“Here are the celebratory wedding cakes.” Pearl entered the dining room, balancing a silver tray filled with a selection of tiny, plated cakes. “Some are chocolate and the others lemon.” First, she held the offerings first between Archie and Marianne before moving around the table.

  “Oh, I love lemon cake.” Dixie jerked and then gazed down at her food.

  “Those look delicious, Pearl…”

  Dixie’s voice sounded wistful before her sister drowned out her quiet tone. He frowned at the outspoken woman he was now related to.

  “But I do not think I could eat another bite.” Liana settled a hand to her middle.

  Had the sisters’ relationship always been one of Liana overshadowing Dixie?

  The interplay between Dale leaning close to his wife followed by Liana’s blush caught everyone’s attention, especially when Dale fed his wife a bite of lemon cake.

  Alexei cocked an eyebrow. What did his bashful wife think of such a sensual act performed in the presence of others? He dropped a shoulder and turned in her direction.

  Gasping, Dixie stared wide-eyed across the table from behind her napkin then she looked up and blushed.

  The sisters, although similar in appearance, obviously possessed very different temperaments. He’d spent almost the entire meal contemplating the logic of Archie matching him with Dixie. But after observing the two women during the meal, he figured Liana as the leader and Dixie as the follower. That pre-established behavior suited him just fine. Archie probably meant for Alexei to demonstrate Pinkerton activities and procedures with Dixie being the observer. That relationship wouldn’t impact his regular solo process, and maybe he could pass off the recordkeeping to the trainee. She looked like she might be good with secretarial tasks. Sipping his water, he had to fight back a smile. This arrangement was looking better all the time.

  “Mister Zivon, which flavor would you like?” Pearl held the tray between their chairs.

  “Thank you, Pearl. Tasty meal, by the way. Appreciate your efforts on our behalf.” After scanning the choices, he reached for a plate holding a slice of lemon cake with white frosting. He would have preferred chocolate, but he suspected Dixie wouldn’t select one for herself. Why that supposition bothered him, he couldn’t say. All he could do was encourage her to honor her preferences. Even if he needed to employ a bit of subterfuge. He forked in a bite, enjoying the contrast of tart and sweet. The second bite he held up several inches off the plate and turned his wrist, exaggerating his inspection of it from multiple angles. “The frosting is creamy and sugary but has a flavor I can’t identify.”

  Pearl was just returning from the kitchen with a single plate, and her mouth opened.

  Alexei knew she would respond so he avoided eye contact and angled himself forward to capture Dixie’s attention. “Dixie, taste a bite and tell me what it is.” To avoid a repeat of Dale’s too-forward action, he slipped the morsel into his mouth then pointed with his fork toward the slice.

  She flicked her gaze several times between the plate and his face before she picked up her fork and sampled a piece. A sigh sounded, and she smiled. “Do you mean vanilla?”

  “Are you sure?” He scooped up another bite, inching the plate her way. “Don’t you think it might be rum?”

  After scraping the plate, she held the fork between her lips, closed her eyes, and then nodded. “Mmm. Undeniably vanilla.”

  Two bites of sweetness and her whole demeanor changed. He couldn’t tear his gaze from her blissful expression and wished for another piece of dessert to prolong the observation. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Dale and Liana exiting the dining room. Knowing Dale’s dedication to the job, Alexei guessed he intended to start the training this very afternoon. Rather than bother Dixie with the regimented exercises Archie outlined earlier, he wanted to get to know more about her.

  Four years of working as a Pinkerton agent taught him to rely on his own skills. He had no idea what Archie valued in this petite woman’s abilities, but having company on the assignment might be enjoyable. With his most recent assignments being undercover ones, he’d noted a loneliness factor insinuating itself into each case’s final days. Pretending to be someone other than himself all day, every day, wore on his spirit. Having someone to talk to who knew the real him could be refreshing. He turned toward Dixie. “Would you like to go for a walk?”

