Moonsong, page 13
Cutter returned the smile. “Sometimes the beauty isn’t all that difficult to see.”
Millie returned the gaze for a long moment, neither of them moving or speaking as she replenished her memory with the face that so often visited her in dreams. Had his eyes always been such a vivid color of green?
“So ah, what can I get you then?” she asked, recalling suddenly she had a job to do that didn’t include standing around staring at the man.
“I’ll have the special; Skinny Pete knows how I like it. Don’tcha, Skinny Pete?” he said a little louder, and Millie was conscious of the fact that both the cook and Cherrilyn watched them as if their simple conversation was the most fascinating thing in the entire universe.
“Sure thing, that’ll be up in a jiffy,” Millie smiled; moving off to make sure Skinny Pete got the order ticket even though he’d already heard the order. “You catch all that Petey?” she called to the cook, who gave her a sheepish grin, head ducking down between his shoulders at being caught eavesdropping.
“You know him?” Cherrilyn sidled close to the prep station.
That was a complicated question, and one she wasn’t eager to get into at work in too much detail. “Sort of, I ran into him in the woods a couple of times out by our house, why?”
Cherri looked back at where Cutter was adding sugar and cream to his coffee. “No real reason, only that’s more words come outta that man at one sitting than I’ve seen for the past year,” she snorted.
“Yeah? Does he come in here a lot?” Millie’s gaze darted back over to him.
“Not too often, maybe once every few weeks or so. Before today I didn’t even think he knew how to smile though. First the sea of flowers from your sweetheart and now charming the beast outta that man, you’re racking up quite a fan club,” she teased the younger waitress.
Millie looked to where Cutter was again, expecting to see a friendly expression on his face, taken aback by the scowl that awaited her there. “Not so fast…” she sighed, picking up the condiments she headed back over to his counter. “What’s the matter? It’s a bit early to complain about the food isn’t it, I haven’t even brought it over yet.”
“Who are the flowers from?” he all but growled at her and she realized that he must have overheard her conversation.
“Didn’t anyone ever tell you eavesdropping is impolite?” she scowled back at him.
“Who are they from, Amelia?” he demanded, eyes blazing with impatience.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but they’re from Chase,” Millie retorted, her mood souring.
“And he’s your… sweetheart?” It sounded like he found the word distasteful.
“I repeat, not that it’s any of your business, but yes, we’re seeing each other.”
“You’re right; it’s none of my business.” he rose from the chair, digging into his pocket to toss down some crumpled bills.
“You’re leaving?” How had things gone so wrong so fast? One moment they were smiling at each other and the next he was prickly as a porcupine walking over hot pavement on a sunny day. “Cutter wait…” Before he could leave, she came around the side of the counter. “You need your breakfast. If you’re ticked off at me, I can switch with Cherrilyn if you’d prefer.”
“I’m not hungry,” he growled stubbornly and her brows drew together as her own stubborn streak kicked in.
“Oh, would you stop being such a baby and sit down already?” Amelia ordered, shoving at his shoulder lightly; the shoulder she’d sewn up not too long ago that she suspected would be completely healed without any trace of a scar. Taken aback, Cutter sank back onto the stool again. “Your order will be up in a minute. Now park it or I’ll have to go let the air out of your tires, you got me?” Millie growled back at him just as fiercely.
“Yeah, I got you.”
“Jesus Millie, remind me never to get you mad at me,” Skinny Pete blinked at her.
“I’m not mad… he’s just…ugh!” The man was infuriating, pushing her away and then pulling that kind of attitude when someone else paid attention to her? What the hell was that?
“I thought you said you didn’t know him?” Cherrilyn sidled up to her, having watched the interplay between them.
“I don’t exactly…” Millie gave Cutter a firm look to make sure he stayed put where she’d left him, knowing full well he could hear their entire conversation. “I guess I have a problem with guys who don’t know a good thing when they see it.”
