Jessie retraced their steps with Flynt right behind her. She turned north on Coloma Street and ducked into a secluded spot.
Flynt inclined his head. “You’ve obviously given this some thought. What do you have in mind?”
“I realized we haven’t addressed the matter of physical contact. Due to the nature of our...relationship, I think it would be wise for us to clarify things.”
She had no experience dealing with a fine gentleman like Flynt—bright, well educated and so handsome in his cutaway coat, snowy white shirt and silk cravat that she had to force herself not to stare. He obviously came from a family of means. His parents loved him and lavished expensive gifts on him.
Her life had been much different. She’d been raised in a run-down farmhouse back East with a father who’d fallen prey to one moneymaking scheme after another. He’d left her all alone and destitute when he died eight years before, giving her no choice but to accept Ace’s offer of a job in his saloon.
She’d already committed a terrible faux pas at the ice-cream parlor, gazing at Flynt the way Maggie’s girls did one of the High Stakes Saloon’s patrons. If she didn’t find out what he expected of her, she was sure to make more. The last thing she needed was for him to suspect her of being the type of woman for whom he held such contempt.
If only she had experience in romantic relationships, but the few gentlemen she’d known were business colleagues. She’d kept things between them strictly professional.
Flynt studied her and nodded. “So that’s why you dragged me here? I thought you were upset about me offering my arm.”
She forced an airy laugh. “Of course not. It was crowded. You were just being a gentleman.”
“Exactly. I would have done the same for any woman in my care.”
His words were a splash of cold water in her face. When he’d seen her at the top of the stairs, he’d looked enraptured. She’d allowed herself to believe he was honestly taken with her, but his reaction had been a performance for Maybelle’s benefit. Nothing more.
“I understand, but I’m not just any woman, am I? I’m the one who is supposedly smitten with you, as you are with me. As such, I’m sure Corby will expect us to act the part in all respects. How do you plan to proceed?”
“I hadn’t really given it any thought. Such things tend to develop naturally.”
That made sense, but she still needed to know how a lady was to behave. Lord, I could use Your help. “While that might be true in most situations, ours is unique. I’d appreciate it if you’d let me know what you intend to do beforehand, so I’m not taken by surprise.”
“Fair enough. Shall we get going now? We don’t want to be late. I will, once again, offer you my arm, as I’ll do in the future whenever the situation warrants.”
“Very well.” She took it without hesitation.
He cast her a sidelong glance and smiled. “That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
Not at all. Flynt was everything she would look for in a man—if her past didn’t prevent her from harboring such dreams. Now that she’d cleared things up, she might as well enjoy the closeness and feeling of belonging—for as long as it lasted.
He guided them safely through the crowd and into the theater, where he handed their tickets to an usher. The young man led them to their seats, which were near the front. Corby must have paid a premium price for them.
She settled into the plush velvet cushions and soaked in the beauty of the elegant surroundings. A quick calculation of the number of seats revealed that fifteen hundred people could enjoy a performance in the impressive building.
The buzz of conversations filled the air. She looked up one row and down the next, admiring the colorful gowns on the ladies. By contrast, the vast majority of men wore black, the same as Flynt. But no man was as suave and debonair as he.
She turned and found him looking right at her with unbridled admiration. Perhaps she’d been wrong and he did find her appealing after all.
He shifted his gaze to the doors. “Look who just came in.”
Corby and the silk-clad, silver-haired woman on his arm followed an usher. The couple was headed their way. Closer and closer they came until...
Jessie whispered to Flynt. “You don’t think they’re going to be right behind us, do you?”
“Looks that way.”
Sure enough, the usher paused at the end of the row and held out a hand. Corby and the elegantly attired woman made their way to the two empty seats.
Once they were settled, Corby leaned forward. “Good evening. It’s nice to see you here. Flynt’s met my charming wife before, but allow me to introduce you two ladies. Jessie, this is Fidelia Corbin, the light of my life.” He gazed at his wife like a smitten schoolboy. The crusty manager had a softer side. That knowledge made him a little less intimidating. “Delia, this is Miss Jessica Sinclair, the newest member of our drafting team.”
