out
formality in her, as if she had to live up to his standard of
polished speech. Sure, she was educated, but she didn’t usually
speak so stiffly. She wasn’t sure she even liked it.
He stared at her from beneath lowered
lashes. “I was the one who was unwise, my dear. I have
underestimated many things. However, I will not press you at this
time. Have a good evening.”
As if she could, now.
Keeping her expression neutral, Gem made her
rounds, giving her regrets, and then returned to the family
apartments. She didn’t hear any yelling as she entered, so Brandy
must not have come back. Just as well. She didn’t want her sister
asking questions.
The suite’s kitchen and living room were
grouped together in an open design. Their father had favored simple
yet comfortable furniture, so the room was chock full of
overstuffed, dark leather chairs. The upholstery was fraying, but
Gem hadn’t gotten around to replacing it yet. Such furniture cost
money that could be better used elsewhere. Nonetheless, Gem
suddenly wanted to toss it all and start over.
Voices came from her father’s room, and she
made herself walk over to see what was going on. Not that she cared
so much what they were doing at that moment, but she knew she would
later.
Blue took one look at her face and
stiffened. “Did someone shoot at you again?”
She looked away. “No. It was nothing.”
“Something happened.”
Knowing he would press, she nonetheless
insisted, “It was nothing.” Then she admitted, “An old suitor was
at the wake. Just…memories.”
Blue’s gaze narrowed. “That rich importer
guy?”
Gem stared at him. “How did you know?”
Blue shrugged. “Heard about him when I was
still hanging out in the bar. A couple of guys were discussing
your…assets. One miner thought a man could take it easy if he
married you. His buddy piped up and said you were practically
engaged to a rich importer already. ’Nother guy said, Nah, he’d
broke with you, that he wanted a girl with more money.”
Brutal but accurate, Gem guessed. She looked
away, her eyes stinging. She canted her head in farewell and headed
for her room before any tears fell.
She should have locked her door. She was
just drawing breath for a really big sob when it opened. Blue poked
his head in and saw her sitting on her bed.
He winced. “My big mouth. Look, he’s scum
and you shouldn’t be crying over him. What you need is a stiff
drink and a good boxing match.”
She choked, and swiped quickly at the tears
that hadn’t quit falling. “I don’t box.” She laughed.
He snorted. “To watch, then. Or…I could
teach you some dirty fighting, if it would make you feel
better.”
A picture of them wrestling on the floor
came to her mind, which made her shake her head. No, that wouldn’t
be good. Not now.
Blue muttered something, moved close and
knelt at her feet, pulled off her shoe.
Startled, she jerked back, but he had a firm
grip. “What are you doing?”
“Sacrificing myself,” he muttered. “It’s
better than spending the evening cursing my flapping gums. You
ought not take seriously everything that comes out of them.”
“How…? Ohhhhh.” She didn’t want to
relax, but he had gentle hands, and that was a tender spot he was
massaging.
“See how your foot is all curled up? Nervous
habit with your toes, I’d bet. You need to quit that. One of these
days your foot will cramp in your shoe and stay that way.” For him,
he was using a solicitous tone.
“I don’t…need you to do this,” she
whispered. Her throat was too tight to say anything else.
His fingers gently worked each toe; then he
moved up to her ankles. He took his time, and his motions made her
relax against her will. Slowly, he brought her foot to his mouth
and kissed it.
“What are you doing?” she gasped.
His hands moved up her calf and worked the
muscles there. Sure and strong, they soothed away the tension; and
made her shudder.
“Stop!”
He did, but he also went
formality in her, as if she had to live up to his standard of
polished speech. Sure, she was educated, but she didn’t usually
speak so stiffly. She wasn’t sure she even liked it.
He stared at her from beneath lowered
lashes. “I was the one who was unwise, my dear. I have
underestimated many things. However, I will not press you at this
time. Have a good evening.”
As if she could, now.
Keeping her expression neutral, Gem made her
rounds, giving her regrets, and then returned to the family
apartments. She didn’t hear any yelling as she entered, so Brandy
must not have come back. Just as well. She didn’t want her sister
asking questions.
The suite’s kitchen and living room were
grouped together in an open design. Their father had favored simple
yet comfortable furniture, so the room was chock full of
overstuffed, dark leather chairs. The upholstery was fraying, but
Gem hadn’t gotten around to replacing it yet. Such furniture cost
money that could be better used elsewhere. Nonetheless, Gem
suddenly wanted to toss it all and start over.
Voices came from her father’s room, and she
made herself walk over to see what was going on. Not that she cared
so much what they were doing at that moment, but she knew she would
later.
Blue took one look at her face and
stiffened. “Did someone shoot at you again?”
She looked away. “No. It was nothing.”
“Something happened.”
Knowing he would press, she nonetheless
insisted, “It was nothing.” Then she admitted, “An old suitor was
at the wake. Just…memories.”
Blue’s gaze narrowed. “That rich importer
guy?”
Gem stared at him. “How did you know?”
Blue shrugged. “Heard about him when I was
still hanging out in the bar. A couple of guys were discussing
your…assets. One miner thought a man could take it easy if he
married you. His buddy piped up and said you were practically
engaged to a rich importer already. ’Nother guy said, Nah, he’d
broke with you, that he wanted a girl with more money.”
Brutal but accurate, Gem guessed. She looked
away, her eyes stinging. She canted her head in farewell and headed
for her room before any tears fell.
She should have locked her door. She was
just drawing breath for a really big sob when it opened. Blue poked
his head in and saw her sitting on her bed.
He winced. “My big mouth. Look, he’s scum
and you shouldn’t be crying over him. What you need is a stiff
drink and a good boxing match.”
She choked, and swiped quickly at the tears
that hadn’t quit falling. “I don’t box.” She laughed.
He snorted. “To watch, then. Or…I could
teach you some dirty fighting, if it would make you feel
better.”
A picture of them wrestling on the floor
came to her mind, which made her shake her head. No, that wouldn’t
be good. Not now.
Blue muttered something, moved close and
knelt at her feet, pulled off her shoe.
Startled, she jerked back, but he had a firm
grip. “What are you doing?”
“Sacrificing myself,” he muttered. “It’s
better than spending the evening cursing my flapping gums. You
ought not take seriously everything that comes out of them.”
“How…? Ohhhhh.” She didn’t want to
relax, but he had gentle hands, and that was a tender spot he was
massaging.
“See how your foot is all curled up? Nervous
habit with your toes, I’d bet. You need to quit that. One of these
days your foot will cramp in your shoe and stay that way.” For him,
he was using a solicitous tone.
“I don’t…need you to do this,” she
whispered. Her throat was too tight to say anything else.
His fingers gently worked each toe; then he
moved up to her ankles. He took his time, and his motions made her
relax against her will. Slowly, he brought her foot to his mouth
and kissed it.
“What are you doing?” she gasped.
His hands moved up her calf and worked the
muscles there. Sure and strong, they soothed away the tension; and
made her shudder.
“Stop!”
He did, but he also went
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