Flirting With The Law (Outlaw Brides Book 1)

by Vanessa Vale

  I was no longer a wife. I was no longer a daughter.

  I was an outlaw.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Seth Bane

  “I’m sorry, ma’am, but there are no more rooms.”

  I was coming down the stairs from the second floor when I heard the man at the front desk. The hotel wasn’t large, but there weren’t too many places in town appropriate for a lady like the one standing before him.

  “The boarding houses are full. I’ve come all the way from Rollinsville. Where am I to stay?” she asked, her voice deep, yet smooth. She wasn’t panicking, no histrionics, but she had reason to be concerned. A woman, who seemed alone, shouldn’t be roaming the streets of any town in the territory.

  I put my hand out to stop Landon in his descent, but didn’t take my eyes off of her.

  Fuck, she was beautiful. Dark hair pulled back into a neat bun, but a few curls draped down her slender neck. She wore an emerald green dress with a matching hat. It sat perched on her head as pure decoration; it would do nothing to shield her face from the harsh sun. Her clothing was nothing fancy and the neckline of her dress was a few inches north of inappropriate. Quite modest. That didn’t matter. The lush curves of her breasts, slim waist and full hips could not be hidden. Any conscious man could imagine what they’d feel like beneath him.

  She gave me only a profile, but that was enough. Pale skin, high cheekbones, cherry red lips and a pert nose. I’d seen many a beautiful woman, bedded quite a few, but none had ever made me feel as if I’d been kicked by a wild mustang.

  Just the sound of her voice made me hard.

  “Who the hell is that?” Landon whispered, coming to stand on the step beside me.

  “I don’t know, but let’s find out,” I replied, descending the rest of the way to the lobby.

  Perhaps we’d been on the trail too long. Perhaps we’d only been involved with the dregs of society—thieves, murderers, whores who’d do anything for a dime, even men who beat their women—and saw her as a ray of sunshine. Intriguing, lovely. Untarnished.

  I saw him nod and we made our way to the desk. We’d only arrived earlier in the day, enough time to check in and find the nearest bath house, washing off the dust of our journey, getting a shave—at least I did—and donning fresh clothes.

  “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t rightly say,” the desk clerk said to the woman.

  “Is there a problem?” I asked, coming to the counter.

  She turned her head and looked up at me, then Landon, her eyes widening in blatant surprise.

  My breath caught. I was glad I asked the question before I saw her eyes. They were green, perhaps made even brighter by the matching color of her dress. With her long lashes and wide eyed stare, I knew I could get lost in them. Drown there. I was sinking fast.

  “Unfortunately, there are no more rooms,” the desk clerk said.

  “She will have mine,” I replied easily. I’d slept on the hard ground enough, sleeping on the floor in Landon’s room wouldn’t be hardship. At least it was warm and there was a roof over my head. I wouldn’t have to worry about coyote or an adventurous ground squirrel.

  When she flushed prettily and I knew I wanted to say something else so she’d do it again.

  “That’s not necessary, sir.”

  Sir. God, that word made me itch to hook my hand behind her head and pull her to me to sample those full lips. I had to wonder if she’d been kissed before.

  “You have somewhere to sleep tonight?” Landon asked. His voice was deep and even and drew her attention easily.

  She glanced at him, then away. “Well, no, but I couldn’t inconvenience you.”

  Landon stepped up, took her elbow and guided her away from the counter. “Please, let us be obliging. My friend has offered his room. It would be ungentlemanly for him to do less.”

  Her lips pursed and I could see she was trying to hide a smile. She looked over her shoulder at me, then up at Landon. “And are you a gentleman, too?” she asked.

  “I am,” he replied.

  We appeared to be gentlemen with our fresh clothes and groomed hair. Our manners indicated it as well. But beneath that veneer of fashion and soap Landon and I were hardened men. Searching for the rough underbelly of society had made us jaded and weary. Definitely rough around the edges. But for her? We could try our damnedest to hide all that.

