by Lori Foster
Shrugging, he said, “That’s usually why I bring someone in underfoot. Because they got into mischief and have to do community work.”
“But…” She couldn’t think of anything to say, then her temper flared. “You could have set them straight!”
“I believe I tried to. But you were too intent on telling them how you could handle me to let me finish.”
Misty moaned and covered her face. “So now, even though no one here knows I was actually arrested, they’re all going to think the same about me anyway.”
Morgan pulled her hands down and kissed the end of her nose. “Let me show you around the office, explain your duties, then we’ll go to the diner and set them straight.”
“We will?”
He brushed his thumb over her bottom lip. “Believe me, Malone, no one is going to have any doubts as to why I’m keeping you close, I promise. So quit your worries.”
Misty followed him into the office, but his promise, and the way he’d given it, left an empty ache inside her.
Morgan was slowly getting under her skin, and that left her feeling far from reassured.
8
“OUCH.” Misty bumped her head as she knelt and crawled beneath the desk. “You’re sure she went under here?”
Jordan sounded slightly strangled as he said, “Yeah, she’s under there.”
In the farthest corner, against the back wall, Misty saw a curled calico tail. “Ah, I see her. She’s a little thing.”
“I found her abandoned.” Anger laced Jordan’s tone, and that was unusual because Misty had never heard this particular brother sound anything but pleasant. “I brought her home to heal, and your sister sort of bonded with her. Usually she’s in bed with Honey, but today, well, I think she knew it was a day for shots and that’s why she’s running from me.”
Misty bumped her head again when she tried to look at Jordan. All she could see was his feet. He’d been chasing the cat to take it to his clinic when they’d run into each other in the hallway. The cat had scurried away while Jordan kept Misty from falling on her behind.
Misty had been hoping to leave the house before Morgan. According to Honey, he’d been looking for her last night and had been disgruntled when he couldn’t find her. But she wasn’t yet ready to tell him where she’d been. Dodging him this morning was the only way she could think of to buy herself some time.
“So do you like your new job?” Jordan asked her as she crawled deeper beneath the desk.
“Actually, I do.” She reached out her hand and the small cat, hissing at her, managed to inch a little farther away.
“That’s good. I gather Morgan is behaving himself?”
“Morgan is Morgan. He never really behaves. You know that.”
“Uh, yes, I see your point.”
Morgan was the most forward, outspoken man she’d ever known, but he kept her smiling and sometimes even laughing. And he always made her very aware of her own femininity. The man could scorch her with a look, and in the short time she’d spent with him, she’d become addicted to the feeling.
But the entire week had been a series of near misses. Though she worked in his office, he was seldom there. She’d had no idea he kept such a horrendously busy schedule. After hours wasn’t much better. When Morgan was free, she was gone. When she was free, Morgan got called away. His plan to make them look like a couple wasn’t quite working out as she’d assumed. She hated to admit it, even to herself, but she’d been looking forward to his outrageous pursuit. And she missed him.
Jordan coughed suddenly, then suggested, “Uh, maybe you should just come on out of there?”
“No, I’ve almost got her. She’s worked herself into a tiny little ball. Let me just scrunch in here a bit more.”
“No, wait. I’ll pull the desk out.”
Misty was sure she heard repressed laugher in Jordan’s voice, but the sound was muffled because most of her upper body was wedged into the seating area of the desk. “No, if you do that she’ll just run off again. At least this way I have her cornered.”
Jordan made a strangled sound.
“What?”
“Never mind.”
Misty tried wiggling her fingers at the cat. She had hoped to be gone already, out the door before Morgan awoke. Working with him was more enjoyable than she’d thought it would be. She liked getting to know everyone in the town, and it was so obvious to her how they all adored their sheriff. He was treated with respect and reverence and a bit of awe.
“So your arrangement with Morgan is working out?”
She snorted, wondering which arrangement Jordan referred to. The work or the personal relationship. “Yes, things are fine. Although Morgan does like to complain a lot.”
“Well, as to that,” Jordan said cautiously, “I think he complains because things aren’t going quite the way he planned.”
“Things aren’t going quite how I planned, either.” She laughed, then added, “Morgan gripes because it’s a habit, just like scowling at everyone.” Misty thought of all she’d learned about Morgan in the past week, how he reacted with the various community members who liked to stop by and offer suggestions or complaints or idle chitchat. His patience was limitless, and why not? He usually controlled everything and everyone without anybody even realizing it. He was careful not to offend, strong and supportive, understanding. But the final word was his, and they all respected that about him. In fact, she often got the impression that they brought their minor gripes to him so he would take charge, saving them the hassle.
Overall, she admitted he made a pretty wonderful sheriff.
“You know, Jordan, Morgan would like the world to think he’s a real bear, but Honey’s right. Deep down he’s just a big softy.”
There was a choked laugh, then a loud thump. Jordan cursed under his breath.
“Now don’t tease, Jordan. You know I’m right. Even though you all harass each other endlessly, you know your brother is pretty terrific.”
Jordan’s voice was lazy. “I think you and Honey are sharing that particular delusion. She’s as misguided about him as you are.” Then: “Just think. With you two singing his praises, Morgan will be known as a real pussycat in no time at all.”
