Temptation: 3 (Timeless Series) (17 page)

“All right.
Fine,” he relented, tucking in his shirt. He strode toward the wash closet. “You don’t want to marry me. I can accept that, but you’re coming home with me.”

She breathed in a sigh of relief. Thankfully, she could hide on his farm until Geoff came for her. Somehow she’d make it up to her beloved for no longer being a virgin. The thought gave her cause to ponder. What would he think when he learned the truth? The enormity of her actions the night before suddenly hit with the jarring force of a slap to the face. Dear Lord in heaven. Her head fell back against the wall as tears welled in her eyes. What had she done?

~~

After shaving, Parker perused his face, looking for flaws in the mirrored glass, contemplating his conversation with Penny. What was wrong with him? He’d bet he had everything her Geoff had. Plus, the lady wasn’t immune to his kisses. How could she so easily dismiss his gallant offer of marriage, especially when the duke’s brother might not want her now that he’d ruined her? The nobility he’d met were a mite touchy about things like that.

Parker closed his eyes, stilling the desire to march back out there, tell her she had no options, and show the recalcitrant lady just how well they did suit.

No! That wouldn’t work.

Her stubborn stance when imparting her news of Geoff being her betrothed, along with her undying love, told him she believed her words. Only he didn’t. If she loved the man as she claimed, there was no way she’d give so much to him while in his arms.

Oh, hell. Why not admit the truth
?

Her refusal twisted his gut in knots. He hadn’t liked the feelings of unease her heated outburst evoked, nor did he understand the sense of loss he felt right now.

Why should he care?

He snorted mentally.

He shouldn’t.

The bit of baggage was trouble.
Pure trouble.

If he were smart, he’d just let it go and not let it bother him. Hell, he should just let her go on her way to California. Except he knew damn well he’d never allow her to go off on her own.
And as for marriage? Once the idea formed last night, he hadn’t been able to shake it. He still wanted her. Despite being willful and hoydenish, she’d do very well as his wife.

Oh yes, Parker thought, rubbing his hands together.
Very well indeed.

Penny definitely needed a keeper, and since his angel was going home with him, he had months to sway her to his way of thinking.

He smiled as another thought struck. She might be carrying his babe at this moment. If not, he’d get her with child. Then she’d have no option but to marry him. Wiping his face and grinning back at his reflection, he turned to face the challenge of seducing the beguiling minx into marriage.

Parker entered the room and, noting Penny staring at the street below appearing distraught, his good mood dimmed.

“Why so glum, angel?” he asked more jovially than he felt, walking toward her.

“What have I done?” she whispered, peering at him with such unhappiness shimmering in those periwinkle eyes. “He won’t want to marry me now.” She turned her gaze back to the street below. Ribbons of water flowed along the ivory perfection of her face, marring her beauty with grief.

An uncomfortable sensation flitted through him. He stepped behind her, embracing her stiff shoulders. “Please don’t cry. I hate it when you cry.”

“What a fool I was to let a moment’s pleasure change my course.”

“Shush. It can’t be that bad.” Instead of easing her hurt as intended, her tears increased. All the while, he couldn’t stop his own hurt from forming once he grasped the full impact of her words. “It’ll work out,” he whispered, kissing her cheek. “If he loves you, it shouldn’t matter.”

“You think so?”

Penny’s question, so innocently asked, produced a guilty twinge. Her distress had him rethinking his strategy. Maybe she really did love Geoff.

What a nightmare!

Images of her lying with her fiancé flashed through his mind. Dismissing them, he refocused on one thought. He had months to change her mind.

Parker ignored the discomfort of consoling her about another man and said with more conviction than he felt, “If it were me, I’d forgive you.” Then, hoping to cajole a smile, he added, “You said it yourself. Why can men have countless affairs before marriage and not women? Well, he doesn’t need to know who or when, does he?”

The questions seemed to cheer her.

