Last Promise Read online

  His touch left her breathless, and it took her a minute to realize he’d said something to her. “Pardon?”

  “Wood for the stove?”

  “Oh.” She pointed to the corner of the room where Eb had stacked some wood earlier.

  Luke grabbed a couple pieces of wood, returned to the stove, and tossed it inside. “Now we’re in business.” He looked around the room. It was a nice kitchen with the latest stove and the largest ice chest he’d ever seen. George had spared no expense outfitting the place. He glanced at the long wood table and saw a pan of beautifully browned biscuits. “Did you make those?”

  “Yes, I can do that much, but I’m afraid I’ve made a mess of everything else.” He seemed to fill the room with his manly presence. Just watching him move about the kitchen made her heart start pounding faster. It was a new experience for her to have such a physical reaction to a man. She could almost understand why those women had their hands all over him. He was undeniably handsome and so physically appealing she could understand why women were naturally attracted to him.

  “They look delicious. You did the hard part. The steaks are easy.” He saw the platter that Eb had brought back to the kitchen with the undercooked steak. “First, let’s cook this one a bit more.” He threw the steak back into the iron skillet. “Do you want to watch this steak while I mash the potatoes? It’ll just take one turn and I’ll tell you when.”

  “Yes.” She was still confused by her reaction to him. She reminded herself that he was a rake, but that didn’t seem to make a difference as she tried to control her runaway emotions. His arm brushed against hers with his every movement and she felt her skin getting warm and her hands started to shake. She’d never responded to a man the way she was responding to him and she was flustered by the entire situation.

  Picking up the butter on the table, Luke plopped a large amount into the potatoes. He knew he was making her nervous by standing so close, but that only fueled his actions. He reached around her to grab a spoon and brushed against her back, but his plan backfired. He was the one that became rattled by the contact. He had the urge to wrap his arms around her waist and pull her to him. She smelled good, almost good enough to eat. He saw himself leaning over and planting small kisses on her neck. “You smell better than these mashed potatoes.”

  She kept her eyes on the steak. “Thank you.” He smelled good too, like sunshine and leather. She could feel the muscles flexing in his arm as he worked.

  “Time to turn.”

  She stared up at him and he smiled at her. His teeth were perfectly straight and very white. Is there anything about him that isn’t attractive? “Turn?” she questioned.

  He put his hand over hers and speared the steak in her skillet and flipped it over.

  “Oh.” His large hand on top of hers was surprisingly gentle.

  Eb walked into the room and handed Luke another returned steak. “We have orders for eight more steaks.”

  “We’ll get them done,” Luke told him. He grabbed another huge iron skillet hanging over the stove and placed it over the flames.

  “Isn’t anyone ordering anything other than steaks?” Mary Ann asked.

  “No,” Luke answered.

  “Luke said they could only order steaks tonight,” Eb put in.

  “But why?”

  Luke winked at Mary Ann. “That’s the best thing I can cook.”

  This was a night filled with firsts for Mary Ann. No man had ever winked at her, and she didn’t know what it was about that particular gesture, but it stirred her insides. She told herself that he probably winked at every woman he saw, but her heart started doing flip-flops all the same.

  Luke stabbed the sizzling steak in the skillet and tossed it on a plate, adding some potatoes and a biscuit before passing it to Eb. “This is for that loudmouth in the dining room, Eb.”

  Eb’s eyes lit up. “Thanks, Luke. Maybe this will shut him up.”

  “If it doesn’t, come and get me.”

  Mary Ann turned her eyes on him. “Was someone upset?”

  “Nothing to worry about.” He picked up a fork, scooped it into the potatoes and then held the creamy mound to her mouth. “Tell me if they’re good.”

  She nibbled the potatoes off the fork. “Oh, yes, very good.”

  When she licked her lips Luke wanted to pick her up and start nibbling on her. “More?” His voice sounded strange to his own ears.

