| He had said he wouldn�t push her, but a whole week had passed and Moire�s face haunted him day and night. And then there she was standing at the rail and it was as if his prayers had been answered. When she leaned back against him he had to curtail his hands from caressing her. He thought just seeing her would be enough, but the touch of her body on his urged him to suggest their rendezvous. The memory of their kiss on the porch only fueled his desire to taste her again and it was just as he remembered. They had separated at the paddock entrance with Brian not knowing when he would see her again. So when he answered the phone two days later he knew his impulse had not been in vain. Brian�s kiss awakened feelings Moire has been suppressing for weeks. She had tried to keep them at bay, but the touch of his lips and his arms around her brought them all to the surface. Confused and aching for his kiss Moire spent two days trying to rationalize the state he had put her in. But her heart wouldn�t let her logic win out. She bit her bottom lip as she picked up the phone at the nurses� station and placed the call. They entered the front door of the small caf� and Moire�s eyes darted around the small room. She turned to Kathy and a frown crept across her face. Kathy grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze of encouragement. "Miss?" a young waitress addressed Moire, "follow me." She furrowed her brow but Kathy coaxed her, so she followed the young girl to the back of the dining room to a corner booth. There sat Brian and when he saw her Moire felt her insides melt as his smile caressed her. Upon seeing Kathy though, his face clouded and Kathy detected a hint of disappointment. "See you tomorrow, Moire," she squeezed her arm again and left. Moire slipped into the booth. Her heart beating to the music being pumped through the overhead speakers. "She didn�t have," Moire touched Brian�s arm causing him to stop mid sentence. "It�s okay. She was my decoy." His eyes registered understanding and he took Moire�s hands in his. How they were going to pursue this relationship without her father�s knowledge and approval was still a mystery to him. This wasn�t enough. There was no way he could sit here and not be able to touch her, taste her. He stood up and pulled on her arm. "Brian?" Moire tugged at him as her hand slipped from his. "Let�s go back to the farm. I know you think we need a public place, but Moire, I want to hold you and I can�t do it here." He held out his hand again, but she lowered her hands in her lap and dropped her gaze. He slid back into the booth. "Daddy�s having me followed. Walker was sitting in his truck when Kathy and I came in. There is no way I can walk out of here with you without my father knowing about it." The waitress came to their table, but Brian shook his head and she walked away. "So we�ll go out the back," he pleaded with her. "I�m not afraid of him, Moire." "I know you�re not. Brian, we need to talk." "I know. But we can�t here." He held out his hand. He was right, they needed a quiet place where no one would disturb them. "Okay." Moire slid her hand across the table and linked her fingers with Brian�s. He called the waitress over and a few minutes later they slipped out the back door while the young girl distracted Walker. They stopped at the hospital and Moire got her car and followed Brian out to the farm. Walker glanced back at the table and slammed his beer on the bar. Damn, he muttered under his breath. She was gone and that blonde nurse friend of hers was no where to be found either. He went out the front door but the street was empty. He got in his truck and drove back to the hospital, but Moire�s car was gone too. Fitzgerald wouldn�t be happy about this as he called his boss. Colin was standing out in front of the house when Walker pulled up. "What the hell happened? You swore to me that you would tail her." "I�m sorry boss." "Sorry? That�s not good enough." Colin paced back and forth. He knew where she had gone it was obvious. Well this time he would let that arrogant, no-account scoundrel see his full ire. He took the keys out of Walker�s hand and got in the truck. There was no way he was going to let his daughter be manhandled by the likes of some wanna be horse breeder. ~*~*~*~*~ Moire pulled her car around the back of the house. It felt like ages since she had been here. Brian opened the door and she took his hand. He let his fingers trail along her cheek and that familiar fluttering started all over again. Before she could say anything his mouth was on hers and this time she circled her arms around his neck as his lips sucked on hers. A soft groan escaped her as Moire savored the full breadth of the kiss. Brian