“I'd like that.” She placed her napkin on the table and stood, sending the others, except Mother, a much less welcome smile. “If you'll excuse me.”
They'd barely made it into Noah's study when Kizzie released a deep sigh. “I ain't never heard so much talk about dresses and parties and money and food before in my life.” She turned to him, her eyes wide. “And I'm from the mountains. We love to talk about food.”
His laugh burst out as he followed her across the room, leaving the door open so Kizzie could listen for Charlie. “I think Miss Malone is becoming much more comfortable with her position as George's fiancée, because all pretense appears to have flown out the window.”
He gestured toward the chess table, where two comfortable chairs poised on either side. Kizzie followed his direction, shaking her head.
“But here's something I don't understand. If your brother has his sights set on high society, then I reckon he's got a good catch, but why didshechoosehim? He ain't so up in money as her, though he puts on enough airs for it.”
“Land.” He took the seat across from her.
“Land?”
“What is less known is that the Malones own buildings, but not a great deal of land in this area.” He adjusted some of the pieces on the board. “Father purchased over one thousand acres surrounding the mill. Valuable property, especially with its placement along the river and with its forests. There is always money to be made with land.”
“So she wants to marry him for the land?”
“You noticed her personality. She'll take control of it as soon as they're wed and likely do whatever her father says they ought to do with it.”
“Where will that leave you and your mother?”
“This house and the two acres adjacent are hers. And though I don't inherit anything as vast as George, Father left me twenty acres of riverfront between the mill and town, as well as some funds. I inherit them on my twenty-fifth birthday in November.”
“Good.” She sent him a satisfied smile. “Even if what you get is smaller, you'll use it better.”
“I hope we still have a mill and workers left for me to manage, or I may have to start over with a new venture once I inherit.”
“You'll do well with anything you put your mind to. I'm sure of that.”
He warmed at her ready confidence.
Kizzie lowered her chin to her palm and studied the chessboard. “You still looking for more workers?”
“Certainly. We can't manage with our dwindling numbers long-term. Already, we're faltering.”
The light in Kizzie's eyes deepened, and she leaned forward. “I have a good idea about new workers, Noah Lewis. But you're gonna have to convince your brother about it.”
He studied her, his white button-down rolled up at the sleeves, his tie forsaken. He looked at leisure. Comfortable.
With her.
And the intimacy of the room only added to the feeling. It was too easy to imagine them in their own home, studying over a board game and sending sweet glances to each other while they talked and teased and loved each other.
And he was the type of man who was made for loving something fierce.
Because he'd love back in all the ways that mattered most.
“You've got that mischievous look in your eyes, Miss McAdams, so I'm bracing myself.”
Her grin spread a little wider at the humor in his tone. “If your brother is desperate, he should be willing to take anybody, ain't that right?”
Noah's eyes narrowed a little. “Mm-hmm.”
The tilt to his lips inspired a sudden kissing thought out of nowhere. Heat rushed into her face, and she looked down at the strange figures on the board in front of her. “So, some of Mrs. Carter's boarders need jobs.”
“You mean Mrs. Carter's girls?”
Yep, they had a reputation.
