Free Way Out West by Blanche Marriott Page A

lure of the West. Men draw their guns as a sign of dominance.”
He lifted his gun from his holster. “See, the guns here have no chamber for
bullets. They’re harmless.” After she inspected it, he put it away. “Just
because we don’t have ammunition doesn’t mean it’s any less meaningful. We men
like to show our aggression sometimes.”
    “And those of us who don’t
know are scared senseless.”
    “I apologize, but if you
recall, I didn’t start the fight.”
    “But why did you have to
draw your gun? It didn’t mean anything. You couldn’t have done anything.”
    “Purely symbolic. With
my swiftness and accuracy, I threw him off guard and he knows I would have beat
him in a standoff.”
    She turned her head away
and huffed. “Well, I still don’t like it. I was worried sick.”
    Rand put a finger to her cheek and turned her head. “You
were afraid for me. I like that. I’m flattered that you cared enough to be
concerned about my welfare.”
    “I just didn’t want to
see any blood shed.”
    He smiled, slow and
engaging. “No, you were afraid for me. Admit it.”
    “I didn’t want to see
the other guy get hurt either.”
    “Admit it.”
    “Everyone in the place
was scared out of their wits.”
    “Callie.” He moved his
head closer and his lips touched a thousand nerve endings at once as his mouth
brushed hers. “Say it. Say you care.”
    When his hands moved
over her shoulders, she suddenly lost her reason for being angry. She was just
glad he was safe and sound. She abruptly threw her arms around his neck and
hugged tightly with a trembling need. “Yes, I was afraid you’d be killed. I was
afraid I’d never...”
    “What? Never what?” he
whispered in her ear.
    “Afraid I’d never kiss
you again.”
    He moved his head back
to look into her eyes while his own sparkled as brightly as his smile.
    “Then do it now before I
die waiting.”
    It was an urgent kiss. The
adrenaline that had pumped in her veins only moments before helped to
strengthen the passion that burst forth from her every pore. Her hands searched
his hair, feeling the cool waves sift between her fingers.
    Like cold water thrown
on a fire, a giddy laughter bubbled up from the floor below. Callie turned her
head to see Sasha and two of the other girls walk by exchanging secret
comments. Looking at Rand, she saw passion burning in his eyes and desire
swelling his lips.
    But this was not the
time or place for any of this. She lowered her head and licked the remnants of Rand’s sweetness from her lips. “People are watching.”
    “Let them.”
    “You’re the one who’s
always so concerned about me being a proper lady and you a gentleman. Do you
really want to cause such a spectacle?”
    “That’s a very unfair
question after what I’ve just been through.”
    “Are you talking about
the standoff or our kiss?”
    “I’m talking about the
things that were going through my mind when we kissed. I’m talking about you
and me and what’s happening between us.”
    Callie turned forward,
her eyes averted. “What is happening between us? We’ve only known each other a
day.”
    Rand sidled up to her on the stair. “Is there a
specific time frame in which to know you’re attracted to someone?”
    “Well, no, but—“
    “Then don’t worry. Just
let it happen. You’ve already said you think I’m good looking. And charming. And
I take it you like my easy manner?”
    Callie felt her face
warm. Why had she said those things? Yes, she believed all that, but if he
expected her to be a proper lady, she needed to slow things down a bit, take a breath
while she still had some.
    When she didn’t answer
him, he reached for her hand and tenderly fondled it in the two of his. His
thumb rubbed the sensitive web of skin between her thumb and forefinger. Her
whole arm tingled as hairs rose to attention.
    He lifted her hand,
stroking the limp wrist as he brought her fingers to his lips. Her index
finger, slightly higher than the