  “I would like to.” She looked across the table. “I appreciate your help and encouragement, Marianne.”

  “Of course.” The secretary dabbed a napkin against her lips. “All part of my job.”

  Alexei glanced toward where his boss sat. “Thank you, Archie, for today. I’ll be in touch on Monday after I speak with the jeweler.”

  Archie lifted his coffee mug in a salute. “Best of luck, Alexei and Dixie.”

  He stood, eased Dixie’s chair backward, and then followed her to the foyer. From the coat stand, he lifted his narrow-brimmed hat and settled it on his head. “Do you have a wrap?”

  “This one.” Dixie lifted a hand toward a black shawl.

  “Allow me.” He moved quicker so he could unfold it before dropping it over her shoulders.

  “Thank you.” Dixie pulled a pair of black lace gloves from the reticule hanging from her wrist and tugged them on.

  Outside on the mansion’s porch, Alexei took a deep breath, noticing a sweet floral fragrance that must be coming from the garden. When he kissed Dixie, he remembered a citrus scent clinging to her skin. He glanced down at the woman who was his wife. What a strange thought.

  How many times over the years had his mother suggested particular women in San Francisco society who would be the best matches? She’d even gone so far as to introduce these ladies at gatherings that demanded he squire the designated woman around the dance floor. All of those pampered candidates had been daughters of bankers, doctors, lawyers, and captains of industry. Not a one had ever worked a single day in their lives.

  Becoming a Pinkerton agent who was rarely in San Francisco was his way of diverting Mor’s matchmaking efforts. Now, here he was married to a seamstress with a French accent, and he knew not a single detail about her breeding or her connections.

  He’d already decided that he wouldn’t share the “happy” news with his family before the assignment came to its logical conclusion. Although he’d played the perfect gentleman during the wedding ceremony, he held strong doubts about the likelihood Archie and Marianne Gordon were qualified as matchmakers. Maybe their newfound wedded bliss tainted their perspective. “I wanted to let you know the details of the assignment.”

  “Of course.” She popped open a parasol and held it over her left shoulder to shade her pale face from the midday sun.

  Alexei started down the steps at his normal pace but immediately felt resistance against his forearm. He glanced to the side to see her staring at the steps. “Sorry. Let me know if I move too quickly.”

  “I must admit, your height is a bit imposing. And I should have assumed your stride would also be long.”

  “Don’t fret.” Taking steps at half his normal stride, he patted her gloved hand. “We’ll soon work out our rhythm.” Birds chirped from the treetops, and a colorful butterfly flitted a few feet ahead. After reaching the street, he paused and glanced along the boardwalk. “Any preference for the direction our walk takes?”

  “None. I am content to wander.”

  Nodding, he waited until a couple of riders walked their horses past before guiding her across the street. Making a loop of the closest two city blocks should be long enough to give her the assignment’s basics before he started the necessary, in-depth planning he performed for each case.

  A simple activity like a stroll on a Saturday afternoon was a rare, quiet event in his life. He had no intention of hurrying it along. People chatted as they moved in and out of shops. His aim during this jaunt was to be as diplomatic as he knew how and convince her he would be doing all the work on the coming assignment. He’d listened to Archie’s expectations the women were to be given tasks to support solving the case. But really, how could Alexei trust his hard-won reputation to a neophyte? “In our meeting this morning, Archie informed me the agency has been hired by the owner of a health resort.”

  “What is a health resort?”

  Passing a couple exiting the green grocer, he dipped his chin. “A place where people go to either drink mineral water or soak in mineral baths. Some have been diagnosed with an illness, and others hold a belief the waters will cure certain medical ailments.”

  “I am familiar with thermal hot springs.” She looked at him then turned forward. “When I was younger, I traveled with my family to Bath, in Somerset, England, one summer. As a young teen, my exposure was limited, but I remember my parents really enjoyed long soaking sessions. I went once to Les Bains de Dorres in the Pyrenees Mountains with my aunt and uncle.”

