Gallagher.
“The mercantile is thriving as a result,” Jack added. “It seems having a bank here in Port Steele has helped most of the local businesses.”
“Good to hear,” Noah said, half listening. He kept his eye on the entrance, on the youngest, prettiest Prescott. If only he had a way to break through the crowd.
“More drink?”
Noah turned to see one of the tiny little Chinese women Hattie hired from Madam Chen’s Laundry Emporium to serve the guests during dances. A pretty little thing with long black hair and almond-shaped eyes, her smile seemed to hover on her lips but never quite reach her eyes.
“I didn’t catch your name.”
“Lulu,” she answered quietly and nodded once. “You drink?”
Noah smiled at her shy tone, at the way she wouldn’t make eye contact. What a cute little thing. If he didn’t already have his sights set on the youngest Prescott, he might have taken her home for the night.
“I’ve got a full glass.” He even held it up to show her.
She topped it off anyway. With a curt nod she then hurried off to fill the empty glasses of several other men and women attending one of Hattie’s many Saturday night dances.
“She’s new,” Jack mentioned as all three men watched Lulu buzz around the guests like a busy little bee.
“She’s cute,” Noah added with a grin and wondered if he’d been with her before while visiting Madam Chen’s.
“Another conquest, Don Quixote?” Aaron attempted to cover his amusement by bringing his glass to his lips.
It didn’t work.
Noah smiled to stop himself from releasing the retort on his lips. Instead, he channeled his brother Andrew and came up with the most charming response. “My adventures are quests , not con quests.”
Aaron snapped his brow into a frown.
“That means the enjoyment is in the pursuit rather than the capture,” Noah explained.
Aaron didn’t appreciate the correction and conveyed that in the scathing glare he now had flashing at Noah. “If you’ll excuse me.”
“I believe I’ll join Aaron. Good evening, Noah.” Jack hurried away after Aaron, which suited Noah just fine.
Most men didn’t approve of Noah, which didn’t bother him any, so long as the women did.
His gaze snapped to the entrance, which had since cleared free of occupants. With a frown he glanced around the dance hall, wondering where Amelia had disappeared to. It wasn’t like her to not have a crowd of men around her at any given time, just as Noah typically had the same crowd of opposite sex surrounding him.
And yet he couldn’t see anything of the sort now.
“Hello there,” the sweetest voice in the world sang from behind him.
Noah turned and sucked in a breath when he rested his gaze on Amelia Prescott in a lovely pink dress that made her absolutely mouthwatering. She had her hair up in pretty curls that bounced playfully around her mesmerizing face. Her eyes danced playfully, which had Noah’s body harder than usual.
“Amelia,” he breathed.
“Were you expecting someone else?”
The way her eyes sparkled had his body responding, his cock hard and straining in his trousers. Oh, dear Jesus, he hoped it wasn’t as obvious as he felt it appeared.
He smiled, and her responding warm glow had him groaning inwardly. Sweet Jesus, she was beautiful.
“Shall we dance?”
She offered him a nod, and he led her out to the floor. Most attending the dance would expect him to dance with her as the brother of the man courting her, but they didn’t know what he knew. Most didn’t.
Andrew had released Amelia and by telegraph, no less. He wasn’t even man enough to break her heart in person, the bastard coward. Noah, known for his philandering ways, at least let his quests know up front that his attention was purely a temporary thing.
He swung her around in time to the plinking on the piano. She released a giggle that would forever be etched into his memory.
“I had hoped you’d be here tonight.”
He looked at her. “Is