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His watch showed twenty-five minutes past ten when Max and Ellie returned to the front of the boardinghouse. He’d spent the ride back from The Café telling her stories of his youth. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t reconcile this Max with the boy he’d described. Somewhere along the line, he’d lost his sense of adventure and turned into a stodgy old man. And she told him so.
“Stodgy? How many stodgy men have a beautiful woman tumble out a window at his feet?” His eyes grew dark, and his smile vanished as he stared into her face.
“Beautiful?” she whispered.
“Very.”
He slid across the short distance between them and cupped her face with strong, calloused hands. He must do more than shuffle papers with those hands. Her breath hitched, and her lower parts fluttered as his head descended toward her.
“Miss Henderson, it’s ten-thirty,” Mrs. Beamer called from the porch, holding a lamp high above her head.
Chapter 7
The week before Christmas, Ellie’s thirteen-year-old cousin, Priscilla Cochran, raced toward her as Ellie opened the Cochrans’ front door. With pigtails flying, the young girl threw herself into her arms, almost knocking her over.
“Goodness, Pris, it hasn’t been that long since I saw you.” Ellie laughed.
“I know, but you look so different when we’re not in school.” The young girl dragged her by the hand into the parlor.
“Come here and give me a hug, girl.” Uncle Jesse opened his arms, and Ellie walked into them, giving him a hug. He and her Aunt Tori had practically raised her. She’d been only eleven when her father died, leaving the care of Ellie and her two brothers and sister to Tori, barely twenty-two herself. They’d had some rough times in the beginning, but eventually Tori and Jesse married and they all settled into the big house outside of town.
She loved the smell of this house. It signified home. Tori loved to bake, and the air always filled with the aroma of Uncle Jesse’s favorite dried apple pie and freshly baked bread. A fire burned brightly in the parlor fireplace, adding to the cozy familiar childhood memories.
Tori bustled in, wiping her hands on a stained apron. “Ellie! So good to see you. You’ve stayed away too long.” She pulled her into a maternal hug.
Ellie closed her eyes and inhaled Tori’s scent. Always cinnamon and rose water. “Heavens, I was here for Thanksgiving.”
“Three weeks ago!” Tori turned to her daughter. “Pris, take Ellie’s coat to the closet, please.” She hooked her arm through Ellie’s and led her to the vast kitchen at the back of the house. “How is your Christmas Basket project going?”
Jesse followed them down the hallway. “Hey, wait a minute, don’t I get to visit with our niece?”
“Sure, you can even peel potatoes while you’re here.” Tori smirked.
He grabbed his wife around her middle from behind. He whispered something in her ear that made Tori blush bright red.
“Jesse, stop it.” She giggled, then turned and pushed at his chest. He pulled her close and gave her an enthusiastic kiss.
Priscilla rolled her eyes. “Come on, stop it.”
Ellie laughed at Jesse’s antics. Sometimes she thought the reason she didn’t feel a draw toward marriage was because no man could measure up to her uncle. If only Max Colbert could spend time here with this family, he’d loosen up. He’s see what it’s like to be playful, but still very much a man. Jesse’s wife and children adored him, even though Priscilla had reached the age where fathers were simply a necessary evil.
The doorbell rang and Priscilla hopped up. “I’ll get it.”
Tori had handed Jesse a knife and sat him down in front of a pile of potatoes, across from where Ellie peeled carrots. “See how your aunt orders me around?” He grinned.
Voices coming from the front door grew louder as they neared the kitchen. Jesse looked up from his work and stood. “Well, hello and welcome.”
Ellie turned toward the door and dropped the knife. Like an apparition, Max Colbert filled the doorway, holding a bottle of wine and a bouquet of flowers.
She blinked several times. “What...what are you doing here?”
“And hello to you, too, Ellie.” He grinned.
Max stepped into the room, then handed the wine to Jesse and the flowers to Tori.
“Thank you, they’re lovely.” Tori blushed.
Jesse placed the wine on the counter and washed his hands. “Welcome to our home. I’m glad you could make it.” He dried his hands on Tori’s apron and shook hands with Max. “This is my wonderful wife and helpmate, Tori.” He tossed his arm around her shoulders and hugged her close.
