Buckhorn Beginnings (31 page)

“You're priceless, Morgan.”

“How so?”

He was such a reprobate. She smiled at him as she explained, aware of his hands drifting lower, almost to her behind. “You have absolutely no consideration for my modesty or my sensibilities. You talk about the most personal things—”

“Like what?”

“Like the fact you seem to have a problem with control.”

He shook his head very slowly. “Not usually. Everyone will tell you I maintain absolute control.”

She quirked a brow and stared at his fly.

With a grin, Morgan said, “That's an aberration, an involuntary reaction that can't be controlled around you.”

She almost started laughing again. “Well, whatever it is, you show no hesitation in talking about it, shocking me all the time, embarrassing me.”

His hands slid over her bottom completely, and he lifted her to her tiptoes so she fit against him. She caught her breath as his voice went husky and deep.
“I want you to know how much I want you, sweetheart.”

Contentment swelled inside her. She knew it was dangerous to make herself vulnerable to him, but at the moment, she was too touched to care. “That's just it,” she said softly, “you show no hesitation about making me blush, but you're so considerate of my feelings otherwise. Thank you.”

Morgan's fingers contracted on her backside, caressing and exciting. “You want to know how you can thank me?”

Misty was ready to start laughing again when a tentative knock sounded on the door. She jumped, bumped her head on the bookcase, then shoved him away. “Good grief, my first time in your office and look what happens.”

With a wry look, Morgan turned and headed for the door. “Unfortunately, not a thing happened.” He stepped into the hallway. Misty went to the office door to peek out and see who it was. When she saw Howard and Jesse stomping to remove the dirt from their boots, she stepped out to greet them.

“Are you all done for the day?”

Jesse shook his head. “Just taking off for lunch. Is this your first day?”

“No, Morgan was just showing me around today. I'll start tomorrow.”

Jesse frowned at Morgan. “How long does she have?”

Misty didn't understand the question, and Morgan didn't help by grinning at her. “I'm not sure yet. What do you think?”

“I think it'd be nice to keep her on for good, but I don't suppose that'd be fair.”

Howard agreed. “Can't imagine what she could've done—not that I'm prying, you understand. But to be here in the first place…”

Misty frowned in confusion. “I'm here because Morgan said he needed someone to answer the phone and take messages.”

Jesse nodded. “That's a fact. Just about every day one woman or another comes here insisting just that. But I always wondered if it's really work they have on their minds.” He gave her an exaggerated wink. “Ought to put an end to that now, what with Misty here, though.”

“That,” Misty said while trying to hide her annoyance at the thought, “is entirely up to Morgan.”

“Yes, it is,” Morgan agreed, smiling at her, “but it so happens I think Jesse is right. One female in the office is more than enough.”

Misty clamped her lips together to keep from replying.

Morgan looked disappointed at her restraint. He turned his attention to the men. “You both have lunch with you?”

“Naw, we're going to the diner. Ceily promised me meat loaf today.”

He glanced at his watch. “Is the diner open yet?”

“She'll slip us in through the kitchen.”

Howard added, “You take it easy on the little lady, now, you hear?”

“I should explain something, here, guys—” Mor
gan began, and Misty knew he was going to blurt out something stupid, about how they were involved.

She rushed to his side and nudged him playfully with her shoulder, trying to act like a pal instead of an almost lover. “Morgan is a big pushover. Don't you worry, I can handle him.”

Both the men stared at her in awe. Morgan rumbled, a sound between a laugh and a growl. “Malone—”

“Behave, Morgan,” she snapped, giving him a telling look before forcing a smile on the men. “They're hungry. Let them go eat.”

“But—”

Misty ignored him. “Run on, now. You both look famished to me. Everyone knows big healthy men need to eat a lot to keep up their strength. Especially when they're working as hard as you two are.”

Jesse and Howard puffed up like proud roosters.

Misty waved them off, and after Morgan had shut the door, he said with amusement, “You certainly wrapped them around your little finger.”

She didn't appreciate that comment at all, considering she'd barely managed to keep him from embarrassing her again. “They're very sweet men.”

Morgan choked on a laugh. “They feel the same way about you. That's why they were trying to find out why you're here.”

She didn't understand his humor at all. “Is it so uncommon for you to hire someone?”

Morgan pursed his mouth, but ended up chuckling anyway. “Actually, yeah, it is. And Malone, they don't think you were hired.”

