A Mail-Order Illusion Read online

  She didn’t know what else to say, so she looked deep into his eyes, wanting to get closer to him.

  As if she willed it, his eyes stayed locked on her, heat burning deep within their depths, and he took a step toward her. “Yes?” he asked softly.

  Her heart picked up a beat, thundering in her ear. It blocked out all sounds of the wind rustling through the trees, the trickle of the river, and the wildlife. A bear could have attacked them, and she probably wouldn’t have noticed. All that remained was the two of them. “I…”

  A small smile curved his lips. “Yes?”

  She stared at his mouth. Her lips tingled as she ran her tongue across them, as if she could already feel him there, already feel the pressure of his own lips against hers. The feeling was so intense, and she craved the reality of it.

  He stood silently, watching her. She saw the knowledge there, the desire. So why didn’t he make a move?

  Time seemed to stand still. She became even more aware of him, of herself, the way the cool air sent shivers down her body, the way his body stood so close to hers, radiating heat. Her skin craved his touch, and she so desperately wanted to know how it felt to be held by him. “May I kiss you?” she whispered, asking something she never thought she’d vocalize, but in the moment, didn’t care how bold it made her. She needed, and that was the only thing on her mind.

  Instead of answering out loud, he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer, until their bodies touched, sending lightning throughout her frame. His heat blasted against the front of her, burrowing beneath her skin, warming her from the inside out.

  His other hand slid up her back to her neck and into her hair, holding her securely, as he gazed into her eyes. He didn’t take. He didn’t rush. He drew it out slowly, sensuously, until every nerve in her body was on alert, waiting for him, wanting him. And just when she didn’t think she could stand it anymore, his head finally dipped toward hers, inching slowly toward her.

  When his lips were a breath away, her eyelids fluttered heavily, but she fought to keep them open. She wanted to see him, wanted to see how he felt, what he was thinking.

  This kiss mattered. More than any other kiss in her past, and she wanted to relish it.

  If he ever decided to kiss her. Impatient, she closed the gap between them in a rush, sealing her lips against his.

  He groaned, and the desire sparking within consumed her. She wanted this, wanted him.

  She shifted closer, as if she could step into his soul. She couldn’t think, could hardly breathe. All she could do was react, feel. She pulled tight, holding on with all her strength. She didn’t ever want to let him go.

  It was as though she’d found the one thing she’d been missing, the one thing she’s been searching for. And she was greedy to have it all.

  His hand shifted to help support her head, and then he moved her slightly, so he could kiss her deeper. Each kiss bled into the next, as if they were one. One body, one heart, one desire. It was as if she knew what he was going to do before he did it, and she moved seamlessly along with him.

  She’d never been so connected to another person, so in tune. Her whole world tipped on its axis, and it felt as though she were truly changed forever.

  At that thought, she broke the kiss. Both of their breaths were heavy as they stared into each other’s eyes. How could everything change so much with just one encounter?

  Slowly, her mind cleared. They’d kissed, and it was amazing, but had anything really changed? They were still the same people, still in Promise Creek, and she was still one of Ivan’s brides. And they were still seeing each other in secret.

  She needed to take a step back, but he held onto her, as if he didn’t want to let her go. Finally, his hold loosened, and he released her.

  He raked a hand through his hair and blew out a steady breath. “That was…”

  “Yes.” She didn’t know what else to add.

  He watched her calmly. “Are you all right?”

  She wasn’t sure. “Yes. That was just…unexpected.”

  His laugh was shaky. “You could say that.”

  Knowing he’d felt the same connection made the situation a little less frightening. But the fact it’d happened at all concerned her. Had their kiss been so intense because of the circumstances? She wasn’t certain, and she wasn’t certain she wanted to know the answer or not. “Maybe we shouldn’t’ve done that.”

  He nodded slowly. “Maybe. But we did. Can’t take it back now. Especially not a kiss like that.”

  She didn’t know how to respond, which was odd for her, because she normally always knew what to say. She always had a comeback. But not now. “I can’t deny it was amazing.” She rolled her eyes when he grinned. “I’m serious. I’m not going to deny it, but I’m not sure it’s the best idea. We’re meeting each other in secret, and we decided on that because we didn’t want other people to think we were involved. If we continue doing”—she gestured between them—“whatever this is, then it defeats the purpose.”

  “Is that really a bad thing?”

  She nibbled on her bottom lip. “I’m not sure. But until I know, I want to continue to keep this a secret. This is serious, and while Promise Creek may not be as strict as New York, people still gossip. And I’m tired of being the subject of everyone’s conversations, both here or back East.”

  He nodded slowly, understanding in his eyes. “I can respect that. We don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with. Besides, it was just a kiss.”

  “Exactly. Just a kiss. Nothing to fuss over.”

  “Precisely.”

  She nodded again for good measure but wasn’t sure she felt as confident in their agreement. It was just a kiss. But then again, it wasn’t. Oh, she didn’t know what to think! This was supposed to be easy and uncomplicated, but it had gotten so messy, so fast. She needed to get their relationship back on track and reassert their friendship.

