Read Online The Courting of Widow Shaw by Charlene Sands - Free Book Online Page B

wasn’t enough. How would she endure the long torturous night without benefit of something to do? “I came up here early in the afternoon and slept away the entire day and most of the evening. I’m awake now, in the middle of the night, with nothing to do.”
    Steven took a step closer. The gleam in his earth-brown eyes caused her heart to flutter momentarily. “Whatever you’d like to do, in the middle of the night,” he said in low whisper. “I’ll try to accommodate.”
    “Really, Steven? You’d get me some material and sewing implements? I need different clothes. I can’tgo around wearing gowns of this sort.” The thought of sewing up new garments took hold with thrilling excitement. She’d have something to concentrate on and the result of her endeavors meant more appropriate attire.
    He glanced at her gown, his gaze flowing over the dress with interest, until finally, he settled on her chest. “You don’t, uh…that gown looks perfect on you.”
    Her hand flew up to the skin exposed by the low bodice of the gown, the very area that held Steven’s direct attention. “It’s unsuitable.”
    He nodded, his gaze staying on her chest. Heat stirred her insides from his direct, unflinching perusal and the glow of appreciation she witnessed in his eyes. He liked the way she looked in a prostitute’s gown. That didn’t surprise her and his admission only marked the distinct differences between them.
    “Right. Well, I can’t go out and get you sewing materials in the dead of night. Fact is, I can’t ever get those things for you. It’d look real suspicious if I purchased female things like that. And the girls here have all their dresses made for them by fancy dress-makers, so it wouldn’t do to have them buy the material you need.”
    “But—”
    “No, Glory. I’m sorry. I’ll think of something tomorrow.” He glanced at her chest once more, lifted his gaze to her throat, her mouth, then looked into her eyes before turning away.
    “It’s more important to keep you safe then worry over your clothes,” he said, parting the heavy curtains again and glancing out the window.
    “So I’m left with nothing to do?” Dejected, Gloriasat down on the bed once again, her voice a pitiful croak of disappointment.
    Steven whirled around to meet her eyes. He twisted his mouth, obviously in a deep struggle with something on his mind. “Ah, hell, Glory.” He strode to the door, reaching for the knob before turning to her. “Wait right here. I have an idea.”
    He was out the door instantly, but Gloria still called out, “What kind of idea?”
    Silence.
    “And where would I possibly go?”
    Less than an hour later, Steven stood outside his bedroom door cursing under his breath and calling himself every kind of fool for taking this chance. He knew the safest place for Glory was right here inside Rainbow House, yet the look in her eyes and her softly spoken misery shattered his good sense. Glory had that effect on him. She shattered him. He’d be better off not dealing with her tonight. He’d be better off allowing her boredom to coax her to sleep. But the image of Glory, sitting upon that bed looking lost and lonely, almost undid him.
    He knocked then entered.
    “You’re back,” she said, her voice giving away her surprise and her blue eyes lighting up upon his return. Steven held back the frown that threatened to ruin her joy. He almost wished he hadn’t thought up this lamebrained idea, but he had and he meant to see it through.
    “I told you I’d be back. I never go back on my word. You can count on that.”
    She nodded, but her attention focused solely on what he held in his hand. “What’s that?”
    “It’s a cloak.”
    She peered at the ink-black woolen cloak and shook her head. “Oh Steven. You really can’t expect me to wear that over this gown. Why, it’s hotter than a cookstove in here during the day.”
    “It’s not for the day. It’s for tonight. How’d you like to get out of here