“Are you quite sure, Millie?” he asked, giving her a chance to change her mind.
Without saying a word, she closed the fan and let it rest, ever so lightly, on her right cheek. That meant yes.
Gideon leaned toward her and she teasingly reclined back, bracing an arm behind her on the stone bench.
“What about your decision that we shouldn’t engage in further ardent overtures?” he asked. “Didn’t you nearly insist I could no longer press my sad, lonely lips to yours?”
The coy glance she offered heated his blood as she partially opened the fan, tapping it against her mouth again.
“In that case…” His voice came out in a husky rumble as he shifted on the bench.
With her arm still braced on the bench behind her, he circled an arm around her back. His fingers slid beneath her outstretched arm and rested just inches away from temptation. He took her other hand in his, holding it to his chest as he bent down and placed a warm, moist kiss to the slender, pale column of her neck.
“Gideon.”
Her throaty whisper only served to encourage his amorous intentions. Light, playful kisses soon gave way to something wild and deep that left her panting for breath while Gideon scrambled to dredge up any tidbit of self-control.
Half expecting Millie to slap him for the fervent kisses he’d lavished on her sweet lips, she instead smiled up at him with heat flickering in her eyes.
“I think we better get back to the ball,” he said, standing and pulling her to her feet.
“It’s probably for the best.” She snapped open the fan and whipped it in front of her face.
From the way she worked to stir up a breeze and the spots of crimson staining her cheeks, he wondered if the kisses they’d just shared left her as overheated as he felt.
He thought of the two ice sculptures on the table and wondered what it would feel like to peel off his shirt and flop back into that giant shell. A vision of women fanning themselves and tittering in disapproval made him smile.
“What naughty thoughts are you thinking?” Millie asked as they crossed the lawn, seeing the mischievous grin and mirthful twinkle in his eyes.
“About how good it would feel to curl up in that shell on the table.”
Millie smiled and tapped him on the arm with her fan. “It would certainly give everyone something to talk about. However, you’d most likely be accused of partaking in whatever it is those boys are sharing over there.” She pointed to a group of young men passing around a flask behind some shrubbery.
“Most likely,” Gideon said, escorting Millie inside. Once she was seated at their table with their friends, he located Lars and let him know about the boys drinking. Lars thanked him and grabbed Kade on his way out the door to break up the fun.
Normally, Gideon would have left the boys to their mischief, but the young men could easily get out of hand and he didn’t want their inebriated state to effect the enjoyment of any attendees.
An hour later, after he’d danced several more dances with Millie, as well as a polka with Lacy, and a quadrille with Marnie, he found himself stepping across the floor with Aundy Nash.
The woman was nearly his height. His mind struggled to embrace the notion that she and Ilsa Campanelli were sisters. Ilsa was petite, dainty, and genteel. Aundy was tall, stately, and wore an air of determined confidence Gideon couldn’t help but admire.
Of course, he knew the story of her arriving in Pendleton nine years ago as a mail-order bride. Her husband had died days after the wedding and left her the farm. Before long, she’d fallen in love with the next door neighbor, Garrett Nash, and they wed.
“Where’s Emmalee?” he asked as he kept step with the blond-haired woman who put him in mind of some Viking queen.
Aundy’s eyes softened at the mere mention of her daughter and she smiled. “She’s with the other babies in the nursery. We hired some girls to keep watch over them. Gertie and Shea, that’s the cook and housekeeper here at Dogwood Corners, pop in every once in a while to make sure all is well.”
“It’s nice you make it possible for the young parents to come to the ball and enjoy it without worrying about their little ones.”
“I never thought I’d be one of the parents anxiously checking on the babies throughout the evening.” Aundy’s face glowed with happiness. “Our baby girl is such a blessing to us. One we’re thankful for every day.”
“And I’m sure as she grows, she’ll realize how blessed she is to have you and Garrett as her parents. Not everyone loves their child so unconditionally.”
