Mountain Laurel (23 page)
She glanced into the side mirror at her reflection and then back down at the flat tire. Pleased with her job, she stood up and wiped the dirt from her hands onto the rear of her cream-colored slacks.
Purposefully she strode toward the cedar-clad building, ignoring the concentric waves of tension radiating inside her. She breathed in deeply when she reached the station door, running a hand through her hair.
"Oh, what the hell," she muttered and fluffed her hair in all directions.
She opened the door and was met by a petite blond receptionist whose eyes widened at the sight of her.
"Can I help you?"
Laurel looked down the short hall and saw two offices. The doors of both were open, the lights on.
"I need help," she said loudly, hoping Michael would appear.
"Would you like to sit..."
Her eyes darting back to the receptionist, Laurel frantically shook her head. "No, no, thank you."
A green uniformed figure stepped out of one of the offices and Laurel's heart caught in her throat. But when she turned her eyes on him, her heart sank. The ranger had flaming red hair and a sprinkling of freckles across his nose.
Then the man was joined by another and Laurel's knees nearly buckled. It was Michael! And he'd never looked so good.
"I think this lady needs some help," the receptionist said.
Laurel gave a jerky nod of her head and swallowed, trying to relieve the sudden dryness that had her tongue sticking to the roof of her mouth. She hadn't planned on having an audience. As a matter of fact, she hadn't planned at all! All she'd wanted to do was get Michael alone to talk to him, tell him how she felt, but now she had to go on with her helpless act.
Locking her gaze on Michael's face, she said, "I have a flat tire."
Michael's eyebrows rose.
"On my car," she added, vaguely pointing her thumb over her shoulder.
The knots in her stomach tightened as she waited for his reaction. Oh, God, this was worse than she'd ever expected. What if he embarrassed her right here in front of these people? She held her breath as she watched him lean back against the doorjamb and tuck his hand into his pocket.
"I'm sure you're capable of changing that tire yourself," he said easily.
They both ignored the distressed sound that came from the other ranger.
"Oh, yes, I am," she assured him. "But..." Her mind went momentarily blank. She had never considered the possibility that he might refuse to help her. Indecision, mixed with confusion, built in her chest, rising up in her throat until she could almost taste the panic.
Then she saw it: an impish gleam twinkling in his eyes. He was teasing her! A rush of joyous relief filled her, washing away all her doubts and confusion.
"I need you, Michael."
The teasing glint in his eyes was suddenly gone.
"I don't like being an actress. I've discovered that I have no talent for it. Every time my real emotions start to show, I remember that I'm supposed to be acting, and I have to hide my true feelings." Her words came in such a rush, she hoped he understood what she was trying to say.
She saw that he did. The look they shared was so full of emotion that neither one of them seemed able to move.
"Look, lady," the red-haired ranger said, "I can't help you with your acting lessons, but if it's a tire change you need, I'd be more than happy to give you a hand."
Michael clapped his colleague on the shoulder. "That's all right, Joe. I'll help the lady out."
Laurel watched Michael move toward her, and she slipped into his outstretched arms like a weary traveler finding a safe haven. He held her to him, planting tiny kisses along her jaw before covering her mouth with his.
Joe looked over at the receptionist with raised eyebrows and shook his head in wry amusement. "I have a strong suspicion that this has nothing to do with a flat tire." He jerked his head toward his office. "Let's go have a cup of coffee and give these two a little privacy."
"I'm not much of an actor, either," Michael whispered against Laurel's lips. "I was never acting. It was awful trying to show you how I felt without scaring you away. I knew from the beginning that you were the only one for me, but I thought you couldn't feel the same."
Laurel sighed happily when he kissed her neck.
"I thought I'd lost you," he said. "I thought I'd pushed you too far too fast. I needed more time to let you know how I felt. When your mom told me she wanted you to stay, I thought I'd been given a gift." The air left him in a rush. "But when you were so bent on leaving, I knew you didn't care..."
"I wanted to leave," Laurel confessed, "because I wanted you so badly that I was sure I would make a fool of myself if I spent any more time with you."
He leaned away from her without releasing his hold. "We were both fools. Do you know that?"
"Yes," she said wearily, laying her head against his chest. "I know that now. I'm just glad the acting's over." She nestled against him.
Michael tipped her chin up and brushed the dirty streak from her cheek, his fingers lingering to caress her skin. "You didn't really ruin that new tire, did you?"
Laurel grinned sheepishly. "It's nothing that a little air won't fix."
He threw his head back and laughed, then looked down at her tenderly. "I should have known. I love you, Laurel." His whispered words tickled her neck, even as they sent fire through her veins. Then his mouth covered hers in a kiss filled with endless promise.
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A note from the author
I hope you enjoyed this updated and expanded version of Mountain Laurel. I completed the original book in 1989 after spending several summers in Western Maryland with my husband and children. Those fun-filled vacations left me with wonderful memories of hikes along lush mountain paths, crisp autumn days filled with a kaleidoscope of color—and s'mores!
To my great surprise, Mountain Laurel won a finalist spot in an international contest called The Golden Heart that is sponsored by Romance Writers of America. The manuscript went on to be published by Silhouette Books.
I'd like readers to know that I have written and published women's fiction under my real name, Donna Fasano, and I hope you'll look for those books and other Donna Clayton titles at your favorite bookstore or on-line. For more information about me and the books I've written, please visit my website at:
or
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Other Donna Clayton titles coming soon!
Taking Love in Stride
Return of the Runaway Bride
Wife for a While
Nanny and the Professor
Fortune's Bride
Daddy Down the Aisle