Chapter Four #2
She shrugged, then flicked him a quick glance before looking back at the fire.
“That’s why I’m here. I want to see what else is out in the real world.”
“It’s still revolving around music,” he commented.
His idea of seeing the world had been to actually travel—in Europe, in the U.S.
and Canada. He’d worked construction once he got out of the army, wherever a job was going to earn enough money to keep traveling.
Now he made an occasional trip to visit a gallery in a major city when selling a sculpture. But he liked home best.
“It’s all I know. At least I’m branching out.”
“What did your parents say to that?” he asked, curious about people who could put so much pressure on a child.
She stared at the fire for a long moment, then slowly said, “They don’t know.”
“Don’t know what?”
“Where I am, what I’m doing. I’m twenty-eight years old, for heaven’s sake, I don’t need my parents’ approval to do anything.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I can make my own choices. And this is my choice, to learn more about folk music.”
“Angel, no one’s arguing with you here.”
She flicked him another look.
“You’re right. But this is the first time I’ve done anything like this. I’m shoring up my defenses,” she said with a wry grin.
“Your defenses seem fine.”
He reached out and took her hand. She started a moment, then relaxed. He traced the tips of her fingers.
“Do you have these insured?”
Angelica giggled. “No.”
Giving in to impulse, Kirk brought her fingertips to his lips and kissed her lightly, then let go, watching as a spark flickered across her face and a blush rose in her cheeks.
Stretched out in front of the fire, he felt warm and replete.
The steady drone of the rain on the roof was a pleasant background.
He had better keep his distance from Angelica Cannon.
Her hands had been warm and soft. Smaller than his, dainty.
She intrigued him. And there was that attraction that wouldn’t let go.
He was too wise in the ways of women to get hooked. She’d stay a few weeks and then be gone. Might even be a shorter visit once she realized how little there was to do in Smoky Hollow compared to New York City.
“Have you always lived here in Smoky Hollow?” she asked, mimicking him, stretching out her feet toward the fire, leaning against the sofa front.
Keeping herself busy asking him questions took her mind off the memory of his lips brushing against her fingertips.
“Did a stint in the army.” He tapped his left ear. “That’s how I lost hearing in this ear, mortar fire. Don’t hear that much from the right either.”
She wrinkled her nose.
“I can’t imagine not hearing.”
“I got used to it. When my tour of duty was over, I set out to see America.”
“And did you?”
“Oh, yeah.”
He told her about starting in New York and doing all the sights tourists did.
Gradually he moved north, west, south, taking his time and going places he’d always heard about and wanted to see.
Picking up construction work was easy. Working with locals helped him really know people who lived in a community.
One summer he’d swung through parts of British Columbia and Alberta, dropping down to Montana and continuing his travels.
Angelica listened to Kirk and envy rose sharply within.
He’d done so much in just a few years. She’d done so little.
The places came alive when he told her of his exploits.
Was it the tradition of the hills of Kentucky or was he a gifted storyteller?
She laughed at his story of the shock of cold water when he went swimming in a lake in Yosemite.
Caught her breath when he described the grandeur of the Grand Canyon.
Wistfully wished she could have seen whales off the coast of British Columbia.
From time to time Kirk tossed another log on the fire, then resumed his place next to her and continued talking when she prompted with another question.
Angelica knew she could listen to him all night.
His deep voice resonated within her, his slow drawl had her relaxing and enjoying the evening.
She had nothing else to do. It was wonderful.
“It’s different for a guy. You can go wherever, work some odd jobs, move on. I only know how to play the violin,” she said at one point.
“You don’t strike me as the nomad type,” he said.
“Who knows what type I am? I’ve been stuck in the same rut since I was six.”
“It’s past time you broke out, then.”
“Yes, like to the wilds of Kentucky.”
Kirk laughed.
“It’s not really funny. This is quite different for me. I want to see new places, try new things. Have something different in my life. This is totally different from New York.”
“Okay, maybe fate had a reason for sending you here.”
He gazed at the fire for a moment. Then glanced at her.
“Until Webb Francis is up and around, I’ll show you something of the wilds of Kentucky.
You can learn to make a fire without matches, hike a trail, catch a fish.
