Thoroughly Modern Amanda by Susan Macatee

Author:Susan Macatee
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, historical, American, spicy
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2012-08-31T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Jack glanced at Amanda. She pursed her lips.

“We—I mean, I…” Jack shrugged, hoping the man would think them lovers looking for a private place.

The man, dressed in work clothes, stomped to the top of the stairs and leered at Amanda. He slapped a large hammer against his beefy hand. “Reckon I’ll take her to the back room for a little lesson on breaking into buildings that don’t belong to you.”

Amanda fisted her hands, placing them on her hips. “You will not, sir. We were just leaving. C’mon, Jack.” She stepped toward the workman.

His eyes widened on his weather beaten face. “See here, girl.”

“I’m no girl.” She shoved past him on the narrow staircase, her feet shuffling down the steps. “Jack?” she called out without a backward glance.

Jack didn’t move, his gaze shifting from the workman to the hammer.

The man glanced down the stairs at Amanda’s hasty retreat and shrugged. “Best do as the lady says.”

Jack didn’t need a special invitation. He drew in his breath and squeezed past the workman, who didn’t give an inch, then raced down the stairs.

He caught up to Amanda at the front door. “You’ve got a lot of guts for a…”

“A girl?” she finished for him.

“No. A strong and beautiful woman.”

She grinned and pulled the door open. Two workmen stood outside, their mouths agape.

“Who the devil are you?” The tall, thin one asked.

“Nobody.” Jack grasped Amanda’s hand. “And we were just leaving.”

He led her down the street. Once out of sight of the house and workmen, Amanda doubled over in a fit of giggles.

“You think that was funny?” Jack asked. Although the look on the men’s faces was comical, disappointment washed over him at still not knowing how he’d ever get home.

“Oh, Jack.” Amanda took a few deep breaths. “I’m sorry. I know how much going home means to you.” She lifted a gloved hand to his cheek. “I told you how much I want to go too.”

He sighed, catching her hand and lifting it away from his face. “I don’t think your parents would agree.”

She drew herself up to her full height, her eyes level with Jack’s mouth. “I’m an adult woman. What I do is my choice. My stepmother taught me to make my own decisions.”

“But if you came with me, they’d never see you again.”

She shook her head. “A lot of young women marry and move far away from their homes.”

“Yeah, but they can still write home. You won’t have that luxury.”

“Oh, Jack, we’ll figure something out, I swear.”

Although Jack hoped for a happy outcome for them both, he was sure it would never be a possibility given the circumstances.

****

Amanda’s lips still tingled from the kiss she’d shared with Jack. If Randolph had caught them, there’d be hell to pay. But she thrilled to imagine what more Jack could show her if they had more time by themselves.

As they rounded the corner leading to her home, Amanda glanced down the block and stiffened.

Jack stared at her. “What’s wrong?”

“Look.” She inclined her head.

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