Rush of Love (4 page)

“If you haven’t gone to Alaska, where have you been?”

He shrugged one shoulder. “It feels like I’ve been a million places this past week, but half them were looking for you. It was like you vanished into thin air. I went to the bank, but they had no idea where you’d gone.”

“I was told I couldn’t come back. They needed someone to rely on. Not someone like me.”

“I asked the girls at the bank, and they said they didn’t understand why you were let go. You were one of their best employees. If I was a betting man, I would say it was that weasel Milard…Milton, whatever the hell his name was.”

Opal felt a smile tug the corner of her mouth. “I’m not a betting woman, but I would say you are probably correct in that assumption. He is a weasel. You still haven’t told me why you’re here.”

 
“Not everything was stolen the night of the attack.” He braced a hand on the wall next to her. “I told you I had a bit of the money in the hotel safe. Around eight thousand dollars. I had the money in my hand and I got as far as the window to book my passage back to Alaska. All I could hear was your voice in my head.” His gaze rose to meet hers, the shadow of past memories clouded his eyes. “I won’t be poor again.”

“I never asked you to be, and I definitely didn’t put any restrictions on what you should do.”

“No, but in the short time I knew you, you showed me a few things. It planted a seed of doubt in me about my plan.
 
I started thinking about what you said that money didn’t make the man.”

“It doesn’t”

“In this week, I had time to ask myself, how much money would it take to squelch that fever and make me happy? How much would I need to make myself feel rich? Ten thousand? A half a million?” He grasped her arm.

 
“Did you come up with a concrete number?”

“No,” he answered simply. “If I went back to Alaska, who knows how much of that eight thousand I would spend on mining supplies. That gave me an idea. The money isn’t to be made in Alaska, it is to be made in the mercantile business. The gold rush will probably be over in a few years, after that, I may not have anything to show for it.”

Heavy drops of rain started to fall. He took off his coat and covered her shoulders. She couldn’t help but shiver and then sink into the warmth. It smelled of fresh air, and him.

“You have to understand that I can’t go back to that place I was as a young man. I need to make something of myself, for me and my brother Theo. Money isn’t everything, but I won’t have myself or my family left hungry. I had eight thousand dollars, an amount that would take most men years to earn. I ran into a gentleman whose business partner ran off to the gold fields… imagine that.” He grinned a sideways smile.
 
“It was like someone was trying to tell me something” Sam ran a thumb down her cool cheek. His finger was warm and rough.

“You invested in a business?”

“Not just invested, I took over the other half of the partnership. Conner and Walker is now Conner and Cooper Mercantile.” He blew out a breath. “It’s a huge responsibility. I have to admit, I’m scared as hell.”

This time, she did smile at his heartfelt confession.

“I think you can do anything you set your mind to. You’re a smart man, Samuel Cooper.”

“Not smart enough to find you any sooner than I did. When you disappeared, I panicked at the thought I may never see you again.”

“I didn’t know anyone was looking for me.”

He lifted her chin. “Well, I was. I’m here for a few reasons. First, I would like to offer you a job at the mercantile.”

“A job? You’re offering me a job?”

“You can work in the accounting and ordering department. I know you’re good with money. I saw how fast you counted stacks of bills at the bank and made calculations in your head. The job won’t be easy, it’s very busy. I know you can do it. I’m not sure where you’re living for now, but there are a few nice, clean rooms above the store. Nothing fancy, but I’ll include your rent as part of your pay.”
   
“Sam.” She squeezed his hand, and tried not to let her disappointment show that his interest in her only extended to offering her a job. “This is too generous. You don’t owe me anything.”

His brows drew together. “Stop saying that. You’re wrong. I probably owe you my life. When those two attacked me, there was a fire in you as you jumped on the back of that man. He was more shocked then I was. But I want it clear, that night has nothing to do with my offer. I realize if I want to be a success, I need to run my business right. I’ll start with the orders sheets, they are a mess. To straighten things out in my half of the company, you are just the person I want beside me.”

 
“Beside you?”

“I wired Theo and sent him a rail pass to come and work in the store. I also told him I found a woman I can’t stop thinking about. He can’t wait to meet the girl I’m courting.”

“Courting?” Opal’s voice squeaked.

“Well, I can’t very well marry you unless I court you first, can I?
 
My mother may be gone, but she raised me right. I told you the first day we met at the bank, when I settled down it will be with a woman like you. Not a woman
like
you, Opal, I want
you
.”

“Yes, but…”

“Has anyone told you that you talk too much?” Sam looked at her, his dark sapphire eyes taking on a dangerous and seductive quality.

Could he hear her heart racing? She was pretty certain he could over the patter of the rain on the cobblestones. A moment later his hands framed her face and his lips lingered above hers. He closed the last small distance between them, and kissed her.

It started soft and sweet, but grew in intensity and blossomed. Suddenly, Opal forgot all she’d been taught about how ladies were to act in the company of men. She wanted him with a deep need she couldn’t answer. Lacing her fingers into his damp, tousled hair, she brought his lips to hers again. He rewarded her with a swipe of his tongue along hers.

A stern voice broke them apart. “Whatta you doing out here? You comea back to work,” Aldo barked.

Sam pulled the apron over her head, walked the few feet, and handed the damp wad of cloth to Aldo. “Sorry to inform you, sir, but Opal’s taken a new job.”

“Opal, you leava now. You can neva can comea back. The boss won’tta let you.”

“It’s nice of you to show concern for her well being. But, I’m afraid she won’t need to.”
 
He waited until Aldo slammed the door before he turned back.

“I didn’t agree to anything yet! What did you just do?” Opal cried and threw up her hands.

“There I go, assuming again. Just like the night I took you to dinner. I know you don’t trust me, I mean, we barely know each other. That’s why I want to do this right and court you. I’m not your father. I would never leave a family behind.”

“Yes, I remember when you mentioned that.”

Sam reached in his pocket and pulled out a velvet box. Inside was a gold band with a dark red ruby set in the center. Gently, he took her hand and slipped it over and down her finger. “I won’t pressure you into a hasty decision. So, take your time. This is more than an engagement ring. It is my promissory note. I won’t leave you.”

She looked down at her hand and then up into his eyes. His face was stark, sincere, and full of love… for her. She swallowed. “Are you sure?”

 
“It’s the only thing I am sure of right now. I won’t be able to buy you that big house on the hill… well, for a few years.”

“None of that matters.”

“I know that, now. You’re all that matters. Marry me Opal, and make me the richest man in town. I love you.”

“I love you too.” She wound her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. “Yes. A thousand times, yes!”

As he kissed her, all the fears of her past faded into the glow of their future.
 

Her future with Sam Cooper.

If you enjoyed Rush of Love by Jennifer Conner look for the next in the Gold Rush Series, Fields of Gold available now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Overdrive,

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