Page 46 of Kissing the Sheriff
He swallowed hard. “I’m terribly sorry, I seem to be staring at you. Forgive me. It’s impolite.”
“That’s unusual behavior for you, isn’t it?” She boldly stared back.
“Unfortunately, no.”
She looked taken aback. “I don’t understand.”
“Let’s just say I’m not as well-mannered as some of my brothers. But I try.” He crossed his heart. “Honest.”
Wariness flashed in her eyes and his heart sank. He didn’t want her to think of him the way his brothers did. They’d labeled him a rake a long time ago, and unfortunately he’d lived up to their expectations. But he didn’t want to do that anymore. Cassie, like the rest of Apple Blossom, was simple and beautiful and, dare he say, untouched? But he’d be wrong. The town had been devastated and they were cleaning the wound that would otherwise fester if it hadn’t already.
“Let’s look at my room,” she said and opened the door. She stood just inside and motioned him to stand on the threshold. “Maybe some paint, though I wouldn’t mind wallpaper.”
“Something feminine, I gather?”
She blushed and smiled shyly.
“So the sheriff is a lady after all,” he quipped.
“I try to be. At least Apple Blossom’s version of a lady.”
“And what is that?” he couldn’t help but asked.
She smiled. “I don’t spit. I don’t chew, which explains the not spitting. I bathe.”
“That helps.” He sniffed the air, caught a scent of lemon, and smiled. “Yes, that helps a lot.”
She looked at her fingernails. “Clean, see?”
He studied them. “Duly noted.”
She clasped her hands behind her back. “I dance.”
“Which reminds me.” He bowed slightly. “Cassie Laine, may I have the honor of the first dance?”
She grinned as her face went red as a beet. “You may.”
Conrad took a step toward her. “Jolly good. We’d better go downstairs and look at your father’s room.”
Cassie’s eyes locked with his. “Yes. We’d better.”
* * *
Cassie hurrieddown the stairs and went straight to the kitchen. She didn’t bother to wait for Conrad as she hurried into Pa’s room. Goodness gracious, for a moment there she thought he was going to kiss her! Was he? After what he’d said about himself, not to mention what Irving had told her that afternoon, she’d best not be alone with him.
But didn’t Irving say something about Conrad having changed since he’d been here?
“Is there a fire?” he teased when he caught up. “You flew down the stairs so fast I thought you might trip.”
“As you can see, I’m perfectly fine.” She walked to Pa’s bed. “I can’t decide if I should keep this. In case I have guests.”
Conrad walked around the room. “There’s room to keep it. The bookcase can go upstairs, and a few other things. Your sewing machine can go over there.” He pointed. “And it’s no problem to take his dresser up to the landing. You can keep fabric in it.”
She smiled. “If I’m to keep fabric anywhere, then it would be down here in my new sewing room.”
He looked at her, swallowed and quickly turned away. “My mistake. You can leave it where it is, but if you want to make room for sewing paraphernalia, something will have to go.” He turned around with an expectant look.
Cassie studied him. Why was he acting flustered? She gave her attention back to the room. It was bigger than hers, and it would make sense to use it for her own bedroom. But she just couldn’t do it. “The dresser and bed can stay. The bookcase, chair, and small table can go upstairs. I’ll leave the nightstand.”
