Kimberly Nee - The McKenzie Brothers (22 page)

Chapter Thirty-Three

After breakfast, Drew crept up behind Heather, easing his arms about her waist and letting his lips brush over her neck. She jumped. “What brings this on?”

His lips brushing her ear. “I have a surprise for you, love.”

“A surprise?”

“Let’s find you a bonnet and your gloves and go into town, shall we?”

“What do you have up your sleeve?” she asked, turning toward him. He looked innocent enough, but she didn’t miss the faint gleam in his eyes. Yes. He was most definitely up to something.

“Ah-ah, love. You’ll not drag it from me.” He walked her toward the front staircase, then gently pushed her toward the steps. “Make yourself presentable. It’s the only way you’ll find out what I’ve got up my sleeve.”

She frowned at him. The glint in his eyes seemed brighter, sharper, and now hints of a grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. But, since he wasn’t about to tell her he was up to, why waste time trying to pry it out of him? The best remedy was to fetch what she needed for a trip into town and indulge him in his game.

She came down to find him pacing the front hallway. He stopped when he saw her and smiled. “Come with me, love. I can hardly bear the suspense.”

Her brow knitted as she slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow. “I’m almost afraid to find out what you’re all about, Drew. You’re making me nervous.”

He patted her hand as he led her out to the waiting coach, then helped her into it. “Now, now. I promise you, love, it’s a
good
surprise. A good surprise, indeed.”

She settled into the coach, sinking back into the rich burgundy velvet. Drew made himself comfortable across from her, his smile never fading.
Fidgety
was the only way to describe him, as his hands clenched, then eased, and his right leg bounced nonstop as the carriage rocked along toward Brunswick proper.

Try as she might, Heather couldn’t imagine what he might have planned that put him so on edge. No matter how many impatient sighs she let leak through her teeth, he refused to tell her where they were going or what lay in store for her when they arrived. Each time she tried to ask, he’d only shake his head and say, “You’ll have to trust me, love.”

The coach rocked to a halt and, as she went to step down, he caught and pulled her back.

“Drew, what is going on?”

His laughter was soft in her ear. “You’ll see. Patience, Heather. You need to learn patience.”

“I don’t know if I can learn it now,” she replied as he brandished a long strip of silk and folded. “What’re you doing?”

“You’ll see.” Cool silk slid smoothly over her cheek, across the bridge of her nose, and covered her eyes completely. She stared into blackness as he knotted the silk behind her head. “And no trying to peek, either.”

“Drew, what do you have up your sleeve?” It was unnerving, not being able to see anything but blackness and she fought down the instinct to reach out and grab hold of something to orient herself.

“Step forward.” He caught her by the wrist, guiding her to the carriage door — or so she assumed. Then the pit of her belly
whooshed
as she fell through blackness, only to be caught in his arms.

She couldn’t hold back a girlish giggle, linking her fingers behind his neck. She felt almost giddy as he gave her a gentle squeeze. “This had better not be a prank you are playing on me.”

“I promise you, sweetheart. It’s no prank. Trust me.”

“You say that so often I’m not so certain I should.” She sank against him, swinging her feet playfully. Despite her warning, she wasn’t really afraid of what he had in store for her. Rather, she enjoyed simply being able to play with him this way. Her devil-may-care husband to be. How incredibly blessed she was, to have Drew McKenzie come into her life.

“Oh!” A flutter streaked through her belly as he stopped and suddenly lowered her to her feet.

He eased his arms about her shoulders, pressing her back into his chest, and murmuring, “Welcome home, Heather,” as he whisked the silk from her eyes.

She blinked at the bright light stinging her eyes. The rain had stopped and it was still cloudy, but it was a bright cloudiness that temporarily blinding her. As her vision cleared, she gazed up at the cozy, two story house nestled between two towering red oaks. “Drew? What is going on?”

He grinned like a fool as he gestured to the house. “What do you think?”

“I think it’s adorable. Why?” She turned to him. “Drew?”

“It’s ours.”

“What?”

He smiled. “You heard me. It’s where we will live once we are married.”

“Ours, you say?” That giddy feeling returned. It was exactly as she’d pictured her first night in Brunswick. She hadn’t thought it possible to be happier than she already was, but she discovered how wrong she’d been.
Happy
didn’t even touch the surface of the elation she truly felt.

“Ours, love. What do you think?”

“What do I think? I think it’s wonderful.” A slow smile spread over her face as she threw her arms about his neck. “When did you do this?”

“I signed the final contracts yesterday afternoon.” He squeezed, and lifted her to meet his lips easily. “Care to see the inside?”

“I would love to.”

He set her back on her feet. “Shall we?”

Heather slipped her arm through his as they walked up the stone steps to the wide veranda. He unlocked the front door, a shimmering slab of polished golden oak with a delicate oval shaped inset of red, green, and blue stained glass, and thrust it open.

To her left was a small, square parlor. To her right, a dining room. Straight ahead, a narrow staircase led to the second floor. She ran her hand along the sleek banister, a foot paused on the bottommost step. It was beautiful. Beautiful and simple and she already felt no little pride as she looked around their home. “This is ours? Absolutely ours?”

Drew nodded. “It is. Lock, stock, and empty rooms. All it needs is furnishing. Somehow, I think you’ll have no problem doing that.”

She smiled at him over her shoulder. “Do you trust me?”

“Of course I do. Is there a reason I shouldn’t?”

She didn’t answer, but her silvery laughter echoed throughout the empty rooms as she ascended the stairs to the second floor.

