The Fairest of Them All. Leanne Banks

been making you crazy?”

      “No,” Carly said, then smiled ironically. “At least not lately. With Ethan, Nathan and Brick on that camping trip, things have been pretty quiet. But there have been some comments different people have made that have bothered me.”

      “Like?”

      Her smile fell. “Like Carly’s always been so shy and reserved. Like you’re just not that kind of girl.” Her voice became more clipped. “Like everybody knows you’re as innocent as the day you were born.”

      “Hmm,” Sara said.

      “Hmm what?”

      Sara smiled slowly. “Sounds like you’d like to be tarnished.”

      Carly thought about all the ways she could be tarnished. Most of those ways involved Russ Bradford. She sighed. “Yeah.”

      “Well, I’ve never set out to be tarnished. But if I wanted to…be tarnished, I think I’d wear something from one of these catalogs.”

      To Carly’s surprise, sensible Sara pulled out a half-dozen mail-order catalogs with clothes that accented the physical attributes of a woman.

      Carly took them all home that night and called in an order before she lost her nerve.

      Russ drove to Carly’s apartment and prepared himself for another easygoing, nonthreatening date. He didn’t really want to go to the mayor’s dinner party. What he wanted was to get some burning questions answered. Like, what did Carly wear to bed and how long would it take to get it off her? What color were her nipples and what did they taste like? Would she sigh or gasp when he spread her thighs and moved between them?

      Russ groaned. His carefully planned strategy was starting to wear on his nerves, he thought darkly. It was pure hell keeping his hands off Carly every time he gave her that brotherly good-night peck at the door.

      Still, he didn’t want to scare her off. He needed to lure her slowly, but so completely that she wouldn’t question it when he suggested they make love. That was the plan. Just the thought of having Carly in his arms and in his bed made his palms sweat.

      Russ knocked and waited patiently at her apartment door until she peeked out. She smiled a little uncertainly, but her eyes sparkled with excitement.

      He wondered at the curious combination of emotions until she opened the door the rest of the way.

      She wore the most unvirginal white dress he’d ever seen in his life. It fell off one tanned shoulder, then molded to her curves with breath-stealing clarity. It showed more leg than it concealed. By the time Russ snapped his jaw shut, more than his palms were sweating.

      “Hi,” Carly said.

      “Hi,” was all he could manage to answer. Then he shook his head. Now he understood why her brothers had been so protective. It was a wonder they hadn’t wrapped her in a robe and thrown a veil over her face.

      Carly carried the conversation during the brief trip to Mayor Goodman’s house. Russ was still trying to deal with the change in her. He was very careful not to touch her, because once he did, he knew he wouldn’t stop until she’d eased the ache in his loins. He pulled the car to a stop and took a fortifying breath before he got out and led Carly up the walkway.

      With a pained smile on her face, Janet Goodman answered the door of the two-story home. A chorus of howls started up as soon as they walked through the door.

      “The twins are teething, and my daughter went out on her first date,” Janet explained.

      “So you lost your babysitter,” Carly concluded.

      “I need another shirt,” Sam yelled from upstairs. “Robbie drooled all over this one.”

      “Coming,” Janet called, then she turned back to Russ and Carly. “Please forgive me, but—”

      Another chorus of howls broke out.

      “Could I check on the boys?” Carly asked. “I haven’t seen them in a long time.”

      Relief and gratitude crossed Janet’s face. “Oh, would you please? I know they’ll settle down soon. Just make sure you put on a smock so they don’t ruin that lovely dress.”

      The doorbell rang.

      “And Russ, would you please get that? I’ll be down in just a minute. Help yourself to the bar and the appetizers in the parlor.” Janet disappeared up the stairs.

      Carly and Russ looked at each other and laughed.

      “I, uh, guess I’ll see you later,” Carly said, wishing he would touch her, wishing she could touch him. He’d seemed so remote since they’d left her apartment.

      The doorbell rang again, and Russ nodded.

      Carly went up the stairs.

      “Don’t stay too long,” Russ called after her in a low voice that stopped her midstep. “I might have to come get you.”

      There was something faintly predatory in his tone. It sent a shiver up her spine and brought a warmth to her skin. She wondered what it would be like to have Russ Bradford get her.

      After fifteen minutes of patting Ronnie and jiggling Robbie, the twins miraculously fell asleep.

      When she made her way into the dining room, Janet and Sam greeted her with welcoming smiles. “You must be a miracle worker,” Sam said. “I’d been rocking those boys for a half hour.”

      “They were just tired,” Carly said. She’d felt like curling up in that rocking chair herself. Last night, she’d stayed up a good part of the night stuffing envelopes with her new brochures.

      “Wine?” Russ came to her side and offered her a glass.

      He casually wrapped an arm around her waist, and she leaned closer to him. “Thanks,” she murmured. She stole a glance at him and noticed his gaze rested on her bare shoulder. A tiny thrill raced through her, and she gave in to the urge to tease him the way he did her.

      “Hungry, Russ?” Carly asked in a low, seductive voice.

      His gaze shot up to her eyes, probing and hot. “Very,” he growled and tightened his hold on her.

      This tarnishing business may not be so difficult after all, Carly thought.

      After the meal, the other guests left while Russ and Sam discussed Beulah County’s upcoming carnival. Janet showed Carly pictures of the twins’ christening. For the first time in a long time, Carly felt a twinge of longing over the idea of having a family. Janet and Sam seemed so happy.

      Carly wrinkled her brow, remembering her grueling accelerated college program that had left no time for a social life. After that, she’d inherited Matilda’s Dream and immersed herself in making it a thriving enterprise.

      Glancing at Russ, she wondered if she was missing out on something important. Of course, everybody knew Russ would never settle down. She would have to remember that. While he might be a good choice for tarnishing a woman’s reputation, he’d be horrible at marriage.

      Russ looked up just then, and held her gaze. That lazy smile slowly eased up the corners of his mouth. With his eyes still on her, he said to Sam, “I think it’s time for us to go. Thanks for having us, Sam.”

      After complimenting Janet on the meal, Carly and Russ stepped into the humid night. Clouds covered the moon in streaks of dark blue, muting the light. Crickets chirped in the lawn.

      Russ guided her down the walk with a firm, warm hand on her waist. Coupled with the wine, his nearness made her pleasantly dizzy.

      “I really like them,” Carly said.

      “Yeah,” Russ agreed, then chuckled. “Janet looked a little frazzled when we got there.”

      “She had to work hard to put on that welcoming smile.”

      “The