“No, they don’t, but they should.” Aundy smiled as Garrett waltzed up next to them with Millie.
“Mind if I switch partners with you, pardner?”
Gideon grinned. “Not at all.”
With a twirl, Gideon sent Aundy to her husband and took Millie’s hand in his, gliding her across the floor.
“Have I mentioned how lovely you look?” he asked, holding her a little closer than was proper.
“Not once in the last ten minutes. I fear you have much for which to atone, sir.” Millie settled her face into her best imitation of a cranky schoolmarm.
Gideon leaned down so his mouth brushed her ear. “You are beautiful, breathtaking, and entirely delectable. In fact, I rather fancy your kisses taste better than the finest nectar. More than anything, I’d like to sample their delicious flavor repeatedly before I take you home.”
Furiously blushing, Millie didn’t know whether she should smack Gideon for teasing her so or take him up on his suggestion of more kisses.
The blissful interlude outside on the bench had left her so weak in the knees she wasn’t sure how she’d managed to walk back into the house. Her stomach still felt weightless and fluttery from the powerful, perfect kisses he’d bestowed on her most willing mouth.
Thoughts of how good he tasted, of how much she enjoyed his kisses, left her staring at his tempting mouth with yearning in her eyes.
His lips brushed her ear again as he dropped his voice. “If you don’t stop looking at me like that, Tootsie Wootsie, I’ll haul you back out to the garden and do more than smooch you once or twice.”
She snapped upright so quickly, her shoulder bumped his chin as he bent close to her ear. Her gaze flicked behind him, watching as Kade and Tony strong-armed a drunk out the door. Gideon followed her line of vision and frowned, wondering what Kyle Steel was doing at the ball and why he’d shown up drunk. The man spent far too much time imbibing in his own cheap liquor.
Lars announced the last dance of the evening and thanked everyone for coming. Although Marnie claimed she couldn’t move one more step, Lars somehow convinced her to dance with him.
Millie knew how the woman felt. Her own feet ached from so many dances, but she’d had such a fabulous time. The ball had been fun the last two years, but attending with Gideon was so different, so much better and exciting. She could hardly compare her past experiences to the evening she’d just enjoyed.
“I realize I’ve danced with you far more than was proper, but may I please have the honor of the last dance?” Gideon asked, holding his hand out to her.
Millie didn’t bother to check her dance card. She allowed Gideon to sweep her across the dance floor.
When the last notes of the orchestra faded into the night, those still in attendance clapped enthusiastically then began trailing out of the ballroom to gather wraps and make the trek home. Those with children reclaimed them from the nursery and playroom.
Gideon made a point of locating Lars and Marnie. “I can’t think of an evening I’ve enjoyed more,” he said, shaking hands with Lars and politely tipping his head to Marnie. “Thank you for opening your home to the community and making this possible.”
“You’re welcome, Gideon. I’m glad you could join us,” Lars said with a teasing grin. “I do believe Miss Matlock enjoyed your presence here.”
Marnie gave her husband a reproachful glare, but he chuckled and winked at Millie.
She blus
hed but gave Marnie a quick hug and nodded at Lars. “Thank you for having us. Do you need help cleaning up?”
“No. I hired one of the high school groups wanting to earn some extra money to come tomorrow afternoon to set everything back to rights. The food has already been put away, so we’ll just leave the rest for them,” Marnie said, squeezing Millie’s hand. “Travel safely back to town.”
“Thank you, Marnie.” Millie gave the couple a parting wave then walked with her hand looped around Gideon’s arm to the entry where they reclaimed his top hat and her shawl.
The evening was warm and the stars glittered brightly overhead as Gideon helped her into the phaeton and guided it back to Pendleton.
The miles passed much quicker than Millie liked. It seemed she’d barely blinked twice before Gideon pulled the horse to a stop outside the telephone office.
Rather than unlock the front door, she took Gideon’s hand and led him down the alley, around back, and up the steps to her kitchen door.
