Free The Longing by Wendy Lindstrom

entrance.
    Maybe it was Eva coming to warn Amelia that
she was in for an hour of chastising because of the scene with
Richard at the bank. Amelia sighed and opened the door, just
wanting the meeting over with so she could figure out how to
support her mother without succumbing to Richard’s proposition.
    To her shock, Kyle Grayson planted his hands
against the doorframe and angled his powerful body toward her. “We
have to talk,” he said, in his straightforward manner.
    Amelia blinked, unable to believe he was
really standing in her doorway when he knew perfectly well his
presence at her apartment would be viewed as the ultimate sin.
Concerned for both of them, she peered over his shoulder to see if
Eva and Philmore Bentley were leaving their house yet. “You can’t
be seen here, Kyle.”
    “I know. I’m sorry for putting you at risk,
but we have a problem to discuss. Did you know that your father’s
mill is nearly bankrupt?”
    She honestly hadn’t until a few hours ago.
Believing Kyle had come to rescind his offer on the mill, Amelia
opened her mouth to beg him not to do it, but the rattle of
carriage wheels sounded in the street. Knowing Kyle could be seen
from the road, and that she would end up losing the only income she
had, Amelia grabbed his arm and tugged him inside. Despite his
surprise, she shut the door behind him, then tried to calm her
pounding heart.
    He towered over her, standing so close that
she could see the dark flecks in his eyes. She could smell
fresh-cut wood and evening air emanating from his clothing along
with a hint of aftershave. His jaw was speckled with whiskers and
his thick hair swept off his forehead as though he’d repeatedly
shoved it back with his fingers. Even tired and work-worn, Kyle
Grayson was disgustingly attractive. Amelia yanked her gaze from
his face, appalled that she would notice something so trite during
such a catastrophic crisis. To her further dismay, her gaze riveted
on the hair peeking from his open collar. The queer thrill in her
stomach stoked her frustration as much as his news had.
    “My brothers are ready to kill me for making
such a bad investment, Amelia.” His quiet statement spelled doom.
He stared directly into her eyes. “If one of them had done this, I
would kill them. I’m sorry, but in their interest, I have to cancel
our agreement. The mill is debt-ridden. It could drag my own
business into bankruptcy. I can’t ask my brothers to take that
risk.”
    “But I already used your draft to pay off the
mortgage on Mama’s house.”
    “Your father mortgaged the house, too? Ah,
Christ.” Kyle pinched the bridge of his perfect, proud nose and
shook his head. “There isn’t a hope in hell of saving the mill.” He
sighed and looked away, his gaze perusing the stark little box she
lived in before returning to her. “Jeb doesn’t know what’s going
on, either. Do you think your father might have talked to your
mother about his debt?”
    Amelia shook her head and braced herself
against the solid bulk of the table. Her father would have never
worried her mother with his financial troubles. She wouldn’t,
either. Her mother was suffering enough heartache and worry without
knowing the precarious state of their security.
    “Do you have any relatives who can help you?”
Kyle asked, oblivious to the panic drowning her.
    “No.”
    “There isn’t anyone anywhere that you and
your mother can depend on?”
    “My mother has a widowed sister in Georgia,
who’s as poor as a church mouse. She’s our only living relative
that I’m aware of.”
    “You’re serious, aren’t you?” She nodded and
his gaze darted through the room as if searching for something to
punch his fist through. “What the hell was your father
thinking?”
    “If you don’t know the circumstances, don’t
blame Papa for this.”
    Kyle stared in disbelief. “Who do you think
is responsible for this mess?”
    She shrugged. “There could be a million
reasons for Papa’s financial