When he felt her smile on his chest, Parker glanced down and forgot to breathe for an endless moment. He would surely rot in hell now. Not only had he told this angel to be duplicitous to her intended, but he also planned on keeping her for himself. Yet, hating his actions didn’t change the situation. He wanted her.

“Come, it’s getting late,” Parker said, pulling Penny along toward the door. “Let’s go have a hearty breakfast and then I’ll make arrangements for transportation home.”

Somehow, someway, he’d make sure she wanted him just as much.

“How long a drive is it?” Penny prayed her voice held none of the apprehension Parker’s ominous nearness generated in the close confines of the well-sprung open carriage loaded with trunks.

The driver sped south, leaving the cobbled stones behind as the road eventually smoothed into a well-maintained dirt path.

“A little less than two hours.”

She nodded and ignored the intimacy of Parker’s thigh pressed against hers with his arm perched along the seat behind her, paying more heed than necessary to her surroundings. They now passed the outskirts of the city. Houses and buildings became scarce, swallowed up by green open spaces dotted with trees and late summer wildflowers.

Thankfully, the morning breeze negated the heat seeping into her skin, which had more to do with the warmth emanating off his body than the heat of the sun’s rays peeking out from leafy branches now and then. That he seemed to be so unaffected while she could barely breathe, chafed.

“Tell me about your home,” she said, grasping on to the topic as a distraction to his looming presence.

“What would you like to know?” Leaning away from her, Parker seized her gaze and his eyes lit up with humor. He’d obviously picked up on her discomfort. And worse, found it amusing.

Two hours couldn’t pass fast enough. “Whatever you wish to tell me,” Penny murmured, going for nonchalant as her focus returned to the passing scenery flying by in a whirl of greens, browns, and yellows.

Parker thought a moment. “It’s now a fairly large parcel of land. I’ve increased the size over the years—not that I needed it, it just happened as surrounding land came up for sale. I’ve also added on to the original house.” His grin expanded. “My mother thinks it’s too big now. Says she was perfectly happy with the old one and thought I wasted my money improving what didn’t need improving.”

“Was she right?” Penny smiled, not missing the warmth in his voice when he spoke of his mother. Somehow it made him more human.

“Maybe. It was certainly bigger than what she’d been used to, but not what she deserved.”

“That’s an odd statement.”

He laughed. “My mother isn’t one to be taken in with wealth. Always said the measure of a man wasn’t the gold in his possession but what he did with his life that spoke about who he was.”

“That sounds like something my father would’ve said,” Penny said wistfully. “So your mother lives with you, even though she thinks you spend your money frivolously?” When he nodded, she sighed. “You’re so lucky to have one parent still living. I’d give anything to see my parents again, especially my father. We were really close.”

“Mine died much too young.” Parker turned his attention to the road ahead and remained silent. Finally he said, “They all did.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

“It was a long time ago. I should be over it by now.”

“One never recovers from the tragedy of losing parents before their time,” she said softly.

“Could be.” His gaze sought hers, and he shrugged. “My father was what my mother termed ‘a great man,’ no matter that he had very little gold. His wealth was in his spirit, which lives on in all of us. So maybe ’tis enough?”

Penny nodded, fully comprehending Parker’s sadness. Her voice reflected hers when she said, “I don’t think I’ll ever stop missing them. They were all I had as family besides Geoff and Mindy.”

“So their deaths were fairly recent?”

The understanding she glimpsed in his eyes caused her to drop her guard for a moment, allowing her to answer honestly without thinking about what she was saying.

“Less than a year. I’d still be in mourning but my guardian doesn’t like black and wouldn’t hear of me dressing in anything so somber after six months. I really didn’t get to mourn them much before being whisked off to London. Besides, what good does mourning do? It doesn’t change anything.”

“Tell me about your father. When you spoke of him just now, your eyes sparkled.”

“My father was also a great man.” Penny’s voice filled with admiration. “It was so easy to love him, because he was easy to love. My mother and I were his life. I miss him dreadfully.”

“He sounds like a man worth knowing.”

