Well, given her adamant refusal to even consider the possibility, no way in hell was he going to tell her the other reason he’d come here.
The meal was presented in courses by servers also dressed in tuxes. At the end of the line, the train stopped, and the engine did a runaround to take them back to the station. The conductor asked if Derek would like to watch, and Greg took his enthusiastic son to the viewing platform at the rear of the train to do so.
Returning to their table ten minutes later, Greg asked Tillie to switch seats and sit across from him so they could talk more easily. They rocked along the tracks, over the trestle again, and past her church, which sparked another lesson in local history from Tillie about the Catholic migration from Maryland.
“The county is heavily Catholic to this day,” she concluded.
“You certainly know a lot about this place.” Seeing the light in her eyes as she shared the history, he could have listened to her go on all night about any topic.
“Sorry. I’m rambling.”
“Oh, no need to apologize. I find it fascinating, and your love for your home comes through loud and clear.”
Dessert was brought to their table, interrupting their conversation momentarily. When he’d bought the tickets, he’d ordered the chocolate choo-choo for two to share with Derek at Tillie’s suggestion, but the boy announced his tummy too full to try even a bite.
“Share it with me, Til…Miss Zee?”
She compared her slice of Derby Pie to his plate filled with the hollow chocolate-mold train running on tracks of caramel ties and chocolate-syrup rails, its shell filled with chocolate mousse, whipped cream, and a fat strawberry.
“Maybe a small bite. The prime rib filled me up, but I can’t resist ending a meal on a sweet note.”
Tillie’s smile provided that for him. He sank his fork into the mousse and extended it across the table to her. Her eyes opened wider in surprise that he hadn’t let her help herself, but her lips opened as well and wrapped around the fork as he slowly slid the decadent dessert into her mouth.
She closed her eyes. “Mmm. So good.”
He dipped the fork into the mixture of mousse and whipped cream and took a bite from the same fork, the intimacy of the gesture not lost on him.
So why on God’s green earth was he now holding the berry by the stem in front of her mouth without asking if she even wanted more? He waited, all the while imagining her lips opening and accepting his offering. He’d sink to the depths of hell tonight trying to sleep with that image imprinted on his brain, but couldn’t banish it now.
Tillie smiled. “Strawberries! My favorite!” Her voice sounded huskier than before, and her eyes twinkled as her rosy lips opened again and wrapped around the plump fruit. For what seemed the longest time, she didn’t move and then leaned back taking half the berry into her mouth. She continued to smile at him as she chewed deliberately, knowing full well the effect she was having on him. When some of the juice started to run toward her chin, he nearly lost it.
Don’t picture yourself licking it off her.
Too late.
She laughed and swiped her chin with the napkin. You snooze, you lose, Jesse.
“Sorry. I’m not used to being hand fed.”
He wasn’t sorry in the least. The thought of another man doing what he’d just done wouldn’t sit well with him, though. As if he had any claim on her or ever would.
The woman was the real deal—no false airs or guiles. She’d never have been able to carry off a hoax if she’d wanted to.
Tillie didn’t close her eyes as she had when he kissed her, but maintained eye contact with him as he bit off the remainder of the berry, his lips touching where hers had been a moment before. How could this feel as pleasurable as their kiss last night?
While he couldn’t answer that question, Greg shifted in his seat, trying to ignore the evidence. He had the rest of the train ride to get the lower half of his body under control. He only hoped that would give him enough time.
Somehow, he didn’t think a 19th-century woman would behave so brazenly, especially in public. Thank God he lived today and not back then. “Do you think this is how Miss Zee would have acted on a train ride with Jesse?”
Her eyes opened wider as she shook her head. “This is why I could never be a docent. I wouldn’t be able to stay in character! But I don’t imagine Jesse as being all that sensuous, either.”
Was she calling Greg sensuous by association? He smiled. If she only knew he was out of character as well. Nancy would never have described him as even romantic before.
Abruptly recalling that his son sat next to him, he realized that Derek seemed to be deep in a solo conversation as if speaking with an imaginary someone seated in the empty chair Tillie had vacated. As he played with his toy train on the table, he glanced up every now and then to answer questions only he could hear.
Pleased his son was otherwise oblivious of what he and Tillie were up to, Greg used all the self-discipline he could muster to finish the dessert within the shell of the chocolate train as he watched her finish eating her pie and drink her coffee.
Out of the blue, he asked, “What’s wrong with the men around here?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“How is it a woman like you is still single?”
Watching the flush creep up the column into her neck as she averted her gaze made him grin. Composing herself, she smiled at him and said, “I’m discerning.”
He liked to think she was interested in him at least a little, but perhaps it was all an act.
“It’s not that I don’t date at all. But some men are a little too pushy, or they are more interested in my property than in me.”
Guilty as charged?
However, his interest in the house waned compared to his desire to get to know her better. Not that he still didn’t want to solve the mystery Gram wrote about and find out whether Jesse had survived his murder.
Well before they neared the station, their cups and plates—his including the shell of the choo-choo dessert—had been cleared.
“What are your plans for tomorrow?” she asked.
