|
|
|
|
|
|
was more forward in many ways than any woman he had ever met, more wise and yet more naive. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
He stomped farther into the house. There, beneath a bench in the comer, he had crammed his shirts from the last week. He had intended to request their washing from René soon. Thorn spent his days in hunting. In patrolling the area on foot and on horseback to watch for intruders. In building the palisade and doing all necessary to care for his inn, his domain. He had no time to do laundry. Fortunately, his employee and friend René did not seem bothered by such mindless chores. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mariah Walker would mind them, he was certain. But she was stalwart. Feisty. She hadn't complained. Not yet, at least. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
And she had let him kiss her. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
He had not intended that kiss any more than he had the first the night before. He had determined then never to touch her again. Women meant naught but pain, and lusting after his employee could lead only to trouble. But she had vanquished his defenses with her burned hands, her pitying looks, her lack of complaints despite what he was putting her through. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"What I am putting her through?" he demanded aloud. She had come to his territory and demanded his help. Then she had insisted upon a job. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
She deserved those kisses, and more. He wanted to take that tempting body of hers and show her what could happen to a woman alone in the wilderness. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
He sensed, though, that Mariah Walker was not one to allow anyone to take advantage of her. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
And she was not alone in the wilderness, damn it. He was with her. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
But he would stay far away from her now, no matter how her slim, graceful body tempted him. No matter how she amused and amazed him by her unmistakable determination to overcome her ignorant, pampered upbringing. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
He would not, could not, care for this woman. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
And woe to her, should she ever believe she could rely on him. |
|
|
|
|
|