Free Creighton Manor by Karen Michelle Nutt Page A

tipping his hat in greeting to those he knew, and flashing a smile now and again. The town bustled with people loading up supplies, banking, and other business they needed to complete before heading home. His eyes briefly touched an attractive woman leaning against the building, trying to seek some sort of shade. He looked away only to have his gaze riveted back to her. If it hadn’t been for the auburn hair that shone bronze and gold in the sun, he would have passed Gillian right by. His look traveled up and down her disturbingly attractive figure. The new dress fit snugly around her slim waist, and her long locks were braided and arranged to compliment her delicate features. “Hell and Damnation,” he whispered under his breath in a slow whistle. “Breathtaking.”
    He strolled up beside her and whispered in her ear. “Well good looking, did you miss me?”
    She turned toward him with a radiant smile. Amazingly, she actually appeared happy to see him. “Where have you been?”
    “So, you did miss me,” he teased. He pulled out his pocket watch and opened it. "I'm right on time."
    "Hmm, is that so? Let me see.” She glanced at his watch. “My what a beautiful time piece.” Gillian reached for his hand to see the watch better. He tilted it toward her. He liked how her skin felt warm and soft against his.
    The gold watch was engraved with a fancy scroll and there were rose diamonds inlaid around the front of it and down the chain. The face of the watch told the time and there was a date hand and second hand too. Zachary was proud of his watch and wanted to show it off. He purposely pushed one of the buttons and a lovely tune played.
    "I've never seen anything like it."
    "There were only a handful of them made. This was my grandfather's. Luckily, Lotti didn’t give it to my father or he would have surely lost it in a game." Zachary closed the watch and put it back in his coat pocket. "That reminds me. I have something for you. It's something that I have been safekeeping for some time .” He fished through his other pocket. Finding what he searched for, he took her left hand in his, and carefully slipped a small gold band on her third finger. “It was my mother’s. She was petite like you are. I thought that it might fit.”
    Gillian brought her hand closer to look at the exquisite ring etched with delicate roses. The ring was an heirloom or at least would be one day. It was something she was sure Zachary must cherish. She couldn’t accept it since their marriage was only temporary. She was going home to her century. “This is beautiful but I can’t … ” Zachary gently put his finger on her lips, not allowing her to say the words.
    “I want you to have it. We have a marriage reception to attend. We can’t very well show up there without wedding bands .”
    “I hadn’t really thought about having a ring. What about you?”
    He lifted his hand and wiggled his fingers. The gold band shone bright on his ring finger. “See we’re all official.” He took her arm in his. “Well Mrs. Creighton, are you ready to meet my nephew?”
    She didn’t answer at first. She was thinking how right Mrs. Creighton sounded to her, but how could it? She shook the thought from her mind. “I would love to meet, Tyler. Lead the way.”
    They headed down the walk and toward where Zachary had left the carriage. “You look lovely by the way,” Zachary told her. “Do you like your new outfit?”
    She looked down at herself and then to him. “Yes, thank you, but I’m burning the corset as soon as I can.”
    His brows shot up and he chuckled. “You will have no complaint from me. I never understood why women wore the contraptions anyway. I take it there weren’t any kid shoes available at Miss Sophia’s?” He pointed to her feet.
    She glanced down, seeing her tennis shoes peeking out from below her dress every time she took a step. “The shoes are going to be sent to the house along with the other dresses. My feet are