“What's that supposed to mean? Do they think I coerced the job out of you? I swear, Morgan, if people are going to talk because I'm working here…”

He leaned a shoulder against the wall, and even though his mouth wasn't smiling, she saw the unholy glint in his blue eyes. “Oh, they'll talk, all right. You see, at this moment Jesse and Howard are probably telling anyone they can find that you're serving out your time working here—same as they are.”

She felt her eyes nearly cross. “That's ridiculous!”

Shrugging, he said, “That's usually why I bring someone in underfoot. Because they got into mischief and have to do community work.”

“But…” She couldn't think of anything to say, then her temper flared. “You could have set them straight!”

“I believe I tried to. But you were too intent on telling them how you could handle me to let me finish.”

Misty moaned and covered her face. “So now, even though no one here knows I was actually arrested, they're all going to think the same about me anyway.”

Morgan pulled her hands down and kissed the end of her nose. “Let me show you around the office, explain your duties, then we'll go to the diner and set them straight.”

“We will?”

He brushed his thumb over her bottom lip. “Believe me, Malone, no one is going to have any doubts as to why I'm keeping you close, I promise. So quit your worries.”

Misty followed him into the office, but his promise, and the way he'd given it, left an empty ache inside her.

Morgan was slowly getting under her skin, and that left her feeling far from reassured.

“O
UCH
.”
Misty bumped her head as she knelt and crawled beneath the desk. “You're sure she went under here?”

Jordan sounded slightly strangled as he said, “Yeah, she's under there.”

In the farthest corner, against the back wall, Misty saw a curled calico tail. “Ah, I see her. She's a little thing.”

“I found her abandoned.” Anger laced Jordan's tone, and that was unusual because Misty had never heard this particular brother sound anything but pleasant. “I brought her home to heal, and your sister sort of bonded with her. Usually she's in bed with Honey, but today, well, I think she knew it was a day for shots and that's why she's running from me.”

Misty bumped her head again when she tried to look at Jordan. All she could see was his feet. He'd been chasing the cat to take it to his clinic when they'd run into each other in the hallway. The cat had scurried away while Jordan kept Misty from falling on her behind.

Misty had been hoping to leave the house before Morgan. According to Honey, he'd been looking for her last night and had been disgruntled when
he couldn't find her. But she wasn't yet ready to tell him where she'd been. Dodging him this morning was the only way she could think of to buy herself some time.

“So do you like your new job?” Jordan asked her as she crawled deeper beneath the desk.

“Actually, I do.” She reached out her hand and the small cat, hissing at her, managed to inch a little farther away.

“That's good. I gather Morgan is behaving himself?”

“Morgan is Morgan. He never really behaves. You know that.”

“Uh, yes, I see your point.”

Morgan was the most forward, outspoken man she'd ever known, but he kept her smiling and sometimes even laughing. And he always made her very aware of her own femininity. The man could scorch her with a look, and in the short time she'd spent with him, she'd become addicted to the feeling.

But the entire week had been a series of near misses. Though she worked in his office, he was seldom there. She'd had no idea he kept such a horrendously busy schedule. After hours wasn't much better. When Morgan was free, she was gone. When she was free, Morgan got called away. His plan to make them look like a couple wasn't quite working out as she'd assumed. She hated to admit it, even to herself, but she'd been looking forward to his outrageous pursuit. And she missed him.

Jordan coughed suddenly, then suggested, “Uh, maybe you should just come on out of there?”

“No, I've almost got her. She's worked herself into a tiny little ball. Let me just scrunch in here a bit more.”

“No, wait. I'll pull the desk out.”

Misty was sure she heard repressed laugher in Jordan's voice, but the sound was muffled because most of her upper body was wedged into the seating area of the desk. “No, if you do that she'll just run off again. At least this way I have her cornered.”

Jordan made a strangled sound.

“What?”

“Never mind.”

Misty tried wiggling her fingers at the cat. She had hoped to be gone already, out the door before Morgan awoke. Working with him was more enjoyable than she'd thought it would be. She liked getting to know everyone in the town, and it was so obvious to her how they all adored their sheriff. He was treated with respect and reverence and a bit of awe.

“So your arrangement with Morgan is working out?”

She snorted, wondering which arrangement Jordan referred to. The work or the personal relationship. “Yes, things are fine. Although Morgan does like to complain a lot.”

“Well, as to that,” Jordan said cautiously, “I think he complains because things aren't going quite the way he planned.”

