A Convenient Proposal(41)
“That’s harsh.”
“That’s truth, Griff. Independence comes with a price, usually a painful one.” She turned toward the cottage. “Now I’m freezing and I’m going inside.”
He followed her. “You sound like you’ve had experience.”
“Yes.” When she tried to close the door, he slipped past her and shut it behind him. She glared up in exasperation. “What are you doing?”
“I want to hear about your declaration of independence.”
“The details aren’t important.”
“To me they are. What happened?”
“I told you this morning. I broke off my engagement.”
He thought for a moment. “Because you discovered him with your mother. From whom you are now estranged. So you broke up with her, as well. You kicked them both out of your life?”
“I couldn’t live with either of them.”
“And you went to Chaos Key. Alone.”
“Yes. Until Igor.”
She looked so forlorn, he couldn’t resist putting his arms around her. And he breathed a sigh of relief when she didn’t resist.
“You’re a strong lady, Arden Burke.” He stroked his fingers lightly through her hair. “And you’re right. The decisions I make don’t have to meet parental expectations.” Lifting her chin, he kissed her delectable lips. “I demonstrated that this afternoon, I believe.”
She smiled against his mouth. “Definitely a rally for independence.”
The magic between them flared again and Griff could easily have surrendered to the flow. A whole night in bed with Arden, a chance to drift into sleep and then wake with her warm body against his…
“I have to clean up the kitchen.” He kissed her cheeks, nose and forehead. “You can get a good night’s sleep.”
“Not what I wanted,” she complained, with her arms locked around his neck.
“Me, neither. But I offered.”
“You talk too much,” she told him, opening the door to the wind.
One last kiss and he walked out into the cold. “I know.”
THE MORNING DAWNED WET as well as cold. Arden awakened early after another deep sleep, and had just poured herself a second cup of tea when the phone rang.
“Lousy weather for a horseback ride.” Griff’s voice carried an early morning growl. “So I suggested to Dad that I come to work today and take Friday off for our ride. What do you think?”
Her first thought was panic—what would she do for a whole day without him?
Sanity returned with the thought that she’d only known him four days altogether. “That sounds like a good plan. Enjoy your first day back.”
“I’ll do my best.”
As the morning progressed, Arden couldn’t deny the relief of being by herself again, not having to consider someone else’s opinion on what she ate for breakfast or what to do afterward. A long bubble bath and a conditioning treatment for her hair consumed several hours, along with a romance novel by a favorite author she found in the shelf-lined room designed as a library.
Coming out of the bathroom after the last hair rinse, she heard the answering machine switch on.
“Hey, Arden, this is Kathy. Um, Kathy Burton. Griff’s sister. Anyway, since he went to work today, Dana and Lauren and I thought maybe you’d like to do some shopping this afternoon. There’s the cocktail party on Friday and the dinner dance on Saturday, and I don’t know about you but I don’t have a stitch to wear. We thought we’d meet at Pirouette for lunch at one. Call me and I’ll come pick you up.”
Shopping with the sisters. Of all the events she’d encountered so far in Griff’s hometown, this, at least, she was prepared for.
When a vintage red Volkswagen Bug stopped in front of the cottage at twelve-thirty, Arden ran through icy rain to get inside.
“Not quite our usual winter weather.” Kathy smoothly shifted gears as they chugged along the highway toward town. “I’m glad you had a chance to see Sheridan in the sunshine first.”
Arden had stopped wondering how everyone knew everything about her day with Griff. “I enjoyed the tour very much, especially the park. I—” She almost said “I wish” but managed to catch herself. “I want to see it in summertime, with all the flowers blooming.”
Kathy winked at her. “The way I heard it, you and Griff weren’t spending your time there observing the scenery.” Everyone knew everything. “Do you live in town,” Arden asked, “or near your parents?”