Turner's Vision (8 page)

“You wanted to play this game.” Micah continued, walking to the edge of the bed. “I guess I’ll just have to show you how dangerous it can be for a lady to dress like a harlot and work in a tavern.”

His hand reached out to touch her hair, snapping Claudia back to reality. She bolted around the bed toward the door. Micah reached it at the same time, clamping her back up against him with one solid arm, while the other hand covered her mouth.

“I want you to understand one thing, my dear,” he whispered into her ear, his warm breath sending a blinding heat through to her core. “You are not leaving this room until morning. We’ve no idea how long their meeting will take place, and I don’t intend for anyone but myself to touch you.”

For emphasis, he moved his hand up to cup one rounded breast. Claudia’s breath caught in her throat, strange sensations coursing through her. Not only was Micah’s hand making her feel hot and cold at the same time, but the proof of his desire pressed against her behind.

“Can you tell how much I want you?” His voice sent more shivers down her spine. Micah pulled her back to the bed. “Are you happy, knowing how excited I am by seeing you in your little disguise?” He turned her around, pulling her up into his arms, locking her breasts against his warm chest. “Is this what you wanted to happen?”

“No.” Claudia shook her head.

“Isn’t it?” Micah lowered his head, kissing her with both the anger and desire she’d worked up in him. He pulled her closer, bending her backward. His lips softened slightly as he stroked her lips with his tongue, coaxing her to open them to him.

Hesitantly, Claudia parted her lips, melting further into him. His tongue swept in, igniting her to her very soul. Her arms came up to rest momentarily on his then moved upward, allowing her fingers to thread through his blond hair.

Slowly, Micah’s kiss gentled. He lifted his lips, whispering against hers, “Isn’t this what you wanted?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

Suddenly, he released her. Reaching down, he picked up his stinky sweater, tossed it over near the door then grabbed his warm cotton shirt and yanked it over her head. She was so stunned by his abrupt actions, she couldn’t protest as he thrust first one of her arms, then the other into the shirt sleeves. Micah lifted her up and laid her gently on the bed. Then he climbed in behind her, pulling his coat up over them both, wrapping his arms around her.

“Micah?” Claudia whispered out of her dazed fog.

“What?” His voice sounded raspy in her ears.

“Is that all there is?”

“Tonight, that is all there is for us. This bed probably hasn’t been cleaned in years, little one. When I make love to you, it will be on a clean bed. Now go to sleep.”

Claudia held herself stiffly while she listened to the rhythm of his breathing. After a few minutes, the heat from Micah’s body seeped through to warm and relax her. Her last thoughts before sleep were that Micah said
when
he made love to her, not if.

She fell asleep with a smile on her face, and Micah’s hand on her breast.

* * * * *    

A slight tap on the door brought Micah fully awake. Easing himself away from Claudia’s warm body, he covered her with the coat. For a moment, he stood looking down at the sleeping woman. He brushed the riotous rust colored curls back from her face, his hand lingering against the smoothness of her cheek. The tap came again, summoning him to the door.

“Simon?”

“It’s me, sir.”

Micah opened the door to allow the man into the room, then braced the chair once more against the knob. He motioned for Simon Smith, a Pinkerton agent posing as the tavern’s bartender last night to join him over by the window, away from the bed.

“What time is it?” Micah whispered.

“An hour before dawn, sir. The meeting broke up about an hour ago. I waited until I was sure no one was still watching before I came up the stairs.” He handed Micah a bundle of clothes. Looking over at the bed, a small smile lit his features. “She sure took you by surprise sir, didn’t she?”

“You could say that.” Micah opened the bundle to find the black pants and sweater he’d left with Simon earlier the day before. He slipped the sweater over his head. “I would like to know what you think you were doing, allowing her to dress up like that and serve tables last night.”

“Sir, I was as surprised as you were to see her come strolling from the back room. It was supposed to be Dolly serving those men. That was definitely Dolly’s dress she was wearing. Somehow, she must’ve convinced her to trade places for the night.” He watched the sleeping woman while Micah slipped off the obnoxious smelling pants and donned the clean ones. “For one so small, she has more guts than some men I know.”