  Interesting. He glanced down and, from his height, could only see her cheekbones and nose. Her personal experience might come in handy later. “The owner, Doctor Lucian Casale, contacted the Denver office because his clientele reported a number of thefts of their personal property.”

  “Money?”

  “Jewelry mostly.”

  “Oh?” She glanced up with widened eyes then looked away. “You have an expertise in retrieving stolen goods? I apologize if the question is impertinent, but I am not versed in what types of cases the agency handles. Liana probably knows such details.”

  “I’ve worked several theft assignments in various settings.” When he noticed a strut entered his steps, he slowed his pace.

  “I am curious. What was the assignment Mister Gordon gave to Mister Claybourne?”

  “You’ll have to get used to calling him Dale. He is your brother now by marriage.” An act that also changed his relationship with the other agent. More than roommates, they were now related through the sisters.

  “I suppose I will.” She blew out a long breath. “But I wonder how much I will interact with him. From something Marianne said, once agents set out on their assignments, they have limited contact with the agency.”

  “Not true. I’m required to report weekly to the client. For this case, that task won’t be hard because I’ll be on site where he is.” He guided her down the steps at the end of the boardwalk and across the dirt alley to the opposite set of steps. “Plus, agents wire the office on a regular basis with updates.”

  Glancing in store windows, she walked in silence for several steps. “What I meant was Liana and I will no longer have the chance to enjoy sisterly teas, family suppers, or…other get-togethers.”

  The hitch in her speech surprised him, and he glanced downward.

  Dixie blinked fast then turned away. Her parasol spun and bobbed.

  “Are you all right, mishka?” At the inadvertent use of an endearment his otec used for his mor, he jerked back his head. Hopefully, she hadn’t noticed.

  Nodding, she paused in twirling her parasol then tilted up her chin. “If you must know, I am nervous about being separated from my sister. She is the braver and bolder of us two and has been a mentor and my stalwart companion since we left our home country six years ago.” She exhaled then looked away. “There, I have revealed my worst shortcoming.”

  “I see.” From the first time he saw her, he viewed Dixie as delicate, and her admission proved the fact. Maybe convincing her to remain in the background would be easier than he thought. “You are correct that family suppers and social outings will have to wait a while. Unless we hold one tomorrow. They are headed to Virginia City, Nevada Territory, and we are staying inside Colorado Territory. In fact, our assignment is located less than a hundred miles away in Fountain Springs.”

  “Nevada Territory is almost to California.” She turned up a smiling face then laughed. “Liana will definitely like traveling to such a westward location.”

  Sounded like she thought one of them received what she wanted. “Implying you would not?” He enjoyed learning what she liked.

  “I enjoy home and hearth very much. A shorter train ride suits me fine.” She looked across the street and stopped walking. “Whatever is that man doing with Liana?”

  He stiffened. What man? He shot his hand to his hip but didn’t touch the leather holster. Alexei focused across the backs of horses and wagons moving along the street and spotted Dale. He stood behind Liana, his hands holding her shoulders, as they both focused their attention on the mercantile up the block. “Probably testing her powers of observation. That training exercise is one of the first we were taught.”

  “Should we be doing the same?” She glanced up, her brows furrowed.

  Having those shiny hazel eyes focused on him was nice. “First, I wished to inform you about the assignment. Plus, we will probably remain in Denver longer than they do because of needed preparations.” He guided her around a bench set in front of the mercantile and continued down the boardwalk.

  “Will we need special clothes? I can help with that aspect.”

  “Probably we will. I haven’t had time to think about the possibility yet. But my first task on Monday is to meet with a jeweler to order several sets of paste jewelry.”

  “Paste?” She turned to look up, her lower lip sucked under her top teeth.

