Behind a Lady's Smile by Jane Goodger Page B

him walking toward her, she stood up, a bit wobbly on her feet, and Mitch was instantly concerned. Of course she’d be exhausted. What had he been thinking of, keeping her out so late when they’d traveled so hard? And her still wearing that cast, which was no doubt heavy and uncomfortable.
    “Mish, are we ready for beddy?”
    His brows snapped together and he gave the woman she’d been sitting with a hard look before picking up the teacup that sat in front of Genny. He gave it a suspicious sniff and jerked his head back. Whiskey. Good God, she was drunk.
    “Before you get on your high horse, she only had two,” the woman said.
    “Three,” Genny said happily.
    “Is it my fault your sister can’t hold her whiskey?”
    Close up, Mitch realized the woman Genny had been talking to wore a bit more makeup than was necessary and clothes that were far cheaper than they’d appeared from where he’d been sitting. She took his stare for interest and her demeanor changed subtly.
    “You don’t look at all tired to me. Why don’t you tuck your sister in and come on back here.”
    He gave her a tight smile. “No thank you, ma’am. We have an early start in the morning and need a good night’s rest.”
    “We’re going to England,” Genny said, pointing with a flourish in a random direction.
    “Your loss,” the woman said good-naturedly, before narrowing her eyes. “Hey, why don’t you have one of them fancy accents?”
    “Different mothers,” Mitch said without missing a beat.
    Genny nodded a bit sloppily. “That explains it,” she said.
    “I see,” the woman said, and Mitch had a feeling she just might see a little too well. “Good night, Genny. It was nice talking to you.”
    When the woman sauntered away, Genny looked comically sad. “Minnie was so nice. She was the nicest woman I’ve ever met.” Then she looked at Mitch, peering up at him as if she’d never seen him before. “You know? Minnie was right! You are handsome. She said you were and I told her I’d never given it a thought and she said that was because you were my brother.” She paused and leaned in, whispering, “You’re not my brother.”
    “I know I’m not your brother, Genny,” Mitch said, slightly annoyed at the way he was noticing things about her that he wished he didn’t notice. Like how soft her lips were and how damned kissable they looked about now. Like the way her dress hugged her body. Maybe they shouldn’t have gotten her a dress. She’d been fine with that oversized shirt and pants. At least then it was a lot easier to keep his eyes where they belonged. Genny looked positively adorable at that moment, and drunk or not, if a woman calls a man handsome, it does something to his gut. “Come on, let’s get you back to the hotel and in bed.”
    “Minnie told me all sorts of things,” Genny said as she turned, swaying a bit, and walked toward the saloon door. “I feel funny.”
    “You’re drunk.”
    Genny put a hand over her mouth and giggled. “I know. Drunk as a skunk.” She said it nearly proudly.
    Mitch took her arm and led her out the door and onto the boardwalk, already thinking about how awful Genny was going to feel in the morning. It was a lesson best learned early, that too much drink was never a good thing.
    “You know what, Mish?” She laughed. “I keep calling you Mish. You know what?”
    “What?”
    “You have a magic pole.”
    Mitch nearly tripped. “I do, do I.”
    “Yes. All men do. Minnie said you were handsome and she wanted to ride your magic pole.” She started giggling again, and Mitch prayed Genny hadn’t a clue what a “magic pole” was.
    Genny stopped and looked up at Mitch, and whispered, “She meant your man part.”
    Mitch let out a sharp laugh. “Yes, I know.”
    When her unfocused gaze drifted down in the direction of his “man part,” Mitch grabbed her arm and marched toward their hotel.
    “Where’s the fire?” Genny said, sounding annoyed.
    Mitch ignored her, not