Page 351 of Conveniently Wed
“Something, isn’t it?” Nora asked as J.B. helped her out of the surrey while Garrett gave Aundy his arm.
“That it is,” Aundy agreed, tipping back her head to take in the grand white columns and balconies. They walked up the steps together. J.B. raised his hand to knock on the door as a buggy traveled down the drive, followed by a lone rider on horseback.
Garrett grinned as Kade climbed off his horse. Politely offering his arm to one of the town’s schoolteachers, Almira Raines, her spinster sister wrapped her bony hand around his other bicep and they started up the steps. Their brother, owner of a barbershop in Pendleton, followed behind. The two Raines sisters could talk a dead man into his grave and they were each doing their best to capture Kade’s attention, chatting up a storm with every step they took.
Swallowing down the chuckle that began to erupt from his mouth, Garrett tipped his head at Kade.
“Evening, Deputy. Here for dinner?” Garrett kept a firm grip on Aundy’s elbow as they stood at the door.
“Yep. Ashton invited the sheriff, but he had to cancel at the last moment. He asked me to come in his place.” Kade tried not to roll his eyes at the two women who had him caught like a mouse between two sparring cats.
“Lucky you,” Garrett teased.
Kade would have replied, but the door opened and Ashton’s butler welcomed them into the entry hall.
“Ladies, I’d be happy to take your outerwear.” The butler gathered wraps and shawls while the men removed their hats and handed them to the stoic man. With a nod, the butler inclined his head toward a large gathering room. “Please be seated. Mr. Monroe will be down shortly.”
The group moved into a room with an enormous fireplace, expensive furnishings, and fine art. They chatted for a few minutes until Ashton appeared in the door. He greeted them with his usual charm and did his best to put his guests at ease.
The butler announced dinner was ready. Ashton maintained a lively conversation as he ushered his guests into the dining room. Aundy found herself seated between Ashton at the head of the table and Garrett to her right.
The undercurrents flowing between the two men were enough to make her feel battered from both directions. She didn’t know what was going on with Garrett and Ashton, but she wished it would stop.
When Ashton reached out and clasped her hand in his, Garrett dropped his arm around the back of her chair and leaned closer to her. Ashton kept bumping her leg beneath the table and Garrett made sure his hand brushed against her arm any number of times.
By the end of the meal, the two of them had her so jumpy and irritated, she couldn’t wait to go home.
Ashton had other plans, though, as he invited them to stay and play parlor games. After dividing into teams, they played a few games of charades before Kade and Garrett had their fill of listening to the Raines sisters’ chatter.
Deliberately executing a yawn that should have cracked the joint in his jaw, Kade begged pardon and said he had to get back to town since he had the night shift.
“We should be going, too.” Garrett nudged his dad’s foot with his own as he rose from his seat.
“So soon?” Ashton asked. “But the fun is just beginning.”
“It was a lovely evening, Ashton. We appreciate your hospitality, but we really should go,” Nora said. She’d noticed Garrett’s desire to leave sooner rather than later. Aundy looked like she’d swallowed something bitter halfway through dinner and the frown that puckered her brow hadn’t gone away.
“Yes, Ashton, thank you so much for inviting us. Your home is very impressive.” For all the beauty of the architecture, Aundy thought Dogwood Corners was missing some vital welcoming element. She couldn't pinpoint what, exactly, but something seemed off.
“I hope, now that you know where to find me, you’ll come back to visit again.” Ashton draped Aundy’s shawl around her shoulders with much more lingering care than was necessary.
Garrett picked up her gloves and reticule, handing them to her before grabbing his hat.
“I’d be happy to bring her back anytime she’s of a mind to visit.” Garrett hustled Aundy out the door. He shook Ashton’s hand, thanked him for the meal, and urged Aundy down the broad steps to where the surrey waited.
“That was a little rude, don’t you think?” She asked as he helped her in the back of the surrey.
“Not at all.” Garrett’s tone sounded clipped as he draped his arm along the seat behind her, glad to be out of Ashton’s oppressive house and presence.
Quiet on the ride home, Garrett seemed more like himself as they neared her place. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her against his side.
“Don’t want you to catch a chill.” His voice was warm and husky by her ear.
An involuntarily shiver raced from her head to her toes. Garrett’s proximity, combined with his voice, made Aundy think of sweet, thick molasses. She could picture it pouring over her heart right down to her soul.
If she had a brain in her head, she’d move away from him. Unfortunately, she seemed to have left her sense at home. It appeared to have fled the moment she opened the door earlier that evening and gazed into Garrett’s silvery eyes.
Nestled against his side, breathing in his unique masculine scent, she savored every moment until J.B. stopped the surrey at the end of her walk. Garrett walked her to the door and that’s when they noticed a note nailed to the house.
