Read The Lawman's Agreement (Entangled Scandalous) Online

Authors: Nancy Fraser,Patti Shenberger

Tags: #historical romance, #post civil-war, #cowboy, #Patti Shenberger, #doctor, #fake engagement, #U.S. Marshal, #Nancy Fraser, #McCade Legacy

The Lawman's Agreement (Entangled Scandalous) (4 page)

BOOK: The Lawman's Agreement (Entangled Scandalous)
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Chapter Five

Suzanne pressed her hands firmly against Zack’s chest and pushed. “What was that for?” she asked. “There’s not a soul in sight.”

“I was getting it out of the way,” Zack said simply. “I didn’t want there to be any tension between us. Now we can sit back and enjoy our picnic.”

No tension
. Then why was her pulse racing? Why was the hummingbird back and flapping his wings in the very pit of her stomach? Why was she picturing herself and Zack laying together on this picnic blanket? Suzanne could think of far less dangerous ways to release tension than kissing Zack McCade. And if she were able to form any type of a coherent thought, she just might tell him so.

Instead she reached for the first cloth-wrapped bowl he’d removed from the picnic basket and asked, “So, what’s for lunch?”

Zack grinned at her then, obviously far more comfortable with their ruse than she. It was all she could do to muster up a faint smile in return.

“Fried chicken, some of Miss Maribell’s prize winning potatoes, and cherry pie for dessert.”

Suzanne lifted a piece of chicken from the bowl and stared at it. “It’s coated in flour and fried in lard,” she said, scrunching up her nose.

“That’s how they make fried chicken,” Zack confirmed.

She shuddered and licked her lips. “This can’t be good for you. No matter how good it tastes, it leaves a greasy taste in my mouth. It wouldn’t surprise me to find that some doctor, somewhere, was doing a study on the ill effects of too much grease on a person’s system.”

“Tell me something,
cher
. Do you ever shut down that medical brain of yours?”

“No,” she answered emphatically. “If anything, I do my best to keep my brain working at all times.”

“Even when you’re making love?”

“Excuse me?”

“You were engaged once, right. I assume—”

“Quit assuming anything where I’m concerned, Marshal, or our engagement will not only be fake, it will be off.”

Zack raised his hands in surrender. “Will you at least try the potatoes?”

Suzanne nodded. “And maybe a small piece of the cherry pie.”

They ate their lunch in silence, the only sounds around them the chirping of a small bird and the rushing of the Mississippi over nearby rocks.

“I was thinking,” he began, breaking through the peace and quiet. “Perhaps we should take a ride on the
River Maiden
. It doesn’t have to be an entire weekend, just one of the evening trips. Half the town goes out for dinner and gambling. We’re sure to be seen by all the right gossips.”

“I’m not so sure,” she said, hesitating. “I mean what if we were needed?”

“Now that Doc Miller is back from visiting his sister, he can cover for you. And, heaven knows my deputies need something to keep them busy.”

“It’s been rather quiet these past few days, hasn’t it?”

Zack chuckled. “Don’t jinx it. I like it quiet.”

“You do?”

“Yes I do. Despite the fact that I wear a badge, it doesn’t mean I look for trouble.”

“That’s a relief. Now if we could only curb your penchant for being over-protective of everything and everyone around you.”

“I don’t do that.”

“Maybe not consciously, but it is ingrained in your personality.”

He stared at her for the longest of moments and then asked, “Is that such a bad thing? Wanting to protect the people and the town that I care about.”

“No, as long as you recognize the fact that people want their freedom, to be responsible for themselves.”

“People,
cher
, or just you?”

“Anyone, man or woman, who values their independence.” She paused, much as he had moments earlier. “Except, of course, for all those young women who’d love to be swept off their feet and handled by a big, strong lawman.”

“Oh, right . . .them.”

“So, I guess you have a choice to make, Marshal. We can continue this proposed ruse while you allow me to enjoy my independence, my right to fend for myself. Or, perhaps, you’d be better suited pursuing a woman who doesn’t mind being smothered by over-protectiveness.”

