Rings on Her Fingers by Susan Connell

Author:Susan Connell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ePublishing Works!
Published: 2014-12-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

When Steve wasn't tightening loose doorknobs for her, he was tracking down ominous noises in the heating system or suggesting inexpensive but effective ways to upgrade the insulation. One sunny afternoon Gwen spotted him from the ballroom walking her blind tenant, Harry, around the driveway. Another day she saw him with his brother and several laborers working on installing a small parking lot next to the carriage house. Little by little he did what he could to make himself an indispensable member of the Scarborough Hall household. She graciously accepted his help, but she never forgot what had happened to her with the past four men in her life. Convincing herself that Steve wasn't too far into the carriage-house conversion to stop it and leave King's Crossing, she couldn't think of anything else for an entire day. When she mentioned the possibility to him, he chuckled then reminded her he'd signed a lease. "It's not ironclad," she told him, but he just shook his head.

By the end of the week the only thing she hadn't dealt with and accepted in the new arrangement was the unrelenting sexual undercurrent that swirled and tugged at her, threatening to sweep her off her feet and into his arms. She held on to her resolve, managing to avoid his long stares and escape those gentle pauses right before he might have kissed her, or she might have kissed him. Christmas was coming, she told herself, and his warm spirit was irresistible. But as generous and caring and fun as he was, she was guarding against a physical relationship, aware that once they were lovers, her life would no longer be her own.

She tried telling herself that Steve Stratton was essentially a good guy visiting her world until he'd rediscovered his direction in life. Accepting that kept her from losing her sanity when he sent those private and provocative smiles her way. By the time he went back to his sophisticated life, she'd be over him and the plague of pleasures she suffered each time she found herself alone with him.

He didn't seem to mind sharing her company with others either. He was the one to arrange the tree-shopping expedition for Scarborough Hall's community tree. Five minutes before they were to assemble, Gwen met him outside on the driveway. While his car warmed up he scraped snow from the windshield.

"Your more-is-better philosophy was on target," she said, taking in the dark blue watch cap he wore. On anyone else the tight cap wouldn't have been flattering, but this one accentuated his high cheekbones, dark-lashed blue eyes, and chiseled good looks.

"Of course," he said, pausing in his work to wink at her. "Uh, what are we talking about?"

"Last week when you suggested we use every string of colored lights we could find. Look," she said, her hand sweeping through the air to take in the shrubs and trees and every window and doorway on the front of the building. "They remind me of incandescent gumdrops under the fresh snow.

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