Falling for You (28 page)

So why tonight of all nights did she want to stay at the inn? Was it just the ball, or was it something more as his gut kept telling him? As he drove home he went over their parting conversation: her assuring him she was just tired and wanted to go straight to bed, and him insisting she could do that at his place. It wasn’t like they had to make love every night, even though they’d been basically insatiable so far.

What had him the most worried, though, was the way she hadn’t looked at him when she’d said she didn’t want to go home with him. Was he imagining that there was something wrong? Or was she getting ready to ditch him?

And what would he do if the latter was true?

Fight like hell
, was his gut reaction, even though it went against all his training as a dignified Chancellor. If Aurora tried to leave him, would he do anything it took to keep her? Or would he accept her decision with a stiff upper lip and his pride intact?

He hoped he never had to find out.

Rory woke feeling disoriented, at first wondering why Chance wasn’t snuggled up beside her. When she reached out for him, her hand found the edge of the mattress and she wondered how the bed had shrunk. Then she remembered. She wasn’t in Chance’s bed. She was in the twin bed they’d moved from the cottage to her room at the inn.

Lifting her head, she looked around. The room was sparse, with little more than the narrow bed she’d slept in most of her life, a chest of drawers, and a single chair. The rag doll angel she’d found in Houston sat on the nightstand, watching her.

Picking it up, she ran a hand over its braided yarn hair.
At least my room has furniture, she thought.

The nursery beyond the connecting door stood empty. She remembered the white wicker bassinet she’d seen in the thrift shop, and felt a physical yearning deep in her chest. She wanted to drive to the nearest baby store and buy drawers full of tiny outfits and minuscule booties and diapers. Of course, she couldn’t do any of that without telling Chance about the baby. Until then, there’d be no baby showers thrown by friends or even anyone outside the family asking her how she was feeling and when she was due.

Dropping her head back on the pillow she hugged the angel as she realized how badly she wanted those things. She wanted to share her news with the world. She wanted to share it with Chance.

But fear of his reaction held her back. Especially now that he was acting so weird. How would she handle losing him? Her eyes squeezed tight against the pain.

Enough!
she told herself.

Today was the big day they’d all been working toward. It was not the day to lie in bed and bawl over things she couldn’t change or control. Besides, she doubted the breakup would happen today. Her best course of action was to put all of her angst on hold until tomorrow.

With that in mind, she rose and dressed, ready to meet whatever challenges the day would bring.

~ ~ ~

Controlled chaos, that’s what Chance found when he arrived that morning. Aurora stood on the lawn with clipboard in hand directing a motley crew of workers on where to set up the buffet line, how many tables to take to the ship, how many sets of silverware to roll into linen napkins, and who should be down on the beach stacking the wood for the bonfire.

Dismissing the presence of their temporary staff, he crept up behind Rory, slipped an arm about her waist, and pulled her back against him.

She let out a shriek and dropped the clipboard. “Chance!” She whirled to face him with a hand over her heart. “Don’t scare me like that.”

“Sorry.” He laughed at her expression. “I didn’t mean to startle you that badly.” They both bent to retrieve the clipboard, bumping heads. When they straightened, he handed the board to her.

“Thanks,” she said, rubbing her head. “I guess I’m a bit stressed today over everything that needs to be done.”

“Well, if you need help relieving your stress, let me know.” He wiggled his brows. “I’m sure I could come up with something.”

“I’m sure you could.” Her laughter helped to ease some of the doubts that had kept him up half the night. Leaning forward, he pressed his lips to hers, needing the reassurance of her kiss. “God, I missed you last night,” he said and leaned in again, but she pulled away.

“You shouldn’t do that.” She glanced nervously toward the house. “Marcy Baxter is here.”

“So early?” He wanted to say “So what?” but knew better.
One more day
, he told himself, and then it wouldn’t matter who knew that he was in love with Aurora St. Claire.

Aurora made a face. “Marcy and Paige are in the music room arguing over how to set up the silent auction. Allison was going to help, but the last I saw she’d retreated to the kitchen to help Adrian.”

“I can’t blame her. I’ve seen Marcy in one of her obsessive moods, where she can’t make a decision about anything and changes her mind every five seconds.”

