Page 41 of Texas Made
“Why?”
“Because I’m taking you somewhere and I want to surprise you.”
“What’s that for?” she asked, motioning to the bandanna, though she suspected she knew.
“It’s a blindfold.”
“That’s what I thought. You can’t surprise me without me wearing a blindfold?”
“No. Come on, Jaclyn. Humor me. It won’t be that long.”
She grumbled but she did it. How could she say no when he wore his sweetest, most cajoling smile? The one that brought a twinkle to his gray eyes and dimples to his cheeks. Damn, the man had no right to be so appealing.
He finished tying the bandanna, then started the truck. Reaching for her hand, he said, “It won’t be long. I promise.”
She snorted. “I suppose you think holding my hand will make up for blindfolding me.”
He laughed. “No. I just wanted to hold your hand.”
Sometime later, which Marshall swore had only been fifteen or twenty minutes but had felt like an eon, he told her she could take off the bandanna. She did, but she had no idea where they were other than out in the middle of nowhere on some small country road with a lot of trees. There was a full moon that night, but it peeked in and out of the trees and she couldn’t pick out any landmarks. “This is where you’re taking me?”
“Not yet. But since you were whining so much about the blindfold I figured I’d let you take it off. You don’t know where we are, do you?”
“Sure I do. We’re out in the middle of freaking nowhere. And I wasn’t whining,” she added, insulted.
The moon shone through the trees just then. He pressed his lips together but she could see the smile trying to take over. “No, ma’am. Of course you weren’t whining. I don’t know what came over me to say that.”
“You’re impossible,” she told him, just as they turned onto another road and a vista opened up. Lights illuminated a large white house with a red roof, already made visible by the full moon. As they drove closer she saw a majestic old Victorian-style mansion. It was two story with a wooden wraparound porch on both levels, with gingerbread-style posts and balusters. Close by was a small barn and a little farther away was a big barn that looked newer. The sign by the driveway they turned into read, “The Harwood Inn.”
She turned to look at Marshall, who was watching her with a smile.
“Surprise,” he said.
“Are we staying here tonight?” Silly question but she asked anyway.
“We are. If you want to.”
“I would love to. But I didn’t bring anything to stay overnight.”
“Not a problem.” He reached behind him over the seat and came up with a small bag she hadn’t noticed before. “My sister can be very sneaky.”
“I don’t know when she had time to do this.” It had to have been after she’d changed for dinner and before they left. Then she remembered Ruthie drawing her aside and presenting her with a recipe for apple strudel that she’d raved about. And when she started to go put it in Marshall’s room with her stuff, Ruthie insisted on taking it for her. “You got Ruthie in on it too.”
“I didn’t want her to feel left out.”
Jaclyn laughed. “Can’t have that. Thank you.” She leaned over the console and kissed him. “I’m incredibly touched.”
He cupped her cheek and looked into her eyes. “Anything for you.”
She didn’t know what to say so she kissed him again. “Hadn’t we better go?”
“Unless we want to get busy right here in the truck.”
“It would be a lot more comfortable in the room.”
A short time later they’d checked in and walked into their room in one of the small cottages on the inn’s grounds. Paned glass doors opened to a balcony overlooking the river, which since it was night was hard to see. But she could hear the water flow. The night was warm and sultry, peaceful and romantic. In the distance she could see a storm rolling in but it hadn’t reached the inn yet.
The room was furnished in a semi-rustic, old-fashioned manner. The walls were pale yellow, with a couple of watercolor landscapes hanging on them. A ceiling fan swirled lazily. There was a pedestal sink and a claw-foot tub in the bathroom. The bed was beautiful. Rich, gleaming mahogany carved in an intricate headboard and four posters. A fluffy white comforter adorned the bed. There was a dresser of the same wood as the bed, and a small love seat and table off in one corner.
