After stepping into her room, she locked the door and leaned against it for extra measure. She wrapped her arms across her trembling body while trying to make sense of what had just happened. There’d been something about the way he’d looked at her, with those smoldering brown eyes of his that made her skin shiver and her heart race. But had she actually considered kissing him?
Her head shook in denial. While growing up in Boston, her grandmother had raised her to be a proper lady. And ladies never kissed gentlemen they barely knew.
He’d also had the audacity to accuse her of taking liberties. Her palms tingled at the thought of touching his bare chest, but she’d only done so in an effort to push him away.
She closed her eyes, hoping to force thoughts of him from her mind, but images of his naked body appeared on the inside of her eyelids. Frustrated with the pictures in her brain, she opened her eyes and paced around the room.
When she spotted the white gloves laying on the bed, the reason she’d left her room surfaced in her mind. The deputy who had met her earlier today when her steamer had docked, had informed her that her father’s former attorney required her presence in the sheriff’s office at five o’clock about a matter of great importance.
Cassie pulled up the edge of her skirt to examine the ripped petticoat. She breathed a sigh of relief when she determined the torn area didn’t need to be mended. After straightening her clothing and tugging on the gloves, she opened the door just enough to peer out into the hallway. No one wandered about, so she slipped out of her room and crossed to the far side of the hall. She almost passed the gunman’s room when his door opened wide.
Startled, she turned to face him. Her back pressed against the wall for support when her knees wobbled. She looked toward the stairway before glancing back at him. At least he was dressed. A white shirt covered his chest. A black ribbon tie was knotted at his throat. He shrugged his shoulders into a brown jacket while dangling a gray western hat in his fingers.
When she looked at his face, his lips curved into a smile—a nice smile. Not that lopsided half-a-grin he’d done earlier. She was tempted to smile back, but resisted. He might appear harmless now, but a few moments ago he’d behaved horribly.
Another door opened onto the hallway. Cassie heard voices. The noise jolted her into action. She dashed toward the stairs. When she reached the center of the hotel lobby, she glanced behind her. Other people milled around the room, but she spotted him easily. With his tall, muscular frame, he stood out from the others. She saw his face over their heads. He stared directly at her, and he still smiled.
Her heart beat faster, and she couldn’t catch her breath. This same reaction had occurred earlier when he’d held her against his body, only now he stood halfway across the room.
She had to get out of the hotel and into open space. Fresh air—that’s what she needed.
****
Mitch Hardin followed the young woman through the lobby. By the time he reached the front walk, she’d put a fair distance between them. She clutched her skirt in front with both hands while weaving through a crowd of people with remarkable grace as well as a lot of speed. Her body turned and twisted with an almost fluid motion of elegance and dexterity.
If she knew the view she presented him, she wouldn’t hold her skirt so tightly. His intense gaze distinguished the faint outline of her slender thighs and the sway of her shapely hips.
His eyebrows furrowed as he watched her hurry down the walk. Her hasty departure made it obvious she intended to get as far away from him as possible.
Disgusted with himself, Mitch uttered a heavy sigh. He’d only meant to be amusing when he’d found her sitting outside his door, but instead, he’d frightened her. Anyone would be when looking down the wrong end of a Colt.
When he’d first heard someone trying to open his door, he’d not known who he’d find on the other side. Certainly not such a fascinating lady. He recalled how she looked like a fluffy ball of golden sunshine lying at his feet. Her bright yellow dress had billowed out around her. Wisps of reddish-gold hair had spilled from beneath her golden straw hat. Even her cheeks had glowed with a radiant, sunny tint.
Her eyes were the only things that had not looked like sunshine. Instead, he’d been reminded of sparkling pools of the purest blue. Turquoise blue.
She mesmerized him as if casting a spell upon him. When he’d picked her up from the floor and held her in front of him, all rational thought had left his mind. Her closeness had overwhelmed his senses. Even now, he felt the touch of her warm hand on his bare skin.
Her scent lingered in his memory. There had been a hint of perfume—roses, perhaps, but there was more. He inhaled deeply as if experiencing again the glow of her skin, the sheen from her hair, and her sheer feminine essence.
When he’d looked at her face, he’d been captivated by the sparkle in her eyes, the flush on her cheeks, and the glisten of her lips.
Then he’d tried to kiss her.
She’d been right when accusing him of taking liberties. That’s why he waited for her to leave her room again. He wanted to apologize, but he’d only frightened her more. He hadn’t intended to open his door so abruptly, but he’d not wanted to miss an opportunity to talk with her.
For just a moment, with her back pressed against the wall, it appeared as if she smiled, but she suddenly bolted for the stairs. That’s when he decided not to crowd her. A public place with other people around might put her more at ease. But it looked like he’d have to catch her first.
Fortunately, she turned in the same direction he needed to go for his appointment. A good friend had asked him to act as bodyguard for an old spinster from Boston who’d be in town for a few days. He had to meet his friend and the old lady in the sheriff’s office at five o’clock. But right now he wanted to spend a few moments with an enchanting young lady. He’d behaved crudely and wanted to redeem his honor—at least in her eyes.
When he turned the corner at the end of the block, he discovered he’d gained considerable headway. She had to be walking as fast as she could, but with his long legs, he’d easily shortened the distance.
He watched her steal a quick glance over her shoulder. When she spotted him, she stopped and turned toward a storefront window. She probably realized she couldn’t outrun him, and must be hoping he’ll walk past without an incident.
That’s what he intended to do, but first he’d convey an apology.
He stopped directly behind her. Over the top of her head he saw her image in the glass pane. “Did you forget something else?”
“No, I did not forget anything,” she said to his reflection.
“Perhaps there’s something I can do for you?” He intended that to be a polite inquiry, but somehow it sounded suggestive, even to his ears.
“Yes, there is.” She whirled around so quickly that her bright yellow skirt brushed across his legs. “You can quit following me.”
“As intriguing as that idea is, since you present such a lovely view of your backside...”
Streaks of red appeared on her throat and spread upward to her creamy, white cheeks. She fascinated him, but this wasn’t the way he intended the conversation to begin. For some reason, his mind didn’t function properly when she stood near.
“Excuse me, miss.” He tipped his hat politely. “What I mean is, I’m not deliberately following you. We both just happen to be going in the same direction, only you’re in front of me.”
“I can remedy that right now. I shall just change directions.” Without waiting for him to reply, she headed for the street.
A muffled curse rolled from his lips. Why had he uttered such an outrageous remark to her?
Mitch pushed his hat back from his forehead and placed both hands on his hips as he watched her go. She had her skirt gathered in front with both hands again as she dodged carriages and horses with the same grace and precision she’d used to dodge people on the walk.
She stopped near the end of the block and glanced back
at him. He knew she must be livid by now, knowing he still stood here, still watched her.
Someone opened the door where she waited, and she stepped inside. The building appeared to be the sheriff’s office. He almost laughed out loud. She probably planned to have him arrested for tracking her through town.
He stepped off the walk and into the street. The sheriff’s office was his destination anyway. He’d go there and straighten out everything.
Suddenly, he froze in his tracks.
“God, no. It can’t be,” he said to no one. He shook his head, but knew the truth even as he denied it.
She was the old spinster he had to meet in the sheriff’s office!
****
Payton's Woman Page 28