Bet you’ve never been to a county fair. We can go.
And you can join in the music festival. Play something other than classical music. Really bust out.”
“With my fiddle,” Angelica said, feeling a sense of elation. “Would you really take me hiking and to a county fair?”
He had seemed unhappy with Webb Francis’s suggestion he look out for her. Why the change of heart?
“Sure, why not?”
He reached out and took her hand. Angelica felt the jolt of electricity, but this time she gripped his hand back, holding on and savoring the sensations. He rested the back of her hand against one thigh and smiled.
“I thought you didn’t like me,” she said.
He grinned.
“Jury’s still out on that one, babe. Maybe I was hasty in making a judgement. Let’s see what you’ve got going for you.”
She considered what he said.
“Deal. What do you get in return?”
“A fun summer?”
“Don’t you have to work?”
“I’m helping out at the Coopers’ barn raising.”
“It almost sounds as if you’re doing the Coopers a favor helping build their barn. Are you independently wealthy?”
He grinned again, his eyes dancing. Angelica felt her heart race. The man was too potent for her. Could she really spend the summer learning more about the mountains of Kentucky and spending time with this man and not have her heart smashed to smithereens when she left?
She had no experience beyond casual flirting. Could she resist Kirk’s charm, learn about the community and return to New York in September glad for the break, refreshed, and not hung up with Kirk Devon?
If she had any sense, she’d run the other way.
Yet his offer was tempting.
“Are you?” he countered.
“I have enough money saved to take time off for this.”
“Don’t worry, I have enough, too.”
He paused, and their gazes met and held. It seemed as if he was leaning closer and closer and her heart beat frantically in her chest—
Then the lights came on in the kitchen.
“Power’s back,” he said, leaning backwards and glancing over at the lights.
“I should be going home. It’s late.”
The time had flown by. She couldn’t remember when she’d enjoyed an evening so much—and all they did was talk. And hold hands. Reluctantly she slid hers from beneath his and scrambled to get up.
“I’ll walk you home.”
He rose easily to his feet. They stood so close she could see the fine lines around his eyes, feel the soft brush of his breath across her cheeks.
“Thank you for dinner,” she said politely.
“You can repay the favor sometime,” he said casually.
In only a few minutes, Angelica closed the door to the cottage and leaned against it. She’d halfway hoped he’d kiss her good night. Which was idiotic. He’d outright admitted he wasn’t sure if he even liked her. Why would he want to kiss her?
She knew why she wanted to kiss him. It would be amazing. Her heart pounded just thinking about it. And her hand still held the warmth from his.
Tomorrow—she’d see him again tomorrow. Would they go hiking?
She needed time to get back to the library and listen to more CDs.
And Sam was coming over again in the afternoon for another practice session.
Two days in town and already she had a full agenda.
She grinned as she walked back to the bedroom.
It was after ten the next morning when Angelica gave up on Kirk and walked to the library. She’d risen early, eaten quickly and sat with an ear to the door expecting him to come over. He’d said he’d show her around. Yet they’d made no firm plans. Maybe he had merely been being polite.
Twice she rose and went to the window in the music room that faced Kirk’s house. She saw no signs of activity. Had he gone to work on that barn? He had to work every day like most people. Smoky Hollow didn’t look like it sported a lot of millionaires.
When she reached the library, Mary Margaret was sitting behind the desk and greeted her warmly.
“I thought you’d be back this morning, what with the power knocking off everything yesterday. I’m sure you didn’t hear enough. Do you need any help finding anything specific?”
“I’m not really looking for anything special. I want an overview and choosing the CDs randomly seems to give me that,” Angelica said.
She glanced behind her through the double doors.
No sign of Kirk. She was acting like a school girl with a crush, hoping to catch a glimpse of a special guy.
Raising her chin slightly, she headed back to the media room.
She had better things to do than moon over some sexy man who was only showing her around because of a promise to his friend.
Two hours later, while changing one CD for another, Angelica heard Kirk’s voice in the main room of the library. She took a breath, held it, trying to quell instantly clamoring nerves. Would he come back here? Was he looking for her? She strained to hear what he and Mary Margaret were saying.