought Allie suddenly stock still. The confining hands fell away and she took an involuntary step back. A shaft of silver moonlight fell on her face, illuminating it, and Allie heard the shadowed figure's low epithet.

    "Delaney, is it you?"

    A step forward brought him into the limited light, and happiness soared to life inside her. A relieved gasp escaping her, Allie threw herself against Delaney's chest, straining on tiptoe     to encircle his neck with her arms as she held him close with all her strength. Her heart pounding she breathed in his familiar scent and rubbed her cheek against his neck, her happiness pouring from her lips in a low, almost unintelligible stream.

    "I knew you couldn't leave without saying good-bye! Everyone said you would, but I didn't believe it for a minute. When you didn't try to see me, I knew there had to be a good reason. I ached without you, Delaney. The ache wouldn't stop, no matter what I tried."

    A low, bitter sound escaped Delaney's lips. "Is that what you were trying to do when you were outside with James a little while ago trying to forget me?"

    "Delaney, I"

    Dislodging her arms from around his neck, Delaney held her an arm's distance from him. His eyes were blazing. "I've been standing here for the last hour, telling myself what a fool I am. I had everything under control. I wasn't thinking about you all the time anymore. I was actually able to put you out of my mind while I worked, and I wasn't getting up to look out the window every half-hour to see if I could catch a glimpse of you on the street. Then tonight came and it started all over again. I knew it would be so damned easy to see you."

    Delaney's expression hardened. "But I didn't want to see you. Damn it all, you've made a cripple out of me! I don't feel whole without you, and I don't like that feeling."

    The emotion in Delaney's voice brought a strange new warmth to life inside Allie. She could feel his trembling, his frustration and anger, and for some reason that warmth grew. She felt a deep, inexplicable yearning to assuage Delaney's anguish. She wanted to hold him in her arms, to feel his strength, and to lend him her own. She wanted to give him peace, to give him love. She wanted

    "Allie, are you listening to me?" A new fury suffused Delaney's tone. "Was James that convincing when he kissed you? What did he say? Did he tell you to forget me, that you didn't need anybody because you had him? Did you believe him?"

    "Oh, Delaney, you know I wouldn't listen even if he said those things. You're part of me, just as I'm part of you."

    A muscle twitched in Delaney's cheek, and Allie noted the tense spasm. Her eyes lingered on the clear eyes, which pinned     her with their gaze, the sharp planes of his cheek, the full mouth that twitched with anger.

    The silence between them lengthened as Delaney's grip on her arms tightened almost to the point of pain. "Did you enjoy James's kiss, Allie?"

    "I… I don't know."

    A low, unidentifiable sound echoed in Delaney's throat, and Allie attempted to explain her confused feelings. "James asked me the same thing, and I told him his kiss was pleasant. It was gentle and caring, just as he is. He told me I would grow to like it more if I"

    "Will you let me kiss you, Allie?"

    The warmth inside Allie began to blossom. "Do you want to kiss me?"

    "Yes."

    Allie's heart fluttered within her breast. "I want you to kiss me, too."

    Delaney's lips touched hers, and Allie leaned full into his arms, melding to his strength. The joy of all that was Delaney swept over her, filled her, and an incredible exhilaration came alive inside her. His mouth sought a greater intimacy, and she allowed it willingly. She reveled in the taste of him, straining closer. She felt his fingers in her hair, caressing her scalp as his tongue sent shivers of joy streaking to the core of her being.