Justin's Bride (6 page)

He shook his head. “To make peace with the past, although that doesn't seem to be working.”

“What are your plans while you're here?”

He raised his eyebrows again. “I'm the sheriff. I'll enforce the laws, try to keep people out of trouble and generally make my presence known.”

She bent down and picked up a lacquered box from the table. The smooth surface felt cool against her heated fingers. “There are those who will oppose you.”

“Your sister, you mean?”

“Not just her. I know Colleen has become a—”

“Prig?”

Megan smiled. “That's quite unkind of you.” She set the box back on the table, then straightened. Her smile broadened. “But yes, she has. And her husband is worse. I've heard the whispers, what people are saying about you. Eventually, everyone comes into the store. The new settlers don't mind that you're sheriff. As long as they are free to get on with their lives, they'll have no complaints. But the old-timers, the ones who were here when...” Her hand fluttered toward him. She didn't want to speak of that time, or that day. She didn't want to recall the ugly words she'd spoken to him, or the pain in his eyes. She didn't want to know how much she'd hurt him. And herself. In the deepest, darkest part of her heart, she knew she'd made the right decision. She couldn't have gone with him. But she'd been wrong in the delivery of the message. She'd been so afraid he would convince her to come with him that she'd lashed out in fear, speaking harsh words that could never be recalled.

“They won't forgive you,” she said.

“They don't have to. I appreciate your concern, but it's misplaced. The contract's binding. Unless I commit a crime, they can't get rid of me. For the next year, they're going to have to get used to having me around.”

“When the year is up, what happens then?”

He looked past her toward the fire. “Then I leave this place behind and never come back.”

“So it's just for a year?”

His eyes met hers. She saw the amusement. She was so grateful he would eventually be leaving, she didn't care that it was at her expense.

“Yes, Megan. One year. Then you'll be through with me for good.”

She could bear anything for a year, she told herself. “I think it best that we try to stay out of each other's way during that time,” she said.

Instead of answering, he smiled. She knew that smile. It made her knees weak and her fingers tremble. It made her remember his kisses, and more. It made her wish Justin Kincaid had been respectable, the son of a farmer or a business owner. It made her wonder what would have happened if she'd gone with him.

“Why is it a problem if we see each other?” he asked, the glint in his eye reminding her he was dangerous.

She couldn't answer that question. He might suspect the truth, but he wouldn't
know
for sure. “Why are you here?”

“I told you, I'm the sheriff.”

“No, why are you in my house? Why did you come to see me tonight?”

“I want my question answered first. Why is it a problem if we see each other?”

She didn't think he'd moved, but somehow they were standing closer together. The snapping of the burning wood in the fireplace filled the silence. The scent of the smoke mingled with the fragrance of the night and the man. She could feel his heat. She had to tilt her head back to look at his face. Her hands clasped and unclasped.

He reached out toward her. She thought about stepping back, but she couldn't seem to get her feet to move. He was going to touch her, and she was going to let him. She needed to know if he could still affect her, she told herself firmly. It was a scientific experiment.

His thumb whispered against her jaw, then swept across her chin. Sensation shot through her like the unexpected warmth of sunlight after a storm. The room grew hot, her muscles clenched tight.

“Why aren't you married?” he asked.

“No one ever asked.”

The lie was so automatic, she shocked herself. Why had she said that? She'd been engaged for months. It would be better for Justin to know the truth, but she couldn't say anything now. She was confused. Nothing made sense, and Justin was moving closer.

“I find it hard to believe you never tempted a man,” he said. “Are they all blind?”

She should have been pleased at the implied compliment, but she was too caught up in that single word.
Tempted.
Had he known that was what she was thinking? Did he know he tempted her?

“I'm not interested in temptation,” she murmured, wondering why her voice was so soft. She tried to swallow, but her throat was dry. Against her will, she found herself staring into his eyes, watching the fire reflected there. The light seemed to dance about, then darken. The night closed in around them. She could feel the heat from the fireplace behind her and the heat of the man. It was like a dream where she couldn't move, couldn't call out. Could only bravely accept her fate.

