by Lori Foster
He tried to rub the sting out of her hand, but she held it protectively away from him. Morgan frowned at that. "You wouldn't listen," he said by way of explanation. He was more than a little aware of their rapt audience, but saw no way around it. Damn it, she was Honey's sister, and she'd been preparing to slip off without a job, without money....
He'd never heard a woman growl so ferociously before. Everyone was frozen, silent. Misty looked as if she might hit him again, then thought better of it. Her expression was angry but resolute. "Fine. I'm calling a cab. He can take me to the bus station."
Morgan glared at her. "Don't push me, Malone."
"You've done all the pushing, you – you...!"
"Bastard?" he supplied helpfully.
She growled again. "Fix my car!"
"No." He crossed his arms over his chest.
Sawyer, ever the diplomat, cleared his throat. "Uh, Morgan..."
Still matching Misty glare for glare, Morgan shook his head. "She can't leave, Sawyer, all right?"
"Why?"
Gabe spoke. "If she's that set on going—"
"I'd prefer she stay, too," Jordan added, "but—"
Morgan closed his eyes, trying to think of some way around the problems. Nothing too promising presented itself. When he met Misty's gaze this time, he knew she could read his purpose.
"Don't you do it, Morgan," she warned.
He touched her cheek and gave her a small, regretful smile. "I'm sorry, sweetheart." Then he turned to everyone else and announced, "I don't want her to go, because she's pregnant."
The reaction wasn't quite what he'd expected. Honey's mouth fell open, Gabe and Jordan both became mute, Casey's neck turned red, and Sawyer leaned on the counter with a sigh, holding tight to his share of the sheet.
Misty went ahead and hit him again. He took hold of her hands before she hurt herself. This time she didn't pull away, but chose instead to stare at him with evil intent. He supposed she'd rather look at him than face everyone else. If he could have thought of a way to spare her, he would have.
Then Morgan realized no one was looking at Misty. They were all staring at him – with accusation. It was almost too funny for words.
"I'm not the father," he said dryly. "Hell, I've only known her a couple of weeks, if you'll recall."
Sawyer coughed. "That's actually quite long enough."
"In this case, it wasn't!"
Everyone relaxed visibly. Honey said to Morgan, "Well, of course she can't leave, you're right about that. Hang on to her until I get back, okay?" Then she took off like a shot, dragging Sawyer along with her, given that they shared the sheet and he didn't want to be left bare-assed.
Gabe sat down at the table and relaxed, at his leisure. "All this excitement has made me hungry. Jordan, if you're fixing breakfast, make some for me, too."
Jordan nodded and began pulling out pans. "Might as well skip the bagels and go for pancakes. Casey, Misty? Either of you hungry?"
Casey glanced at Misty, then pulled out his chair. "I'm always hungry. You know that."
Misty's eyes were wide, as if she'd been prepared for an entirely different response to his statement, maybe something more dramatic than an offer of breakfast. Did she think he and his brothers were ogres? Morgan almost smiled at her. Had she expected to be stoned? To receive a good dose of condemnation? He chucked her chin, then said gently, "Didn't I tell you it'd be all right?"
Misty didn't bother answering. She looked like she'd turned to stone. Morgan held her gaze, trying to think of some way to smooth things over with her. "I don't suppose you'll believe me when I tell you that wasn't intentional?"
Her eyes darkened to navy and her lips firmed.
"Okay, the car part was," he admitted, just to rile her. He couldn't bear seeing her look so lost. "And I admit I got Jordan and Gabe and Casey out of bed."
She mumbled under her breath, no doubt something insulting, but he just pretended he hadn't heard her. "I swear, I had no idea our newlyweds would be up. And I didn't plan to let the cat out of the bag about your pregnancy, either."
Her expression remained murderous.