With some difficulty, he forced himself to focus on her words. “We’re heading out after breakfast to go to the Louisville Zoo.”
Her attention turned to Derek who watched the stationary railroad cars in the RJ Corman rail yard as they passed by. “Oh, Derek, you are going to love our zoo. Be sure to go downstairs at the polar bear exhibit. I’m sure they will be quite active this time of year. One might even swim right up to you.”
“Cool!”
While going to the zoo had been one of the things Greg had saved until closer to the end of their vacation, he regretted being away from Tillie most of the day.
“Join us?”
“I’d love to, but that parlor tree isn’t going to decorate itself.”
“Save it for when we get back, and we’ll help again. We’re almost finished, aren’t we?”
“I might take you up on saving it until late afternoon, but I need to spend the morning doing prep work for the preservationists’ supper Monday. I’m sorry, but I do appreciate the invitation.”
He’d forgotten all about it, to be honest. Sharing Tillie with a bunch of strangers was the last thing he wanted to do.
Greg suddenly wanted Tillie all to himself.
* * *
“What does she mean I wasn’t sensuous? We might not have used that term in my day, but I had plenty of style when it came to the ladies. And he clearly doesn’t know anything about my Zee. That woman, well, she kept me nipping at her heels for many years before she agreed to marry me, didn’t she?”
Amelia rolled her eyes. She’d taken the empty seat at the table while Jesse stood behind Gregory. “Now, Jesse, don’t get your knickers in a twist. Young folks always think they invented intercourse. They don’t see us old folks as ever having been young and in love.”
“Ain’t that the truth?” He glanced at Tillie. “You think th
ey’re in love?”
“Judging by how much Gregory squirmed in his seat while feeding her, he’s at least in lust.”
“And Tillie’s eyes sure have a sparkle in them the likes of which I ain’t never seen there.”
“Can love be far behind?” Amelia smiled. Perhaps this was going to work out fine after all. “Once we got Tillie past being so staid, things started to happen.”
“Yep. Taking a tumble in those leaves was the icebreaker.”
“Agreed. Glad she went to the office for that bourbon after you knocked over that bottle.”
“Took a lot out of me to get up that much energy, but the cause was worth it. And you were brilliant to plant the idea of that sleigh ride in Gregory’s head. If they can’t work it out here with that house causing them so much grief, maybe going to a neutral location will lower some barriers.”
“Derek picked up on it, too. He told me he likes Tillie a lot.”
“I wondered what you two were talking about. He’s a good kid.”
“I can’t rightly say Gregory and Tillie are solid yet,” Jesse said. “If they can’t lower their guard and get over some of the foolishness that keeps coming between them, all our efforts are gonna be for naught.”
“Give them time. At least Gregory’s no longer badgering her about using my recipes and presence to sell reservations at the inn. Why he’d think I’d be bothered in the least stumps me. I knew all along Tillie would find a way to make the old house fit her needs. She’s done more for the place than my Margaret would have.”
“What do you suppose happened to Margaret, anyway? Was she that stuck-up and materialistic as a child?”
“No. That husband of hers ruined her.”
“What’d he do?”
“Filled her head with notions of get-rich schemes. Reminds me of my first husband. Arrogant, conceited bastard, if you ask me. Privileged, entitled…”
“Okay, I get the picture.”
She wasn’t finished yet. “All too worried about what other people think, as well. He infected Margaret with that nonsense. Can you imagine her showing up here with my grandson in earshot demanding I hand over her inheritance early? Why, the nerve! I started from nothing and learned to live within my means.”
“Didn’t hurt that you married Dr. Foster.”
“He was house rich, but we had our lean years, especially in the ’40s. Where Margaret got the impression she was entitled to anything was beyond me. But I swear if I’d known she’d told Gregory I died years before I did…” Amelia huffed. “Right up until I laid on my death bed, I thought she’d merely poisoned him against me and that was why he had no interest in keeping in touch. I only hope we can save him from going down the same path his parents did.”
“You have to admit, though, Gregory was a might arrogant, too, when he showed up, but Tillie sure whittled away at that façade fast.”
Amelia giggled like a schoolgirl. “She even managed to get him to dress up as you and go out in public! He didn’t appear too excited about that at first, but took to the fun right quick.”
“He sure seems excited now.” Jesse grinned.
“Mark my words. This is going to be a romance for the ages once those walls come tumbling down.”
“Hope so. I want Tillie to find someone so I don’t have to worry about her no more.”
Amelia cocked her head. “One thing I can’t figure out is how on earth did Caroline’s granddaughter hear about her connection to you, Jesse?”
“Well, Jessica, my granddaughter, was old enough to remember Caroline when she was placed with that family in Bardstown.” He glanced away before continuing. “She also was quite intuitive. I used to visit her in her dreams when she was first adopted. She missed her mama, and I wanted her to know she wasn’t alone. I might have, well, told her I was her papa.”
Amelia’s eyes opened wide. “Seriously? No wonder she was pegged a lunatic if she shared that story. I knew Caroline wouldn’t have been so foolish as to burden the child with that information.”
“Hey, I didn’t say I handled things the way I should have. But I thought I was doing the right thing.
