Temptation: 3 (Timeless Series) (22 page)

Sounds of the forest penetrated Penny’s thoughts. Bees buzzed, birds chirped, and tree frogs croaked. Suddenly all noise died. There was another rustling sound in front of her, before all was still. Penny didn’t move. Where in the world was Catherine? All alone, fear streaked through her.

A twig snapped.

Catherine’s laughter rose up, followed by her voice. “Give it up, Parker. I’ve got you in my sights.”

Penny shifted and looked out through a break in the leaves. Sure enough, Parker stood a few feet away, dressed much the same as she and Catherine.

“Damn. I was so careful,” was his amused reply. “How did you know to get around me? I swear you have a sixth sense.”

Penny had no idea how he came to stand in front of her. Nor did she know where Catherine hid, even though her voice had come from somewhere behind Parker.

More laughter followed as Catherine stepped into view holding a rifle at the ready. She appeared much like what Penny imagined an Amazon warrior would look like, her rich masses of auburn hair falling around her shoulders and her emerald eyes flashing triumph. Only she wore boy’s trousers in place of a loincloth and carried a rifle rather than a spear. “You never used to let me get behind you. You’re getting rusty.”

He snorted. “No, I’m not. I found you, didn’t I?”

“Hah! That’s just because you know where I hunt. You know darned well if I’d been stalking you, you’d be dead right now.”

“Maybe,” he conceded. “But next time I’ll catch you unaware. Part of stalking
is knowing the habits of those you seek.” Parker walked over to where Penny still hid and sat down next to her. “You can come out now,” he said, snaring Penny’s gaze, confirming her suspicion that he’d known exactly where she’d hidden all along.

“Don’t scare her,” Catherine admonished, coming up and plopping down beside him. “She’s done well for her first time.
Although she’s a little squeamish when it comes time to pull the trigger.”

“My, I have raised a bloodthirsty sister,” Parker said, chuckling as Penny moved from her spot, brushing the leaves and debris off her dungarees.

“I never kill anything without a reason. I find more sport in finding prey and only kill it if we can eat it. So, how did you know I was hunting?”

“I put two and two together when Mother told me you’d gone out for a long ride and took along a lunch. You shouldn’t corrupt our guest, Catherine.”

“You’re just out of sorts because you had to work instead of hunt.”

Penny could only stare at the two as they bantered back and forth about killing, finding prey, and corrupting her. The fact that both she and his sister were dressed as boys didn’t seem to faze him a bit. He also seemed very relaxed today, a contradiction of the controlling man at breakfast and too attractive for words. Parker definitely fit the part of the rugged American adventurer in her mind’s eye. His trousers, tucked into scuffed boots, fit him like a second skin, and his muslin shirt with open collar accentuated the
V
of his throat. His shirtsleeves were rolled, showing his strong forearms and beautifully shaped hands.

Her heart skipped a beat as she remembered where those hands had been.

“And did you have a reason to kill anything today?” Parker asked, thankfully interrupting her wandering thoughts, yanking Penny’s attention back to his face.

Catherine shrugged. “Pearl said a turkey or some quail might be a nice change for dinner, so I thought I’d have a bit of fun showing Penny what we cloddish Americans do for entertainment.”

He glanced at her, grinning. “Has my sister totally ruined your idea of what sweet, genteel American women are like?”

Penny returned his grin. Catherine seemed so different from any woman she’d ever met.

“Humph.” Catherine crossed her arms. “We both know that doesn’t describe me.”

“I can always hope you’ll change,” he teased. “What did you get for Pearl?”

“A nice big gobbler and several quail,” she stated proudly. “They’re back in the cave.” She eyed her brother thoughtfully and asked pointedly, “Why are you here? I thought you’d be in Washington all afternoon.”

“So did I. President Grant didn’t like what I had to say. Neither did Jonathan. Both sent me on my way. I’m to return next month after I’ve had time to reconsider.”

