you thinking right now?" he asked.
"That I want to believe you." As she stood there, Geneva cursed Fate for the secrets she felt compelled to keep out of love, loyalty, and self–preservation.
"You can, but I guess I’ll have to keep proving it to you until you believe me."
"That may not be possible."
"I’ll make it possible," he vowed.
Geneva didn’t say anything more. What could she say? Turning away, she walked the length of the foyer and entered the living room. Thomas followed her.
Despite the fact that she wanted to flee, Geneva remained. She transformed herself into the ultimate real estate agent, describing in detail every aspect of the spacious dwelling as they made their way from room to room.
She treated Thomas like a stranger, simultaneously corralling her emotions. Although he clearly saw through her ploy, Geneva felt grateful that he stopped badgering her. She couldn’t help wondering how long this reprieve would last, and how much longer she could conceal the truth about her past.
5
Thomas refrained from questioning her any further. He wanted her too much now to risk alienating her. Until Geneva Talmadge, he’d never met a woman he couldn’t walk away from without a moment’s regret.
A part of him resented his response to her, while another part—more instinct than logic—assured him that he would never know any real happiness without her. Having reached the age of forty relatively unscathed by affairs of the heart, he knew in his gut that he’d finally met his match. And his destiny.
Thomas also sensed the futility of questioning her about her friends, that shadowy group of men and women who resided in relative anonymity on the extensive acreage controlled by Nicholas Benteen. Close–mouthed and stubborn enough to stand her ground, Geneva obviously trusted very few people. That reality—ever present—gnawed on his nerves and his pride, but he tried to keep his frustration under wraps.
It would be easy enough for him to use his own far–reaching professional resources to investigate her past. Although biding his time frustrated him, he wanted her to discover that she could confide in him without the risk of betrayal.
He didn’t intend to give up on Geneva. He couldn’t. He wanted this woman in his life, and he promised himself that he would do everything in his power to convince her that she wasn’t some casual conquest on which he’d set his sights.
Thomas respected her loyalty to Benteen and her other friends, even envied it, but whether or not she realized it, Geneva reinforced, rather than dispelled, the rumors he’d heard since returning to Cedar Grove with her wary behavior and secretive attitude. His own past assured him that strife, crisis, and tragedy forged bonds of intense loyalty, not the mundane events of everyday life.
He had a tough time imagining this unique woman in the role of a former mercenary, despite her obvious abilities in the martial arts. And he seriously doubted that she’d ever been a player in that particular world. No. What he suspected was that she’d lived on its fringes, perhaps as some man’s lover or as the daughter of someone once closely associated with Benteen and his people.
"Thomas?"
He glanced at her, the sound of her low voice finally penetrating his thoughts. "Yes?"
"You’re a million miles away."
He shrugged, summoning a smile as he met her curious gaze. "I haven’t missed the high points."
"I hope not. Why don’t we go back down to the kitchen? There’s a survey map in the pantry that shows the boundary lines of the acreage that’s also for sale. Shall we look at it?" she signed.
He nodded. "Good idea."
He followed Geneva as she led the way down the rear staircase, across the hallway, and into the spacious kitchen at the rear of the house.
She pulled open the double doors to the pantry. Once she found the map, she spread it across the kitchen counter for his inspection.
Thomas stood beside her, the subtle fragrance
"That I want to believe you." As she stood there, Geneva cursed Fate for the secrets she felt compelled to keep out of love, loyalty, and self–preservation.
"You can, but I guess I’ll have to keep proving it to you until you believe me."
"That may not be possible."
"I’ll make it possible," he vowed.
Geneva didn’t say anything more. What could she say? Turning away, she walked the length of the foyer and entered the living room. Thomas followed her.
Despite the fact that she wanted to flee, Geneva remained. She transformed herself into the ultimate real estate agent, describing in detail every aspect of the spacious dwelling as they made their way from room to room.
She treated Thomas like a stranger, simultaneously corralling her emotions. Although he clearly saw through her ploy, Geneva felt grateful that he stopped badgering her. She couldn’t help wondering how long this reprieve would last, and how much longer she could conceal the truth about her past.
5
Thomas refrained from questioning her any further. He wanted her too much now to risk alienating her. Until Geneva Talmadge, he’d never met a woman he couldn’t walk away from without a moment’s regret.
A part of him resented his response to her, while another part—more instinct than logic—assured him that he would never know any real happiness without her. Having reached the age of forty relatively unscathed by affairs of the heart, he knew in his gut that he’d finally met his match. And his destiny.
Thomas also sensed the futility of questioning her about her friends, that shadowy group of men and women who resided in relative anonymity on the extensive acreage controlled by Nicholas Benteen. Close–mouthed and stubborn enough to stand her ground, Geneva obviously trusted very few people. That reality—ever present—gnawed on his nerves and his pride, but he tried to keep his frustration under wraps.
It would be easy enough for him to use his own far–reaching professional resources to investigate her past. Although biding his time frustrated him, he wanted her to discover that she could confide in him without the risk of betrayal.
He didn’t intend to give up on Geneva. He couldn’t. He wanted this woman in his life, and he promised himself that he would do everything in his power to convince her that she wasn’t some casual conquest on which he’d set his sights.
Thomas respected her loyalty to Benteen and her other friends, even envied it, but whether or not she realized it, Geneva reinforced, rather than dispelled, the rumors he’d heard since returning to Cedar Grove with her wary behavior and secretive attitude. His own past assured him that strife, crisis, and tragedy forged bonds of intense loyalty, not the mundane events of everyday life.
He had a tough time imagining this unique woman in the role of a former mercenary, despite her obvious abilities in the martial arts. And he seriously doubted that she’d ever been a player in that particular world. No. What he suspected was that she’d lived on its fringes, perhaps as some man’s lover or as the daughter of someone once closely associated with Benteen and his people.
"Thomas?"
He glanced at her, the sound of her low voice finally penetrating his thoughts. "Yes?"
"You’re a million miles away."
He shrugged, summoning a smile as he met her curious gaze. "I haven’t missed the high points."
"I hope not. Why don’t we go back down to the kitchen? There’s a survey map in the pantry that shows the boundary lines of the acreage that’s also for sale. Shall we look at it?" she signed.
He nodded. "Good idea."
He followed Geneva as she led the way down the rear staircase, across the hallway, and into the spacious kitchen at the rear of the house.
She pulled open the double doors to the pantry. Once she found the map, she spread it across the kitchen counter for his inspection.
Thomas stood beside her, the subtle fragrance
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