  The way Luke was looking at her mouth, she was certain he was about to kiss her. And to her surprise, she didn’t think she would have objected. “Later, we need to get started on the other steaks.”

  I’d like to start on you, he thought.

  “How did you learn to cook?”

  “I’ve traveled around some and if I didn’t cook, I didn’t eat. Sometimes we are out on the range for weeks at a time and we don’t always bring a cook with us. Did you cook at home?”

  Mary Ann laughed. “Heavens no. Father would have never allowed that. We had several cooks.”

  He turned from the stove and reached for a biscuit off the table. When he saw her watching him, he said, “I need to keep up my strength.” He took a big bite and offered the remainder to her.

  “No, thank you.”

  He loved a good biscuit and these were soft and fluffy on the inside and the top perfectly golden brown. He could have eaten the whole platter. “How did you learn to make biscuits?”

  “Lillian taught me. She’s the wife of the man who managed the way station in Missouri where we spent the night. I told her they were the best biscuits I ever ate and she was kind enough to show me how to make them. We didn’t sleep at all that night, we just talked. I don’t think she sees many women and she was thrilled to have company. She was a lovely woman.”

  If he was with her all night they wouldn’t be talking. “Will you make more so I can have some for dinner later?”

  “Of course.” She was delighted he liked them. “It’s the least I can do for what you are doing tonight. I’m sure you came in for a nice dinner and not to do more work after a long day at the ranch.”

  He finished the biscuit and turned his gaze on her, his teasing demeanor was replaced by a sincere request. “I want you to make them only if you want to make them for me. I don’t want you to feel indebted. I’ll cook you a steak and then we can enjoy a nice dinner after the last customer is served.”

  Her heart started thumping again when she looked into his turquoise eyes. At that moment she feared she would do anything he asked. Just like all the women she’d seen with him since she arrived in town, she was succumbing to his charms. She nodded her agreement.

  They worked companionably for two hours, only interrupted from their cooking when Eb came in with new orders. While they worked Mary Ann asked questions about his life. She learned what it meant to bust broncs, and about the many places he’d traveled. Luke noticed she didn’t talk much about her life in England and what she did tell him, he thought it sounded stifling. He couldn’t imagine days structured around parties and teas. She did mention some of the details of her journey when she left England. Just as he’d suspected, she hadn’t escaped male attention along the way.

  “You didn’t say why you decided to come to Wyoming.” Luke was curious as to why she traveled all that way by herself.

  Before she responded, George walked into the kitchen. “We’re done for the night. Why don’t we have a late dinner?”

  “That was my plan.” While Luke enjoyed George’s company, he was disappointed that he wouldn’t be dining alone with Mary Ann. “I’ll cook four steaks. I bet Eb has worked up a hunger, he did the hard work putting up with the customers.”

  Mary Ann was busy cutting out the biscuits and thinking over everything she’d discussed with Luke. It was fun listening to his stories, but she thought it prudent that her uncle would be dining with them. It was proving difficult to be indifferent to his masculine appeal.

  “I’ve smelled those steaks all night, and judging by the reactio
n of the customers they were delicious. I can’t wait to dig into one.”

  Eb walked in with some dishes from the dining room. “I’m starving.”

  Everyone laughed. “Four steaks coming up,” Luke said.

  Chapter Five

  George finished his steak and leaned back in his chair enjoying his glass of wine. “Luke, I don’t know how to thank you. Not only for all of your hard work tonight, but also for that wonderful steak. It’s the best I’ve ever eaten, but I dare not tell Mrs. Howe.” He had a feeling that Luke enjoyed his evening with Mary Ann even though they were working in the kitchen. He’d seen the way he looked at his niece. If he wasn’t mistaken, Luke was smitten.

  Luke gazed at Mary Ann when he answered. “It was my pleasure, George.” It didn’t feel like work to Luke, he’d enjoyed every moment he spent with Mary Ann. It didn’t matter what he was doing, he just liked being near her. What man alive would tire of looking at her? It was a bonus that she was much more than a pretty face. He stuffed his sixth biscuit in his mouth. “I would cook for you every night if Mary Ann made the biscuits.”