“Things aren't going quite how I planned, either.” She laughed, then added, “Morgan gripes because it's a habit, just like scowling at everyone.” Misty thought of all she'd learned about Morgan in the past
week, how he reacted with the various community members who liked to stop by and offer suggestions or complaints or idle chitchat. His patience was limitless, and why not? He usually controlled everything and everyone without anybody even realizing it. He was careful not to offend, strong and supportive, understanding. But the final word was his, and they all respected that about him. In fact, she often got the impression that they brought their minor gripes to him so he
would
take charge, saving them the hassle.

Overall, she admitted he made a pretty wonderful sheriff.

“You know, Jordan, Morgan would like the world to think he's a real bear, but Honey's right. Deep down he's just a big softy.”

There was a choked laugh, then a loud thump. Jordan cursed under his breath.

“Now don't tease, Jordan. You know I'm right. Even though you all harass each other endlessly, you know your brother is pretty terrific.”

Jordan's voice was lazy. “I think you and Honey are sharing that particular delusion. She's as misguided about him as you are.” Then: “Just think. With you two singing his praises, Morgan will be known as a real pussycat in no time at all.”

Laughing, Misty said, “I wouldn't go that far!”

Her laugh startled the cat, and when she tried to run, Misty reached out and scooped her up. “I've got her.” She started crawling backward, inching her way out. The cat didn't fight her. Instead, it purred loudly at the attention.

Misty held the small calico close to her chest and
scooted until she bumped into a pair of hard shins. Startled, she turned and looked up to see what Jordan was doing, and was met with Morgan's blackest look. He had his big feet braced, his hands on his hips and his jaw locked. He didn't move.

Jordan stood behind him, grinning.

For some fool reason, Misty felt her face heating. How long had he been there? What had she just been saying about him? She pulled her gaze away from his and frowned at Jordan. “You could have warned me.”

“Warned you about what?” Jordan asked innocently.

Morgan reached down and caught Misty's elbow. “Come on, Malone, quit abusing my brother.”

Judging by the way Jordan rubbed his shoulder, Misty had the suspicion Morgan had already done enough abusing, but she had no idea why. Jordan didn't seem bothered by it, though. He looked entertained. She frowned at Morgan. “What do you want?”

He didn't appear to like her question. “We need to get to work.”

Misty stood, attempting to ignore Morgan's nearness and Jordan's attentive presence. “We've got a few minutes.”

Crossing his arms over his chest, Morgan said, “Is that so? Then why were you trying to hightail it out of here so early?”

She couldn't very well explain with Morgan's brother standing there, so she turned to Jordan and handed him the cat. “Hang on to her this time.”

“Thanks, sweetie.” Jordan leaned forward and kissed her cheek, grinned at Morgan one more time, then left them. Misty could hear his soft crooning voice as he spoke with the cat.

She had a feeling Jordan had kissed her just to provoke Morgan, and seeing the way Morgan clenched his jaw, it must have worked. They stared at each other for a long, silent moment. Finally, Morgan shook his head. “You've been avoiding me all week.”

“That's not true! We've just had conflicting schedules, that's all.”

“Your only schedule is working with me. Yet I haven't had one single second alone with you. That's avoidance.”

She didn't want to admit that she'd missed him, too, or that she did, in fact, have another schedule. “It's not my fault that you work all the time.”

“I knocked at your door at six yesterday.” His gaze softened. “I expected to find you in bed still, all warm and sleepy. But you were gone already.”

Misty wondered what he would have done if he'd found her in bed, and the thought wasn't at all repulsive. She cleared her throat. “Maybe it was a good thing I wasn't there.”

“There you go with those lecherous thoughts again, Malone. I was just going to offer to take you to breakfast.”

She winced at the very idea. “If you'll recall, Morgan, mornings are a little rough for me. I like to walk down and sit by the lake. The fresh air settles my stomach some.”

He scowled over that, and his voice sounded gruff,
more with concern than annoyance. “I'd forgotten. Has the morning sickness been bad?”

Oh, when Morgan was being so sweet, it was all she could do to resist him. She wasn't even sure she wanted to anymore. Thoughts of being with him had consumed her lately. When he was around, she could barely take her eyes off him, and when he wasn't, her thoughts centered on him.

Misty realized he was watching her, and she coughed. “Actually,” she said, deciding to give him a small truth, “it's been better lately. Usually, as long as I don't eat, my stomach settles down fairly quick.”

