Charming Jo

by Laura Drewry

  A ball of knots twisted in Jo’s stomach.

  “Peter,” Milly Jean went on, “surely you’re not acquainted with this. . .man.”

  When Peter squirmed, Levi snorted and answered for him. “Met your brother when I was working out at the Pearson place.”

  Milly Jean gasped again, louder.

  “I was working,” he clarified. “But your brother, it would seem, was playing.”

  Peter’s cheeks reddened until they almost matched his hair.

  “Travers,” he growled, but Levi cut him off.

  “How is the baby, Carlson? What did you name him?” He lifted his brow as though truly interested. “And should we expect a wedding any time soon?”

  “Peter,” Milly Jean squeaked. “What is he talking about?”

  Almost everything in Jo made her want to laugh at Milly Jean’s expression, but she didn’t. Only because there was one tiny part of her that actually felt pity for the girl. And for that poor baby who was now part of the Carlson family, whether he wanted to be or not.

  Peter crossed his arms over his chest and shrugged. “Don’t think that’s any of your concern, Travers.”

  “No, it’s not,” Levi agreed. “But since you let everyone believe it was my concern all these months, I can’t help but ask.”

  A slow sneer crossed Peter’s weasley face. “And once you figured it all out, you moved right on to Joey.”

  “Is it a problem that I’m here with her?” Levi’s voice held calm. Cold, but calm.

  “Not for you,” Peter scoffed. “But I don’t imagine it’ll do much for her reputation.”

  “My reputation is none of your business,” Jo snapped. “You stupid sonuva--”

  “Joanna.” One word from Levi froze her tongue in mid-sentence. “Don’t.”

  “But . . .”

  He shook his head slowly, then glared at Peter again. “I’m not done with you yet, Carlson, but let me deal with your sister first.”

  Peter shrugged, but Levi didn’t seem to notice. He’d already turned his attention to Milly Jean.

  “Given the dress you’re wearing, Miss Carlson, you obviously don’t have enough fashion sense to be commenting on what Joanna – or anyone else – is wearing.”

  Milly Jean produced a tiny lace-covered fan and began flapping it in front of her face.

  “How’s that, Mr. Travers?”

  “Miss McCaine’s dress is the most beautiful one here.” He nodded toward Jo, then continued. “Just look at the way the color matches her eyes. Makes them absolutely sparkle.”

  And to Jo’s surprise, Levi’s sparkled when he raked his gaze over her.

  “There’s nothing worse than a pretty girl in a colorless dress.”

  If only the ground would open up and swallow Jo whole, she’d feel so much better. Peter and Milly Jean stood staring at her in complete disbelief.

  Levi pressed on. “Those light colors make a woman look all washed out – almost sickly.”

  Milly Jean’s mouth opened, then snapped shut. Peter just blinked.

  “And the style of the dress,” Levi continued, then let out a low whistle. “I’m no fashion expert, but look at her – that dress is a perfect fit; not too tight, or too revealing. And best of all, it’s not covered in all that lace and frilly crap. Some women need all that to make them look pretty, but not Joanna.” He turned, winked at Jo and smiled. “It’s simply beautiful.”

  A lump formed in the back of Jo’s throat. No one had ever defended her like that before. She’d never wanted anyone to; it would only make her look weak, and she’d spent far too many years proving she was strong enough to handle anything. Yet hearing Levi stand up for her, to feel his love shining at her through his smile, caused her bottom lip to quiver and her eyes to burn.

  “Despite your words to the contrary, you certainly seem knowledgeable about women’s fashions, Mr. Travers.” Milly Jean’s lips curled into an evil grin. “I guess with all the practice you’ve had removing Stella’s clothing, you’ve learned a great deal.”

  “You listen here.” Jo tried to push past Levi, but he held her back.

  “Anyone with half a mind knows what’s pretty – and what isn’t.” He raked her with a sneer. “But I guess you’re too busy flapping your gums with the rest of your cronies to have a mind of your own.”

  Milly Jean’s mouth fell open.

