Honor and Desire (Gold Sky #3) - Rebel Carter Page 0,20
before, he looked put together and refined, the hat he’d tipped to them earlier was sitting perfectly on his coiffed head. She watched him, helpless to look away, as the man strode past, looking every bit the gentleman from her dreams.
Well, hers, and she supposed, a good number of ladies from Gold Sky.
A gaggle of well-dressed and beautifully made up women bustled after Elliot with bright smiles on their faces. They were trying to catch his eye and Seylah could not fault them for their efforts. He’d swept her off her feet, literally, yes, but it didn’t change the fact that Elliot had stirred up a part of her she’d long supposed lost to her.
No man, but August had made her feel a spark of anything, and then Elliot had appeared out of nowhere. The charming man, that set her to blushing and simpering like a schoolgirl, was taking her to a picnic the following week.
Her cheeks warmed at the idea of spending time with Elliot, and she smiled to herself, looking down at her hands. It would be a lovely day, she was sure of it.
It would be perfect.
A sigh escaped her lips, and she would have continued to smile if not for the scoff that came from across the table.
She narrowed her eyes at him. “What?”
August sucked his teeth and leaned back in his seat. “Nothing.”
“Are you sure? From where I’m sitting, it sure as hell sounds like a whole lot of something.”
He flashed her a smile at that and held up his hands in surrender. “Oh, it’s nothing. Just not used to seeing that look on your face is all.” He flicked a finger at her face and Seylah frowned.
“What look?”
August shrugged. “Nothing, Seylah May.” When he used her middle name, Seylah knew there was more to it. There always was when he called her by her full name, and knowing he had more to say, but was keeping it close had her itching to get under his skin.
So she did.
“Fine, August Henry.”
He smirked at her ploy but to the man’s credit he didn’t take the bait, and instead turned towards Mrs. Lily who was bustling up with a pitcher of water and a smile. The woman’s arrival derailed Seylah’s plans to poke at August, but she made a mental note to only table the endeavor, not give it up completely.
“What will you two dears have?” The older woman asked, filling up their glasses with water.
“Special of the day works for me,” August replied, and looked expectantly at Seylah. “Sound good for you too?”
Seylah nodded and smiled at Mrs. Lily, “I’ll take the same please, ma’am.”
Mrs. Lily nodded scribbling on her notepad. “Coming right up. How’s your mama? I heard there was trouble out by the pass. Your Pas okay?”
Seylah nodded. “Yes, it’s all settled now. Thank you for asking.”
“Of course. Glad we have men like your Pas around to keep the peace. These newcomers are a tad energetic about the land around here lately.” Mrs. Lily shook her head and then smiled at August. “Glad we’ve got young blood with deep roots like you, too. Gold Sky will need it if we aim to keep life good.”
August nodded at the words of compliment. “Thank you, Mrs. Lily. Happy to call Gold Sky home.”
Mrs. Lily stayed for a few moments more, asking after their days and general catching up before she departed with their order, but not before August added on a dessert order which surprised Seylah. August never ate dessert, and she raised an eyebrow in question.
“What is it?” He asked, sipping from his glass, and returning her look with a quizzical one of his own.
“You never eat sweets,” she informed him.
He grinned at her. “No, I don’t, but you,” he pointed at her, “always eat sweets.”
“I do not always eat sweets,” she replied, her determination to annoy him renewed by his matter-of-fact tone. He was acting smug and that irked her. It was common knowledge that she had an insatiable sweet tooth, she had no idea why he was acting as if it were special knowledge, so she forced her features into a severe look and said, “In fact, I’ve quite given up sweets. Outgrown them, I think.”
“Oh, you have, have you?” He leaned forward on his elbows and gave her a challenging look. “Are you saying that you do not take certain liberties to line your pockets with as many as you can during the holidays?”