pulled her against him and she could feel the extent of his desire. She had been kissed many times but never had it caused her insides to churn and quiver. Moire slowly pulled away, longing for more but knowing she needed to stop before she lost all rational thought. "I had hoped it would be different." Her small chuckle filled the air. She turned and walked down to the large pin oak. "Different?" Brian followed her, a bit confused by her comment. "You were disappointed?" She turned and saw the querulous expression on his face. She ran her hand along his jaw. It was so strong, angular. "No, I wasn�t disappointed. All weekend I relived the kiss we shared in the barn. Each time I did it was as if I was actually receiving it all over again. It was so real. And as I tried to be sensible about it and make myself see that it couldn�t have been so perfect, you just proved it could be." There would be no going back now. She had admitted she liked what they had shared and she wanted more. Brian took a step closer and put his arms around her waist. This time his lips brushed hers lightly and even though the intensity wasn�t there, Moire�s heart pulsed rapidly. "I thought the same thing, but it was just as I remembered." "I don�t want to hurt him Brian." "I know." She rested her head on his chest as he held her close and let out a sigh. She felt safe in Brian�s arms even though being here would only antagonize her father. �Come with me.� He lifted her chin. Moire blinked back the tears threatening to fall. Taking her hand Brian led her down to the barns. They walked through to the back paddock. Brian whistled and the colt�s ears perked up and he came to the fence. �Oh, Brian, it�s the foal.� He had grown in the few weeks since Moire had seen him. �He�s beautiful.� She ran her hand along his nose and at the sound of Moire�s voice the he whinnied. �He remembers you.� Moire smiled. �She�s a hard one to forget isn�t she boy.� Her cheeks burned at Brian�s comment and she slowly lifted her eyes to see him peering at her. �We both missed having you here.� �I missed it too.� At the sound of Crimson Love, the foal scampered off. She nuzzled her young and Moire thought how simple it was for these beautiful animals. They were fed, groomed and exercised daily. Their wants and needs were taken care of without any worry. �I found an apartment.� The words just spilled from her mouth and took Brian by surprise. �Oh?� �I told my father I was going to move out, but I still haven�t decided. I know it�s time for me to leave the nest and I can�t live with him tracking my every move, but to leave him alone in that big house, it would be like abandoning him.� She watched the mare and her young as they grazed along the far fence. �It�s a big step, living on your own.� Moire detected a hint of sarcasm. �Oh, I know what you�re thinking. How will the pampered daughter of Colin Fitzgerald survive.� Brian went to protest, but she kept on. �I�ve thought about it too. I�ve never held down a paying job. I mean I work at the hospital, but it�s a volunteer position. I�m a pseudo teacher and I have no other skills. Of course I have the trust fund from my mother and it would be enough to support me, but not forever. I would have to get some kind of job.� �Trust fund? I thought your mother came from humble beginnings?� �She did. But grandfather was very resourceful. He was hired as a groom but eventually became an assistant trainer. He played the ponies; always keeping his eyes and ears open. When he died he left my mother a sizable estate. But mom had no need for it by then since she was already married, so it was placed in trust for me.� Brian just nodded. �So you see I have money in my own right.� �What every man wants to hear.� Brian walked along the fence totally taken back by her revelation. Moire was a very wealthy woman. Whatever he felt towards her was now overshadowed by the fact that he was so very middle class. �Hey,� Moire walked after him and took his arm. �What�s wrong?� Brian shook his head and pursed his lips. �Who am I kidding here. I can�t compete. I feel like the mom and pop corner store trying to stay in business while the large grocery chain strangles my business. I don�t stand a chance.� He continued to walk along the fence. �Why?� He glared at her. �The money?� Brian raised his eyebrows. �What good has it done us Brian? I lost my mother and my father is half dead.� They came to the end of the paddock and a large pin oak spread it�s shade over the pasture. Moire sat down at the base of the tree. When she patted the space next to her Brian joined her. �You have no idea what it was like.