Laughing, Misty said, “I wouldn’t go that far!”
Her laugh startled the cat, and when she tried to run, Misty reached out and scooped her up. “I’ve got her.” She started crawling backward, inching her way out. The cat didn’t fight her. Instead, it purred loudly at the attention.
Misty held the small calico close to her chest and scooted until she bumped into a pair of hard shins. Startled, she turned and looked up to see what Jordan was doing, and was met with Morgan’s blackest look. He had his big feet braced, his hands on his hips and his jaw locked. He didn’t move.
Jordan stood behind him, grinning.
For some fool reason, Misty felt her face heating. How long had he been there? What had she just been saying about him? She pulled her gaze away from his and frowned at Jordan. “You could have warned me.”
“Warned you about what?” Jordan asked innocently.
Morgan reached down and caught Misty’s elbow. “Come on, Malone, quit abusing my brother.”
Judging by the way Jordan rubbed his shoulder, Misty had the suspicion Morgan had already done enough abusing, but she had no idea why. Jordan didn’t seem bothered by it, though. He looked entertained. She frowned at Morgan. “What do you want?”
He didn’t appear to like her question. “We need to get to work.”
Misty stood, attempting to ignore Morgan’s nearness and Jordan’s attentive presence. “We’ve got a few minutes.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, Morgan said, “Is that so? Then why were you trying to hightail it out of here so early?”
She couldn’t very well explain with Morgan’s brother standing there, so she turned to Jordan and handed him the cat. “Hang onto her this time.”
“Thanks, sweetie.” Jordan leaned forward and kis
sed her cheek, grinned at Morgan one more time, then left them. Misty could hear his soft crooning voice as he spoke with the cat.
She had a feeling Jordan had kissed her just to provoke Morgan, and seeing the way Morgan clenched his jaw, it must have worked. They stared at each other for a long, silent moment. Finally, Morgan shook his head. “You’ve been avoiding me all week.”
“That’s not true! We’ve just had conflicting schedules, that’s all.”
“Your only schedule is working with me. Yet I haven’t had one single second alone with you. That’s avoidance.”
She didn’t want to admit that she’d missed him, too, or that she did, in fact, have another schedule. “It’s not my fault that you work all the time.”
“I knocked at your door at six yesterday.” His gaze softened. “I expected to find you in bed still, all warm and sleepy. But you were gone already.”
Misty wondered what he would have done if he’d found her in bed, and the thought wasn’t at all repulsive. She cleared her throat. “Maybe it was a good thing I wasn’t there.”
“There you go with those lecherous thoughts again, Malone. I was just going to offer to take you to breakfast.”
She winced at the very idea. “If you’ll recall, Morgan, mornings are a little rough for me. I like to walk down and sit by the lake. The fresh air settles my stomach some.”
He scowled over that, and his voice sounded gruff, more with concern than annoyance. “I’d forgotten. Has the morning sickness been bad?”
Oh, when Morgan was being so sweet, it was all she could do to resist him. She wasn’t even sure she wanted to anymore. Thoughts of being with him had consumed her lately. When he was around, she could barely take her eyes off him, and when he wasn’t, her thoughts centered on him.
Misty realized he was watching her, and she coughed. “Actually,” she said, deciding to give him a small truth, “it’s been better lately. Usually, as long as I don’t eat, my stomach settles down fairly quick.”
“So you’ve been skipping breakfast?”
“I was never much for big morning meals, anyway.”
His frown was back, more intense than ever. “You weren’t at dinner last night, either.” He looked her over, then shook his head. “You know how important it is for you to eat properly right now.”
“I have enough mothering from Honey. You don’t need to start, too.” And before he could protest that, she added, “Besides, I’m not starving myself. I ate in town last night.”
He went still, then he flushed and growled, “With who?”
This was exactly the subject Misty had hoped to avoid, but now it looked as if she had no choice but to tell him. Exasperated, she pushed past him and headed down the hall. Morgan followed. “If you must know,” she said over her shoulder, “I was working.”
“You got off work at three o’clock, Malone. I watched you leave.”
Yes, he had. She shivered just remembering. Morgan had been watching her with a brooding frown as she’d gathered her things. He was stuck talking with an elderly woman who claimed her neighbor mowed his grass too early in the morning to suit her. Misty had known by the look on Morgan’s face that his patience was about at an end. If she hadn’t been required to be elsewhere, she very well might have hung around just to see what he’d do. “I left the station at three o’clock. But then I went to the diner.”
“To meet someone?”
Her temper snapped. Did he always have to think the worst of her? “That’s none of your concern.”
She kept walking, but he had stopped. She didn’t mean to, but when she turned to face him and saw his expression, her heart almost melted. He looked angry and frustrated and…hurt.
She’d never thought she’d see a look like that on the inimitable sheriff’s face.
She didn’t like it at all.
She stomped down the hall to glare at him, thrust her chin up and said, “No, I wasn’t meeting anyone. I went there to work.”
His confusion was almost laughable. “You’re working at the diner? Since when?”
