City Girl Read online

  “Ah, Liss . . .” he said softly when he eased away for the second time. “You taste so good.” She stared at him, her eyes bemused, and he knew he wasn’t through with kissing her, no matter how bad it made his neck hurt. With a groan, he lifted her up and set her on the deep freeze, then stood erect now that she was on a level with him. Both hands cupping her face, fingers sliding into her hair, he kissed her again deeply, his tongue probing, hers answering. Their hearts hammered rapidly, and both gulped for air when they finally broke apart.

  “I kept thinking,” Kirk murmured, “about how you tasted this morning, how you felt in my arms. I wondered if it would still be the same.” He stroked a finger down her face until it rested on the small scar on her chin. “My memory didn’t lie, but this time was better.” He grinned. “Now, you taste like chocolate.”

  “Oh.”

  “I like the taste of chocolate.”

  “So you . . . so you said.”

  He smiled. “May I have another taste?”

  Liss swallowed hard, fighting the sensual pull of his touch, his soft, seductive voice. She wouldn’t let herself be swayed by either, she vowed.

  “No,” she said.

  “Liss . . .” He stroked one thumb over her moist, red lower lip. Her eyes, shadowed, ever changing, were mysterious, so alluring he wanted to go on watching their varying expressions forever. He caressed her lips again and watched the luminosity of those fantastic eyes intensify. Her lips trembled and she tried to turn her head aside, but his hands held her still as he gazed at her. “If you won’t let me kiss you again, at least let me look at you.” Then in a rough whisper, he blurted out what he was thinking before considering how it would sound. “Good Christ, Liss. If a kiss makes you glow like that, what must a climax do?”

  He saw shock flood her eyes and instantly regretted his blunt words. She blinked and, in that short moment, dispersed the unearthly radiance their kiss had generated. “You . . . louse!” she gasped. “Let me go!” She jerked free, swinging her legs up and around him, and slid off the freezer even as he tried to stop her.

  “Hey, come on,” he said, blocking her path. “How come I’m suddenly a louse? What did I do that was so terrible? I kissed you, for the love of Mike! It wasn’t against your will. You kissed me back. I’m sorry if I was out of line, mentioning a climax, but if you think kisses like that don’t lead to lovemaking, you’re wrong.”

  Where are your brains? Liss castigated herself. One of this man’s lovers had been there that morning; yet another was in the living room now, doubtless conspiring with Mrs. Healey to get rid of her. And there she was in the pantry letting him kiss her, kissing him back, listening to talk of climaxes and lovemaking and . . . Lord! In less than forty-eight hours, how had she managed to get herself into such a situation?

  “Lovemaking?” she said scathingly, as much to convince herself as to convince him. “Not between you and me, they don’t.”

  “Why not? I’m a man. You’re a woman. We’re both well past the age of consent, and believe me, a kiss like that suggests consent.”

  “In your dreams! You said yourself,” she went on before he could get a word in, “that we have to try to share this place in some kind of harmony, and we won’t if you come on to me whenever you feel like a cheap thrill. So keep your kisses for other women. I don’t want any part of them.”

  “Don’t you? You did only moments ago.”

  “Because you took me by surprise,” she defended herself. “But I have a surprise for you. Another of your girlfriends is here.”

  He frowned as he stepped back, setting her free. “Who?”

  Liss laughed. She scooped up the bag of groceries, dropped the sugar box into it, and said over her shoulder as she headed into the kitchen, “Does it matter?”

  Kirk felt overheated and disgruntled as he followed her. “Of course it matters.” Who in hell did Liss Tremayne think was his girlfriend? he wondered. He sat on a chair at the end of the table to pull off his boots. It had been several months since he’d had anyone who could have been even remotely considered a girlfriend. Since long before Ambrose’s death he simply hadn’t had time.

  “Hello, darling.” He felt suddenly sick as he heard Gina speak in the doorway behind him. “I thought I heard your voice.” He spun around, knocking over his boots as he shot to his feet.

  “What the hell-” he began, but her mouth covered his, cutting off his words. He stood there, shocked into immobility, watching Liss’s face freeze before she turned her back. He wrenched Gina off him and held her away from him, staring at her, searching for words powerful enough to get through this woman’s thick, impervious skin. She was totally unable to believe him when he said something was over, and what had been between them was damned well over.

