Ana Leigh - [The Frasers 4 - Jed] - One Night with a Sweet Talking Man Read Online Free PDF Page A

doesn’t mean the man intended to harm the boy. Under the circumstances, the dog might have been more of a threat to the stranger than the man was to Garrett.”
    Nathan shook his head. “What would a stranger be doing on the property?”
    “Perhaps he was one of the lumberjacks.”
    “Garrett knows every one of them by sight and name, and since the next harvest isn’t until fall, I only keep a couple of sawyers on hand during the summer.”
    “A mill worker, then?”
    “The same is true. Garrett knows every one of them, and they all know him.”
    “Then the man may have been a lost traveler, or a railroad surveyor looking the place over.”
    “I wish I had your optimism, Jed.” Nathan stood up. “It’s time I get to bed, or I’ll find myself blubbering in my brandy. Good night, Jed. We’ll visit the mill in the morning.”
    “Good night, Captain Collins.”
    Long after Nathan departed, Jed stood with his glass in hand and stared out the window, where moonlight bathed the garden with tranquility.
    Were the captain’s fears justified? Had Garrett actually been in danger? Well, there was no way he’d walk away from it now without checking into it.
    He took a final sip of the brandy, then went upstairs to bed.
     
    The following morning Jed awoke early as usual, dressed, and went downstairs. Stepping out into bright sunshine and the promise of a pleasant day, he took a deep breath. The sweet aroma of roses and gardenias made him think of Caroline.
    “All right, Mr. Fraser, fifteen times around the deck,” he declared, in keeping with his morning ritual of walking a country mile when he was at sea.
    When he returned, Caroline was just descending the stairway. “Good morning, Jed.”
    She was wearing a yellow-and-white dress and her bright, shiny hair was tied back with a white ribbon. The faint fragrance of lavender followed as she passed him.
    “Good morning, Caroline. You look as pretty and pert as one of the daisies in the garden.”
    “I declare, sir, if you don’t stop flattering me, you’re going to turn my head. Did you sleep well?”
    “Very well, thank you. And you?”
    “I can’t remember when I had a better night’s sleep. It must be the peace of mind at having a big, handsome man in the house.”
    “I had the impression you disliked men in general, Caroline.”
    Her eyes widened with astonishment. “Perish the thought, sir. Wherever would you get such an idea?”
    He followed her into the kitchen. “Then it must be just men from Virginia that repulse you.”
    “I declare, Jed Fraser, you’re painting a bleak picture of me. Do I really appear that dismal to you?” she asked as she rolled out the dough she had mixed and using a glass, began to cut it into biscuits.
    “On the contrary, you’re a very vibrant woman.”
    “There you go again with your sweet talk. I declare, Jed Fraser, you’re embarrassing me.”
    “Caroline, how long are you going to keep on playing a…ah…” He struggled for a word that would not be too offensive.
    “Brainless twit?” she volunteered.
    For a few moments he was speechless, then they both broke into laughter.
    She turned away and popped the pan into the oven, and when she turned back, Jed had moved to her side. The heat of his body was as warm as the oven as he clasped her shoulders and pulled her nearer.
    “Why, Caroline? Why this sudden change of heart?”
    The throatiness in his voice and the intensity of his dark-eyed stare added fuel to the heat sweeping through her.
    “I’m ashamed of how rude I’ve been to you, and I thought if I…if I—Oh, it was stupid of me, I know.”
    “It was delightful, and I enjoyed every minute of it. But there’s a much more pleasant way of saying you’re sorry.” Gazing at her lips, he lowered his head toward hers.
    Her heart beating faster. Caroline closed her eyes and parted her lips. But before he could kiss her, the kitchen door swung open and Garrett burst into the room, followed by