The Old Fashioned Way (A Homespun Romance) by Geeta Kakade Page A

the floor.  Her raised hands made her breasts thrust against the lacy, high necked blouse she wore.  With her silky skirt and boots, it covered every bit of her from head to toe.  He got the faint whiff of her scent, saw the way she bit her lower lip in concentration as she buttoned his shirt. 
    Abby acted as if she were a novice breaking every rule in the convent by helping him with his shirt. 
    "Thank you."  Daniel left the room and returned holding his tie and his jacket. 
    Abby noticed his shirt had been neatly tucked into his pants.  As she watched him knot his tie, their gazes linked in the mirror.  Breathing became an effort. 
    Daniel turned to her.  Abby looked away quickly.  Intuition warned her she had entered a danger zone. 
    Abby swallowed.  The emotion inside her was pure, twenty four carat excitement.  Heady, sizzling, strong.
    "Abby?" 
    The sound of her name broke the spell.
    "We don't want to be late," she said, picking up her stole from the floor.  "I'll wait for you by your car."
    Abby walked out quickly, almost afraid Daniel would stop her, notice that she was shaking like a leaf in the wind.
     
     
    All evening Daniel kept his manner casual.  Gradually he sensed Abby relax beside him and let out a silent breath of relief.  He didn't want to lose the little ground he had gained earlier.  For a few moments he'd felt Abby's barriers were down.
    "Would you mind very much if we didn't go home right away, Abby?" he asked as they came out of the old Millhouse. "There's something I want to show you."
    Abby's heart began to race.  That line was one she was familiar with.  A prelude to trouble. 
    Daniel seemed to take her silence for consent.  "It's five minutes from here, and you won't have to get out of the car."
    Abby forced herself to take a big, slow, breath.  "All right."
    Daniel took the road that wound to the top of Carbon Canyon.  Abby's pounding heart confirmed her worst fears.  The road led to a spot known as Lover's Leap.  She should never have come.  Daniel whizzed past it and fear became pure terror.  There was nothing beyond except private homes.
    Daniel turned off on a dirt road between two houses.  Where the road came to an end, he stopped the car and turned to her.
    "Look," Abby heard him say. 
    The lights of Carbon Canyon stretched out below them.  Abby barely noticed the view.  Her gaze fixed on Daniel, she reached for the door handle.
    He had discovered this spot a few nights ago.  Daniel liked driving up here at night, sitting and thinking.  He lowered his window welcoming the night breeze that ruffled his hair.  Something about the quality of Abby's silence made him turn toward her.
    "What's wrong?" 
    "Nothing."
    Her tone made him switch on the interior light.  Her fixed expression reminded him of a frightened rabbit.  Daniel frowned.  Abby wasn't merely nervous.  She was terrified.
    "What's wrong?"  he repeated.
    Abby simply shook her head.  He put a hand out to reassure her and she shrank against the passenger door. 
    Daniel's brow cleared.  He should have known what was bothering Abby.
    "Do you want to talk about it?"
    "T...talk about what?" asked Abby, forcing the words through her stiff lips. 
    "The fact you're sitting next to me acting as if I'm a vampire and you're my next victim."
    Abby took a deep breath and found herself choking on the confusion welling within her.  "I...I'm not.  It's just that this place makes me nervous.  C...couples come up here."
    So that was what was worrying her stiff.  "Would it help if I told you, I have no intention of grabbing you?  I brought you up here because I thought you would enjoy the view.  Since I've discovered the spot, I come up here almost every night.  It helps me relax."
    Abby let go of the door handle, wishing she could vanish into thin air.  "I...I see."
    "What happened to you, Abby?"
    She turned toward Daniel.  "I...I don't know what you mean.  Can we please go back now?  I'm