“It’s different for a guy. You can go wherever, work some odd jobs, move on. I only know how to play the violin,” she said at one point.
“You don’t strike me as the nomad type,” he said.
“Who knows what type I am? I’ve been stuck in the same rut since I was six.”
“It’s past time you broke out, then.”
“Yes, like to the wilds of Kentucky.”
Kirk laughed.
“It’s not really funny. This is quite different for me. I want to see new places, try new things. Have something different in my life. This is totally different from New York.”
“Okay, maybe fate had a reason for sending you here.”
He gazed at the fire for a moment. Then glanced at her.
“Until Webb Francis is up and around, I’ll show you something of the wilds of Kentucky. You can learn to make a fire without matches, hike a trail, catch a fish. Bet you’ve never been to a county fair. We can go. And you can join in the music festival. Play something other than classical music. Really bust out.”
“With my fiddle,” Angelica said, feeling a sense of elation. “Would you really take me hiking and to a county fair?”
He had seemed unhappy with Webb Francis’s suggestion he look out for her. Why the change of heart?
“Sure, why not?”
He reached out and took her hand. Angelica felt the jolt of electricity, but this time she gripped his hand back, holding on and savoring the sensations. He rested the back of her hand against one thigh and smiled.
“I thought you didn’t like me,” she said.
He grinned.
“Jury’s still out on that one, babe. Maybe I was hasty in making a judgement. Let’s see what you’ve got going for you.”
She considered what he said.
“Deal. What do you get in return?”
“A fun summer?”
“Don’t you have to work?”
“I’m helping out at the Coopers’ barn raising.”
“It almost sounds as if you’re doing the Coopers a favor helping build their barn. Are you independently wealthy?”
He grinned again, his eyes dancing. Angelica felt her heart race. The man was too potent for her. Could she really spend thesummer learning more about the mountains of Kentucky and spending time with this man and not have her heart smashed to smithereens when she left?
She had no experience beyond casual flirting. Could she resist Kirk’s charm, learn about the community and return to New York in September glad for the break, refreshed, and not hung up with Kirk Devon?
If she had any sense, she’d run the other way.
Yet his offer was tempting.
“Are you?” he countered.
“I have enough money saved to take time off for this.”
“Don’t worry, I have enough, too.”
