Native Silver by Helen Conrad Read Free Book Online

for rich people like your family.”
    His eyebrow rose quizzically, as though she’d said something he didn’t get at all. “Listen, if I’d known it was a habit with you I’d have camped out on the banks of that swimming hole long ago.”  
    “Thanks for the warning,” she flashed back, but it didn’t daunt him.
    “Any time you feel like repeating that adven ture,” he said loud enough for all to hear, “feel free.” He grinned. “You’re welcome on Rancho Verde anytime.”
    “But this time, bring your swimsuit,” joked Brad, unconscious of how his jest cut.
    “Spoilsport,” answered David, and Lisa and Brad laughed. Shawnee couldn’t bring herself to make even a phony smile.
    That did it for the conversational turn. Much better to remain absolutely mute than to risk starting up another sequence like that. Shawnee concentrated on her meal, eating automatically, not even noticing how delicious the meal was-- green peppers filled with tangy cheese, smothered in salsa and garnished with guacamole.
    She hoped Lisa wasn’t planning a dessert. Once everyone had eaten their fill, she would think of some excuse to make a quick getaway, and then . . .
    But the next thing she knew she’d been offered as a tour guide to Lisa’s rose garden.
    Lisa was famous throughout the valley for her roses. Though she threatened every day to hire a maid and a cook and even, on some of her wilder moments, a butler, she’d never once suggested they might hire a gardener. The garden was her palette and she was a master artist when it came to arrang ing color and texture upon it.
    Shawnee walked ahead of David, leading him through the white gate into the rose garden. “These beauties are Lisa’s hybrid teas,” she said in a tour-guide voice, gesturing towards the neat rows laid out like the spokes of a wheel around a little white gazebo. “And these are the miniatures she special izes in. She’s developed a few new varieties of her own, you know, and won prizes . . .”
    “Lovely.” His voice was low and much closer than she’d expected, and when she whirled, she found herself turning right into his arms. “I’ve always liked roses,” he went on, holding her loosely to his chest, as though he always talked to women that way. “But I’ve got to admit, I’d rather look at you.”
    She hadn’t expected him to be quite this direct, but she felt she could cope. He only needed to be reminded that there could never be anything between the two of them.
    “Look all you want,” she told him, calmly but firmly pushing him away with two hands flattened on his chest. “But do it from a distance.”
    “A distance!”  
    She began walking quickly through the maze of rose bushes, and he followed right behind, stopping her when he slipped one hand beneath her heavy hair and curled it about the back of her neck. “We’ve gone beyond that, don’t you think?” His eyes were laughing and she couldn’t seem to pull her gaze away. “After all we’ve been through together, I think we can safely claim to have advanced at least to this.”
    She knew he was going to kiss her, so why was it that she couldn’t force herself to pull away again?
    Instead, she watched, mesmerized, while his hand tightened on her neck and his face came down towards hers. His lips were smooth and cool, moving across hers in a sensation that would have made a cat purr. She closed her eyes, blocking out all thought, leaving room only for a small slice of enchantment.
    This wasn’t so bad. It was nice and relaxing and not the least bit threatening. She let herself enjoy it, leaning a little closer towards him. Just a second longer and she would make him stop. Just a second longer . . .
    When his lips opened without warning, it startled her, and she parted her own without thinking, letting him enter, and suddenly the kiss was no longer cool and unthreatening. Suddenly she could feel the heat that stirred within, the flames flicker ing at her with a hint of