Good Guy Heroes Boxed Set

by Julie Ortolon

  Although Duke was busy with his job as sheriff and working the mill with his brothers, he asked again if Faith would let Adam work at the mill with him on Saturdays. It scared her too much to let him go, so Adam continued to work at the store and help in the greenhouse when not in school.

  Faith only gave massages to Duke now, and his shoulder was steadily improving. With fewer demands on her time, she was becoming the sort of wife and mother she’d dreamed of being, and she thanked Duke each night in bed for his generosity.

  Her aunts seemed to be settling in, too. Dahlia spent most of her evenings at Anna’s house, helping the women who sought refuge there. Despite Tansy’s objection to Cyrus being a Yankee, she was clearly falling in love with the man. Iris and Patrick were a mystery: They obviously cared for each other, but they were at some sort of standoff that Faith didn’t understand and couldn’t ask about.

  In late September, Cora got sick to her stomach, keeping Faith at her bedside for four exhausting nights. The fifth evening Cora was better, but Faith wasn’t feeling well.

  The next day all was right again, and that evening, after the children were sleeping, she stole across the street in the early autumn night with her husband. Inside the greenhouse, she felt her way along the counter. “Will you light the lantern while I get some linens?” she asked.

  He struck a match, illuminating his handsome face and intense, dark eyes. “Bring some of that smelly oil you like.”

  She raised an eyebrow in surprise, but his attention shifted to lighting the lantern. She grabbed an armful of linens and snatched a jar of almond oil off the shelf then followed him to the bathhouse.

  “Finally.” He shut the door behind them, sealing them in, and the world out. “This has been the longest, most miserable week of my life.”

  “Mine too.” She deposited her towels and the oil on the table at the end nearest the tub, and he set the lantern at the other end. “And tomorrow I need to drain and clean the tub.”

  “I’ll help you,” he said, drawing her into his arms. “I’ve missed you in our bed. But if you’re still feeling poorly, we can wait another night.”

  “I don’t want to wait.”

  “Are you sure? Your eyes are dark.”

  “I’m fine. I’m just worn out from sitting up with Cora.”

  “I’ll make you feel better.” He held her against his chest and rubbed his hands over her back, kneading her tight muscles with his warm fingers.

  “Mmm… I like your doctoring.”

  “I’ll take care of you,” he said, massaging her neck.

  “My muscles thank you.”

  He chuckled and worked his fingers along her shoulders, in the way she’d done to him so many times. “What made you want to learn about the body and herbs and all those concoctions you make?” he asked.

  Desperation. Loneliness. “I tended my mother’s roses with her and discovered I liked growing things. When I realized that some medicines were made from plants and trees, I wanted to learn about them, and that fed my curiosity about anatomy.”

  “I’ve developed a curiosity about anatomy too.” He palmed her stomach. “I don’t know what muscles I’m feeling, but I like when they tense up like they’re doing now.”

  “That’s my abdominis muscle, which will probably be stretched six ways from Sunday when I carry our first child.”

  “You’ll be beautiful, but let’s hold off a while. I like sneaking away with you in the middle of the night.”

  “I like it too.”

  He reached around behind her and filled his hands with her backside. “I’m particularly fond of these muscles.”

  “My gluteus maximus is flattered.”

  He wrinkled his nose. “That’s an awful name for something so lovely.” She laughed, and he lowered his mouth to nibble her neck. “Last chance to escape if you’re not feeling up to this, because if you don’t run from the room right now, I’m going to kiss you and make love to you all night.”

  “I’m not leaving.”

  “You’re sure then?”

  “More than sure. But I could use some help with my dress. There are thirty buttons on this thing.”

  “I’m in no rush.” Slowly, he slipped open the long line of buttons down the front of her dress then pushed it off her shoulders. “You know what I thought the first time I saw you?”

  “Nothing. Your mind was blank because you were stunned by my beauty”

  He pulled back, eyes wide in mock surprise. “You knew?”

  She laughed and nudged his ribs. “What did you think?”