But instead of the frightening demons of her dreams, she only had to face Justin. Not so difficult a task.

“I'm interested,” he said, reaching his hand up to cup her face. His lean fingers held her gently. She felt the rough calluses against her skin.

“In what?” she asked.

“Temptation.”

His face drew closer. The flames in his eyes grew brighter. She vaguely thought it couldn't just be the reflection of the fire behind her, it had to be something else, something...

When his lips touched hers, all conscious thought fled. Her eyelids must have closed for she could see nothing, hear nothing. There was only the moment and the flood of memories filling her with the bittersweet taste of the past.

His mouth was firm, yet yielding. The powerful passion she recalled was now carefully controlled. He brushed across her mouth, back and forth as if familiarizing himself with her. She raised herself on tiptoe to mold her shape to his. The correct and proper side of herself screamed it was foolish and wrong to be doing this. She didn't care.

Justin wrapped his arms around her shoulders and drew her closer. From chest to knees they touched. Through the layers of her skirt and petticoats, she couldn't feel much but the general shape of him, but he was all she remembered him to be. The rightness of it brought a burning to her eyes.

She wanted to hold him, as well, but couldn't bring herself to acquiesce that much. She held her arms at her sides, her hands curled into tight fists.

His fingers slipped under her chignon and kneaded the back of her neck. He moved down her spine, touching, pulling her even closer. His mouth angled against hers, his lips pressing harder now, taunting her with passion.

It wasn't supposed to feel so good. Other men had kissed her. Not many, but one or two. Why did he have to be the one who made her feel this way? She swallowed her cry of protest against this cruel trick of fate.

His hands encircled her waist. Her breathing came faster now. He dipped his head lower, moving his mouth to her jaw, then down her neck to the collar of her dress. She arched against him, ignoring the way her movement caused her corset to dig into her. The pain didn't matter, and neither did the fact she couldn't draw in a deep enough breath. When he returned his lips to hers and his tongue swept across her sensitized skin, she released her last hold on sanity. Her mouth parted and her arms came up toward him.

As he dipped inside, she prepared herself for the onslaught of madness. He would make her forget herself, forget everything, and she didn't care at all.

Her hands splayed across his chest, feeling the strength of him concealed only by his white shirt and long underwear. He was hard to her soft, angles and planes where she was curves and swells. She reached under his coat to hug him tighter, all the while savoring his kiss. She moved her hands over his ribs and bumped something in his pocket.

The lump moved, then meowed softly and stretched. Justin broke their kiss.

“What's that?” she asked as soon as she could get her mouth working again.

He reached inside his coat pocket and pulled out a tiny calico kitten. “Her mother was a good mouser. I thought you might like her.” He grimaced. “I'm sorry about what happened in my office today. That's what I came by to tell you. We've had our problems in the past, but that doesn't change my responsibilities to you or the town. I was rude to you and I apologize. I brought her for you.”

He held out the kitten. She took her and cupped the small creature in her hands. Bright green eyes blinked sleepily. The kitten nuzzled Megan's chest and exhaled a deep breath. The kitten's purring became muffled as she buried her face under the tip of her tail.

“She's so sweet.” Megan glanced up at him. The dampness of his mouth and his knowing look reminded her what had just happened between them. They were still standing close together. Too close. She stepped back. It didn't help much. She had a bad feeling she could walk clear to the other side of Kansas and it wouldn't be far enough. Justin's apology made her want to forgive him everything. His hot kisses and thoughtful gift made her feel more than was safe. She should ask him to leave right now. Before any more damage was done.

“Would you like to stay for supper?” she blurted out.

He shook his head and started buttoning up his coat. “That wouldn't be a good idea. You're right. We aren't supposed to be friends. It would be better for everyone if we tried to stay out of each other's way. I know Landing isn't that big, but if we work at it, I think we can avoid too much contact.”