  “And maybe,” Levi continued, leaning closer. “Given what we’ve all learned about your brother, your time would be better spent trying to pull your family’s name back out of the mud instead of standing here dragging down everyone else around you.”

  “Peter,” she huffed. “Are you going to let him speak to me that way?”

  Peter’s ice-blue eyes moved from Milly Jean to Levi and then back again as he seemed to weigh his options.

  A new strength filled Jo. How had she ever let a spineless weasel like him make her feel so worthless? And the look Levi was giving them only made her stronger.

  “Say what you like about me,” Levi said, turning back to Milly Jean. “I couldn’t care less. But if I hear you so much as whisper one more thing about Joanna – or Carrie, for that matter – I swear you’ll live to regret it.”

  Milly Jean swallowed hard, but didn’t answer. Her cheeks blanched beneath the rouge and her eyes nearly bulged from their sockets. In one stride, Levi stood toe to toe with Peter. Peter’s pasty complexion turned almost gray with fear, but Levi’s expression remained cold.

  “And you,” he seethed. “You worthless bastard. How dare you even show your face here when you’ve got a child waiting for you to give him and his mama your name?”

  Peter and Milly Jean both gaped openly.

  “That child didn’t ask to be born to parents who didn’t want him, Carlson. But for once in your sorry life, be a man and take responsibility for what you’ve done.”

  Jo had to swallow back a huge wave of tears.

  “Might not be the life you planned,” Levi said, the fury fading from his voice – and his expression. “But just because you made a mistake, doesn’t mean that boy should grow up thinking he was it. The mistake was yours and LeeAnna’s, not his.”

  Silence surrounded the four of them; Milly Jean and Peter still gaping in shock, Levi still glaring at the two of them, and Jo falling in love with him all over again.

  After a painfully long moment, Levi straightened and jabbed his finger into Peter’s chest.

  “As for tonight,” he said, lowering his voice again so the rest of the town didn’t hear. “You don’t even so much as look the wrong way at Joanna. In fact, don’t look at her at all. Don’t talk to her, don’t talk about her. Am I clear?”

  The briefest nod was Peter’s only answer.

  “Fine, then.” Levi stepped back and nodded. “So long as we all understand each other.”

  He tucked Jo’s hand under his arm and offered the Carlsons a final glare. “Have a good time tonight. And then go out to the Pearson place and do what needs doing.”

  Giggles bubbled up through Jo’s throat, but she held them back until they were a safe distance away.

  “Oh my,” she said. “I think you about scared them half to death.”

  He didn’t laugh with her; he didn’t even smile. In fact, the cold, hard, expression on his face was beginning to scare the life out of her, too.

  “What is it?” she whispered, barely able to smile at the Widow Burke when she passed by, still staring in disbelief at Jo.

  Levi’s lips thinned for a moment. He led her away from the crowd, far enough to be out of earshot, but close enough to not cause any talk.

  He seemed to study the toe of his boot, then the milling crowd behind her. Why wasn’t he looking at her? Jo folded her hands together and forced her tongue to work.

  “Just say it, Travers. Whatever it is, it can’t be that bad.”

  He licked his lips and finally met her gaze. “Carlson’s right. This was a bad idea.”

  Jo snorted. “Peter’s an imbecile.�
�

  “True,” he agreed. “But he’s still right. You’re not going to be able to lift your head in this town after tonight. People keep staring at us and there’s not a hope in hell they’re going to be saying anything good about me and you being here together.”

  Dread settled over Jo. So this was it – he was going to humiliate her in front of the whole town and leave her standing there by herself.

  The hell with that!

  “Forget it, Travers. You’re not going to back out on me now.”

  “It’s not that, Joanna.”

  “No?” She spoke through gritted teeth, her hands twisting at her waist. “Then what is it?” Oh, how she wanted to yell at him. But that would never do – not in front of everyone like this. It would be bad enough to be humiliated by someone else, but to do it to herself. . .

  He took forever to answer her. When he finally began to speak, his voice was as taut as a bow, ready to snap.

