Nora returned with what looked like flannel pants and a heavy work shirt. "Here, these are Mitch's. You can undress, I'll be in the kitchen heating water for tea."
"Thank you," Grayson swallowed at noticing she wore only a nightgown. Thankfully it was thick. Unfortunately, it still made him think of her in bed. "I'll hang my wet clothes on the hooks here to let them dry."
"See that you do," she told him and left the room.
A few minutes later, finally in dry clothes, warmth seeped into his cold body. He remained by the fire not wanting to move away from the heat.
"Here, drink this." Nora held out a steaming mug that he grabbed with eagerness, the warmness of it a welcome feel. "It's tea with a bit of whiskey."
"I'm sorry to come here uninvited," he began and took a sip of the hot liquid. "A family problem needed taken care of."
She glanced toward the door. "You came alone in this weather?" After placing a new log in the fireplace, she sat.
Grayson nodded and followed her lead sitting across from her in a comfortable chair close enough to the fireplace, he still felt the warmth of the fire. "Yes. My brother Ashley is in jail, Sheriff Dawson is holding him 'cause Walters is dead."
"I see," Nora replied with a frown. "Is Ashley all right?"
His shoulder muscles relaxed at her lack of judgment of his brother. "Seems to be, it's hard to tell with Ashley."
"He's a quiet one isn't he?" Her eyes met his for a second and then went to the fire. "I've never really gotten to know him. I hear that he doesn't talk much to anyone but family."
"My brother hasn't been the same since he came back from the service, but he's not a bad person. He did not kill that man. Not once has he left the ranch in the last few days, especially since we had that tussle with your brother and friends."
"Glenn Walters could hardly be qualified as a friend of Mitch's. The only reason he joined in the fight was probably because he was aiming to ingratiate himself with Mitch."
"Well, something he did got him killed."
"What are you going to do about Ashley?" Her eyes met his again and before he could help it, he looked to her lips. She pressed them together and turned away.
"I'm going to see Mr. Wade in the morning, hire him to get Ashley out."
"Good." Nora placed her cup on a side table, stood and moved to the fireplace. "Why did you come here tonight?" Her question was quiet.
He stared at her profile and couldn't help admiring the perfectly shaped nose, long lashes, and pert chin. "I suppose I needed to know if you're still angry with me over the fight."
"Yeah, I am. Not sure why I'm angry with you, it's not like I expect faithfulness from this farce of an engagement. I just didn't think you'd be so open about it."
Grayson wasn't sure what else to say and he wondered what he'd do next. The rain outside continued to fall with gusto and he eyed the window and wondered if it would lighten up so he'd not get soaked again going to the hotel. "It was Olivia and her lady friends that struck up the conversation. All we discussed was the weather and all the hoopla over Montana becoming part of the union. Next thing I know your brother is decking me."
Her honey brown eyes met his, her face peaceful. Grayson stood and went to her. He neared with caution, looking for any sign that she did not welcome his proximity. They maintained eye contact and Nora did not step away from him. "I believe you, Grayson, not sure why, but I do."
"That's all I ask," he replied, his voice husky. "Thank you for opening the door for me, just needed to talk to someone. Can I kiss you, Nora?"
Eyes widening, her nod followed. He took her mouth. The softness of Nora's lips immediately sent a surge of want through him. Thoughts of how wonderful her body felt against his tore into his mind and Grayson pulled her into his arms. He pressed a trail of kisses from her mouth to her ear. "I can't get out of my mind how you feel against me, your taste, your soft body in my arms. You affect me like no one ever has."
Nora inhaled sharply and laid her head on his chest. "That I do find hard to believe."
Grayson took her mouth again, hungry for more of what he knew was a banquet of desire. When her arms went around his neck, delight struck him senseless.
She'd wanted a kiss from the moment she'd opened the door for him. Even soaking wet and shivering, he sent her heart to thumping so hard she feared he heard it. When he'd been changing, she peeked in to see him nude before the fire. Never would she forget the beauty of his muscular body, the bunching of muscles when he'd pulled the wet clothes off. Thankfully, she'd placed her hand over her mouth when Grayson pulled off his pants. His legs were well formed, his butt even more. Red-faced at her actions, she retreated into the kitchen, while at the same time wanting to look again, touch every inch of his tanned skin.
