Page 29 of The Banker's Bride

Dallas smiled, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “Yes, I think you’re right.”

They talked and laughed through lunch and before long, it was time to prepare for their guests.

Megan dabbed daintily at her lips. “Well, if ye gentlemen don’t mind, I need to get ready for the party tonight.”

Both Dallas and Charles stood.

“I’ll walk you up.” Dallas held her chair for her as she stood.

“It was nice meeting you,” Charles added, and then nodded toward Dallas as he spoke to Megan. “Good luck keeping this one in line.”

Dallas didn’t care much for being the butt of their jokes, although he realized it was in good fun. “This is the one you have to look out for.” Dallas pointed a finger at Charles, smiling.

Charles chuckled. “But seriously, any friend of Dallas’s is a friend of mine.”

“Why, thank ye, Mr. Whitfield.”

“Please, call me Charles.”

“We’ll see you in a little while.” Dallas offered her his arm. “Shall we?”

Megan nodded and he led her up the stairs.

In their bedroom, Dallas pulled her into his arms and closed the door. Then his lips descended upon hers as his breath quickened and his heart raced.

“Slow down there, honey.” Megan pulled back, bringing everything to a stop and lowered her voice to a whisper. “I have to get ready, love. Our guests will arrive soon. And ye have to get ready, too.”

Dallas kissed down her jaw to her neck and inhaled. “Meggie, can I ask you something?” He planted a kiss on her shoulder this time.

“What?” she asked dreamily.

He smiled to himself at the effect he was having on her. “Do you like Charles?”

“What?” Megan pulled back abruptly, her eyes wide. “What in the world—”

“I just watched you two talking and—”

“And you thought I was attracted to him.”

“Megan, keep down your voice. He’ll hear—”

“Well, let him hear!” Megan yelled even louder. She backed away and then narrowed her eyes. “For yer information, I was just being cordial and friendly and so was he.” She scoffed. “I would think that ye would like that we got along so well! After all, heisyer best friend, isn’t he?”

In the last month, they had gotten to know each other and he had told her what Charles had done for him. “Okay, you’ve made your point. Let’s get ready. Our guests will be here shortly.”

“You expect me to go after this?”

Dallas crossed the room and looked down at her. “You are my wife, and you will attend this party.”

“No.” Megan folded her arms across her chest.

Rage instantly boiled up inside him as he gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. Then, he lowered his voice in an effort to control himself. “I am going to leave this room. While I am out, I want you to get ready… please.”

Megan let out a deep breath and then nodded, relenting. “Okay. The only thing you had to do was ask.” Then she narrowed her eyes. “But don’t ever accuse me of that ever again. I’m friendly. That’s who I am, and I won’t change. So, yer just going to have to accept it.”

Dallas slid his hand behind her head and pressed his lips to hers. When he pulled back, he replied, “Just remember who your husband is.”

She pushed him away and stumbled back, her eyes wide. “I know full well who me husband is. I’m not a flirt… or worse.”

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