Ducking her head, she moved to the ladder. With lightning speed, she rushed up the rungs and hurried back to the library, hoping Lucas wouldn’t follow. She willed her heart to slow. For her lips to quit pulsating. Most of all, she needed to think clearly. And with Lucas around, her thoughts became a jumbled heap.
* * *
What in the world had just happened?
Had he dreamed that one succulent moment? He ran his tongue over his lower lip, tasting the sweetness of Kate’s cherry lip balm. A frustrated groan rumbled in his chest. He’d given his word that he wouldn’t let something that foolish happen again. Yet every time Kate came close and he could smell her fruity shampoo and feel the heat of her touch, logic evaded him.
Now that his ill-laid plan had gone awry, he couldn’t leave things like this. He started up the ladder, wondering what he should say to her. “I’m sorry” just didn’t seem enough, but he had to try. With the wood plank back in place, he headed for the library.
He rolled his shoulders, trying to ease the tension running through them. He was making too much of this. It was barely even a kiss. No big deal.
When he strode into the library, Kate once again had a hammer in one hand and some trim in the other. He waited for her to turn. When she didn’t, he cleared his throat.
“About what just happened, I just want you to know that I shouldn’t have overstepped—”
“It was nothing.” She kept her back to him, shielding her facial expression. “Now you see why I think the tunnel would hold a lot of appeal for people.”
She waved off his kiss as if it was nothing—as if it hadn’t meant a thing. The thought that this thing—this growing attraction—was all one-sided pricked him. His jaw tightened and his body tensed. Why was she being this way? He wasn’t the only one who felt something.
Kate swung around to face him with the hammer still in her hand. “Do you have a problem with the plans?”
Lucas found himself eyeing the business end of the hammer. If she meant to gain his attention, she’d certainly done that. Not that he couldn’t easily overpower her. After all, she was inches shorter than him and looked to be as light as a feather. Only feathers didn’t have so many delicious curves. Kate’s waist dipped in above the flare of her hips, and his fingers itched to wrap around her and pull her close. He was tempted to remind her that though the kiss had been brief, it’d definitely ignited a flame.
He straightened his shoulders. “And what if I do have a problem with all of this?”
“You’re backing out on me now?” Kate’s features hardened and he couldn’t help but notice how her knuckles turned white as her grip on the hammer tightened. “You can’t do that. I won’t let you. We have a verbal agreement. If you even think of backing out now, I’ll...I’ll...”
He smothered a chuckle as her threat lost steam. Not wanting to add fuel to her rising temper, he willed his lips not to lift into an amused grin. She sure was cute when she was worked up. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to egg her on a little more.
“Should I be worried?”
“You already agreed to this party. It’s too late to back out now. I already gave my word to the hospital that I’d have the funds for the operation.”
Her words hit him with more sting than any blow from a hammer. She was right. How was he supposed to put up an argument now when faced with a little girl’s well-being?
As though remembering the hammer was still in her hand, Kate bent over and placed it on the white drop cloth lining the floor. She straightened and tilted her chin upward. “Besides, your aunt thinks the prohibition tunnel will play in nicely with the 1920s flapper theme.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” he mumbled.
As though he hadn’t spoken a word, Kate continued, “She also said that at last some good would come from the Carrington history.”
He didn’t like being ganged up on by his aunt and his... What was Kate to him? A friend? She was closer to him than he let anyone get these days. But friend didn’t seem to fit what they had either. Especially not after that brief but stirring kiss.
Just then Kate leaned toward him. He froze. What was she planning to do? His gaze slipped down to her lips. They were full and rosy, just perfect for another sweet kiss. Anticipation grew. Was it possible she’d enjoyed his touch more than she’d been letting on?
His breath hitched as she moved closer. Her hand reached out to him. What was she going to do? Pull him down to her?
The thought of her being so bold...of her taking control of the situation turned him on. His eyes drifted closed. All semblance of logic fled his brain. He waited for her to make her move, willing her to keep going.
Long-ignored desires roared through his heated veins. After all, they were alone and it was late in the evening. No one would bother them until morning. And it had been so long since he’d let his defenses down—since he’d been close with anyone.
“There. All taken care of.”
Lucas’s eyes sprang open. What was taken care of? Certainly not his needs—his desires.
“Don’t worry.” Kate held out a white piece of fuzz for his inspection. “At first, I was worried that it was some spackling, but it’s just lint. Your suit has been saved.”
His suit? That wasn’t what he was concerned about at this moment. His clothes might be fine, but his mind and body were a jumbled mess. He swallowed hard, working hard to control his wayward thoughts.
“Why are you working so late?” His voice came out much harsher than he’d intended.
Kate’s brown eyes flashed with surprise. “I had things to do.”
“You’re supposed to be overseeing the project, not doing all of the work yourself.”
Her hands pressed against her slender hips and her eyes narrowed in on him. “I’m doing what needs to be done. Unlike some people in this room, I keep my word.”
Her barbed comment didn’t go unnoticed by him. She was still ticked at him about the episode at the hospital. He should explain to her what had happened. But that would only lead to more questions...questions he didn’t want to answer.
Not now.
Not ever.
When he didn’t respond, she added, “You know, if you didn’t want to meet my daughter, all you had to do was say so in the first place.”
“But I wanted to—”
Lucas stopped. His jaw tightened, his back teeth grinding together. What was he saying? This wasn’t going to make things better for either of them. But the damage had been done.
An inquisitive gleam showed in her eyes. “What do you mean you wanted to? Why’d you change your mind?”
He glanced away and shuffled his feet. His gut told him that she wasn’t going to drop the subject until he fessed up. But how could he
