Free Ruby's Song (Love in the Sierras Book 3) by Unknown

whistled in awe.
    A snapping twig drew his attention to the side yard and he watched as Marlena scrambled up a giant oak, rustling leaves and branches so loudly he was sure she’d wake the house. Her skirts snagged on tiny boughs and she yanked as she went along unsteadily.
    “She’s going to kill herself,” Dalton mumbled before jogging over to assist. He scrambled up the trunk and reached her not a moment too soon as her foot slipped and she nearly tumbled to the ground. He clutched a sturdy overhead branch with one hand and grabbed her wrist with the other, drawing her against the length of his body. She wrapped her arm around his waist, steadying herself, and gaped at him with a silent look of shock.
    “I’ve got you,” he said quietly, keeping his grip firm.
    She was so close he could smell the faint scent of her perfume. Lavender, warm and heady, washed over him and he took a deep breath of it. The moonlight reflected in her eyes, deepening the flecks of violet and blue as they widened and roved steadily over his face.
    Suddenly, she leaned harder against him, pressing her lips to his. Her mouth was warm and wet, and he responded without thinking, slanting his lips across hers, sending his tongue out to run over the pink creases along her pout. She opened her mouth, inviting him, and he accepted greedily, deepening the kiss. He tasted wine on her tongue. It was a sobering reminder of how relaxed her faculties were and he pulled away, steadying her, wishing he could steady his heartbeat as easily.
    She bit down on her bottom lip and smiled until she straddled the window sill. She waved once more before falling gracelessly into the room. He chuckled and rolled his eyes before clambering back down to the ground. Once he knew she was safely tucked inside, he headed back to the inn on foot, sorting his thoughts along the way. What a whirlwind of a day. Marlena proved to be an intriguing puzzle. Why was she frequently sneaking out? And why the tears? Not the behavior of a woman blissfully in love with her life, as she pronounced.
    A slight flush of guilt moved through him at the smugness he felt knowing she might not enjoy her high-brow existence. She deserved a life of ease after spending her life surviving injustice. Both of her parents had died when she was young, leaving her and her sister at the mercy of a controlling murderer. They’d escaped and worked their way from town to town, using only their wits and sewing skills to live. If she’d finally found some peace and amusement living in Boston, who was he to begrudge her that?
    Still, he couldn’t help the disenchantment he felt, the deflated hopes he’d once had for her. She had been sweet and shy, but also strong and brave, even as a child. She hadn’t hesitated to shoot the man threatening her sister, and she would have run into a burning building to rescue Jess without batting an eye if he hadn’t been there to stop her. How could such a brave creature reduce herself to subterfuge and sneaking about?
    The folded note fell into the palm of his hand, and it suddenly occurred to him that his disappointment lie in that Marlena failed to measure up to the woman occupying his thoughts for the past two months. He knew from the life he’d lived with his mother how oppressed and powerless women were, so whenever he saw one stand up for herself or any other injustice, he couldn’t help but admire. The idea of Marlena sneaking around to avoid the loss of her comfortable life was an idea he could understand, but he still looked down his nose at it.
    When he reached the inn, he removed his jacket and tossed it over a chair. There was a loud thud when the garment hit the arm. He searched its pockets, releasing a sigh when he pulled out Marlena’s gun. He’d have to get it back to her.
     

     
    The early-afternoon sun glared off the front windows of the Winthrop home, nearly blinding Dalton. He adjusted the brim of his hat to protect his eyes and stretched his