Page 350 of Conveniently Wed
“Thank you.” Aundy blushed again at Nora’s compliment.
“Don’t you think she looks lovely, Garrett?” Nora asked, aware of her son’s gaze lingering on Aundy’s face. When he didn’t answer, she stretched her arm behind the seat and swatted his leg. “Isn’t that right, son?”
“Yes, Ma,” Garrett said, not paying any attention to what Nora said. He was too absorbed in watching the way evening light played in Aundy’s hair and highlighted the freckles across her nose. She was breathtaking. At least he felt like she’d stolen his breath away. When he tried to inhale a calming breath, her soft rose fragrance floated around him, drawing him into an invisible web he had no desire to escape.
Nora turned around and squeezed J.B.’s arm, leaning close to him. “I think our boy is a goner,” she whispered.
J.B. grinned and nodded his head. “That he is, but who could blame him. She’s quite a girl.”
“Did you have a good day at the ranch?” Aundy asked Garrett, eager to divert his attention elsewhere. The way his silvery eyes flickered with heat made her completely unsettled.
“Nothing out of the ordinary.” Garrett finally regained his ability to both think and speak, although he continued to be distracted. It was hard to concentrate on anything with Aundy at his side, looking and smelling so lovely. “How about your day? What did you do?”
“Li helped me plant the garden this morning,” Aundy said, then gave Garrett a saucy grin. “Perhaps it would be more truthful to state I helped Li plant the garden this morning. He knew what he was doing and told me what to drop where and how much dirt to put over it.”
Garrett chuckled and took Aundy’s gloved hand in his. Sparks shot from their fingers up both their arms. “Then what did you do?”
“I took lunch out to Nik and we had a nature lesson.” Aundy’s eyes shone with excitement as she looked at him. “He’s such a bright boy, and so sweet. I want him to learn all he can. Maybe he’ll go to college someday.”
“Maybe he will. Anything is possible.” Garrett studied the way Aundy’s lips moved. Her mouth tempted him when she smiled. “How’s he doing with that harmonica you bought him?”
“Wonderful. I heard him playingDaisy Belltoday and recognized it right away.”
“If you aren’t careful, you’ll spoil that boy,” Garrett teased. Love and care couldn’t spoil a boy with a heart like Nik’s. “Maybe you should lavish some of that attention on me.”
Aundy released Garrett’s hand to smack him on the leg. He used the opportunity to put his arm around her and draw her closer to his side. When she didn’t protest, he let out the breath he held and relaxed.
“The sheep are so peaceful to watch, Garrett. I’m ever so glad I bought them, even if most of the neighbors disapprove.”
“Who’s been jabbering about the woolies now?” Garrett might have been quite vocal in his displeasure with Aundy purchasing sheep, but he didn’t like the way so many of the neighbors had given her a piece of their mind about them. He had to admit, they hadn’t been any trouble so far, except for providing fodder for the neighborhood gripers.
“I think most everyone has been by at least once to let me know their thoughts on my flock, although Marvin Tooley seems the most concerned. He came by a little inebriated this afternoon.” When a look of fury and concern settled on Garrett’s face, Aundy wished she hadn’t said anything. He frowned and she felt his arm tense behind her.
“He showed up at the farm drunk?” Garrett asked, angry with Tooley for his inappropriate behavior.
“I think that is what you’d call it. He couldn’t stand up straight and slurred his words. He fell off his horse when he tried to leave and seemed quite incoherent. I hitched up the buggy and took him home. My goodness, but his place could use some attention. Does he have any hands to help out?”
“You what? Back up, honey. You took Tooley home? While he was drunk? What were you thinking? What if he’d done something to harm you?” Garrett pelted her with questions so fast, she didn't have a chance to answer. He scowled at her, waiting for a response.
“He was too drunk to do anything and I couldn’t just leave him passed out in front of the house. Taking him home seemed the logical thing to do, so I did. No harm done.”
Garrett was coming to realize Aundy’s matter-of-fact tone coincided with the stubborn set of her chin.
With the hand that wasn’t already wrapped around her shoulders, he reached out and took her fingers in his, gently rubbing his thumb along her glove-covered palm. Unsettled by the sensations it stirred inside him, Garrett assumed Aundy felt something similar. She melted against his side and released a soft sigh. “I’m very glad no harm was done, Aundy. Very glad. Next time, call and I’ll come over.”
“You’re a busy man with your own place to run, Garrett. I could have had one of the hands take care of it, but they were all out working. I’m capable of handling things.” Aundy wondered how many times she would have variations of the same conversation with Garrett. She wished he’d realize she was no weak little female who depended on a man to take care of her and protect her. She could and would take care of herself.
Occasionally, though, it was nice to feel cared for and sheltered. Like now, with Garrett’s spicy scent tickling her nose as she sat against his side, letting her know she was safe and secure in his arms.
J.B. turned the surrey off the road onto a lane lined with dogwoods that were full of beautiful blooms.
“Oh, my,” Aundy whispered, impressed with the beauty of the trees and the setting of the house up on a hill.
“I forget how pretty it is out here in the spring,” Nora said, gazing at the trees. “I don’t know how Ashton keeps these trees alive as cold as it gets in the winter.”
“Must be his special fertilizer,” Garrett commented. J.B. laughed and Nora looked at her son with a glare that would have chastised him had she not been fighting to contain her own smile.
The surrey rolled around a circular drive. J.B. stopped in front of a three-story house that could rival any picture Aundy had seen of a stately plantation home.
