Millie (Pendleton Petticoats Book 7)

by Shanna Hatfield

  Although he gave her plenty of opportunity to pull away, Millie did not intend to do so. Not when Gideon was about to make one of her dreams come true.

  Unsure what to expect, she closed her eyes and lifted her head. His lips, warm and firm, brushed hers once, twice, before settling on her mouth. Tenderly, he moved them against hers in a sweet kiss.

  Hungry for more, Millie slid her hands up his arms and wrapped them behind his neck. He deepened the kiss, lifting her into his embrace and holding her flush against him.

  Stars sparkled behind her eyes and Millie felt like she stood in a summer snowstorm as icy hot tremors rushed through her. Sensations she’d never even imagined twined throughout her entire being as Gideon mesmerized her with his powerful, passionate kisses.

  All at once, he lifted his head and drew in a ragged breath, as though he’d run a long distance and needed the air.

  Millie understood as she gulped air into her own deprived lungs, wanting more than anything for Gideon to repeat the experience.

  In no rush, he relaxed his hold and let her slide down the length of him until her feet touched the kitchen floor.

  “Not bad pudding,” he observed then turned and set the pan in the sink.

  Giggles burst out of Millie and she swatted him across the seat of his denims with a dishtowel. “Not bad? How often do you taste pudding in that exact manner?” she asked. At the thought that he perhaps had, her countenance fell. What if she was one of many women Gideon romanced in his kitchen.

  As though he could read her mind, he shook his head. “Millie girl, you are the only woman I’ve ever tasted pudding with like that, or anything else for that matter.” Gideon wrapped his arms around her and hugged her close.

  Through the fabric of his shirt, she could hear the rapid thumping of his heart, amazed it kept such perfect time to her own.

  She didn’t know how or when it had happened, but Gideon had gone from being an enemy to the man she loved.

  Fascinated by the shadows and sunlight playing through Millie’s hair, Gideon clutched the reins tighter in his hands to keep from tugging the ribbon from the end of her braid and unraveling the thick tresses.

  After kissing her so thoroughly, it was all he could do not to haul her to the big walnut bed at the farmhouse and make her his own.

  She was so beautiful and adorable and sweet.

  So incredibly sweet.

  The heated, fervent kisses they exchanged in the kitchen had been even better than he’d dreamed. Although the chocolate pudding had definitely flavored the kisses, it was Millie’s own delightful sweetness that lingered on his lips and made him crave more.

  He’d never had much of a sweet tooth, but he didn’t think he would ever get enough of the decadent taste of her. Like some delicious nectar, she’d tantalized him and left him desperate for another sip, another sample.

  Instead of submitting to the wild desires running rampant through him, he had her help him take the pudding outside to his ranch hands. They’d all sat together beneath a shady tree near the bunkhouse and enjoyed the treat.

  While Rod hitched the horse to the buggy, Millie helped Gideon wash the dishes and set the kitchen to rights.

  With a brief word of parting to the cowboys who kept his ranch running smoothly, he assisted Millie into the buggy and headed back to town.

  As they neared the edge of Pendleton, Gideon sincerely wished the day had not passed so quickly. He’d enjoyed every moment spent in Millie’s company.

  Something about the woman left him bedeviled and bewitched. Begrudgingly, he admitted he was entirely enthralled with her.

  “You mentioned the spring ball earlier,” he said, holding the horse to a slow walk as they rolled into town. “Are you planning to attend or just help with the decorations?”

  “I’ll certainly attend. It’s one of the most exciting events all year.” Millie bounced a little as she spoke, obviously energized by mere thoughts of the ball.

  “Are you… that is… do you, um….” Gideon cleared his throat, more nervous than he’d ever been in his life.

  Millie settled a hand on his arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. “What is it?”

  “If you aren’t otherwise already committed, would you allow me the honor of accompanying you to the ball?” Gideon blurted out the question then stared at Millie to gauge her reaction.

  A satisfied smile lingered about her lips and a light twinkled in her pale blue eyes. Soft pink blossoms tinted her cheeks as she nodded her head. “I’d like that very much, Gideon. Thank you for asking.”