  The action made her Cupid’s bow more pronounced. Her pink lips looked very kissable, and he had to tear away his gaze. “The term is another for fake. Glass is cut and treated to resemble real jewels. When put into silver and gold settings, the jewelry looks authentic and quite expensive.”

  Her eyes rounded. “So, you want me to wear this fake jewelry and hope that the thief steals it?”

  At the sight of her trembling lower lip, he clenched his jaw. He had to remember that she wasn’t used to any methods of detection, and he should provide more of a setup of the situation. “Not off your body but from your room.” He walked forward, glad to hear their footsteps echoing in synchronization.

  “Start from the beginning.” Lowering her head, she inhaled while rolling her shoulders. “You and I will travel to this resort, then what?”

  “Buona Acqua is the name.”

  “Seems appropriate.”

  “What does?” Now, he was the one not following the conversation.

  “The name translates to good water in Italian.” She stopped walking and rested a hand on his forearm. “Could we perhaps go sit in a café? My neck aches from tilting back my head so far as we talk.”

  Guilt stabbed him. He should have realized the struggle carrying on a conversation while walking would be. After glancing around to check where he stood, he gestured toward the opposite side of the street. “There. The Valley Café serves tasty apple pie, if I remember right.”

  After a sidelong glance, she pinched her lips together then nodded. “A good choice.”

  If she had a problem with the place, surely she would have said something. The traffic on the street was thick, and Alexei waited at the foot of the boardwalk steps, watching for a safe opening. Dale and Liana no longer stood on the boardwalk across the street. “Let’s cross now.” As he cupped a hand around the far side of her waist, he caught sight of Dale standing at the street end of an alley, his focus on the narrow passage between the buildings. So, his buddy followed through on the plan he talked about to test his new partner’s response to a potential mugging. Hopefully, Liana could handle it.

  But Alexei didn’t have time to contemplate Dale’s method of training. He needed to wend a path across the busy street and keep his petite wife from being trampled. After pausing for a farm wagon that didn’t yield, he steered her around a steaming manure pile in the middle of the street. Close to the boardwalk, he reached down to hold her hand on the ascent of the steps. Her hand was so slim he worried he’d hurt her.

  Reaching the boardwalk, Dixie eased away her hand then lowered the parasol and tucked it under her free arm.

  Mor used to lecture that, with his large size, he would have to take care around women. She always admonished him to treat them like they were made of the finest porcelain. The woman at his side fit that description, and he used the gentlest of pressure at her back to guide her into the café.

  Conversations from the patrons filled the air. Scents of cinnamon and sugar mixed with coffee and beef. He might have eaten within the last hour, but he was a firm believer that coffee and pie could be consumed at any time—day or night. The square tables accommodating larger parties were full, as were the long tables. After spying an empty spot, he leaned down so she could hear him over the voices. “I see a small table in the far corner.”

  “I will head there.” Dixie nodded and walked ahead, scooting between the benches set at the sides of the long tables.

  Alexei followed, mesmerized by the swish of gray skirts with each of her steps. Her waist looked tiny enough to span with his bare hands and have fingertips to spare. That realization again brought a question to rise to the forefront—what did Archie think this petite woman could contribute to this assignment?

  Chapter 5

  With a minimum of fuss, Dixie settled into the chair that faced the café’s back wall and set her parasol and reticule on the plank floor. Self conscious about her overbite, she did not like eating or drinking in front of strangers. The luncheon they just finished had been only barely tolerable, mostly because she knew all three ladies present. Besides, Liana always wanted to be in the spot where she could see all who entered when they ate out. Every time she thought of the upcoming goodbye she would have to say to Liana, she battled with emerging tears. What she admitted to Alexei was the truth; she worried how she would function without her sister’s guidance.

  “This place is still busy after the noon meal, but I caught a waitress’s attention. She’ll be right here.” Alexei hung his hat from the chair’s back upright then ran a hand over his blond hair.

 

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