doesn’t she?” Eunice asked Jill. “Considering everything?”
“I think she is. What’s not to feel secure about, though, if you’re part of the Reed household?”
Jill got up, taking the tray with her into the kitchen, realizing how true her words were. Certainly she was flourishing under the kindness the Reeds had shown her. It was easy enough sometimes to imagine she was actually part of their family, and not just a woman who desperately wanted a fresh start in life. Of course, there was more to worry about with Holly, since her wellbeing had apparently been threatened, but perhaps Holly sensed her safety wasn’t jeopardized here. She had Dustin protecting her.
Jill rinsed off the cookie plate, then meandered back to stand in the wide parlor doorway. Eunice was placing a festively patterned runner on top of the sideboard. Holly was still snoozing, and Joey was hanging ornaments in a tediously perfectionist manner. Dustin walked over to Jill and paused at her side.
“If you don’t mind, I think I’ll go upstairs to wash up. I feel a little gritty after cutting down that tree. Think I’ve got pine needles down the back of my shirt.”
Jill noticed the deep lines of weariness around Dustin’s eyes. Of course, he’d worked outside in the cold all day, then come home early to take Joey on his first tree-finding mission, but…there was something more in the depths of his dark eyes that she couldn’t quite fathom.
She thought she saw sadness, a wearying kind of sadness. “You certainly deserve a break. Besides, I think you got everything started so well, Joey can finish decorating his first trophy tree by himself.”
“Yeah.”
Dawning pride beamed from his eyes as he glanced at his son, before he swung his gaze back to Jill. She started to say something, but Joey called out before she could speak.
“You…you under the mistletoe, Daddy!”
Jill’s gaze jumped upward. It was true. Eunice’s hands had been busy, and she’d not missed putting a sprig of mistletoe in the doorway, cleverly twined with a bright red ribbon.
Joey asked, “You…you hafta kiss her now?” Jill’s eyes widened. Dustin’s gaze was pinned to hers. The weariness appeared to be gone, replaced by something else she wasn’t sure about. He paused, perhaps considering Joey’s words, maybe out of politeness. Surely he wasn’t going to…
No. This was all wrong. Dustin was a grieving man. She was the housekeeper. Not knowing what to say, Jill turned and fled into the kitchen.
Chapter Seven
Jill’s quick escape had saved Dustin from making a stupid blunder. Kissing his housekeeper was not a good idea for all folks concerned. As much as he might have been tempted by the mistletoe, any fool knew that once he kissed Jill, nothing would ever be the same between them. In order for this relationship to work, it had to stay on an extremely formal, professional level. Otherwise, it was going to become even more awkward around the Regret Ranch.
Still feeling unsteady despite this assessment of the matter, Dustin turned to his mother. “I’m going to shower. I have to go out tonight, and I don’t want my potential clients run off by the sawdust and tree leaves I’m wearing in my hair.” He paused, thinking about the expression on Jill’s face a moment ago. “Would you mention to Jill that I won’t be here for dinner after all? I’ve decided to treat the city boys to a real cowboy’s meal.”
Eunice nodded. “Go ahead, Dustin. I’ll let Jill know the change in plans.”
“Thanks.” Dustin stomped up the stairs, thinking that at least this way he could avoid Jill at the dinner table. Damn it, he had actually liked Joey’s strange suggestion. He had to get a hold on himself, though perhaps in the morning the whole situation would have blown over to his satisfaction.
Eunice listened to her son walk upstairs before looking at Joey, who, completely unaware of the adult angst he’d stirred up, was engrossed in
“I think she is. What’s not to feel secure about, though, if you’re part of the Reed household?”
Jill got up, taking the tray with her into the kitchen, realizing how true her words were. Certainly she was flourishing under the kindness the Reeds had shown her. It was easy enough sometimes to imagine she was actually part of their family, and not just a woman who desperately wanted a fresh start in life. Of course, there was more to worry about with Holly, since her wellbeing had apparently been threatened, but perhaps Holly sensed her safety wasn’t jeopardized here. She had Dustin protecting her.
Jill rinsed off the cookie plate, then meandered back to stand in the wide parlor doorway. Eunice was placing a festively patterned runner on top of the sideboard. Holly was still snoozing, and Joey was hanging ornaments in a tediously perfectionist manner. Dustin walked over to Jill and paused at her side.
“If you don’t mind, I think I’ll go upstairs to wash up. I feel a little gritty after cutting down that tree. Think I’ve got pine needles down the back of my shirt.”
Jill noticed the deep lines of weariness around Dustin’s eyes. Of course, he’d worked outside in the cold all day, then come home early to take Joey on his first tree-finding mission, but…there was something more in the depths of his dark eyes that she couldn’t quite fathom.
She thought she saw sadness, a wearying kind of sadness. “You certainly deserve a break. Besides, I think you got everything started so well, Joey can finish decorating his first trophy tree by himself.”
“Yeah.”
Dawning pride beamed from his eyes as he glanced at his son, before he swung his gaze back to Jill. She started to say something, but Joey called out before she could speak.
“You…you under the mistletoe, Daddy!”
Jill’s gaze jumped upward. It was true. Eunice’s hands had been busy, and she’d not missed putting a sprig of mistletoe in the doorway, cleverly twined with a bright red ribbon.
Joey asked, “You…you hafta kiss her now?” Jill’s eyes widened. Dustin’s gaze was pinned to hers. The weariness appeared to be gone, replaced by something else she wasn’t sure about. He paused, perhaps considering Joey’s words, maybe out of politeness. Surely he wasn’t going to…
No. This was all wrong. Dustin was a grieving man. She was the housekeeper. Not knowing what to say, Jill turned and fled into the kitchen.
Chapter Seven
Jill’s quick escape had saved Dustin from making a stupid blunder. Kissing his housekeeper was not a good idea for all folks concerned. As much as he might have been tempted by the mistletoe, any fool knew that once he kissed Jill, nothing would ever be the same between them. In order for this relationship to work, it had to stay on an extremely formal, professional level. Otherwise, it was going to become even more awkward around the Regret Ranch.
Still feeling unsteady despite this assessment of the matter, Dustin turned to his mother. “I’m going to shower. I have to go out tonight, and I don’t want my potential clients run off by the sawdust and tree leaves I’m wearing in my hair.” He paused, thinking about the expression on Jill’s face a moment ago. “Would you mention to Jill that I won’t be here for dinner after all? I’ve decided to treat the city boys to a real cowboy’s meal.”
Eunice nodded. “Go ahead, Dustin. I’ll let Jill know the change in plans.”
“Thanks.” Dustin stomped up the stairs, thinking that at least this way he could avoid Jill at the dinner table. Damn it, he had actually liked Joey’s strange suggestion. He had to get a hold on himself, though perhaps in the morning the whole situation would have blown over to his satisfaction.
Eunice listened to her son walk upstairs before looking at Joey, who, completely unaware of the adult angst he’d stirred up, was engrossed in
Similar Books