Drew joined her in the largest bedroom, overlooking the front lawn. She gazed through rippled glass at the rose bushes lining the walk. She could imagine how beautiful it would look, once those roses bloomed.

“I take it you approve?”

She turned to see him leaning against the doorjamb. “It’s perfect, Drew. I love it.”

He crossed over to her, slipping his arms about her waist and kissing the top of her head. “Take a look to your left, love.”

She turned to see a narrow door. “Yes?”

“Go through it.”

She pulled away to cross to the door. Turning the knob, she opened it and poked her head into the small room on the other side.

She turned back to him, murmuring, “It would make a wonderful nursery.”

“Exactly.”

She smiled at him. He seemed truly at ease with his impending fatherhood, but would ease remain? After all, his was a wandering spirit at heart — taking to the sea when so moved. It was the first true responsibility he would be undertaking. Would fear set in? And if so, would the oceans whisper to him once again, luring him away from dry land?

A sudden sadness engulfed her. It was not so unusual these days. Her emotions ran the gamut and didn’t always make sense to her. She welled up over the silliest things lately, was more short-tempered than usual.

Still, as she stood there, looking at him, she couldn’t help but see him as other women must. He was so handsome, would always cause female heads to turn twice, would most likely always have to fend off advances. He’d never committed himself to one woman, however. What would happen once he had a wife, a child?

“What is on your mind, love?” He walked toward her.

She shook her head, trying to knock the disturbing thoughts from her brain. “I was just envisioning how it’ll look, once we’ve furnished it.”

“If you don’t like it, we can find another.”

“No, Drew. It’s fine. It’s perfect, actually.”

“So why the long face, then?”

“Just thinking, I suppose.”

He caught her face in his hands, tilting her head back to meet his steady gaze. “About what?”

The words refused to come to her, and she couldn’t force them. She shrugged. “I am thinking about how much things have changed in the past few months. It’s been a short period of time.”

“That it has.”

“And terrific changes besides,” she hedged, averting her eyes from his direct gaze.

“What is it you are trying to say, Heather?” His thumb stroked along her jaw.

“I’m not trying to say anything,” she whispered, still unable to meet his eyes.

“Look at me, Heather.” His voice brooked no argument. As her gaze finally met his, he said, “Tell me the truth. What is on your mind?”

Although they were rare, there were times when she wished she was more like her father, able to hide her thoughts no matter how troubling they were. “Are you certain this is what you want?”

“The house?” he asked quietly, stepping back from her. “Or you?”

“Both. You did not come to London to find a bride, Drew. You did not come to Coal’s to find one either.”

“No, I don’t suppose a man goes to a mistress auction in search of a wife.” He gave her his boyish grin. “But, I can’t say I’m sorry I did it, either.”

“Be that as it may — ”

“Let me tell you something, Heather. I’ll admit, the baby caught me by surprise, although, I don’t know why it should. But, I didn’t propose because of the child. I love you, Heather, and
not
just because you carry my child.

“I asked you to marry me because I can’t see anyone else by my side. You’re the last thing I think about before I go to sleep at night, and the first thing I think of when I wake each morning. I close my eyes, and there you are. I want you to be my wife, and I want us to spend the rest of our years driving each other mad.”

His words lifted her spirits, but still didn’t erase the main question from her mind. The sea had been his mistress for most of his life. Would he be able to give her up?

She took a deep breath. Better to hear the truth now, than to find out a year from now. “Are you planning to keep sailing?”

His eyes widened, but that was his only reaction. He mulled it over, scratching his cheek with one hand as he said, “I haven’t really thought about it, Heather.”

“It’s all I
can
think about.”

He shook his head. “There’s no need for you to concern yourself about, love.”

“Of course there is.” They left the nursery, and she paused to pull the door shut behind her. “There’s plenty of cause for concern.”

His expression darkened. “I see.”

She didn’t miss the tightening of his jaw, or the sudden hardness in his eyes. She’d regret her next words, but they were out of her mouth before she could stop them.

“You thought you were ready to settle down with Bridget. Then you left for Europe. You were gone for over a year. How am I to know that the urge to roam won’t strike you again?”

“The situations are nothing alike. It’s not as if I just up and decided to leave on a whim. The circumstances were much different.” A dangerous glint appeared in his eyes. His voice dropped to a low, cold growl. “I suppose, you’ll just have to trust me.”

Her stomach knotted at the anger emanating from him. Heather wished she hadn’t said anything. Not only was the pleasant mood ruined, but she’d spoiled his surprise as well. She turned away. “I’m sorry.”

“So am I, Heather. I’ve given you no reason to doubt me.”

“Tell me one thing. Would you still wish to marry me, if there was no child?”

Drew scowled, reflecting the irritation she felt. “I can’t believe you’d ask such a thing.”

“That isn’t an answer.”

He threw his hands into the air. “What do you want me to say? What is it your ears wish to hear?”

“The truth.”

“The truth, eh? Why? You seem to be determined to doubt me at every turn. And, no matter what I say or do, you cannot seem to get past Bridget.”

“She is always there. Hovering like a specter.”

“Only because
you
refuse to let her go, Heather. I’ve not brought her into conversation, unless initiated by you. I apologize for having a past, but you need let go of that past and trust the man standing before you now. He isn’t the same one.” Drew shook his head, a frustrated sigh hissing from him like steam from a boiling kettle. “I can’t say I’ll never set foot on my ship again, Heather. It’s my business, my livelihood. But, that doesn’t mean my head will be turned by the first woman I see in a port. I don’t know what else to tell you but that.”