Page 30 of May I Kiss the Bride
And then she smiled, making her eyes sparkle. “Thanks for waiting. Sorry I’m so late. I live with a lot of nosy people.” She looped her arm through his, about knocking him over with surprise, and tugged him along the boardwalk. “The sooner we’re out of sight, the better. Donna is likely spying out the window.”
“Donna?”
“Miss Dickson.”
Ah.“She’s a spy?”
Viola laughed, but it was a nervous laugh. “She’s bored, is what I think. And nosy. But let’s not talk about Donna Dickson.”
“Let’s not,” he wholeheartedly agreed. He rather liked Viola’s initiative to take his arm, and he rather liked the feel of her body pressing close to his, even if they were walking faster than he would have liked.
“I brought a pamphlet under the pretense of finding a quiet place to study.” She held up said book.Nurturing the Sick and the Training of Nurses.
“Looks interesting.”
Viola nudged him. “Now, tell me why you really came to see me yesterday, Mr. Sheriff.”
They were near a garden that sat in front of a hotel. So Rey turned onto the garden path, which was a perfect place for some privacy and no prying eyes or ears of the likes of Donna Dickson.
“I wanted to see how you were faring,” Rey admitted as they strolled along a garden path lined with bushes and spots of blooming flowers. The trees overhead offered enough shade that the flowers seemed to thrive. “Your aunt told me of your strife with your parents and that the nursing school in San Francisco didn’t have any openings.” He paused in his step and looked down at her. “Were your parents so very awful?”
Viola met his gaze, and in her eyes, he saw her distress. “My father was livid. My mother tried to give me money a few days ago, but I refused. I might be regretting that now.”
Rey took off his hat and reached into the slot of the lining where he kept money like any cowboy did. “Here, I have some money. Can bring you more, too.”
Viola took a step back. “I’m not taking your money, Rey. That’s not what I intended when I told you about my parents. I want to do this on my own. It gives me a sense of accomplishment, more than I’ve ever had in my life.”
“Are you sure?” Rey asked, even though he heard the conviction in her tone.
“I’m sure,” she said in a soft voice. “Thank you for your offer. You’re a good-hearted man.”
“It’s not a hard thing with a woman like you, Viola.” He kept his hat in his hands. It was time for some serious talk. “I’m proud of all that you’re doing. You’ll be an excellent nurse.”
He didn’t expect her eyes to well with tears. No, that wasn’t his plan at all. “What is it? Did I say something wrong? Did you change your mind about the money?”
“No.” Her voice came out shaky. “I don’t want your money. I just … It’s been a long few weeks. You and Aunt Beth have been my rock through everything. More than you can possibly know.”
Her words completely stole his breath. She considered him a rock in her life? His heart galloped miles ahead of his thoughts, and he took a few slow breaths, trying to get his pulse under control. “I’ll support you any way I can, Viola, I hope you know that.” His own voice had turned raspy.
He hoped her tears would abate, but he wasn’t sure of that fact because she suddenly closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms about his torso.
After he got over the initial shock, there was only one thing to do. Hold the woman who needed his support right now. Rey wrapped his arms about her and pulled her close. She nestled her face against his neck, and he rested his chin atop her head. She fit perfectly against him. He’d had a hint of that at the barn dance, but this … this was heavenly perfection.
“Thank you, Rey,” she whispered.
“Anytime, sweetheart.” He didn’t plan the endearment; it just slipped out. And it fit. Viola Delany was a sweetheart through and through.
She drew away from him—not out of his arms, but enough that she could look him in the eyes. Her tears had dried, but there were traces along her cheeks. He lifted a hand and wiped away the moisture.
She didn’t move, and her breaths came as rapid as his. Could she hear his heart thundering louder than a Wyoming storm?
“I have a confession, Viola Delany.” If he didn’t get it off his chest, it might well burst and keel him over here and now.
She was still in his arms, holding him close. “Then out with it, Mr. Sheriff.”
Normally, he’d laugh, but he was too nervous for that. He drew in a breath, one filled with the scent of her, whichhappened to be peaches, even if she hadn’t been baking a peach pie. The scent seemed to be her essence.
“I’d like to court you, ma’am.” Another breath. “If you’ll have me.”
