As Summer ate, Adam’s stare gnawed on her already frazzled nerves. Couldn’t he look someplace else?
Inwardly, she scolded her thoughts and reminded herself that he was a good man and would be her husband in a few days.
She swallowed her bite of roll. “So, Adam, what are your plans for starting up your own business?”
He wiped the linen napkin across his mouth. “I’ve been seriously thinking about going into the trading business.”
“Trading?” She nearly choked on her chicken. “What would you trade?”
“Well, fur trading is still quite productive. But there are other things that I could do as well. If I can get my father and grandfather to invest in a shipping company somewhere in the Carolinas, I could trade with East India or even Europe.”
Her chewing stopped as she thought of the possibilities. Although it was a great dream to have, Adam would want to move closer to his shipping company, and she would be away from her family. Away from Jesse. The churning in her stomach told her she’d better stop eating.
“Um, but until that happens,” she chose her words carefully, “what will you plan on doing in Aspen after we are married?”
“My grandfather has a home here that we can live in. I’ll probably work in one of the banks for a few months until we get the funds together for the shipping company.”
Taking in deep breaths, Summer tried not to let the news wreck her emotions. She’d been away from her family for five long years while at her aunt’s etiquette school. Those years were rewarding, but one of the hardest things she ever had to do. She wasn’t ready to move away from her family so soon.
“Adam?” She swallowed to moisten her suddenly dry throat. “Can I make a suggestion?”
“Of course, my dear.” Smiling, he patted her arm.
“As you know, my pa is quite ill. Can we wait to move until after he dies?” Just thinking of that terrible day brought tears to her eyes.
Sympathy took over Adam’s expression, and he grasped her hand. “Oh, yes. We can wait.”
Slowly, she expelled her breath. At least she could convince him of that.
“You know I’ll do anything to help your family.”
She nodded. “Then perhaps we’ll be able to hire a few more men to work in the livery. I’d hate to see Pa’s dream die with him.”
“Yes, of course.” Adam lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “We can do that before we move.”
“Thank you.” It was a struggle to smile this time. “You are a very kind and generous man.”
Adam held her gaze for several more seconds, and his expression changed again. His focus dropped to her mouth. She groaned in silence.He wants to kiss me!Although she should allow it, the mood wasn’t right.
As he moved his head closer, she cleared her throat and pulled her hand away, looking down at her plate of food. “Adam, tell me more about this trade business. I fear I’m not familiar with how it works.”
He straightened, and his face brightened. As he explained what would happen in the trading company, her mind wandered off again. She tried to think of the things they had in common, but nothing came to mind. Then again, she didn’t have very many things in common with Jesse, either. Yet with Jesse, it was exciting to banter back and forth. It thrilled her to see his eyes ablaze with heat whenever their conversations flew out of control, especially when the fluttering in her stomach couldn’t stop dancing, making her want to be held by him and kissed to distraction.
When she found herself gazing across the field in a dream-like state, she quickly pulled her thoughts back to the man sitting across the blanket from her. With a sinking sigh, she wondered if Adam would ever be able to take Jesse out of her heart. Maybe no man could.
But did she really want Jesse out of her heart?
“Thank your ma for fixing this meal,” Adam commented. “I just love her cooking.”
She forced another smile. “I’ll tell her. She’ll be happy you were pleased.”
Summer set the plate of food down beside her, unable to eat another bite. Adam did the same, then scooted closer to her. She panicked. There was no way she wanted to get closer to him.
“I have an idea,” she said, quickly jumping to her feet, “let’s walk down by the stream.”
“Sounds good to me.” He smiled and stood.
As she led the way, Adam’s hand slid behind her, just above the waist of her skirt. One inch lower, and she’d give him a what-for with her elbow whether they were going to be married in a few days or not. With each step, her anger grew, and she’d have to end this afternoon of leisure very soon, or she’d forget her manners and punch him in the nose.