The older woman clasped Jessie’s hand and smiled warmly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, my dear. Carter speaks very highly of you. He neglected to tell me what a beautiful young woman you are, though. I adore red hair, and yours is such a lovely shade.”
“Thank you. I’m pleased to make your acquaintance.”
The conductor stepped from behind the floor-to-ceiling brocade curtains in front of the stage, and a hush came over the room, sparing Jessie the need to carry on a conversation. Her stomach had already been roiling. With Corby seated so close that she could smell the cigar smoke on his jacket, she felt as though a hurricane had hit.
Mrs. Corbin gave Jessie’s hand a squeeze before releasing it. “We’ll talk more later.”
Jessie managed to produce a polite response, complete with a pasted-on smile, before sinking into her seat. For the next hour, she could relax and immerse herself in the music.
The gaslights dimmed, the curtains parted and the conductor stepped onto his platform and raised his baton. With a flick of his wrist, the first piece began, a soothing aria from Bach in which the orchestra accompanied a renowned alto from San Francisco, who sang in German. The selection was known in English as “Contented Peace.”
That was what she needed. The last week had been challenging. In the span of six days, she’d found a new place to live, survived a difficult interview process and acquired a make-believe beau. Flynt was a wonderful man, but figuring out how she was supposed to act around him had her on tenterhooks. She much preferred being in charge of a situation.
Well, she was here in a beautiful theater listening to a stellar performance. Reality would be waiting for her when it was over, but for now she’d forget about everything else and enjoy the respite. She shifted to a more comfortable position, closed her eyes and let the music whisk her away to another place where there were no harried managers, hostile colleagues or handsome engineers.
That number blended into the next in a soul-satisfying feast. Lord. I didn’t realize how I hungered for rest, but You knew and have provided just that. Thank You.
“Are you asleep?”
Flynt’s warm breath on her neck and whispered words startled her. Her eyes flew open. She’d been so far removed from the present that she’d forgotten where she was—and whom she was with. She jerked back, putting space between herself and Flynt.
Someone beside them tittered. Heat rushed to her cheeks, but with the lights dimmed, no one could witness her embarrassment. She’d failed once again to respond as expected.
God, if You could send someone to guide me, I’d be most appreciative.
Flynt moved away, and the tightness in her chest eased. She kept her eyes open throughout the following numbers.
Thunderous applause filled the room at the conclusion of the concerto that completed the first half of the performance. The gaslights flared back to life.
The conductor stepped to the front of the stage, and the curtains closed behind him. He waited until the enthusiastic clapping ceased before speaking. “Ladies and gentlemen, there will be a fifteen-minute intermission. You’ll find a selection of delectable desserts out front provided by Gold Country Confections. Enjoy.”
Flynt patted his stomach. “I’ll have to sample some of those. Would you care to join me?”
“Certainly.” She joined the crowd en route to the lobby. Flynt followed on her heels.
Jessie reached the tables laden with a lavish display of baked goods. The tantalizing scents made her mouth water. She chose an éclair, a snickerdoodle and a lemon bar.
Flynt glanced at her plate and chuckled. “That’s quite an assortment—sweet, spicy and tart. I wouldn’t have expected a woman who prefers plain vanilla ice cream to be so adventurous.”
She produced an impish smile. “I’m full of surprises, Mr. Kavanaugh.”
He laughed. “That you are, Miss Sinclair.”
“Jessie? It is you. I wasn’t sure.”
She spun around to find a round-faced woman smiling at her. “Becky! It’s wonderful to see you.” Remembering her manners, she hurried to make the introductions. “Flynt, this is my dear friend Becky Martin. When her minister’s wife back in Chicago learned that Becky was also bound for Placerville back in ’71, she introduced us, and we traveled together, along with one other lady. The three of us became fast friends on that trip. I haven’t seen either of them since because I left town soon after we arrived. Becky, this is Flynt Kavanaugh. He’s the engineer at the El Dorado Water and Deep Gravel Mining Company. I work for him now.”
Becky and Flynt greeted each other.
