The Amish Widow (Amish Romance Mystery) (Amish Secret Widows' Society Book 1) by Samantha Price

had once told her in confidence that she was the only girl that Wil had ever been interested in; by then she was betrothed to Levi and happily so.
    “So what is it that you do for a living anyway, Wil? I’ve never really known.”
    Wil took a mouthful of cider and as he placed the glass back on the blanket, he said, “Quite a few things. It’s too hard to explain.”
    “Because I’m a woman?”
    Wil smiled and looked at Emma. “ Nee , I didn’t mean that.”
    Emma loved the way that Wil smiled. She had to fight her attraction to him. She could not let herself think loving thoughts toward him. It was far too soon. “I don’t see why it would be hard to explain what you do.” Normally Emma would not push a point so far, but she had to find out what was going on. Why was he trying to hide what he did for his money?
    “I lease the farm to Henry Pluver, as you know, and apart from that I have a few investments. Nothing to speak of really and then I have my inventions I work on.”
    Emma did not know what more she could ask without him getting suspicious.
    After talking and eating a lot of food, Emma was no closer to finding out why Wil had been speaking with Mr. McAllister. Maybe she should just ask him straight out. Is he behind all this fuss of someone trying to force me off my land? Anyway, what was the purpose of the picnic? Maybe he’s keen on me. That must be the answer. If what the bishop’s wife said was true, maybe with Levi gone, he wants to court me. Surely he would wait a respectable time and not rush things, she thought.
    “We’d better get you home.” Wil stood up and held out his hand. Emma looked at his strong, powerful outstretched arm. Of course, she wanted to be held in those strong arms of his. Was it loneliness that led her to want to be held in a mann’s arms once more, to feel strong arms around her waist? She had always felt safe when Levi put his arms around her. Maybe she just longed for that feeling of safety once more.
    She put her hand in his and he helped her to her feet. She stumbled a little as the leg she had been sitting on had gone to sleep. He reached an arm behind her back and caught her. She could have easily pulled away, but instead she looked up into his deep, brown eyes and saw his gaze slowly move to her mouth before he pulled himself away.
    “I’m sorry, Emma. I… are you all right?”
    “My leg’s gone to sleep.”
    “Sit for a while with your leg outstretched while I pack the buggy.” He helped her sit back down on the blanket.
    Emma sat looking out over the fields. She was upset with herself that she was not the one to pull away first. What would Levi have thought of her? He had only just gone and she was craving another man’s touch.
    Even though she was mad with herself, she could not stop wondering what would have happened if she pressed her body into him and touched her lips to his. She remembered that Levi once joked that Wil never married because he was in love with her. Surely he was just joking, but that, coupled with what the bishop’s fraa had told her years ago, gave Emma something to think about.
    Maybe he had a little crush on her a long time ago. Even if Wil was in love with her, he was not the kind of man to move in so quickly after his best friend’s departure. That led her to another thought - if he had her best interests at heart surely he would not be deceiving her regarding her property. For all the time she had spent with Wil today, she was none the wiser of his motives regarding his possible interest in her or his talking to McAllister.
    Once Wil had finished packing the buggy he returned to crouch beside her. “Better now?”
    Emma moved her leg. “ Jah , better.”
    “Well, bring the blanket and let’s go.”
    Ah, Emma thought, he’s not going to risk giving me his hand again. He does not want to be close to me again. Emma bundled up the blanket and placed it in the back of Wil’s buggy. All the way back to her place she