“You’re welcome. I’ll be right back with your drink orders.” Beth turned and hurried back to the kitchen.
Millie went back to studying the menu so Levi looked about the dining room. Only one other couple was there, and he recognized them as Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan. They were passing through Granite on their way to Austin and were staying at the hotel.
“You seem familiar with this restaurant. What would you recommend, Mr. Westland?” Millie asked, bringing his attention back to her.
Levi smiled. “I’d recommend the roast beef sandwich. The bread is always soft and buttery and the beef tender.”
She laid the menu down. “Sounds wonderful, I’ll order that.”
For the first time, she smiled at him, and it reached her eyes. Beautiful blue eyes with thick, light-colored lashes. Her face reminded him of a doll he’d once seen sitting in a store window while visiting Austin.
Beth arrived at that moment and set down their drinks. “Did I hear you say you’d like the roast beef sandwich?” she asked Millie, as she stood and pulled out a small pad of paper and a stub of a pencil.
“Yes, please.” Millie picked up her tea glass and took a small sip. “Mmm, this is very good.” She smiled up at Beth.
“I’m glad you like it. What about you, Levi?”
He handed the menus back to Beth. “I’ll have the same.”
Beth nodded and wrote their orders down on the small pad. “I’ll have that right out.” She smiled, then left to make the sandwiches.
Millie pulled the napkin from the table and smoothed it out over her lap. “Mr. Westland, I hope you don’t take what I’m about to say the wrong way, but I really feel we need to settle this now.” She paused, but when he didn’t answer, Millie continued. “I’ve changed my mind. I no longer wish to marry.” Before he could respond, she pressed onward. “I want to return my travel fare to you.” Millie pulled the money from the handbag she carried and laid it on the table in front of him.
He admired her spunk. Levi pushed the money back to her side of the table. “I can’t accept your money.” He held up his hand to stop her from protesting. “I, too, have changed my mind about marriage and so it would be unfair for me to take the money back.”
When he lowered his hand, she asked, “You have changed your mind also? Honestly?”
Levi offered her what he hoped was a reassuring smile. “Yes, when you didn’t arrive on schedule I was relieved because I wasn’t ready to get married. I should never have placed that advertisement.”
She took a sip from her tea, then gently set the glass back down. “I’m glad to hear that. I was worried you wouldn’t understand and I imagined you would wonder why I answered you in the first place.”
He pushed forward in his chair. “It has crossed my mind. I mean, you are still here even after you’ve decided not to marry me. It’s only natural that I wonder.”
Millie looked him straight in the eyes. “I have a scheming mother. She controlled me to the point that I lost all signs of independence. I had to get away, but once I left, I realized I couldn’t marry someone who would be the same way.”
Levi felt his jaw drop. They’d just met. How could she have formed an opinion of him so quickly? Or was she talking about not marrying any man, not just him?
Her soft laughter surprised him. “I’m not saying you are controlling, although since our first meeting you have taken charge of my life.”
He crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. “How so?”
It was her turn to lean forward. “First, you sent my bags here, told Beth which room to put me in, and then proceeded to drag me off to some business meeting. Halfway there, you changed your mind and turned me around and now here I sit at your table ordering lunch. It never dawned on you to ask what I wanted to do.”
Levi felt his ears turn red. She was right. He’d taken over the situation and not once had he stopped to hear her out or see what she wanted to do. How could he have assumed he knew what she wanted or needed? Had he turned into his mother?
He shook his head. “You’re right, and I’m sorry.”
She tilted her head to the side and studied him. “It’s all right. You were working on the assumption I still wanted to get married.” Millie lowered her gaze and, with her fingertip, traced the pattern on the tablecloth.
“Thank you for understanding.”
Beth arrived at the table with two steaming plates. Levi was pleased to see she’d added fried okra to their meal.
“I hope fried okra is to your liking, Millie.” She placed the dishes on the table and smiled.
Millie wrinkled her nose slightly but answered, “It’s fine, thank you.”
He bit his tongue to keep from speaking. The desire to tell her to send the plate back if it wasn’t to her liking filled him. But, if he did say that, Millie would probably think he was being bossy again.
“Do you need anything else?” Beth asked, looking their table over and making sure their drinks were still full.
Both shook their heads. Levi was the one to answer. “I believe we are fine for now, Beth.”
“All right, I’ll bring the tea pitcher by in a little bit to refill your glasses.” And with that, Beth turned from the table and headed back to the kitchen.
Levi said grace, and then after several long moments of silence while they ate, he asked, “Since you aren’t going to marry me, what are your plans?”
Millie sat up a little straighter in her chair. “Well, if I decide to stay, I will need to find a place to live.” She held up her hand as if to ward off any protest he might have. “I have enough money to spend the night here tonight and I thank you for sending my belongings here, but tomorrow I will need to find less expensive accommodations. I’m sure this lovely boardinghouse is more than I can afford.”
He didn’t argue with Millie, but he didn’t like the idea of her staying at the hotel, and as far as he knew there wasn’t a room in town for rent or a house to buy.
The hotel was a nice place, but Levi felt protective toward Millie. Maybe it was because he’d brought her here. Maybe because she’d revealed she’d never lived alone. Whatever the reason, he planned to have a chat with Benjamin Olson, the hotel owner, and make sure that Beth’s Boardinghouse offered Millie the lowest rates in town. With that thought in mind, he asked, “And then what will you do?”
“I’ll need to seek out employment.” Her hands worked the fabric of the napkin.
Beth arrived back at the table with the promised pitcher of tea. She refilled their glasses and looked to Levi. A quick glance at Millie revealed her pushing the okra around on her plate.
If Beth hired her, she would stay on at the boardinghouse as part of her payment and he wouldn’t need to talk to Mr. Olson. Levi thrust his chin upward and hoped Beth would take the hint to play along with him.
“Can I get you anything else?” Beth asked.
“No, the food is great, but we were just discussing possible employment for Miss Hamilton.”
Millie’s head jerked up.
Before she could comment, Levi pressed on. “You wouldn’t happen to have a position open, would you, Beth?” He prayed Beth would understand what he wanted her to do.
Without missing a beat, Beth looked to Millie. “Can you cook, wash dishes and wait on tables? I could use another set of hands at the noon and evening meals.”
Millie looked down at her hands. He wondered what she found so fascinating about them. “I can.” Her voice came out strained.
Beth