� She pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around her legs staring out at the wide expanse of bluegrass. �It was a fairytale that went bad. Daddy was so different. There wasn�t anything he wouldn�t do for my mother. He doted on her. And they loved. It was just as Bobby said. Their faces would reflect such joy when the other walked into a room and that love spilled over to me.� Brian listened and watched as Moire was transported back in time. �I remember the nights that the music filtered up from the terrace to my bedroom. You could hear the laughter and the whispers, as they would dance for hours. And once I remember peeking out and seeing my father scoop my mother into his arms and carry her inside. But then she got sick and our lives changed. Daddy hired the best doctors and nurses but it wasn�t enough. My mother got weaker and weaker and he tried his best to keep things normal, but I knew the paradise we had shared would never return. And when she died, a part of him did too. He buried himself in his work and he even shut me out. He hired a highly recommended governess, sent me to the best schools, gave me extravagant gifts, but he just couldn�t give himself any more. All I want is his unconditional love, like my mother did, but his heart is like stone now.� �He suffered a great loss, Moire.� �I know he did Brian. But I did too! I didn�t stop loving him, so why can�t he still love me.� �I�m sure he does, even if he doesn�t show it any more.� �If his way of loving me is having me followed, that�s a poor expression of love.� She went to stand, but Brian restrained her. �I�m sorry, I didn�t mean to get carried away. I have a strange habit of doing that when I�m around you.� �I won�t betray your trust Moire,� his palm caressed her cheek as his thumb wiped a lone tear. �The last thing I want to do is hurt you.� His eyes held hers as she yearned to feel his lips again. �I only want to,� the words hung in the air as his lips touched hers, lightly at first and then with more pressure. Moire moaned as he deepened the kiss letting his tongue trace the outline of her lips. She felt sure her heart would burst from her chest as they kissed. He eased her back onto the ground and Moire clung to him as her body surrendered to the full power of his kiss. �Ah hem, excuse me, Brian,� he slowly pulled away and eased off Moire to see Jake standing a few feet away. Brian held his hand out to Moire and helped her sit up. Upon seeing Jake she put her hands to her mouth. She felt her cheeks grow warm and lowered her head. �What is it Jake,� Brian stood, running his hand through his hair. �I�m sorry, Brian. We looked all over and couldn�t find you until someone at the barn said they saw you come this way.� Jake glanced at Moire. �I�m sorry Miss.� Moire just nodded and Brian helped her up. She brushed off her clothes and walked a few feet away to give them some privacy. �Well,� Jake saw his agitation but he had to be told. �Matt was on his way back from town when he noticed,� he eyes veered off in Moire�s direction. She turned to see him look at her and Jake averted his eyes. �He noticed what?� �Fitzgerald was pulling out of the drive,� he leaned close to Brian so as to not let Moire hear. But as she stood against the tree and watched, she knew whatever it was it concerned her. �What is it Brian.� She asked as she approached the two men. �I know it has something to do with me. Tell me.� The two men looked at each other. Brian took her hands. �Your father was seen leaving the farm.� �Here?� �Yes.� �I have to go.� �No, wait.� He looked at Jake. �Do a security check.� �It�s already being done, Brian. But so far we can�t find anything out of the ordinary.� Brian nodded. �I want a full report.� �You�ll have it.� Jake left them and headed back towards the barns. �I need to�� �It�s not your fault, whatever brought him here. And you going home is not going to solve anything.� He took her by the shoulders and lifted her chin. �I say we have some lunch and you spend some time with Early Morning Mist.� She gave him a puzzled expression. �The foal. That�s his name.� He linked his hand through hers and they started back to the house. ~*~*~*~*~ He jammed on the brakes and the truck came to a screeching halt. What was he thinking? He stared at the small pistol lying on the seat next to him. Was he going crazy? Had his penchant for being the biggest and best clouded his judgment? And what of Moire, what would have been gained by the lunacy running through his brain. They barely spoke to each other as it was. He put the gun back in the glove box and got out of the truck. Walker saw the truck pull up and ran towards his employer. �Well?� �Leave me alone,� Colin dropped the keys on the ground and took the steps two at a time and disappeared into the house slamming the door behind him. |