Page 8 of Mail-Order Millie (A Mail-Order Mystery #1)
Eight
B ram was in so much trouble. What was he thinking kissing her like that? But… it did work. She forgot all about their conversation and it took her more than a little while to get her wits about her.
That kiss told Bram a lot, and unfortunately, she was more alluring than ever.
She was an innocent, for one, and that had to have been her first kiss. The one he gave her at their wedding hardly counted.
She had spunk and didn’t pull away when he kissed her. Instead, she accepted what he had to offer. She was curious, and when she melted into his embrace, it was all he could do to break the kiss.
The sooner he got away from her the better. Problem was, she expected him to be a husband and do things with her. Like, go to The Emporium.
He sighed and eyed the coffee pot. “We could go this afternoon.”
Millie blinked at him, as if she couldn’t believe he’d acquiesced. “Really?” She eyed his cup. “Would you like more coffee?” She rose from her chair and went to the stove without waiting for an answer.
Bram watched as she refilled both their cups, returned the pot to the stove and sat. “You should… make a list.”
“Yes.” She sipped her coffee. “I’ll do it now.”
Bram watched her leave the table again, probably to search for some paper and a pencil, and quickly formed a plan. If he bought her everything she’d need to fix up the house, she’d be busy for days. He smiled. It was pure genius! What woman could resist the opportunity to decorate her very own home?
Millie returned to the table with a small notebook and pencil. “I found these in a drawer in the hutch.” She sat and jotted a few things down. “Where shall we go first?”
“The Emporium. You’ll want new curtains, table linens, maybe a new coverlet for the bed?”
Her eyes went wide. “All that?”
He looked around the kitchen. “I planned to purchase what I needed after I arrived. I’ll let you pick everything out.” He smiled. “How’s that?”
Her entire face lit up. “Everything?”
His chest swelled at the excitement in her eyes. “Yes, sweetie, everything.”
She blushed at his slip, and doggone if that didn’t set off a tiny ache in his chest. Uh oh…
Bram drained his cup, not caring how hot the coffee was. The sooner he loaded her up with things for the house, the sooner she’d get to work. Then he could do his job. Besides, if she worked hard enough over the next few days, she’d be too exhausted at night for anything else. It was all the excuse he needed not to exercise his husbandly rights. He still had to figure out where he was going to sleep, and with any luck, that rickety bed was as weak as it looked. It would never hold them, and naturally he’d let her have it while he slept in the parlor. Perfect!
“Cream, eggs, flour?”
Bram jumped. “Huh?”
“Can you think of what else we need besides those three things?”
“Sugar,” he blurted. “Whatever you think you’ll need, write it on the list.”
“Ice for the icebox,” she jotted on the pad. Millie continued to write, and he realized he enjoyed watching her think. He wanted to tell her money was no object, but he didn’t dare. How could a lowly accountant such as Krantz have enough money to say something like that?
His eyes darted around the room, and he thought of the condition of the front and back yards. He’d have to remember he was supposed to be from the lower classes instead of coming from Washington’s high society.
Bram watched Millie, and for a moment, his heart went out to her. Her dress was old, he could tell by the thinness of the fabric. She’d had only one carpetbag and a valise with her. She needed clothes, shoes as well, he guessed. “We should get your things from the hotel,” he said softly.
She stopped writing and raised her gaze to his. “Yes.”
He swallowed hard. There was a breathlessness to her voice that almost did him in. “We’ll go to the hotel, have lunch, get your things and bring them home?”
Millie smiled. “That sounds fine. Then can we go to The Emporium?”
“Yes. And anywhere else you’d like to go.”
“We’ll need the supplies I’ve written down,” she said.
“There’s a general store not far from my office.”
She smiled and added a few more things to her list.
When she was done Millie stood and cleared away the dishes, took them to the sink and set them in the washtub. “I’m ready.”
Bram slowly stood. Would she want to walk arm in arm as they went about their business?
He took a deep breath. Okay, how hard could it be? He’d escorted other women about town. Rich heiresses mostly who’d like nothing more than to marry him. Maybe that’s why he agreed to work for Jules Monroe. It would get him away from women, and he needed a little adventure in his life. Here in the west, no one knew him, and he could pretend to be anyone Jules needed him to be. He still had his obligations of course, helping Father with his businesses and making an appearance now and then at social gatherings, but all in all, his life was a good one.
So, what was it about his so-called wife that made him feel like something was missing from his life? Was it time for him to take a wife? Did a part of him hanker for a woman to become the mother of his children?
“Are you okay?”
Bram blinked a few times. He’d been so deep in thought, he forgot what he was doing. “Of course.” He headed for the back door. “I left my jacket outside. Let me fetch it.”
“I’ll get my hat and gloves,” Millie said and disappeared into the bedroom.
Bram heaved another sigh, the small ache in his heart growing. After this assignment, he was going to have to take a long hard look at things.
He went outside, retrieved his jacket and hat, and put them on. When he returned to the kitchen, Millie was standing in the hall. Her hat looked old, as did her gloves, and his heart went out to her. “Since Mr. Kameyer gave me three days, I think we should use that time to spruce this place up.”
“That’s a wonderful idea,” she gushed. “I was hoping you’d think so.”
Bram smiled. This was going better than he planned. “So, while I get my office organized, you don’t mind working on the house?”
Her face fell. “Oh, I thought we might do some of the work together.”
“Of course, but I do have the office to contend with.”
She smiled. “You’ll help me with some of it then?”
“Certainly. There are things you might not be able to handle for one.”
She blushed. “Thank you.”
His smile broadened. “You’re welcome. Now let’s be on our way.” He opened the front door and ushered her outside.