  “There’s so many things I’ve done that I’m not very proud of.”

  “So what? So have I.”

  “Not like this.” His fingers curled around the bottom button of his vest. “People have opinions about me and for the most part, they’re right. I don’t want them to think that way about you.”

  She swallowed hard. He picked a hell of a bad time to turn honorable.

  “Listen, Travers,” she ground out. “If you think for one second that I’m going to let you leave me standing here in this get-up, you’re even more of an idiot than I thought.”

  “You don’t understand.” He reached for her hand, but she stepped back.

  “No, Travers. I do understand.” She bit her lip, then continued. “You’re scared.”

  It was his turn to step back. “I’m what?”

  “You’re scared,” she repeated, lifting her chin a notch. If only she could stop her fingers from twitching. “You’re scared that people might actually think you’re not the lying, cheating sonuva. . .gun they’ve always taken you for. You’re afraid you can’t live up to their expectations. To my expectations.”

  All light drained from his eyes. His lips tightened into a thin line. Jo pressed her hands over his, still gripping the bottom of his vest.

  “You don’t understand,” he said, shaking his head. “If we get married now, people are going to think it’s because we have to.”

  “We do have to,” she answered, forcing a laugh. “Remember, it’s the only way you’re going to get me out of this dress.”

  “That’s not what I mean.” He didn’t show the least bit of a smile at her pathetic attempt at humor.

  “I know.” She sighed. “But I don’t care, Levi. I really and truly don’t care.”

  “I do.”

  “That’s just too damned bad.” She was giving all she had to keep her voice strong, but it didn’t keep her hands from trembling against his, or from her heart slamming against her ribs.

  Levi gazed at her hands, resting over his, then covered them with his own and squeezed.

  “Look, Travers,” she lifted her chin and challenged him with a long, hard stare. “You can either stop talking this complete bulls. . .nonsense, or I’m going to mess this dress up enough that everyone’ll be talking about us anyway. Either way, we will be married tonight.”

  When he looked up, a tiny sparkle had returned to his eyes.

  “You would, too, wouldn’t you?” His lips curled into a slow grin.

  With a long breath, she blinked back the burning in her eyes and smiled. “Yes, I would. So I guess the question now is – are you going to get over this obsession you have with what people think about us? Or are you going to turn tail and hide out in the loft, watching everyone else dance the night away on that stupid floor I built?”

  The warmth of his fingers ceased her trembling; his thumb moved in slow circles over her palm.

  “I’d hate to see you on that dance floor with someone else,” he said. “Especially in that dress. Besides, I don’t even want to think about what Newt’ll do to me if I upset you. Never mind your uncle.”

  What was that feeling jumping around in her belly? Relief, fear, or a combination of the two?

  The sound of fiddles started behind them. Big Bill and Mac squared off from the far side of the dance floor, both men sending their bows fly across the strings. Simon moved in between them, a harmonica sliding across his mouth in a tune that had people’s toes tapping and hands clapping.

  “Come on, everyone,” Big Bill hollered. “Let’s put this floor to use!”

  Levi tucked Jo’s hand under his elbow and motioned towards the dance floor. “Shall we?”

  Jo froze. Any bravado she’d felt a moment ago now lay in a pool of dread at the pit of her stomach.

  “I. . .um. . .”

  “Oh, no you don’t.” Levi tugged her forward. “A promise is a promise. I got you that dress, now you’re going to dance in it. With me.” He tugged harder. “Let’s go.”

  “But. . .”

  “No buts, Miss Joanna. Let’s give Milly Jean something good to talk about tomorrow, shall we?” A wicked grin covered his face and Jo couldn’t help but smile back.

  o0o

  Levi should have believed her when she said she couldn’t dance. With every second step, she tripped over either her own feet or his, and once she nearly crashed right into him.

  It shouldn’t have surprised him that she was obviously not used to being led. But he’d be damned if he was going to let go of her. Not now that he finally had her back in his arms.

