A Rose in No-Man's Land Read Online Free PDF Page A

Would he kiss her? Excitement skidded along her nerve endings. She waited for a kiss that never came.
    “Let’s go,” he said huskily, putting a couple of paces between them.
    The stables, built out of honey-colored stone blocks, had green painted woodwork. She waved to Jacky, one of Uncle Frederick’s grooms, as they entered. There were several stalls and loose-boxes. The smell of fresh hay and horses still had the power to excite her.
    Mark strolled over to the second stall and whistled softly to the coal black stallion Uncle Frederick always rode.
    “What a splendid fellow you are.”
    His voice, a soft caress, created a strange sensation in Amy’s heart. Were these the tones he used when making love to a woman? Heat flooded her cheeks at such shocking, wanton thoughts.
    “Uncle Frederick calls him Midnight.”
    “Appropriate.”
    “Guy would let you take him for a ride if you thought you could handle him.”
    “I’ve spent time in the cavalry. I could handle you, couldn’t I, my beauty?”
    Midnight, who normally hated everyone except Uncle Frederick and Jacky, meekly accepted Mark’s caresses.
    Amy stepped closer, marveling at the gentleness of Mark’s powerful hands as he patted Midnight’s neck in long, slow strokes.
    Mesmerized, she didn’t see his hand move but felt a quick tug on the ribbon securing her hair, letting it cascade over her shoulders.
    “Gossamer fine.” He dribbled the strands through his fingers. “Smells like roses.” He bunched it together. “I’ve never seen such a color before. Why are you so lovely?”
    Giving a strangled groan, he swung her around to face him. His lips fastened on hers, caressing, suckling, drawing her lower lip gently into his mouth to taste her more fully. Desire seared white hot through every fiber of her being. She had never felt such a raw, powerful surge before.
    “Enough.” He pushed her to one side. “What the hell are you doing to me? I haven’t lost my head like this in years.” The words came out in short, labored pants.
    She put out a hand to touch him, but he stiffened away.
    “Please forgive my caddish behavior, and be assured, it won’t happen again.”
    “I didn’t think it was caddish,” she whispered shakily.
    He swung around and strode off.
    Amy forced herself to follow a few paces behind him until they made it to the house.
    Back in the parlor, they met up with a grinning Guy. Sophie’s eyes shone, her cheeks tinged with pink, as she sat on the couch with her hand resting on Guy’s knee.
    “You’re back.” Sophie smiled.
    “Yes. You’ve got a fine stable, Guy. Amy tells me you wouldn’t object if I took Midnight for a ride.”
    “Choose any mount you want. I prefer a quieter steed myself.” He grinned good-naturedly. “You need strong arms for Midnight. Father and Jacky are the only ones who can handle him around here. Say, are you all right, Smithy? You look strange.”
    “You’re imagining things. I’ve never been better,” Amy answered, giving a high-pitched, brittle laugh. “Will we start dinner, Soph?”
    “Yes, but I can do it. You must be tired after your journey.”
    “No, just anxious for some home cooking.”
    Amy couldn’t wait to leave the parlor. Concentrating on dinner preparations might give her time to recover from the turmoil of Mark’s kiss and his behavior afterwards.
    The cheerful kitchen sported red-and-white-checked curtains at the windows. A large bread oven took up almost the whole of one wall. When Uncle Frederick was home they ate in the dining room but in his absence sat around the scrubbed pine table in the kitchen.
    “We could go for a picnic tomorrow,” Sophie suggested. “The men could ride, and we could go in the jinker.”
    “Sounds lovely.” Amy much preferred riding, but Sophie didn’t like horses. “I’ll make some scones,” she volunteered. “They’re one of the few things I can cook well.”
    She rolled up her sleeves and sorted through the ingredients. Envy