Their kiss ended when he turned his head. He put both arms around her in a gentle embrace and pressed his lips close to her ear. “You must’ve cast a spell on me.” He spoke in a ragged, husky voice. “Every time I kiss you, I want you.”
“I think it’s the way you kiss,” she answered in a voice just as frayed. “No one has ever made me feel this way. I don’t know what to do,” she said in desperation.
“You’re in luck. I do know what to do.”
“No, Payton,” she said, even though her will to resist had faded.
“Ahem.” Sylvia forced a phony cough.
Julia jumped at the sound. Her back was to Sylvia, but she recognized who stood behind her. Quickly, she straightened the bodice of her gown. She took a deep breath in an effort to calm her body.
Payton relaxed his embrace. His arms slipped from her waist. “Has the music stopped again?” he asked in an innocent voice.
“I’m afraid so.”
A huffing sound, as if from haughty satisfaction, spilled from Sylvia’s lips. “Julia darling, I am surprised. It appears as though you are actually enjoying yourself for once. But I’m afraid the entertainment must end. Elizabeth is asking for you. She’s ready to leave.”
Keeping her back to Sylvia, she nodded. Tomorrow she would be grilled for details on her behavior, but tonight she didn’t want to share this moment.
She glanced at Payton. His eyes blazed with desire. His mouth opened slightly. His tongue licked at his lips as if savoring her taste lingering there.
Her body ached for his touch. She longed to return to his arms, but Sylvia stood nearby. She forced some degree of calmness into her body and hoped her voice sounded normal when she spoke. “It’s been very nice meeting you, Captain Tyler.”
He smiled a wicked grin. “It’s been a pleasure for me also. I look forward to our next meeting.”
Sylvia waited until Julia walked away before turning her attention to Payton. “Captain, is it?” Her gaze moved over him, frankly appraising his body. “It seems Julia has left you in a very painful situation. Perhaps I can be of some assistance.”
“That’s kind of you to offer,” he said as politely as he could, “but as I said, I prefer the chase.”
“I could play that game.” She stepped closer. Her fingers fondled the lapel of his jacket. “I know a lot of other games, too.”
“Who did you say was looking for Miss Anderson?” he asked in an attempt to change the subject.
“Her employer, Elizabeth Collins. She’s quite well known among the local society here.”
“Elizabeth Collins,” he repeated slowly before the realization hit him.
He felt like he’d just been shoved overboard into the frigid sea and almost gasped for air. “You mean Betsy Dunbar?” he asked while trying to keep the shock from his voice.
“Well, yes, but no one calls her that anymore. Do you know her?”
His mind reeled from the knowledge of discovering the woman for whom Julia worked, but he tried to force some calmness into his voice. “I know her son.”
“You know Mr. Dunbar?” Surprise tinged her voice. When Payton didn’t respond, she pressed further. “And just how are you acquainted with him?”
“You might say it was in regards to a shipping venture. A private shipping venture,” he added, hoping it would put an end the subject.
“You can tell me.” She fingered his lapel again. “Lawrence and I are very old friends.”
For the first time, he looked at Sylvia with interest. She might be able to answer some of his questions, but he didn’t want to play her kind of game.
Instead, he gripped her wrist and pulled her hand from his jacket. “I’ll just wait until Dunbar gets to California and discuss it with him.”
“How do you...I mean, what makes you think Lawrence is coming here?”
Her jaw sagged opened and her eyes widened. He couldn’t tell if it was from having her advances turned down or from their discussion of Dunbar’s arrival, but he knew he’d find out soon enough.
“He sent a letter from Mexico a while back. He’s waiting for the gunshot wound in his leg to heal. It won’t be long before he turns up here in California.”
“What? How do you know that?” The words stammered from her mouth, but after a moment she seemed to regain some control. “Just because he was in Mexico, doesn’t mean he’s coming to California.”
“That’s always possible, but in this case you’re wrong. You see, I have it on very good authority that Lawrence Dunbar is coming to California. But you don’t have to take my word for it. Wilbur Hennigan knew he was on his way here also,” he said before walking away. He didn’t need to look back to know that Sylvia’s mouth gaped open.
Chapter Eight
Julia spotted Payton beneath a large oak tree as she made her way along the path leading through the park. He wore a burgundy colored shirt buttoned to his throat. The tails were tucked into black trousers. His billed cap tilted to one side and was pulled low over his forehead to shield his brilliant blue eyes from the mid-morning sun.
In all her life, she’d never met a man as spectacular as Payton. Just the sight of him made her pulse quicken. He overwhelmed her senses, scattered her thoughts, and made her long for a future.
But she had no future. The past had determined that. At the present time, she had too much at stake to alter her course. She’d sworn an oath that the men responsible for killing her brother would not go unpunished. Nothing could sway her from that quest. She’d already watched one man die for his part in her brother’s death. It would only be a matter of time before the other murderous villain fell within her grasp. When she found him, Lawrence Dunbar would pay for his crimes.