  Determined to start immediately, she smiled brightly at him. “Well, now that my swim lesson is about over, I think it’s time to work on you. Any requests?”

  “I have a few ideas.”

  By the gleam in his eyes, she wasn’t sure she wanted to know, but still, she was excited. Jimmy always seem to keep her on her toes.

  Chapter 6

  After Aria had almost discovered them the previous week, they decided it would be better if Violet left her horse in the paddock with his horses to blend in. No one should be able to tell she was there if they passed by.

  Jimmy watched as Violet opened the rear door of his house as they’d discussed, and stopped to make sure there was no mud on her boots before stepping in. It seemed so natural for her to do so, but he wondered if she’d ever done such a thing in New York. Then again, where would she have been walking through mud in the city?

  What would people from her hometown say if they could see her now? Her personality had changed, though more than that, she’d physically changed as well. Her dresses were still stylish and expensive, but they were also practical. The dresses she’d arrived in had barely survived a stroll through town.

  He liked this Violet, liked the person she’d changed into.

  After she closed the door and stepped deeper into the room, she looked up and smiled at him. “It’s still strange just walking in, especially through the back door. I didn’t even do that at my own house.”

  “Did you always walk in the front?”

  “I did, everyone did actually. The back door was for our servants and deliveries.” She smiled sheepishly. “I can’t even remember opening the door for myself. Ever. The butler or footman always did that.”

  “Look how self-sufficient you’ve become.”

  She tossed him a mock glare. “Very funny.”

  He rocked back on his heels. “I thought it was.”

  Violet rolled her eyes and shook her head, but hearing her laugh, he knew she found it funny as well.

  She delicately pulled at the tips of her gloves, one by one,
until they came off. “So what do you have in mind for today’s lesson?”

  “Well, we’ve been trying to come up with scenarios I might find myself in when discussing business, and I realized there was one very male situation we haven’t discussed.”

  She took off her hat and placed both it and her gloves on the table. “I am not teaching you how to smoke cigars and drink brandy.”

  He laughed. “I don’t think I need to learn that skill, but what I do need work on is billiards.”

  “Billiards? That’s a man’s game. Why would you think I know how to play?”

  He raised eyebrow. “It just seems like something you’d know how to do. Am I wrong?”

  She grumbled a bit, but then gave him a sheepish grin and said, “I do. But I shouldn’t.”

  “Yes, well, you seem like the type to sneak down and play during the night.”

  He was thrilled when her cheeks flushed becomingly. He didn’t know how he’d guessed correctly at such a thing, but he honestly felt as if he knew her, probably better than anyone else. It was strange, but not unpleasant. He’d never had this kind of closeness with another person, and he liked it.

  “So how do you want to go about this? Should we talk about the social aspect theoretically? I’m not sure we could find a billiard table, and you don’t need instructions on how to actually play the game, do you?”

  “Instruction? No, I’ve got that handled.” He crooked his finger at her and walked down the hall. He heard her soft footsteps as she followed behind him.

  “What do you need help with then? I don’t think there’s much etiquette to discuss except don’t be a sore loser, don’t get drunk, don’t gamble more than you can afford, and perhaps, if the person you’re trying to go into business with is a poor player, let them win.”

  He scoffed. “I don’t think I want to go into business with anyone who requires I throw a game to appease him.”

  He glanced back at her and saw her lips were pursed. “I agree,” she said. When he paused outside another door, she asked, “Have you played a lot of billiards?”

  He nodded thoughtfully. “You could say that.” Then he opened the door with a flourish.

  She looked at the gorgeous billiards table in the middle of the room, then back at him and snorted. “You enjoyed that.”

  “Yes I did. I thought you’d appreciate the reveal.”

  “Very surprising.” She approached the table and ran her hands along the glossy, wooden edge. “It feels like forever since I’ve played.”

  He walked up to stand beside her. “How long has it been?”

  “Almost two years.”

  He frowned. “You’ve only been here for a little over a year. Why has it been so much longer?”

  She shrugged, and Jimmy could tell there was more to the story, but he didn’t push, as he knew doing so would never work with her. She was the type of woman who needed the choice whether to open up or not. He remained quiet, hoping she would confide in him.

  She finally blew out a breath. “My father caught me one night.”

  He hadn’t expected that answer.

  “He was furious. He said if he ever caught me doing it again, I’d regret it.”

  “That seems a bit harsh.”

  She smiled, but there was no amusement there. “You’ve summed up my father perfectly. He was disappointed that I wasn’t a boy, and since I was the only child, I felt the brunt of his dissatisfaction. Since I would never take over his businesses, I was useless to him. I became a tool for him to use, a prize to be waved in front of the people below him. His friends and employees always felt that, if they worked hard enough, I would be the reward. That they’d marry me and have a lasting bond with Elliot Morgan, Business Tycoon. That’s where they were all wrong.”

  “What happened?” he asked quietly.

