Chapter Five #3
On the drive home he kept the topics general.
No pressure, Amanda thought, grateful. No arrogant assumptions or cocky grins.
This was the kind of man who knew how to treat a woman with the proper respect and attention.
William wouldn’t knock her to the ground and laugh in her face.
He wouldn’t stalk her down like a gunslinger and fire out demands.
So why was she so let down when they stopped in front of the house and Sloan’s car was nowhere in sight? Shaking off the mood, she waited for William to come around and open her door.
“Thank you for tonight,” she told him. “It was lovely.”
“Yes, it was. And so are you.” Very gently he placed his hands on her shoulders before touching his lips to hers. The kiss was very warm, very soft—an expert caress of lips and hands. And to her disappointment, it left her completely unmoved.
“Are you really going to make me wait until Sunday to see you again?”
His eyes told her that he had not been unmoved. Amanda waited for the banked desire in them to strike some chord. But there was nothing.
“William, I—”
“Lunch,” he said, adding a charming smile. “Something very casual at the hotel. You can tell me more about the house.”
“All right. If I can swing it.” She eased away before he could kiss her again. “Thanks again.”
“My pleasure, Amanda.” He waited, as was proper, for her to go inside. As the door shut behind her, his smile changed ever so slightly, hardened, cooled. “Believe me, it will be my pleasure.”
He walked back to his car. He would drive it well out of sight of The Towers. And then he would come back to do a quick and quiet tour of the grounds, to note down the most practical entrances.
If Amanda Calhoun could be his entryway into The Towers, that was all well and good—with the side benefit of romancing a beautiful woman. If she didn’t provide him with a way in, he would simply find a different route.
One way or the other, he didn’t intend to leave Mount Desert Island without the Calhoun emeralds.
“Did you have a good time?” Suzanna asked when Amanda came in the front door.
“Suze.” Amused but not surprised, Amanda shook her head. “You waited up again.”
“No, I didn’t.” To prove it, Suzanna gestured with the mug in her hand. “I just came down to make myself some tea.”
Amanda laughed as she walked over to rest her hands on her sister’s shoulders. “Why is it that we Irish-as-Paddy’s-pig Calhouns can’t tell a decent lie?”
Suzanna gave up. “I don’t know. We should practice more.”
“Honey, you look tired.”
“Mmm.” Exhausted was the word, but she didn’t care for it. Suzanna sipped the tea as they started up the stairs together. “Springtime. Everybody wants their flowers done yesterday. I’m not complaining. It looks like the business is finally going to turn a real profit.”
“I still think you should hire on some more help. Between the business and the kids you run yourself ragged.”
“Now who’s playing mama? Anyway, Island Gardens needs one more good season before I can afford anything but one part-time helper. Plus I like to be busy.” Even though fatigue was dragging at her, she paused outside of Amanda’s door. “Mandy, can I talk to you for a minute before you go to bed?”
“Sure. Come on in.” Amanda left the door slightly ajar as she slipped out of her shoes. “Is something wrong?”
“No. At least nothing I can put my finger on. Can I ask you what you think of Sloan?”
“Think of him?” Stalling, Amanda set her shoes neatly in the closet.
“Impressions, I guess. He seems like a very nice man. Both kids are already crazy about him, and that’s an almost foolproof barometer for me.”
“He’s good with them.” Amanda took off her earrings to replace them in her jewelry box.
“I know.” Troubled, she wandered the room. “Aunt Coco’s set to adopt him. He’s slipped right into an easy relationship with Lilah. C.C.’s already fond of him, and not just because he’s a friend of Trent’s.”
Pouting a little, Amanda unclasped her necklace. “His type always gets along beautifully with women.”
Distracted, Suzanna merely shook her head. “No, it’s not a man-woman kind of thing at all. Just a kind of innate relaxation.”
Amanda had no comment for that as she recalled the fevered tension in him a few hours earlier.
“He seems like an easygoing, friendly man.”
“But?”
“It’s probably my imagination, but whenever he looks at me, I get this wave of hostility.” With a half laugh, she shrugged. “Now I sound like Lilah.”
Amanda’s eyes met her sister’s in the mirror. “No, I sensed something myself. I can’t explain it. I even called him on it.”
“Did he say anything? I don’t expect everyone to like me, but when I feel a dislike this strong, at least I want to know why.”
“He denied it. I don’t know what to say, Suzanna, except that I don’t think he’s the kind of man who would react that way to someone he doesn’t even know.
” She made a helpless gesture with her hands.
“He can certainly be annoying, but I don’t think he’s a man to be deliberately unfair. Maybe we’re both being oversensitive.”
“Maybe.” Suzanna pushed the uncomfortable feelings away. “We’re all a little crazed with C.C.’s wedding, and the renovations. Well, I won’t lose any sleep over him.” She kissed Amanda’s cheek. “Good night.”
“Night.” As she eased down onto the bed, Amanda let out a long sigh. It was unfortunate, she thought. It was infuriating. But she already knew she’d be losing sleep over him.