Merger Of Fortunes. Peggy Moreland

      “The Falls.”

      She snapped her head around to stare at him. “The Falls?”

      “Yeah. Hope you don’t mind. They’re beautiful in the summertime, but I like them best in the winter when there’s snow on the ground and the river is starting to freeze.”

      “The Falls,” she repeated, having a hard time imagining the Case Fortune finding pleasure in visiting what most would consider a tourist attraction.

      “You don’t mind, do you? We can go somewhere else if you’d prefer.”

      She shook her head. “No, I love the Falls. I’m just surprised that you’d want to go there.”

      Smiling, he caught her hand and brought it to hold against his thigh. “I make it a point to visit them at least once a month. More, when I can find the time.”

      Aware of the hand that held hers and the casualness with which he’d made the connection, she swallowed hard, praying her palm wouldn’t perspire and give away her nervousness.

      He angled his head to look at her. “Have you ever seen the view from the Observation Tower?”

      “Y-yes, but it’s been years.”

      “Then we’ll definitely include that in our plans. I thought we’d stop off at the Horse Barn, too. There’s an art exhibit today.”

      Gina knew all about the Horse Barn Arts Center and the current exhibit on display. She was a member of the Arts Council and attended every exhibit the Council sponsored. In fact, she had planned on seeing the current exhibit next weekend. It was a hands-on display designed for the entertainment and education of children. Though it was right up her alley, she had a hard time envisioning Case enjoying anything even remotely juvenile.

      “What would you like to do first?” he asked. “The Tower or the Horse Barn?”

      She considered a moment. “The Tower. That way we can warm up afterwards at the Horse Barn.”

      Within minutes they arrived at the Trolley’s last stop, the Visitor’s Center. From there they walked to the Falls. The snow from the night before had fallen short of the weatherman’s forecast of twelve inches, leaving only three or four inches to cover the ground. In spite of the snow and the cold, Gina found the walk invigorating.

      Even before the falls came into view, she heard the sound of the water crashing over the rocks. Snow lay in drifts along the banks of the river and blanketed the trees in soft, white canopies, while icicles hung in glittering spikes from the massive rocks that formed the falls.

      “Come on,” Case caught her hand. “Let’s get a little closer.”

      Gina allowed him to tug her along behind him. When he stopped, he wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her against his side.

      As they stood, taking in the sight and sounds, a memory surfaced, one which mimicked almost perfectly her current position. She’d been maybe ten at the time, standing beside the falls with her mother, watching the water rush over the rocks. Her mother had said something that day that Gina hadn’t thought much of at the time.

      I wonder if drowning is painful?

      At the time, Gina hadn’t thought too much of her mother’s comment—other than it was a macabre thing to say. Hearing it had sent chills chasing down her spine. But it wasn’t until after her mother’s suicide that she’d realized that her mother had been considering taking her own life for quite a while before actually committing the act.

      Shivering at the memory, she forced it from her mind.

      Case looked down at her. “Cold?” he asked, raising his voice to make himself heard over the sound of the falls.

      Rather than tell him the reason for the shiver, she decided to accept the excuse he offered. “A little.”

      He unbuttoned his overcoat and drew her back against his chest, wrapping his coat around her and holding it in place by hugging his arms around her middle. “Better?” he asked.

      Painfully aware of the body pressed against hers, she could only nod.

      He turned his face against her ear to make himself heard over the Falls. “Do you remember what a mess this area used to be? Lots of work went into cleaning it up and making it the attraction it is today.”

      Frowning, she angled her head to peer up at him. “You sound as if you had a hand in the project.”

      “Not as much as I would’ve liked. Dakota Fortunes helped fund the clean-up, supplying equipment, as well as man-power to do the work. I worked when I could, but it took the efforts of hundreds of men to complete the job.”

      Surprised to learn that he had willingly volunteered his time for a public project, she filed away that new insight into his character to consider later.

      “Reynolds Refining contributed, too,” he went on. “Money, as well as fuel. But I’m sure you knew about that.”

      She shook her head. “No. I know very little about my father’s company.”

      She half expected him to quiz her more about her relationship with her father and his business and was relieved when he let the subject drop and resumed talking about the restoration of the falls.

      Gina had thoroughly enjoyed spending the day with Case. But now that it was coming to an end, her inexperience with men and dating in general left her in a quandary about the proper end-of-date protocol. Invite him in? Kiss? No kiss?

      Unsure, she unlocked the door to her loft, then turned, deciding it safest to simply follow his lead. “Thanks for the day. I really had a good time.”

      Teasing her with a smile, he caught her elbows and drew her to him. “Does this mean you’ve changed your opinion of me?”

      She lowered her gaze, embarrassed that she’d said such awful things to his face. “Let’s just say I have new data to consider.”

      Chuckling, he bussed her a quick kiss. “I guess I’ll have to accept that for now.”

      “I guess you will.”

      “When can I see you again?”

      “Well, I don’t know,” she stammered, surprised that he appeared to want to take her out again. “While I was in New York, the art director requested changes on some of the illustrations for my next book and wants them ASAP.”

      “How long are we talking? Days? Weeks? Months?”

      She couldn’t help but laugh at his frustrated tone. “I don’t know. It depends on my creative muse. A couple of days probably.”

      “I could help,” he offered.

      She gave him a doubtful look. “I think you’re forgetting I saw some of your drawings at the Art Center.”

      “I may not be an artist, but I’d make a damn good model.” He waggled his brows. “Nudes are my specialty.”

      She blushed furiously, easily able to imagine him naked. “I—I don’t do nudes.”

      “Spoil sport,” he grumbled, then sighed. “Call me when you’re done and we’ll celebrate.” He looked down his nose at her. “You do have my number.”

      She flushed guiltily at the reminder that she’d ignored his requests on all the cards accompanying the flowers he’d sent her. “Yes, I have it.”

      He kissed her again, this one longer than the one before, then gave her a push toward her open door. “Get to work. The longer you goof off, the longer it’ll be before I can see you again.”

      Dazed, she lifted a hand in farewell, then closed the door and leaned back against it, listening to the elevator doors swish close behind Case and the muffled grind of cable as the elevator started its descent.

      He’d kissed her. Really