Page 359 of Conveniently Wed
Aundy held out her hand, showing him the small pocket revolver resting on her palm.
“Where did you get that?” Garrett picked up the gun and looked it over.
“I bought it. It makes me feel safer when I go to town.” Stubbornly, Aundy set her chin, daring him to tell her she shouldn’t carry it.
“Okay.” Carefully, Garrett placed the gun on the table, pointed away from them both, before removing his hat. “That’s a sound reason.”
“What are you doing here?” Aundy stared at Garrett as he sank down beside her and ran a hand through his hair. She clasped her hands tightly in her lap to keep her own fingers from following the trails his made. It was just wrong for a man to have such thick, lush hair and not even know what a temptation it was to women.
“I wanted to make sure you were well, that nothing else had happened.” Garrett leaned back in the chair and drummed his fingers on the table. “I stepped onto the front porch when the lights went off in the front room and then the kitchen lights. I worried someone might be in here with you and was going to run around to the kitchen door when I tripped over that pot of flowers you have by the chairs out front. Your posies might not look too good in the morning.”
Aundy took his nervous hand in hers and squeezed his fingers. “As you can see, I’m fine. Nothing happened today. I went for a ride this afternoon and visited with Nik then rode out to the creek. It was so peaceful.”
“It is peaceful there, and such a nice day for a ride.” He wanted to get away earlier to check on her, but one thing or another had delayed him all afternoon. Garrett hoped she’d stay at Nash’s Folly after church, but wasn’t surprised when she insisted on going home.
Still dressed in her riding skirt, Aundy patted her pocket, recalling the rocks she plucked from the creek bed. She fished them out and placed them in Garrett’s hand.
For a moment, he studied the rocks then dropped them back in her hand, closing her fingers around them. “Those are interesting rocks. You find those in the creek?”
“Yes.” Aundy took a small glass bowl from a shelf and put the rocks inside before setting it on the table. “I thought they were pretty.”
“That they are.” Garrett pulled Aundy onto his lap and into his arms. “Not near as pretty as you, though.”
Laughing, Aundy pushed back just enough from Garrett she could see his face. “You clearly have a problem with your vision, Mr. Nash.”
“I don’t think so.” Garrett lowered his head to hers. The demanding clash of their lips caused heat to swirl in his belly. He wanted Aundy. Wanted to spend his life with her, more than he’d wanted anything before.
Consumed.
He was utterly consumed with the woman, and he didn’t care if everyone knew it. He loved her with an intensity he’d never imagined feeling.
She was his Viking queen. Strong, independent, and confident with that head of golden hair she so often wore braided into a crown, sky blue eyes, and striking appearance. She had roamed into his life and conquered him completely. It took no time at all for her to pillage his heart, plunder his soul, and lay siege to his mind so his thoughts continually turned to her.
The whisper of his name, as she opened herself to him, made Garrett fight to keep his control.
Moaning, he grasped her face in his hands and deepened the kiss. Aundy held tight to him, her hands clinging to his shoulders. This was the reason he’d been born — to hold this woman in his arms and love her with everything he had.
Suddenly, she trembled and jerked back.
“What’s wrong?” he asked quietly. Moving his hand, he grasped her chin and lifted it, forcing her to meet his gaze.
“I can’t… I promised… I…” Aundy would have turned her face from him, but Garrett held her chin firmly, but gently, keeping her from moving away. She loved him so much an ache beyondany pain she’d ever experienced tightened her chest. It was because she loved him she had to stop what was between them.
“What did you promise?”
“I promised myself I wouldn’t get involved with another man. It ends so badly when I do and I care for you far too much to hurt you,” Aundy admitted, although it aggrieved her to do so.
Why couldn’t Garrett just leave her alone? Why did he have to look at her until her heart thundered in her chest? Why did he have to tease her and protect her and make her feel beautiful?
Garrett had become an integral part of her life and captured her heart, although she couldn't name the specific moment it had happened. Now, she had to push him away. It was the only way to keep him safe, especially with someone after her sheep and out to get her.
“You’re not making sense. How could you possibly hurt me?” Garrett asked, confused. He drew back, but didn’t let go. “You don’t honestly blame yourself for what happened to Erik, do you?”
Instead of answering, Aundy stood and walked to the kitchen window, watching moonlight illuminate the yard. Garrett stepped behind her and placed his hands on her waist, drawing her against him, into his strength. She was coming to depend on it all too much.
“Aundy, you had nothing to do with Erik’s death. Not a thing. Maybe the horses would have bolted another day or something else would have happened. It wasn’t anything you did.”
“Just being with me seems to be enough to drive men to their deaths.” Aundy wrapped her arms around herself. She needed to muster her defenses and keep away from Garrett. It was the only way for her to protect him.
