‘Better than the castle double staircase?’
She grinned. ‘Yip. Even better than the castle staircase.’ She moved back towards him. ‘Why is it that we always head towards a fight? What is it I do that upsets you so much?’
‘I keep asking myself the same question.’ His voice had deepened; it was quieter—a virtual whisper. The words seemed to echo around the circular building.
She edged a little closer and he found himself doing the same thing. Any second now he could reach out and touch her. Touch the soft skin of her face, run his fingers through her loose curls. Or just grab her with both hands and pull her body next to his.
Her sultry perfume was winding its way around him again—like the Pied Piper’s music had lured the children of Hamelin. He couldn’t control it.
He couldn’t help the grin spreading across his face.
She blinked, her long dark eyelashes brushing against his lowered head. It was torture. ‘And have you found the answer yet, Callan?’
Even the way she said his name sent shivers down his spine. His hands reached up and cradled her hips. ‘It’s as much a mystery to me as it is to you. Maybe we’re just two people with a lot at stake.’
She squeezed her eyes shut. ‘Not the answer I was looking for.’
It wasn’t the answer he’d wanted to say either. But he couldn’t articulate what he really wanted to say. He couldn’t sort it out in his head. And until he did that, how could he say anything?
He couldn’t tell her that she was driving him crazy. He couldn’t tell her that he hadn’t been able to sleep since he’d kissed her. He definitely couldn’t tell her what she’d been doing in the five minutes’ worth of dreams he’d had last night.
And no matter how much his body was reacting around Laurie, no matter how much he felt drawn to her. No matter how much he was attracted to her both physically and emotionally, he still had the tiniest doubts in his head. Doubts placed there by his love of Annick Castle. And until that was resolved he couldn’t feel free to make any kind of other decision.
‘It’s the best I can do right now.’
She stepped backwards and gave him a gentle smile. ‘I know, Callan, I’m finding this just as hard as you are. You aren’t the only person with something at stake.’
She gave him a wink, but it wasn’t the playful kind of wink he’d experienced from Laurie before. This was different. It was more resigned. Almost sad.
She looked out of the doors, her eyes drifting over towards the crashing waves. ‘There’s something about this place, Callan. I can’t tell you what it is. I can’t put my finger on it. But Annick Castle, it just draws you in and holds you here.’
He understood. He understood completely. He always had, right from the first time he’d stayed here. Was it the dream of living in a castle, or was it just the austerity of the building, the magic of the surroundings?
And this was it. This was the tiny thing that kept creeping up on him. It was the long tendrils of jealousy that flickered around him when someone else said those words. When Annick Castle had that effect on them.
Her words tailed off. ‘But is it the castle...’ then her dark eyes fixed on his again and a jolt shot through him ‘...or is it you?’
She disappeared out of the door before he could reply.
His skin prickled. It didn’t matter what his selfish thoughts were. Laurie Jenkins had just laid it on the line.
Big time.
* * *
She’d only lain down on the bed for a few minutes. But it seemed as if the comfortable mattress and high thread-count sheets had lulled her off into a deep sleep. As her eyes flickered open the sun was lowering in the sky outside her window. It wouldn’t be sunset for a few hours yet but she’d slept much later than she’d expected.
A wave of panic swept over her as she glanced at her watch. She jumped from the bed and ran to the door. The ball was tonight and she had nothing to wear. She hadn’t even given it a thought; she’d been too busy baking in the kitchen and spending time with Callan. The costume room was on the floor underneath and her feet thudded heavily down the stairs. She’d always managed to find something suitable before; she would just have to grab the first thing that fitted.
Robin was flapping around the room. Flapping. It was the most accurate expression for him. ‘There you are! Where have you been? You’re the only person who hasn’t chosen a costume.’
‘Sorry, Robin, I fell asleep. I’ll just take whatever you think is appropriate.’
He pointed to the wall. ‘I’d already picked out a few possibilities for you.’
There were four dresses hanging from part of the coving on the wall. Should he really be doing that? Wouldn’t that damage the paintwork? She shuddered to think.
The costume room was packed full of colourful clothes, all hanging in rails by gender and size. Some women would absolutely adore this, but Laurie had never been the kind to spend hours mooning over clothes. She appreciated beautiful things, but didn’t want to spend the time having to find them. The last two dresses she’d had from this room Robin had recommended to her.
She walked over to the four dresses. All beautiful. All full-length. She wasn’t quite as elegant as others might think. There was a high possibility of her catching her feet in these dresses and tumbling down the curved staircase. That would make for an interesting ball.
She reached out and touched one. There was a variety of colours. Gem colours. Ruby red, emerald green, sapphire blue and silver. All sparkling. All gorgeous.
She wrapped her arms around herself and turned to face Robin.
‘What’s wrong?’ he demanded. ‘Don’t you like them?’
She screwed
up her face; she really didn’t want to hurt his feelings. She hesitated before speaking. ‘I think they’re all beautiful. But I’m worried about wearing something full-length. It just isn’t me. There’s a strong likelihood I’ll fall over and ruin them.’
He scowled and touched the red one. ‘It’s a ball, Laurie. You’re supposed to wear something full-length—you know, a ball gown. I thought you might go for this one. It’s almost identical to the dress the girl is wearing in the picture at the top of the stairs.’
He was getting tetchy. She looked again. It was. It was perfect. A little more old-fashioned than the others but almost a perfect replica. Why couldn’t she imagine herself wearing it? It was so thoughtful that Robin had tried to take in the surroundings. But she just couldn’t picture herself walking down the stairs in that dress. If there were ghosts in this castle they’d probably push her down in disgust at her attempts to look regal.
She shook her head. ‘I’m sorry, Robin. I just don’t think they’re right for me.’
He let out a loud sigh and threw up his hands. ‘Okay then, Laurie. What is it? What is the dress you see in your dreams?’
She laughed. ‘It depends entirely what I’m dreaming about.’
‘Pfft.’ He waved his hand in disgust and touched his finger to the side of her forehead. ‘What is it, Laurie? What’s the one that you keep in here?’ Then his finger came down and pressed on her chest bone. ‘Or more importantly, what’s the one you keep in here?’
She flinched. ‘It’s the dress Liesl wore in The Sound of Music.’ The words came straight out without a second thought.
‘No!’ He was excited, and obviously a little surprised. He didn’t even have to ask what dress she was referring to as he clearly already knew. He flung his arms around her. ‘Oh, Laurie, you are going to love me!’
He disappeared in a flurry, snaking amongst the rails of clothing.
She caught her breath; he couldn’t have what she was looking for—could he? She stood on her tiptoes. Robin had disappeared from sight. She’d no idea where he’d disappeared to, then she heard an exclamation of pure pleasure. ‘I’ve got it!’