  “That you shouldn’t be sad. That your whiskey-colored eyes should shine with happiness, that your beautiful lips should always wear a smile.”

  He’d thought all that? She smoothed her palms over his broad chest, touched by his tenderness. “I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. Being with you is… it’s I don’t know, I just feel complete in a way I’ve never known.”

  “You won’t want for anything if I can help it.”

  “Neither will you. If I could give you your heart’s desire, I would.”

  “You have, Faith. Your gorgeous body. Your smile. You. My heart’s desire. Simple as that.”

  “That’s all you want?”

  “It’s everything I need.” He hooked his hands around her hips and pulled her against him. “I’ll always want you.” He kissed her neck. “I’ll always crave you.”

  “Mmm…”

  “I want to devour you.” He rocked his hard loins against her. “Let’s get in the tub.”

  “So soon? I was enjoying your doctoring.”

  “I’m just getting started.” He gave her a playful whack on her backside. “Off with your clothes, woman. Doctor’s orders.”

  He helped her take off her shoes then took off his own while she slipped out of her petticoats and stockings. The room was warm from the bath and boiler, but she shivered, missing his arms. He stripped off his shirt then shucked his trousers. Then his drawers.

  Arms at his side, back straight, he planted his bare feet on the stone floor and faced her, all bold and glorious, unmindful of his nakedness and warrior-like pose.

  “You sure don’t look like a doctor,” she said, unable to take her eyes off her husband’s virile body.

  A crooked grin tipped his mouth. “Looks deceive, sweetheart. But you’ll like what I prescribe.” He tugged the ribbon at her waist and pushed her drawers over her hips and down her legs, kissing her thighs as he slid her undergarment to her ankles. He nibbled his way back up to her neck. Her legs were quaking when he pulled the chemise over her head. Naked, breathing in short, excited gasps, she stepped out of her drawers.

  He lifted her into the tub then climbed in behind her. “I’ve been aching all week for you,” he said, drawing her against his hot, slick body.

  “You can stop aching.” She hooked her arms around his neck and pressed her breasts to his wet chest. With a growl, he took possession of her mouth.

  Water lapped at their bodies as he kissed her, his firm lips and delving tongue stoking the fire in her body. He took it deeper, slower, rubbing his water-slick skin against hers. “I need to get the oil, sweetheart,” he said, his hot breath caressing her ear.

  “What oil?” she asked, drugged by his kiss.

  “The oil I’m going to rub all over your body”

  Oh…“I didn’t bring any.”

  A low chuckle rumbled in his chest. “It’s on the table.”

  She remembered then that she’d brought almond oil. “Don’t leave me. I don’t care about the oil.” She tightened her arms around his neck and fit their bodies closer together.

  “I’ll never leave you.” He nipped her chin then rose until her arms slipped from his neck and he stood in the tub, rivulets of water streaming down his bronze, muscled body like tiny rivers cutting down a craggy mountainside.

  Mesmerized, she stroked her palm up his rock-hard thigh to the sinewy, rippling muscles in his abdomen, awed and intrigued with his reac
ting body, with him, with this man who was revealing himself one layer at a time with each look, each caress, each word he spoke. His breath sailed out and he jerked his hips back as if her touch scalded him. He clutched the edge of the tub, leaned over and grabbed the jar of oil off the table then submerged himself to his chest in the bath.

  “Back off, woman.”

  She smiled at his playfulness.

  He blew out a shuddering breath, uncapped the jar and filled his palm with oil. “Sit on the stool and give me your foot.”

  “What?” She laughed. “I’m not concerned with my feet right now, darling husband.”

  He pointed to the end of the tub. “Humor me.”

  She sat on the stool and lifted her foot out of the water.

  He knelt in front of her and slathered the oil over her foot. “Gads, what is this stuff?”

  The scent of lavender rose from the water. “I must have I picked up the wrong jar.”

  He wrinkled his nose. “Wonderful. I’ll smell like a flower tomorrow. Just give me a dress and I’ll be able to sashay up and cuff the bad guys before they suspect a thing.”

