Hearts in Defiance (Romance in the Rockies Book 2) Read Free

good arm around her waist and pulled her closer, savoring the feel of her.
“I believe I can provide skilled and enthusiastic instruction.”
    Huffing with indignation,
Naomi pushed him off as she flushed the deep red of Colorado sandstone. “If you
cannot curb your tongue, Mr. McIntyre, you can take them on the buggy
ride.”
    Charles cleared his throat
and took an almost imperceptible step back. The girls, well aware Naomi did not
make idle threats, scattered to their rooms. McIntyre waited till all was
silent, and then surrendered, showing Naomi the palm of his good hand.
    “You should learn to take a
joke, princess. We all mean well.” Losing the battle to keep his hands off her
hair, he reached out and slowly lifted one soft, glistening wave of silky
sunshine, wishing he could take much more. “I truly appreciate their efforts.
The first time I ever saw you with your hair down, you almost left me
speechless.”
    Her shoulders relaxed and
her lips softened. “The first time we served you dinner here in the hotel. I
wondered if you noticed. At the time I told myself I didn’t care.”
    “You and your stubborn
pride—”
    “So how do you like being
back in your saloon?”
    He withdrew his hand,
watching the gold threads slip away, and gave into the change of subject. “I
hate it,” he said flatly, surprised by his honesty. “I hate every moment I am
away from you. I’m almost tempted to get shot just so you can nurse me back to
health again.” He smiled ruefully. “Almost.”
    Her soft pink lips twitched
against a smile. He had a nearly overwhelming urge to take her into his arms
and kiss her until her knees buckled, but Naomi was not a soiled dove. This was
courting, something he’d never actually done before, and he was going to
have to figure it out—if he went through with it at all. If he did, the amount
of self-control required to keep the relationship honorable just might kill
him.
    Resigned, he reached for her
hand and placed it on his heart, pulling her closer.
    “I miss you.”
    Had he just said that? In
the last twenty years he had made a game of saying things so lewd to a woman
they could blister the lacquer on a new barouche carriage. It was amazing how
this woman affected him. To hide his astonishment, he lightened his tone.
    “I miss the rattle of dishes
and your sisters’ laughter in the kitchen.” He closed his eyes and inhaled. “I
miss the smell of roast elk and biscuits baking …” The banter was no good.
Charles McIntyre had turned into a romantic. He had to speak his heart and,
strangely, the resolve made him feel stronger.
    He squeezed her hand and
said, “But it is you I miss the most. What about you? Are you glad I’m gone
from your bed?”
    Naomi’s breathing hitched at
the question and something in her eyes smoldered. Her reaction lit fires in the
core of his being.
    “You were a stubborn patient
… but I miss you, too.”
    Her gaze traveled to his
mouth and she tilted her chin up ever so slightly—the surest invitation to a
kiss McIntyre had ever had. When he’d lain bleeding on the floor of her
kitchen, she had kissed him. And when he awoke three days later to her at his
bedside, they had kissed to seal promises for a future. Now, mesmerized by her,
he leaned down to brush that inviting mouth once more. He paused, so close he
could feel her breath. Groaning, he pulled away.
    He’d made himself a promise
and meant to keep it. Disappointment and confusion warring on her face, he
stepped back, letting her hand slip from his. “I have something special to show
you.”
    ~~~

 
     
    Two
     
     
    McIntyre slid his hand out of its sling and took up a rein. Holding his breath, he snapped the leather and the horse jerked
the buggy forward. The pain in his chest was brief, sharp, but gone almost
instantly. A good sign, he assumed.
    “Are you sure you should be driving?” Naomi asked.
    “I think I can manage to
take us an hour out of town.” He leaned into her, unable