Charlene Sands Read Free Page A

gentle determination. He was as close as any man had ever been to her, inches away. He was beautiful, magnificent—she’d always known. Lily closed her eyes, relishing the feel of his hands on her before stepping out of his reach.
    Then the absurdity of it struck her. She laughed. A good hearty laugh, easing the tension that had her wound tighter than newfangled barbed wire around a fence post. Shaking her head, she said, “I’m sure, Tyler Kincaide, you wouldn’t understand.”
    He glared at her. Lily realized her mistake. She doubted too many women chanced to laugh at Tyler Kincaide.
    With arms folded, he rasped, “Explain it to me.”
    “I don’t think I could. Have a good day, Mr. Kincaide.” She shrugged and managed to walk gracefully away as if marriage proposals were an everyday occurrence.
    But when she heard his string of muttered oathsfrom behind, she hiked up her skirts and scampered across the street in a most undignified fashion.
    Lily took several deep breaths when she entered the mercantile. Watching the rancher from a distance made her heart swim with delicious thoughts but this time, being so near him, remembering his touch on her skin, unnerved her completely. Why, the very thought of living under his roof, sent uninvited thrills down her spine. How long before she lost her foolish heart to him entirely?
    It’s a notion you’d better not entertain.
    She couldn’t be his housekeeper. All sense of ingrained propriety warned her off. And then there was the deathbed promise she’d made to her dear father.
    Lily began rearranging the meager supplies on the shelves. Forcing her thoughts to her own dilemma, she considered her options. Contacting her uncle in Chicago was her first priority. Since Uncle Jasper hadn’t returned her letters, she’d send him a wire. Today. Time was running out and so was the little bit of money she had tucked away.
    The door opened then slammed shut. Lily twirled around. Tyler stood with hands on hips, scowling at her. “We’re not through yet.”
    Her heart fluttered at the sight of him again, but she forced a glare his way. “I’d say we were.”
    “I didn’t get what I came for.”
    Lily stared at his face, the firm line of his masculine jaw set stubbornly. A small feminine part of her rejoiced. No man had ever pursued her, even if his proposal was quite out of the question.
    Tyler thrust a list of needed supplies her way.
    She bit her lip, chagrined at her mistake and angry all the same. She picked up the list and began fillingthe order. She dumped a package of Arbuckle’s coffee on the counter and reached for the next item on the list, sugar.
    “You know, Lily, you could stand to hear me out.”
    Lily had heard just about enough. The man’s audacity spurred her courage. She set the sack of sugar down and rounded the counter to stand before him, jutting a finger in his chest.
    “I know what you want, Tyler Kincaide. You want a woman to come out there and run your house. To school your daughter, cook your meals, clean your clothes, to…to—you know. You can’t hire someone, so you figured you’d find some pathetic creature and up and marry her. You, Tyler Kincaide,” she said poking her finger one last time into his chest, “want to get married, without being married!”
    Anger flashed in his dark eyes as he pulled her finger off him. His teeth clenched. “I don’t want to get married at all. Damn it, Lily.” He yanked off his felt hat and rubbed his forehead, squeezing his eyebrows together.
    Lily put her hands on her hips. “Do not swear in my presence, Mr. Kincaide!”
    Tyler blinked before giving her a long studious look. Then she noticed a gleam in his eyes. Not anger this time. It appeared to be…a spark of admiration?
    “Yes, ma’am. I apologize.”
    He rubbed his chest where she’d jabbed him. Lily blushed. What had come over her? She’d never attacked a man before.
    “There’s many a woman who’d take me up on my offer.”
    Marrying