“Huh?” Cherrilyn’s brow puckered in confusion.
“Skinny Pete’s cooking.” Millie gave them a wry smile, picking up the plates and returning to her grumpy customer. “Anything else I can get you? More coffee? Some juice?”
“More coffee please, Miss,” Cutter replied politely, the hint of a smile in his eyes.
“More coffee coming up,” Amelia nodded, relieved that he’d lost the hostility for the moment. Retrieving the pot she gave him a refill and set the check down beside his plate. “You sing out if you need anything else, okay?”
“Thanks,” he nodded in recognition, already in the process of adding Tabasco to everything on his plate. “Oh, and Amelia…?”
Millie turned back, expecting him to ask for water or a different flavor of jelly or something. “Yes?”
“For the record, I do know a good thing when I see it. Only, the way I see it, it’s too good for the likes of me,” Cutter added, shoveling a forkful of food into his mouth.
“Yeah well, no one ever said you were too bright.” Amelia shook her head with an exasperated sigh, turning away again before she said something else they might both regret.
He ate his meal in silence, throwing surreptitious looks in Amelia’s direction from time to time but for the most part keeping his focus on the food. For her part Millie was attentive but not pushy, leaving him to eat in peace as she tended to her other customers.
Cutter stood when he finished eating, adding a generous tip to the bills he’d laid down earlier. “See you around,” he said gruffly.
“Come back and see us soon, okay?” Millie refrained from actually reaching out to touch him, but her voice called him back.
“Never can tell,” he offered her a lopsided smile.
Distracted for the rest of the afternoon, Amelia found her thoughts often shifting to the tall, dark loner. For whatever reason she found herself drawn to him, even if he had his mind set on keeping her at arm’s length. Best to put Cutter from her thoughts. For reasons she couldn’t fathom he didn’t want her, at least not enough to set aside his objections and do something about it, and she sure as hell wasn’t going to keep throwing herself at him.
After dinner Millie stepped out onto the back porch for a breath of fresh air, her eye immediately drawn to small parcel wrapped in newspaper, a small card tucked under a piece of twine holding it together. Knowing instinctively it was from Cutter even before she picked up the package, she found his neat, precise script printed on the back.
Sometimes the beauty isn’t all that difficult to see.
Unwrapping the package, she drew forth the delicately carved flower she’d seen on Cutter’s mantelpiece that first day. Damn that man… just when she thought she’d found a way to steel her heart against him he found his way back in…
Chapter Sixteen
The next time Cutter came into the café, he left his surly demeanor at home, and the next, and the next… It became so that Millie would regularly look for him about mid morning, after the morning rush had cleared and before the lunch crowd arrived, when she had the most time for idle chit chat. They talked about everything and nothing, the public setting curtailing any heavy or intimate talk. It also served as a kind of safety net, not letting either of them feel like things were getting too serious between them, keeping things light.
Amelia soon learned that Cutter would not talk about his past in any way, but he was fine with talking about his work, and how he filled his days. Any mention of Chase or his suit was also in the forbidden category, as was any talk about her having to choose a mate or the death of her family. But within the confines of conversation, they found a way to fill the hours and get to know one another.
Though Amelia looked forward to those visits with growing anticipation, she kept her vow to stay away from his cabin in the woods, leaving it entirely in his hands as to whether or not they saw each other since he knew where to find her.
All the while Chase continued to “woo” her, at her insistence; plying her with flowers, little gifts, and outrageous compliments at every turn. Amelia enjoyed the attention, and she couldn’t deny the attraction, but that seemed to be all there was between them; an attraction that failed to develop into anything more. Chase could sense her hesitation, and to his credit didn’t often try to push past her comfort zone.
