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Introductions were made.
“It has been courteous of Dr. Drews and Mr. Haskins to entertain you on your arrival, but you should come with me,” Thomkins said, his eyes raking over Eve. Not in a sexual way, but straight perusal. That saved the man from being punched in the face. “Agnes, my wife, is looking forward to meeting you.”
While the man was well pulled together, his pale hair and pasty complexion made him look waxy. Somehow, even in the cooler weather, he would sweat, just as he did now. His forehead was shiny with it and I itched to toss a handkerchief at him.
“I’m fine here, thank you.” Eve had a flush to her cheeks and while she stood ramrod straight, she looked… softer.
“I wish to get to know you better,” Curtis said. He was the youngest and the most attractive of the three brothers. He had dark hair, slicked back, with a mustache and goatee. He was a foot taller than his eldest brother. In comparison, he made Thomkins look like an albino toad. If I were a woman, Curtis would be the one who would catch my eye first, although his weak personality left quite a bit to be desired. I had to hope Eve didn’t see just the man’s attractive facade.
“Why?” she asked, her head tilting slightly to the side and she pushed her glasses up. A long curl brushed over her shoulder.
“Well,” Curtis cleared his throat, looked down at the floor, too weak willed to look her in the eye. “With Melvin gone, I thought perhaps you might set your sights on me.”
At least the man was honest. Honest in his reason for showing up, honest in his lack of grief at his brother’s demise. I had to give him credit for at least that. The Thomkins brothers weren’t close. Not like Knox and me, our three other brothers who still lived in Kansas, along with Piper. But beneath Curtis’ interest all was greed, especially when he made the meager earnings of the town’s schoolteacher. He’d always wanted what Melvin had worked hard to achieve and now he could get it with just a simple, “I do.”
“That’s quite… direct and I appreciate that,” Eve replied.
Oh, shit. Did the bluestocking in her seek out the academic in him? Was that a draw for her? While I wasn’t a dolt, I wasn’t book smart either.
“While I should feel some sadness over my late husband’s death, I did not know him,” she continued.
I grunted out a laugh at the finely honed barb at both men in the doorway. Thomkins flushed and Curtis was embarrassed enough to look away.
“As a widow in a town with a large population of men, I assume I am somewhat of a commodity. My theory has been proven by your prompt appearance. Two men seeking marriage within an hour of my arrival in Slate Springs. I feel very… humbled, but I must be cautious and wary and watch for those who only want something from me instead of me myself.”
Another direct hit and I glanced at Knox, who was grinning widely.
“I appreciate your interest, but I have my sights set somewhere else.”
Every eye turned to her.
“You do?” Curtis asked.
“You do?” I asked at the same time as Knox.
Eve glanced at Piper, who gave her a smile and a nod.
Shit, what had our sister said to Eve? Who the hell had she met in the past twenty minutes sitting in the kitchen that gained her interest? We never should have let her out of our sights because—
“Yes. I am going to marry Mr. Dare.”
I stilled and I swear my heart skipped a beat. Knox grinned wider. My fists clenched.
Piper covered her mouth with her hand. The minx.
Lillian chose that moment to wake up and let out a loud cry.
Both Thomkins men looked from me to my brother, ignoring the distraction.
“Which Mr. Dare?” Curtis asked, ignoring Lillian’s fretting.
Yes, which Mr. Dare? I held my breath waiting for the answer.
“Both of them.”
“Both?” Knox and I shouted. Our little niece let out a scream at our loud outburst. Damn, she had lungs for being so tiny. Just like her mother.
Eve wanted both of us? I stared at Knox and I knew I had the same stunned expression as he did.
