Free Patricia Hagan by Loves Wine Page A

I make you realize you have no right to blame me entirely for what happened between us. Listen to me, damn it,” he shook her roughly. “I wanted to tell you who I was, but I knew once you found out, you’d react just as you are now.”
    Between clenched teeth, she said, “You got what you were after. And you knew I’d never let you put your filthy hands on me if I’d known you were a goddamn Yankee.” His fingertips began to move gently across her face. “Get your hands off me, Scott Colter, or I’ll kill you, I swear I will.”
    “So much fire,” he murmured, lips brushing her cheek, then moving to her neck. “Wasted in anger. This much fire should burn only in bed…”
    Holly fought him with all the strength she could muster. “You goddamn Yankee son of a bitch, I’d rather couple with a billy goat than have you touch me!”
    He jerked his head back, and she saw raw, naked fury. “That does it. I warned you about that filthy mouth. If you were a man, I’d beat the hell out of you.” As easily as though she were a sack of potatoes, he tucked her under his arm.
    Oblivious to her struggles, he carried her around to the front of the cabin, then paused to look around. “Ah, there’s what I’m looking for—good, strong lye soap.” He found a pail of water, then dropped her roughly to the ground. Lowering himself to straddle her, he twisted her long, thick mane of hair around his fingers to hold her in place, then proceeded to wash out her mouth with the soap and water.
    When he was satisfied that she’d had enough, he got to his feet. “Next time, a good, sound spanking will go along with it.”
    Holly gagged, spat, and scrambled to her feet. Hoarsely, eyes blazing, her whole body trembling with rage, she gasped, “You, you…”
    Scott raised an eyebrow.
    She bit back the words, and oh, they were some of the choicest. Tears sprang to her eyes, and she hated herself for the weakness. “Will you please just go? Get out of my life. Why do you go on tormenting me? Haven’t you done enough?” She turned away, not wanting him to see the tears spilling.
    Scott was instantly contrite. Damn it, he hadn’t wanted to crush the girl’s spirit. “I’m sorry. Hell, I came out here to warn you there might be trouble, not to hurt you. But you had to let go with that temper of yours, and I just wanted to teach you a lesson.” He grabbed her and spun her around, and she wilted against his chest. He nuzzled her hair with his chin. “Holly, little sprite.” He gently wrapped his fingers in her long hair and tilted her head back. Crushing her against him, his lips found hers, warm, seeking. He tasted the soap and laughed. “Your kisses should never taste like soap, Holly, only like warm, sweet wine.”
    Suddenly, Holly found herself laughing despite herself. “I have no wine, sir, only a mouthful of lye soap.”
    Their eyes met, and for the flash of a single moment, the curtain of animosity was drawn aside. They were a man and a woman, aware of the intimacy they had shared. The teasing flames of passion ignited once more.
    Their smiles faded simultaneously. Holly stiffened in his arms, but he did not release her. “How I wish we’d met another time, another place,” he said.
    The curtain closed.
    Holly shook her head. “I want to forget it. Go, please, and don’t come back.”
    With a deep sigh, he moved away. “All right. If that’s the way you want it. If you need me, let me know.”
    He walked away. Holly watched, a maelstrom of emotions spinning as she struggled to keep from calling out to him. There could not, she told herself, be anything between them except bitterness.
    He mounted his horse, then looked at her. “Your mother knew I was coming out here and sends her love. Says she’ll get Jarvis to bring her out for a visit soon. Neil will be by to check on you. I won’t be back unless you send for me, Holly. I’ll leave you alone because you asked me to.”
    With one last, searching gaze, he