you.”
“That makes two of us.”
“Will you please turn around? I don’t like talking to your back.” She made the request softly, confused by his mood. She’d never known Paul to be so short-tempered and illogical.
“If you don’t mind, I’m busy.”
Caroline blinked. She replayed the conversation with Tanana, and a heaviness settled on her shoulders. She loved Paul and yearned to have his child, but instead of growing together they seemed to be drifting apart. Sudden tears misted her eyes. She’d thought that once she acknowledged she was in love with him everything would be perfect. Instead, it had gotten worse—much worse.
Paul tossed his sweater on the bed. “Good grief, don’t tell me you’re crying! One day you’re hurling saltshakers at me and the next you’re weeping because I tell you to hurry and get ready for a party you’ve been working on all day.”
Her eyes widened with determination to hold back the tears. “I’m not crying. That’s ridiculous. Why should I be crying?”
He threw up his hands. “Who knows? I’ve given up trying to understand you.”
—
The party was a grand success. The meeting hall was filled to the rafters with friends and loved ones from nearby communities. The dinner proved to be delicious and Caroline received rave reviews for her apple pies and decorating efforts. Although she smiled and made all the appropriate responses, she couldn’t seem to get into the party mood.
When the tables were cleared and the dancing began, Caroline saw how Paul seemed to dance with every woman in the room but her. Not that Caroline was given much time to notice. One partner after another claimed her hand for a turn around the floor. After an hour, she pleaded exhaustion and sat down, fanning her flushed face with one hand.
To her surprise, Paul joined her, sitting in the chair beside hers. His lips were pinched, his face grim. “I imagine you’re pleased to have every man for a hundred miles panting after you.”
Caroline’s mouth fell open at the unjust accusation. Quickly she composed herself, stiffening her back. “I’m going to forgive you for that remark, Paul Trevor, because you owe me one. But from here on we’re even.” She stood up and purposely walked away from him. Her eyes clouded by confusion, she nearly stumbled into Walter and, glancing up at him, hurriedly stammered an apology.
“Didn’t you promise me this dance?” Walter said.
Still unable to find her tongue, Caroline nodded.
Studying her, the older man guided her onto the dance floor. A waltz was playing and Caroline slipped one arm around his neck and placed her hand in his.
“All right, girl, tell me—what’s made you so unhappy?”
Caroline’s mouth formed a poor excuse for a smile. “Paul. I don’t know how any man can be so stupid.”
“He’s blinded by his love for you.”
“I sincerely doubt that’s it.” Caroline looked directly into Walter’s face. “I have the feeling he’s ready to ship me back to Seattle.” There’d been a time when she’d prayed for exactly that, but now her heart ached at the mere thought of leaving him.
Standing by the punch bowl, Paul watched her. Caroline could feel his dark gaze on her back. With every passing minute, his eyes grew darker and more angry.
Walter chuckled. “Paul would rather cut off his arm than send you away. Have you told him you love him?”
Caroline’s shocked gaze clashed with the man’s wise old eyes. “No.”
“Then do it, and soon, before he makes an even bigger fool of himself.”
When the dance ended, Walter delivered her to Paul’s side and quietly left them. Caroline and Paul stood glaring at each other until the music started.
“Shall we?” Caroline asked, glancing toward the crowded floor.
“Why not? You’ve seen fit to dance with every other male here tonight.”
“Paul,” she whispered. “Are you jealous?”
He didn’t answer her, but she saw that his face was as grim as she’d
“That makes two of us.”
“Will you please turn around? I don’t like talking to your back.” She made the request softly, confused by his mood. She’d never known Paul to be so short-tempered and illogical.
“If you don’t mind, I’m busy.”
Caroline blinked. She replayed the conversation with Tanana, and a heaviness settled on her shoulders. She loved Paul and yearned to have his child, but instead of growing together they seemed to be drifting apart. Sudden tears misted her eyes. She’d thought that once she acknowledged she was in love with him everything would be perfect. Instead, it had gotten worse—much worse.
Paul tossed his sweater on the bed. “Good grief, don’t tell me you’re crying! One day you’re hurling saltshakers at me and the next you’re weeping because I tell you to hurry and get ready for a party you’ve been working on all day.”
Her eyes widened with determination to hold back the tears. “I’m not crying. That’s ridiculous. Why should I be crying?”
He threw up his hands. “Who knows? I’ve given up trying to understand you.”
—
The party was a grand success. The meeting hall was filled to the rafters with friends and loved ones from nearby communities. The dinner proved to be delicious and Caroline received rave reviews for her apple pies and decorating efforts. Although she smiled and made all the appropriate responses, she couldn’t seem to get into the party mood.
When the tables were cleared and the dancing began, Caroline saw how Paul seemed to dance with every woman in the room but her. Not that Caroline was given much time to notice. One partner after another claimed her hand for a turn around the floor. After an hour, she pleaded exhaustion and sat down, fanning her flushed face with one hand.
To her surprise, Paul joined her, sitting in the chair beside hers. His lips were pinched, his face grim. “I imagine you’re pleased to have every man for a hundred miles panting after you.”
Caroline’s mouth fell open at the unjust accusation. Quickly she composed herself, stiffening her back. “I’m going to forgive you for that remark, Paul Trevor, because you owe me one. But from here on we’re even.” She stood up and purposely walked away from him. Her eyes clouded by confusion, she nearly stumbled into Walter and, glancing up at him, hurriedly stammered an apology.
“Didn’t you promise me this dance?” Walter said.
Still unable to find her tongue, Caroline nodded.
Studying her, the older man guided her onto the dance floor. A waltz was playing and Caroline slipped one arm around his neck and placed her hand in his.
“All right, girl, tell me—what’s made you so unhappy?”
Caroline’s mouth formed a poor excuse for a smile. “Paul. I don’t know how any man can be so stupid.”
“He’s blinded by his love for you.”
“I sincerely doubt that’s it.” Caroline looked directly into Walter’s face. “I have the feeling he’s ready to ship me back to Seattle.” There’d been a time when she’d prayed for exactly that, but now her heart ached at the mere thought of leaving him.
Standing by the punch bowl, Paul watched her. Caroline could feel his dark gaze on her back. With every passing minute, his eyes grew darker and more angry.
Walter chuckled. “Paul would rather cut off his arm than send you away. Have you told him you love him?”
Caroline’s shocked gaze clashed with the man’s wise old eyes. “No.”
“Then do it, and soon, before he makes an even bigger fool of himself.”
When the dance ended, Walter delivered her to Paul’s side and quietly left them. Caroline and Paul stood glaring at each other until the music started.
“Shall we?” Caroline asked, glancing toward the crowded floor.
“Why not? You’ve seen fit to dance with every other male here tonight.”
“Paul,” she whispered. “Are you jealous?”
He didn’t answer her, but she saw that his face was as grim as she’d
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