“I don’t suppose you could put a leash on her and keep her out of our way?”

“Not likely.” He chuckled. “So what would you like me to do instead?”

She handed him a sheet off her clipboard. “Take this diagram down to the ship and be sure Jackie and her crew set the tables up right. We don’t want anything in the way of the performers and dance floor.”

And so the day progressed, with each of them running roughshod over a different area. The workers moved in a constant stream, lining the pathway, buffet area, and lawn with two hundred tiki lamps. Floodlights were secured high in the trees to provide a discreet amount of more modern lighting. The tables were covered with brightly colored cloths, and tray stands were carried down to the food line. The florist arrived just past noon with an arrangement of tropical flowers for each table, and thick candles protected by hurricane shades.

He realized it would take the entire staff half an hour just to light all the lamps and candles when the signal was given. But what a spectacular display it would make.

The performers arrived mid-afternoon to set up on the quarterdeck of the ship. Many of them had been in the opera house’s production of
The Pirates of Penzance
two years ago. They planned to re-create some of those numbers and mix them with old sailing ditties in between sets of dance music. The quarterdeck provided a convenient stage where they’d be visible even to the guests on the veranda. The leader of the troupe decided that swinging down to the main deck on ropes would add dramatic flare, so Jackie and her crew set about rigging up the rope they used for just such a feat.

As Chance watched, he heard someone call his name from the pier. Going to the rail, he found Adrian shielding his eyes against the sun.

“Have you seen Bobby?” Adrian asked.

“I didn’t even know he was here,” Chance answered.

“He came by earlier to see if he could help. And now that I actually need him, no one can find him.”

“Why did you need him?”

“To drive into Houston and pick up the ice sculpture.”

“I thought we were having that delivered.”

“We were,” Adrian said in disgust. “But the company just called and said their truck is broken down. Rusty said we can borrow his van, but I need him here to set up the bar.”

The mention of going to Houston caught Chance’s attention. The engagement ring he’d ordered had been ready since Thursday, but he hadn’t had a spare minute to go get it. “Where in Houston is this place?” he asked. When Adrian gave him the address, he couldn’t believe his good luck. The jeweler was practically on the way. “I’ll go get it.”

“No, you’re too busy helping set up,” Adrian said.

“Actually, Jackie can take over for me here, and I’ll be back before you know it.”

Adrian hesitated only a second. “Okay, you got it. Come on up to the house and get the keys.”

When Chance turned to give his list of instructions to Jackie, he found that her crew had finished rigging the fake halyard and she was showing the performers how the “Errol Flynn” maneuver was done. As nimble as a gymnast mounting a balance beam, she leapt onto the rail of the quarterdeck. The first mate tossed her the rope and she grabbed it with both hands, then jumped up and back for a bigger swing. With legs lifted before her, she let the line carry her straight toward the mast at an alarming speed. He realized quickly that most people would smash their faces if they tried such a thing. But she landed with her feet against the mast, pushed off, then let go of the line to drop lightly on her feet.

Everyone applauded as she took her bow. “And that, my friends, is how you swing from a halyard, Hollywood style.”

When she finished bowing, he called her over so he could give her the diagram and list of things to do. She told him no sweat and sent him on his way.

He headed for the house, his mind racing with plans now that the ring would be on hand. He’d had days to think about how he wanted to propose, and he had nearly every detail worked out. The plan was romantic enough to appeal to Aurora, but private and dignified, which appealed to him. He was nervous enough about proposing without allowing room for public humiliation if she said no.

~ ~ ~

Somehow, miraculously, everything got done on time. Just before twilight, Rory stepped onto the veranda, the skirt of her gown swishing as she moved to the rail and surveyed the lawn one last time. They’d woven their enchantment well, she decided, creating a fanciful setting for grown-ups to play pretend.

Dressed in their costumes, the serving wenches moved about lighting the lamps, and each new blaze added to the whimsy. The men, dressed as pirate crew, were putting the finishing touches on the food table near the beach where the bonfire was just beginning to blaze. Adrian strode among them in his tall jackboots and flamboyant red coat, supervising every detail. What a striking pirate he would have made.