“I tell you what, Suzanne. You put your best effort into our ‘engagement’, and I’ll do my darnedest to understand what’s so all-fired important about opening your own door, or refusing an escort home in the dark.” Zack stuck out his hand. “Deal?”

Suzanne placed her hand in his and, as it did every time they touched, a shiver ran up her arm. “Deal, Marshal.”

Little more than an hour later, Zack drew the buggy to a stop outside the clinic and then helped Suzanne down from her seat.

“I had a wonderful time,” she told him. And, as unexpected as it was, she spoke the truth. Other than the kiss and their short discussion about independence, they’d done nothing more than relax, enjoy Miss Maribell’s delicious food, and discuss the rapid growth happening all around them. Suzanne couldn’t remember when she’d had a more enjoyable lunch.

Zack leaned forward and pressed a chaste kiss to her cheek.

“For the spectators,” he whispered, nodding in the direction of the mayor’s wife and her daughter.

“Yes, of course.” Suzanne felt a moment of confusion over her disappointment that the kiss had been part of their ruse.

“We never did agree on the evening cruise on the
River Maiden
,” he reminded her.

“No, we didn’t.” She opened her mouth, fully intending to make an excuse. Yet, for some inexplicable reason found herself saying, “Thursday evening would be good.”

“Thursday’s fine with me too.” Leaning forward, he buzzed her cheek a second time.

“More spectators?” she asked.

Zack shook his head. “Nope. That one was all for me.”

Suzanne let herself into the cottage early Thursday evening. She’d left the clinic right after rounds and hurried home to get ready for their trip on the
River Maiden
. Second thoughts had plagued her most of the day. As an “official appearance” as Zack had deemed it, a night on a gambling boat was as good as any, she supposed. It wasn’t the boat or the crowd of townspeople that had her on edge…it was the idea of spending the evening on Zack’s arm and, undoubtably, sharing a number of Zack’s enticing kisses. Her long dormant senses had been giving her fits of late, begging to be recognized and relieved of the mounting sexual tension within her body. She drew a deep breath, pushed thoughts of Zack and his kisses aside, and turned toward her bedroom to get ready.

Exactly what did one wear on a river cruise? Suzanne sorted through her wardrobe, pushing each dress aside only to come back to it moments later. She finally decided on a royal blue evening dress with matching slippers. After laying the dress out on her bed, she took a seat at the dressing table and pulled the pins from her hair.

It had been a busy day and she’d thought more than once about canceling their evening excursion. She’d splinted one wrist, applied a plaster of paris cast to an arm, and removed a nail from a man’s hand. All three injuries had come from the new lumber mill. Obviously, Zack hadn’t had any more luck than she’d had in encouraging safer work practices. If this kept up, Mr. McLeary would soon be out his entire work force.

Setting aside thoughts of the injured workers, Suzanne concentrated on repinning her hair in a softer array of curls, using pearl combs to hold the heavier strands in place. She’d barely managed to don her dress and slip into her shoes, when a knock sounded at the front door.

“Good evening, Marshal,” Suzanne said when she pulled the door open and came face-to-face with Zack.

“Good evening to you too,
cher
.”

Suzanne let the endearment pass in favor of admiring Zack’s evening suit, neatly combed hair, and freshly shaven and very handsome face.

“Are we ready to go?” she asked, reaching for her wrap.

“As ready as we’ll ever be.”

Zack offered her his arm, and Suzanne gladly accepted.

The
River Maiden
was alive with activity, both sides of the boarding ramp accepting passengers. Once they’d made their way to the top, Suzanne placed her hand in Jake McCade’s and smiled when he brushed her fingertips with a kiss.

“You keep that up, Jake, and I might have to shoot you, right there where you stand,” Zack told him, his stern words at odds with the grin on his face.

“I wasn’t expecting you two onboard tonight,” Jake said. “What’s the occasion?”

Zack leaned forward so his words wouldn’t carry further than the three of them. “We thought we might make an official courting appearance. What better place than here on the
River Maiden
? By the looks of it, half the town has come out tonight.”

