“S-s-somewhat. They still think I’ve c-c-ontracted some type of b-b-brain fever, t-t-though.” She chuckled. “Maybe I have. I’ve n-n-never done th-th-this kind of thing b-b-before.”
Michael sighed, battle lost. He transferred both reins to one hand, and held out the other to her. “Come here.”
Hugging herself, her eyes met his with alarm. “W-w-what?”
“Move closer to me, you’re shaking so hard I’m afraid you’ll tumble off the seat.”
She slid over, barely touching him. He grunted, draped his arm around her shoulders, and pulled her close. She sat stiff as a board.
“Are they enjoying their stay here?”
“Y-y-yes. They’re g-g-going to the theater tonight. They invited me, but I didn’t f-f-feel up to it.” She snuggled closer, obviously enjoying the heat. Her muscles eased, her body slackened.
And his hardened. One part of him, anyway. Her lavender scent drifted toward him, and a few soft curls tickled his jaw as she swayed when the buggy hit small holes in the road. Somehow she felt right in his arms. A perfect fit.
Michael inwardly groaned when he thought about another way she would fit, naked, and writhing underneath him. Her soft, sweet breath hitching, slender arms pulling him close, as she found her release and cried his name.
Damn. I’m treading into dangerous territory here.
“How are your parents getting around while visiting here?” Maybe polite discourse would divert blood back to his brain.
“A rented buggy now and then.”
He blew out a breath of relief when Mrs. Wilson’s house came into view. Soft lights shone through the window, like a beacon, welcoming its inhabitants after a long day.
Heidi shifted and straightened her coat and scarf. “Thank you for the ride. I appreciate it.”
“I’m only too glad to do it. I can’t have my employee showing up sick for work.” He winked at her.
She folded the blanket into a neat square as he stopped the buggy, then climbed down to help her out.
They proceeded up the steps to the porch. “Don’t forget tomorrow is the birthday dinner at my aunt and uncle’s house.”
“No, I remember. I’m looking forward to meeting your family. Especially Ellie.”
Michael slowly raised his hand to cup her cheek, and quickly drew it back. “Well, good night, then. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Heidi nodded, and entered the house. He shivered. All of a sudden he felt very cold.
He headed for home, and fixed a simple supper of a cold beef sandwich and coffee. Restlessness took over once he finished his meal. Quite some time had passed since he’d visited the woman he’d had an arrangement with. But when he considered being intimate with a woman, only Heidi’s face rose before him. How would she look in the throes of passion? Her face flushed, her eyes darkened. Would she scream with her release, or sigh softly, a whisper between her plump lips?
She’s a betrothed woman. Although, he’d noticed the last few days the absence of her engagement ring.
He picked up the book on the Revolutionary War he’d started the week before, but the story held no interest. He’d read the same paragraph three times before he slammed the book shut. Maybe he should return to the store, and start his yearly inventory. Very unappealing. Finally, he decided to visit one of the saloons in town, something he rarely did, but he felt the need to be around people. Anything to take his mind off this growing attraction to his store clerk.
Neither one of them had mentioned the kiss, but the tension in the air, when only the two of them were in the store, crackled. He found his gaze drifting from his work to wherever Heidi stood. Her enthusiasm for the job continued, and his business had actually increased. A flash of annoyance jolted him when he realized his male business had grown. No one appeared immune to Heidi’s tinkling laughter, her bright smile, and friendly manner. Her eyes fairly glowed with happiness as she waited on customers.
Even the high school kids who stopped by for candy and sodas after school were drawn to her like a magnet. More than one pimply youth showed all the signs of puppy love, and came in each day to watch her mix sodas and joke with the young people.
He dropped the book on the table next to his chair. Grabbing his coat, he left the house and headed toward town. A walk in the brisk air would do his humming blood some good.
Once he reached the bright lights of town, he headed to The Blue Belle Saloon. Miss Lizzy kept girls upstairs, but Michael never found the idea of whores appealing. Most of the women in her employ were very young, and arrived at her door broke and looking for a way to earn enough money to head somewhere else. He hated the idea of using girls who had no other options but to sell their bodies to survive. Some of them were so young they should have still been in the schoolroom.
Friday nights drew a huge crowd in all the saloons. Shopkeepers and professional men joined farmers and ranchers for a few drinks to end the week. A steady stream of cowboys entered the bar, had a few drinks, then took the hand of a whore to head upstairs.
Michael found a place at the bar and ordered a beer. A few card games were in progress, and he considered joining one. Never a big card player, he enjoyed poker once in a while, but set a limit for what he could afford to lose. His Uncle Jesse had drilled moderation into his head. One of the many things he’d taught him, even though Michael had been sixteen before they’d even met.
He spotted an empty table in the back, and picking up his beer, carried the glass to the table and took a seat. Within minutes, Steven Farley, one of many barbers in town, joined him, along with Jacob Harris, an attorney who had recently set up his practice in Guthrie.