Free Katie Rose by A Case for Romance

beside him, careful not to brush against him. A smile curved his lips when he thought of the charming blush he’d seen on her cheeks when he’d massaged her hand and felt her racing pulse. Miss Potter wasn’t all cold logic. Yet knowing she had reacted to him physically didn’t help much, for there was nothing he could do about it. Nothing at all.
    His amusement changed quickly to frustration. Having this woman so close to his bedroom didn’t help his control over the odd attraction that was sparking between them. All he could picture was Emily sprawled out on Mrs. Haines’s patchwork quilt, that chestnut hair tousled about her naked shoulders, her eyes smoky with passion. She would be so soft, so sweet, begging him to touch her, kiss her, make love to her.…
    He quickened his pace, heedless of the fact that she was a good three steps behind him. The last thing he needed was to have erotic thoughts about Emily Potter! Yet the vision wouldn’t leave him and his blood was beginning to pound in his veins. When he reached the house, he saw her puffing to catch up to him. Opening the door, he gestured to the porch. “Wait here.”
    Emily nodded, obediently standing beside the door.She was so pretty, her face flushed from exertion, her hair loosening from its knot to allow a few curls to frame her face. Perspiration gleamed on her forehead, and she looked like a woman who’d just had a good tumble. He couldn’t help his short-tempered growl as he headed into the house. Insanity must have propelled him to do this. Why should he care if her hand got infected? The woman thought the worst of him, and didn’t appreciate anything he did for her. Moreover, he still wasn’t convinced she was innocent in the matter of the gold. Why then did Emily continue to concern him?
    “Reverend Hall! There you are!”
    Thomas gritted his teeth and turned slowly in the foyer. He wanted nothing more than to fetch the salve, get rid of Emily, and relax with a hot bath and a cold beer. Although drinking wasn’t considered one of the deadly sins by everyone, it wasn’t in good form for him to appear in the saloon so soon after his arrival in town. Yet he needed a drink. Emily Potter was beginning to get under his skin.
    Mrs. Haines accosted him, oblivious to his tired yawn, then thrust a shawl-covered mound toward him. It was then he noticed another woman, her face partially hidden by her bonnet. As he took the proffered bundle, the other woman smiled shyly.
    “This is Mrs. Olson, and that is her new baby boy!” Mrs. Haines declared. “Isn’t he beautiful!”
    Thomas gazed down into the reddened face of the newborn. A thatch of black hair stood up from his head, and his tiny fingers poked aimlessly at his blanket.The baby stared at him cross-eyed, then began to gnaw at his fist. When that didn’t appease him, he rooted at Thomas’s chest, apparently looking for his next meal. Like most newborns, he resembled nothing more than a wizened old man, and Thomas forced an awkward smile.
    “Beautiful. Yes, absolutely.”
    When he looked up, he saw Emily standing on tiptoe outside, doing her damnedest to see what was going on. He frowned at her sharply, then turned back to the women with a preacherlike smile.
    The baby, hearing an unfamiliar male voice and having no success in finding his dinner, screwed up his face and inhaled. A moment later, he let out a yell that pierced eardrums and made teacups rattle on the shelves. Appalled, Thomas tried to bounce the infant, but his only reward was another scream.
    “Why, that’s odd. All babies loved Reverend Flatter. Never held a one that he couldn’t quiet. You remember Reverend Flatter, don’t you Mrs. Olson?” Mrs. Haines asked, her eyes narrowing as the baby continued to fuss.
    “Oh … yes.” The woman watched Thomas manhandle her baby, her eyes wide with apprehension.
    Thomas felt incredibly foolish as the baby wrenched himself into a knot, in preparation for another bawl.
    “Yes, and