Her Bodyguard (26 page)

Before she’d quite come back to earth, he moved above her, sank into her. Her legs wrapped around his hips, her body warm and wet. Accepting. Nothing in his life had ever felt so good. Ignoring the demands of his body, Luke summoned the last vestiges of self-control and held himself still, steeping himself in the moment, reluctant for it to end.

This dangerously beautiful woman lying beneath him was everything a man could ever want. All he could ever need. He needed her mussed hair, her lips swollen from his kisses, her soft body curved around his own.

He needed her saucy mouth, her spunk and determination, her loyalty. He needed her trust. He needed her to need him.

That stopped him cold. He’d never wanted a woman to need him before. That signified ties he’d always refused. First it was morals, now this? Had he lost his mind?

Unwilling to dwell on his confusion any longer, he leaned down and kissed her gently. His name was a sigh on her lips when she moved, arching her hips, drawing him deeper until Luke surrendered to the pulsing, desperate need for completion.

He thrust high and hard, losing himself within her. He moved slowly at first, taking easy strokes, wishing to prolong their encounter until he was blind with need. But she was so wet, so willing. So perfect. He couldn’t resist taking everything she offered.

Bracing his arms on either side of her, Luke leaned down and kissed her again, harder this time, demanding she respond to his passion. His thrusts increased in tempo, became stronger, harder. Her fingers dug into his shoulders as Mari’s desperate moans shattered the stillness of the room. Unable to resist her demand for more, he buried his face into her neck and pounded into her, giving all he had. Her hips arched upward and her knees rose, sending Luke tumbling over the edge.

They cried out together, and Luke spent himself completely. Then, when he had nothing else to give, when continuing to breathe took a conscious effort, he collapsed atop her, heavy and sated.

Long minutes passed before he found the energy to move, and even then, he took care not to slip from her as he rolled onto his side. He gathered her close and held her against him. For a moment, neither spoke, the sounds of their breathing a tranquil melody. Finally, Mari sighed with contented pleasure and trailed her finger lazily across his back.

“What are you thinking?” he asked, when her smile turned rueful.

She lifted her eyes. “I’m afraid that, despite all my efforts, I may never leave my Menacehood behind.”

He lowered his head, and locked his lips with hers. It was a long, sweet kiss that touched Luke’s soul.

“That’s all right, sugar. You can menace me anytime.”

WHEN LUKE and Mari rode into Sawhorse Mill four days after leaving Parsonsville, the first thing Luke saw was a handwritten broadside nailed to the side of a building advertising Magnifico the Magnificent’s magic show. First performance tonight, the sign read. Seven o’clock. Luke checked his pocket watch. Ten after seven.

Looks like the coin flip at that last crossroads had been a lucky one. They’d finally tracked them down.

Luke glanced over at Mari to see if she’d noticed the advertisement, but she was busy fiddling with the hat he’d bought her in Parsonsville. It was a man’s cowboy hat and just a shade too big for her head, but she loved it. He discovered he loved putting a smile on her face.

She’d done a lot of smiling in the past four days, even though they’d remained a step behind their siblings. Something had changed for Mari in that hotel room. It was as if she’d given herself permission to quit worrying about anything more serious than the fit of her hat on her head.

Not that Luke was complaining. After all, hadn’t he reaped the benefits of her newfound independence every night and at least once each day?

And yet, while she’d apparently quit worrying, it hadn’t quite worked that way for him. Something had nagged at his consciousness ever since the morning he took her virginity, something of import about Mari McBride that remained just beyond his grasp. He’d missed a clue, he suspected. It wasn’t like him. Of course, neither was bedding a virtuous young woman of good family, if not good sense.

Not that he was showing much good sense, himself. Hell, when you stripped bark down to the wood, his actions weren’t much better than Rory’s. It was a sobering fact.

At least he’d done his best to be responsible in his irresponsibility. Since the first time—well, the first couple times—he’d done his best to prevent any unintended consequences. Bedding her was dishonorable enough; getting her with child would be…damn, bet she’d be a beauty when ripe with child. With his child.

The thought nearly knocked him off his horse. Better keep his mind on matters at hand.

“Mari?” he called. When she gave him her attention, he gestured toward the sign. “Looks like we found them.”

She immediately quit fiddling with her hat and noticed the flyer. She went still, her eyes wide and rounded as she read the notice. “They’re here? Really?”

“Magnifico and his assistant are here, and I’ll eat your hat if they’re not Rory and Kat.”

