AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He slipped his arm around Elizabeth’s waist. “Well, that’s right nice of you. A couple of years from now, I might look more friendly on that offer, but right now, I find I’m partial to Elizabeth’s company.”
Damn! He was a selfish S.O.B. Elizabeth would probably enjoy a chance to have an expensive dinner in a fancy hotel. But, before he could set his mind to backtrack, she leaned into his side. Her “Thank you” was aimed at Aaron and showed no sign of discontent.
“Are you sure?” the other man asked. “Banking business could take a while.”
Asa had to give the man points for persistence.
Elizabeth’s hand settled over his where it rested on her waist. Though her touch was as light as a feather, he had a distinct impression she was trying to soothe him as she said, “I’ve already made plans with my husband, but I appreciate the invitation.”
The relief that went through him was unwarranted. What else could she say? He hadn’t left her any option. He felt like a dog in the manger, but he couldn’t bring himself to rescind his statement. He neither liked nor trusted Aaron. He didn’t want him within a mile of his ranch, let alone his wife.
“It was nice to see you again, but…” He stepped back so Aaron could pass. “Don’t let us keep you from your business.”
The show of manners was lost on Ballard but earned him another stroking from Elizabeth. “Maybe you could come over for Sunday dinner?” she asked.
She’d better plan on doing a heck of a lot more than stroking if she expected him to sit down to the dinner table with their neighbor, Asa thought. He was saved from having to turn down the invitation by Aaron himself.
“Unfortunately, I have plans.” He took his hat from under his arm. “Maybe another time.”
The man hadn’t cleared the door when Elizabeth’s “thank you” reached Asa’s ears.
“For what?” he asked.
“For being polite.”
“No need to go looking for trouble.” Not when he had a feeling it was going to come to his door anyhow. Looking down, he noticed she was clenching her hands. “Something wrong?”
“No, I’m just thinking.”
“About what?”
She shrugged. “Things.”
He had his mouth open to press the issue when a neat, rotund older man came around the counter. “Mr. MacIntyre!”
He stepped away from Elizabeth. “Mr. Dunn.” He held out his hand. “It’s good to see you again.”
“Glad you could make our appointment.” He shook his hand twice in a very precise movement. “Have you been waiting long?”
“Nope. Got waylaid by an acquaintance of Elizabeth’s.”
“That’s right.” He smiled. “Mrs. MacIntyre and Mr. Ballard grew up together.”
“So I’ve been told.” Asa answered as the banker ushered Elizabeth to a wide-backed leather chair by the potbellied stove. “Why don’t you have a seat here while your husband and I conduct our business?”
She sank into the chair like a feather drifting onto a pillow, her spine straight, her hands folded in her lap, head tilted in perfect feminine deference. “Thank you.”
The banker’s whole demeanor softened, his voice patronizing. He clearly saw Elizabeth as nothing of consequence. To Asa, who’d watched her pole-axe a man with a bar stool and face down private demons without batting an eyelash, it was a revelation of the depths of stupidity to which a man could sink.
“Could I get you coffee or tea?”
Elizabeth raised a hand to her throat. There was the slightest flutter to her fingertips. “Oh, could you? It was a chilly ride in.”
Chilly, hell. She’d spent most of the trip napping, cocooned in his duster.
The banker lit off to get her beverage with the walk of a man on a mission.
“What are you up to?’ Asa asked Elizabeth.
“I didn’t realize you were coming here when you said you were coming to town.”
“No. I believe you had in mind a trip to the saloon.”
She cast a quick glance in the banker’s direction where he was barking directions to some poor, wet-behind-the-ears kid. “Don’t trust him. He’s as slimy as they come.”
“His opinion of you is a lot higher.”
She dismissed the discrepancy with a wave of her hand. “He’s just a man.”
And what exactly was he?
She seemed to realize her mistake. “I mean, he’s not a very intelligent man. He thinks women have no brains at all.”
“I can see where that would make him fair game.”
“That’s always been my opinion,” she replied dryly. “Especially since I think he’s taken advantage of a widow or two.”
“Seriously?” He really didn’t need to ask. Elizabeth was nearly always serious.
“Yes.”
Mr. Dunn was coming back. Elizabeth caught his hand. She tugged him down and kissed his cheek, damned near shocking him out of his boots. No doubt Mr. Dunn saw it as a demonstration of wifely emotion, but the whispered “watch your back” lingered in his mind as he straightened. Elizabeth wasn’t a woman for dramatics.
