awful.”
“I stopped tasting it a couple of hours ago.”
Allison went to the kitchen door, opened it, and dumped the contents onto the ground. Then she went to the sink and rinsed her cup. “Maybe we should go to bed.” After the words were out of her mouth, she realized the implication. “I mean, maybe you should sleep off what ever is bothering you and I’ll go back to my room.”
TJ stood from the table and slowly crossed the room to stand in front of her. He trapped her between his overwhelming, strong and powerful body and the kitchen sink. The smell of whisky on his breath didn’t bother her. The beating of her heart thundered in her ears. She stood perfectly still afraid of what would happen if she moved.
His gaze locked on her mouth. Whiskers shadowed his cheeks. Lines creased the corners of his eyes as they narrowed and he leaned into her. His breath was warm. Dear God, he was going to kiss her. She sucked in a breath and waited.
“Good night, Allison.”
Her body went limp as he dropped his drink in the sink, turned, and left the room. With white knuckles, and weak knees, she gripped the edge of the counter to keep from losing her balance. That was close…too close.
* * *
The following evening, Allison fed the children early. She wanted extra time to get ready for her walk with Joseph. Technically it could be called courting, but she preferred to think of it as an act of friendship.
Allison brushed the wrinkles from her favorite dress. It was one of the few possessions she had from her life in Boston. The neckline cut across her collarbone and wrapped around her shoulders leaving them bare. The deep green color matched her eyes. Carefully she centered and pinned a cameo broach to the collar of her dress between her breasts. Montana sun had created fire-like highlights in her hair, which fell to the center of her back in soft curls. She like the way she looked. Montana made her feel beautiful. The way Joseph responded to her made her feel like a woman. Alas, TJ’s indifference rattled her most.
The cause of her frustration sat in the living room with his feet up. He opened his eyes when he heard her on the stairs. He stood.
His eyes narrowed as she came into the room. If only she could distinguish the difference between happy, mad, or apathetic. Would he comment on her dress, the way she looked? She’d studied her reflection in the mirror. The dress couldn’t be more different from her usual attire, or anything he’d ever seen her in for that matter.
“Did you get something to eat?”
He nodded. “Allison—” He was about to say more when a knock sounded at the door. “I’ll be right back.” He took two steps when she stopped him by placing a hand on his arm.
“I know who’s at the door.”
He moved her hand, went to the door, and opened it.
“Evening, TJ.” Train’s eyes immediately scanned the room to find Allison.
“I’m ready.” She loosely draped her wrap around her shoulders.
“Did you do all this for me?” He placed his hand on the small of her back.
She smiled at him and nodded.
“Where in the hell are you two going?” TJ folded his arms across his chest.
“Joseph is taking me for an evening stroll.” She placed her white gloved fingers on his forearm.
“You don’t look dressed for walking. You look ready for the opera or something.”
Allison did a small curtsy. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“This is a ranch. Your dress will be filthy.”
“A night like this, with a handsome gentleman, is worth it.”
Train and Allison walked down the front steps of the house.
“I think we can assume TJ doesn’t approve.” Train looked over his shoulder to the house. His boss was upset and Train knew why. Allison looked incredible and TJ wasn’t on the receiving end of Allison’s efforts for a change.
“I don’t see what business it is of his.”
They were across the front yard and heading down the hill before they finally heard TJ
“I stopped tasting it a couple of hours ago.”
Allison went to the kitchen door, opened it, and dumped the contents onto the ground. Then she went to the sink and rinsed her cup. “Maybe we should go to bed.” After the words were out of her mouth, she realized the implication. “I mean, maybe you should sleep off what ever is bothering you and I’ll go back to my room.”
TJ stood from the table and slowly crossed the room to stand in front of her. He trapped her between his overwhelming, strong and powerful body and the kitchen sink. The smell of whisky on his breath didn’t bother her. The beating of her heart thundered in her ears. She stood perfectly still afraid of what would happen if she moved.
His gaze locked on her mouth. Whiskers shadowed his cheeks. Lines creased the corners of his eyes as they narrowed and he leaned into her. His breath was warm. Dear God, he was going to kiss her. She sucked in a breath and waited.
“Good night, Allison.”
Her body went limp as he dropped his drink in the sink, turned, and left the room. With white knuckles, and weak knees, she gripped the edge of the counter to keep from losing her balance. That was close…too close.
* * *
The following evening, Allison fed the children early. She wanted extra time to get ready for her walk with Joseph. Technically it could be called courting, but she preferred to think of it as an act of friendship.
Allison brushed the wrinkles from her favorite dress. It was one of the few possessions she had from her life in Boston. The neckline cut across her collarbone and wrapped around her shoulders leaving them bare. The deep green color matched her eyes. Carefully she centered and pinned a cameo broach to the collar of her dress between her breasts. Montana sun had created fire-like highlights in her hair, which fell to the center of her back in soft curls. She like the way she looked. Montana made her feel beautiful. The way Joseph responded to her made her feel like a woman. Alas, TJ’s indifference rattled her most.
The cause of her frustration sat in the living room with his feet up. He opened his eyes when he heard her on the stairs. He stood.
His eyes narrowed as she came into the room. If only she could distinguish the difference between happy, mad, or apathetic. Would he comment on her dress, the way she looked? She’d studied her reflection in the mirror. The dress couldn’t be more different from her usual attire, or anything he’d ever seen her in for that matter.
“Did you get something to eat?”
He nodded. “Allison—” He was about to say more when a knock sounded at the door. “I’ll be right back.” He took two steps when she stopped him by placing a hand on his arm.
“I know who’s at the door.”
He moved her hand, went to the door, and opened it.
“Evening, TJ.” Train’s eyes immediately scanned the room to find Allison.
“I’m ready.” She loosely draped her wrap around her shoulders.
“Did you do all this for me?” He placed his hand on the small of her back.
She smiled at him and nodded.
“Where in the hell are you two going?” TJ folded his arms across his chest.
“Joseph is taking me for an evening stroll.” She placed her white gloved fingers on his forearm.
“You don’t look dressed for walking. You look ready for the opera or something.”
Allison did a small curtsy. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“This is a ranch. Your dress will be filthy.”
“A night like this, with a handsome gentleman, is worth it.”
Train and Allison walked down the front steps of the house.
“I think we can assume TJ doesn’t approve.” Train looked over his shoulder to the house. His boss was upset and Train knew why. Allison looked incredible and TJ wasn’t on the receiving end of Allison’s efforts for a change.
“I don’t see what business it is of his.”
They were across the front yard and heading down the hill before they finally heard TJ
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