Jane Bonander by Wild Heart

She gave Julia a conspiratorial wink.
    Julia took the gown and robe, feeling a wash of color in her cheeks. “Thank you, Helga. That was very thoughtful of you.” She didn’t have to wear the gown;
    Helga would never know. But did she really want to sleep in her clothes?
    Helga walked to the door. “Dinner will be in an hour, you two. And we have champagne!”
    Wolf sat across the table, watching Julia. Her color was high. She’d had too much champagne. She was also nervous, which was probably why she’d had too much to drink. Not so surprisingly, she appeared softer and more vulnerable. He’d trade his soul to the devil to kiss her delicious mouth again. Once, in the company of a lawyer and a justice of the peace, only stimulated his appetite for more. And each time their gazes locked, he saw interest where there had never been interest before. Again he knew it was the liquor, but it was an appealing concept, nevertheless.
    “So, Mr. McCloud,” Earl Williams began, turning toward him from his place at the head of the table. “What plans do you have for the ranch?”
    Wolf toyed with the stem of his wineglass. “I have some ideas, sir.”
    Julia sat up straight, appearing surprised, and far too animated. “You do?”
    He gave her a lopsided grin. “I do.”
    “What are you going to do?” She didn’t sound hostile, which she would have been had she been sober.
    “I’m going to pick all that fruit and—”
    “Oh, posh, McCloud. We’ve tried that,” Julia interjected. “It rots before we can even sell it.”
    She was quite appealing this way, all uninhibited. “I’m going to dry it.”
    “Dry it?” Earl Williams asked, surprised.
    “Yes,” he answered, leaning toward him. “I’ve drawn plans for drying racks using chicken wire and gauze. If the fruit is dried, we can ship it as far away as Boston. Or even Europe.”
    Julia sat back in her chair and expelled a huge, inebriated sigh. “Well. I’ll be. That just might work, McCloud.”
    “I’m glad you approve, Miss Julia.” He took a sip of champagne, then smiled at her over the rim of his glass. She smiled back, a becoming stain blooming on her cheeks.
    He had a strange yearning in his gut, one that wished she would always be this receptive to him. But regrettably, he knew that come morning, things would be back the way they’d been before, and would undoubtedly be forever.
    She yawned, covering her mouth at the last minute, expelling a hiccough at the end. “Oh, my,” she said on a small giggle. “I think it’s time for me to go to bed. Funny, though, I feel awfully good for being so sleepy.”
    Wolf hid his smile with his hand. She was crocked.
    “Well,” said Helga, “I’m keeping the baby in the crib in our room tonight, dear.” She gave Wolf a sly grin. “Can’t have a baby in the room on your wedding night.”
    “Hmmm?” Julia yawned again, her eyes at half-mast.
    “The baby will be fine, dear, you just run along now.”
    Wolf took Julia’s arm, surprised when she leaned against him.
    “You taking me up to bed?” She looked at him, her eyes a languid shade of blue.
    “I’m taking you to bed,” he repeated, leading her toward the stairs.
    Julia turned in his arms and peered over his shoulder. “ ‘Night, all!”
    She continued to lean against him as they took the stairs to their room. He liked her there. She fit perfectly, especially all soft and pliable from the champagne.
    Once inside their room, she whirled away, spinning in the center of the room. When she faltered, he caught her.
    “Oh, heavens.” She uttered another giggle. “I guess I won’t do that again. For some reason, the floor is slanted.”
    “You’ve had too much champagne,” he said with a smile.
    She stood in front of him, swaying a bit. Punching her finger into his chest, she answered, “Don’t be silly. I’m just feeling really good, that’s all.”
    She walked her fingers to his neck, then to the back of his head, into his hair. His