  He was still gaping at Gina, wondering at her gall, when she reached over and poked Liss on the arm. “Would you get out of here?” she said. “Mr. Allbright and I would like a little privacy. Can’t you find something else to do? Maybe the downstairs bathroom could do with a good cleaning. The last time I was here it was—”

  “Gina!” Both Gina and Liss jumped at his loud voice. His hand whipped out to capture Gina’s wrist, and he spun her back toward him. “Who the hell do you think you are, and who do you think you’re talking to?” he demanded, his eyes dangerously cold. Liss thought if a look like that had been trained on her, she’d have shriveled where she stood. Gina, however, withstood it well.

  “Now, Kirk, sweetie,” she cooed, “Mrs. Healey explained everything to me. I know how little experience you have in dealing with inside help, so why don’t you permit me to lay down some ground rules for, um, Lisa or whatever her name is? That way, things will be so much easier for . . . everyone. “

  “Such as whom?” Kirk asked in an ominously quiet tone.

  “Such as you,” she said, patting his cheek. “And dear Mrs. Healey.” She hesitated for a second, then pouted prettily. “And me, darling, because I simply can’t live without you and I know that in your heart of hearts you really do want me to move in with you and—”

  “Move in with me? Gina, all I want is for you to get out of this house!”

  “But—”

  “But nothing!”

  Taking her arm, Kirk inexorably led Gina toward the front door, apparently knowing without having to ask that she had come in that way. Of course, Liss thought, turning so she could watch their progress down the hall through the kitchen doorway. Gina Holland was not the back-door type.

  “I may not have much experience dealing with ‘inside help,”‘ he went on, “which Ms. Tremayne is not, but I have plenty of experience in throwing you out when you assume too much and won’t take no for an answer.”

  Gina wriggled free and faced him. “But, Kirk, you don’t mean—”

  “Dammit!” he roared, flinging her caressing hand off his cheek. “I mean exactly what I say! I’ve played this scene with you a few times too many, Gina, and I’m getting sick of it!” He put his hands on her upper arms and marched her in front of him toward the door.

  Mrs. Healey came out of the living room in response to Kirk’s words and Gina’s whining protests. “Young man,” she exclaimed, “what is the meaning of this? Why are you manhandling that poor girl? Let her go at once.”

  As Liss watched in fascination, Kirk let Gina go, but only to grab her jacket off the coat tree he’d polished so hard that morning. He held it out to Gina, waiting. “Hardly manhandling, Mrs. Healey,” he said. “I’m simply escorting an unwelcome, uninvited guest to the door. Kindly keep out of it. Gina, put your coat on.”

  “What do you mean, unwelcome and uninvited?” Mrs. Healey said. “I welcomed Gina. I invited her. In fact, she’s joining us for dinner. Isn’t that right, my dear child?”

  “Thank you, Olga,” Gina said, simpering, then appealed to Kirk again. “See, darling? I’m staying.” The high heels of her black boots made her almost as tall as Kirk, Liss noticed, and wondered how Gina still managed to look frail and d
elicate. She’d never before seen anyone with a D-cup look delicate. Come to think of it, she’d never believed there was a man alive who’d willingly throw out a woman who wore a D-cup. Maybe this romance of Gina’s was all on one side.

  She stroked his face again with her long-fingered hand, and he again shook it off. “Please, darling,” she said, “don’t be angry with me anymore. I didn’t mean to hurt your little housekeeper’s feelings. I’ll be good. Just as good as gold. I promise, Kirkie.”

  Liss couldn’t quite stifle her spurt of laughter. Kirkie? “Yes, do let her stay, Kirkie,” she said, leaning against the door frame. “It’s a big roast.”

  He turned on her, his eyes blazing. “You keep out of this!” Wheeling back to Gina, he said, “I don’t care who invited you. You aren’t welcome and—”

  “She is welcome and she’s staying. As my guest,” Mrs. Healey said, putting a protective arm around Gina. “Come along back into the living room, dear child,” she continued, looking, Liss mused, like a rotund dachshund escorting an Irish wolfhound. “We won’t let this boorish man deny us our friendship.”