“Not quite half, but close,” Jake confirmed. “Why don’t you have a quick stroll around the deck before you make your way down to the main salon? I’ll have the head steward seat you at my table.”

Zack offered Suzanne his arm, and they strolled off in the direction of the open deck, stopping just short of the bow.

“It’s a beautiful night,” Suzanne commented when they found an open space along the railing. “I can surely understand the allure of an evening on the open water.”

“The perfect place to put in an appearance as a couple,” Zack said, his reminder whispered at her ear. “Nobody would think otherwise if I were to reach out and brush my hand along your shoulder, push aside a strand of your silky hair.”

Zack followed his enticing words with action, the very touch of his fingertips sending a tingle of electricity down Suzanne’s back and arms.

“What…what…would you do next…to keep up the pretense, of course?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Perhaps I’d lean forward and press a quick kiss to the creamy skin I’d uncovered.”

Suzanne tightened her hands on the top rail, her body trembling when Zack dusted her shoulder with his lips, teased the sensitive spot at the base of her throat with his neatly trimmed mustache.

“I should think the townspeople will be easily convinced of our intentions.”

“Maybe. Of course, for the sake of our ruse, we could also…”

Suzanne turned slightly and looked back over her shoulder, raising her gaze to his. “We could what, Marshal?”

Zack leaned forward until his lips hovered above hers. With the gentlest of touches, he laid his splayed palm against the side of her throat and stroked his thumb across the pulse she could feel thrumming at the base. “We could kiss.”

Suzanne nodded slightly and then raised her head until their lips met. Tentative at first, Zack’s mouth descended upon hers as softly as a feather floating through a slight summer breeze.

The kiss took her breath away with its simplicity. When Zack lifted his head and stepped away, it was all Suzanne could do not to beg for another.

Thankfully, she was saved from just that by the sound of the boat’s whistle indicating it was time for departure. Within moments, the
River Maiden
was underway, chugging its way out of port and turning toward the open Mississippi River.

Zack placed her hand in the crook of his arm and moved them away from the rail, charting a course around the big boat. “I’d like to see the paddlewheel at work.”

“Yes,” Suzanne agreed. “It should be very interesting.”

“Not to mention, an entire new crowd of people to mislead with our pretense.”

“Of course,” Suzanne agreed. The thought of sharing another of Zack’s seductions for the sake of their ruse sent a warm sensation flooding through her very being, settling in the pit of her stomach.

Little more than an hour later, their tour of the boat behind them, Suzanne and Zack joined Jake and his guests at the main table in the ornate dining salon. Once Zack had seated Suzanne to Jake’s left, he extended his hand to the bank manager, Theodore Gosling.

“Good evening, Marshal,” Gosling said. “I didn’t realize you were a gambling man.”

Zack shook his head. “I’m not. Doctor Martindale and I are only here for one of Patrick’s fancy meals and a bit of relaxation out on the Mississippi.”

Gosling’s wife turned to Suzanne and said, “I understand the two of you are courting. I’m almost certain the news has broken a few hearts in Greenville. My brother Wallace’s for one.”

Suzanne smiled demurely and met the woman’s steady gaze. “Your brother is a fine gentleman, Mrs. Gosling. I’m certain he’ll have no trouble finding himself a suitable match.”

“I trust you’re all having a good time so far,” Jake said, lifting Mrs. Gosling’s hand to his lips for a kiss.

“You know we are, Mr. McCade,” Lorelei Gosling said. “You’ve made us feel more than welcome.”

Suzanne wondered if Jake would acknowledge the past family history between himself and Gosling’s son and was quite grateful when everyone let the issue pass.

“Miss MacKinnon,” Suzanne said, wanting to move the conversation along as well as appease her own curiosity. “I can’t help but wonder what a young lady such as yourself sees in making these trips on her own.”

The young woman turned to face Suzanne head-on, as if she wished to prompt a confrontation. Suddenly Suzanne wished she’d never broached the subject.

BOOK: The Lawman's Agreement (Entangled Scandalous)
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