Page 435 of Conveniently Wed
His strong arms gathered around her from behind. “Anything your little heart desires, you just let me know. And thanks for helping me out. I know attending public functions is not your favorite thing.”
She drew in a deep breath and leaned against him. It scared her how well he knew her in such a short time. He didn’t miss a nuance or forget a conversation or fail to pay attention to far more than her words. How did anyone love that well? Her throat tightened to an impossible ache. She respected him. She was thankful to him. She was far more content than she had ever dreamed possible. But did she love him? A feather of regret flitted across her mind, but she brushed it away. She was doing her best.
The Christmas ball was almost upon them. Josiah rounded the corner into the ballroom to check on how the decorating was progressing. Colby stood on the top of the ladder trying to fix the tree topper to Katherine’s liking.
“A little more to the right, not the left.”
“Oh, you mean my other right.”
Colby moved the decoration in the correct direction, and her singsong laughter filled the air.
“Where do you get your craziness? Charles was far more serious.”
“I got the funny,” Colby said, “and he got the good looks.”
“He was rather handsome.”
“And you’re agreeing I’m not?” Colby swiveled on the ladder to look down at her and caught Josiah standing there.
“Did you hear that? I think Katie just insinuated I’m unattractive.”
Katherine spun and hurried to Josiah’s side. She linked her arm in his and pulled him forward. “Do you like?” Her eyes sparkled as she gazed up at the tree.
Josiah nodded, but what he really wanted was to throttle them both. Their easy laughter, their teasing… It made him crazy.
“And she doesn’t mean me,” Colby said. “She means the tree.”
Katherine laughed again and waved at Colby. “Get down from there before you hurt yourself.”
“So, you do care?”
“I guess I have to, considering you’re Josiah’s best friend.” She lifted her eyes to Josiah and threw him a smile, like throwing a bone to the dog.
How could he love and hate simultaneously? How could his best friend and his beloved wife strike up a friendship with so little effort, when he’d worked so hard to gain the small amount of ground he had? And why did their endless conversations always have Charles thrown in? It irked him to his core.
Jealousy would not look good on him, so he remained quiet. He swung his arm possessively around her shoulders and spoke to Colby. “I’ll take over from here. You have men out there who need your assistance.”
If Colby picked up on his undertones, he sloughed it off. “Sure thing, boss.” He jumped the last few rungs of the ladder and picked up his hat from the table.
“I’m not your boss. We’re partners.” Josiah worked hard to keep his voice level and his expression blank.
“Sure thing, boss.” Colby slapped on his hat and laughed as he headed out the door.
Katherine giggled at his side. “You did sound quite authoritative.”
Josiah ran a hand around the back of his head and clenched his teeth.
Katie took special care to dress for the occasion. She wanted to do Josiah proud and give the catty women of town nothing to condemn her for. She chose the finest gown Clarisse had created. With the whole town invited and most everyone coming, she wanted to give Josiah back at least a little of the support he’d given her. Though it scared her half to death, she would work at befriending the women. And if Josiah could impress the men with his supply of fine horses, then this evening would be worth the endless hours of preparation.
The rosy-pink fabric contrasted dramatically with her shiny black hair, which Ruby had wound into an elaborate coiffure. Seed pearls attached to hair pins were dispersed through the heavy mass. The effect was stunning. However, the fitted bodice was even lower than she remembered. She tugged at the material to hide the generous display of cleavage.
“Relax, my lady,” Ruby said. “Let your beauty shine. This is what all the ladies will be wearing.”
Katie gazed at herself in the full-length mirror. “That’s what Clarisse said when I questioned her. But I…don’t like men gawking at me, and this will make it worse.” She gave the material another yank upward.
“It will be fine, my lady. You look amazing.”
Katie left her bedroom and waved at Josiah and Colby below. She gathered her skirt in her hands and descended the stairs with care, watching each step until she reached the bottom. A smile split free. “I made it.” Her laughter stopped at one glance upward.