  “And to prove it, I shall take you to dinner,” Landon added.

  “But—”

  Landon, the bastard, had put two fingers over her lips. Her eyes widened in surprise at the ungentlemanly contact, but she was silenced.

  “We insist,” he murmured. “Please see that Miss—”

  “Mrs. Thomas,” she said, pulling her head back a bit so she could speak.

  Landon dropped his hand as if burned. “I beg your pardon. Is your husband with you?”

  We both looked around the lobby, but there was no one else. No man who guarded her and her affections. We didn’t need to be punched for being overly solicitous with a married woman. And if she was already claimed, we would not engage her interest. We didn’t take a woman that had her heart elsewhere.

  She shook her head, the curl at her nape swaying. “I am widowed.”

  I sighed then. Internally, at least. There were no legal bonds keeping her from us. This woman was going to be ours. I had absolutely no doubt.

  None. Insane? Absolutely.

  Especially since we had a job to do. We were in Helena for a meeting about the next criminal we were to find. But that was tomorrow.

  We shouldn’t go about claiming a woman with an outlaw to chase, an unsaid rule we usually abided, but we would not walk away from her. I was afraid to let her out of my sight.

  Tonight, we would learn more about Mrs. Thomas. We would learn everything.

  For some time now, Landon and I had been ready to find a woman and settle down. Together. We’d been friends since we were young, leaving Omaha to become US Marshals. We worked together, did everything together, including sharing a woman. We just hadn’t found the one who we wanted to make ours permanently. Our wife.

  We’d traveled all over the country and had plenty of opportunities to find the one. I realized in this moment the reason why we hadn’t found her before was because we were waiting for her.

  The dark haired beauty without a room. Mrs. Thomas.

  Insane! I would not leave this town without a ring on her finger and least one night…no, two, in her bed. Landon, too. We’d make her ours. Her. If we just wanted a quick tumble, we’d take a whore or two. But that wasn’t what this was. Hell, yes, I wanted to fuck her, taste her, hear her cries of pleasure when we made her come, but this was more. She was more. I just knew it.

  And while we were here for another case, we could gladly end our careers with the US Marshals. We didn’t want for money—we’d been paid well and had lived simply. While we had a ranch east of here, we were away frequently, on the hunt of the latest criminal. But we were both content to leave that chase behind and settle—finally—on the ranch. The place met our needs and was perfect for settling down and raising a family.

  “Please have Mrs. Thomas’ things taken to my—her—room. Thank you.” At the desk clerk’s nod, I joined Landon and our future wife.

  “You are very kind,” she replied, offering me a quick glance with those emerald eyes. “It has been a long day and I am thankful for a place to rest my head.”

  Landon put a hand to his chest. “I am Landon Cooper and this is my friend, Seth Bane.”

  “Ma’am,” I said, nodding once, noticing the long slope of her neck, the smattering of freckles across the bridge of her dainty nose. How many were there? I wanted to count them and see if she had any elsewhere on her body.

  “Besides being tired, you must be hungry as well,” Landon said, holding out his arm. She stared at it for a moment, then him. “It would be our honor to escort you to dinner.”

  When she didn’t readily take his arm, I gave her a verbal nudge. “Pleas
e, Mrs. Thomas. Join us, otherwise I will be stuck watching Landon’s horrible table manners. Again.”

  Landon didn’t blink an eye when I poked fun at him. I had a goal with it and it worked; it made her smile, just as I’d hoped.

  “Very well,” she said, before placing her small gloved hand at the crook of his elbow.

  I followed them out into the warm evening, the summer sun working it’s way lower in the western sky.

  “You are here in Helena or continuing on?” I asked.

  She glanced over her shoulder, but turned back, most likely so she didn’t fall as she walked along the uneven boardwalk.

  “Yes, I am here to meet a friend.”

  “And you are traveling by yourself?” Landon asked, glancing down at her. He was almost a head taller and I watched as his eyes roved over her. Yes, he was just as interested. Intrigued.

