Free The Lawman (Montana Men Book 1) by Vanessa Vale Page A

the man wished her to only have partial truths to protect her, I was not one to say otherwise.
    "Yes. Unfortunately, we only met briefly."
    She began to walk into the community room, a large space that must be used for a variety of activities. Today, it was for a potluck celebration for our wedding. I followed, the room filled with about ten women working on placing food, plates and cups on a long row of tables. They were busy, yet chatting comfortably with each other. The men, well, they were outside, waiting for the call that it was time to eat.
    "Then we must change that. You and Mr. Graves should come to dinner. Perhaps later this week?" After placing her basket in an empty place, she tossed back the cloth to uncover biscuits. My mouth watered at the delicious spread. She glanced up at me awaiting my answer.
    "Yes, I will speak with Ryder, but I'm sure that would be just fine."
    She smiled broadly. "Let me introduce you to some others. I assume," she put her fingers up by her lips, "that you have already met the Flanders'."
    I glanced around the room, spotting the duo pouring water into cups on the far side of the room. "Yes. Yes I have."
    "Then we can start instead with Vivian, Laura and Mary."
    She called out to the ladies and we were quickly surrounded, answering questions about how I'd met Ryder and the details of our secret romance. I stuck to the story we'd shared thus far, and the way the women welcomed me, there did not seem to be any animosity from any of them at snatching the proverbial golden goose of bachelors. Of course, all three were married, one even large with an expectant child.
    I eyed Myrna from across the room; she was watching me closely, with pursed lips and a sour expression. The town was too small for there not to be a time when a confrontation with the woman would occur. There was no question it would be soon, although I doubted at a church lunch.
    The men must have been called, for they came in through a back door like a herd of elephants - heavy footed and loud-- to form a line for food. I saw Ryder immediately and my breath caught at the sight of him. He was so handsome in his white shirt and leather vest. The pin on his chest provided an additional air of command that he exuded naturally. His gaze searched the room before landing on me. The corner of his mouth ticked up, and I flushed, knowing exactly what he was thinking. Squeezing my thighs together, I felt the stickiness between, the plug filling me deeply, and a longing surged through me.
    Ann pulled me from my carnal thoughts by handing me a plate and steering me into the line, smirking at me. I smiled shyly realizing I'd been caught out. "When I first heard the sheriff was married to a woman who lived so far away, I had niggling doubts. But the way the two of you look at each other, I can see that it's a love match." She gave my arm a quick squeeze and went to join her husband.
    She left me standing there, absorbing her words. Love match? I'd only known the man for three days! Was it possible to fall in love in such a short time? I glanced at Ryder, talking to another man, working their way down the long tables of food, filling their plates with the abundance. His whiskers were dark on his ruddy cheeks, coming in so quickly after shaving just this morning. I remembered the feel of them against my tender skin; the side of my breast, between my thighs. My fingers itched to run through his silky hair, loving how I could tug on it when he licking my pussy. And those big hands! The list of things he could do with those was quite long; from firing a gun to protecting me from a murderer to pushing me over the brink of pleasure.
    I might not love him - it was a new endeavor for me - but I certainly was on my way there. The question was, did he love me? I imagined his feelings quite similar; it was too early to love. I needed him to feel it, however, because when he discovered the truth about me, when he learned I'd crossed the line and joined