Now as he kissed her with what she could only describe as hunger, Nora clung to him not wanting him to move away from her. "Grayson," she whispered between kisses. "You need to leave." She pushed into him and ran her hands down his back pulling him closer.
"Yes, I should leave." Grayson licked her neck to the top of her breast and pressed kissed across the sensitive skin. Nora shivered, a moan escaping before she could stop it. Don't leave.
"What?" He continued kissing across her breasts while his hand roamed down her back to cup her bottom. Oh God, she spoken out loud.
Nora placed hands of both sides of his face and pulled him up to face her. Dazed blue eyes looked into hers, but he did not speak, only stared at her with a heated look.
"I don't want you to leave, Grayson. Not tonight."
A gasp escaped at the ardor by which he took her mouth, he was not gentle and every inch of her body reacted. She grabbed at him, her nails digging into the rough fabric.
Grayson stepped away from her, his breathing ragged. "I'll sleep on the floor in here, if that's all right?"
Embarrassed that she would have allowed things to progress between them, she wrapped her arms around her waist and looked to the fire, the flames mimicking the heat of her body.
"Come to me," Grayson seemed to know her mind was going elsewhere. He took her hand and brought her against him. "Look at me, Nora."
And she did, Nora dove into the pools of blue and pressed against him, her breasts flattening against the hard planes of his chest.
"I would never take advantage of you allowing me inside your home. But I don't want to stop kissing you. Let me."
Nora rose to her toes and place a kiss on his throat.
He reacted with a sharp inhalation. "You're not playing fair." The hoarseness in his voice made her smile.
He kissed her again and sped up the motions and without further prompting, her world shattered.
In a daze she became lost to him, never wanting the kisses to end. Finally he pulled back and his eyes bore into hers. "I've wanted to kiss you for so long."
He helped her to the floor; Grayson leaned on a large chair and pulled Nora to sit beside him, both looking into the fire.
The fire was losing its warmth and Grayson put another log on top of the embers. He grabbed a blanket from the chair and joined her on the floor again.
He pressed kisses on her temples and lips, his eyes searching her face. "Please don't tell me you're sorry this happened. That we kissed like this." He cupped her chin and pressed his lips against hers.
Shocked at his words Nora looked up at him. "Of course I'm not."
"Good cause we're engaged, so there's nothing to be sorry for anyhow." He frowned and let out a resigned breath.
A chuckle escaped her and he gave her a questioning look, brows drawn over his beautiful eyes.
Nora traced her finger down his straight nose and peered up at him. "We're still not getting married, Grayson. I know you don't want to marry me and I've accepted that I am not destined to be a wife."
"What are you saying? You don't want to marry me?"
"You don't want to marry me."
"I don't want to marry anyone, not just you," he replied pulling her head back on
to his chest. "It was true what I said, though."
"About?"
"I've desired you for a long time. Just kept my distance ‘cause I was afraid of how you affect me."
Nora did not reply. She wondered what he meant, but it didn't matter. They were not meant to be.
"Kiss me again," she whispered.
Grayson's mouth took hers and he pulled her against his broad chest. His hands traveled down her sides while his mouth plundered.
Just as she relaxed against him, preparing to take more from him, continue the delicious explorations, she realized he'd called her by the wrong name.
"Sophia."
Chapter Nine
"I'll get Ashley out by this afternoon," Archie Wade exclaimed pointing at Grayson. "Sounds like Sheriff Dawson doesn't have any proof, has to let him go."
"My brother threatened Walters two days prior in front of the sheriff, the deputy and half the town."
"Your brother is well known for that temper of his. His demeanor doesn't help things either. But I stand on my word." The rotund man stood and rounded his desk. "I'll go down there right now." He eyed Grayson reaching for his hat. "Alone. It's best if I go by myself. You look ready to kill someone and that won't be helpful for Ashley."