  “I am a widow and require no chaperone,” she countered. “I assure you, I am more worldly than you might think.”

  Her words had me thinking all kinds of carnal things. Worldly? As in she had lovers? Would be open to a marriage with two men?

  “No, that is true,” I admitted, responding to her lack of chaperone. I didn’t think it was quite time to ask after the rest, about the extent of her worldliness. “However, if you were our wife, we’d see to your safety above everything else.”

  She looked over her shoulder at me again, this time with surprise, most likely at the use of the words “our” and “we.” Then something else appeared in that green gaze. Yes, it was interest. Interest at having a man—or in our case, men—concerned for her wellbeing, or more? When she turned forward once again, I grinned.

  How had we found her, here in the middle of the Montana Territory? Five minutes longer in our rooms and we would have missed her, having been turned away.

  We approached the nearest restaurant, knowing it was good from eating there for lunch. Landon held the door for her and I followed her inside, the scents of fresh baked bread and roasting meat made my mouth water. With my hand at the small of her back, I felt how warm she was through the soft fabric of her dress, and so small. I spanned the breadth of her back. I received a surprised glance as I wasn’t Landon. It was crucial we discover her interest in both of us, that she learned we would both touch her. Be attentive. Doting. Dominant.

  Two men marrying one woman was not the norm and having been married before, I was sure she would find it unusual. Startling even. But I didn’t want her to find it horrendous. In fact, I wanted her to be eager for two men to care for her, cherish her. Fuck her.

  I covered up a groan with a small cough.

  We were led to a table in the corner, far from the other guests. As I held out her chair, Landon hung his hat on a peg. I ensured that my knees gently pressed into her thigh beneath the table. When I glanced at Landon, I knew he’d done the same, ensuring she felt both of us, almost trapped between us.

  We’d let her up if she panicked, but we saw nothing of that in her eyes. Nervousness, yes, but that was fine. We could soothe her of any fears readily enough.

  After the waitress poured water in our glasses and told us what the meal was for this evening, Mrs. Thomas smiled up at her. While I couldn’t see them, I knew her hands were folded primly in her lap. She sat ramrod straight in her chair, in part from being a lady, but mostly because her stiff corset wouldn’t allow any slouching. I was eager to undo the stays, one at a time, and watch her shift from her formal outward persona to the passionate woman I knew was hidden beneath.

  “You’ve been very kind, offering me a room and escorting me to dinner, however I can see to myself.”

  “Yes, traveling by yourself is proof of that,” Landon offered. “But wouldn’t you like to have two men to take care of you?”

  “Two?” She cleared her throat and flushed again, her eyes dropping to the cutlery before her. She looked so prim and perfect with the little hat on her head, the dark curls snug at her nape, the modest dress. “I’ve already had a husband.”

  “Was he so bad you don’t you wish for another?” I asked. I frowned at the thought of her being in a cruel marriage. While we would never hurt her, it would be difficult for a woman with a harsh past to believe otherwise.

  Her gaze turned to mine. “Oh, Orville wasn’t so bad. We were young and he died within months of our wedding.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Landon said, unfolding his napkin and placing it in his lap. “Do you still love him?”

  We needed to know if we had competition for her affections, if she still longed for a dead man.

  “That is a bold question.” When we said nothing further, only looked at her patiently and waited for a response, she sighed. “That was a long time ago. I think we shared a youthful fancy more than love.”

  “No instant attraction?” I asked, relieved. “Desire?”

  Her eyes widened and her tongue darted out to lick her lower lip. Her cheeks turned pink at my bold question. “Oh, um. As I said, we were young.”

  “And now?” Landon asked. She wasn’t old, I guessed her to be twenty-three or -four. Not an aging widow and I had to wonder how she hadn’t been snatched up.

  She cleared her throat. “Now?”

  “You don’t have a beau?”

  She looked at me directly when she shook her head.

  “No one to escort you to Helena?” I asked.

  “As I said, I don’t need one, and you’re well aware I have no escort.”