“More guts than sense, that’s for sure. Did you happen to find something for her to wear out of here?”

“There’s a skirt and cape one of the girls gave me. What are you planning to do with her? She’ll just keep getting into trouble if you let her flounder out there on her own.”

“I know.” Micah gazed at the woman curled up on the bed. She was as determined about uncovering this plot as a dog digging at a bone.

He was going to have to keep her under closer watch, starting today.

A deep sigh escaped him. She wouldn’t be happy about his plan. No, sparks were bound to fly when she found out. “Let’s get her up and out of here before dawn breaks. It’ll cause quite a lot of talk if her neighbors see her coming home at this hour.”

“Your man Kelly’s got the carriage waiting outside.”

“Good.” He let Simon out the door, barring it once more.

Leaning over Claudia’s face, he gently pressed his lips to hers. “Time to wake up,” he whispered lightly against her lips. He was rewarded by a smile and two dusky, warm, brown eyes opening in sleepy confusion. “We’ve got to get you home before your neighbors wake up.”

He helped her sit up, then pulled the skirt over her head. Finally awake, Claudia stood to fix the skirt around her waist as best she could.

Whomever Simon had borrowed it from was a few sizes larger in the middle than she. Micah shook out the cape and tied it around her neck, pulling it closed around her.

Kelly waited just outside the tavern door with an unmarked carriage. As soon as Micah and Claudia were inside, he started the team from the dock toward the bridge to Washington. The lurching vehicle caused Claudia to fall into Micah’s solid frame. He braced his arm around her shoulders, securing her to his side.

She looked up at him to say thank you, but the words died on her lips. Confusion filled her eyes.

He was just as confused. He didn’t know whether to kiss her, take her over his knees like a spoiled child, or comfort her and tell her everything would be all right. He gave into the last.

“Just relax. The way Kelly drives, you’ll be bouncing all around otherwise.” His grip loosened a little, his fingers idly stroking her arm. “Henderson should be shot for letting you out last night.”

“Henderson doesn’t control what I do, Micah. He may be the closest thing I have to family, but he is still my employee, not my father.”

She tried again to pull away. This time he released her just as Kelly turned a corner. Once more she was thrown into him. He looked down at her as if to say I told you so.

“Why don’t you tell your driver to slow down?” she grumbled against his side.

“Because, my dear, I wish to get you home before dawn if at all possible. Your reputation is already suffering because of last night’s escapade. There is no reason to add more damage to it than necessary.”

“Hang my reputation. At my age, a bad reputation is better than none at all.” She smiled at her own humor. “Why should you care about my reputation? It’s mine after all, not yours.”

“I have my reasons. Soon I will explain them to you.”

“Does it have to do with the case?” Her anger forgotten, her face filled with growing excitement.

“In a roundabout way.”

“How?”

“I will explain it to you later today. In the meantime, fix your hair. We’re turning onto your street.”

Henderson met them at the front door, opening it before they could use the knocker. Micah followed Claudia into the house, and before she could head him off, he lifted her in his arms, taking the stairs to the next landing.

“Micah, what are you doing? Put me down!” Claudia raised her arms to push herself out of his hold, but to no avail. “This is my home, and I will not have you manhandling me in such a fashion.”

“Which room is hers, Henderson?” Micah paused to let the servant pass him and indicate Claudia’s bedroom. Henderson pointed to the one on the right at the top of the stairs.

Claudia shot them both her most indignant look.

“Do you have a key to it?” Micah asked, following Henderson down the hall.

“I have keys to all the rooms.”

“Good.” Micah walked into Claudia’s room and dropped her in the center of the large, mahogany bed. Turning, he followed Henderson out, closing the door behind them.

A dazed Claudia stared at their backs. The door closed. The quiet click of the key in the door brought her to her senses. She flew at the door in a rage, pounding on it with her fists, kicking at it with her feet.

“Damn you, Micah Turner! You can’t lock me in my own room, in my own house. I won’t stand for it! Henderson, let me out of here. I’ll never forgive you for this. Do you hear me? I won’t forgive either one of you.” She jiggled the brass handle. Giving the door one last solid kick, she stomped back to the bed in a huff.

