Her embarrassment left her, and she smiled at him, that warm smile that transformed her into a beauty. “It seems to be very easy for me,” she said, laughing. “Now what am I going to serve for dinner? We have no more apples.”
His eyes were dancing. “I guess you’ll have to walk to the store and buy more.”
“So it seems.”
“Maybe I should walk along with you, just in case of danger.”
“Yes, perhaps you should. The streets of Chandler can be quite dangerous. Why, only last year two boys on bicycles ran into each other.”
“No! That’s horrifying! Who knows when something like that might happen again? I definitely think you need an escort.”
“I rather think I do, too,” Nellie said softly. Part of her mind was telling her to say no, that she should stay home and finish cooking. She should dismiss this overly familiar man and get on with her work. She was sure it wasn’t at all proper for him to saunter into the kitchen as he’d done. But there was another part of her mind that told her to go. It would be very pleasant to walk with this handsome man and say hello to people. Maybe, just for this one afternoon, she could pretend that she was like other young women and a handsome young man had come to call on her.
She removed her apron and hung it on a hook by the door. She should probably go upstairs and get a hat, should probably look at herself in a mirror, but she was afraid that if she left him alone he might disappear. She didn’t have Terel’s confidence that even if she kept a man waiting for hours, he’d be there when she showed up.
She turned to Jace and smiled. “I’m ready.”
He smiled back. He was very pleased that she didn’t spend an hour or so primping before a mirror before she’d leave the house. It was his experience that women as beautiful as Nellie gave much time and thought to adorning themselves.
He stepped aside so she could walk in front of him through the door, and he admired the gentle sway of her hips. A bit of hair straggled about her neck, and he had an urge to lift it and kiss her fine skin.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you,” Jace said when he realized Nellie was speaking. He’d opened the gate for her, and they were on the boardwalk.
“I forgot my basket.” She turned back to the house.
He couldn’t bear to let her out of his sight, and he was afraid that if she went back to the house he’d never get her out again. “I’ll carry all your purchases.” He couldn’t help himself. He reached out and lifted the little tendril of hair, his fingertips lingering on her neck. Her skin was as fine and as warm as he’d imagined.
Nellie was startled when he touched her, and then embarrassed. Was her hair such a mess? Of course it was. After dusting, weeding, cooking, and washing, she knew she had to look dreadful.
“I must—” she began, then she stepped back quickly.
She stepped right into Miss Emily, a tall, thin, very proper older woman who ran Miss Emily’s Tea Shop. Miss Emily’s packages went scattering about the boardwalk.
“I’m so sorry,” Nellie began, angry at herself for seeming never to do anything right. She stooped and started gathering packages.
Miss Emily remained standing and looked down at the two young people gathering her packages. She could have let the shop deliver her purchases for her, but she found that when a woman of her age walked about town carrying bundles some very interesting things happened.
“Well, Nellie,” Miss Emily said when they were standing. The young man was holding her packages and beaming at Nellie as though he were the cat that had eaten the cream. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your young man?”
“Mr. Montgomery isn’t…I mean, we aren’t…” Nellie stammered, flushing.
Jace grinned, making Miss Emily blink. He was a splendid-looking young man. “I may not be yet, but I mean to be her young man,” he said slowly. “I’m Jace Montgomery.”
“Emily,” she answered, “or Miss Emily, if you prefer.” She gave a hard, shrewd look at Jace. “I must say, young man, that you look pleased with yourself.”
“I am.” He looked at Nellie, whose face was still pink. “What man wouldn’t be when escorting such a beautiful woman?”
Nellie again felt like looking behind her to see whom he meant, but she could see that he was smiling down at her.
“Well, well, well,” Miss Emily said. “At last there’s a man in this town with some sense. Nellie is a fine young woman, quite, quite fine, and you’ll do very well to hang on to her.”
Jace took Nellie’s hand and slipped her arm through his. “I think I might do that,” he said, smiling at Miss Emily.
“Come to my shop for tea,” Miss Emily said.
“I’m sorry, but I have to return home and—”
“We’ll be there,” Jace said as Miss Emily took her packages and started walking.