“It’s getting late,” she said, hoping he’d get the message, even as she hoped he would not.

He stiffened visibly as if he’d suddenly caught himself staring. Back ramrod straight, like a soldier at attention, he strode toward the adjacent room.

“Good night,” he said, his voice oddly thick. Casting a look over his shoulder, he ducked through the curtains separating their rooms. The black curtains fell in place, and it felt as if a door had slammed in her face.

Feeling very much alone, Emily sank onto the edge of her bed. How was it that Chase McKnight managed to bring out the worst in her? At times, she’d felt like a stumbling fool, unable to have so much as a rational thought in his presence, let alone take care of herself.

But he also brought out another part of her. A softness she’d previously been unaware of. A recklessness that made her want to throw caution to the wind and see where it might take her. He had a way of making her feel more feminine than she had ever felt. More womanly. More needy in a way that was both exciting and alarming.

Oh yes, he brought out her worst, no question. But he also brought out so much more.

20

Emily could hardly wait to share the books she’d purchased with Ginny. The following morning, after visiting the stables to check on Daisy, she spotted Ginny waiting for her on the veranda.

“Hello, Mrs. Knight,” Ginny called, waving.

The enthusiastic greeting made Emily smile. Ginny’s uncanny ability to identify people, even from a distance, never failed to amaze her. “Hello, Ginny,” she called back.

Picking up her pace, she stomped up the steps to the porch. “Guess what? I have something for you. Wait here, and I’ll be right back.”

It took but a few moments to race to her room, grab a book and bag of peppermint drops, and return.

Sitting on the wicker seat next to Ginny, she laid a copy of the Five Little Peppers on Ginny’s lap. “I bought you something very special.”

Ginny moved her fingers over the smooth cover, the serious look on her face melting into a bright smile. “Oh, it’s a book,” she said with awe, then impishly added, “A book about peppermint drops.”

Emily laughed. “The peppermint drops are for later. I bought this book just for you.”

Ginny’s mouth turned down. “But I can’t read. Blind people can’t read.”

“Some can,” Emily said and quickly explained. “I once visited a special school in Boston that teaches blind people to read with their fingers. What do you think about that?”

Ginny ran her fingers back and forth across the cover. “But you can’t feel words.”

“Not with this book,” Emily said. “But there are special books with raised letters that you can feel.”

Ginny thought about that for a moment. “Are those special books hard to read?”

“Maybe at first. When I was your age, I had to work hard to learn to read. But it got easier with practice.”