The entire experience had been surprisingly pleasant. The only man she had interacted with on a personal level was Ezra Hale's eldest son, Nick. She had enjoyed his company but not his wandering eye. It seemed that Nick thought of her more as a pal than a woman to be courted. The one and only time she had been in love had been in her teens...with Shade Thornton. He had left her waiting by the river on the night they were supposed to elope. Although she was starting to feel the womanly urge to have a home and family, Hannah was somewhat jaded on her prospects.
The chance encounter with Matt Wentworth had proved fortuitous. He was a handsome and charming companion. Hannah also felt they might become friends. She had no illusions about anything else ever happening between them.
Hannah smiled and indicated her dress, "I am thinking about changing, gathering my rod and reel and doing a little fishing. It would be nice to have fresh fried trout for dinner tonight. I want to make the most of my day off." She almost asked him about his plans, but stopped herself. He was a wealthy business owner. No doubt, he needed to return to work as soon as they were finished with lunch.
It's not a question of who's right. It's a question of what's right.
Hannah smiled and indicated her dress, "I am thinking about changing, gathering my rod and reel and doing a little fishing. It would be nice to have fresh fried trout for dinner tonight. I want to make the most of my day off."
"I wish I could join you, but I am expecting my brothers to return here at any time now." Matt half-smiled, "Although, I would like to take you up on your invite another day. It's been a while since I have some time off."
He paused before going on, "I haven't seen my brothers in a long time and once they have settled in, I'll introduce you to them...unless they do it themselves which wouldn't surprise me one bit. Us Wentworth men are aware of when a beautiful lady is about and you Hannah, are certainly one."
Leaning over the table, Matt took Hannah's hand and kissed it. "Thank you being such a wonderful dining companion."
Hannah listened intently to what Matt was saying about his brothers. She liked his sense of family that he seemed to genuinely want to see and spend time with brothers instead of treating it as an onerous duty. She did not have siblings and had often wished she had had a sister to help her negotiate the pitfalls of being a woman. "I understand," Hannah said in response to Matt's telling her about his brothers. "Perhaps some other time..."
She was getting used to his compliments but could not decide if Matt was serious or it was part of his charm. Hannah knew she was not ugly, yet when comparing herself to some of the women she saw around town or in the odd lady's magazine, she could see she was not a ravishing beauty either. Perhaps it was the dress she was wearing. Most folks around town were used to seeing her in men's garb as her father called it. Not that he objected to it when she was working.
However, Hannah was a bit nonplussed when Matt reached for her hand and kissed it. That certainly sent sensations through her that she was not used to feeling. She managed a charming smile, "Why, Matt! You are going to make some of the town's ladies jealous," Hannah tapped his hand with her free one. "Thank you for the lovely compliments and for asking me to lunch. I can't say when I have enjoyed a meal or the company more." Hannah kept her voice slightly playful while keeping her words sincere. She put the feelings that she stirred in her down to a schoolgirl's crush brought about by receiving unexpected attention from such a handsome and debonair man.