Love Beyond Reason(10)
At the lavish wedding reception he insulted Katherine with another pass. Mary was chattering gaily to some of the Mannings' friends when Peter sauntered over to his new sister-in-law. She was making herself as invisible as possible amid potted plants and baskets of flowers.
"Sister Kate, how lovely you look in your bridal frock." She hated that cooing voice and had learned to dread it. He had adopted the nickname for her after she rejected his first advance. It rankled her every time he used it, but she would never have given him the satisfaction of letting her anger show.
He took possession of her hands and kissed her coolly on the cheek. She jumped back in mortification when she felt his warm tongue poke through his lips and lightly brush her cheek. His back was turned to the room full of wedding guests, so no one had seen what he did. The embrace appeared to be a filial kiss between new in-laws.
She glared at him through slitted green eyes, but he only smiled at her sardonically, his lip curled into a smirk which marred the perfection of his regular features.
"You're unspeakably vile," she said.
"Tsk, tsk, sister Kate. Is that any way to talk to your dear brother?"
Justifiably she had hated Peter Manning.
"Yes, Mr. Jason Manning is running true to form and upholding the family traditions," Katherine said to her image as she misted herself with cologne. Katherine critically scrutinized her gown and was pleased with what she saw. At the last moment she had decided to pack it when she left Denver. "I couldn't have afforded another one," she muttered ruefully. She had splurged on the expensive dress for a pre-wedding party at the Manning estate. It made a large dent in her budget, but it was worth it. The style was classic and would be in fashion for a while yet.
The sea-green georgette crepe draped close to her body and hung in soft folds at her feet. In a Grecian style, one shoulder was left bare while, on the other, the fabric was gathered into a graceful knot.
The dress accented her slender figure and clung to her gentle curves. The color flattered her summer's tan and brought out the highlights of her green eyes. Katherine was uncon- scious of how beautiful she looked in the dress. But she felt an added streak of confidence when she wore it.
She dropped her earring when she heard the knock on the door. Making one hasty last inspection, she retrieved the pearl cluster, inserted it into her pierced ear, secured the back, and went through the living room to answer Jace's knock.
Earlier in the day she had cleaned up the painting mess and moved the chest of drawers to the other bedroom. The living room was softly lit by shaded table lamps. Katherine hated overhead lights and glaring bulbs.
She opened the door and involuntarily caught her breath at the sight of Jace in his dark gray suit. From the distinctive buttons, she knew that it sported a designer label, and the European cut fit his physique perfectly.
His shirt was pale blue silk and his necktie a deeper shade of the same color. The wavy black hair had been brushed but still looked a trifle untamed. It shone with iridescent highlights.
He whistled long and low as he came through the door. "Wow! Can this be the same Widow Adams that I met this afternoon?"
"Come in, Mr. Manning." She hadn't missed his sarcasm. These games must stop if she were ever going to gain control. "Why are you doing this?" she asked in desperation.
"What?"
"This!" she cried, spreading her arms wide with palms up to encompass the whole situation. "Why are you being so pleasant and prolonging the inevitable confrontation? We both know why you're here, so I wish you'd drop this protective brother-in law routine."
He smiled but chided her softly. "Remember who made up that ridiculous brother-in-law story, Katherine. Not I. I saved your skin today. You should be thanking me. Besides all that, I am your brother-in-law."
"Oh!" she ground out, clenching her fists at her sides. When she saw that he was not to be provoked, it angered her even more. "Don't do this!" she shouted.
A spark of annoyance flickered across his face and he put both hands on his hips. "Look, all I'm here for is to take you to this dance, or whatever the hell it is. Is that so dastardly? Believe me, Katherine, I can think of several other ways I'd rather spend an evening with you." He fixed her with a warm blue stare and added suggestively, "Shall I elaborate?"
For a moment, she was lost in the depths of his eyes, but she managed to answer hoarsely, "No. Let's just get this over with. I'll get Allison."
She went into the baby's room and was surprised when he followed her. "Here, I'll carry her." He leaned toward the crib and reached for the baby.
"No," she said in a panic and grabbed his arm, drawing it away from Allison.
The face turned on her was angry, but softened when he saw the genuine fear in her eyes. "I'm not going to run off with her, Katherine. That's not my style." Was that a censure for her leaving Denver with Allison? "I just wanted to carry her for you so she wouldn't wrinkle your dress. Okay?"
She licked her lips, ashamed of her outburst, and began gathering disposable diapers and putting them in a tote bag. "Okay," she conceded.
Jace gently turned the baby over onto her back and studied the pink, round face. He chuckled. "Say, you'll be a real beauty some day, Allison." His large hands were amazingly competent and gentle as he wrapped her in a light blanket and picked her up. He held her correctly, supporting her head in one of his palms. "She looks like—"