Part 8 (1/2)

He inclined his head. He knew when to go with responsibility and where and when to silently draw the line. ”Yeah.”

She wanted to take umbrage, but there was almost something genial in his response, so she let it ride. For now.

”I suppose I did want it.” Ambivalent feelings ricocheted right and left like a handball with nowhere to land. ”Maybe I even flattered myself that I could do a d.a.m.n good job of it.”

”And could you? Do you?” He figured he already had the answer to that, but it might do her some good to hear herself say it out loud.

Denise's eyes narrowed at what she perceived was a challenge. If she'd momentarily let the situation get the best of her, it was gone now. Her spirit was back and intact.

”Yes, I could and I do.” She thought of the most recent turn of events, Harry quitting the crew. ”Of course, with members of the crew dropping out on me, I don't know how much longer I can keep all this going.”

A rueful smile slipped along her lips, tempting Will to kiss her. He didn't think she'd appreciate it right now. Probably take it to mean that he was belittling her problems in some fas.h.i.+on. So he worked at ignoring the very real, very urgent pull he felt. He wasn't quite sure if he was rooting for victory or defeat in this case.

Denise stared up at the sky, idly wondering who else was gazing up at it at this very moment and how much more orderly their lives were than hers.

”n.o.body runs away to the circus anymore and they certainly don't run away to work for someone who provides the rides for a carnival.” She shoved her hands into her pockets. ”I keep hiring people to replace the ones who've left, but they never last very long.” Right now, they were the most shorthanded they'd ever been.

”Their itchy feet take them in other directions?” he guessed. Moonlight was gliding along her skin, the way he longed to.

”Something like that.” Without thinking, she rotated her shoulders and stretched. There were tight kinks running the length of her back and the breadth of her shoulders. She felt as if she were a recent refugee from the rack.

The next moment, she felt Will's hands on her shoulders. Denise jumped, but managed to bite back the squeal of surprise.

”Easy.” The tone Will used was the same one he'd once used on the pony he'd eventually won over and tamed. ”I'm just trying to help you work out these knots.” He gave a short laugh more from wonder than amus.e.m.e.nt. ”I've come across boulders that were less tense.”

She s.h.i.+fted self-consciously. He already knew more about her than she wanted him to. ”How many boulders have you ma.s.saged?”

If his goal was to help her relax, he wasn't going to achieve it, Denise thought. There was absolutely no way she could relax around him, not when his hands were sending shock waves through her system like this.

”None,” he said cheerfully. ”Until now.”

”Well, don't waste your time.” Denise tried to turn away, but found that she wasn't going anywhere. He wouldn't let her. Instead he continued methodically working on her shoulders. Despite herself, Denise could feel some of the knots loosening. And it felt wonderful.

”I'll decide if my time's being wasted or not,” he informed her mildly. ”Just stay put. Maybe you'd rather sit down.”

She didn't trust her knees to work again once she sat down. ”Standing is fine.”

What wasn't fine was what was happening. Will was turning her into liquid, she realized in alarm. Pure liquid.

Heated liquid.

Self-preservation kicked in. This time when she shrugged Will off, she stepped away from him as well. For safety's sake, she fortified herself with a deep breath before saying anything.

”I think that's enough.”

Will grinned. If he didn't miss his guess, the lady was as affected by his touching her as he was. ”If you say so.”

”I say so,” she reiterated emphatically. Not that it wasn't pleasurable, but she knew the danger in letting herself absorb that kind of pleasure. And where it would lead.

He looked toward the house. It was late. ”Want to turn in?”

Denise shook her head, not wanting to be confined just yet. She knew she'd probably only spend the night tossing and turning. And worrying. ”I won't be able to sleep.”

”All right, care to go for a walk?”

The suggestion struck her as odd. Denise was accustomed to parking her trailer on the outskirts of a town or a city. There was usually at least one place to go. Here there was nothing but land and sky.

”Where's there to walk?”

He grinned, putting out his hand to her. ”Everywhere.”

She hesitated, then after a beat, she placed her hand in his.

And fervently hoped she wouldn't regret it.

Will took her to the clearing that was just behind what Morgan liked to refer to as the backyard. When he was a lot younger, he used to enjoy coming out here to think and clear his mind.

With no external distractions to capture her attention, Denise found the darkness that wrapped around her soothing. When she sighed, it felt as if she'd been holding her breath all evening.

”Seems to me that you've shouldered a great deal.”

There were times she felt as if it was too much, but she always managed. Giving up was the alternative and she hated quitters.

”I can handle it. I have so far.” And she prayed that Time wouldn't prove her a liar.

She had a young daughter to raise, an ailing father to care for and a business to run single-handedly, Will mentally listed. He knew people who would be overwhelmed by less. ”Maybe you could take on a partner.”

Denise laughed softly. ”No one in his right mind would buy into the business.”

Not that she could do anything by committee. She didn't have the patience for that. As long as she could remember, she'd always just forged ahead and done things. And her father had let her.

”The market for the independent provider is shrinking at a breathtaking speed.” She set her mouth hard as she thought of the last dealing she'd had with the head of Zenith Rides. ”There are organizations that do this sort of thing now, lease rides to country fairs and carnivals. I have to hustle for every contract, every deal.” She couldn't help the bitter edge in her voice. There were times she did feel bitter. ”It doesn't matter that we've always provided the rides. Someone comes along with a lower price, a better deal-” she shrugged helplessly ”-they have us beat.”

She glanced toward him and saw that he actually looked interested. Denise knew she was talking too much, but right now, it seemed to help steady her nerves.

”And then there's the cost of maintaining these rides, making sure they're safe. An organization can readily afford any problem it might run into, say, replacing a ride, putting out for an expensive repair. I can't.” She shook her head, thinking of what the last premium had cost her. ”An organization doesn't blink at the insurance costs that are involved. I not only blink, I shudder.”

”So, what's the alternative?”

The question rubbed on a sore spot. ”I don't have one.” At least, not one she wanted to think about. ”So I just go on.”

She struck him as far too intelligent not to be taking all contingencies into consideration. ”You've got to have an alternate plan.”

”No, I don't,” she insisted. Who was he to b.u.t.t in, anyway? This was her problem, her life, not his. Why was he making noises as if he cared? If she started believing that, once he was out of her life, she'd have a hard time coping. ”That way, I don't waste any necessary time or energy on it.” She read his expression and could guess what he thought of her philosophy. ”Maybe that's narrow of me, but like I said, we get by.”

She deserved to do more than just get by. ”How about your father's operation?”