Sebastian watches the way it absorbs her and walks over to her. “That was lovely, Miss Miller, thank you.” His compliment catches her off guard. “Tinley, it’s time for bed.”
“Can Miss Aiylin put me to bed?” she pleads.
“Not tonight, she has more guests to entertain.” He watches as Tinley throws her arms around her neck. “I’m so glad you came.”
“Me too. Sweet dreams, Tinley,” she whispers and squeezes her back.
Sebastian takes her hand and walks her to the stairs and for the first time Aiylin wishes. She wonders what it would be like to have a family of her own. Sebastian is looking down at his daughter with a smile and her heart flutters. She wishes for a man like him. What’s wrong with having a secret wish? No one needs to know.
Tasha walks over with Emily.
“He’s delicious, isn’t he?” Emily says, snapping her out of her reverie.
“I wouldn’t know,” Aiylin says and turns away to put her guitar in its case.
“You’d have to be blind to miss it, Miss Miller.” She steps closer and hisses, “I saw him first!” she snarls, dropping the sweet façade.
Aiylin almost laughs at the absurdity of this moment. The other part of her feels protective of Sebastian and Tinley. Her eyes flash as she faces the anger being directed to her.
“I see. You must be the scorned woman?” Aiylin retorts.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Well, I’ve already met the one who got away,” she points to another woman glaring at her. Turning, she points at another woman she says, “That’s the one who pines but doesn’t have the nerve to act, and that leaves you.”
Tasha and Emily stare at her in open-mouthed shock. “You can’t speak to me like that! You are a vile human being,” she turns and shouts, “Mother!” They leave with a flourish of yelling and slamming doors.
Tasha bursts out laughing saying, “I wish you lived here. Let’s get a drink, and you can tell me how to get my hands on one of your guitars. Thanks to you, I’ve discovered the way to the Sheriff’s heart.” She loops her arm through hers, and they go off to get a drink.
“Are the women in your town always so aggressive?” Aiylin asks.
“Only when it comes to the richest man in Pennsylvania,” she teases.
Aiylin jerks and looks at her in surprise.
“Don’t tell me you didn’t know that Sebastian Becker owns Becker Steel Mill and Ironworks?”
“I had no idea, but it doesn’t matter, Tasha, I’m leaving on the first train tomorrow.”
“We’ll see.”
The guests begin to filter out, and they walk Tasha and Sheriff Dane to the door. Sebastian smiles at the amount of snow on the ground.
“Looks like you’ll be staying a few more days, Miss Miller,” Sheriff Dane says.
“No,” she gasps and steps out onto the covered porch. Sebastian grabs a wrap and drops it around her shoulders as the last of the guests pull away. “My parents are expecting me tomorrow!”
“I’d be glad to send a telegram for you,” Tasha says. “The general mill is also the post office.”
“That’s very kind of you,” she murmurs, and they talk, giving her the necessary information. Aiylin walks away to say goodbye to another guest, while her mind is spinning with possibilities. If she packs quickly, she could ride back to town and catch the first train in the morning.
“Sheriff, could you give me a ride home? It seems my ride has left without me,” Tasha says with a wink to Aiylin.
“Of course.” Tasha lets the Sheriff help her to the wagon. They watch as they drive away into the snow, lit only by the soft glow of the lantern.
“You’re welcome to stay as long as necessary, Miss Miller. The trains won’t run in this storm,” Sebastian says.
“I need to go.” She turns and looks up at him. “Stanley can give me a ride to town. I can get a room at the hotel and take the first train out in the morning.”
“No,” he walks away to the door and stomps his feet free of any snow. “Now come inside and warm up.”
“No. What do you mean, no!” Aiylin demands following him inside the house.
“What’s wrong, does Patrick never say no to you?” he laughs.
“What are you talking about? I need to take the train…”
“Miss Miller, the trains will not be running for days. I can’t ask Stanley to go out in a blizzard. What about his safety?”
He watches her closely to see how she will react. Aiylin frowns, and nods, instantly contrite.
“Of course, you’re right, Mr. Becker. Forgive me,” she hurries away, dropping her wrap on the hook. Sebastian watches her walk away and sighs.
Aiylin wonders into the living area and sits at the piano. Elizabeth sits down in a chair and watches as she starts to play.
Sebastian steps into the entry and stares at her. The glow of the fire touches her hair, making it seem redder than it is. He glances at his Mother, who smiles at him. Aiylin closes her eyes lost in the song, and they are stunned by the music flowing so smoothly from her fingers.
“I thought you said you couldn’t play the piano,” Elizabeth teases when she stops.
“No,” she turns to them. “I said it wasn’t my instrument of choice. The guitar is my first love, but I discovered at Tinley’s age, a world of other instruments. I tried them all. Thankfully my parents were very tolerant.” She laughs, thinking about it.
“How many instruments do you play?” Sebastian asks, sitting next to her on the piano bench. Aiylin’s heartbeat accelerates, and she glances away nervously.
“A few,” she replies.
“Why do you do that? Evade a question,” he asks in all seriousness.
Her stunning eyes meet his as she chews