“Why would he not like what you had to say? You’re not quitting on him, are you?”

“As a matter of fact, I did tender my resignation,” Parker said in a quiet voice. His gaze moved to Catherine’s before he warned, “But it’s just between you and me. God knows I don’t need Mother planning my life before I figure out what I’m going to do next.”

“You really quit?” Catherine squealed, jumping up and hugging him. “So that means you’ll be around more?”

Parker’s soft chuckle could barely be heard above Catherine’s animated reply. “Like you really want me around telling you what to do,” he stated in a disgruntled manner, when her excitement died down and she released him.

“Of course I want you around.” No one could miss the exasperation in her reply. “How could I not? You’re much easier than Mother to handle.”

Parker grunted. Companionable silence pervaded until his voice rang out again. “Hey, would you be interested in shooting something bigger than turkey?”

“I don’t think Penny wants me to kill a deer. She thinks the bucks look too majestic.”

Parker’s amused gaze wandered to Penny’s, where it stayed. Finally he looked away. “I was thinking more along the lines of wild pig. I noted signs of one not too far away.”

More of Catherine’s enthusiasm burst free. “You’d let me help you bag a boar?” A pleased smile split her face.

“Like I have any choice?” Snorting, he stood, pulling first Catherine to her feet and then Penny. “Come on, you can help me figure out where he’s hiding.”

It was such a natural move. Penny had no time to react to his touch before it was over and he’d let go of her. Watching him out of the corner of her eye, Penny could only marvel at how calm he was—as if last night hadn’t happened. She dusted her bottom off and followed. If he could so easily pretend the events never occurred, then so could she.

For the next hour the three stalked wild boar. Or rather Catherine and Parker stalked. She observed, totally amazed at how the two worked noiselessly together, searching for signs of an animal Penny was beginning to think didn’t exist.

All of a sudden Parker tensed and signaled silently to Catherine. She caught his signal and nodded. He turned to Penny and whispered, “Wait over there, behind that big rock. You’ll be safe enough if you stay there.”

Penny did his bidding and watched the two disappear. For a quarter of an hour she stayed put, listening to only silence. Then a loud shot rang out. She waited patiently another half hour without hearing another sound. She was starting to become concerned when movement from the direction the two had disappeared earlier drew her attention.

“If you ever do anything so dangerous again I’ll flay you myself.” Parker’s angry voice reverberated through the forest.

“There was nothing dangerous about what I did. Admit it. You’re just mad you weren’t in position to get the first shot,” Catherine said just as heatedly.

Within seconds, Catherine and Parker walked out of the brush while carrying between them a huge trussed-up pig with horns tied to a sturdy branch, arguing the entire way.

“For your information, getting in front of a charging boar is not my idea of a safe endeavor.”

“I snared him, didn’t I?” Catherine countered. “It was child’s play.”

“What if you hadn’t? What would’ve happened then?” he argued, still incensed.

“Then you would’ve had a shot,” Catherine said, grinning. “And I have no doubts you would’ve hit him dead-on. But you knew as well as I did, I wasn’t about to miss, so I don’t understand why you’re all in such a dither.”

“I swear you’ll be the death of me, Catherine. You take too many risks,” he chided, his anger dissipating somewhat.

“Oh?” Catherine gave a heady laugh. “And you never take risks?”

“It’s different for me and you damn well know it.”

“Humph. Come on, Parker. Don’t be a killjoy. Instead of chastising me, you should be congratulating me on my skill. It was a brilliantly executed kill and you know it. I hit him right between the eyes.”

By this time they’d hiked to where Penny waited.

“The animal does look dangerous.” Her eyebrows furrowed as she carefully eyed the massive beast. “You actually killed it?” she said, glancing at Catherine in awe.

“Of course.”
Catherine stood taller, clearly pleased. “Did you have doubts that I could?”

Parker rolled his eyes and said under his breath, “Why do I bother?”