  Before the two went three paces, however, the front door swung open. Didn’t anybody knock in this neighborhood? Liss wondered, then blinked in surprise as Kristy Chandler strode in, brushing snow off her jeans, then shaking her blond hair loose as she snatched off her red wool cap.

  “My goodness!” she exclaimed, coming erect. “What smells so good in here?”

  “Roast beef,” Liss said, grinning as Kristy saw Gina and did a wonderful double take. Liss sat down on the bottom step of the staircase to watch what she was certain would be exciting fireworks. “Why don’t you stay for dinner?”

  Kirk let out a strangled sound as he turned to her, signaling silently with frantic gestures of eyebrows and mouth.

  Kristy gazed speculatively at Gina. “What are you doing here? I thought you were a thing of the past. “

  “I,” Gina said, “am not a ‘thing.”‘ She sniffed disdainfully. “And speaking of past history, what makes you think there’s anything here for you?”

  Kristy grinned. “Well, there’s dinner, for one thing.” The smile she gave Gina was so cheerfully malicious that Liss decided she liked the blonde. This situation was funny, and if both women stayed, she thought it might get even funnier. She could do with a good laugh.

  “Thanks, Liss,” Kristy continued. °I accept your dinner invitation, although what I came for was to invite you to bring your children to my place for riding lessons next Saturday.”

  Gina turned to Kirk, her hand on his arm. “Darling, please, why don’t you and I drive into town for dinner? If we had only a little time together, a few moments of privacy, I know I could show you how wrong you are. I know you need me now as you never did before and—”

  This time, the door didn’t open without warning, but Gina broke off at the sound of something thudding against the wood panels. With an impatient sigh, Kirk broke free of Gina again and jerked the door open to admit yet another redhead. Putting a hand over his eyes, he groaned loudly and would have turned to go, but the newcomer crowded close to him, raised up on tiptoes, and kissed him on the cheek.

  “Mmm, you smell delicious,” she said, oblivious of the others standing around. She carried a covered dish and thrust it at Kirk, saying “Take this, will you, hon?” before removing her glasses, which had fogged the instant she stepped into the warm house. Casually she lifted Kirk’s sweater and tugged his shirttail out of his pants to wipe the steam off her lenses. Liss watched, amazed as Kirk stood there holding the casserole and staring at the ceiling as if he wished he were anywhere else.

  Clearly this woman was quite accustomed to undressing Kirk Allbright and didn’t mean to let an audience deter her.

  “Hello, Gina,” the short redhead said, peering nearsightedly as she rubbed her glasses. “Fancy meeting you here, cousin. I thought you were a thing of the past.”

  “I’m not a—” Gina began, but the newcomer, putting her glasses back on again, spotted Kristy. “Oh, my. Are we having a fan club reunion, ladies, or is this the play-offs?” Without waiting for a reply, she turned to Mrs. Healey and greeted her by name.

  “Remember me?” she asked Mrs. Healey. “I’m Patty Fontaine, Alice and Frank’s daughter. I was probably only about thirteen the last time you saw me, so I’m sure I’ve changed, though you haven’t, not one bit. Anyway, my mom asked me to drop by with that casserole as a welcome-back offering and to tell you how happy she is to learn that you’ve returned to the valley. She says Tuesday morning quilting club hasn’t been the same without you and hopes you’ll be along this week.”

  Pausing, Patty sniffed long and appreciatively. “My goodness! I think I’d forgotten how wonderfully you used to cook, Mrs. Healey. Something smells heavenly in here.” She grinned at Kirk. “Besides you.”

  Kristy laughed. Gina made an angry sound. “It’s roast beef,” Liss said, getting to her feet. She introduced herself, then added, “Won’t you stay for dinner? We seem to be collecting a party here.” Before Patty had a chance to accept or decline, yet another knock sounded, this one at the back door. Liss, with a questioning glance at Kirk, went to answer it.

  “Hello,” said the middle-aged lady who stood there, her glasses fogging as quickly as Patty’s had. “I’m Daisy Crandall, rector of St. John’s Church.” She peered at Liss through the fog. “Are you Olga Healey?”