  Her laugh sailed through the room. “Want me to run out and get the other oil?”

  “No. I want you right here with me,” he said, kneading her foot.

  She leaned her head back against the edge of the tub, enjoying the massage and the feel of his hands stroking up her calves. “You know what I thought when I first met you?” she asked.

  “That I was a hard-nosed, inconsiderate lawman who was trying to take advantage of you.”

  “No, I thought you were a hard-nosed, very handsome lawman who could easily seduce me.”

  A crooked grin slanted across his mouth. “Believe me, you weren’t easy to seduce.”

  She lifted her foot from his hands and trailed her big toe down his chest to his stomach. “I wouldn’t have resisted if I’d known how tender and loving and playful you are.”

  He released an exaggerated sigh. “And here I’d thought my big, bad sheriff act attracted you.”

  “That tough, commanding side of you is a bit titillating.”

  “Then stand up, sweetheart.”

  “As you wish, Sheriff.” She rose to her feet, waiting for his instruction, willing to give him anything—everything. She would be the perfect wife, the perfect playmate, the perfect lover.

  He moved to sit on the stool then poured more oil into his hands and rubbed his palms together. Gently, he circled her waist with his hands and pulled her onto his lap. His body was hot and hard beneath her legs, against her bottom, everywhere. He pushed the pads of his thumbs on either side of her spine and slid them up to her shoulders, soothing her, exciting her, making her body surge forward and fall back into the cradle of his thighs with every delicious stroke. Over and over again he swept his hands across her shoulders and down her back, slipping around her ribs to caress her breasts then back again and down and around and oh… everything in her melted.

  “You have magical hands,” she said, sighing with pleasure. “I noticed them the first time I met you.”

  “Ah… another confession. I think I’ll keep rubbing your body until you divulge all your secrets.”

  She wished she could divulge everything, to ease her conscience, to be truthful with her husband, to rid their marriage bed of the lie that slept between them. But she could only give him love.

  She pushed off his lap and knelt in front of him. “Let me rinse this oil off.” She slipped under the water, but two large hands clamped around her waist and lifted her back to the surface.

  “Leave it,” he said, his voice hoarse with passion. He kissed the side of her jaw and she sought his mouth, hungry for him. Slowly, he moved his palms down her back and over her bottom then up and around to her breasts. She moaned and arched toward him, but he continued that languorous rubbing down her back and over her buttocks, driving her crazy with longing.

  Finally, his large, work-roughened hands cupped her bottom and lifted her onto his lap. She embraced his neck and twined her legs around his waist, sighing as he filled her. He moaned low in his throat, and her head fell back in ecstasy.

  Could something this beautiful really last? This man in her arms was so good and steady, and she was lying to him every minute of every day with every word, every kiss, every caress.

  Water sloshed around them, lapping at their bodies as they clutched each other breast to chest, their mouths fused, hot and urgent as they brought each other to that blissful, soaring release Faith had come to know so well. Shattered, she lowered her forehead to her husband’s shoulder, loving the man who had claimed her heart, who trusted her with his friendship, with the intimacy of his most private self. She bit her lip, but tears of mortification leaked past her defenses because she didn’t know how to protect him without betraying him.

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  *

  THE URGENT POUNDING on the front door brought Duke to full attention. He tossed aside the newspaper, and headed to the foyer. “Adam, stay in the parlor, and keep Cora with you.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Duke opened the door to find a woman he didn’t know standing on his porch, white-faced and trembling. “I’m Millie, and I’m staying with Anna. Her husband b-broke in and he has a gun.”

  Shock and fury rushed through Duke. Larry Levens was in prison for life. He had killed two men, one of them a deputy sheriff. He’d beaten Anna half to death five years ago and could only be out for revenge now. “Wait here with my wife.”

  The terrified woman stepped inside as Faith hurried into the foyer.

