Free The Five Kisses by Karla Darcy Page B

us. He was slightly put out when I would not agree to let him serve it but I explained that his presence would be de trop.”
    While he was speaking, he whipped off the red and green checked material that covered the top of the bigger basket. He lifted out a heavily embroidered linen cloth, which he spread on the table. Then with military precision he set out china, crystal, silverware and an array of delicacies that practically overloaded the table. In the very center, he set two shiny red apples.
    “It all began with apples. Apples and a cat,” he said as he uncorked the wine and poured the golden liquid into the wineglasses. “I explained this to Monsieur Hubert and, while not quite understanding why it should be important, he has done his best to oblige me in my whimsy. Everything here is made with or from apples, including this”-he displayed the bottle-“which is a special apple wine I discovered in France many years ago.”
    At Chad’s thoughtfulness, Gillian could feel a lump rise in her throat and a film of tears forced her to blink rapidly. Despite her best efforts, one tear slid down her cheek to the corner of her mouth.
    “You must not cry, Gillian,” Chad said, his voice slightly ragged. “I discovered last night that I have little control where you are concerned. I cannot comfort you because if I touch you I will not want to talk. And there is much I need to tell you.”
    “I’m all right.” She gave a watery sniff and wiped her eyes.
    Still keeping a cautious eye on her, Chad reached for his wineglass and raised it. “We will drink as old friends. And to prove my friendship, I will let you fill your plate first, although in all fairness I should warn you that I will be particularly offended if you eat all the meringues.”
    “I don’t think I can eat anything,” Gillian apologized. “You know we should not be here, alone in the house at this hour.”
    “Alone? My man Royce told me a maidservant lived with you. What have you done with the woman?” he asked accusingly. “You know the one. Aggie? Addie?”
    “Maddie,” Gillian mumbled. “I sent her to visit her sister.”
    “How very enterprising, my dear.” At the speculative tone of his voice, her head jerked up and he chuckled at the flush of color invading her cheeks. “Why, Gillian, such a wicked plan. You knew I would come back tonight and you were planning to seduce me.”
    “I was not!” she denied hotly. “Maddie wanted to spend some time with her sister before we left.”
    Gillian’s hand flew to her mouth as if she would pull back the words she had blurted out. By Chad’s raised eyebrow and arrested movement, she knew it was too late. She raised her chin in defiance, refusing to flinch beneath his narrowed gaze. They remained thus, eyes locked together until he broke the contact by turning away. He walked to the fireplace, gently placed the wineglass on the mantelpiece and stared down into the flames.
    Even if she could think of something to say, Gillian’s mouth was too dry for speech. She waited, her body taut with tension, until suddenly she heard the sounds of a low chuckle. She bristled with resentment that Chad could find any humor in the present situation.
    “What an idiot, I am,” he said. He turned to her, shaking his head in chagrin. He dropped to his knees beside her chair and grinned roguishly. “Were you running away from me?”
    “No.” She let her eyes roam at will over his handsome face. She wanted desperately to touch his beard but kept her hands firmly knotted in her lap. “I was running away from myself.”
    “And why would that be?” When she dropped her head and did not answer, a frown appeared on his face and his voice took on a nervous edge. “You must tell me. Why were you leaving?”
    “Because I love you.”
    “Ahhhh!” There was such relief in his sigh that she looked up in surprise. “For a moment, my dear, I was in despair. I have gone about this stupidly. If I am correct, you