The Lawman's Agreement (Entangled Scandalous) (21 page)

“That would explain all the different accents,” Miri agreed. “Everything from a stilted northern bent to a slower, more enticing Cajun accent. Although, with Zack around, we get our fill of Cajun.”

Felicity sighed. “I admit, I do love it when he calls us
cher
.”

Suzanne couldn’t help but laugh. The very memory of how she used to hate the endearment seemed foreign to her now.

Her perusal of the crowd stopped just short of the main entrance to where a tall man with dark hair was speaking to Deputy Stiles. The deputy, in turn, raised his gaze as if looking for someone and then pointed in their direction.

The man nodded, and then started across the entranceway toward where they sat.

“Oh, my gosh, look at who’s coming our way,” she said. Suzanne reached out and poked the two women at her side. “Have you ever seen a man as good looking as that?”

“Saints in heaven,” Felicity gasped. “I love my husband to death, but would you look at the long, black wavy hair.”

Miri fanned herself with her hand. “What do you want to bet, his eyes are as blue as the ocean?”

They weren’t the only ones watching the new arrival, Suzanne realized. It seemed as if every woman in the place, young or old, followed the man’s movements across the floor.

“Evening ladies,” the man said. His Cajun accent was even thicker than Zack’s. He smiled and met Suzanne’s gaze. “The deputy at the door tells me you ladies may know where I can find Marshal Zack McCade.”

“Yes, of course.” Suzanne motioned toward the gaming rooms. “I believe he’s in the Crystal room.”

He caught her raised hand in his and drew it to his lips. “Thank you,
cher
.” He turned his gaze in Felicity and Miri’s direction and smiled, then bowed graciously. “Ladies.”

Miri had been right. His eyes were a bright, almost liquid blue. Suzanne blinked, doing her best to draw herself from the snare of his warm gaze. She turned her head in time to see Jake and Zack headed in their direction.

“Oh, just what we need,” Jake said as he approached, “another smooth-talking, snake charming Cajun.” Laughing, Jake slapped the man on the shoulder.

Zack stopped just short of where the man stood, his attention drawn to where he still held her fingers in his grasp. “Listen, you little weasel, let go of Suzanne’s hand.”

Somewhat reluctantly, it seemed, he released her fingers and turned in Zack’s direction. “Is that any kind of greeting?” He shifted his attention, and his heart-stopping gaze, back to Suzanne and asked, “This is Dr. Suzanne Martindale?”

“Yes,” Zack confirmed.

“Saints in heaven, Zack, you hit the jackpot. She’s got beauty and brains.”

Suzanne could tell by their expressions both Miri and Felicity were getting as impatient as she for a proper introduction. “Zack, perhaps you’d like to introduce us. Obviously, your friend here knows far more about us…or at least me…than we know about him.”

Zack released a deep groan, as if it pained him to make the introductions. Nodding, in their direction, he said, “Mrs. Felicity Beaumont McCade, Mrs. Miri Johnson McCade and Dr. Suzanne Martindale, may I present my younger brother, Christopher Dumond McCade.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

“Just Chris, if you don’t mind, ladies. Although my big brother here insists on using my full Christian name, I find it a mouthful myself.”

Introductions complete, Zack brought three chairs from a nearby table so the men could join the ladies in the main seating area. “So, little brother, what brings you to Greenville?”

Much to Zack’s chagrin, Chris settled himself into the chair closest to Suzanne. “I’m on my way to Memphis, actually. I’ve some personal business to take care of there.” Turning his attention to Suzanne, he asked, “What’s this rumor circulating among the U.S. Marshal’s Office in New Orleans that you and my brother are engaged? You look to be way too smart for that,
cher
.”

Zack snorted, drawing Chris’s attention back to him. “You never mind about my engagement. I’m more interested in hearing about yours. My last letter from Annalisa said you were betrothed to Caroline Beauchamp. Isn’t that setting your sights a little high, even for a McCade?”

“No higher than a medical doctor?” Chris countered. “I’d venture Caroline and I have more in common that you and the beautiful doctor here.”

Zack shook his head, wanting to dispel his brother’s claim even though he’d had those same concerns himself. “Nobody, and I mean nobody, has anything in common with Caroline Beauchamp. That woman is the epitome of conceit and privilege.”

“It doesn’t matter anyway,” Chris admitted. “The engagement’s off.”

