Free Sins of Summer by Dorothy Garlock

Odette had been together had she expressed affection for anyone
     other than him. It had worried him some. He had hoped that some day she would find a good man, marry, and have a family of
     her own. Whatever else had happened while she was here, she, Dory and the child had become attached to one another.
    Ben looked at the woman standing beside the chair. She had refused to give in to tears, but they were there, making her green
     eyes wet and shiny. They reminded him of a mountain pool. Her skin was pale beneath the red welt on her face. His gaze dropped
     to her breasts curved softly beneath the loose shirt she had tucked into the waistband of her skirt. Whatever else she was,
     she was a spunky woman. Dammit, he didn’t want to care about her or her child. He needed time. Lord. He needed time to think.
    “Do you mind if I have a cup of that coffee?”
    “Of course not. I’ll get it,” Dory said, after she recovered from her surprise. She hadn’t expected a civil word from him.
     They looked at each other. He watched her with eyes that revealed absolutely nothing. She met his glance unflinchingly. Suddenly
     they were both conscious of the welt on her face. It was slowly swelling and would soon turn into a dark bruise. Dory was
     aware of it because she was ashamed. Ben, because it made him angry. Pride refused to allow her to acknowledge it by touching
     it with her fingers although her jaw hurt when she spoke.
    “Is this the first time he’s hit you?”
    “Oh, no.” Dory’s contemptuous laugh caused her to wince. “He usually pinches, but he hits occasionally.” Slowly, as she felt
     his appraisal, a shiver shimmied down her spine. She looked away quickly before his eyes could read the misery in hers.
    A short, vivid expletive broke from Ben’s mouth. “What in God’s name is the matter with James that he allows him to do that?”
    Dory glanced at the cold-eyed man, aware that behind the calm mask was lethal fury and a will as hard as granite.
    “He doesn’t know, and I would be obliged if you didn’t tell him.” She spoke quietly with no emotion. “James would beat Milo
     senseless if he knew how mean he is to me and Jeanmarie. And it’s likely that I would find James in the woods shot in the
     back. I don’t want him to know,” she repeated firmly as she set the mug of coffee on the table. “You’d best watch your back,
     too; Milo has a way of getting even with anyone who crosses him.”
    “I figured him for a back-shooter. I’ve come across his type before.” His cold steely eyes bored into hers.
    “Louis is mean, but in a different way. He’ll not backshoot you.” Dory ran her fingers over Jeanmarie’s hair as she passed
     on her way back to the stove. “He lives and breathes Callahan Lumber. Milo follows his lead, but his only interest in the
     company is what he gets out of it.” Unnerved by his steady stare. Dory said quickly, “You might as well eat supper before
     you go. It’s ready.”
    “You needn’t go to the bother. I’ll grab a bite out with Wiley.”
    “It’ll not be a bother. Don’t you want to try the bread pudding Odette made this morning?”
    Dory looked over at him when she spoke, and he could see dark smudges beneath her great green eyes. She looked worn out, Ben
     thought as his eyes roamed her face. A strange feeling began to stir in him. For Christsake! What was the matter with him?
     For all he knew she was what her brother said she was: a loose, wanton woman.
    “I can’t very well miss Odette’s pudding, now can I?” In spite of his previous dark thoughts, a smile began in his eyes, darkening
     and warming them, and then spread to his mouth. His lips parted to show exceptionally white even teeth.
    A wistful expression settled on Dory’s face. He was so damn handsome, yet steady as an oak tree. Here was a man a woman could
     depend on. She shivered as if a flame had licked along her veins. Her mouth was so dry that her tongue stuck to the roof