Good Lord, he was handsome, peering at her with those delfi-blue eyes from beneath the brim of a rakishly tilted Stetson. Tonight he wore a starched white shirt and a dark tie and vest over good wool trousers and his Sunday boots.
She didn't look too shabby herself. Tonight she wore the stylish green taffeta that Gilly had sewn up for her. Yards and yards of material floated around her new shoes and swept toward a handsome bow topping her bustle. The green taffeta crackled and whispered in a wonderful way when she walked.
This was the first time ever that she had owned a dress that wasn't too big here and too small there; the green taffeta fit her perfectly. She had a lovely new dress, she was going to a party, and this year she would have a Christmas. Thrilled with everything, she'd taken extra care with her appearance. She'd rubbed lotion into her cheeks and throat, and she'd brushed her hair until it gleamed before she coiled it on top of her head. She had even cut a sprig of holly and pinned it at the back of her hair for a festive touch.
The door swung open, and Livvy beamed and wished them a merry Christmas. "I thought I heard you two out here. Come in, come in." The black velvet Max had purchased in Denver had been put to good use, sewn up into a lace-trimmed dress that was soft yet distinguished. And for tonight's celebration, Livvy had pressed waves in her graying auburn hair where it curved back toward the knot on her neck.
Looking at Max's mother now, it was hard to believe that only yesterday Livvy had stood in Louise's kitchen wearing a soiled apron, peeling potatoes, and telling a hilarious and slightly risqué story about a bull that had gotten into the bunkhouse.
"You look wonderful!" Louise said.
"Oh my, so do you." Livvy hung their coats on the rack. "Turn around so I can see how the bow turned out. Well, I declare. Gilly could make a living with her needle!"
Sunshine ran out of the parlor and halted abruptly. "Oh, Aunt Louise!" Her eyes rounded. "You look beautiful!"
Laughing, Louise waved aside the compliment. "Well, now, look at you! You're the one who's beautiful tonight. Spin around and let me see."
Hair and ribbons flying, Sunshine spun fast enough to flare black velvet around her stocking-clad calves.
"Mama trimmed my dress in the scraps from yours. See?" She touched her collar, then held out green taffeta cuffs for Louise to admire.
"I don't suppose you'd like to put these gifts beneath the tree, would you?" Max asked, smiling.
"Oh yes, I would. But first, look up there. It's mistletoe! You have to kiss Aunt Louise, and I get to watch."
"So do I," said Livvy, winking at Sunshine.
"Only a fool would miss an opportunity to kiss a pretty woman." Max slipped his good arm around her waist and grinned. "Looks like we've been ambushed."
Laughing, Louise wound her arms around his neck, careful not to bump the sling across his chest. But when she saw Max's expression, her laughter hitched on a quick intake of breath. There was something different in his eyes, something she had never seen there before. Something deep and clear and intense that made her gasp and caused her knees to tremble.
"You have beautiful eyes," he said in a low, gruff voice. "Tonight your eyes are more green than hazel, as green as the early spring grass."
"Good heavens," she whispered, amazed. "I didn't know I had any beautiful parts." And until now she hadn't heard him express the pretty words she knew were inside him. Certainly she'd never imagined that she might inspire such words. Lordy, Lordy. For the rest of her life she would remember that Max McCord had said she had beautiful eyes, as green as the early spring grass.
Her hips pressed to his, and her gaze dropped to his mouth. And suddenly she wished they were home alone in their bed.
Leaning forward, Max brushed warm lips across hers, a kiss so soft and fleeting that it was almost a tease. When she opened her eyes, he was staring at her. Then he moved his hand on the small of her back and drew her tighter against his body, and he kissed her again, this time with a deep hunger that suggested he'd forgotten they had an audience.
"Well, my, my," Livvy murmured, using another of her phrases that said nothing but in this case managed to convey interest, amusement, and approval.
Sunshine clapped and laughed, then caught Louise's hand. "Come look at my present to you and see if you can guess what it is." Her eyes danced with excitement. "You'll never guess!"
Before Louise allowed Sunshine to pull her to the parlor, she asked Livvy, "Do you need any help with supper?"
"Everything's under control. When you're ready for coffee or something cool, and a break from a certain imp's chatter, come back to the kitchen." She winked at Max. "I had to move the pies you brought yesterday to make room for Dave. He's taken over the pantry to make his special Christmas punch. He's been waiting for you and Wally to serve as official tasters."
Before Sunshine tugged her into the parlor, Louise glanced over her shoulder at Max. He returned her gaze, wearing that same intense, almost smoldering expression. She couldn't decipher what it meant, but the smoky speculation in his eyes sent a warm shiver thrilling down her spine.
Then both he and Livvy turned to look up the staircase.
*
"I have half a mind not to go downstairs at all!" Leaning toward the mirror above the vanity table, Philadelphia patted one of the curls on her forehead, then turned her head from side to side to admire the flash and sparkle of the diamond earrings her father had given her last Christmas. She expected him to give her a matching bracelet tomorrow when she and Wally drove in to have Christmas dinner at home.
"Your mother insisted on ham tonight even after I mentioned that I prefer turkey."
"We've always had baked ham on Christmas Eve."
