behind.â
âDarling, unless I miss my guess, a certain apple baron would have plucked you up from whatever corner youâd chosen to hide in, tossed you over his wonderfully broad shoulder and dragged you along on our little tour, like it or not.â Pausing, Candy let a sigh escape. âNow that I think about it, that would have been more exciting.â
Because she was well able to picture it herself, Edenâs mood hardened again. âAt least I thought I could count on support from my best friend.â
âAnd you can. Absolutely.â With easy affection, Candy draped an arm over Edenâs shoulder. âThough why you think you need my support when you have a gorgeous man giving you smoldering kisses, I canât imagine.â
âThatâs just it!â Because several young heads turned when she raised her voice, Eden fought for calm again. âHe had no business pulling something like that in front of everyone.â
âI suppose it is more fun in private.â
âKeep this up, and you may find that garter snake in your underwear yet.â
âJust ask him if heâs got a brother, or a cousin. Even an uncle. Ah, here we are,â she continued before Eden could reply. âNow smile and be charming, just like you were taught.â
âYouâre going to pay for this,â Eden promised her in an undertone. âI donât know how, I donât know when, but youâll pay.â
They brought the group to a halt when the road forked. On the left were stone pillars topped with an arching wrought-iron sign that read ELLIOT. Sloping away from the pillars was a wall a foot thick and high as a man. It was old and sturdy, proving to Eden that the penchant for privacy hadnât begun with Chase.
The entrance road, smooth and well-maintained, ribboned back over the crest of a hill before it disappeared. Along the road were trees, not apple but oak, older and sturdier than the wall.
It was the continuity that drew her, the same symmetry she had seen and admired in the groves. The stone, the trees, even the road, had been there for generations. Looking, Eden understood his pride in them. She, too, had once had a legacy.
Then he strode from behind the wall and she fought back even that small sense of a common ground.
In a T-shirt and jeans, he looked lean and capable. There was a faint sheen of sweat on his arms that made her realize heâd already been working that morning. Drawn against her will, she dropped her gaze to his hands, hands that were hard and competent and unbearably gentle on a womanâs skin.
âMorning, ladies.â He swung the gates open for them.
âOh Lord, heâs something,â Eden heard one of the counselors mumble. Remembering Candyâs advice, she straightened her shoulders and fixed on her most cheerful smile.
âThis is Mr. Elliot, girls. He owns the orchards weâll tour today. Thank you for inviting us, Mr. Elliot.â
âMy pleasureâMiss Carlbough.â
The girlish murmurs of agreement became babbles of excitement as a dog sauntered to Chaseâs side. His fur was the color of apricots and glistened as though it had been polished in the sunlight. The big, sad eyes studied the group of girls before the dog pressed against Chaseâs leg. Eden had time to think that a smaller man might have been toppled. The dog was no less than three feet high at the shoulder. More of a young lion than a house pet, she thought. When he settled to sit at Chaseâs feet, Chase didnât have to bend to lay a hand on the dogâs head.
âThis is Squat. Believe it or not, he was the runt of his litter. Heâs a little shy.â
Candy gave a sigh of relief when she saw the enormous tail thump the ground. âBut friendly, right?â
âSquatâs a pushover for females.â His gaze circled the group. âEspecially so many pretty ones. He was hoping he could join the