Page 80 of A Tempting Seduction

“My gut says no.”

I smiled. “I trust your gut. What’s more, there is still the fact that your father was murdered. There’s more going on than Lance needing you as a smokescreen. Where is he now?”

“He’s staying at the Smokey Mountain Bed and Breakfast.”

“I say you and I go pay him a visit.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Because he needs to know you’re not alone. He needs to know that you have back-up. And because you mean the world to me.” I hesitated just a moment. I had really wanted to tell her this in a more romantic setting, but she needed to know this now. I leaned in and brushed my lips against hers. A soft, featherlight kiss, then leaned back so I could look into her eyes. “I love you, Ruby Banks Miller.”

Her green eyes got huge. “You do?”

“I do.”

She melted against my shoulder. “That’s such a good thing.” Her words were muffled against my neck.

“Why is that a good thing?”

She tipped her head back so that she was staring straight into my eyes. “I love you more than those three little words will ever be able to express. Skip the saying, I love you to the moon and back, Ford, I love you past all the stars in the universe, around the sun and back. I want you beside my side forever.”

I grinned. “Count on it.”

Chapter Seventeen

I could have stayed in Ford's arms forever, wrapped in the warmth of his love and the safety of his living room. But Lance was out there, in Jasper Creek, probably planning his next move. The thought of him wandering around my town, my sanctuary, made my skin crawl.

“So, when do we go see Lance?” I asked.

His brown eyes were steady and determined. “Right now, if you're ready.”

I wasn't sure I'd ever be ready to face Lance again, but having Ford beside me changed everything. I nodded and stood up from the couch.

Five minutes later, we were walking up the front steps of the Smokey Mountain Bed and Breakfast. The small Victorian house sat blocks from the town square, painted a cheerful blue with white trim, with a wraparound porch lined with rocking chairs. Mrs. Patterson, who ran the place, had always been kind to me when I'd seen her around town. The thought of Lance contaminating this sweet place with his presence made me angry.

Ford rang the doorbell, and Mrs. Patterson answered with a welcoming smile that faltered slightly when she saw my expression.

“Ruby, dear, what can I do for you?”

“We're here to see Lance Leeds,” I said. “He's one of your guests.”

Mrs. Patterson's eyebrows rose. “Oh my. He said he might have visitors. He's in the parlor.”

She led us through the entry hall to a cozy sitting room decorated with floral wallpaper and antique furniture. Lance sat in a wingback chair by the window, reading something on his phone. He looked up when we entered, and that politician's smile spread across his face like oil on water.

“Ruby, darling.” Lance stood, straightening his expensive suit. “I was hoping you'd come by.”

His eyes flicked to Ford with obvious curiosity. “And you must be the local carpenter I've heard about.”

“Millworker,” Ford corrected, settling onto the couch. “Ford Larson.”

I sat beside Ford, close enough that our thighs touched, drawing strength from his solid presence. Lance's eyes narrowed slightly at our obvious unity before he forced his politician's smile back into place. Lance had always been good at reading people, figuring out their weaknesses. But Ford seemed completely unbothered by the scrutiny.

“Right,” Lance said, his smile becoming slightly strained. “Ford. Ruby's mentioned you.”

“Has she?” Ford's tone was conversational, but I caught the protective edge underneath. “That's interesting. She’s had little to say about you, and what she did say wasn’t good.”

Lance's composure cracked just slightly. “Well, that’s surprising.”