“Those pies of yours do go fast, I have to admit. Everyone loves them,” Mrs. Bonner said.
Jesse winked at her. “I’ll have a piece of that famous apple pie myself. And a cup of coffee.”
“Coming right up.”
He arranged the salt, pepper, and sugar bowl all in a row. “I’ll walk you to the town meeting. You shouldn’t be out alone at night.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Michael can walk with me. Or I can walk myself, thank you.” She moved the salt, pepper, and sugar bowl back where they were.
He suppressed a grin. Tori worked hard tutoring and baking for the restaurant. All of that along with the responsibility of four kids. He admired her spunk, but she carried a heavy burden for someone so young.
“Yes, I know you can walk over alone, but I could use the company, too.” He glanced up as Mrs. Bonner placed their order on the table.
“So I’ll stop around seven. Okay?”
“Fine.” Tori sipped her tea and winced, waving her hand in front of her mouth. “Oh, that’s hot.”
Jesse stifled a yawn. The town council meeting seemed to go on forever. When it came to people deciding on parting with their money to pay for a school and a sheriff, they were never quiet. The hands on the train station clock pointed to ten before the council called an end to the discussion. The only decision reached was they needed another meeting.
Tori and Jesse started toward home. Although a warm evening, the constant Oklahoma Territory wind whipped Tori’s hair into her eyes. Jesse clenched his hands, crushing the urge to reach out and tuck loose strands escaping her bun. Side by side, they walked in silence past closed businesses, dark and silent.
There were so many new buildings going up. The First Methodist Church came into view, already finished, sparkling white, and ready to save souls. Elmer Mason’s sign store did a wonderful trade since everyone wanted their business to be known.
The smell of cinnamon that always surrounded Tori, combined with the scent of rose water, drifted toward him. By now they were familiar, and comforting in some way, the attraction between them always present. He felt it, even though the obstinate woman beside him either didn’t know, or refused to acknowledge it.
He’d never had a problem before working his charm on the ladies. Here he’d found a woman who interested him in more than a casual way, and she acted indifferent.
They turned the corner toward her house. It seemed all too soon, like they’d just started walking. The reflection of the moon shining on his office window caught his attention. The place still needed a lot of work, but he’d built a couple of rooms on the back, which he found good enough for the time being. At least he’d picked up enough business to put food on his table, and with the way the lawsuits were mounting over land disputes, he expected in time to make a comfortable living.
They stopped in front of Tori’s door, and she reached for the doorknob.
“Good night, Jesse.” She yaw
ned.
“Tori, wait.” He put his hand on her arm. “Don’t go in yet.”
“Why not?” She stepped back.
One of those curls had fallen loose from her bun, and this time he didn’t make a fist, but reached out and tucked the silky strand behind her ear. Before he could stop himself, he removed her spectacles.
Tori’s eyes grew wide. “What are you doing?” she asked, her voice breathless.
He’d come this far, he wouldn’t retreat. “This.” He cupped her face in his hands and pressed his mouth to hers. Her lips were plump and tasted like sugar. When she didn’t pull away or smack him in the face, he slid his hands to the back of her head. With deliberate movements, he worked at the pins holding her bun and freed the long tresses of her soft hair. He slid his hand down her back and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her near, deepening their kiss when she whimpered.
Slowly, he lifted his head and studied her eyes. Without spectacles, they were more black than brown, or did passion deepen the color? The freckles scattered across her pert little nose presented an elfish look that would boil her blood if he told her. He wanted her blood to boil all right, but not with anger. Tori frowned, and with shaking hands retrieved her spectacles before moving back, trapped between his aroused body and the door. Good, she wasn’t unaffected.
“Why did you do that?” she whispered.
Jesse cleared his throat. “Damned if I know.”
Tori rushed through her door, then closed it with a snap.
Jesse stared numbly at the closed door. What the hell had he done? After the way she’d been acting, she’d probably get the new sheriff after him. Well, Miss Tori Henderson might pretend she had no interest. He smirked. But her heart had sped up, and she’d gulped for air when she grabbed her spectacles with shaking hands.
He couldn’t ignore her bottomless eyes. Thoughts of nibbling on her tempting lips, just made for kissing, and licking the lightly scented skin of her neck caused his blood to pool in the wrong place. And her hair, how the black waves felt like silk as he ran his hands through it.
On the other hand, Tori was a woman with men issues. Did he really want to get involved with a woman who pushed him away, despite her reaction tonight? In addition, she was stubborn, fiercely independent, and testy. He should probably let well enough alone and concentrate on his law practice.