Leaning close, crowding her against the cabinets so his brothers couldn't see her or hear him, Morgan whispered, "I have no intention of sharing your other secrets, so you can rest easy on that score, okay?" They were so close, her scent filled him with every breath he took He braced his hands beside her hips on the counter; she braced her hands on his chest She didn't quite push him away, and he saw her lips part. It amazed him the effect they had on each other. Even when she was likely thinking of ways to bring him low, she still responded to him. When they did finally come together – and he was certain it would happen sooner or later – he could only imagine how explosive it would be.
His heart thundered. "Misty?" She slowly looked up and met his gaze. "There's no reason for anyone to know about the rest unless you want to tell them, okay?"
Misty shivered, but before she could answer Honey came whipping into the room in her robe and skidded to a halt when she saw Morgan's nose practically in Misty's ear. "Hey, now, none of that. Get away from her, Morgan. I want to talk to my sister without you trying to intimidate either of us."
Morgan slowly straightened, wondering what Misty was thinking, if she'd believed him. "I've never intimidated you, Honey."
"Not for lack of trying." She caught Misty's arm and pulled her aside.
Morgan lifted the suitcase. "I'll just take this back to her room."
Misty shook her head to refuse him, while Honey gave him her sweetest smile. "Thank you, Morgan. Misty and I will be in the family room, talking."
"I'll call you when breakfast is ready," Jordan said, and Misty seemed unaware of the concern in his tone.
After the sisters left, Morgan felt both his brothers watching him. He turned to glare at them. "What?"
"Not a thing."
"Didn't say a word."
Casey made a show of studying a bird outside the kitchen window.
"Damn irritants," Morgan muttered. He lifted the suitcase and carried it out of the room. He knew his brothers each had at least a dozen questions, wondering what he was doing mixed up in the middle of Misty Malone's affairs, and why he was the only one privy to her startling news. But he wasn't about to betray her trust any more than he already had. They could just go on wondering.
When Morgan got to the room Misty had been using, he found the bed neatly made and everything very tidy. He pictured her sleeping in that bed last night, or rather, not sleeping. Just worrying. He'd told her she should leave, and this morning she'd been crying.
His stomach cramped and he idly rubbed his hand over it, but the ache continued. He could easily imagine what she'd been thinking, how she'd felt – how he'd made her feel – and he hated it. She probably hadn't slept at all last night, worrying about what she'd do, worrying about finding a job and about the baby.
A baby, a little person that would look like Misty, with dark hair and big blue eyes... He smiled at the thought, then caught himself and scowled.
What kind of job could a woman with a record get? He didn't know the terms of her probation – he'd have to ask her about that – but he knew it wouldn't sit well with an employer, especially not when she'd supposedly stolen from the last guy who'd hired her. Would she be able to earn enough to take care of herself and a baby?
She was certainly stubborn enough to make it work somehow, but she had a hard road ahead of her. And that route wasn't even necessary.
Morgan considered things for a moment, then came to some decisions. He opened her suitcase, emptied it on the bed, took the case to his room and shoved it under his bed. If she wanted to try sneaking out again, he wouldn't make it easy for her. At least until he knew she had a decent plan. Then, he told himself, he'd let her go.
He also intended to do a little investigating. Getting the details of the theft wouldn't be hard, and then he'd make his own conclusions.
He felt like a warlord, holding he
r against her will, but damn it, it was only stubborn pride that had her wanting to leave in the first place. That and his big mouth. He had the feeling if he hadn't asked her about leaving, if he hadn't pushed her, she'd have stayed on for a while, using the time to make new plans. She had a lot to deal with, and until he'd started harassing her, she'd probably seen this as an ideal situation, a place to regroup and be with her sister without anyone knowing what had happened.
Except that she'd told him everything. He took immense satisfaction in that small success, discarding the fact that he'd bullied the information out of her. Misty wouldn't have told him if she hadn't trusted him at least a little.
He remembered stories of her father that Honey had shared. That man wasn't one to coddle or offer comfort, so Morgan had no doubt she hadn't even tried going to him for help. According to Honey, neither of them was overly close to the man, and with good reason.
Everything would work out, he was certain of it.
