by Lori Foster
"Gee thanks."
She waved that away. "You have the same dark hair, and there's something about the shape of your jaws. Stubborn, you know?"
"I've heard that, yes."
"But now Gabe, with that blond hair and those incredible electric blue eyes—"
"Malone," he said in warning.
"And Jordan has brown hair and green eyes and his voice is so—" she shivered "—seductive."
"You're pushing me again, Malone."
Misty started laughing, and Morgan realized she'd been deliberately baiting him. He smiled with her. "Do I need to start worrying about my brothers' virtue again?"
"Ha! None of you have any virtue left, and you know it."
"Not true. Virtue and chastity are not the same thing at all."
She chuckled again, shaking her head in feigned disbelief. Whether she realized it yet or not, she liked him, and she'd like being with him. Morgan spoke his thoughts aloud without even thinking about it. "Hearing you laugh is much nicer than hearing you cry."
Just like that, she stiffened up on him. Color darkened her cheeks, and her eyes narrowed. "If you hadn't been sneaking around this morning, you wouldn't have been subjected to hearing me cry."
Embarrassing her hadn't been his intent. He lowered his voice to a soothing growl. "I wasn't complaining, Malone, except that I don't like seeing you unhappy."
She sat forward, her brows lifted in mock surprise. "Oh, I see. That's why you announced to everyone that I'm pregnant, because you thought it would somehow make me happy?"
"No. But I knew going off on your own wouldn't make you happy, either. If anything, it would've made you more miserable."
"I am not miserable."
He raised his hands in surrender. "I stand corrected. And before you run away in a huff, do you want me to tell you the happy ending to my mother's story?"
"With your idea of happy, I'm not at all sure."
In a persuasive tone, he suggested, "Try trusting me just a little, Malone."
"No, never."
She was determined not to give an inch, and it frustrated him beyond measure. "You're awfully fond of that particular saying."
"Only when I'm around you."
He gave a drawn-out sigh at her stubbornness, then went on. "It took a long time, and Brett Kasper had to work real hard to get around my mother's resolve after losing one man and divorcing another, but he finally won her over. You never saw a more dedicated man than Brett. When my mom gave him the cold shoulder, he cozied up to us boys instead. Mom didn't stand a chance."
"You mean he manipulated events like you're trying to do with me?"
"Whatever works, Malone." When she growled, he gave her a small smile. His mother had supposedly been as against involvement as Misty, but she'd gotten turned around by the right man. He liked to think the same could be true of Misty. "I'll have you know, they've been married for some time now. You'd have met them at the wedding except Brett had a few health problems and couldn't travel, and my mom wouldn't leave him. He's okay now, nothing serious, but the doc still wants him to rest and Sawyer seconded that, so they missed the wedding. As soon as they can, though, they'll come for a visit."
"She sounds...incredible."
"She's as stubborn as a pit bull when you get her nettled, which luckily doesn't happen often. But for the most part, she's a woman who likes to laugh and isn't afraid to show how much she cares. She's going to love Honey. She's been waiting for one of us to give her a daughter by marriage. I think she's hoping for lots of granddaughters, too." He grinned. "She says I was such a trial, she's ready for something easier – like girls."
"I can believe that!"
Morgan leaned forward and caught her hand. "Do you see the point, Malone? You aren't the first person to make a mistake, but in time, you'll forget your reservations about men."
She started to speak, but he cut her off, already knowing what she would say. Her insistence that she wanted nothing to do with men was almost more than he could take. "So what do you say we join the others?"
She closed her eyes and groaned. "I don't know. The thought of facing your brothers again is enough to make my stomach jumpy."
Morgan considered that, then shrugged. "So don't face them. At least, not for long, and not today. Tell me you'll take the job, then we can go into town and get things set up for you. It's a good excuse and you can have a few hours to get used to the idea before sitting down with them all at dinner tonight. I can show you around town, and all in all, we can waste most of the day."