“What are we doing back here?” he asked, wrapping his arms around her and nuzzling her neck.
“Saying goodnight without half the town watching, I hope.”
Gideon raised his head and made a show of looking around. Other than some pigeons roosting on a window ledge of the building next door, nothing stirred. “I think you’re safe.”
“I’m not certain I’m safe at all, Mr. McBride,” Millie chided. “You’ve made some rather bold comments this evening that no ordinary lady would deem acceptable.”
Gideon grinned and kissed one of her rosy cheeks, followed by the other. “It’s a good thing you aren’t an ordinary lady, Tootsie Wootsie. From what I can see, extraordinary is a much better description.”
Awed by the strength in his arms as they wrapped around her and the masterful touch of his lips on hers, Millie melted against him, powerless to move even if she wanted to.
Lost in the euphoric kisses they exchanged, she sighed with a previously unknown level of contentment and leaned against him in a dreamy state.
“Millie?”
“Hmm.”
“Unless you plan to stay out here all night, you better get inside.”
“I suppose you’re right,” she said, hearing voices as a group of men walked across the empty lot behind the telephone office.
Gideon used his body to block her from their sight and held a finger to his lips, motioning for her to remain quiet. Although nothing untoward had happened, it wouldn’t bode well for Millie if men got the idea she was open to guests knocking on her back door at all hours of the night.
The men passed by without noticing them. Millie released the breath she’d been holding. Quickly digging her key from her handbag, she opened the door and stepped inside.
Gideon reached out and cupped her chin, tilting it up so he could look into her eyes again. Moonlight glistened in her gaze and something he refused to define or acknowledge. If he did, he’d have to admit it reflected the love and desire shining in his own.
“Thank you for an evening I’ll never forget, Millie.”
She grabbed his hand and brought it to her lips, kissing his palm. “Thank you, Gideon, for the most wonderful evening I’ve ever had. Good night.”
He stepped back and waited until she’d closed and locked the door before sauntering down the steps and back out to the phaeton. He returned it to the livery then ambled toward his saloon, wondering how he’d ever recover from falling in love with Millie.
Chapter Fifteen
Millie glanced up from her desk when Cully ran inside the telephone office with an envelope in his hand.
“Miss Matlock, I have a message for you.” Cully slid the envelope across the counter as Millie stepped behind it.
“Do you mind waiting while I read it?”
“No. Mr. McBride paid me extra to wait. You go ahead,” Cully said, taking a seat on one of the two chairs Millie kept by the door for patrons.
She slit open the envelope and read Gideon’s note then read it again.
Baffled by his request, she hurried over to the switchboard, plopped down in her chair, and tugged on the headset. In a matter of seconds, the phone rang and she waited for Gideon to answer.
“Second Chance Saloon.”
The sound of his deep voice sent her nerve endings into an excited state and made her smile. “Good morning, Mr. McBride. This is Miss Matlock. I received the message with your request but it makes no sense to me. None whatsoever.”
His chuckle carried across the phone line. She envisioned him leaning with one broad shoulder propped against the wall as he spoke into the phone in his kitchen. No doubt, some delicious thing baked in his oven, filling the place with a homey aroma that blended with his entrancing scent. Her mouth watered just thinking of it.
“What has you confused? The request or the reason behind it?” he asked.
She could almost hear his smile. “Both. Why do you need one of my samplers?”
“I just do and I can’t tell you why at the moment. Will you please allow me to borrow one?”
A long sigh rolled out of her lips. She didn’t care if Gideon wanted to borrow them all, but she was dying to know the reason he wanted them. “Yes, of course, but I would like an explanation as to the reason.”
“All in good time, Too…” he cut himself off, wondering if anyone listened on the line. It wouldn’t do at all for the people in town to discover he called her Tootsie Wootsie. “I’ll happily answer your questions later, Miss Matlock. Now, may I please borrow one of your samplers?”
“Yes. I’ll send it with Cully.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Millie disconnected the call and caught the boy’s eye. “I’ll be right back, Cully. Don’t run off.”