Zack could tell there was more to say on the subject, but quite possibly Christopher wanted to wait until they were alone. And as always, the McCade women were as intuitive as they were beautiful.

“Jake, darling,” Felicity said, the dulcet tone of her voice drawing attention in her direction. “I believe Miri and I are ready to head home. Chance will be waking up and I know Mrs. Baker wanted to stop by the hotel opening.”

Jake stood, held out his hand to help his wife to her feet and then turned in Zack’s direction. “I’ll be gone for about thirty minutes. Try not to scare your brother off before I get back.”

Felicity held out her hand. “It’s been a pleasure meeting you, Chris. I hope you’ll come to visit before you leave for Memphis. As a matter of fact, Sunday dinner would be perfect.”

He raised her hand to his lips and dusted her fingertips with a kiss. “It would be my pleasure, Felicity.” When Miri stood as well, he gave the same gentle attention to her hand. “It was a pleasure meeting you both. I look forward to seeing you all again before I leave.”

Zack shifted from his chair to the empty spot next to Suzanne on the settee. “Now that it’s just the three of us, do you want to tell me what happened?”

Suzanne laid her hand against Zack’s and met his gaze. “If you two want to talk alone, I can get a ride home with Miri and Felicity.”

Before Zack could respond, Chris shook his head. “No,
cher
, it’s quite all right. I don’t mind airing my dirty laundry in front of my brother’s intended.”

Zack thought of telling his brother the truth about his and Suzanne’s agreement, but decided against it. There would be plenty of time for clarification once Christopher explained the demise of his own engagement. “What happened with Caroline?”

“You got the notice from the lawyers about the sale of the metals plant, right?” Chris asked.

Zack nodded. “What’s that got to do with Miss Beauchamp?”

“And you got the bank draft for your shares?”

Zack released a long sigh. “Yes, Christopher, I got the bank draft. Now, do you want to tell me the real reason you’re here.”

“I never could fool you, could I?” Chris settled back into the chair and shook his head, as if pulling up a painful memory. “The main reason I sold the plant, other than not wanting to manage it after grandpa died, was to start a new business and a stable life with a good wife. Heck, even Mr. Beauchamp had talked about investing in the new venture.”

“What was this new venture?” Zack asked.

“A seafood cannery, with a restaurant right there on the property offering fish caught that morning.”

Zack chuckled. “My brother, the fisherman. Now that’s a laugh. You wouldn’t even bait a hook when you were a boy.”

“I didn’t plan to do the fishing, only the management of the plant and restaurant, maybe a bit of hosting for private parties or special guests.”

Suzanne reached out and laid her hand against Chris’ arm, the simple show of compassion softening Zack’s urge to chide his brother further. “I take it Miss Beauchamp didn’t want to marry a fisherman, or cannery and restaurant owner.”

“Let’s just say, she thought it was beneath her station in life.”

Zack nodded. “Sounds like a Beauchamp to me.”

Chris laughed, yet the sound was anything but mirthful. “What really cut me to the bone was the fact that, rather than marry me, she up and ran off with a traveling salesman from Memphis. She had her older brother return my ring the day after she left.”

“And that’s why you’re going to Memphis,” Zack guessed.

“Yep, I want her to tell me to my face that she prefers a dam…uh…darned farm implement salesman to a businessman from her own home town.”

This time it was Suzanne’s turn to laugh. “Not that I condone swearing, Chris, but as a physician I doubt there are any swear words I haven’t heard from time to time.”

He shook his head. “That’s still no way to speak in front of a lady,
cher
.”

Zack needed to say something to convince his brother it was foolish to chase after a woman, any woman, but especially one as fickle as Caroline Beauchamp.

Are you saying you wouldn’t have chased after Suzanne if she’d left with Dr. Pennymaker?
A conscience, Zack decided, was a terrible thing to possess.

Rather than face the inner turmoil of his own thoughts, Zack decided to address his brother’s dilemma. “Christopher, you know I’ll support whatever you decide to do but, if it were me, I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of chasing after her. She’ll see it one of two ways. Either, it’s a sign of weakness or it will feed her already inflated sense of entitlement. Neither option will get her back, if that’s what you were intending.”

“A McCade doesn’t beg. I’ve no intention of taking her back. I just wanted to let her know she’s welcome to her salesman.” He turned to Suzanne. “What would you do if you were me,
cher
?”

