Abandoned to the Prodigal - Mary Lancaster Page 0,44

to hold them in place. The rain, if anything, was even heavier.

Eventually, laughing, they staggered over the top and ran for the shelter of the trees, Dan’s arm around her shoulders once more and the umbrella over their heads. She tripped over a gnarled tree root that crossed the path and stumbled back against the trunk. Only his arm prevented her from falling, but it still seemed exquisitely funny as she laughed up at him.

His eyes never left her face as he folded the umbrella. Gradually, the laughter in them died, leaving an expression of something very close to wonder. His gaze flickered to her mouth, and her stomach dived, much as it had yesterday. Rain ran off his hat and face. It trickled over his parted lips, and she couldn’t look away.

He bent his head and kissed her. It was gentle and brief, and she thought he was smiling as he did it. But her heart hammered as he raised his head. From pure instinct, she reached up to his damp cheek and drew him back.

His mouth closed over hers and began to move, caressing, exploring, and the world stood still. There was only Dan, the wonder of his kiss, of his arms around her. Rivulets of rain ran down into her hair, into her mouth. The kiss deepened, and she gasped, following his lead and her own blind desire. She flung her arm around his neck, tangling her fingers in his wet hair, and wished this moment would go on forever.

It seemed it would. She no longer knew if it was the same kiss or if had turned into others, just that she seemed to have melted in his heat and that a sweet, heavy ache was forming in her stomach, in her whole body.

With a groan that was almost laughter, he broke the kiss, holding her tightly against him with his cheek pressed to hers. That was wonderful, too.

“Dan,” she whispered.

Slowly, he raised his head and met her gaze. His eyes were warm and clouded and yet faintly rueful.

And then she heard the voices, clear, easily recognizable, and almost upon them.

“Surely, she wouldn’t have come so far in such weather?” Kitty said, almost pleading.

Juliet stared at Dan in horror. Something very like laughter flashed in his eyes, but he drew her slowly around the tree, which might hide them from the path, especially in the rain.

“She might have gone to the cave to wait for the rain to go off,” Ferdy replied.

“She won’t even remember the cave. I don’t think I could find it.”

“Hmm. She’s probably warm and dry at home while you and I…” Ferdy paused, and Juliet was afraid to breathe.

Then she saw the umbrella lying in the grass where they had been standing before. Ferdy picked it up.

“It’s ours!” Kitty exclaimed.

Their feet came closer, rounding the tree as she and Dan slid farther around—and came face to face with Ferdy. Juliet swung the other way, and there was Kitty.

“Found,” Dan said cheerfully to Ferdy. “Now it’s your turn to hide. Since you seem to be playing.”

Ferdy looked as if he wanted to be stern and ended by appearing merely bewildered.

“You’re playing hide and seek?” Kitty demanded. “In this weather? At this time of the morning? Juliet, is this an assignation?”

“Oh, don’t be silly,” Juliet said crossly. “Dan is a friend, and you know how bored I’ve been. In—”

“Why doesn’t he just come to the house?” Ferdy interrupted in a flat, hard voice.

“I did,” Dan said. “But I wasn’t received until yesterday. Look, you’re right to be concerned, but I would not hurt your sister, and you’re probably right that today was a mistake. Come, we can talk as we walk back toward the house.”

“Why do you seem too reasonable to be ordered off my land?” Ferdy wondered.

“Feel free,” Dan offered. “I’ll go if you ask. And let’s face it, my grandfather would happily throw you all off his. It seems to be up to us to behave like adults.”

“Adults!” Kitty exclaimed. “Playing hide and seek in the rain before seven in the morning?”

“Even adults play games,” Dan said. “I should know. I’ve lost money at most of them.”

Ferdy gave a crack of laughter. “You’re an amusing rogue, I’ll give you that. But you shouldn’t be meeting my sister in secret. And Julie, what the devil are you thinking of? You’re not even out of the last scrape yet, and you’re getting into another. How is anyone meant to believe this orgy business is lies