Free Last Promise by Scarlett Dunn Page B

I’m early so why don’t you and Mary Ann have lunch with me.”
    â€œI’m sorry, Mr. McBride, but I have responsibilities to see to upon my return.” She’d called him Luke that night in the kitchen. She really was miffed.
    George didn’t have the same objections. “My dear, as your employer I think we can take time to lunch with Luke.”
    â€œExcellent.” Score one for me, Luke thought. He had a feeling not many people could outmaneuver this little lady. He glanced her way again. She sure did look fetching in her blue hat and riding habit. “I like your blue hat.”
    That comment made her look his way. He had an uncanny way of surprising her by complimenting her wardrobe. She wondered if he complimented the lack of wardrobe on the saloon women. Mary Ann decided when they reached the hotel, she would go to her quarters to freshen up and take her sweet time doing so. And remove her blue hat. She didn’t give a hoot if he liked it or not, she was certain he didn’t like it half as much as he liked seeing those women in their corsets. If he thought he could force his unwanted attention on her as he did with the tarts from that saloon he was sorely mistaken. She wouldn’t do anything to offend her uncle, but she was determined not to be in the company of this scoundrel.
    â€œAre you expecting a relative on the stage?” George asked, oblivious to the undercurrents between Mary Ann and Luke.
    â€œNo, I have a business partner in Arizona, and his wife telegraphed me saying she is coming to Promise, but she didn’t say if he would be with her.”
    Arriving at the hotel, Luke and George walked to George’s preferred table in the restaurant while Mary Ann excused herself to go upstairs. The men waited so long for Mary Ann’s return that George finally sent Eb upstairs to fetch her.
    She joined them at the table a few minutes later and smiled sweetly at her uncle. “I do apologize, but I needed to change. I fear I collected more dust than I thought possible.”
    Luke liked the pink dress she was now wearing, it reminded him of her pretty pink hat she’d worn the day she came to town. He stood and helped her with her chair. “You look lovely in your pink dress, it was well worth the wait.” He’d already figured out her game, but George was completely clueless. He’d bought her innocent little explanation without question.
    â€œAs Luke says, it was worth the wait, my dear. But we must order soon, the stagecoach is due and I want Luke to be able to appreciate his lunch.”
    No such luck. They heard the stagecoach while they were placing their orders. Luke stood and reached for his hat. “I am sorry, but you will have to excuse me.”
    â€œNo need to apologize. I assume your guest will be staying at the hotel, so we will go with you to greet her and she can lunch with us.” George stood and held out his arm to Mary Ann. “Come along, my dear, let’s go with Luke.”
    Luke grinned at the pained expression on Mary Ann’s face. Without a word she walked with them to meet the stagecoach, positioning herself very close to her uncle’s side and far away from Luke.
    A man jumped down from the stage first, and when Luke saw the driver hold his hand to assist the next passenger, he stepped forward. Before Arina stepped to the ground she looked at Luke and literally leaped into his arms. “Oh, Luke.” She proceeded to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him on the lips.
    Luke automatically put his hands on her waist when he caught her in the air. When he recovered from the shock of her lips on his, he tried to lean backward to break contact, but her body and her lips followed him. He eased her to the ground, released her waist, and leaned back so their lips were forced to part. His eyes, as if they had a will of their own, drifted down to her cleavage . . . he couldn’t help it, her chest