“So you've been skipping breakfast?”

“I was never much for big morning meals, anyway.”

His frown was back, more intense than ever. “You weren't at dinner last night, either.” He looked her over, then shook his head. “You know how important it is for you to eat properly right now. “

“I have enough mothering from Honey. You don't need to start, too.” And before he could protest that, she added, “Besides, I'm not starving myself. I ate in town last night.”

He went still, then he flushed and growled, “With who?”

This was exactly the subject Misty had hoped to avoid, but now it looked as if she had no choice but to tell him. Exasperated, she pushed past him and headed down the hall. Morgan followed. “If you must know,” she said over her shoulder, “I was working.”

“You got off work at three o'clock, Malone. I watched you leave.”

Yes, he had. She shivered just remembering. Morgan had been watching her with a brooding frown as she'd gathered her things. He was stuck talking with an elderly woman who claimed her neighbor mowed his grass too early in the morning to suit her. Misty had known by the look on Morgan's face that his patience was about at an end. If she hadn't been required to be elsewhere, she very well might have hung around just to see what he'd do. “I left the station at three o'clock. But then I went to the diner.”

“To meet someone?”

Her temper snapped. Did he always have to think the worst of her? “That's none of your concern.”

She kept walking, but he had stopped. She didn't mean to, but when she turned to face him and saw his expression, her heart almost melted. He looked angry and frustrated and…hurt.

She'd never thought she'd see a look like that on the inimitable sheriff's face.

She didn't like it at all.

She stomped down the hall to glare at him, thrust her chin up and said, “No, I wasn't meeting anyone. I went there to work.”

His confusion was almost laughable. “You're working at the diner? Since when?”

“Since yesterday. Ceily hired me.” His mouth opened and she said, “Before you ask, yes, I told her about my record.”

“Misty.” He said her name so softly, like a reprimand, and she felt a lump gather in her throat. He took both her arms, his thumbs rubbing just above her elbows. “I hadn't even thought of that.”

“Bull. You had that look on your face.”

“What look?”

“The one that's full of doubt.”

“That was just me trying to figure you out.” His mouth tipped in a small smile. “What did Ceily have to say?”

“I told her the truth, that I was innocent but couldn't prove it, and that the whole thing had cost a lot so I needed to save up more money now. She believed me.” Misty twisted her hands together, once again caught in a worry. Ceily was a very pretty, petite woman with long, golden-brown hair and big brown eyes. She looked to be around Gabe's age. She'd been very warm and welcoming to Misty from the onset. “She didn't strike me as the type to carry tales. She even warned me about telling any secrets to Howard or Jesse. She said they're both horrible gossips.”

Morgan laughed. “She would know. Jesse is her grandpa.”

“I hadn't realized. They don't look anything alike.”

“Considering Jesse is old and cantankerous and Ceily is young and cute, I'm not surprised you didn't see the family resemblance. But you're right about Ceily, she doesn't gossip. You don't have to worry about that.”

Without meaning to, Misty frowned at him. “You know her well?”

He shrugged. “As well as I know anyone here. Ceily and Gabe went through school together, and
she used to hang out at the house when they were younger. They're both water fanatics. She's a good kid.”

Misty relaxed the tiniest bit. It appeared her secrets were safe with Ceily, which had been her only concern.

Morgan asked, “Do you mind telling me how you figure on doing both jobs?”

“I knew you wouldn't understand,” she muttered. He was strong and capable and respected…and it would have been so easy to lean on him and let him help her, to follow suit with the entire town and let Morgan handle her problems. But she wanted to regain what she'd lost on her own. It was the only way she could think of to restore her self-respect.

He let her go reluctantly and fell into step beside her as she headed for her room. “Tell me what I don't understand, babe.”

She shook her head. “What I do for you can barely be considered part-time, Morgan. It's only six hours a day.”

“I didn't want you to overdo.”

Why, oh, why, did he have to say things like that? “I'm not breakable, you know.”

“I would never suggest such a thing.” He kept pace with her easily, then paused when she reached her door. “No one would ever doubt your strength or determination, Malone. If that's what this is about…”

Flustered, Misty shrugged. “There's no reason I can't work for the diner in the evenings, right? Ceily agreed to put me on at four. That gives me time to grab a bite to eat and then get in four or five more
hours. Last night, I made fifty bucks in tips. It's a good job.”