  “Good,” he said, releasing the breath he’d been holding as he waited for her response.

  “Do you know how to dance?” she asked, wrapping her hands around Gideon’s firm upper arm and leaning against him as he drove the buggy through town. She didn’t care who saw them together, even if it meant the women from the temperance union gave her an earful for consorting with their adversary.

  He nodded. “As a matter of fact, I do. Although I haven’t had any reason to practice for a while, my mother made sure I could hold my own at a dance.”

  “Perhaps we can practice a few times before the ball.” Millie waved as they drove past Ilsa Campanelli’s dress shop. The petite woman stood outside talking to her sister and sister-in-law.

  “I think that’s a grand idea,” Gideon said, turning the horse down Main Street and stopping the buggy in front of the telephone office.

  After setting the brake, he hurried around the conveyance and gave her a hand, helping her down.

  “Thank you for spending the day with me. I hope you had a good time.”

  “Oh, Gideon, it was a marvelous day! I haven’t had one that enjoyable in ever so long. Thank you for everything, especially my cooking lesson.”

  Recollections of the amorous interlude that followed the cooking lesson made him step close to her and brush his thumb across the creamy perfection of her cheek. “Anytime you want another lesson, cooking or otherwise, you let me know.”

  Even though her eyes remained fastened to his lips, he watched her swallow hard. He wondered if she thought of the ardent kisses they exchanged in the farmhouse kitchen.

  Before he took her in his arms and pillaged her sweet mouth right there for any and all to see, he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. “Thank you, Tootsie Wootsie, for a memorable day.”

  She grinned and backed into the office door, fumbling with the knob. “Goodbye, Gideon.”

  He waited until she stepped inside before climbing back in the buggy.

  There was no doubt in his mind he was falling hard for Millie, but he couldn’t muster an ounce of will to stop himself.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Gideon grunted as he tightened the last screw holding up the saloon’s batwing doors. The weather had been so mild and pleasant the last few weeks, he decided to put them back up.

  Abel gave one a slight push and watched as it swung outward then inward. “It’s always nice to see these back up. Makes me glad the winter is behind us and warm days are ahead of us.”

  Gathering his tools, Gideon thumped Abel on the back. “You always say that until the sun is boiling down on us in the middle of the summer. Then you whine about wishing it was cold enough to take the doors down.”

  With a hand slapped against his chest, Abel feigned offense. “That doesn’t sound like anything I’d say, boss.”

  “Indeed.” Gideon carried the tools to a storage closet in the back hallway then washed his hands in the kitchen. He checked on the beef roast he had in the oven before pouring two glasses of lemonade. After handing one to Abel, they both took a seat at the table.

  “I heard you’re planning to escort Miss Millie to the ball at Dogwood Corners.” Abel took a long drink of the lemonade, letting his statement linger between them.

  Guardedly, Gideon nodded his head. “How’d you hear?”

  “Louella went to Mrs. Campanelli’s shop to see about purchasing a new spring hat and happened t
o hear her talking to Millie, Lacy Hill, and Bertie Walsh about the ball. My wife said those ladies are about beside themselves that you’re accompanying Millie.”

  Concerned, Gideon’s brow puckered. “They’re upset, you mean?”

  Abel grinned and shook his head. “No, excited. Bertie and Ilsa were going on and on about what a dashing figure you’d cut and how Millie would be the belle of the ball.”

  A smile lifted the corners of Gideon’s mouth and he leaned back with a relieved sigh. “That reminds me, I need to go see Ned about a new suit. Can you watch over things if I head over to his shop?”

  Abel snatched two cookies from the jar on the counter and rolled his eyes. “You could be gone a month and I’d be able to handle things without batting an eye.”

  “That would be something, you going through a whole month without blinking your eyes.”

  “You know what I mean,” Abel said, pointing a finger toward the door. “Get out of here and go see about your fancy new duds. You might also want to think about some flowers for Millie or candy. You need to butter her up for spending the evening letting you stomp all over her pretty little toes at the ball.”

