Unending Devotion (Michigan Brides #1)(14)

Lily took Vera’s offer of comfort gratefully and pressed the woman’s hand back. It was the same in every other lumber town—the Saturday night revelry that preceded the one day a week the shanty boys had off from their hard labor.

She glanced at Connell, and his attention flicked back to his book. Maybe he didn’t want to fight against the evil, but at least he wasn’t joining the other shanty boys in their debauchery. He seemed content to spend his evenings hiding behind his books doing whatever it was he did with them.

“You could always dance with Connell,” Vera said, following Lily’s gaze.

It was Lily’s turn to feel embarrassed. “Oh no, I couldn’t.”

“Why not?” Vera smiled, a knowing gleam in her eyes. “I’m sure Mr. Heller won’t mind playing another song. And I know Connell wouldn’t say no to the chance to put his hands on your waist and twirl you in his arms.”

She wiggled, her insides blushing. She highly doubted Connell would want to twirl her.

Connell lowered his head further into his book.

“And don’t you dare contradict me, Connell McCormick.” Vera wagged her finger at the man.

“What?” He sat up straighter and arched his eyebrows at them, as if it were the first time he’d noticed them in the room all evening.

Lily smiled at the feigned innocence on his face.

“Now, young man,” Vera scolded, “you’ve had your eyes on Lily all week. Don’t you deny it.”

“I’ve been doing what I always do—sitting over here minding my own business and doing my work.”

Vera shook her head. “You’re in trouble now, boy. I was going to give you a couple more cookies, but”—she pushed the plate of treats toward Lily—“now only Lily gets more.”

The sugary sweet scent of the freshly baked molasses cookies had bathed the room, driving out the lingering acridness of burnt coffee. Lily had already indulged in several in place of the usual fare of beans and salt pork.

She picked two more from the plate. “You’re a dear, dear woman.”

Connell snorted.

Vera’s lips twitched with a smile she was holding back. “That’s enough from you, young man. If you stopped all your nonsense, got up and danced with Lily like a real man, then maybe I’d give you the rest.”

Connell sat up taller and eyed the plate that was still heaped with cookies.

Lily wanted to giggle but hid the smile behind her hand.

Then his eyes lifted to hers, the mirth within them turning the green into the same shade as summer leaves fluttering in a warm breeze.

The warmth captured her and drew her in. For a long moment she basked in their private exchange of amusement over Vera’s audacity. But then the green of his eyes darkened and the jollity of his expression faded, replaced with a determination that sent Lily’s heart chugging forward like a locomotive.

Without breaking his eye contact, he pushed back from his spot and stood.

Would he really listen to Vera’s silly challenge to dance with her?

Her heart picked up speed.

Everything in his expression said he would—that he wanted to dance with her more than anything.

Although she’d been in plenty of situations where she’d had to rebuff the advances of shanty boys, she’d never met one like this man—one she didn’t want to rebuff.

Did she actually want his attention?

A tingle of fright pushed her off the bench and to her feet.

He stopped.

“I’d best be heading up to bed,” she said, refusing to meet his gaze. Oren had long since gone up to his room. “I’m sure Oren will want to get an early start in the morning to one of the camps. For our first day of picture taking . . .”

Connell didn’t say anything, and he didn’t move forward to stop her when she said good-night to the Hellers and started toward the stairway.

She could feel the intensity of his gaze lingering upon her as she took each narrow step. She held herself rigid, hoping she wouldn’t trip on the hem of her skirt or do something else that might embarrass her further. And when she turned the corner of the stairwell out of his sight, she leaned against the cool wall and took a deep breath.

What was wrong with her? Why was she reacting so strangely to Connell’s obvious interest?

Of course he was very good-looking, having an odd combination of earthy and intellectual at the same time.

But she’d seen plenty of handsome and charming men that winter, and none had affected her quite like Connell just had.

The stairs creaked near the top, and she pushed away from the wall, flustered once again at the trail of her thoughts. She’d always kept herself pure, had prided herself over the years for her ability to stay away from boys when so many of the other girls in the orphanages had fallen into temptation.

She kept her head down and ascended with more speed. The clomp of boots coming from the other direction neared her, and she caught the acidic reek of whiskey.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the little spitfire herself.”

Lily glanced up with a start and found Jimmy Neil standing two steps above her. A slow grin spread across his face, and the black gaps where he was missing parts of his top teeth seemed to stare at her.

He’d leered at her several times that past week during the meals he’d taken in the dining room. But she’d made a point of ignoring him. And that’s exactly what she planned to do this time too.