“I won’t,” he said, offering an impish grin.
Millie raced up the steps to her apartment and took three samplers off her walls. She opened a drawer in the kitchen, removing a piece of brown paper she’d saved, and wrapped it around the samplers then tied the bundle with a piece of string.
With a light step, she returned downstairs and handled the bundle to Cully. “Please take this directly to Mr. McBride and be careful with it.”
“I will, Miss Matlock.” Cully gave her a solemn look. “I promise.”
She slipped a nickel into his hand and ruffled his hair. “Off with you, then.”
He opened the door and ran down the street. Millie watched him go until he disappeared around the corner before returning to her desk.
Lacy removed her headset and glanced at Millie. “What was that all about?”
“I’m not entirely sure. Gideon wanted to borrow one of my samplers but he won’t tell me why.”
Lacy grinned. “The man has many talents. Maybe he’s decided to try his hand at embroidery, too.”
Millie snorted in a most unladylike manner, making Lacy and Susan laugh. “I can’t imagine that being the reason.”
Even though Gideon had long, tapered fingers — beautiful hands for a man — she couldn’t envision him patiently sitting and embroidering a pillowcase. He was far too masculine with a hint of ruggedness thrown in to fit any part of that picture.
“You said yourself he’d make someone a wonderful wife,” Lacy teased, quickly putting her headset back on as more calls came in.
Millie moved to the switchboard and answered calls until a few minutes before noon. She phoned the restaurant down the street and ordered lunch for them all then walked down the block to pick it up.
Grant wandered over from the bank and joined them as they ate sandwiches with cabbage salad.
Mid-afternoon, Cully returned with Millie’s samplers and a note. “Mr. McBride asked me to bring these back to you.” The youngster set the brown paper-wrapped parcel on the counter.
Millie smiled at him. “Did he say why he wanted them?”
“Yep!” Cully said. Before Millie could further question him, he ran out the door.
Intrigued and frustrated, she o
pened the note from Gideon. It simply thanked her for the use of her samplers.
She unwrapped the paper and found them in the same condition in which she’d sent them. They hadn’t been removed from the frames, although the glass appeared as if it had been polished.
Millie took the samplers upstairs and returned them to the walls in her apartment before she hurried to the switchboard and placed another call to Gideon.
He answered on the second ring. “Second Chance Saloon.”
“What did you do with my samplers?”
Gideon’s chuckle almost made her smile. “Well, howdy-do to you, too, Miss Matlock.”
Exasperated, she sighed. “Hello.”
“Hello,” he responded in a deep rumble.
“May I inquire what purpose my samplers served?”
“Not yet. Patience, Miss Matlock. Have a little patience.”
Millie sighed again. “That, sir, is not one of my strongest points.”
Another chuckle. “Perhaps you should work on that.”
Millie stared at the switchboard, astounded that he disconnected the call. Determined to get to the bottom of whatever Gideon was doing, she arose from her chair and took three steps before her head jerked back, tethered to the switchboard by her headset.
“Oh, good gracious!” she fumed, yanking off the headset and tossing it on her chair.
Lacy and Susan stifled their giggles at the glare Millie sent their way.
A flurry of incoming calls kept her from marching down to Gideon’s place. She’d just risen from her chair to run upstairs and get her hat and gloves when Cully once again appeared, this time with a tin held carefully in his small hands.
“Miss Matlock, Mr. McBride said to give these to you and to tell you pouting isn’t a virtue but patience is.”
“Oh, he did, did he?” Millie marched over to the counter and took the tin from Cully, wondering how Gideon could possibly know she’d been impatiently pouting. The next time she saw Gideon, she’d give him a piece of her mind about testing her patience.
Aggravated, she pulled the lid off the tin. All her irritation dissolved like sugar in a rainstorm. She stared at the most beautifully decorated cookies she’d ever seen.
Millie (Pendleton Petticoats Book 7) Page 18