“All I can say is it’s a good thing we’re fixing the mess we made for that sweet girl who inherited this burden in life.”
“She’s stronger than I’ve given her credit for in the past.”
Amelia stood and walked over to Jesse, wrapping her arms around him. “Tillie can take care of herself. She’s merely had too many disappointments and crosses to bear so young in life. They left her too scared to share her heart with anyone else fearing they wouldn’t accept her if they knew the truth about her past. I want her to feel the kind of love I’ve known with two of the three men I gave my heart to. Only had it broken once by my no-account first husband, George Mercer.”
“Don’t you get going on him again. Come on, Amelia.” Jesse held out his elbow and Amelia took it. “We’ve done all we can do here. Let’s leave them be a while.” Hand in hand, they walked through the side of the train.
Chapter Thirteen
Tillie lay in bed wide awake for hours, her cheeks flushed at the memory of Greg feeding her. Whatever possessed her to behave that way? And why did it seem perfectly natural at the same time?
How would something more in a relationship look for them? They lived several states apart.
“Oh, Mrs. Foster. I wish you were here.” This reminded her of the way she felt when asked to the prom. Mrs. Foster had given her the courage and confidence to accept. It had been her first dance.
But she wasn’t seventeen anymore. This was much more serious.
Stand on your own two feet, Tillie.
Mrs. Foster probably would be thrilled she was interested in Greg. Heck, hadn’t she invoked some kind of cosmic wish on the holly leaf ornament all those years ago? Maybe Mrs. Foster was somehow making things happen from the other side.
Don’t be ridiculous.
Dropping recipe cards was one thing, but matchmaking quite another. Besides, the thought of Mrs. Foster watching over them would make her incredibly reluctant to be intimate with him. Oh my! Best not to think about her mentor, his grandmother, in this regard.
And when exactly was he going to admit why he’d come here? Should she confront him? She’d never been one to dare to speak out, but how could there be anything between them with this huge lie sitting like a boulder in their midst?
Tillie punched her pillow and rolled onto her side, resolving not to succumb to the man’s charms again. She needed to keep things on safer ground. He’d only be here a few more days. If she wasn’t careful, he’d leave her with a broken heart.
Or was it already too late for that?
She rolled one way then the other for what seemed the entire night. When the alarm sounded, she’d probably only dozed off for an hour or so. Hoping not to give the appearance of something the cat dragged in, she showered and tried to make herself presentable before trudging downstairs to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Greg had said they wanted an early start for the zoo today.
Perhaps he wouldn’t make any mention of yesterday’s train ride. If not, she’d let it go as well, although it wasn’t the train itself that she wanted to forget.
Pulling the sausage-egg casserole and hash-brown casserole from the oven to the warming area, she prepared a fruit salad, putting on the finishing touches as she heard them enter the dining room.
“Coffee’s hot on the sideboard,” she announced. Taking a deep breath, she carried the bowl into the dining room and plastered a smile on her face. “Good morning, boys!”
“Hi, Miss Tillie! I’m going to the zoo today!”
“So I hear. Let’s get that belly filled up first.”
Approaching Greg at the coffee pot where he was adding sugar to his mug, she held her breath until he turned and smiled.
“Good morning.” He glanced down at the salad in her hand. “Looks great! Strawberries have become my new favorite fruit.”
Her stomach dropped�
��literally—as an image of him feeding her on the train yesterday flashed across her mind.
At least the bowl didn’t crash to the floor. She hadn’t realized she’d included strawberries in the salad or the implication of such when she’d made it. The telltale flush warmed her cheeks as she remembered what he’d done with that berry yesterday.
“About that,” she began then remembered Derek was nearby playing with his cars on the table. “Would you mind helping me in the kitchen with the two casseroles?”
“Of course not.”
He followed her as she tried to decide whether to say anything about his identity. His mood appeared to be much calmer than hers. He’d probably slept like a baby. What did he have to keep him up? Obviously not a guilty conscience.
And why was she losing sleep when he was the one keeping secrets?
“Why don’t you take the potatoes, and I’ll handle the eggs?” Once again, she’d chickened out. Her role here was to be hospitable and feed her guests. Nothing more. He owed her no explanations as to why he’d come here under false pretenses. He was simply a patron at her inn.
“Tillie?” he asked before picking up the dish. “About yesterday…” Surprisingly, he was thinking about it, too. She turned to face him, unsure what he wanted to say. “I wanted you to know I haven’t had so much fun in a long time.”
Fun. Okay, once again she’d gotten her hopes up. He’d merely enjoyed the train ride with her. Maybe the dressing up part was the thrill for him.
“I’m glad. So did I.” She’d have thought her clipped tones would have conveyed her mood to him clearly, but he didn’t seem to pick up on it.
“I wouldn’t have thought in a million years you’d catch me out in costume like that other than at Halloween.”
You’re making a mountain out of a molehill, Tillie.
She forced a smile. “You made a perfect Jesse James to my Miss Zee. I enjoyed myself, too.” Too much.
“I wish you’d reconsider about joining us at the zoo.”
Jesse's Hideout (Bluegrass Spirits 1) Page 17