He took two steps backward. “I’m sure you two ladies would like some time to catch up, so I’ll leave you to it.”
Before Flynt could make his exit, a throat cleared behind Jessie. She turned and found herself facing Corby, who looked none too pleased. “I’m sorry to interrupt, Jessie, but I’d like a word with you and Flynt. Now.”
Jessie sent her friend an apologetic smile. “I must go, but I’ll come back as soon as I can.”
“Of course. If you’d like, I’ll take care of your plate.”
“Thank you.” Jessie handed it to Becky and trooped after Corby, who marched out the front door. Flynt was right behind them. While she would appreciate some fresh air after being in the stuffy theater, she dreaded what was to come.
Corby’s scowl was as pronounced as she’d ever seen it. “You two agreed to keep up appearances.”
Flynt responded before she could. “We have. We’re here. What’s more, I even took her out for ice cream earlier this week. What more do you want?”
“I want to see some attraction. My wife can sniff out a budding romance from a mile away. Delia sat directly behind you and assumed you were here as colleagues and nothing more.” Corby pulled a cigar out of his inner breast pocket. “You need to convince her by the end of the concert that you’re smitten with each other, or I’ll have no choice but to put an end to this and find another drafts—”
“That won’t be necessary, sir.” Jessie didn’t like cutting him off, but she refused to listen to the threat one more time. “Just tell me what you want, and I’ll do it.”
“Very well.” Corby jabbed his cigar at Jessie. “To begin with, don’t ignore Flynt. The music’s nice, but I want you to pay attention to your beau. And I overheard you talking with the young lady. Don’t go telling everyone you work for Flynt and nothing more. Give them reason to suspect there’s something afoot.”
Flynt intervened. “It’s my fault, Corby. I’ve been treating Jessie as a respected colleague, which she is, but I’ll perform my duties as her escort, er, beau.”
She couldn’t allow Flynt to take the blame. He’d done nothing wrong. “Please, sir, don’t be upset with him. I’m the one who bears the responsibility. I haven’t exactly offered him encouragement.”
“And why is that? You did agree to this arrangement, did you not?”
“I did, but...” She swallowed. “The truth is, I haven’t been courted before, so this is new to me.”
Flynt’s eyebrows rose, but he said nothing.
“So there’s a chink in your armor, is there, Jessie?” Corby asked. “Well, take my advice. Let Flynt be the gentleman he is and lead the way. My dear Delia does so when the situation warrants, and it works for us. We’ve been happily married for going on twenty-five years.” He rested a hand on her shoulder, and his expression softened to one of fatherly concern. “I’d trust Flynt with my life. Surely you can trust him with this small matter. Can’t you?”
Small matter? Hardly. Feigning a romantic relationship with the handsome engineer she worked with was monumental. And yet she must. Either that or lose her job. “Yes, sir.”
“Good. I’ll let you two go back inside. When I return, I expect the situation to be resolved.”
Flynt responded in his rich voice. “It will. Come, Jessie.” He placed his hand on the small of her back. His touch was so unexpected, so delightful that she had to remind her feet to do their job.
Once inside the lobby, Flynt removed his hand and stepped in front of her. “Following my lead wasn’t so hard, was it?” A hint of merriment danced in his eyes.
“No.”
“Very well, then. I stopped where Corby can see us. If we appear to be a smitten couple engaged in a private conversation, that would let him know we intend to carry out his wishes.”
She gazed at him with admiration, which wasn’t hard to do. He looked more handsome than ever. That unruly lock of his drew her attention. She’d wanted to push it into place many times. If she did, Corby would see that she was serious about keeping her job.
“Your hair’s mussed. I’ll straighten it for you.” Her fingers grazed Flynt’s broad brow and twined in the strands of copper. They were so soft, so silky. She brushed them into place slowly, carefully, relishing the feel of them sliding between her fingers.
Reluctantly, she removed her hand, but an irresistible force kept it hovering beside his handsome face. Dare she do more?
Before she had time to talk herself out of it, she trailed a fingertip along his strong jaw. She was rewarded with a widening of his eyes and a gulp.