She wanted to ask why he'd had a sudden shift in attitude. She bit her lower lip. Was it the kiss? Had he been disappointed? Had she shocked him by responding? Did he think she wasn't a lady?

She walked with him to the front door. She held the kitten close, savoring the animal's warmth and the faint rumble of her purr.

“Thank you for her,” she said.

“You're welcome.” Dark eyes met and held hers. She couldn't read his expression. Justin was such an odd combination of known and unknown. A stranger, and yet—she squeezed her still-tingling lips together—someone she would never forget.

“I apologize for what I said about your mother.”

He shrugged. “Goodbye, Megan.” He reached for the hat he'd left on the hall tree when he'd first come inside, then stepped onto the porch.

Instinctively, she swept her gaze across the bare garden. In the last lingering illumination of twilight, she didn't see anyone standing around. Thank goodness. Heaven only knew what would happen if her sister or someone from town saw him leaving her house.

“You aren't going to say anything to anyone, are you?” she asked.

He looked at her over his shoulder. Confusion pulled his dark eyebrows together, then his expression cleared and she could read his contempt. “No. I won't say a word. Your precious reputation is safe with me.”

He stalked away. Megan stared after him. She thought about trying to explain, but he would never understand. He didn't know the danger of being ostracized. He didn't know what fate she would suffer. So many times she'd started to tell him the ugly secret from her past, but she hadn't. She'd been too ashamed.

So instead of calling him back, she closed the door and locked it, then headed for the kitchen.

“I have some cream,” she murmured. “Would you like that?”

The kitten stirred in her arms. The small warmth wasn't enough to banish the ghosts from the past and the chill from her heart, but it was so much better than facing them all alone.

* * *

Justin pulled up his collar against the cold night air. As he made his way back to town, he cursed himself for still being a fool. Damn Megan and damn himself for caring. Her precious reputation had always been more important than anything else. Why was he surprised that hadn't changed?

He shook his head in disgust. He hoped her reputation kept her company in bed at night, otherwise she was going to have a long and lonely life. Not that he cared. He was only sorry that he'd wasted his time with her. Going to see her had been a mistake. Kissing her a bigger one.

Suddenly, he laughed out loud. His breath created a small cloud. He slapped his arms over his chest and walked faster. Kissing her hadn't been a mistake, it had been mighty pleasurable. He'd wondered if anything had changed between them. Now he knew it hadn't. The passion, the fire, had still flared, and she'd tasted as sweet as he remembered.

Just thinking about her yielding body pressing against his was enough to make his groin harden. Unfortunately, even the cold didn't ease the swelling. He hoped thoughts of their kisses were bothering her as much as they bothered him. He grinned. It had been worth it, that's for sure.

Justin walked around the back of the Bartlett General Store, then across the muddy street toward the sheriff's office. He had to lock up for the night before he could head back to his hotel room. As he passed the saloon, he heard the familiar sound of music and yells of excitement. No doubt there were a couple of poker games going on inside. He should probably make an appearance, but his duties didn't officially start until the morning.

He paused across the street from the building and stared at it. This saloon was newer and larger than the smaller Golden Landing down the street. He made himself walk toward that one, wondering what it would cost him to go inside.

The old building hadn't changed. The worn sign still needed painting. Three panes of glass had been covered over by boards, so little light filtered onto the boardwalk. Upstairs the windows were dark. The women hadn't started their “hostess” duties yet. It was early and most of the customers hadn't found their way to the saloon yet. Tinny piano music covered the sound of conversations and clinking glasses. Justin knew that in an hour or two the raucous noises would drown out the sound of the piano, and by ten o'clock, the man playing the instrument would give up. He knew the sights and sounds and smells of that saloon. The Golden Landing had been the first wooden building constructed in town. His mother had worked there for as long as he could remember.