  “Joanna,” he whispered. “Stand on my feet.”

  Her head whipped up. “What?”

  “Shh.” He smiled over at Jimmy who was holding Milly Jean a little closer than he should be. “No one’s looking, just step up on them.”

  “Why?”

  “Trust me.”

  And she did. She stepped up on his boots, her hands tightening around his for balance.

  “Good,” he murmured. “Now hold on.” And he twirled her around the dance floor, moving in and out of the other couples as though everything was completely normal. He caught Ginny’s eye, who looked quizzically at them, before she noticed the gap of air between Joanna’s hem and the floor, then she smiled brightly and mouthed a thank you to him.

  He grinned back and whirled Joanna around again, savoring the scent of strawberries that floated around her, the way her hands held his without question, and how she squealed softly, then giggled every time they turned.

  When the song ended, he forced himself to release her, but kept her hand tucked under his elbow. Her eyes sparkled in the twilight, like two dancing stars in the night sky.

  “Have you seen Carrie?” she asked, glancing around the yard.

  Levi shook his head. “Not since we were up at the house.”

  That uneasy feeling crept back over him. Something wasn’t right, but hell if he knew what. He led Joanna back to the tables and filled two clean glasses with punch.

  “Thank you,” she murmured, her cheeks flushed.

  “You’re welcome. Cheers.”

  But Joanna didn’t drink. “I don’t mean for the punch.”

  “I know.” He winked over the rim of his glass. “But drink up anyway. The night is young and there’s a whole lot more dancing we need to do.”

  He loved it when she blushed like that. Tough ol’ Joey McCaine wasn’t so tough after all, was she? They sipped their punch in silence, their gazes locked on each other. A mournful tune sounded from Big Bill’s fiddle and the floor began to fill up again.

  “Come on.” Levi lifted her glass from her fingers and set it on the table next to his.

  “But I’m not finished.”

  “You can drink any time you want,” he grinned, pulling her toward the music. “But how often do you get to waltz all over my feet?”

  She hurried after him, giggling the whole way. Would he ever get tired of that sound?

  As soon as they reached the floor, she put her hand in his and stepped up onto
his boots again. He held her as tight as he dared, though it wasn’t near as tight as he’d like. He couldn’t remember anything feeling as good as she did - and he was barely touching her.

  “Have I mentioned how beautiful you are?” he whispered, loving the way her hands trembled at his words.

  “I think you might have mentioned it once or twice.”

  “Only once or twice?” He chuckled. “Better correct that.” He lowered his voice even more until it was little more than a murmur. “You’re the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen, Miss Joanna. And though I have no idea why the prettiest girl in town would want to dance with a skunk like me, I’m sure happy she is.”

  “Travers,” she began, but he cut her off.

  “Levi.”

  A self-conscious smile flickered on her lips. “Levi. I’m sorry I called you that. I didn’t mean it.”

  “Yes, you did.”

  “Okay,” she laughed. “I did. But I don’t think you’re a skunk anymore.”

  “You don’t?” He forced a look of shock, then sniffed the air.

  Joanna’s foot began to slide off his boot, but with a quick shift in balance, he had her back in position without missing a step.

  “No,” she admitted, her gaze skitting nervously over his. “In fact, you’re a very handsome man, Levi, and you. . .”

  “I what?” he was whispering again – mainly because he could barely find his voice.

  “You smell wonderful tonight.”

  He puffed his chest out in false bravado and grinned. “Do I now?”

  She nodded. “You always do. Even when you stink from working all day, there’s something about you. . .” She leaned closer, shut her eyes and inhaled deeply.

  “Stop it,” he winced.

  “What?” Joanna pulled back, and glanced down at their feet, her eyes wide. “Did I hurt you?”

  He groaned. “No, you didn’t hurt me, but you’re sure as hell killing me.”

  The music stopped and the crowd wandered off the floor, leaving Levi and Joanna standing there by themselves. Before they could move, the fiddles began again and Levi swept Joanna around the floor, but this time his attention wasn’t completely on her.