Free Marry in Haste... by Karen Rose Smith Page B

and authoritative, and he could see that she didn’t like it. Itdidn’t matter. He was going to keep her safe whether she wanted to be safe or not.
    Moving away from the bedroom archway, she went into the kitchen, took a glass from the cupboard, and turned on the spigot.
    Reed went to the bedroom and snatched a pair of sleeping shorts from the chest of drawers. She was a spoiled, pampered princess and he shouldn’t care what she thought. Yet he did.
    When he emerged from the bathroom fifteen minutes later, she was sitting at the small table, a sketch pad and pencil in hand.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” he asked, trying to make conversation.
    â€œNothing important.”
    Warning himself to be patient with her, he tried again. “You mentioned you did an apprenticeship. What kind?”
    â€œI have a degree in interior design. I was working with an interior decorator.”
    â€œYou said your parents didn’t like that idea?”
    â€œMy mother and my stepfather believed I should hide my degree under a bushel basket, play tennis, and attend charity functions.”
    â€œIs that what Bentley wanted you to do, too?”
    â€œI’m not sure what he wanted me to do. It seems I’m not a very good judge of men or their motives.”
    Her tone, as well as the underlying meaning in her words, made Reed want to shake her or kiss her senseless. To keep himself from doing either, he went to the closet in the bedroom and took out a sheet and a pillow. Then he unfolded the sofa bed.
    Standing, Mallory took her sketch pad and went into the bedroom.
    He heard her moving around in there, then her footsteps as she went into the bathroom. After he lay on the sofa bed, he turned out the light on the end table. Unfortunately for him, he glanced toward the bedroom when he heard her come out of the bathroom and saw her outlined by the glow of her bedside lamp—every delectable curve was evident under her nightgown.
    Swearing under his breath, he turned in the other direction, plumped his pillow, and knew this was going to be a very long night.
    Â 
    When Mallory awakened the following morning after a restless night, all too conscious that Reed had lain practically naked out on the sofa bed, she knew he wasn’t in the cabin. Some sixth sense told her when he was close and when he wasn’t. Sliding out of bed, she pulled on a robe, belted it, and went out to the kitchen. There was a note on the table.
    Mallory—
    I’m at Cruz Perez’s ranch this morning, working with him. Stay in the cabin with the door locked. I’ll be back around noon. If you need anything, Cruz’s number is on the refrigerator.
    Reed
    Though she breathed a sigh of relief at Reed’s absence, she missed his presence. It didn’t make any sense.
    After she brushed her teeth and showered, shedressed and again sat at the table with her sketch pad, doodling, making a diagram of the cabin, filling in blank walls and empty spaces. She jotted down colors that would be the most striking and types of art she would use to decorate. When the door opened and Reed came in, she was surprised at how the time had flown. As he hung his hat on the rack, she saw his jeans were dusty and his shirt damp with sweat. His gaze swept over her shorts and blouse, the same outfit she’d worn last evening.
    â€œI thought I’d give you a little time to yourself this morning,” he said.
    â€œI appreciate that,” she returned politely.
    He frowned. “Rosita and Ruben have invited us to an early Sunday dinner. Are you interested?”
    â€œAre you?” she asked.
    He let out an exasperated sigh. “We wouldn’t have to cook, and their house is air-conditioned. Cruz and his wife and Dallas and Maggie will be there, so you won’t have to worry about making conversation with me, though we should try to be cordial. Maybe a little more than cordial so they believe we are married.”
    The phone