One morning Millie woke to find a rose on her pillow, a rolled sheet of thick parchment paper tied with a red velvet ribbon lying next to it. Trying to view it as romantic and not at all creepy that it magically appeared in the night while she’d been dead asleep, she sat up in bed and opened it. In elegant script was an invitation from Chase asking her to dine with him that night. Lifting the flower to her nose, she inhaled deeply, a smile rising to her lips. She’d asked to be wooed and he’d definitely held up his end of the bargain.
The day passed in a blur as she found herself looking forward to their date. Thoughts of Cutter had occupied her mind so often of late; she realized she’d been neglecting Chase in the bargain. Telling herself she had to stop pining for a man who didn’t want anything more than friendship, she put special effort into getting ready for Chase. Leaving behind the virginal white dresses for a slinky black number that made her feel sexy; a rush of satisfaction swept through her at Chase’s reaction when she came down the stairs.
“I should take you back upstairs and tear that dress right off of you,” he growled at her ear after pressing an innocent kiss to her cheek in greeting.
“I thought you wanted to go out for dinner, aren’t you hungry?” she smiled archly.
“You have no idea…” Chase grinned, hand smoothing over the curve of her behind as he propelled her towards the door. “Come on let’s go, the sooner I get you out of here and get you fed, the sooner I get you back here.”
Amelia laughed at his tone, comfortable with that kind of remark now that she knew he wouldn’t force the issue. Feeling a bit overdressed for the Steak Pit, Millie let him steer her towards the restaurant, smiling her thanks as he made a big show of holding the door open for her. Suppressing the urge to roll her eyes, she preceded him into the family style restaurant, surprised to find the lighting subdued and the place absolutely deserted. “Are you sure they’re open?” she whispered to him.
“Only for us,” he grinned back with a wink. “Come on, let’s go to our table.”
It was obvious which table was intended for them, floor space had been cleared around it. There was a lit candle on the table along with fresh flowers and a crisp white tablecloth, not the norm for a place that usually sported paper placemats. “You had them close out the rest of the restaurant?” her brows rose as she took her seat.
“Nothing but the best for you, baby,” his hand lingered on her shoulder in a light caress before taking his seat opposite her. “Well, the best I can manage in a place like Cutter’s Folly,” he grinned. “Once everything settles down I’ll take you to the City for a real fancy night on the town, the sky’s the limit.”
Once everything settled down.
That meant she’d be married with a child. How many nights on the town would there be when she had a newborn to care for? Amelia chose to keep those thoughts to herself, not wanting to spoil the evening when he was working so hard to please her. The trouble was, she could see the effort in everything he did, but it felt… contrived, almost forced. What would he really be like day in and day out if she chose him? Somehow she didn’t think it would involve many romantic gestures. What kind of father would he be? Would he be the type to help change diapers and run to the store for more formula?
“Uh oh, you’re kinda quiet over there, should I be worried? You don’t like it?” he gestured to the room around them.
“No, it’s great. I was actually sitting here wondering what kind of a father you’d make.”
His grin widened, and he picked up her hand. “I’ll make a fantastic Dad. I’ll show him everything, how to hunt, fish, track, I’ll help him grow up strong to fulfill his destiny,” Chase replied earnestly.
More of the destiny crap… Millie pulled her hand from his. “What if we have a girl?” she pointed out; was he one of those ‘boys are better than girls’ types? Of course he was; she could see it in the flicker of distaste that crossed his features before he schooled them back into an easy smile.
“A girl would be cool too; I could still show her those things.”
Leah came out from the kitchen, bearing salad plates and a less than friendly look on her face.
“Where’s the wine I ordered?”
“Oh, and could I please get a glass of water when you’ve got a moment?” Millie asked politely, knowing she wasn’t Leah’s favorite person.
“I’ll be back with the wine in a sec; I’ve only got two hands,” Leah scowled at Chase, ignoring Millie’s request altogether.
“There goes her tip. Don’t forget her water!” he yelled after the blonde as she disappeared into the kitchen again.
“Hey, be nice or she’s gonna spit in your food,” Amelia smirked.