"If you need to talk to my brother he may not talk if I'm not there."
Archie Wade nodded. "Then stay around town, if that happens, I'll come find you."
Not sure he trusted Wade alone with his brother, Grayson found himself in the shadowy interior of Stover's saloon where he could be at the jailhouse within minutes. He shook his head when the bartender offered a drink; instead he finished the last of his coffee. Not sure if he could hold his temper in check as it was, a drink was a bad idea. He eyed Mitch and Matthew sitting across the room, each with a drink in hand, they pretended not to notice him.
That morning he awoke to find Nora gone, of course classes started early and she'd left to ensure the children found the schoolhouse open. Yet, he'd been disappointed at not waking to see her. Although the thought of how much her absence affected him bothered Grayson, he couldn't shake the feeling. She left him a note instructing to leave the key under the flowerpot on the front porch. No mention of expectations, or whether she enjoyed their time together. Both a first for him.
Part of him wanted to wait around for her and find out the answer to both questions. Did she really expect nothing from him? Was it possible for her to just walk away and not demand anything? She'd gotten up abruptly after kissing and bid him good night. Probably a good idea. As it was he wasn't sure he could have kept from taking things further.
"How you doing, Grayson?" Lizzie, one of the saloon girls leaned on the bar and smiled up at him. "How's Ashley doing?"
Grayson motioned for the bartender to serve Lizzie what was surely sugared water. "My brother is locked up for something he didn't do. I would say he's not doing too well."
"It's a shame," she took a sip of her drink. "I like Ashley."
The comment surprised him, but he didn't say anything about it, instead he decided it was best to try to find whatever information he could regarding the dead man. "When was the last time you saw Walters here?"
She glanced around the room, scanning the room at leisure. "Can we go outside? I need some fresh air."
They walked out together, he felt Mitch's heated gaze on him and ignored it. The prostitute sashayed to the side of the building, her vibrant red dress standing out against the weathered exterior of the saloon. Lizzie smiled and looked up at the sky. "It's finally clearing up." The young woman's entire demeanor changed to more relaxed, her freckles obvious in the sunlight. It reminded him that she was someone's sister, daughter. Grayson dug his hands in his pockets and waited for her to talk.
"Walters was here that day, the day he was killed, two days ago." Lizzie shivered, an exaggerated motion, her auburn curls bouncing. "A mean man, that one. The girls he chose said he was rough too. Poor Annabelle, he seemed to be drawn to her."
Grayson reeled her back. "Anything unusual happen while he was here?"
"Not for him, got in an argument with a stranger who claimed he cheated at cards. Of course with Walters it was probably true." Lizzie huffed and looked back toward the front of the saloon. "I better go back inside."
"Wait," Grayson placed a hand on her arm. "This stranger, did you tell Sheriff Dawson about it? Has he been back?”
Lizzie's head bobbed up and down. "Yes, I told the sheriff about it. He also asked for a description and such. The man came back last night, but didn't stay long. He's older, grey hair, long beard. Wears a miner's hat."
Grayson left from outside the saloon and headed for the sheriff's office. Once again, he found the deputy at the front desk, but this time he heard Sheriff Dawson's voice coming from the other room. He walked past the deputy who narrowed his eyes, but did not say anything.
Dawson sat outside Ashley's cell. A cup of coffee in hand, the man leaned forward staring at Ashley. His eyes slid to Grayson and back to Ashley. "Well good thing you're here. Maybe you can get your brother to talk. He ain't helpin' things none by playing this mute game."
"What do you need to know sheriff?" Grayson eyed his brother who sat on his bunk leaning against the wall, seeming relaxed. Ashley lifted an eyebrow. "He wants to know where I was night before last. I told him at home. He doesn't believe me, nothing else to say."
"Need to know who can verify he was at the ranch," Sheriff Dawson told Grayson. "Can't be family."
