Page 66 of The Formation of Us
“God, yes.” Tansy pressed her palm to her heart. “I can’t keep my eyes off the man.”
Faith laughed with Aster and Iris.
“What?” Tansy glared at them with feigned innocence. “What is so humorous about a woman appreciating a man while he works?”
“Not a thing,” Iris said, “I’ve always enjoyed watching my male friends work.”
Tansy pursed her lips. “You have a filthy mouth, lady”
“No, dahlin’, it’s your filthy mind that twisted my words. And I’m not a lady.”
Tansy lowered her voice. “If I didn’t love you so much, I’d fill your feminine syringe bottle with peppermint tea.”
“Ooh, it sounds exhilarating.”
Faith hid her smile, but Aster howled from the belly, openly appreciating the bawdy humor that had kept them sane at the brothel.
“Mama, what are you all laughing about?” Cora asked.
“Yeah, what are you ladies doing back there?” Patrick hollered.
Faith felt like she’d been caught peeing in the straw. Two weeks ago she’d been furious with Iris for risking their reputation by acting too outrageous with Patrick, and here she was sharing brothel humor within earshot of the sheriff!
“Tansy almost fell off the wagon,” Iris said, lounging against the side of the wagon. “Don’t worry, Mr. Dahlin’, she’s still with us.”
Tansy leaned over and pinched Iris’s thigh. “I’m going to use an infusion made from poison ivy instead!”
Faith clapped her hand over her mouth to hide her laugh, loving her aunts despite, or maybe because of, their irreverent humor.
They left the wagon at Duke’s friend’s house on Seventh Street, then they walked to Central Avenue to watch the parade. Crowds of people lined both sides of the street, and the crush pressed Faith against Duke’s hard body.
He stood behind her, but she could feel his torso shift as he leaned down to speak to her. “Best parade I’ve ever been to,” he said near her ear.
“The parade hasn’t started yet, Sheriff.”
“I hadn’t noticed.”
His warm breath on her neck made her shiver in the July heat. If Cora and Adam weren’t standing beside her, she would risk a playful retort, but they were trapped in an endless crowd of people cheering as the first fire company marched toward them, their hose cart proudly leading the way as the marching band followed behind playing the national anthem.
Faith watched the long procession of fire companies pass. Then carriages with prominent citizens rolled by, followed by a cluster of bicycles that delighted Adam, and Cora, who had charmed her way onto Duke’s shoulders. When the last cyclist waved, the crowd followed the parade to Washington Square to hear a local reverend invoke a blessing on the nation, and the mayor read the Declaration of Independence.
Every surge and shift of the crowd brought Duke’s body against Faith’s. He touched her back with wide splayed fingers, making her skin tingle in five places. His thigh brushed hers when they strolled arm in arm. When he stood behind her, his groin occasionally nudged her bottom, warning that he was close enough to devour her. And God forgive her wanton ways, but she wished he would.
She was relieved when he took Cora and went to buy beverages for them. His flirting and teasing and hot kisses were making her crazy.
And so was Iris. The blasted woman was flaunting her desire for Patrick and not watching a word she said. Faith whispered to her to behave, but Iris was preoccupied with Patrick.
“Why aren’t you married, Patrick?”
“I’ve never had the urge.”
“I think you enjoy women too much to settle for just one.”
Faith nearly choked. Discreet flirting was one thing. But to have this reckless conversation in the middle of a crowded park was just begging for trouble. Especially when Iris and her exotic looks drew as much attention as the parade.
“It’s not the one-woman part that’s kept me a bachelor, sweetheart. I was waiting for the right woman.” He fit his palm to her waist and pulled her against him. “I was waiting for you,” he said in a sinfully husky voice.
To Faith’s utter shock, he pulled Iris into an alley as if she were a dockside hussy