Payton had become an obstacle to her plan. He confused her mind and disrupted her concentration. He also made her body burn. She craved the caress of his hand on her bare skin, the touch of his mouth against hers, and the stroke of his tongue across her breast. A groan escaped her lips when she realized the direction her mind had taken. She attempted to chase away those thoughts as she forced down the heat that sizzled in her body.
Her obligation to Payton had to be repaid quickly so she could get on with what needed to be done. She refocused her mind as she walked toward him. “You don’t look very happy. Have you been waiting long?”
“Not long.” He had a coolness in his voice. His gaze scanned her body. “More of your employer’s borrowed clothes?”
She brushed her hand down the front of the orchard colored gown. Her fingers adjusted the tilt of the matching bonnet. This outfit had been purchased with money she’d earned as a maid when she’d lived with her mother in Chico.
“I bought this myself long before I went to work for Mrs. Collins,” she answered in a voice as cool as his.
His gaze wandered over her once more. His features softened as a smile tugged at his lips. “You look beautiful no matter who paid for them.”
She started up the path at a leisurely pace. Payton strolled along beside her. Other people meandered through the park. She waited until they passed before she spoke. “Sunday is my day off. I can meet you tomorrow at the Claremont Restaurant for dinner if that’s convenient for you. Do you know where it is?”
“Why are you working for Betsy Collins?” he asked without warning.
Puzzled, she glanced at his face. He stared back at her through narrowed eyelids. His lips thinned and pressed together. She wondered why he would be concerned about her employment. “I need the work.”
“Do you know what she is?”
“She’s an elderly lady who requires the services of a secretary.”
“She’s not a lady.” He took her arm and forced her to stop walking. He turned her to him. “She’s stolen people’s lives with every vice known to man.”
“I don’t concern myself with gossip,” she said stiffly. “And neither should you.”
“Why are you working for her?” he asked again, but it sounded more like a demand than a questi
on.
“I already told you,” she answered as calmly as she could. “I need the work. Not everyone can be a sea captain,” she added with a little sarcasm.
“I suppose not.” His stance relaxed, and his smile returned. He tucked her arm through the crook of his elbow before starting along the path again. “Have you worked for her long?”
“About three months.”
“You don’t seem like the usual type of…ah…girl she would hire. How did you happen to go to work for her?”
Julia knew the type of girl he meant. She surmised he must have discovered Betsy had owned a brothel before she moved to Sacramento.
“She attends the same church that I—” She paused with her explanation when he broke into laughter. “Do you really want to hear this?”
“Absolutely,” he said in a sober voice, but humor shone in his eyes. “The novelty of a repentant Dunbar just took me by surprise. Please, go on.”
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly while trying to regain her composure. “While Mrs. Collins recuperated at home from the fall that injured her knee, some of the ladies from the church visited her. I went along a few times and eventually offered her my services.”
“Services?” He cocked a dark eyebrow.
“As a secretary. She must have thought it just as amusing as you. That’s probably why she hired me.”
“Why was it so amusing?”
“Because of my references.”
A quizzical look spread over his face. “What’s wrong with your references?”
“Nothing. I was staying with the family of one of the deacons of the church. My father had been minister of another church for a number of years.”
He came to a sudden halt. Without speaking, he stared at her.
“I suppose you find that amusing also?”
“Not in the least. Does your father know who you’re working for?”
“My father is dead. So is my mother. I suppose that makes me an orphan. Would you like to hear about the rest of my life?” she asked in a curt voice. “My parents traveled west to spread the gospel. I was born somewhere along the Oregon Trail in the back of a—”
“Why are you angry?” he interrupted.
“I’m not angry. You wanted to know about me so I’m telling you. Not that it matters. You already seem to have your own preconceived notions.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“You know exactly what I mean. You think just because I work for Mrs. Collins, I must be one of her girls.”
“No, I don’t. It’s just that I was surprised when I learned who you worked for.”
“You needn’t worry. I only provide secretarial services.”
“Was it your secretarial duties that took you to San Francisco last week?”
She turned away from his gaze. He had too many questions, and she couldn’t give any answers. “My work for Mrs. Collins had nothing to do with my visit there, so you can put your mind to rest.”
“My mind would rest a lot easier if you’d tell me how you managed to stumble into the Devil’s Lair.”
“I already told you why I was there.”
“That you were lost? No, I mean the truth. Or are you afraid I won’t be able to handle the shock?” A hint of humor tinged his voice.
“You don’t strike me as a man who’s easily shocked.”
“I’m glad you realize that.” With his hand on her shoulder, he turned her towards him. “So tell me. I want to hear it from you.”
Although she knew it impossible, deep down, she had an uneasy feeling that somehow he already knew what had happened that night. “I may be obligated to you for helping me, but I do not owe you an explanation for everything I do.”
“You’re right, of course, but I thought perhaps you believed in me enough to tell the truth. You trusted me with your life. And last night you depended on me not to say anything to Sylvia Morgan.”
Her eyes closed for a moment. She did trust him, but how could she tell him the truth. She had to tell him something, though. He seemed determined not to let the matter go without an explanation.