“You’re just like every other man.” She threw a pillow at the door. “Think you can order me around just because I’m a woman. You’re not my father or my brother, you know. You’re not even my husband, Micah. You can’t get away with this!” Realizing she was getting nowhere with this tirade, she settled herself down to think.

Somehow she had to get out of her room. Then she was going back to that tavern to prove to Micah Turner that she was a force to be reckoned with. He had to be going back there, she just knew it. Why else would he lock her up without an explanation? He must have seen or heard something last night, and didn’t want to share the information with her. He might be bigger and stronger than her, but she was clever.

When the boys awakened, she’d get one of them to pick the lock for her. She knew Adam could do it. And when she was out, she would have him teach her how to do it. Never, never would she be locked in or out again.

Humming to herself, she walked into the tiled bathroom, and set about filling the porcelain tub with water. One thing her father had done right in all the years he ruled her life was install the new indoor plumbing. Today, she would enjoy soaking in the hot water.

She removed the cape and skirt Micah had given her to wear, along with the smelly sweater he’d thrust on her. Throwing them into the corner, she followed them with the green silky dress and lace corset. Her eyes rested on the corset for a moment, remembering the kiss it had evoked from Micah the night before. A smile crossed her face when she remembered his promise.

When I make love to you
.

She climbed into the tub. A heartfelt sigh escaped her as she sank into the warm water. She lathered soap on her face, to clean away the doxy makeup.

First, she’d prove to Micah he couldn’t force her out of the investigation. Then she was going to find some way to make him keep that promise. Every woman should be made love to once in her life, no matter how unattractive she was. And Micah was going to fulfill that need for her.

When all the grime, sweat and odor were washed from her tired body, Claudia climbed out and toweled dry. Donning a cotton gown, she crawled between the sheets of her bed. Rest would give her an added advantage when the time came to get even with Micah.

She smiled wickedly at the thought. As a child she was never allowed to act in any sort of childish behavior. Now at the age of thirty-two, she was gloriously playing dress up, following criminals in a game of intrigue, and planning revenge on two traitorous men. It might be childish, but at long last she was doing what she wanted. Her father would roll over in his grave.

Liking that idea, she snuggled down in the covers and fell asleep, smiling.

* * * * *    

The key turning in the lock woke her. Lifting a hand to shield her eyes from the late-afternoon sun as it poured into her window, Claudia turned onto her back, stretching at her leisure. The gown had crept up around her hips and thighs revealing her long toned calves.

Micah cleared his throat, causing her to pull the covers over her body.

What a shame, but he had things to discuss with her. Ogling all her creamy flesh would have to wait.

“What do you want?” She tossed her hair, then flounced out of bed to stand with her hands on her hips.

“I’ve come to talk with you about this situation we find ourselves in.” He liked the way the white gown flowed off of her shoulders, making her look like an angel standing in a cloud.

“The only situation we have to discuss is the one in which you lock me in my room then enter it at your will, sir.” Claudia marched over to the door. Looking up at him with daggers in her eyes, she waited for him to move. He hesitated for a single moment, then moved aside.

She turned the knob to find it was once again locked. It wasn’t the opening of her lock she’d heard, but Micah locking himself in with her.

“Ooh…you… Give me the key back.” Claudia turned accusing eyes up at him. He had the greatest desire to kiss the look off her face. But that would have to wait until later, too.

“I told you we need to discuss a few things, first.” He took her arm, guiding her over to her dressing room chair.

Suddenly, she dropped down into a crouch, cowering and covering her head with her arm.

Her reaction stunned him.

“Claudia.” He knelt down beside her, saying her name as gently as he could.

He touched her shoulder, and she cringed away from him.

“Claudia, I’m not going to hurt you.” He moved her arm from her face, turning her chin up so he could see her eyes. They were vacant, unseeing orbs. He’d seen that same look in the faces of young men in the aftermath of battle. Then Micah remembered what Henderson had said to him the other night.