  “They are delicious,” Eb agreed. “I like Mrs. Howe’s, but these are even better than hers.”

  “I think we’d best be careful about our success tonight when Mrs. Howe returns. She might not feel like she is needed.”

  “Uncle, if not for Luke, dinner would have been a disaster.”

  “The three of you saved the day,” George replied. “By the way, Mary Ann, did you tell Luke about the shop you are setting up?”

  “No, I’m sure that wouldn’t interest him.”

  “It will certainly interest his sisters-in-law,” George replied.

  “Now I’m curious,” Luke said, directing his gaze on her.

  “Mary Ann is setting up a small shop to carry items for the ladies,” George told him.

  Luke wasn’t surprised to hear of her plans. He’d already figured out she was an intelligent woman by the many questions she’d asked tonight.

  “Actually, I’ll carry items from France. I will have powders, perfumes, and ladies’ wear.” She wasn’t about to mention undergarments in mixed company. It was one thing to talk to her uncle about her plans privately, but she wasn’t comfortable discussing such things with Luke.

  Luke grinned. “That might not be just for the ladies.” He wouldn’t mind dabbing perfume on her in all the right places.

  Before Mary Ann could ask what he meant by that statement, the door to the hotel opened and in walked Clyde Slater with two of his friends.

  This can’t be happening again, Luke thought.

  Seeing they were headed to a table, George stood and moved toward them. “I’m sorry, the restaurant is closed.”

  “It ain’t closed until we had our supper,” Clyde growled. The three men pulled the chairs out and plopped down. “We want steaks.”

  “The kitchen is closed, everyone has gone home. You gentlemen need to come back tomorrow,” George said sternly.

  “Then you cook us something.”

  “Clyde, go on back to the saloon. The restaurant is closed,” Luke said in a no-nonsense tone from across the room.

  Clyde looked up and tried to focus his bleary eyes on Luke. “Stay out of this, McBride.”

  Luke pushed his chair back and walked across the room to stand beside George. “Clyde, it’s late and I’m tired and these fine people are ready to go to bed. So why don’t you boys go on back to the saloon.”

  “We’re hungry,” one of the men whined.

  “Then go home and fix yourself something to eat,” Luke suggested.

  Clyde stood and glared at Luke. “You’re always butting into my business.”

  Luke knew Clyde was drunk by the way he was slurring his words. “Do you really want to do this now? Or do you want to go on back to the saloon?” Luke wished he hadn’t left his pistol in the kitchen, he didn’t feel like having another fistfight. But he didn’t want Clyde to leave the hotel thinking he could come back at any time and harass George, particularly with Mary Ann around.

  One of Clyde’s friends stood. “Come on, Clyde. Let’s go on back to the saloon.”

  Remembering the last outcome of the fight with Luke, Clyde decided to leave. “We’ll settle this another time, McBride.”

  Luke was relieved he wasn’t going to have to break any furniture or windows. Not to mention, he didn’t want another busted lip. He followed the three men to the door and locked it behind them, with George right behind him.

  “Thanks again, Luke,” George said.

  Luke spoke quietly to George before they walked back to the table. He didn’t like the fact that he couldn’t protect Mary Ann if necessary. “George, you should start carrying a gun.”

  “I’m not sure I would be comfortable using one.”

  “What if Mary Ann’s safety is at stake?”

  “I see your point.”

  “If nothing else you might place some weapons strategically around the hotel so you could get to them in a hurry if necessary.”

  “Good practical advice, Luke. I will see to it.”

  “I’m going to go home,” Eb said.

  “Come in later tomorrow, Eb, you’ve earned some time off,” George told him.

  When Eb left, George locked the door behind him before walking back to the table. “I think I will retire for the night. You two take your time.”

  Mary Ann started clearing the table. “I’ll just wash these before I go up.”

