Sebastian lets out a deep bark of laughter that has her grinning in response, “Touché, Miss Miller.”
Elizabeth grins at the banter between them. “Here we go. I hope you like to dance, Aiylin, because in that dress you will have every man in town asking for a chance to step on your toes.”
Her smile fades as he offers her his arm.
“What? No quick-witted response to that.”
“I’m going to kill my sister, the next time I see her,” she mumbles as he guides her to the front foyer. They stand next to each other, not touching and greeting the guests as they come in. Aiylin is overwhelmed by names and faces. It’s a good thing she doesn’t have to remember any of them.
“Tasha,” she smiles when a familiar face approaches.
“You look spectacular, Aiylin,” she exclaims.
“As do you. Thank you for your help this morning,” Aiylin turns to Sebastian. “Tasha helped me today at the general store.”
“That’s very kind of you. You are clearly a woman of exceptional taste. We will, of course repay you for your lost items, Miss Miller.”
“That’s not necessary, Mr. Becker. It was my own stupidity.”
“You are a guest in my home, Miss Miller. It will offend my mother if you insist on this path. I’d say you are stubborn, but hardly stupid. If you’ll excuse me please,” he walks away and stops to talk with a woman named Emily.
Aiylin is shocked into silence by the backhanded compliment.
Sebastian chooses that moment to look across the room at her. He grins when he catches her watching him.
“Well,” Tasha says softly. “I often wondered what it would take to capture his attention.”
Aiylin blushes and looks at her new friend. “It’s not like that, Tasha. I’m leaving tomorrow.”
“Maybe,” Tasha smiles and watches as Sebastian walks back towards them with a young woman on his arm.
“Miss Miller, let me present Miss May and her mother.” Emily is lovely, in her emerald green Christmas dress trimmed in tiny red ribbons. Dark hair and dark eyes glare at her with intense dislike.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Aiylin replies.
“You don’t mind if I steal Sebastian, do you, Miss Marley,” Emily says and then laughs.
“Of course not,” she tries to say, but they are already walking away.
“Marley?” Tasha teases.
“Miller,” Aiylin snaps as Sebastian walks away with Emily, leaving her to greet the rest of the guests with Tasha and Elizabeth.
“Don’t let her bother you, Aiylin, she’s been trying to get his attention for two years,” Tasha complains before looking around for the Sheriff.
The music is playing, and Elizabeth guides Aiylin, and Tinley into the great room. It has been cleared out for this purpose. Tinley stays close, and it turns out that she is the perfect deterrent to keeping some of the men away, but not all.
An hour later, Aiylin is wishing she had stayed in town. The women are not happy to have an outsider in their midst. Most of the men have been exceptionally kind, and she avoids talking about her family. Things can be awkward when men know you come from money. It’s fair to say that her feet will be sore tomorrow.
Repeatedly her eyes are drawn back to Sebastian. He’s easily picked out. Aiylin watches Sebastian dance with Emily and frowns. Sheriff Dane approaches her.
“Miss Miller, may I have this dance?”
“Are you on her dance card?” Tinley demands with a glare.
“No, I wasn’t aware the ladies had dance cards.”
“Tinley’s teasing,” Aiylin replies. “I’d be glad to dance with you, Sheriff.”
Sebastian watches and listens to the murmur of conversation around the room. He returns Emily to her Mother and turns away quickly. All the men are talking about dancing with Aiylin. He can see why. She seems to glow, and her kind nature is evident. He's enchanted by her graceful movements.
The Sheriff spins her and explains that they haven’t yet caught the boy responsible for her theft. Aiylin smiles and sees Tasha is in a corner watching them with a frown of concern.
“That’s quite alright, Sheriff,” she says. “I’m sure that you are doing your best.” The song ends, and he releases her and steps back.
“May I have the next dance, Miss Miller?” Sebastian asks from behind her.
“If you must,” she quips as the Sheriff bows, backing away from Aiylin. “Sheriff? Miss Fallon hasn’t danced yet,” she suggests with a smile.
“Thank you, I’ll get right on that,” he turns and walks straight to Tasha.
Aiylin turns to Sebastian, and her smile fades as the music begins. She has to war with her instinct to run. Everything about him has her senses coming alive. He takes her hand, and she gasps slightly at the sensation of his hand sliding over hers. It feels intimate and wrong to have so many eyes on them.
The heat of his hand on her waist seems to radiate through her layers. They dance together, neither speaking for a moment. Her scent wraps around him, and he feels a tremor run through her body.
“Does this count as asking permission?” he asks.
Aiylin smiles and looks at him for the first time. “You are picking on me. That is a trait you share with Patrick.”
He stiffens at the mention of Patrick. “Aiylin is an unusual name.”
“Thank you, I think.” She smiles up at him. “It’s German,” she replies.
“The Becker family is from Germany. I’m sure you knew that,” Sebastian says.
“I’ve heard,” she comments.
“Why are you going to kill your sister?” he asks, surprising her. Her eyes jump to his.
“Mena is my younger sister,” she replies, “and she gets me into trouble from time to time.” It occurs to her at that moment that perhaps Mena knew Sebastian would be here. No, she wouldn’t do that, would she? Set her up without