“She wouldn’t dare,” he scoffed, but Amelia wasn’t so sure. It was an unspoken rule; don’t mess with people who handle your food.
“You know she hates me, right?”
“Why would she hate you? She’s obligated to show you the respect you deserve.”
“That doesn’t mean she doesn’t resent my position and my being here with you like this,” Millie pointed out.
Chase dug into his salad, dismissing it with a wave of the hand. “She’ll get over it, she always does.”
“Always?” Millie wondered aloud. How long had this on again off again thing with Leah been going on before her arrival?
“She likes to pick a fight sometimes, but she always comes around.”
Amelia took a bite and chewed thoughtfully, not sure her appetite was where it should be anymore. “So ah, what are we having for dinner?” she asked, seeing as how he’d obviously called ahead and made all the arrangements beforehand.
“The best in the house, you’ll see,” he gave her a wink as he continued to eat.
Leah appeared moments later with a bottle of wine and two wine glasses, a plastic bottle of water tucked under her arm. “Here you are. Is there anything else I can do for you before your food is ready?” she gave Chase an arch smile, bending forward a little to display her neckline to her advantage.
“We’re good thanks, but I know where to find you,” Chase smiled back, eyes dipping to her cleavage as expected before returning to her face.
“Yes, you do,” Leah winked before sashaying away.
“See, she got over it,” Chase grinned, turning back to his salad plate.
“Super,” Millie sighed, reaching for her bottle of water and twisting it open. At least she could trust that Leah hadn’t monkeyed with it, the seal was still in place.
“Hey, what’s wrong, Millie? Aren’t you having a good time?” Chase reached across the table and picked up her hand.
Was she? It was as romantic a setting as one could manage in a place like Cutter’s Folly, he’d obviously gone through quite an effort to please her… so what was missing? “Nothing, I guess maybe I’m a little tired is all,” Amelia shook away his concern, even as it continued to worry at her.
Amelia was subdued for the rest of the evening, though Chase didn’t seem to notice, talking enough for the both of them. She had to wonder; all kidding aside, did he know how to sit and enjoy each other’s company without having to fill every moment of silence with the sound of his own voice? She hadn’t realized how much she’d come to accept Cutter’s more taciturn habits until she spent an entire evening in Chase’s company. After having dinner with him she felt exhausted; her sense of calm battered by his incessant chatter.
As they returned to the house, he steered her towards the gazebo. “I had a great time tonight,” he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. Amelia remained silent, resting her head against his shoulder. “This is where you tell me what a great time you had tonight too,” he added in a stage whisper, tilting her face up to his with a finger under her chin.
“I’m sorry, Chase. I did have a nice time, dinner was great, I’m just… well like I said before, I guess I’m a little tired,” she offered him the excuse, unable to articulate what was behind her current mood.
“Maybe a little surprise will cheer you up?” he raised a single brow, producing a little velvet box.
“Chase, you don’t have to do that, you’ve spent way too much on me already,” Millie scolded him, expecting to see a pair of earrings or a pendant. Instead, a solitaire diamond engagement ring winked back at her, catching the moonlight. “Chase…”
“Don’t give me your answer right away,” he said quickly, even as he removed it from the box and slipped it on her finger. “Just… think about it, okay? Promise me you’ll think about it?” He gave her that puppy dog grin; the one that always made her laugh, it was so ridiculously cute.
“Chase I…” Amelia swallowed, staring at the ring on her finger. “I’ll think about it,” she promised.
Chapter Seventeen
Millie pulled the ring off the moment she got back to her room, replacing it in the little velvet box. Even then, it taunted her, pressuring her to make a choice. Not ready to start down that path, she tucked it away in the top drawer of the dressing table; out of sight, but not out of mind. Eager to push Chase’s proposal to the back of her thoughts for the moment, Amelia threw herself into her work, all the better to put off thinking about the future.