"The ranch hand Josiah and Ashley have been working getting the cattle rounded up and into the new corrals." Grayson replied, his eyes locked onto the sheriff. "Ashley even took care of me when I became sick and I slept in the bunkhouse the other night."
"He could have come here and killed Walters while you slept." The sheriff was being stubborn. Grayson knew it and so did he.
"I hear Walters got into an argument with a stranger the day he died. Have you checked into that, Dawson?"
At once on his feet, the sheriff closed the distance between them. "Tellin' me how to do my job, son?"
"Seems strange to me how you're spending so much time looking to make Ashley guilty, when the real killer is getting away." Grayson didn't back down, held his ground. "Has Archie Wade been here?"
Ashley cleared his throat. "Yep, sheriff refused to let me go."
"I told Wade to give it another day," Sheriff Dawson snapped.
"Instead of wasting time, I'm going to find this stranger." Grayson stormed from the building only to have Sheriff Dawson call to him from the door.
"Don't go and do something rash, Grayson. It's my job to find the culprit. Don't want to lock you up with your brother."
Grayson whirled and rushed back to the man who took a step back. "Don't look like you're trying very hard to do much other than keep my brother in jail."
"He's a danger to this town, you Coles refuse to see that, but I see the look in his eyes, he's killed before, will probably kill again."
"He's your nephew. Why do you hate him so?"
"I am the law in this town, whether family or not, I am fair."
"That is a bold faced lie." Grayson stalked away.
****
Mitch wondered where Grayson headed, since walking out with the saloon girl, only Lizzie returned. He eyed Matthew who picked at a chip in the wooden tabletop; his friend seemed to be lost in thought. "I'll return later, better go check on my sister."
"Nah, don't worry about comin’ back. Going home. Pa needs help with the horses; he's not been feeling good lately. Not sure what's wrong. Doc's been out a few times already." Matthew's solemn expression took Mitch by surprise. His boyhood friend gulped down his drink. "I won't be spending much time in town anymore, needed at home."
Mitch took him in wondering what his friend wasn't telling him. "I'm sorry to hear about your Pa."
They walked out together, Matthew mounted his horse and headed out of town and Mitch walked toward the schoolhouse, only to stop when spotting Olivia in
side her parent's mercantile.
He'd already been there all morning unloading the latest shipment and lining the shelves with new items while at the same time balancing on his ladder and handing objects to patrons who'd gotten wind of the latest arrivals. If he entered, his parents would put him to work and he didn't plan to spend the rest of the day inside the busy interior. Instead, he loitered on the side of the building waiting for Olivia to exit.
Parcels stacked high in her arms, Olivia didn't see him right away. She sidestepped a small dog that scampered by with a prize of meaty bone and her parcels began to slide sideways. Mitch caught her packages and lifted most of them away to wide eyes meeting his.
"Oh! Mitch, I didn't expect to see you." She eyed the bundles in his hands. "Thank you, I should have made two trips." Olivia did not smile. "My buggy is over here." She put her parcels on the floorboards and reached for the ones he held. Mitch ignored her outstretched hands and placed them beside the ones she'd stowed.
He straightened and looked to her. "How are you, Olivia?"
"I'm well. Thank you for helping me."
He took her elbow and steered her to stand under the building's porch. "I'm sorry about the other day. I overreacted."
"Yes, you did," she replied. "I don't know what you were thinking."
"I wasn't," Mitch replied, he fought the urge to reach for her, once more to feel her soft curves against him when he held her. They'd kissed several times on their outings and he missed her, spending hours talking about everything and nothing. How for the first time in his life, he was able to relax with a woman who never pushed him for a commitment.
He peered into her veiled eyes. "I miss spending time with you."
Olivia inhaled and looked away. "It's best we don't continue whatever this is." She waved her hand back and forth between them. "I want a husband and children, a family. You've made it perfectly clear you don't. My parents are pushing for Matthew Corson to court me."
At the sound of his friend's name, Mitch huffed sharply. Was that why Matthew acted differently earlier? "Have you talked with Matthew about it?"
A Different Shade of Blue, Shades of Blue, Book 2 Page 7