  Luke picked up the remaining dishes and followed her to the kitchen.

  “It seems that man is always drunk.” Mary Ann recognized Clyde as the man whom Luke was fighting with the first day she saw him.

  Luke chuckled. “He does his fair share of drinking.”

  Mary Ann washed the dishes as Luke dried. “The saloon does a booming business. They start early and are open very late.” She’d heard noise from the saloon at all hours.

  Luke had to agree with that. “Most saloons do a fair trade. That’s the only place men can go and let off a little steam.”

  She wasn’t familiar with all of the phrases used by people in this country. “What do you mean let off steam?”

  It surprised him she’d never heard the term. “It means to relax, have some whiskey and play poker and . . .” He almost said visit with the gals, but he didn’t think that would be wise.

  “I see. My uncle says saloons are similar to the clubs men frequent at home to play cards and have their spirits.”

  “I imagine they are the same thing.” Luke had never been to England and he wondered if the clubs had women serving liquor.

  “Do the women who work there play poker and drink whiskey too?” She’d never seen the inside of a saloon so she wasn’t familiar with what went on.

  “Sometimes. L. B., she’s the owner and she’s a fine poker player and she drinks whiskey. The gals serve the drinks and . . . provide the entertainment.”

  “Oh, so the women are playing the piano I hear every night?”

  “No, they have a man that plays the piano.”

  “Do they sing?”

  Luke could hardly believe she didn’t know what went on in a saloon. She obviously hadn’t seen L. B.’s gals hanging over the balcony yet. He guessed her uncle didn’t tell her everything that went on across the street and he wasn’t going to be the one to enlighten her. “Ah . . . no.”

  “Do they have plays?”

  Oh, they play all right. “No, it’s not that type entertainment.”

  She looked up at him with those large quizzical silver eyes and handed him the last plate.

  When she looked at him like that all he wanted to do was kiss her. He thought he’d best change the topic of conversation before his baser thoughts got the best of him. “We’re finished here so why don’t you show me your shop?”

  She wasn’t sure why he didn’t want to answer her question, but she didn’t think it was wise to ask. It surprised her that he was interested in her little shop. “Certainly
.”

  Before they left the kitchen Luke stoked the stove for the next morning and made sure the back door was locked. He grabbed his gun belt and buckled it around his waist, then grabbed his hat. As they walked through the dining room he turned off the oil lamps and Mary Ann extinguished the candles on the tables. Reaching the area under the staircase, Mary Ann pulled back a drape that Eb had hung for her until the door was installed. “The drapery is temporary. We will have a lovely door with a glass oval here. I’m afraid there’s not much to see since I don’t have all of my inventory.”

  Luke struck a match to the oil lamp sitting on the display case and the soft light illuminated the room. The room was more spacious than he’d expected and she had arranged the space nicely. His gaze went to the dress forms in the corner. “Are you going to sell ladies dresses?”

  “No, those are for . . . ah . . . ladies’ undergarments.” Her skin started to get hot again and she blushed.

  Luke smiled when he saw her turning pink. He couldn’t resist asking, “You mean like corsets and chemises?”

  She nodded.

  His eyes automatically went to the bodice of her dress and he wondered if she was wearing a corset. “These things are coming from France?”

  “Hmm, yes.”

  He remembered the small package Sally had showed him that day. It was from France and it was very small. “When will the items be here?”

  She wondered what he was thinking. “In a couple of weeks.”

  He’d like to see her model a corset for him. He needed to get control of his thoughts. “I guess it’s not like the things sold at the mercantile. I have a feeling Mr. Foster will not be too happy with his new competition.”

  “I purchased the dress forms from his wife. She inquired if I was selling ready-made dresses. To tell you the truth I hadn’t thought of selling dresses, but her question made me consider ordering dresses from Paris. Of course, they would be for special occasions.” She thought she might be boring him to tears with talk of fashion, but he made her nervous.