“As much as it pains me to agree with your brother, I do, this time. Zack does have a very valid point. Most women love to be pursued, to a certain extent. However, given that she’s left the safety of her home and obviously influential family to go off with this man, it’s not likely it was just to spite you.”

Zack was about to comment further when Jake returned from taking the ladies home.

“Did I miss anything good?”

“No, cousin, we were only talking business,” Zack said. “My brother here sold grandpa’s metals factory and now he’s wandering around looking for somewhere to put all his money.”

Jake grinned, broadly. “I might just have the solution he’s looking for.”

…

Suzanne couldn’t believe she let Zack talk her into staying out so late. By the time they reached the cottage, it was half past two. “What do you think your brother will do?”

Zack turned the key in the lock and opened the door, urging Suzanne inside with the nudge of his hand. “I’m not sure. He seemed to be interested in joining in on the McCade businesses. However, I think he’s still smarting a bit from being rejected.”

The first thought that came to Suzanne was the ridiculousness of any woman rejecting a McCade, and especially not one as handsome and as charming as Chris. She tucked the thought away for herself. Somehow she doubted Zack would appreciate her opinion on his younger brother’s good looks and charm. “Do you think he’ll at least stay around and think about it?”

“If you’re looking for a bit more of his Cajun charm, he’ll be here at least until after supper at Jake’s tomorrow night.”

“Don’t be silly,” she teased. “I get enough Cajun charm from you.”

Zack took hold of her wrist and pulled her into his arms. “I’d be happy to share a bit more of that charm with you right now,
cher
.”

Suzanne made a big show of stretching and yawning. “I’m so tired and it’s so late.”

“Ah,
cher
, there you go teasing me again.” Not waiting for her agreement, Zack scooped her up into his arms and carried her toward the bedroom. “And, I admit, I love every minute of it.”

Despite the late hour, Suzanne knew it was useless to claim fatigue. When Zack laid her on the bed and began removing her clothes, a sudden burst of energy coursed through her. Eager to participate in their lovemaking, she reached for the buttons at the front of Zack’s silk dress shirt. Once she’d undone the first two, she grasped the edges of the shirt and pulled him onto the bed beside her.

Suzanne tugged at the shirt, pulling it from the waistband of his trousers until she could run her hands beneath the fine material and across the expanse of his chest. As it always did, the feel of his muscles, of the fine hairs and his taut nipples against her palms, sent shocks of electricity running through her arms. She reached for the last three buttons, popping two of them off completely in her haste to remove his shirt.

“Whoa,
cher
,” he said, taking her hands in his and slowing her progress. “As late as it is, we’ve got all night.”

Suzanne spared only a moment’s thought for the last day of her schedule, wrapped her hand around Zack’s neck and drew him to her for a long, deep kiss. When she’d filled herself with his taste, she raised her head and met his gaze. “All night long sounds heavenly.”

…

Sunday supper at Jake and Felicity’s house always warmed Suzanne’s heart. There was never a dull moment, the food was always delicious, and it felt more like home than anything she’d ever known.

“You know,” Suzanne began, “for two men who never went to bed last night, Jake and Matt are both pretty chipper today.”

“They should be,” Felicity said. “The hotel took in more money last night than the
River Maiden
does in two weeks out on the water.”

“We had help,” Matt admitted. “After you and Zack left, we put Chris to work. I know he says he doesn’t want to be a lawman like his brother, but he was extremely helpful about four this morning when we were trying to coerce a couple of fellows to leave while they still owned their shirts.”

As if summoned by the mention of his name, Chris came into the parlor and took a seat at Felicity’s side. “So, my beautiful cousin, what’s for supper tonight?”

Felicity shook her head in obvious resignation, the motion drawing Suzanne’s smile. “I can certainly tell you’re a McCade. I swear you men have bottomless pits for stomachs. They’ve had no sleep, have to go back out and see to the hotel all over again this evening, and their only concern is food.”

Chris countered her claim with a devastating smile. “I’ll have you know, I slept for at least two hours.”

“To answer your question, we’re having ham, scalloped potatoes, fresh carrots from the garden and homemade biscuits,” Felicity confirmed. “And, Miri made an apple pie for dessert.”

“Speaking of my other beautiful cousin, where is she?” Chris asked.

“Most likely wrestling Molly down for a nap,” Felicity explained. “That little one is a handful and then some. I certainly hope Chance isn’t half as mischievous at that age.”