On his way to the kitchen Morgan passed the family room and was brought up short by a disgruntled, "He hates me."
Morgan stalled, his heart jumping, his muscles pulled tight. He waited, eavesdropping like a maiden aunt to hear what Honey would say in reply.
Her soft voice was soothing, just as Morgan had known it would be. "Morgan doesn't hate you, Misty. He kept you here because that's just how they all are. They're a little on the gallant side, and Morgan wants to protect you."
There was a rough, disbelieving laugh. "Right. If you say so."
Morgan could tell she didn't believe her sister and he pulled his hands into fists. Even his toes cramped. Hate her? Hell, no. What he felt was as far from hatred as it could get, and a whole lot steamier than that cold emotion. He wanted to devour her, to make love to her for a week so he could get her out of his system.
He hated the effect she had on him, but he didn't hate her. "I do say so," Honey insisted. "I know them all better than you do."
"It doesn't matter what Morgan thinks or how he feels about me, Honey. The point is, I didn't mean to intrude on you. The last thing you need right now is to start worrying about me."
"There, you see? I won't worry as long as you're around so I can see you're doing okay. Morgan probably knew that, too."
Morgan lifted his brows. Sounded good enough to him, though thoughts of Honey hadn't much entered into his mind while he was trying to think of ways to keep Misty around.
"But..." Misty floundered, then insisted, "I need to get back to work. I can't just stay here indefinitely."
Morgan hustled through the doorway before Misty could convince Honey that she should leave. He surveyed both women cozied up on the couch, and Misty's eyes widened in alarm.
There was no way for him to reassure her right now, so he didn't bother trying. He'd already given her his word that he wouldn't tell about her stint with the law. It wouldn't hurt her to trust him just a bit.
He got right to the point. "I heard you mention your job."
"Morgan." Her tone said she'd kill him if he said one more word.
The threat didn't worry him. After all, the woman had hurt her hand just smacking him in the stomach. And she had shared her secrets with him, which he chose to see as a sign of trust whether she realized it or not. "I have a solution."
Misty moaned again. He noticed she'd been doing a lot of that lately.
Undaunted, he held up his hands and pronounced, "You're going to come to work for me."
MISTY STARED at Morgan, wondering what he was up to now. Somehow, in the short time it had taken her to shower, he'd done something to her car so it wouldn't start, shaved so that he looked refreshed and ready to take on the day instead of looking like a dark savage, and he'd pulled on more clothes. She was eternally grateful for the clothes part.
Even when he made her so mad she wanted to club him on top of his handsome head, she couldn't seem to ignore him. The man filled up the space around her with his size, his scent, his pushy presence. When he was there, he was really there, and she doubted any sane woman would be oblivious to him, especially not when he was flaunting his bare, muscled chest.
Morgan had the type of body that had always secretly appealed to her. He was tall and powerful and immeasurably strong – but he could be so gentle.
She shook her head. Just because he distracted her didn't mean she'd let him off the hook. What she'd most wanted not to happen he'd made sure had happened. Never mind that she was now in the situation she'd originally wanted, with a safe place to stay, close to her sister.
How the circumstance had come about was totally unfair – and all Morgan's fault. Honey deserved some carefree time, but now she'd worry endlessly. Honey had a horrible tendency to mother her, a habit she'd gotten into because their mother had died long ago and their father was so cold and undemonstrative. Though Honey was only slightly older, she'd taken the big-sister role to heart.
She'd have told Honey the whole story eventually, of course, because they didn't keep secrets from each other. But not now, not when Honey had just gotten married and found so much happiness. It wasn't fair to drop such a burden in her lap.
She should have choked Morgan instead of punching him in his rock-hard middle, she thought, surveying his dark frown. But judging by his thick neck, that wouldn't have done him much damage, either. The man was built like a pile of bricks and was just as immovable.
And now he'd offered her a job. Or more precisely, he'd demanded she take a job. With him.