On board the
Pirate’s Pleasure
, Jackie and her crew wore the costumes they’d brought: the big-sleeved white shirts and tight black pants they dressed in whenever they chartered the ship for special parties.

“Ah, so here you are.”

She turned at the sound of Chance’s voice, and found him standing in the doorway. First came relief that he’d made it back from Houston in time, then a thrill of admiration as he came toward her. Where Adrian’s jacket was a cocky red, Chance’s was a royal-blue, the gallant captain rather than the roguish pirate. White lace spilled from his throat and cuffs, and a dress sword hung at his side.

“Oh, my.” She laughed as heat swept through her. “You look”—
sexy enough to ravish
—“very handsome.”

“Thank you, madam.” He swept a courtly bow. “You flatter me when it is I who should be praising you, for you are absolutely stunning in that gown.” He took her hand and kissed the back, his eyes gazing deeply into hers. “I’ll have to keep a close watch on you, lest some presumptuous knave try to steal you away.”

His words made her laugh as her heart filled with hope. Surely he wouldn’t say such things if he intended to break up with her.

His gaze dropped to her breasts, which swelled to dangerous proportions above the low, straight neckline. Ecru lace continued around her arms to form off-the-shoulder sleeves. The peach-colored bodice hugged her to the waist, where the skirt flared out over the petticoats.

“I’m beginning to wish the night was already over,” he said, the intent in his eyes making her pulse flutter.

“And I’m beginning to wish we dressed up more often.” She flashed him a coquettish look through lowered lashes. “If this is how it affects you.”

“I’d much rather get undressed.” He pulled her closer and slipped an arm about her waist to dip her backward.

“Chance!” she gasped, gripping his shoulders for balance as he nuzzled her neck.

“I’ve been wanting you all day,” he whispered in her ear.

“Chance, let me up.” She was laughing and flustered by the time he complied. Her gaze swept the grounds to see who was watching. Fortunately, everyone looked busy. “Behave yourself.”

“But it’s so much more fun to misbehave,” he said. Car doors sounded in the distance, signaling the arrival of their first guests. “Damn, I guess I’ll have to behave after all. Should we greet guests here at the top of the steps, or go down to the lawn?”

“I don’t know,” she said as nerves sprang to life in her stomach. “Allison will be inside to show people around, and Adrian will be covering the ship and the beach.” She looked toward the end of the tiki lamp trail that would guide people from the parking lot to the front of the house. “The lawn, I suppose.”

“Very well.” As they descended the steps, he linked her hand through the crook of his arm. She clung tightly, hoping she didn’t trip on her skirt or say something stupid. “You’re not nervous, are you?” he asked.

“Petrified,” she admitted, exhaling loudly.

“Well, don’t be.” He placed his hand over hers and squeezed. “You should be proud. People are going to rave about the inn, and you deserve to soak up every word. None of this would have happened without you.”

“Thank you,” she whispered just as the first group of guests came around the corner. They came in a steady stream after that, exclaiming over the lawn and the house and the costumes. With each couple that arrived, Rory began to relax and enjoy herself a bit more. She became caught up in the enchantment of the evening, the role she played as mistress of the manor welcoming people into her pirate lover’s home.

Later, as she strolled about the lawn making sure everyone had enough to eat and drink, inviting them to go inside and tour the house, she glanced up toward the veranda and felt her heart swell with happiness and pride. The scene before her was what she had imagined that day when she’d stood in this very spot asking Chance what it would take to buy the house. The chain-link fence was gone and lush grass covered the ground beneath her feet. People sat on the veranda laughing and visiting. The house itself glowed with welcoming light from within.

She could see it this way for years to come, sheltering guests, providing a home and income for her and Adrian and Allison.

Then she saw Chance leaning against one of the stone columns, and her questions and fears stirred back to life. Was he part of the permanent picture, or was he simply passing through this phase of her life? He looked so at ease, visiting with the guests, as if he were a guest himself, not one of the staff. But then this was the first time he’d ever attended the Buccaneer’s Ball as something other than a guest. The people she waited on were his peers, while the staff doing the serving were hers.