She bit her lip while scrutinizing him. "You don't have anything else you need to do?"
"Nope. Sunday is my day off. If anything comes up, someone will call, otherwise I'm free."
She still hesitated. "I don't know. It seems pretty fishy to me that this job just suddenly came available."
He still held her hand, and now he smoothed her knuckles with his thumb, marveling at how such a stubborn and defensive woman could feel so soft and delicate. He could just imagine those small hands on his body, and it made him crazy. He cleared his throat. "The job was always there, only I didn't want to hire anyone for it."
"Why?"
"Too many women were applying just to get close to me." She laughed hilariously and he waited, pretending to be affronted. When she finally quieted, he cocked a brow. "It's true. I'm considered something of a catch, only I'd rather do the catching for myself."
"That's right. You said you're looking for a wife."
Her bald statement gave him pause. She didn't seem particularly bothered by the idea. "Not actively," he muttered, "just giving it some thought." The idea of a wife wasn't something he wanted to discuss with Misty, especially since he'd all but forgotten that plan since meeting her. She kept him far too preoccupied for rational contemplation of the future. "And the last thing I need while I'm trying to work is a woman who's set on seducing me."
"I suppose if she breathes, you'd consider it a come-on?"
"Ah, you have no faith in me, Malone. I told you, the effect you have is totally unique. Contrary to your dirty little mind, I don't run around jumping every woman in the area. Hell, I have to live here, and I'm the sheriff – a respected position, you know. I have to set an example." He squeezed her hand. "Unfortunately I can't seem to remember that around you."
His honesty had her pink-cheeked again. He loved how she blushed, how her eyes turned bluer and her lips pressed together in a prim line. She was bold, and she gave as good as she got, but any talk of intimacy flustered her.
Damn, but he wanted to kiss her silly.
"If all that's true, Morgan," she fairly sputtered, "if I really affect you like that, why in the world would you want me around the office?"
"Because it solves a dilemma for both of us." He used his in-command tone, the one that made people sit up and take notice of his official position as sheriff. "You need a job, and I need a worker who won't be jumping my bones, interfering with my schedule and causing a scandal. You've made it pretty clear you plan to resist my bones, so..." He didn't admit his hope that her resistance wouldn't last long. "It's an ideal trade-off."
She considered that for a long moment, then finally nodded. "Okay. I can try the job, I suppose. On one condition."
The restriction in his chest immediately lightened, though he hadn't even noticed how tight it felt until she said she'd stay. "Let's hear it."
"I want you to fix my car. I will not be left here without transportation."
She stared at him defiantly until he nodded. "I can do that, but I have a condition of my own."
"Why am I not surprised?"
He tugged her slightly closer, holding her gaze. "I want your promise that if you decide to leave, you'll tell me."
Her eyes narrowed. "You can't keep me here against my will, Morgan."
"I'm all too aware of that unfortunate fact. And I won't even try. But if you decide to leave I want to know it."
"I wasn't really sneaking this time—"
> "Malone."
"Oh, all right. I promise. But fix my car today."
He nodded. "And my other suggestion?"
"What other suggestion?"
He looked at her mouth, so sweetly lush and very kissable, then at her full breasts pressing against the pale yellow camisole – just as kissable. He saw how she tucked her long slender legs beneath her, how smooth her thighs were, lightly tanned. Even her shoulders were sexy, making his tongue nearly stick to the roof of his mouth. "I'll stake a claim for all to see, and that'll keep interested males at bay."
Dark lashes swept down over her eyes to avoid his gaze. She subtly tugged her hand away from his and stood. "I don't know, Morgan."
He got up and stood very close behind her. "We will be involved, Malone, in an arrangement." She stiffened and he caught her shoulders before she could move away. "The type of arrangement is nobody's business but our own. I'm not coercing you into bed."
"As if you could."
"Is that a challenge?"
"No!"
He smiled at her anxious tone. "We'll be partners of a sort. You said you were through with men."
"Completely."
