Page 55 of A Twist of Faith
Grace’s look held a depth of awareness, seeing much more than Dee wanted. “If you change your mind, come on by. There’s always room at the table, sweetheart.”
The woman disappeared around the corner and Dee made her way to her car. Always room? With her crinkled and confusing past, truth digested slowly. Once the wager ended, maybe she could fall into this attraction for Reese, cling to the warmth of the Mitchell family, and enjoy the ride for as long as it lasted.
But until then, she needed to keep a clear head. The wager nudged at her conscience with the gentleness of a carving knife. She wasn’t free to care about Reese, even if she wanted to. If his family knew the truth, they’d push her away.
She needed to focus. Trial number one started in three days.
Football.
Chapter 11
You silly boy, of course she's not presentable. She's a triumph of your art and of her dressmaker's; but if you suppose for a moment that she doesn't give herself away in every sentence she utters, you must be perfectly cracked about her.
(Pygmalion, Act 3)
“Stop pulling at your collar,” Dee whispered to him. Her hair fell over her shoulders, almost to her elbows, teasing the scent of apples toward him.
Reese clamped down on his teeth and tried a tense smile. “This ain … this isn’t the type of clothes a person wears to watch football.”
“Thesearen’t the types of clothes,” she corrected, but kept her gaze on the game below them.
“Exactly.”
“In the VIP box, a collared shirt is perfectly appropriate.” She folded her hands in the lap of her fancy slacks—as ridiculous for a football game as his collared shirt.
Daggone it. There came Ms. I-don’t-agree. He stifled a groan. “You didn’t have to take my ball cap away. How are people going to know I’m for the other team since I’m sitting over here in traitor territory?”
“I’m pretty sure they’ll hear you cheering.” Her grin turned as treacherous as the colors flying for the opposite team.
He narrowed his eyes and inched close. “I must really like you to put up with all this.”
Her gaze softened and she almost smiled, then he replayed what he said and he almost smiled too. He was goin’ crazy—pure and simple. She’d worn her hair down, all of it, in a mess of deep brown around her face, which made her eyes seem big enough to fall into. When her expression turned all soft and sweet, the collared shirt lost a little of its discomfort.
“Adelina tells me you are preparing for a significant interview, Mr. Mitchell.”
Reese looked up and nodded to Dr. Lindsay, plotting each syllable. “Yes, ma’am. I have an interview in a month.”
“What will you do should you get the job?”
“Praise God, ma’am. That’s the very first thing I will do.”
Dr. Lindsay’s light eyebrows shot north. Reese looked to Dee who wore the same expression. Now what had he done? He was pretty sure he said every syllable just right.
Rainey, in Tech colors from head to toe, interjected. “Tell them about the job, Reese. I think she wants to know what you will do in your job.”
Well, if people said what they meant, it would make conversations a whole lot easier. He swallowed a lump of nervousness and plodded forward. “It’s a consulting position. I will travel up and down the East coast to farms, auctions, wherever I’m needed, to lend a hand and chew the cud a bit, so to speak.” His grin only lasted a second.
Dee’s slight shake of her head caused him to replay his sentence.
“I mean, I’m going to give information on how to increase the productivity of their herds and businesses.” That sentence sounded so good in his head, he thought he ought to continue. “Most folks in these parts struggle with irrigation trouble, feed problems, and cattle health.”
“Fascinating.” Dr. Lindsay’s pale blue eyes sparkled. “So, you enjoy this sort of thing?”
“Studied for it.” Reese nodded, confidence building. “I like taking farms dinged up after some rough weather or set back after a bad year, then get ’em up and running again. Building relationships is a first stop to making a difference.”
“Sounds like a campaign slogan fit for a political run, Mr. Mitchell.”
“Well, I ain—” He paused and rubbed his trimmed beard. “I’m a pretty simple man, Dr. Lindsay, but I believe I can help other simple men who are earning their living off the earth and cattle. It’s a hard life, but rewarding. Why there was this one time—”
