Page 14 of Improper Proposal
Could this get any worse?
I glance around my warm, cozy room. While I really like it here, I should go. I should pack my bag and get out of Dodge before this goes any further. Deciding to do just that—after I find Will and tell him who I am—I pull on a pair of jeans and a sweater, and I’m about to close my suitcase when a knock comes on my door. Not the adjoining bathroom door, but the one leading to the hall.
I open it and find Claire and Annabella standing there, huge smiles on their faces. Their arms are linked, and they are so warm and welcoming, my heart squeezes. This is the kind of family I wanted growing up, the kind of family I gave up hoping for.
But you don’t want that anymore, Harper.
Yeah, right.
“Breakfast is ready, and then we can hit the garden,” Claire says.
“We’re having blueberry pancakes. Mom is famous for them, too,” Annabella says, then she crinkles her nose. “Wait, do you like blueberries?”
I stare at the two and try to harden my heart, angry with myself for feeling emotional when I should be paying attention to lessons learned. I need to leave this place right now. I open my mouth to tell them that, but instead find myself saying, “Who doesn’t?”
What the hell, Harper?
Annabella weaves her arm through mine, extending the comforting touch to me, and leads me into the hall. She hurries me down the stairs, talking a million miles an hour, about everything
and nothing, and despite this situation, I can’t help but laugh. I always wanted a sister, and the way she’s taking me in, treating me like I’m already one of the family is…not good.
My throat tightens when I reach the kitchen and see everyone from last night gathered around the table. Their voices and laugher representing the type of camaraderie and love I’ve never known. It would be so easy to fall for them all, including Will.
Oh God, this is bad. So very, very bad.
“Everyone came back,” Claire said. She rolls her eyes, but I can tell she loves it. “It’s the pancakes.”
I rub my hands together. “Then I can’t wait to try them.”
As everyone ambushes me with a good morning greeting, I sit, and Claire slides a plate in front of me. My stomach rumbles, and everyone laughs.
“The horseback riding must have given you an appetite,” Annabella says and plunks herself down next to me.
It wasn’t the riding that gave me an appetite. Well, technically it was the riding, but it had nothing to do with Buttercup. “I think it’s all this fresh country air.” Wait! I stiffen. They knew I was out riding? How much did they see? “Oh, you knew I went out earlier?” I ask and try to pull off casual interest.
“I saw you and Will come back,” Annabella says. “I’m sure Buttercup loved it.”
“Will mentioned that you wouldn’t mind.”
“Of course not,” she says, and when she looks past my shoulder, I don’t need to turn to know Will just entered the room. I can feel him, feel the energy arcing between us. I glance around the table. Can the others feel it? I sure as hell hope not.
Claire sits in the chair on the other side of me, and I take that opportunity to pull myself together, my body still feeling the glorious effects of Will’s touch. “I’m glad he’s taken you under his wing. I would have cleared my schedule at the hospital, had I known George’s surprise was a beautiful woman from the States.”
George’s surprise from the States.
Could I be in any deeper?
“Oh, it’s fine.” I wave my hand. “I’m sure I can keep myself busy.” The truth is, I’d like nothing better than to go to my room, curl up in a ball, and figure out how to get myself out of this mess.
“Don’t be foolish, child,” Claire says. “Will would be happy to show you around this week. Isn’t that right, Will?”
I take in the apprehension on Will’s face and tighten my grip on my fork. “Aunt Claire, I—”
“See, I told you so. Now eat up.”
I tear my gaze from Will’s as he takes a seat across from me, but my eyes stray back. When I see the tortured look on his face, I know we need to talk. I have to straighten this out. No way can I let him think I’m with George, or not with George, or…ugh.
“Eat up,” Claire says, and I dig into the pancakes even though my appetite is on a return trip back to the States. But as soon as I take a bite, the flavor explodes on my tongue, and my appetite comes rushing back.