“Since yesterday. Ceily hired me.” His mouth opened and she said, “Before you ask, yes, I told her about my record.”
“Misty.” He said her name so softly, like a reprimand, and she felt a lump gather in her throat. He took both her arms, his thumbs rubbing just above her elbows. “I hadn’t even thought of that.”
“Bull. You had that look on your face.”
“What look?”
“The one that’s full of doubt.”
“That was just me trying to figure you out.” His mouth tipped in a small smile. “What did Ceily have to say?”
“I told her the truth, that I was innocent but couldn’t prove it, and that the whole thing had cost a lot so I needed to save up more money now. She believed me.” Misty twisted her hands together, once again caught in a worry. Ceily was a very pretty, petite woman with long golden brown hair and big brown eyes. She looked to be around Gabe’s age. She’d been very warm and welcoming to Misty from the onset. “She didn’t strike me as the type to carry tales. She even warned me about telling any secrets to Howard or Jesse. She said they’re both horrible gossips.”
Morgan laughed. “She would know. Jesse is her grandpa.”
“I hadn’t realized. They don’t look anything alike.”
“Considering Jesse is old and cantankerous and Ceily is young and cute, I’m not surprised you didn’t see the family resemblance. But you’re right about Ceily, she doesn’t gossip. You don’t have to worry about that.”
Without meaning to, Misty frowned at him. “You know her well?”
He shrugged. “As well as I know anyone here. Ceily and Gabe went through school together, and she used to hang out at the house when they were younger. They’re both water fanatics. She’s a good kid.”
Misty relaxed the tiniest bit. It appeared her secrets were safe with Ceily, which had been her only concern.
Morgan asked, “Do you mind telling me how you figure on doing both jobs?”
“I knew you wouldn’t understand,” she muttered. He was strong and capable and respected…and it would have been so easy to lean on him and let him help her, to follow suit with the entire town and let Morgan handle her problems. But she wanted to regain what she’d lost on her own. It was the only way she could think of to restore her self-respect.
He let her go reluctantly and fell into step beside her as she headed for her room. “Tell me what I don’t understand, babe.”
She shook her head. “What I do for you can barely be considered part time, Morgan. It’s only six hours a day.”
“I didn’t want you to overdo.”
Why, oh why, did he have to say things like that? “I’m not breakable, you know.”
“I would never suggest such a thing.” He kept pace with her easily, then paused when she reached her door. “No one would ever doubt your strength or determination, Malone. If that’s what this is about…”
Flustered, Misty shrugged. “There’s no reason I can’t work for the diner in the evenings, right? Ceily agreed to put me on at four. That gives me time to grab a bite to eat and then get in four or five more hours. Last night, I made fifty bucks in tips. It’s a good job.”
Morgan propped his hands on his hips, dropped his head forward and paced several feet. When he finally faced her again, he looked grim. “I’m going to let all that go for now.”
“How magnanimous of you.”
He didn’t appreciate her dry wit. “I want to talk to you about something else. Will you ride into work with me?”
She regretted the need to refuse him. “I can’t. I’ll be going to the diner again after we finish at the station. I’ll need my car to get home.”
“I’ll pick you up when you get off.”
“That doesn’t make sense, Morgan. You never know when you might get a call, and I don’t want to interrupt things for you.”
He did a little more jaw locking. Misty wondered why he didn’t
have a perpetual headache.
“All right. Then let me take you to my house tonight. I’ve been wanting to show it to you, anyway.”
The idea was tempting. From afar, his house looked wonderful. It wasn’t quite as large as the house he shared with his brothers, but it had just as much character. The exterior appeared to be cedar, and few of the mature trees had been displaced during the building. Every morning when she went to the lake, she looked at his house. Its position on the hill would prove a stunning view. “Why do you want to go there?”
He shrugged. “I just want your opinion, to see if you like it. No other woman has seen it yet, except for Honey. But the two of you are so different, I thought it’d be nice to get your reaction, too. The house will be done before much longer. Gabe works on it off and on, and I get up there whenever I can. All the major stuff is done, now it just needs the finishing touches.”
Misty chewed her bottom lip. She wasn’t stupid; she knew if she was alone with Morgan for any length of time, they’d probably end up making love. She’d honestly believed no man could ever tempt her again, but she hadn’t counted on a man like him. She’d thought him incredibly sexy from the moment she saw him, and since then, she’d also discovered what a wonderful man he was, inside as well as out.
He was always honest with her, and she knew deep in her heart she’d never meet another man like him. She was through with lasting relationships, and as soon as she could save up a little money, she was going to move away. By the time she returned for a visit, Morgan might well be married and on his way to having his own children.
She shook her head, saying mostly to herself, “I don’t know….”
His hands cradled her face. “I won’t lie to you, Malone. I want some time alone with you. I want to be able to talk to you without one of my damn brothers nosing in, or someone at the station staring at us.” He looked at her mouth. “And I want to kiss you again. We’ve barely seen each other all week. At this rate, no one is going to believe we’re involved. Already I’ve had people questioning our relationship.”
He said the last with a growl, and she almost laughed at him. “What people?”