  Gideon scowled at Abel as he settled his hat on his head and slipped on his suit coat. “I’ll have you know I can hold my own on the dance floor.”

  “It’s not your own you need to worry about holding, it’s Miss Millie.” Abel’s snickers followed Gideon out the door and down the sidewalk.

  He lifted a hand in greeting to Drake. The man jogged across the street and fell into step beside him.

  “So I heard things are progressing nicely with you and the hello girl. Are you really taking her to the ball at Dogwood Corners?”

  Gideon glared at his friend. Had Millie placed an announcement in the paper or some such nonsense? “How do you know I’m taking her to the ball?”

  “My sister and her husband were having dinner at Caterina’s restaurant last night. She overheard Mrs. Rawlings discussing the ball with Mr. and Mrs. Hill. Your name happened to come up in conjunction with Miss Matlock’s.” Drake gave him a speculative glance. “You’re taking this fake courting business quite seriously.”

  “My affections need to appear sincere, don’t they?” Gideon asked, unwilling to admit the truth, even to his good friend. “What better way to distract her than to make her feel like a princess and escort her to the fanciest shindig hosted in the area?”

  “I can’t think of a better plan,” Drake said, playfully thumping Gideon on the shoulder. “And if you become a little enamored of the beautiful woman in the process, there’s no harm in that either.”

  Gideon’s smile melted into a glower as he looked at Drake. “Who said I’m enamored with her?”

  “Nobody, although I’ve known you long enough and well enough to know you’ve come to care about her. She’s not just a project to you, is she?” Drake stared at him as they came to a stop outside Ned’s tailor shop.

  “No. She’s something else, though, Drake.” Gideon sighed and removed his hat, running a hand across the back of his neck. “Just don’t say anything to the other fellas. If any of them got wind of it, particularly Steel, it won’t bode well for anyone.”

  “They won’t hear anything from me.” Drake grinned. “Bet you never planned on that lovely little miss turning your head, though.”

  “My head is not turned,” Gideon growled then opened the door to the shop. “But I’ll spin yours right off your neck if you don’t let this matter drop.”

  Drake laughed and gave him a good-natured thump on the back before he headed down the street.

  Gideon stepped inside Ned’s shop and waved to the man as he stood behind a tall counter, showing Grant Hill a variety of lightweight summer fabrics.

  “Ned. Grant.” Gideon tipped his head to them both.

  Grant reached out a hand in welcome. “Nice to see you, Gideon. How’s life treating you?”

  “Can’t complain at all.” Gideon leaned an elbow on the counter and tilted his head toward the stack of fabric. “New suit?”

  Grant nodded. “Yeah. I need to order a summer suit and decided I better get something new for the ball while I was at it.” The banker gave him a long look. “I heard you’ll be at the ball this year.”

  “That’s right,” Gideon said, lifting a piece of dark gray twill in his hands.

  “And might I assume you need a suit for it, too?” Ned asked, joining the conversation.

  “You would assume correctly,” Gideon said, smiling at the tailor. He’d ordered all his suits from the man since he took over management of the saloon. His mother had taught him many things, including the need to dress the part. And the part Gideon had tried to dress since he’d been on his own was a successful, confident businessman.

  “Well, you can both look at these swatches and decide what you want, then.” Ned highlighted the finer points of several fabrics. When Grant and Gideon made their selections, Ned jotted down notes and gave them both a date to come back for a fitting.

  Grant walked with Gideon as they left the tailor’s shop and stepped outside in the bright spring sunshine. “I’ve known Millie for a while and I can’t think when I’ve ever seen her so happy. She’s a good person.”

  “She is.” Gideon wasn’t sure, exactly, what Grant was getting at, other than perhaps offering a subtle warning not to break Millie’s heart.

  Abruptly, Grant changed the subject to Gideon’s horses and they discussed the race Gideon had entered Carbonado in that would take place in May.

  When they reached the end of the block and turned on Main Street, Gideon took in the sight of five dark-haired women swarming out of a car in front of the telephone office. Two of them carried toddlers.

