Liam lost count of how many doors held Tilly’s evergreen and ribbon creations as he walked toward the hotel. Inside, the large lobby was warm and inviting, but he wasted no time in sprinting up the stairs to the second floor. When he opened the door to their room, he found Tilly standing on tiptoe on the desk chair, pulling at yet another piece of greenery that he surmised she’d pinned up over the desk.
“Hello!” she called as he took in the state of the room. There were pine boughs in the windowsill, hanging over the bed, and a cascade of ribbon draped over the small mirror at the washstand.
Tilly threw out an arm to indicate everything she’d done. “I thought we could have a nicely decorated room for the season. What do you think?”
Liam blinked at everything she’d accomplished. “It smells like a forest,” he said, his mind still trying to take it all in. “It looks lovely,” he corrected himself quickly.
“Thank you.” She beamed at him, and her joy at his appreciation warmed him from head to toe.
“I ran into Mrs. Drexel when I left the office,” he said as she returned to pulling on the bough over the desk. “She said you’re the one responsible for the greenery and ribbon on half the doors in town.”
“I thought we could all use a little Christmas joy,” Tilly said. “Most everyone was appreciative, and no one told me no. Not even that surly fellow at the hardware store.”
Liam bit back a smile at that as he imagined Tilly charming the grouchiest man in town. “That was a kind thing you did for the town.”
She looked back at him with pure joy written across her face. “I only wanted to bring a little cheerfulness to everyone. And it was a nice way to meet people, too.”
Liam nodded, impressed with her resourcefulness. “Mrs. Drexel also asked you to come by tomorrow to let her know how much of that fabric you needed.”
Tilly turned around, one hand still on the greenery above her. “Oh! I meant to ask you—”
“I told her to put it on my—our—account. Get as much as you need. For dresses and . . . anything else.” Liam pulled off his coat and busied himself with hanging it up.
“Thank you. I’ll only get enough for two. I know building the hotel is important to you and I don’t want to be a financial burden.”
Liam swallowed, torn between her selflessness and regret that he wasn’t better positioned to lavish her with anything she might desire. “You aren’t,” he said, drawing his gaze back up to her. The last thing he wanted was her feeling badly for asking for necessities.
She gave him a little smile, and he thought it might have been the sweetest thing he’d ever seen. How had such a woman escaped the notice of men back in Kansas? Or perhaps she hadn’t—which was far more believable—and had turned them all down to come here and be with him, someone she hardly knew.
Tilly turned her attention back to the greenery as Liam pondered the situation he’d found himself in. Somehow she’d chosen him, and yet the fear that he wasn’t at all ready for this still lingered in the back of his mind. Particularly when there was still so much left to do for the hotel. He rubbed the back of his neck. Was he doing the wrong thing by keeping her here ashis wife when there were other men who could give her a much better life right now? Who would tell her to order ten dresses, ready-made, or who would hire a lady’s companion to ensure she was entertained all day long? Who at least had a home of their own to give her?
Heaven help him, he couldn’t do any of that, and yet the thought of letting her go now made him think he’d never be happy again.
“What are you doing up there?” he asked, forcing the confusing thoughts from his mind.
“I pinned this bough up here, but it’s off-center, and now I can’t seem to get it out.” Tilly yanked at the bit of greenery again.
“Why don’t you let me—”
But he didn’t get to finish his sentence. Because the second the words left his mouth, Tilly’s hand slipped from the branch as she pulled, and she careened backward, over the chair.
Liam didn’t pause a moment to think. He leapt forward and threw out his arms, just in time to catch her.
Tilly let out a little squeak when she landed in his arms. He stumbled backward, hitting the corner of the bed and then falling to the floor. They landed in a heap, his arms still wrapped around her shoulders and the backs of her legs, and the wind knocked out of him.
“Are you all right?” he asked the second he could catch his breath.
“Yes, I think so. Are you?” She shifted, bracing herself with a hand against the floor as she looked up at him.
Liam nodded, realizing through the pain in his lungs that her face was awfully close to his. Her eyes had a blue cast to them at this proximity, and her breath was warm against his jaw.
She stayed there a moment, her eyes locked on his. He couldn’t look away, even as he thought he should. The seconds stretched out, and each breath sounded louder than the last inhis ears, until—finally—Tilly pressed her other hand against his chest and began to push herself away.
But one of her legs was wrapped under his, and instead of sliding neatly off of him onto the floor, she tipped sideways and landed on her side. Her eyes widened, and her face split into a smile. She began to laugh.
Liam lifted his leg so she could extract hers, but one of the buttons on her shoes caught in the fabric of his pants. It was so ridiculous that Liam started to laugh too, making it more difficult for him to unhitch the button from his pants.
By the time he’d freed her shoe, they were both in stitches. Liam pressed a hand against his stomach, and Tilly had tears streaming from her eyes. Each time they looked at each other, they both started laughing again. When he was finally able to get a hold of himself, he stood and offered her a hand. She took it, swiping at her cheeks with her free hand.
