Free The Lawman's Agreement (Entangled Scandalous) by Nancy Fraser, Patti Shenberger

It was a habit she’d also noticed with both Jake and Matt, a McCade quirk she suspected.
    “What about you, cher ? Was your engagement for love, or practicality?”
    They’d reached the cottage, and Suzanne opened the gate and stepped onto the cobblestone walkway before turning to answer Zack’s questions. “I thought it was love. In hindsight, I guess it was more the excitement of self-discovery. Unfortunately, as much as he’d claimed to want an equal for a wife, he couldn’t handle it in the end. Like most men, Jason felt the need to be the master and make his partner the subservient, obedient wife. It was obvious it wasn’t going to work out under those circumstances, and we parted somewhat amicably.”
    Once they’d reached the front door, Zack took her hands in his and lifted them to his lips. Suzanne’s arms tingled from the brush of his mustache against the back of her fingers.
    “Mrs. Davies is on her porch, cher . I think a kiss might be in order.”
    “Mrs. Davies is half blind and likely can’t see this far anyway, Marshal,” she said, doing her best to calm an already-racing pulse at the thought of Zack’s goodnight kiss.
    “One kiss. To be on the safe side.”
    Without waiting for her agreement, Zack lowered his head and pressed his mouth to hers. When she reached up and wrapped her hand around the back of his neck, he groaned. She sighed, the softly issued gesture parting her lips just enough for Zack to deepen their kiss.
    Suzanne lifted her other arm and wrapped both around Zack’s neck, raising herself onto her tiptoes to meet his heady assault with one of her own.
    The kiss went on and on, back and forth.
    After what seemed like a wonderful eternity, Zack lifted his head, his gaze intent on hers. “That should do it,” he said, chuckling slightly.
    That did it all right. Try as she might, she couldn’t figure out where the “safe side” was in one of the most wonderful kisses she’d ever experienced.
    …
    Suzanne had been looking forward to Sunday dinner at Jake and Felicity’s for a week. The idea of being able to spend time with friends and not have to pretend to be a woman in love was the closest thing to a relaxing day Suzanne could imagine.
    “We weren’t expecting to see you until late this evening, Jake,” Zack said when they were all seated in the parlor.
    “We cut the weekend trip short,” Jake explained. “The weather south of here was getting a bit heavy and rocking the River Maiden to the point some of the passengers were feeling ill. We turned around sooner than usual and docked around noon.”
    “So, Virginia,” Suzanne began, “Felicity tells me you’re planning to stay for a month or so to help with the new baby.”
    Virginia took her usual seat in the comfortable parlor and turned in Suzanne’s direction. “Yes, I thought I might. I enjoyed my time with Matthew and Miri when little Molly was born. It would be nice to do it again while I’m still young enough to be of help.”
    Suzanne laughed. “Something tells me, Virginia, you’ll be around for at least another half dozen or so grandchildren and grand-nieces and nephews. You are in remarkable health.”
    “I do try to eat less than I used to, and I walk every day.”
    “And, much to my displeasure,” Zack said from the far side of the room, “she’s stopped baking all my favorite desserts.”
    “Oh, I still bake,” Virginia explained. “Though one thing at a time, not ten.”
    “Molly is certainly getting big,” Suzanne said, pulling the eleven-month-old up into her lap. “She’s a perfect height and weight for her age.”
    “Now that she’s walking, she keeps us both on our toes,” Miri added.
    Virginia met Suzanne’s gaze, and then looked down at the small child in her lap. “Children are a blessing every woman should experience at least once in her life.”
    Suddenly, Suzanne sensed everyone staring at her. And, as if he could sense her discomfort, Zack came to the rescue when he