  She wouldn’t be sitting between us, alone, otherwise.

  “Yes, but surely someone is concerned for your safety,” I added, trying to keep my tone light. I didn’t like the idea of her roaming the territory alone, but she wasn’t mine…yet. “Where do you hale from?”

  “Mecklen, just east of Billings.”

  “At least your father, or even a brother, should be seeing to your safety.”

  When all color blanched from her rounded cheeks and tears filled her eyes, Landon kicked me beneath the table. I winced, but I knew it was well deserved, for I’d certainly hit a sore spot with my comment. No, a sad spot.

  She lifted her chin, took a deep breath and willed those damn tears away. “My father died a few months ago, my mother having passed when I was a child. An only child. I assure you, while I am very much alone, I can take care of myself.”

  I was proud of her in that moment. She didn’t know us, so she kept a brave face, held herself together beautifully. She was forthcoming with answers to our questions, but there was a story there. More. She’d learn that she could tell us anything—everything—and she would never be alone again. But not everything could be shared over dinner. Fortunately, if we had our way, we’d have the rest of our lives to find out everything about her.

  “As I said before,” Landon said, leaning in slightly. “Wouldn’t you like to have two men to take care of you?”

  She cleared her throat. “I very much want to have a husband, children, but it isn’t a possibility.”

  Why the fuck not? Landon looked at me and I knew he was thinking the exact same thing.

  “Oh?” I asked, letting her continue to talk.

  “I am not a good match,” she admitted, although I wasn’t sure why. I looked her over, that which I could see above the table, and so did Landon.

  “I don’t see what might be wrong with you,” Landon told her. “Do you, Seth?”

  “I can’t find a single thing,” I replied, truthfully. Then I posed a potent question. “Are you saying you’re barren? Is that why there is no possibility of children?”

  Her mouth fell open and she flushed. Her chin went up.

  I’d asked another barbed question and received a second kick from Landon.

  “I beg your pardon?” she replied, her tone haughty and stiff.

  “You were married and yet have no children from the union.”

  “No, no children.”

  “Perhaps your Orville was not as attentive in his duties to give you what you so desired,” I a
dded.

  I was being bold. We would be attentive, but we would not let her hide from us. Not one part of her. I wasn’t interested in her for her ability to give me offspring. I wanted her for her. Children would come if they were meant to be.

  “Tell us, Mrs. Thomas, if you are averse to having two gentlemen callers.”

  She just blinked at Landon. “Mr. Cooper—”

  “Landon, please. It’s only fitting.”

  “Landon,” she repeated. A little V formed in her smooth brow. “Fitting? Why?”

  “Because you yourself said you are worldly,” he added. “Giving you leave to use my given name is bold, yet appropriate for a widow. Isn’t it?”

  It was obvious, at least to us, that we wanted to marry her. If she wished us to take our time, court her, we would, but we’d have to wait until we returned from our latest job. If I had my way, she’d be in bed with us by midnight and before the justice of the peace before we crossed town to our meeting in the morning.

  “May we speak plainly?” he asked.

  She lifted her chin, adjusted her silverware. “Haven’t you already?”

  Landon grinned. “Seth and I, we are looking for a woman—”

  “A wife,” I clarified.

  “—to share.”

  “To share?” she asked. She hadn’t stood and fled, so it seemed we’d surprised her instead of scaring her away. “First, you ask me if I’m barren and now this.” She looked between the two of us, then laughed. When we didn’t say anything further, she continued, “You’re not jesting, are you?”

  Both of us shook our heads.

  “Oh my.” She picked up her napkin, unfolded it with a little too much flourish, then worried it with her fingers. “And you have your sights set on me? To be your…your wife?”

  “We do,” Landon and I said at the same time.

  “When you say share, you mean—”

  “We mean that if you are wishing a child, it would be our job to give you one. We would be quite thorough with the task, I assure you,” he added, then leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Do you wish to know how we’d be so…attentive?”