Leonardo (Romancing the Weavers #5) - Kit Morgan Page 0,28

her cup, noticed he was staring at her and, unable to help it, locked gazes with him. This was bad, very bad.

Leo did his best to concentrate on what Savannah was saying at supper, but his eyes kept drifting to Parthena. She sat across the table from him laughing at something Clinton had said, her hair glowing in the soft light of the candles Mel had lit right before dinner. They added a warmth to the meal, she said.

He took another bite of the ham Mel had baked. He’d smelled it cooking when they were here earlier but was too distracted by Harold using Savannah’s leg to chew on – and keeping himself from staring at Parthena. Too bad he was failing now.

He closed his eyes as his heart tried to leave his chest. It was the oddest sensation, as if the thing had a mind of its own. He remembered Rufi describing a similar thing happened to her whenever she first got around C.J. They weren’t husband and wife at the time, but it got so bad that when she wasn’t with him she felt physically ill, as if all the life had drained out of her.

He remembered when she and the others returned home after visiting Clear Creek. She got worse, lost weight, became weak. C.J. wasn’t in any better shape when he showed up at the farm a couple of weeks later – if anything, he was worse. But no sooner than they were together, they both felt better. Leo wondered at the time if that’s what love did to a person.

He forced his eyes back to his plate and sliced his ham. If he kept looking at her, he’d get caught for sure. If only his chest didn’t ache so.

“How many dresses did you pick out?” Mel asked Savannah.

“Six, but I have to narrow it down to two. I didn’t bring enough money.” She smiled at Colin. “Unless my uncle sees it in his heart to loan me some.”

Colin looked up from his meal. “Your father can pay me back, but I’ll only spring for one.”

“Really?” she said in delight.

Leo smiled at her, but his eyes flicked to Parthena, who didn’t seem to be paying the conversation any mind. Instead she was trying to get Harold to stop chewing on her napkin.

“Will you please give Parthena her napkin back?” Mel asked the child. She shifted him on her lap and gave him a bit of mashed potatoes. It was enough of a distraction for Parthena to extract her napkin.

Leo grinned.

“You think it’s funny until he eats yours,” Parthena said.

“He’s drooled on mine before.”

“I don’t doubt it.” She set it on the other side of her plate and took another bite of her food.

Leo watched her with interest – the turn of her wrist, the gentle way she handled Harold, the smiles she gave everyone. She reminded him of a doe: graceful, quiet, peacefully grazing in a mountain meadow.

“I’d like to see more of the farm tomorrow,” Colin said. “Anyone like to go with me?”

“I would,” Parthena said.

“Savannah?”

She took a sip of her water. “Maybe. Bella was going to give me a sewing lesson.”

“She is?” Belle said with interest. “I’d like to be there for that.”

“Well, then, sweetness,” Colin told Parthena, “I guess it’s just you and me.” He turned to Leo. “Would you like to show us around?”

He gulped. “Um, well ….”

“I can help with your chores,” Clinton said. “That way you’ll have time.”

Leo sighed. Clinton would have to offer. “I suppose.”

“I’ll help too,” said Colin. “Then we can get an early start. I bet we can cover a lot of ground that way.”

“I’ll pack us a lunch,” Parthena added.

“Don’t you want a few sewing lessons while we’re here?” Belle asked.

“Yes, but I also want to explore the farm.” Parthena smiled at everyone but Leo. “I know it’s big – it could take a couple of days to really see it.”

“More like three or four,” Leo said. “Everyone thinks it consists of only the valley we’re in, but there’s much more.”

“Much like our place.” Colin took a bite of ham. “Now, is this Italian ham … um, prosecco?”

Mel laughed. “Prosecco is a kind of wine. And no, this isn’t prosciutto, just a typical ham.”

Leo noted Parthena was staring at him. He met her gaze and they both quickly looked away. What was he going to do – a whole day with the woman would do him in! He’d have to think up a lot of things