American Pie by Maggie Osborne Page B

healthy bronze, imparting a golden tone to the eyes that moved eagerly over her face. He seemed taller than she recalled and had his shoulders always been so broad? His teeth so white? Longing overcame her as she forced herself to step backward, her mouth suddenly dry.
    "What a nice surprise to run into you," he said in a deep voice that dispatched tiny shivers down her spine, that made her think of music and honey.
    Lucie couldn't have spoken a word if the world depended on it. Her reticule trembled in her fingers, and a peculiar tightness spread through her body. Hastily she lowered her eyes from his wide mouth.
    "Should you be walking alone at night? May I walk with you?"
    Lucie clasped her gloved hands tightly in front of her skirts. "Stefan would be very angry," she whispered, the words scarcely audible.
    "I know." He smiled down at her. "Every Saturday night as we lock our tools in the shed, I request your brother's permission to call on you."
    "You do?" She hadn't known. As Stefan had said nothing she had assumed Jamie Kelly had accepted her brother's decision.
    "And every Saturday night he refuses and threatens to pulverize me if I ask again."
    His grin teased a shy smile from her lips. "You don't look pulverized," she commented in a low voice. Because being with him made her nervous, she edged backward a step. "I don't think"
    He fell into step beside her. "Stubbornness aside, I truly don't believe Stefan seeks another fight. Although if that's what it takes, I'm willing to have another round."
    Lucie darted a blushing look at him from beneath the brim of her straw boater. He was so handsome he took her breath away. "Please don't fight again, Mr. Kelly." She didn't think Stefan would suddenly appear but the possibility worried her. "You must know Stefan would be very angry if he knew we were walking together." Guilt attacked her pleasure in seeing him and actually speaking to him.
    Stopping, Jamie touched her shoulders, forcing her to look at him directly. A shock of warmth burned under his finger-tips, scalding through her sleeves and into the skin beneath. Her heart lurched and pounded wildly.
    "Luciemay I call you Lucie?the truth is, running into you was no accident." He drew a long breath. "I know I shouldn't seek you out, and I deeply regret any distress my presence may cause you." His dark eyes peered into hers. "I also know it isn't proper to say this, but I can't forget you. I think of you constantly and I'd like to know you. If my interest is objectionable, if you find me offensive, you have only to nod and I won't bother you or your brother again." She stared into his eyes as the lovely rolled r s caressed her ear. "Lucie?" he inquired softly. "Shall I leave you?"
    She closed her eyes and swallowed, scarcely able to think past the thrilling touch of his hands framing her shoulders. The warmth of his fingertips radiated through her body and erupted in an inner earthquake. "No," she answered in a strangled whisper, staring at his mouth and wondering how it was possible for such a light touch to cause such turmoil. It was almost a relief when he dropped his arms. Almost.
    "Praise the saints! I was so afraid you would send me away, or that you didn't feel"
    "I feel terrible about defying Stefan," she said, guilt and distress darkening her eyes. "I hate deceiving him. But"
    The trailing sentences spoke volumes to them both. "When you stopped coming to the site, I was so worried," Jamie confessed, his gaze shamelessly caressing her lips, her eyes, the heavy coil of chestnut hair. "I wondered where you were and what you were doing, and if you ever spared a small thought for me."
    "I do think about you," she confessed in a voice so low he had to lean forward to hear. His nearness increased the pleasant barbershop smell of bay rum and Madagascar hair oil. A tiny shiver traced down Lucie's spine and she hastily resumed walking, resisting the urge to press her gloves to the fiery heat in her cheeks. She drew a deep