“Yes, he was,” Penny said, remembering their shared love of horses. Besides teaching her chess, he’d taught her to ride, treating her no differently than other fathers treated their sons. Her father used to go head-to-head with Penny’s mother over her behavior and his indulgence. He’d been her biggest ally in allowing her freedom other young ladies never had, including the ability to ride the countryside, sitting astride a horse rather than using a sidesaddle as expected of ladies of her station. “He always sided with me when my mother tried to make me do ladylike things like sewing or playing the piano, telling her that I had plenty of time to learn such boring stuff.”

Penny broke off and chuckled at the memory. Then added, “To this day, I still can’t play a note or make a clean stitch, but I can hit a target at fifty paces and jump any bush on our property,” she declared proudly, eliciting Parker’s amused chuckle.

“You remind me of Catherine. She’s too busy pursuing unladylike endeavors. So much so that Mother has lost all hope of her ever marrying. I guess Lucas and I are to blame, as we always let her tag along with us when we went hunting. Funny, but we could never let on that we took her with us because, even as a child, she had the uncanny ability to find our game much better than we could. She’s also a better shot than either Lucas or me. I was hoping this gentleman from Baltimore would suit. That way, I wouldn’t feel so guilty over my part in creating such an unsuitable bride.”

“You don’t think she’d make a suitable bride, given her lack of ladylike endeavors?” Penny asked, wondering why women had to fit into such rigid constraints of society. Even here in America, it seemed women had very little choice in the world. This only reinforced her intention of marrying Geoff. He’d be the perfect husband because he indulged her, like her father had. Plus, she did love him. How could she not? He cut a dashing figure. He was tall, and his blond good looks matched hers perfectly. Together they’d make beautiful children.

Thinking of him made her realize how much she missed Geoff—missed all the fun they used to share. Oh, how she wished they didn’t have to wait to put their plans into action. She smiled as all their earlier exploits flitted into her consciousness. No matter what mischief she’d conjured up, he’d always gone along. He’d always been her champion. Yes! Geoff would be the perfect husband. They’d both get what they wanted from the union and she’d make him happy. After all, he’d saved her from a fate worse than death. Without a doubt, she’d have more control over her life with Geoff as a husband than the man sitting next to her.

Parker’s laugh pulled her out of her musings. When she looked up with the question in her eyes, he said, “I just got a mental glimpse of my sister acting like some of those suitable brides I met at the balls I attended in London.” He shook his head and his grin added to his rugged good looks. “She’s definitely not the biddable type. But she’s easy on the eye, so her lack of suitors hasn’t been a problem. She’s just being fickle. Says she’s looking for a man as great as Father was. Of course, I don’t see her remembering much about him. She was only seven when he died.”

“You must’ve done a good job of keeping his spirit alive.” Penny smiled. “Maybe she’s looking for someone like you and Lucas.”

Parker let out another hearty laugh. “I certainly hope not. In fact, sometimes I wonder if he’s not rolling over in his grave at the things I’ve done, and Lucas likes the ladies too much. No. My father was a great man as my mother believes and neither of us fits that description.”

Though he smiled, Penny caught the hint of sadness in his expression before he shuttered the look and focused on the passing scenery.

“Why don’t you think your father would approve of the things you’ve done?” she asked, unable to stop the words or keep the compassion out of her voice.

Seeming uncomfortable with the sympathy her question held, Parker shrugged. “Though a common man, he was one of peace and was content with his life, though he actually owned very little. I don’t think I ever saw him raise his voice in anger at anyone in the short time I knew him. I’ve been content with nothing so far and my heart has been driven by hate and anger for too long, neither of which he’d admire.” As if he’d revealed too much, he deftly changed the subject. “I do think you and Catherine will get on well together.” When she flashed an impish grin, he added, “Or maybe I’m making the mistake of my life putting the two of you together.”

Penny couldn’t help but laugh. “Surely you can’t be afraid of two women?”

He grunted. “Now I am worried.”

For the rest of the ride Penny was happy to note they stayed on less personal topics, mainly talking about the differences between their two countries.

