“Ah, I see.”
“He invited me to see his ranch.”
Barrie gave her a knowing look, and this time, Sheridan felt the heat rise in her own face. “No, it’s not like that.”
“But you want it to be, don’t you?”
The question took her aback. Did she? Did she want something more from Wyatt? Perhaps. Hewasa good man. And she couldn’t discount his charming smile. Or the way his gaze swept over her, the heat in his eyes nearly her undoing. “We’re friends. Isn’t this what friends do? Spend time with each other?”
Barrie tilted her head to the side, her wide gaze reflecting the look of innocence she had cultivated so well. “Yes, that is what friends do.”
Sheridan hesitated then asked the question, “What if I did want something more?”
Barrie moved away from the door and sauntered across the parlor in her skimpy pantalettes and corset, then took a seat across from her. “Has he kissed you yet?”
Her face heated and she quickly shook her head.
“Do you want him to?”
She didn’t even have to think about it. She did want him to hold her and kiss her, though she’d never been kissed before. “Yes.”
“You can always kiss him, you know. Some men like that.”
“I wouldn’t even know where to begin,” she admitted, the heat encompassing her face moving lower to include her throat. Even her ears felt hot. “I’ve never kissed anyone before, aside from on the cheek. I’ve never been kissed either.”
That admission shocked Barrie, if the look on her face was any indication. And then she let out a laugh. “Oh honey, you don’t know what you’re missing. There ain’t nothing quite like the kiss of a man who knows how to do it well. Done right, it’ll make your toes curl. It’ll make your heart beat faster, too.”
“It will?”
“Yes, ma’am!” The woman grinned, absolute certainty dancing in her eyes.
Sheridan suddenly wanted to feel her toes curl in her shoes. “So, what do I do?”
Barrie shrugged. “You can ask him to kiss you.”
“I can do that?”
“Of course, you can, honey. And I’m sure, Mr. MacLean will be more than happy to oblige.” Barrie patted her hand. “All you got to do is get up real close to him, take his hands in yours, orbetter yet, wrap your arms around him, look him straight in the eye, and say ‘Kiss me.’” She laughed again. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you. Believe me, it won’t take much more than that.”
The grandfather clock struck the hour, the chime catching her attention. Barrie glanced at the clock as well. “My next appointment will be here any minute. I need to get ready.” She rose from her seat and strolled across the parlor floor then paused at the bottom of the stairs, her hand resting on the ornate railing. “Just ask him. What’s the worst he can say?”
Her heart was already pounding too hard. “He could say ‘no.’”
“Yes, he could,” Barrie conceded the point. “But I don’t think he will.”
Sheridan watched Barrie go upstairs, then went back to her book, or at least tried to go back to her book, but the words on the page weren’t making any sense. She couldn’t concentrate at all, as in her mind, she kept rehearsing how she’d ask Wyatt to kiss her. None of the words made sense. They sounded too harsh or too wishy-washy, unsure, yet bold.
The doorbell rang, startling her out of her own head. How unusual. No one rang the bell. Customers normally just walked into the house. She couldn’t count how many times she’d been startled by a man waiting in the parlor.
She put her book aside and walked to the door. Opening it, she sucked in her breath. Was it possible Wyatt MacLean was even more handsome than the last time she’d seen him?
Yes. It was.
“Are you ready?” he asked as his gaze roamed over her, appreciation dancing in his eyes.
Sheridan tried to find her voice, but instead just stammered. “Y…yes, I’m ready. Let me just get my cape.”
“Don’t forget your gloves. It’s still a little chilly, but not nearly as cold as it has been. I think Spring is finally coming.” He smiled, which set her heart beating a little faster in her chest.