  “No,” Liss said, “but she’s here. Please, come in.” She steered the half-blind minister through the kitchen and into the front hall where the others remained. Kirk’s head was swinging back and forth as he monitored a lively argument between Gina and Kristy.

  “Mrs. Healey,” Liss announced, “this is the Reverend Daisy Crandall. “

  “My dear Olga.” Reverend Daisy mistakenly grabbed Kristy’s hand and pumped it vigorously. °I am delighted to meet you.” Deftly, Kristy turned the minister in the right direction. “I am rector of the church Ambrose attended the last few years of his life, and when I heard after the service today that you had arrived, I knew I must come and welcome you, and invite you to our Wednesday night prayer meeting and the ladies’ guild on Thursday morning.” While Daisy talked, Patty lifted the minister’s glasses from her face, wiped them on Kirk’s shirttail, then replaced them without the cleric’s missing a beat. “Ambrose told me so much about you. Welcome to the valley. My, my, something smells wonderful in here. Ambrose mentioned that you are a superb cook. What are you having for dinner?”

  “The whole damned community,” Kirk muttered.

  “It’s roast beef, “ Liss said, smiling mischievously at him. “We’d be delighted to have you join us.”

  “Good God,” Kirk said, sotto voce. “Do you want me to go and slaughter another steer before I slaughter you?”

  Liss laughed, enjoying herself more than she had in a long time. This would teach him to spread his kisses around indiscriminately. Talk about chickens coming home to roost! “There’s no need to slaughter anything. As I said, it’s a big roast.”

  Just then, Jason came stumbling down the stairs rubbing his eyes. “Mommy,” he said. “I had a dream.”

  “So did I,” Kirk said, shoving the casserole into Liss’s hands. “A dream of peace. A dream of quiet. A dream of a winter’s solitude.” He jammed one hand through his thick hair. “Where did it go?” he asked of no one. “What happened to it’?”

  “Hi, Mom,” Ryan said, bounding down the stairs. “Mmm. What smells so good?”

  “Roast beef,” said several people.

  “And chocolate cake,” Jason said. “’Member? Mom promised.”

  Kirk, poised in the doorway between the hall and the kitchen, braced his hands on the door frame as if to hold himself back. “Chocolate cake? Chocolate cake? No!” he said firmly as if someone were begging him to stay. “No damn way! I’m out of here!” He strode through the doorway and a few seconds later the back door slammed. Hard.

  * * * *

  Everyone had
just sat down at the table, a strange and hardly compatible group, Liss thought, when Kirk returned. He stood at the threshold of the big, warm kitchen, his gaze sweeping over the group before settling on Liss.

  She raised her brows. °I thought you were leaving. “

  He shoved his hat back. “I left,” he said, scowling at her. Then, when no one spoke, he added, “I came back.” He sounded as if he couldn’t quite believe it himself.

  “Sweetie,” Gina said, getting up and going to him. She lifted his hat off and patted his cheek. “I’m glad you did. Just as soon as dinner is over, you and I are going to have that little chat.”

  He grasped her wrist, pulled her hand away, and dropped it as he might a wet towel. After politely escorting her back to her chair, he removed his jacket and boots while Liss collected a place setting for him. “Thanks, Liss,” he said, as she set a plate and cutlery at the head of the table. He helped himself to roast beef, potatoes, gravy, and vegetables. °Mmm. This is what I came back for,” he added, smiling wickedly at her as she resumed her seat between her sons. Holding her gaze with his, he ran his tongue over his lips and said softly, “This, and the taste of chocolate.”

  Deep inside Liss a throbbing began, and she looked quickly down at her plate. Dammit, she thought, she was not going to become number four on his list, or ten or twenty or anything, and he was not going to use her to keep the unwanted ones at bay.

  * * * *

  When the last crumbs of chocolate cake had been scraped off plates, Kirk leaned back, looking satisfied.

  “Wonderful,” he said. “Thank you, Liss.”

  “You’re welcome. Would anyone like more coffee?”

  “Kirk and I will have some,” Gina said, pushing back her chair. “You can bring it into the living room for us.”