A woman with two small children traveled along the path. Julia waited until they walked farther away, giving her time to concoct a believable story. Feeling certain no one could overhear, she began her story, but she couldn’t bring herself to look at him while she lied.
“All right, if you must know, I went to San Francisco to interview for another position...as a governess. I became lost because I wasn’t familiar with that part of town. The reason I didn’t want Sylvia to know was because she would undoubtedly tell Mrs. Collins, and I was afraid I’d be dismissed for seeking other employment.”
When he didn’t answer, she looked at him. An unreadable expression covered his face. His lips thinned. The muscles in his jaw flexed. His eyelids squinted to narrow slits as if he studied her intently.
After a moment, his expression softened, but the brilliance had disappeared from his eyes. He took her arm. They strolled along the path together, neither speaking for a short time.
“If you claim that’s the truth, I won’t argue,” he said, his tone casual. “I don’t think anyone else will call you a liar either...seeing as how a dead man can’t talk.”
Julia froze in her tracks. Her gaze scanned his face. She hoped to find a hint of the dead man to whom he referred.
He stared back just as determined, as if daring her to speak the name out loud.
Her heart almost leapt out of her throat, but she swallowed it down. “You mean the two men you killed that night?” Her breath halted as she waited for his answer.
“There were three dead men,” he said, his voice as chilling as his gaze. “Are you forgetting Wilbur Hennigan?”
Stunned, she stared at him without speaking. Abruptly, she turned away and started up the path at a rapid pace. His hurried footsteps across the packed dirt echoed close behind. He grabbed her upper arm and pulled her from the path. They stood next to the trunk of an oak tree.
“You knew all along.” Her voice quaked as she spoke. “How? How did you know?”
“Your evening gloves, the ones that matched the sapphire-blue gown you wore that night. They were under his body.”
Her eyes opened wide. She put her fingers to her lips to muffle her gasp. Her hand trembled against her mouth. “Does anyone else know I was there?”
He shook his head. “I’m the only one who knew you’d lost your gloves. I haven’t told anyone else.”
Her anger flared. She jerked her arm from his grasp. “Is this another attempt to blackmail me?”
“I’ve never tried to blackmail you,” he snapped.
“Then what do you want?” she cried out.
He shrugged. “Perhaps I want your trust.”
“I thought you only wanted for us to know each other better so I wouldn’t be so frightened of you,” she said while choking back a sob.
“I still do.” His eyebrows knitted together. “You seem to be in some kind of trouble, Julia. I want to help you.”
“You want too much.”
“You don’t belong with this crowd. They’re like a bunch of hungry sharks. They’ll eat you alive. “
“I can take care of myself.”
He laughed slightly, but the humor didn’t reach his eyes. “I’ve yet to see that.”
He might be right about last weekend, but up until that night, she’d done a fine job of looking after herself. “You’ve learned all you’re going to about me. If that isn’t enough, here’s the money I offered for your help.” She searched around in her bag until she found a few coins. She threw them at his feet. “Now we’re even. And I don’t ever want to see you again.”
Chapter Nine
By the time Julia turned the corner of the block that lead to Betsy’s house, her tears had dried, but her body still shook with a variety of emotions. Fear. Anger. Betrayal. But what hurt the most was her sense of loss. Payton was gone from her life. She’d never see him again.
She had difficulty understanding her feelings. Wasn’t this exactly what she wanted—to have him out of her life so she could continue with what needed to be done? Now that she’d severed any further contact with him, she felt alone and abandoned. Without him, she seemed to stumble around in a dark and hostile forest. A pack of vicious wolves surrounded her and nipped at her heels. They all seemed anxious to attack and devour her without mercy. Until now, she had not considered Payton one of those creatures, yet it seemed he had turned against her also.
He claimed he wanted her trust, but how could she trust anyone, especially him. He already knew far too much. He knew where she’d been and with whom that night when they’d first met. Now he demanded to know why she had been there. But why? And how could a man like Wilber Hennigan be of any possible interest to Payton.
She’d accused him of trying to blackmail her, although she didn’t believe that was his motive. He’d looked sincere when he offered to help. Perhaps she needed it, but she couldn’t involve him. What reason did he have for learning why she’d been at the Double Eagle Shipping Company? She only knew she couldn’t tell him. It was her secret. She wouldn’t share it with anyone. Not even Payton.
Preoccupied with thoughts of what had happened in the park, she failed to notice Sylvia’s carriage parked near the curb until she was almost in front of the house. She diverted her route and hurried along the narrow path that circled around the house.
Betsy stayed in bed until noon, so she didn’t worry about running into her for another hour, but she didn’t want to talk with Sylvia. As she climbed the steps to the back entrance where the servants entered, she tried to compose herself. Just as she reached for the handle, the maid jerked open the door.
“Miss Anderson.” She looked anxious. That meant Betsy was awake and had been berating the poor girl. “Mrs. Collins and Mrs. Morgan would like you to join them in the morning room.”
“I’ll be right there, Elsie. I just need to freshen up,” she said to stall for time. After her argument with Payton, her body still trembled. She went upstairs to her room and removed her hat and gloves.
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