Free The Wicked West by Victoria Dahl Page A

interest in you, but…this life, this new life on my own…I am enjoying it.”
    Despite her bold words, Sheriff Hale smiled. “I won’t rule you, Lily. Except where you need me to. And once I sue for divorce, it’ll be at least a year, maybe two before it’s finished. Two years to see if there is more between us. Don’t you think that’s fair?”
    Two years. Her heart floated up, a strange sensation considering that it was shaking with terror.
    His eyes, those brown eyes she’d feared would be cloudy with death, they softened and warmed as he watched her. “I’m not looking for a pledge, Mrs. Anders. Just a chance. A chance to be myself with you, and to offer the same to you, independent as you may be.”
    Independent. Her heart stilled its fluttering and floated back down to earth. Independent. Yes. Another layer she’d added.
    Independent and fascinating and smart enough to know a good man when she met one. Lily took a deep, deep breath. “All right, then. A chance. With you.”
    She reached for his hand again and held it gently as he sunk back into sleep, a smile playing over his normally somber mouth.
    A woman being courted by a hard and handsome sheriff…That would be an excellent layer, indeed.

CHAPTER EIGHT
    “Sheriff,” the schoolmarm said, nodding her head politely as she paused in the street to greet them. “Mrs. Anders.”
    Lily clutched his arm tighter and smiled. “Miss Heath,” she answered. “I enjoyed your playing at the Sunday social.”
    The tall woman smiled with pleasure. “Why, thank you. What an honor to hear from a woman of your refined tastes.”
    “No more refined than yours, I’m sure. I’m so happy to know we have the same interest in literature. Be sure to stop in again next week. I’ve a new shipment I’m eager to show you.”
    “I will! And may I say again how thrilling it is to have such a gentling influence in our town. I’m so glad you decided to stay.”
    Lily nodded and let Sheriff Hale turn her and lead her on.
    “Don’t speak to anyone else,” he muttered.
    “But I must be polite.”
    “That’s an order, Lily.”
    Heart skipping several beats, Lily pressed her lips together and quickened her step to keep up with Sheriff Hale’s faster stride.
    “You’ve been teasing me all day,” he growled, and he was right. She’d kept her eyes on the ground and licked her lips and murmured “Yes, sir” when no one else was close enough to hear it. But she was sure that the pretty black ribbon she’d tied around her neck had most distracted him. It matched the trim on her new dress, but that wasn’t why she’d worn it. He’d stared at her throughout the entire picnic.
    “Don’t bother going to the bedroom. You’ll head straight to the kitchen, you understand?”
    Lily’s sex clenched hard, sending thrills spiraling up her belly. Did he mean what she thought he meant? “Are you—”
    “I told you to be quiet.”
    When Preacher Smith called out a hello from the door of the mercantile, Lily waved and kept her lips tightly closed.
    “Good girl.”
    Her entire body burned with arousal. By the time her foot touched her porch step, Lily found that she was nearly running. She hurried toward the kitchen, chased by the sound of the sheriff shutting the door…and bolting it.
    “Take off that dress now. ”
    “Yes, sir.”
    As soon as she had it unbuttoned to the waist, Sheriff Hale jerked down the bodice and trapped her arms. “You knew what that ribbon would do to me, didn’t you?” His hands yanked at the ties of her corset. “You think you can tease me like that and get away with it?”
    “No, Sheriff,” she answered honestly. The ribbon looked just like the black silk ties he’d used once on her wrists.
    “Well, you might not be obedient, but at least you’re smart.” The corset loosened its grip on her ribs. Before she could even draw a deep breath, he’d spun her around and pressed her back to the timber column that supported the ceiling of