Free Love by Dawn by Therese A. Kramer

Blake enjoying Sharon’s
company but he would catch her looking at him and smile before she
could glance away. It gored her to no end when he caught her
looking and she picked at the delicious food finding it hard to
swallow. Finally, she kept her head down through the rest of the
meal, but sensed Blake was watching her.
    His eyes seemed to bore
into her flesh making her feel like an inferno ready to explode.
Between Blake irritating her and her plan to help Hunter escape,
her nerves were ready to unravel like a coiled cobra. Damnation! Control yourself before you leap out
of your skin. Gulping down a glass of
water and nearly choking, she managed to swallow some of her
irritation, and then smiling sweetly to Walter, she asked if he
would escort her back to the barracks; she quickly developed a
headache. Rising to the occasion, Walter said that he would be
delighted to see her safely back. Just as he took her hand to help
her from the chair, a soldier interrupted with apologies for
disturbing dinner. The soldier informed him that an important wire
has just been received from Washington. The lieutenant’s smile
tightened, but he politely bowed to Casey with regrets.
    She saw the cowboy flash
his white teeth, saying he would be delighted to escort both lovely
ladies home, but Sharon excused herself, declaring that she was
curious about the wire. The beauty told him that there were
new problems out west with the Indians and she
was afraid her brother would be stationed somewhere in no man’s
land. Blake nodded and told Sharon that she had brightened his
evening.
    It took great effort for Casey not to groan
aloud at Blake’s smooth declaration. She now felt trapped and
cursed with rotten luck as she rolled her eyes toward the ceiling.
Her gesture went unnoticed by all, but that insufferable cowboy who
chuckled, making her hiss madly under her breath. He took her elbow
and they walked in utter silence as Casey boiled with rage. He had
managed to ruin her evening with his stares and smug smiles. He was
the damnedest male she ever had the bad luck to meet and she would
certainly tell him so. As soon as they reached the door she turned
on him, spitting every foul word she had heard from her pa when he
was in his cups. He held a wrist over her head and lowered his face
so close his hot breath touched her mouth. Too late, she remembered
his threat and her own breath lodged somewhere in her dry throat.
She wanted the kiss but she’d be damned if she’d let him see the
power he had over her again. She had her pride and wouldn’t be
caught swooning over his kisses. Not this time!
    Blake began to nibble on her earlobe and down
her neck turning her legs to jelly. Sheer determination gave her
the resistance and strength to reach behind with her free hand and
turn the door knob, opening the door. She believed that Blake was
so engrossed with desire, he hadn’t an inkling what was happening.
She wrenched away from his grip and pulled herself into the room.
The last thing she saw before slamming the door was the surprised
and confused look on his handsome features. She was grateful to see
his expression change from desire to chagrin.
    Casey leaned against the crude wooden door
letting pent up tears roll down her cheeks. It was some time later
she applied cold water to her puffy eyes. She had to gather her
wits if she was to put her plan to work.
    He just had the door
slammed in his face and Blake stood completely, without a doubt,
flustered. Earlier, her declaration about expecting Walter had cut
him to the quick, but he had made sure Lieutenant Shepherd would
not escort Casey by giving him a false message that a soldier
wanted to see him about an important matter. He was sure he’d hear
about it later, but seeing her, he was glad he did it. His heart
had beat wildly, could hardly believe that a dirty faced ragamuffin
girl, dressed like a boy, could be transformed into a Femme Fatale . Frustrated
over the painful condition he found