He hadn't precisely told Honey that Misty didn't have a job anymore. No, he'd made it sound as if he was only offering her an alternative so she could stick around. Did that mean he'd been sincere when he'd promised not to tell anyone about the rest of her troubles? God, she hoped so. It was all too humiliating, and though she knew Honey would believe her innocent, she had no idea how the others would feel.
Being pregnant was one thing, she wanted the baby and couldn't really regret its existence. And the brothers had been very accepting about the whole thing – almost cavalier, in fact. But surely they wouldn't want a jailbird in their home. She felt sick at the idea of them finding out.
"I already have a job," she stated forcefully, when Honey gave her a nudge for sitting there and staring.
Morgan lifted one brow and proceeded to settle himself into the stuffed chair adjacent to the couch. Contrary to how Misty felt, he looked at his ease and without a care in the world. His dark blue eyes were direct, unflinching.
"Now Malone," he said easily, "you were just telling me that you hate that job, that you planned to look for something else. Why not look here, so you can be close to your...family?"
"I never—" Misty bit her lip, stopping her automatic protest in mid-sentence. How could she dispute his enormous lie without telling the actual truth? He'd cornered her, and he knew it.
After clearing her throat, she smiled sweetly. It always worked for Honey. "I never meant to imply you should give me a job."
Morgan waved his hand in dismissal. Apparently the big ape was immune to her smile. "Of course you didn't. I know that. You'd never hint around that way. You're much too ... up-front and honest for that." His eyes glittered at her and he added, "But I want you to take the job."
She glanced at Honey, saw no help there and resolutely shook her head. "No."
"How can you refuse when you don't even know what the job is yet?"
Through set teeth, she growled, "What is the job?"
Morgan actually smiled, which put her even more on edge. "I need an assistant. Someone to act as sort of a secretary and a dispatcher, when necessary. No, don't look like that. You won't need special training. Buckhorn is a small county and we do things just a bit differently. You'd need to take calls, keep track of where I am and forward on the important ones, but make notes for the ones that can wait. Mostly just for mornings and afternoons. Your evenings will be free, and just think, you can spend more time with Honey."
Honey leaned forward in her seat, already excited by th
e prospect. "Morgan, that's a great idea!" To Misty, she said, "It only makes sense, Misty, for you to be with family now. This is no time to let your pride get in the way."
"Of course it isn't," Morgan agreed.
Honey sighed. "Didn't I tell you he was wonderful?"
Misty almost choked, especially when she glanced at Morgan and saw his amusement. She thought she might throw up again. She drew a deep breath and tried to sound reasonable. "I don't know anything about working for a sheriff..."
"I'll tell you everything you need to know, sweetheart."
There was only so much she could take and remain composed. "I am not," she said in lethal tones, "your sweetheart."
Honey patted her hand. "They all use endearments, so you might as well get used to it. I swear, at first I thought they knew my name before I'd even given it to them. Then I realized everything female is a sweetheart or a honey to these guys, even the hodgepodge of animals Jordan keeps around." Honey gave Morgan a fond smile. "They're very old-fashioned in a lot of ways."
Under her breath, Misty muttered, "You mean they're overbearing, macho, autocratic—"
"What's that, Malone? I couldn't quite hear you." Morgan looked ready to laugh.
"Not a thing." She stood, and both Honey and Morgan came to their feet, too, as if they thought she might topple over at any moment. Good grief, she wasn't even showing yet. "I'll think about the job, Morgan."
He gave her a slow nod, looking at her from his superior height in a way that made her feel downright tiny. "That's fine. But make it quick, okay? I need you to start tomorrow."
Her eyes widened. She didn't want to start tomorrow! She didn't want to start at all. If anything, she hoped to make some solid plans tomorrow that would appease everyone so she could be on her way. "But..."
"Will you, Misty? Please?" Honey hugged her close, and Misty had no choice but to return the embrace. Since meeting Sawyer, her sister was deliriously happy and she wanted everyone else to feel the same. Over Honey's shoulder, Misty glared at Morgan. He winked at her, the obnoxious brute.