He and Catherine placed their burden on the ground. He took his rifle from around his shoulder and leaned it against a tree. Then he unclipped a canteen from his belt, drank, and handed it to Catherine, who took a couple of swallows before handing it to Penny.

Watching Parker out of the corner of her eye, Penny lifted the canteen to her lips. A trickle of sweat wormed its way down the side of his face before he brushed it aside with his shirtsleeve, wiping his brow at the same time.

Her gaze centered on the hand attached to that arm and something clenched inside her stomach. She sucked in a huge breath and let it out slowly. Closing her eyes and willing the thought of those hands touching her out of her mind, she gulped a big drink.

Parker took the canteen from her, placed it back on his belt, and said, “I think it’s time to get back.” Turning to Penny, he asked, “Can you handle our two rifles so Catherine can help carry the boar?”

Keeping her gaze averted, Penny nodded, reluctant to risk giving her thoughts away by speaking or making eye contact. She took their rifles and followed the two once they picked up their burden and started back toward the cave where the horses patiently grazed.

At the cave, both Catherine and Penny changed clothing after Catherine helped Parker lift the boar along with the other dead animals onto Catherine’s gelding for the trip back to the house.

“Catherine can ride the mare and you can ride with me,” Parker said nonchalantly, as if the thought of being so close to her didn’t affect him. When her facial features grew pensive, revealing a little of her dismay, he explained in a low voice, “It only makes sense. You’re much smaller than Catherine, making it easier on the stallion. We’re not riding far, but I’d really rather not overtax either horse.”

He then placed those beautiful hands on her waist, hoisted her onto the horse, and easily mounted in one quick burst of energy. Penny’s breath caught in her throat and she sat frozen, too afraid movement might worsen the situation. His arms came around her, pinning her against his chest with one hand that stayed glued to her middle. Then he lifted the reins with the other and urged the horse forward. It was all Penny could do to ignore those hands now so close, when all she really wanted was feel them roaming over her body again.

~~

“Relax, angel,” Parker whispered near her ear after they’d ridden less than a tenth of a mile. “You’re safe enough.”

From the first moment Penny had emerged from her hiding spot, she seemed wary of him. Her wariness ate at him like an acid of uncertainty. He couldn’t decipher her mixed signals and wasn’t going to try. He only knew he had to tread carefully; not an easy task, especially when she looked far too fetching in trousers that did nothing to hide her feminine figure. So much so, he’d used total restraint in not yanking her into his arms and smothering her with kisses.

He closed his eyes, remembering their last encounter. He could still taste her lips and wanted to taste them again. How was it possible that this was the same woman who’d met him stroke for stroke last night? Gone was the siren
who’d melted in his arms, and in its place was this frozen creature who acted as if he had some contagious disease.

Penny’s parting words after their lovemaking entered his train of thought. Parker damn sure had no intention of having to track her down if she made good on her threat, so he decided to humor her. At least until he figured out a way to make her yearn for his touch the same way he yearned for hers. Once he did, he had no doubts she’d marry him.

Unfortunately, his plan took a taxing toll.

His hand flexed involuntarily. It was next to impossible to be this close to her and not wrap his fingers around her breast as he wanted.

When she mumbled something and moved in the saddle in front of him, his groin came alive, causing her to stiffen.

“Stay still,” he hissed in a strangled voice. “I told you, you’re safe. I have no intention of going where I’m not wanted.”

“You’re horrible,” she whispered back.

“You didn’t think so last night, angel.” He tightened his grip on her waist.

She froze. “You’re no gentleman to bring that up.”

He chuckled and couldn’t resist the urge to nuzzle her neck and give her a few kisses. “As I recall, I gave you the choice.” She was simply too tempting. His smile deepened when he noticed the quick racing of her pulse along with goose bumps before she tried to cover her reactions.

She scooted farther away from him, but in the end all her scooting accomplished was a derriere nestled closer to his arousal.