He watched as relief washed over her face. “Just so you know we’re willing.”
He gave her a brisk nod. “Better get back to your husband. Wouldn’t want to make him jealous.”
“A part of me will always love you, Austin.” She leaned over and brushed a kiss over his cheek. His heart tightened.
“Same here,” he said hoarsely.
He watched her stroll back toward the house, her hips swaying gently from side to side. Within his heart, he bid the love of his youth a silent farewell.
Chapter 15
The Grand Ballroom of the Grand Hotel had changed over the years—like everything else in Austin’s life. If windows didn’t grace the wall, then floor-to-ceiling gilded mirrors did. The room seemed larger than it was as Austin stood beside his brothers, Loree at his side.
While Amelia and Dee rushed around the room making certain everything was in order, the children sat in chairs along the wall, like stair steps, from oldest to youngest, with the very youngest nestled in Houston’s arms. The girls swung their feet, their heels hitting the underside of their chair. Rawley slumped forward, looking bored as hell. Austin understood that feeling.
Dallas’s cook strode in, his legs bowed out like a man who still had a horse sitting beneath him, his fiddle tucked beneath his arm. He wore a fancy black suit that Austin had never expected the man to own.
“The fiddle player’s here,” Maggie announced. “You’re gonna have to dance with me, Rawley.”
Horror swept over Rawley’s face. “Don’t neither.”
“Do to.” Maggie tipped up her nose. “Uncle Dallas, doesn’t Rawley have to dance with me?”
Absently, Dallas waved his hand in the air, his attention focused on his wife. “Can’t see that it’d do any harm, Rawley. Probably be good practice.”
Groaning, Rawley glowered at Maggie, who wore a smile of triumph. Faith slid out of her chair, tiptoed across the floor, and climbed onto Rawley’s lap.
“Dance wiv me, too, Wawley.”
He held up a finger. “One dance.” He glared at Maggie. “One dance.” Holding Faith in place with one arm, he leaned forward and glared at each of his cousins in turn, his finger pointing to the ceiling. “One dance each and that’s it.”
He slumped back against the wall, reached into his shirt pocket, and removed a sarsaparilla stick.
“Gimme some,” Faith ordered.
“It’s my last piece,” Rawley said, even as he proceeded to break it into six pieces and distribute it to the girls, popping the last and smallest piece into his mouth.
He met Austin’s gaze over the top of Faith’s head. “I sure hope your baby is a boy.”
“Reckon we need to even things out a little, don’t
we?”
Rawley gave him a brusque nod. “We men folk are sorely outnumbered.”
Austin laughed, remembering a time when that was exactly what Dallas had wanted: more women out in West Texas.
Breathless, Amelia rushed over and took Gracie from Houston. “I think we just about have everything ready to go.”
“Who’s gonna watch the young ‘uns while you and me dance?” Houston asked.
“I’ll be happy to watch the girls,” Loree said, her fingers tightening around Austin’s. “I can’t imagine I’ll be doing any dancing tonight. In this red dress, I look like an apple that’s been turned upside down.”
Austin gave her a long slow perusal, then leaned over, and whispered in her ear, “I’ve always liked nibbling on apples.”
Her face burned a deep crimson, and he wished he could find some dark secluded corner where he could taste her fully. His only fear was that once he got started, he’d be unable to stop. He couldn’t remember ever wanting anything as much as he wanted Loree at this moment.
People began to arrive. The night they’d gone to the theater, Austin had only seen Leighton’s successful citizens. They were here tonight, but so were the cowboys, the wranglers, the stonemasons, and the carpenters. The ladies who worked in Dee’s hotel and restaurant glided into the room in their fancy gowns and were swept onto the floor to dance before the music began to play.