"Well, pretending to be mine ought to take care of other men hitting on you, and I'll have some much needed help at the office."
She shook her head while he stared at her nape, exposed by her upswept hair. He imagined kissing her there, watching her tremble. He couldn't push her now or she'd walk out the door, and she was right, there wasn't a damn thing he could do to stop her.
"That attitude is archaic, Morgan."
His newfound possessive streak was archaic, but he was dealing with it. Barely.
He rubbed her shoulders, relishing the warmth of her skin. His thumbs brushed the back of her neck to the base of her skull, soothing her. "Look at it this way, Malone," he added in a whisper, "all your problems will be temporarily solved. And if you think this would be hard on you, just think of what it'll do to me."
"What?"
She sounded intrigued, and he hid his smile. "I want you, so you can figure it out, I'm sure. Given that you seem to take sadistic delight in making me miserable, the idea ought to appeal to you."
The torment would be worthwhile, he thought. He could spend a good deal of his time shoring up their ruse by getting closer to her. He knew, even if she didn't, that they'd eventually end up in bed. The chemistry between them was just too strong, no matter how hard she tried to deny it.
And he was tired of even trying.
With a wide, impish smile, she turned to face him. "Well, since you put it that way..." She patted his chest. "Making you miserable does hold a certain attraction."
He caught her hand and flattened it against his body. "So you agree?"
"You've convinced me."
Morgan stared at her, his heart thumping so heavily in his chest he thought for sure she'd felt it. He leaned toward her and saw her eyes widen. "Why don't we seal it with a kiss?"
MISTY BRACED HERSELF for a sensual assault. The memory of his last kiss in the gazebo was still fresh in her mind. But instead of being overwhelmed, she felt Morgan's mouth, warm and dry, brush very lightly over her own. She opened her eyes slowly and looked at him. His dark blue eyes were filled with heat, but also with tenderness, and she almost melted. For a man of his size, he could sometimes be so remarkably gentle. She gave him a slight smile that he returned.
"Am I interrupting?"
They both jumped apart, she in guilty surprise, Morgan with a curse. He turned to face Jordan, leaning in the doorway with a contented smile.
Jordan tipped his head. "Breakfast is getting cold."
"Did you ever hear of knocking?"
"What fun would that be?"
Morgan turned his back on his brother and faced Misty. His wide shoulders completely blocked her from Jordan's view. Using the edge of his hand, he tipped up her chin, then asked, "What's it to be, Malone? Breakfast with the family, or do you want to go into town?"
"I'm not really hungry." She saw Morgan's understanding and quickly added, "I'm not being a coward. I really just don't have an appetite. I'll go in with you, though. No reason you should do without food, and I have to face them all sooner or later. It might as well be now."
"Get it over and out of the way, huh?"
His frown was back, but she had no idea why. "Something like that."
He glanced at Jordan over his shoulder. "We'll be right there."
Accepting the dismissal, Jordan chuckled and ambled off. The moment he was gone, Morgan framed her face and kissed her again. Before she could say much about it, if indeed she could have gathered her scattered wits to offer a protest, he took her hand and hustled her from the room.
Everyone was in the kitchen when they strolled in, still hand in hand. Like the audience at a Ping-Pong match, all eyes moved in unison to their entwined hands, to their faces, then to each other. Brows climbed high.
Morgan shook his head. "The lot of you remind me of monkeys in a zoo – not you, Honey. The masculine lot."
Honey frowned. "Is everything okay, Misty?"
"Everything is fine." She tried subtly to take her hand from Morgan, but he wasn't letting go, and shaking him off might bring on more speculation. She knew he intended to announce their involvement, but did he mean to do it right now? At this rate, no announcement would be necessary!
There was no way she could continue to stand there and let everyone stare at her with concern. She had to get hold of herself and the situation. She glanced at Sawyer, then Jordan and Gabe. "Morgan insists it'll be all right if I stay here for a little while longer—"
"Absolutely."
