Free Lady Fugitive by Shannah Biondine Page B

when Pamela tried to have me dismissed. You're a
shrewd businessman and everyone in town likes you. I can learn a great deal
from you."
    "Just as I could learn to make
coffee from you, but that's not what I mean. Why did you kiss me tonight?"
    Rachel knew why he was asking, and
sidestepped his trap. "I thought it was obvious." She gave a wicked
laugh. "To make Pamela crazy."
    He turned and headed for the door. He'd
already lifted the latch when her soft words stopped him. "But I wasn't
supposed to say that's the reason, was I? Even though it's partly true. There
was another reason. You want me to say I kissed you because—"
    "You're in love with me?"
    "I can't say that," she
whispered. "I can't think such insane things. I don't want to love anyone
just now. I don't want anyone in love with me. Please don't be angry. You
didn't finish your tea."
    Morgan knew he should just leave, but
when he glanced back at her and saw her eyes huge in the firelight, pleading
with him, he was lost. She was so beautiful in that gown of crimson. He wanted
so much...but he couldn't caress her as he wanted. Not just yet. Having her
beside him in his own parlor while he drank his tea was a good start. He
couldn't be greedy. He had to slow down, force himself to wait.
    He returned to the settee and took up
his teacup. As he suspected, she eased beside him and sat watching as he took
another sip. She stared at his right hand a moment, then her fingertip traced
around the oval of gold on his finger. "I'm so glad you got this signet
back. It's very dramatic and personal." Her eyes moved to his face.
"I know how much it means. It's all you have left of your family."
    "That...my inn, and this
house." Rachel heard a hollow sadness in his voice. For a second, it
touched his eyes. Then it was gone.
    Rachel found a lump forming, tightening
her throat. She knew only too well how it felt to be homesick. "Don't you
miss this house, Morgan? I couldn't put strangers in my family home and spend
nights in a hotel. I'd hate that. I don't know how you stand it."
    "Are you suggesting I spend my
nights here?"
    "You know I didn't mean it that way.
I won't become your mistress. You're an influential man in this district and
you might be very generous, but—"
    "I would be," he
corrected.
    She shook her head. "I'd rather
clerk for a decade and buy this house from you than allow you keep me in
it."
    He set the empty cup on the table and
stretched his arm across the back of the sofa. "You've every reason to
take pride in earning your own wages. You understand figures and trade as well
as most men. Are you also perchance a horsewoman, Colonial?"
    "Why, are you giving the cottage as
top prize in an equestrian competition?"
    His laughter echoed off the walls.
"I was thinking of a ride Sunday afternoon. See the countryside, our
warehouse, the granary. Might prove educational for you."
    "I can ride, yes."
    "Good." His arm dropped to her
shoulder and he pulled her close. "You do look lovely tonight,
Rachel."
    "And you look…" Her voice
trailed off as she studied his face. "I've often wondered how you manage
to stay so tanned in a country where no one ever sees the sun. Boyd and the
other men look so pale."
    "My mother was European. I got her
coloring. Where did you get all the gorgeous dark hair?" He pulled the
snood and pins from her tresses, destroying in two minutes what it had taken
her hours to design. Her hair tumbled around his hand as it stroked the nape of
her neck.
    "The women on my mother's side all
have chestnut or auburn hair. It's nothing special."
    "You're wrong," he murmured,
using his hand to guide her face closer to his. "Your hair was one of the
first things I noticed about you." Her eyes closed as he kissed her.
"That and your natural insolence." Her eyes flew back open. She saw pure
amusement on his face. "How anyone can address me politely as 'sir' and
sound so mocking as she does it is beyond my ken."
    It was her turn to laugh. "Emily
calls you that. So do