  She walked over to the cues and selected one, testing its weight. “Nothing. No one ever measured up, did enough, to deserve me.” She let out another humorless laugh. “Besides, if he’d given me to someone, then he would’ve lost me as an incentive. He wouldn’t have been able to use me anymore to make others do what he wanted.”

  Jimmy didn’t know what to say. He’d never been a pawn, never felt as if he were only a means to an end. If their places have been reversed, he wasn’t sure he would’ve recovered. Sure, Violet had been closed off and abrasive when she’d first arrived in Promise Creek, but she’d changed, had opened her heart, had softened. She hadn’t let her past destroy her.

  The more he got to know her, the more she amazed him. She was a survivor. Others might not agree because she came from wealth, she’d had enough to eat, wore expensive clothes and had servants to do everything for her, but they would never see past all that and look on the inside. They wouldn’t see the scars beneath the beautiful surface. “What about your mother?”

  “There isn’t much to say. She was more of a shell than anything. The perfect ornament on my father’s arm.”

  “Didn’t she intervene for you?”

  She scoffed. “My mother, never once, went against my father. Never said anything, never did anything. But I don’t blame her. I didn’t expect her to do anything. My father is an intimidating man, not someone you’d ever want to cross. I never went against him either…at least, not until I left for Promise Creek.”

  “What did he say when you told him you were leaving?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t tell him. I left a note.”

  It took Jimmy a moment to process what she’d just said. “Do they know where you are?”

  She twisted her hand around the cue nervously. “I told him where I was going, what I was doing. They haven’t tried to contact me or anything, but I was clear in my note. As far as they’re concerned, I’m married to Ivan.”

  “You don’t want them to know the truth?”

  “I thought about telling them, but I’m not sure it’s the best thing to do. What could come of it? My father would want to use me again. They’d want me to return. I don’t think even my broken engagement would stop him.”

  He took his time selecting a cue, then casually asked, “Your ex-fiancé back in New York? How did you get engaged since your father never wanted to let you go?”

  Violet collected the balls and arranged them on the table. She glanced over her shoulder at him. “When Richard Edwards, a man from one of New York’s best families, practically royalty, took an interest in me, my father didn’t interfere. It surprised me at the time.” She shook her head softly and turned her attention back to the balls. “That should have warned me Richard wasn’t the kind of man I wanted to be involved with.”

  “Why?” Jimmy asked as he moved next to her.

  She finished arranging the balls and stepped back. When she was satisfied with the layout, she glanced at him. “Because anyone my father approves of enough to lose his prized possession to, is someone I don’t want to marry.”

  Jimmy understood. It was an irrational thought, but he wished he could go back, talk to her father, or more important, knock some sense into him. Violet’s father had no idea the treasure he had beyond what he gained by using her. He was relieved Violet had managed to escape. “I’m glad you’re away from all that. But I’m sure they miss you.”

  She puffed out a breath. “I bet they miss what I can do for them. If they were concerned over my welfare, or if they truly missed me, they would’ve come or sent someone to find me and bring me home. They haven’t bothered.”

  She was right. He couldn’t argue with that. She was acting as though it didn’t matter, but he knew she was hurt. Parents should protect their children, should try to make their lives happy. It was natural from what he’d seen here and in his own life, but perhaps it wasn’t so natural in the east. He hadn’t realized how lucky he’d been to grow up in a loving home, with a mother and a father who cared about him, who had pushed him to become the man he was now.

  “Anyway”—she flipped her hand through the air, pulling him from his thoughts—“th
at’s in the past, and I want it to stay there. Our present,” she said, as she went to the table. “Shall I start?”

  He leaned on his cue stick. “Do you know how?” he asked, teasing her.

  She raised her brows. “I guess we’ll see.”

  And just like that, they fell back into a familiar rhythm. He liked that about her. They could discuss important, heavy things, but then just as quickly, brush it off and enjoy each other’s company.

  Violet rounded the table and took position. Her grip on the cue stick wasn’t traditional, but it surged forward, cracking into the ball, which sent the others ricocheting around the table.

  She tossed him a confident look, and he chuckled. She might not have proper training, but she certainly made up for it.

  When it was Jimmy’s turn, he leaned forward, focusing his full attention on the game. He calculated the angles quickly in his mind, then slid his cue stick seamlessly through his fingers. The intended ball rolled smoothly into the corner pocket.

  “Well, I guess you really don’t need any instructions on how to play.”

  He shook his head in amusement. “I think I’ve spent far too much time with this table.”

  Violet moved to the other side, her hands trailing the wood edging, and Jimmy thought about how it would feel to have Violet’s hands running over him. Their kiss rushed to the forefront of his thoughts, and he ached to taste her again.

  She sunk another ball into a pocket, but Jimmy realized it was more because of luck than skill.

  In fact, as he watched for the next several turns, he realized she followed her instincts, instead of calculating the angles. “You know, if you had a bit of instruction, you would be masterful.”

  “I think I’m pretty good as I am.”

  He agreed when she sunk another shot in. “It’s incredible how well you play without being taught, but you’d be even better if you made a few small changes.”