With his hand on her back, Charles guided his wife out onto the porch and down the steps. As they turned toward the barn, she glanced over her shoulder at them. Her gaze met Nick’s. Was there a warning there? He closed the door.
“Are we ready to face your brother?” he asked. “If not, I should probably get unpacked.”
Frances looked up at him then, her gaze assessing. “Is it always like that?”
“What?” He was pretty sure he knew what she was talking about. What he didn’t know was if she’d take the kiss with her usual forthright manner or if the intensity of her feelings had scared her and would make her skittish now.
“Kissing.”
“It’s not always like that.”
Her eyes narrowed. “How many girls haveyoukissed?” she demanded.
Was that jealousy? Nick had to fight not to grin.
“A few but none in the last year.” Nick’s voice softened. “Not until just now.”
“It confused me.” Frances shifted uncomfortably.
“How so?”
“It was a lot nicer than I thought it would be.” She refused to meet his gaze, her cheeks flushing a pretty pink.
“Same here.” And that was saying a lot, considering Nick had been dreaming of kissing her for months. “But if we’re engaged, we’ll have to do it again. Maybe a lot. You remember your sisters.”
Frances looked at him then, a myriad of emotions crossing her face. Nervousness, anticipation, and even a little fear.
“Are you ready to see your brother about this?” Nick asked again.
“Let’s do this.”
“Let’s take off our coats first,” he said with a grin, already removing his hat and hanging it on a hook near the door.
* * *
Frances usually insistedon taking off and putting on her coat with no help, but this time she let Nick slide it from her shoulders. That kiss. She’d never dreamed kissing a man could feel like that. It was almost too bad she was never going to have a real marriage.
“Shall we?” Nick asked.
“Yes.”
He took her hand and laced their fingers. They headed toward her brother’s office. Both Charles and Marshall held hands with her sisters, and Frances hadn’t given it much thought. It was another thing Frances hadn’t expected to enjoy. She enjoyed the feel of their ungloved hands, the strength in his grasp, the calluses which proved how hard he worked.
Frances tapped on Luke’s office door but opened it without waiting. He looked up from the ledger before him on the desk, his gaze immediately going to their clasped hands. After a flash of surprise, his eyes narrowed, and he jumped to his feet.
“Get away from my sister, Reynolds.” He was already moving toward them.
“I asked Nick to marry me, and he said he would.” Frances tightened her grasp as though she thought holding Nick’s hand tighter would prevent her brother from tearing them apart.
Nick let out a soft grunt of disapproval. It was a familiar sound. Obviously, he wouldn’t have broached the subject this way. She remembered how he’d wanted to talk to her brother about a possible partnership. Had she ruined that for him? But Luke had frozen, his hands in the air where he’d been reaching for their hands.
“Youproposed tohim?” he asked, saying the words slowly.
“You think I’d wait for theman?” Frances sniffed with disdain. “As if I would. You should know me better than that.”
“I was unaware you had feelings for him.” Luke turned his steely gaze now to Nick. “And, of course, as soon as she does something so foolish, you took her up on it.”
“I love your sister, sir. I have for months.” Nick’s words came out so firm and sincere she almost believed him.
