The Mistletoe Kiss. Janet Lee Barton

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СКАЧАТЬ so well, our editors love the idea of doing the different kinds of views of the Park Row Building and we’re really excited about it.”

      “What kind of photographs will you be wanting me to take?”

      “You’d need to take the ones you feel would best illustrate the stories we want to write.”

      “What do you think, Millicent?” John asked. “We know you don’t like heights, but you are the best photographer we know and we didn’t even have to bring your name up. You’ve been asked to come in with us. Will you do it?”

      Millicent let out a deep breath. There was no doubt in her mind this could be the opportunity she’d been waiting for. But why did the chance of a lifetime have to involve her going to the top of what would be the tallest building in the city—the very thing that paralyzed her with fear?

      “Even if you get permission to go up, John, I’m not sure my supervisor would ever agree to letting Elizabeth and Millicent up where the men are working. And with Millicent’s aversion to heights—”

      “Oh, surely when he knows she’s the one the Tribune trusts to do the job—”

      Matt shrugged.

      “We won’t know until he’s asked. I’ll make my decision then,” Millicent said decisively. “At least I have time to think it over.”

      “The color drained out of your face at the thought of it now.” Matt glanced over at John. “There’s no need to put her through—”

      “It’s Millicent’s decision to make, don’t you think, Matt?” John asked.

      “Of course it is.” Matt shrugged again. “It may be a moot point anyway. I just don’t see how having a woman on the job is going to happen.”

      Not if he had any say about it, Millicent was sure of that. And that attitude irritated her. If the opportunity to do this photo shoot came about, she’d pray and ask the Lord to ease her fear, at least long enough to get the job done. One thing she knew for sure. She certainly wasn’t going to let Matt’s opinion keep her from trying.

Chapter Two

      By the time Millicent and Matt left Elizabeth and John’s, she had a raging headache. After their friends told them they’d be in touch once John’s editor gave them the go-ahead on the articles, they’d played a few games of charades after dinner. But Millicent could think of little else than what she would do if Matt’s supervisor said yes. Now on the trolley back home, she rubbed her temple and closed her eyes.

      “You know,” Matt began, “you don’t have to say yes to this, Millicent. I realize it’s a good opportunity, but I also know how emphatic you’ve been about your fear of heights. If you don’t want to—”

      “Matt, John’s articles are probably going to make the front page, and the exposure of my photos could bring in enough business that I could finally open my shop.”

      “What if you agree and then find you can’t...do it? What will that do for your reputation?”

      “Thanks for your vote of confidence in me.”

      “Now, Millie, you know I—”

      “I’m hoping no one but you and the Talbots will know that I fear heights. I’m pretty sure John wouldn’t splash that information all across the front page.”

      “No. Of course he wouldn’t. But—” Matt shook his head and sighed. “The decision is yours.”

      “I’m not pretending this will be an easy choice. I’ll need to think things over and pray about it. And I don’t know if I will accept the offer or not. That’s so high up.”

      “You might not want to look down.”

      “But isn’t the view the best part?”

      “It is for me, seeing the city laid out below, but it might not be for you. You’d probably get dizzy.”

      Was he trying to talk her out of even contemplating taking the job? Millicent felt a little queasy just thinking about looking down at the streets below, but she certainly wasn’t going to let Matt know. “I’m sure it’s a sight to see.”

      “It is.”

      Their trolley stopped and Millicent was thankful for the break in conversation as they got off and hurried to Heaton House. The night air was cooling quickly and she was glad to be inside once more. The boarders were in the parlor with Julia playing the piano as she often did. But she stopped playing as Millicent and Matt joined them, and one of the maids brought in tea for everyone.

      “You must be a mind reader, Maida,” Matt said.

      “No, sir, I just heard the front door open and knew that at this time of night, you and Miss Millicent must be getting home.”

      “How nice of you, Maida.” Millicent took a cup from her and took a sip. She loved living at Heaton House. It’d become home in a short time. And even having boarders come and go hadn’t changed that feeling. For one thing, they still saw all those who’d moved out fairly often, and though there’d been a period of time when Mrs. Heaton’s table felt a bit empty, she’d managed to fill it back up with new people in no time.

      As Millicent looked over at Matt, she found his piercing blue gaze on her, and her pulse began to race as it had the first time she saw him. He was very handsome, that lock of dark hair falling over his forehead and with well-cut lips that seemed to want to smile at her, but didn’t. What was he thinking? Probably how to keep her from bothering him and his workmen.

      She smiled at him, daring him to smile back, but not prepared when he did. Her heart seemed to dip into her stomach—a reaction she didn’t even want to think about. For while there was much to like about Mathew Sterling, his views were so opposite from hers on so many levels and—

      “Millicent?”

      She heard Julia call her name and broke her gaze. “I’m sorry. Did you say something, Julia?”

      “I asked how dinner with Elizabeth and John went.”

      “Very well. She’s a very good cook.”

      Julia and Elizabeth were boarders at Heaton House together for several years until Elizabeth and John married. “They wanted to speak to Matt and me about a chance they might have to do some articles on the building he’s working on. They want me to take photos.”

      “Oh, I did wonder why they asked just the two of you,” Julia said.

      Millicent was glad she’d told her why they’d been invited and that Julia’s feelings hadn’t been hurt. “I’m not sure Matt’s boss will be agreeable to it, but they wanted us to know about the possibility.”

      “Would you have to go up high to take your photos?” Julia lowered her voice.

      “Yes. But the Tribune editor asked for me specifically and I don’t think I can refuse this kind of exposure.”

      “Oh, СКАЧАТЬ