  Grant grinned. “Have you met my wife’s cousins?”

  Gideon shook his head. “I’ve not had the pleasure.”

  The banker clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Come on, I’ll introduce you.”

  As Grant introduced Rose, Daisy, Lily, Aster, and Blossom, Gideon offered each a friendly smile. He could see the same animated, teasing light in their eyes that often danced in Lacy’s.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet all you lovely ladies,” Gideon said, tipping his hat as Lacy breezed outside and greeted her cousins, taking one of the babies in her arms.

  Although he hadn’t planned to pay Millie a visit, he wouldn’t leave without offering her a quick word of greeting. As he stepped inside the telephone office, he drank in the sight of her sitting at her desk, completing paperwork while Susan and Fae handled the incoming calls.

  None of them noticed his presence, so he leaned against the counter and let his eyes linger over Millie’s upswept hair. A few wisps curled enticingly along her neck and around her ears. She wore his favorite pink shirtwaist, the one with the creamy pinstripes and wide band of lace down the front, with a delicate gold pin at her throat.

  She tilted her head to the side and tapped the end of the pencil against her nose before she continued writing. He knew she kept daily logs of calls and mailed off weekly reports to the corporate office. From what she’d said, he had the impression the paperwork was her least favorite part of the job.

  Millie bent over to open a desk drawer and noticed him at the counter.

  “Oh, gracious! I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to ignore you.” She hopped to her feet and hurried to the counter.

  “You weren’t ignoring me, at least I hope not.” Gideon offered her a teasing smile. “I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d stop by.”

  “I’m ever so glad you did.” Millie spoke quietly and reached out, settling her hand over his.

  Gideon turned his hand over so their palms met and fingers entwined. “You look lovely, Miss Tootsie Wootsie, and you smell nice, too.”

  Millie blushed but held his gaze. “I look like it’s been a hectic day, but I appreciate your kind words.”

  He brought Millie’s hand to his lips and kissed the back of it, then left a warm kiss lingering on her palm. �
��I can’t stay, but I did want to say hello.”

  “Hello,” she whispered, wishing Gideon had kissed more than the palm of her hand.

  “Be a good girl and stay out of trouble. I’ll see you later.”

  Merely nodding, she watched him leave. He spoke briefly to Grant and Lacy, tipped his hat to Lacy’s cousins then sauntered down the street, whistling one of the rag tunes he seemed to favor.

  “My stars, Millie.” Undetected, Susan spoke from beside her, causing Millie to gasp. “Mr. McBride is certainly a fine specimen of manhood.”

  Fae giggled, removing her headset. “And he’s mighty handsome, too.”

  “Oh, you two,” Millie chided. Unable to look away, her eyes stayed glued to Gideon’s back until he disappeared around the corner.

  Fae fanned the newspaper in front of her face and spun around in her chair. “If it was me he was looking at like a piece of fine chocolate, I sure wouldn’t be wasting time writing those silly reports. I’d chase him down, run my fingers through that coppery hair, and get lost in those verdant green peepers.”

  Susan rolled her eyes. “You’ve been reading those scandalous dime novels again, haven’t you?”

  Fae laughed and adjusted her headset as a call came in. “Maybe I have. You ought to give them a try.”

  “It’s such a lovely day to eat outside,” Millie said as she carried a bowl of fruit salad out Lacy’s kitchen door and over to a table set up in the yard beneath the shade of a tree.

  Lacy and Grant had invited their friends to join them for a picnic lunch at their home after the Sunday church service. Everyone worked together to take the food outside so they could eat.

  Sadie Thorsen had latched onto little Emmalee Nash the moment she jumped down from Marnie and Lars’ wagon. The girl’s baby brother, Alek, and little Rachel Rawlings trailed after her while the older children set up an area to play games after the meal.

  “The weather we’ve had has been so mild, I just hope we get some rain soon,” Aundy said as Millie returned to the kitchen. She glanced up as she squeezed oranges into a big jar to make a refreshing drink. “If not, it’s going to be hard on the crops.”