Just as the carriage turned onto a narrow tree-lined drive, Parker said, “You know, you’re starting to lose your English accent.
Except when you get annoyed. Then it comes out, along with the lady of the manor look.”

“I have no such look,” she said indignantly, crossing her arms in front of her and looking out of the carriage, wondering if she should be insulted or amused.

Parker threw back his head and laughed. “I rest my case.” He squeezed her shoulder and kissed her cheek.

She wasn’t expecting his actions. Eyeing him warily, she bit her bottom lip after her tongue made a sweep of it. She cleared her throat.

She was just about to disagree when Parker gently placed his finger on her mouth. He whispered, “You tempt me, angel. You sorely tempt me.”

Then he stroked her bottom lip with his thumb. The heat generated from his soul-searing stare spread warmth everywhere. Heavens, when he looked at her like that all she could think of was their joining. She knew he was about to kiss her, and that she should break away. Kissing him wasn’t in her best interest, but somehow she couldn’t find the will to resist when his lips followed his thumb.

His soft mouth, covering hers with a feather-light and gentle touch, begged her to yield all to him. She didn’t refuse, in fact allowed the kiss to continue for too long, too engrossed in the sensations filling her.

Eventually she reluctantly pulled away. “Please,” she whispered. “You’ve got to stop kissing me. It’s unseemly. I’m betrothed to someone else.”

Parker released her and dropped his hands to his side. “Oh?”

He caught her gaze. The expression in those blue-gray eyes had her wondering at the lunacy of staying with his family. She had to quit acting on such decadent feelings and remember she was engaged to another.

“Otherwise I’ll be forced to make other arrangements,” she was finally able to say with a bit more conviction than she felt.

“No need to do anything so drastic. I’ll behave.” He sighed and nodded. “We’re here.”

The carriage slowed.

Penny recovered from their kiss and her focus landed on a sprawling Georgian manor house, almost as big as her parents’ country estate. She peered at him with new understanding. Parker Davis was a man of influence and means.

The driver reined in the horse and set the brake.

A woman bounded from the house and sprinted down the porch stairs.

“There’s Catherine now.” Parker jumped out. Meeting his sister halfway, he picked her up and engulfed her in a bear hug. Spinning full circle, her feet left the ground. “You’re a sight for sore eyes,” he said, laughing and setting her down. “Where’s Mother?” He glanced around.

“She’s resting. We didn’t expect you after Lucas’s account of how you decided to traipse across the country on a mission of mercy, delivering some woman to her betrothed.” Catherine’s laugh was infectious. “I take it this is the lady?”

Parker released Catherine before turning back to Penny, who stood in the stopped carriage. With hands on her waist, he lifted her to the ground, then grabbed her gloved hand. Grinning and pulling Penny with him, he said, “Catherine, this is Miss Penny Layton. She’s going to be our guest while waiting for her intended, rather than traipsing over the country, saving me the bother of chasing after her.” He nodded. “Penny, my sister, Miss Catherine Davis.”

“Oh, Parker, how lovely.”
Another gurgle of laughter bubbled up and his sister’s voice held genuine pleasure. Holding out her hand in welcome, she added with more warmth, “How do you do?”

Placing her hand in Catherine’s, Penny could only stare when she actually met her friendly gaze. The beautiful woman towered a good six inches above Penny, just a few inches short of her brother’s height. Though the lady was fair in complexion, her hair was a rich auburn color. With those emerald green eyes, Penny wondered how Parker could ever think she shared similar looks with his sister while in the jewelry store. Penny paled in comparison to the vivacious Catherine Davis. The thought was quickly extinguished when the lively woman pulled Penny behind her, talking a mile a minute.

Parker chuckled. “You might let her freshen up a bit before you ply her with questions,” he teased, laughing outright when Penny glanced back at him in bewilderment. “I’m sorry, Penny. Catherine’s inquisitive nature runs in the family, but she means well. Go along, she’ll take care of you,” he urged, still smiling.

~~