Read Online Forever Safe (Beacons of Hope) by Jody Hedlund - Free Book Online
Authors: Jody Hedlund
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but he surely won’t attempt to harm me.”
“He may try to undermine the wedding plans.”
“Do you honestly think Samuel would try to prevent me from marrying Nathaniel?”
“Maybe.”
She was ashamed to admit the thought didn’t bother her. She lowered her eyes so that Mr. Cushman couldn’t read her thoughts and confront her again. Her sights landed upon the side table and the diamond bracelet. She wished she’d thought to put it away before Mr. Cushman came into the room.
“Nathaniel is desperate to keep you.” Mr. Cushman followed her gaze, and his meaning was all too obvious.
She gave a short laugh. “He’s a generous man. And he gives me presents almost every time we’re together.”
“Because he’s afraid he’ll lose you.”
“Because he’s sweet.” She hated that Mr. Cushman’s conclusions too closely mirrored her own, but she wouldn’t admit it to him.
Mr. Cushman shook his head. “He’s dense if he thinks he can win you through gifts.”
“Apparently among all of your other skills, you’re also the expert on how to woo a woman?”
His upper lip twitched with the beginning of a smile. “Only for a select few women.”
His words jarred her and reminded her that she wasn’t the first woman he’d protected, nor would she be the last. In fact, the final time they’d visited Arch before leaving New York, Mr. Cushman had indicated that he’d only stay until she left on her wedding trip. After that Arch would have to take over again, or they’d have to find someone else. Mr. Cushman had made it abundantly clear that he was there only temporarily and that he was past ready to move on.
She was ready too. After the wedding she wouldn’t need a bodyguard any more. Not with Nathaniel by her side day and night watching over her. Nevertheless, she still couldn’t stop from wondering what types of women Mr. Cushman had protected in the past and how she compared to them.
“So…” She toyed with the diamond bracelet, waiting for him to settle his attention on her fully before sweeping up her lashes and gazing at him with what she hoped was her most beguiling expression. “What number am I in the list of women you’ve guarded?”
“Four.” His placid expression didn’t waver. She should have known by now that Mr. Cushman was immune to womanly charms. She had no doubt he’d rebuffed many women over the years and had plenty of practice withstanding an extraordinary amount of flirting and eyelash-batting.
“And how do I compare to the other three?”
“I don’t make a practice of comparing.”
“Am I prettier?”
He didn’t respond.
She smiled. “I’ll take your silence as a yes.”
“I’m not surprised you would.”
“Oh, so you think I’m conceited?”
“Most rich people are.”
“That must mean you’re very wealthy,” she said beginning to feel testy toward him. “Because you’re extremely conceited.”
At that, he laughed. Not a mocking laugh like she was accustomed to among her circles. But a genuinely amused laugh. She couldn’t deny that she liked the sound. Really liked it. She smiled at him, took another drink of her tea, and wondered if she could figure out a way to make him laugh more often.
Before she could try, a knock sounded on the door.
Mr. Cushman’s humor immediately dissipated, and his stoicism was back in place. “It’s Nathaniel.”
“How do you know?” She’d learned not to doubt him. He was almost always right. Even so, she liked to hear how he came to his conclusions, the details he noticed that she missed.
“He’s the only one around here who owns a Stanhope gig.”
“And how do you know he’s driving his gig?”
“The vehicle I heard had one horse and two wheels.”
She smiled.
“Did I pass your test?” His brows were raised, revealing a glimmer of the previous humor.
“Yes, you passed with a perfect score.”
Mr. Cushman started toward the door. “I don’t want him to stay long.”
“And why’s that?
“He may try to undermine the wedding plans.”
“Do you honestly think Samuel would try to prevent me from marrying Nathaniel?”
“Maybe.”
She was ashamed to admit the thought didn’t bother her. She lowered her eyes so that Mr. Cushman couldn’t read her thoughts and confront her again. Her sights landed upon the side table and the diamond bracelet. She wished she’d thought to put it away before Mr. Cushman came into the room.
“Nathaniel is desperate to keep you.” Mr. Cushman followed her gaze, and his meaning was all too obvious.
She gave a short laugh. “He’s a generous man. And he gives me presents almost every time we’re together.”
“Because he’s afraid he’ll lose you.”
“Because he’s sweet.” She hated that Mr. Cushman’s conclusions too closely mirrored her own, but she wouldn’t admit it to him.
Mr. Cushman shook his head. “He’s dense if he thinks he can win you through gifts.”
“Apparently among all of your other skills, you’re also the expert on how to woo a woman?”
His upper lip twitched with the beginning of a smile. “Only for a select few women.”
His words jarred her and reminded her that she wasn’t the first woman he’d protected, nor would she be the last. In fact, the final time they’d visited Arch before leaving New York, Mr. Cushman had indicated that he’d only stay until she left on her wedding trip. After that Arch would have to take over again, or they’d have to find someone else. Mr. Cushman had made it abundantly clear that he was there only temporarily and that he was past ready to move on.
She was ready too. After the wedding she wouldn’t need a bodyguard any more. Not with Nathaniel by her side day and night watching over her. Nevertheless, she still couldn’t stop from wondering what types of women Mr. Cushman had protected in the past and how she compared to them.
“So…” She toyed with the diamond bracelet, waiting for him to settle his attention on her fully before sweeping up her lashes and gazing at him with what she hoped was her most beguiling expression. “What number am I in the list of women you’ve guarded?”
“Four.” His placid expression didn’t waver. She should have known by now that Mr. Cushman was immune to womanly charms. She had no doubt he’d rebuffed many women over the years and had plenty of practice withstanding an extraordinary amount of flirting and eyelash-batting.
“And how do I compare to the other three?”
“I don’t make a practice of comparing.”
“Am I prettier?”
He didn’t respond.
She smiled. “I’ll take your silence as a yes.”
“I’m not surprised you would.”
“Oh, so you think I’m conceited?”
“Most rich people are.”
“That must mean you’re very wealthy,” she said beginning to feel testy toward him. “Because you’re extremely conceited.”
At that, he laughed. Not a mocking laugh like she was accustomed to among her circles. But a genuinely amused laugh. She couldn’t deny that she liked the sound. Really liked it. She smiled at him, took another drink of her tea, and wondered if she could figure out a way to make him laugh more often.
Before she could try, a knock sounded on the door.
Mr. Cushman’s humor immediately dissipated, and his stoicism was back in place. “It’s Nathaniel.”
“How do you know?” She’d learned not to doubt him. He was almost always right. Even so, she liked to hear how he came to his conclusions, the details he noticed that she missed.
“He’s the only one around here who owns a Stanhope gig.”
“And how do you know he’s driving his gig?”
“The vehicle I heard had one horse and two wheels.”
She smiled.
“Did I pass your test?” His brows were raised, revealing a glimmer of the previous humor.
“Yes, you passed with a perfect score.”
Mr. Cushman started toward the door. “I don’t want him to stay long.”
“And why’s that?
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