  Duke opened the closet. “Anna’s husband broke out of prison,” he said, wondering why he hadn’t been notified of the man’s escape. He took his gun belt off the top shelf and strapped it on. He opened the chamber, made sure the revolver was loaded, and asked Millie if anyone else was at Anna’s house. It would be safest if it was only Anna and Larry, but Duke half-hoped someone like Boyd, who lived across the street, was there to distract Levens until he could get his hands on the mean son of a bitch.

  “Dahlia’s there,” Millie said, “but Larry hit her with his gun. I ran out the back door like Anna told me to do.”

  Faith gasped and caught Duke’s hand. “Anna and Dahlia could already be dead.”

  “Stay put, sweetheart. I’ll get Dahlia home safely.”

  He gave Faith a quick kiss then bolted outside, cutting across lots behind several buildings. He came out on Main Street and jogged up West Hill. Slowing his pace, he crept close to the old Pemberton Inn that had once housed his brother’s saloon. He crouched beneath the windows and stayed close to the building, hoping to get into Anna’s home through the small storeroom in the back. Anna’s pained cry, and Dahlia’s vivid, angry curse, bled through the plank walls.

  With light steps, Duke eased inside and crossed the storeroom. He inched open the door that led into Anna’s community room.

  Levens had Anna bent backward over her sofa, with his hand pressed to her throat and his gun barrel planted between her eyes. Dahlia sat frozen at the piano, her face contorted with horror.

  “Please,” she croaked. “She’s your wife.”

  “Shut up, bitch, or I’ll put a bullet between your eyes, too.”

  “Don’t do this,” Dahlia begged.

  Duke drew his revolver. He needed to be fast and accurate. Because Levens would shoot; he had nothing left to lose.

  Gun cocked, breath even, Duke slipped inside, one silent step at a time.

  “Five miserable years I sat in that hole because of you,” Levens said, his nose an inch from Anna’s face.

  Duke raised his revolver and locked his elbow.

  The flash of surprise in Anna’s eyes gave him away: Levens swung his pistol and fired, shattering the plaster behind Duke’s head. Duke ducked into the storeroom. A second shot splintered the pine door. Finger on the trigger, he leapt back into the room, but the coward was shielding himself with Anna.

  Levens fired aga
in, and the bullet whizzed by Duke’s right ear. The man’s aim was getting hotter.

  Duke angled for a clear shot that could bring Levens down, but before he could squeeze the trigger, a wild screech filled the room, and Dahlia swung the piano bench into the back of Levens’s head. The wood cracked on impact, and the man stumbled forward but didn’t fall. He grabbed Dahlia and slammed her to the floor so hard the windows rattled.

  Now, Duke fired.

  The bullet hit Levens in the shoulder and spun him sideways. Lunging like a tiger, Duke dove into the man’s side, taking him to the floor and knocking the gun from his hand.

  Levens scrabbled for his pistol, but Anna kicked it away. With a howl of outrage, he lunged at her, fist raised. “You traitorous bitch!”

  Duke hauled him back before the man could slam his fist into his wife’s already-bloody face. Pain screamed through his shoulder as he forced Levens’s arm up and snapped a handcuff around his wrist.

  The monster’s enraged howl filled the room, and he tore away, lunging at Anna with a vicious growl. Duke grabbed the cuff dangling from Larry’s wrist, but before he could haul him down, the crack of a pistol sent Levens to his knees. Blood stained the thigh of his trousers where Dahlia had shot him.

  The man growled like a rabid dog and tried to get to his feet, but his injured leg collapsed and he fell to his knee. Duke slapped the other cuff around Larry’s wrist, binding the man’s hands behind his back.

  “I’m not going back to prison!” With an enraged growl, Levens lunged at Dahlia, yanking the cuffs on his bound wrists, and wrenching Duke’s shoulder.

  “Neither is Anna,” Dahlia said. And she pulled the trigger.

  The bullet knocked Levens backward over his boot heels, and yanked the metal chain linking the cuffs from Duke’s raw hand. Larry’s head cracked on the coffee table as he crashed to the floor.

  The front door flew open, and Duke reached for his revolver, but it was Boyd who stormed inside. His brother gave the room a sweeping glance and rushed to where Duke crouched beside Levens.