Page 31 of Montana Groom of Convenience
His eyes opened, as blue-green as the water of a high mountain lake. Their gazes caught and held, and she felt something she’d never felt before. A connection or perhaps a longing for connection. He turned away, and she roped in her foolish thoughts. Their agreement had no room for anything but a work arrangement.
She finished her own piece of cake without looking at any of the others, then pushed back from the table. “I’ll do up the dishes.”
Jill’s cake had disappeared, though she didn’t look at Carly or give any indication if it tasted good or not. Carly knew enough to let the girl hang on to her loyalty to her ma.
Carly scurried from table to cupboard where she had a basin of hot soapy water. She did her best to remember exactly what their agreement entailed. He needed a home for Jill. She needed a man to appease her father’s demands. Nothing more.
“We’ll help,” Sawyer said, carrying a handful of cutlery. He reached past her to drop the items in the wash water. His arm brushed against her. She felt his strength, breathed in the outdoor scent of him and immediately forgot the details of their agreement.
He turned to his little sister. “Jill, you can help, too.”
Jill’s chair scraped back, and she made a sound of disagreement.
“It’s not necessary,” Carly murmured, having no desire to get on the bad side of the child.
“I think it is.” Sawyer held a towel out to Jill. “You can dry.”
Carly shifted so she could see them both. They wore identical expressions, jaws set, eyes unblinking not so much as a twitch from either of them.
“Well, fine.” Jill stomped over to grab the towel. Carly hurriedly started to wash dishes while Sawyer continued to clear the table.
“’Tis good to see the spirit of cooperation,” Father said.
Carly glanced at him to see if he teased, but his dark eyes were full of gentleness and approval.
“’Twill be pleasant to have you finally married, and you even got a little girl.”
“She ain’t my ma,” Jill said.
Carly wondered if that might be a blessing, but her annoyance at Jill’s rejection lasted only a second. Of course, the child wasn’t about to embrace Carly as mother. Carly wasn’t even sure she welcomed the idea. She’d only offered a home in exchange for a wedding certificate.
“Aye, child, one never forgets their mother. Just ask Carly.”
Jill’s attention jerked toward Carly, but if Carly thought she saw any sign of understanding, it disappeared so fast that she likely only imagined it.
As she turned back to her task, her gaze grazed Sawyer’s. The man met her eyes, his brimming with sympathy, startling her so much she let her wet hands drip at her sides. She couldn’t tear her gaze from his. Couldn’t think beyond the feeling of having fallen into something warm and fuzzy.
Then he blinked, and his face grew impassive.
She turned back to washing dishes. But her mind whirled. She expected him to keep his feelings to himself. After all, he’d said he no longer had them. Just that little glimpse of what lay behind his mask of indifference had the power to leave her dry-mouthed. If he should open his heart up, she didn’t know what she’d do, or how she’d be able to handle it.
Stop being so dramatic, she scolded herself.
Easier said than done, she discovered. She emptiedthe water and put away the last of the dishes. “Thanks for the help.”
Sawyer nodded. “Thanks for being a good cook.”
She promised herself she wouldn’t meet his eyes but couldn’t keep that promise, and she looked at him and saw a flicker of humor. Why had she never noticed how handsome he was, even unshaven?
Not that it mattered, she firmly informed herself. They each had their expectations of this arrangement, and it was strictly business.
She faced the room. Father watched, a twinkle in his eyes as if knowing how uncomfortable she was. Jill plunked down on a chair and stared at the tabletop. Several times, Carly had studied the child, trying to assess if the lump on her head caused her any problem, but she was only guessing that it wasn’t. “Jill, how is your head? Does it hurt?”
Jill drew back and gave Carly an angry look. “Nothing wrong with me.”
Father was immediately concerned. “I saw the lump on your forehead, child. What happened?”
“I fell.”