"Of course!"
"You know you're welcome here."
Misty smiled at their combined assurance and even felt a little teary over it. "That's very generous of all of you."
Sawyer, with his arm draped over the back of Honey's chair, said, "You're family now, Misty. Family is always welcome for as long as they want to be here. Remember that, okay?"
Honey squeezed him in a tight hug. "Didn't I tell you they were all incredible?"
Gabe laughed. "Nothing incredible about welcoming beautiful women into your home." He eyed their clasped hands and added, "In fact, if you want some privacy, Misty, I have extra room in the basement." He bobbed his eyebrows at her.
Jordan looked mildly affronted. "I was going to offer to share my apartment with her. With Morgan always looming over her, it's for certain she won't get any peace and quiet around here."
Casey, looking like an imp, turned to the side to face his uncles and said, "Hey, if you guys have extra room, I'll move In with you."
Sawyer reached over and clapped his laughing son on the back. "They'll both strangle you for that, Case." Then to Morgan: "Stop letting them bait you. You look ready to do bodily harm, and then what will Misty think of you?"
"She'll think I'm possessive."
"And you have the right to be?"
"Damn right." Morgan released her hand and put his arm around her, hauling her up so close she felt her ribs protesting. "We've come to an agreement."
She gave Honey a helpless look, but Honey just rolled her eyes, as if she'd expected nothing less from Morgan.
In between bites of pancake, Gabe asked, "Is the baby's father aware of this agreement, or is he likely to show up here any time soon, demanding to know what's going on?"
Jordan scoffed. "If he has any sense, he'll show up. I know I would. 'Course, I wouldn't have let her get away in the first place." Then he eyed Morgan, and added, "Not that it's likely to do him any good if he does come here."
Misty had never felt so overwhelmed in her life. Not only did they seem to accept her pregnancy without hesitation or condemnation, but they also championed her and complimented her and apparently welcomed her involvement with their brother. There were no prying questions.
She was totally speechless.
Morgan was not. "He's out of the picture, and I say good riddance. But if he
does ever show his face here, believe me, I'd love to have a minute or two alone with him."
"He doesn't know where I am," Misty pointed out. Morgan gave her a level look.
"Perhaps you could tell him."
"Oh, for heaven's sake." Honey shook her finger at Morgan. "You're always looking for a reason to pound on somebody."
"Sometimes you don't have to look for a reason."
Honey turned to Misty. "Don't pay any attention to his threats. It's like a dog growling, all for show. He's actually very sweet."
A round of masculine grunts disputed Honey's description. Obviously nobody else thought Morgan to be sweet.
"He is!" Honey protested. "At least, once you get to know him better—" She stopped and laughed. "But I guess you know him well enough already, huh?"
Morgan paid them no mind. "I think I do a pretty good job of not pounding on people most of the time, which is why I was elected sheriff." He grinned. "Total control of my temper."
"As I remember it," Jordan said, "it was your ability to take control of everyone else that gave the townsfolk assurance you could handle just about any situation."
"I don't seem to have control over your mouth, brother."
"No." Jordan chuckled. "But then, I've been fighting with you all of my life and lived to tell about it."
"Can we get back to the subject at hand?" Gabe asked. "What's this agreement you two have? I'm dying of curiosity."
Misty held her breath, uncertain as to what Morgan might come up with by way of explanation. None of them seemed particularly surprised that they were supposedly involved, which to her was no less than amazing. All they'd done since they first met was antagonize each other. Or at least that's all any of his family had seen. If anything, they should have believed that they despised each other. But of course, his brothers knew Morgan better than she did, and maybe grousing and growling was part of his normal temperament.
Heaven knew, he seemed to wear a perpetual frown when he wasn't laughing with her or trying to kiss her. She glanced at him and saw that indeed, his brows were pulled down and his expression was dark. It irritated her. She moved away from his side and gave him a look to let him know that if he spelled out their agreement completely, there'd be hell to pay.