There. That ought to convince the two men she meant business.
Because that was what this was all about. Business. It had nothing to do with being drawn to him like a miner to a quartz vein laden with gold. Nothing at all.
She tipped her chin defiantly and whispered, “How was that?”
He cleared his throat, but his voice came out husky. “Quite satisfactory. Corby should be satisfied.”
“I’m not done yet, Flynt Kavanaugh. Before the night is over, there won’t be a person in the theater who has any doubt that I’m attracted to you. But for now, I’m going to see my friend. I’ve kept her waiting long enough as it is. I’ll meet you at the end of our row before they dim the lights so you can escort me to my seat.”
Jessie hurried toward the table where she’d left Becky. Her friend held out the plate she’d safeguarded for Jessie. She took it. “My apologies. I’m sorry I had to leave so abruptly, but that man was our boss.”
“What did he want? He seemed rather insistent.”
“He was rude, but he had his reasons. I’ll tell you about that in a minute, but first I want to hear all about you. I need time to savor these scrumptious baked goods of yours.”
“When you saw me last, I was heading off to care for James O’Brien’s mother. Mutti was a dear, and I loved her to the very end. The cancer took her from us in the fall of ’71. The following spring my scoundrel of a brother found me, but James came to my rescue. He was so heroic.” Becky sighed. “We were married two weeks later. He’s the dearest man and has given me so much.” She patted her stomach. Her rounded stomach.
Jessie paused with the lemon bar halfway to her mouth. “You’re...with child?”
Becky nodded. “Our little girl is back in Diamond Springs with our dear friend Lizzie.”
“This is your second?” Jessie shoved aside a sharp pang of jealousy and responded with as much enthusiasm as she could muster. “That’s wonderful. Congratulations!”
“Thank you. But enough about me. How have you spent the last three years?”
“Not doing anything as exciting as you, that’s for sure. I spent the first two years working at odd jobs down in Sacramento City, but then I finally found a small irrigation company not far from here that was willing to hire me. That position came to an end, though, and I started working alongside Flynt a week ago.”
“He’s more than a colleague, isn’t he?”
Jessie opened her mouth to explain, but Becky waved a hand to stop her.
“Don’t deny it. I saw you two in the doorway. You’ve fallen for him, haven’t you, Jessie?”
Hope welled inside her. “Was it that obvious?”
“Quite.”
She heaved an audible sigh. “Then I succeeded.”
“I don’t follow.”
“Of course not. I’ll fill you in.” As quickly as she could, Jessie explained the situation to her friend.
Becky nodded. “I see. So you have feelings for him, but you can’t let him know they’re genuine?”
“I don’t have feelings for him. Not really. He’s kind and considerate and so very handsome, but— Why are you smiling?”
“It was the same with James. I denied the truth for months. But your relationship’s in its early days.” Becky patted Jessie’s arm. “Give it time.”
“There is no relationship. Even if I was attracted to him—and I’m not saying I am—I could never marry. As soon as any man found out what I used to be, he would turn tail and run.” Especially Flynt, with his aversion to saloon girls.
“Not the right man. He would understand and love you for who you are now. You’re not that desperate young girl anymore. You’re a successful draftswoman.”
Jessie was spared the need to respond. A tall man with a scarred face approached and put his arm around Becky. “I’m sorry to intrude, darling, but was that the last of the apple turnovers? Your fans are clamoring for more.”
“That’s all, yes. The other selections will have to suffice.”
Jessie stared at her friend in disbelief. “You made all this?”
“That she did,” her proud husband boasted. “My talented wife is the brains and baker behind Gold Country Confections.”
Jessie swept her free hand toward the refreshment tables. “I’m impressed.”
Becky introduced James and Jessie, but he was called away soon after. Her friend smiled at her retreating husband and turned to Jessie. “If Flynt is the man the Lord has for you, I trust Him to work things out. In the meantime, just be yourself, and you’ll be fine.”
Corby had said much the same thing. Was that all there was to it? Well, she’d find out soon enough because it was time to face Flynt again.