Absently, she moved her hands to her hat, then said, “Don’t you touch.”

“I won’t have to.” He expected her to kick her horse and go galloping into town to find the Prairie Star Saloon where the show was being performed.

Instead, she licked her lips. “I’m scared, Luke.”

“This isn’t a trail of fairy dust we’ve been chasing, sugar. You were right all along. Your sister is alive. You’ve found her.”

Slowly, Mari nodded. “Maybe. I hope so. Truly, I do. But…then what?”

To Luke’s surprise and dismay, a pair of big fat tears spilled from her eyes and slid slowly down her cheek.

Mari swiped the wetness away with the back of her hand. “What explanation will she give me? What if it’s something selfish and unforgivable? What will I do then? Or what if she refuses to come home? He is her husband now. If she wants to stay with him, if she doesn’t think she needs her family anymore, I can’t make her do anything.”

“Why don’t you ford that river when you reach it,” Luke advised. “No sense worrying yourself sick over something that probably won’t happen.”

“But I need to be prepared.” Mari closed her eyes and visibly shuddered. “If this elopement of hers was nothing more than a dramatic frolic, if she’s put my family through hell for no good reason, then I’m going to regret ever coming after her.”

What he should have done was remind her that they believed Rory was trying to hide from someone, and that Kat’s silence to her family might be an effort to protect them. Instead, the question was on his lips and out of his mouth before Luke had the sense to stop it. “Will you regret me, Maribeth?”

“What?”

It was a straightforward query. What didn’t she understand? Luke’s chest suddenly felt tight, and his muscles tensed as he repeated his question. The answer, he realized, mattered.

“Regret you?” She gave her head a little shake as if to clear it. Then she looked him straight in the eyes, her honesty and sincerity shining like a beacon, as she declared, “I’ll never regret you, Luke Garrett. Never. No matter what happens. My grandmother Monique always taught us that a woman should never regret her first love.”

First love
. It was a bullet between the eyes.
That
was the elusive truth that had ghosted through his mind for days now. It was a warmth to fill the cold void inside him, the essence of a bone-deep yearning he’d refused to recognize. It was a dream he’d long denied. Somehow, it had sneaked up and taken hold of him.

Luke Garrett, outlaw, spy and erstwhile bodyguard, had gone and fallen in love with Maribeth McBride.

And she thinks she’s scared?

AS SHE stood poised on the steps outside the Prairie Star Saloon, a disturbing mix of anticipation and trepidation churned in Mari’s stomach. Her breaths came in shallow pants and her heartbeat fluttered like a hummingbird’s wings. What if Luke was wrong? What if it wasn’t her sister? What if—

“Oh, stop it,” she murmured before taking a deep, calming breath. Whatever happened, she’d deal with it. She was strong.

As Luke stepped up beside her, she grabbed hold of his hand and gripped it hard. “You ready?” she asked.

Inside the saloon, applause broke out. Mari took another deep breath, then moved toward the door.

A ticket taker stopped them before she could push past the swinging saloon doors. Restlessly, Mari waited for Luke to dig out the required coin. When laughter erupted from the saloon, she abandoned what little patience she had left and darted around both men. The wooden door felt cool against her palm as she pushed it open. The scent of sulphur teased her nostrils as she stepped into the building, but it was a particular sound that grabbed her attention.

Feminine laughter. Rippling, joyous, irresistible feminine laughter. Familiar feminine laughter.

Mari turned her head toward the sound, and her knees turned to water. “Kat.”

The trembling came from out of nowhere, and it rippled through her body like a fever. She swayed on her feet and might have melted to the floor had Luke not offered her a supporting hand.

“Kat,” she murmured again, drinking in the sight of her sister.

Kat stood elevated on a temporary stage at the far corner of the room. She looked thinner, Mari thought. Thin and tanned and beautiful. She wore a rather shocking costume, a shoulder-baring toga of emerald silk the color of her eyes—and the pendant hanging around her neck. So, Rory hadn’t sold the piece after all. Thank goodness. Mari’s hand lifted to clutch at her own pendant. She’d had it repaired in Trickling Springs and worn it ever since. Mari blinked back tears and watched her sister assist her masked companion in a trick that turned an audience member’s six-shooter into a snow-white dove.

It was when the audience applauded and Rory and Kat clasped hands to take a bow that Kat appeared to sense something had changed. In the midst of dipping her head toward the floor, the magician’s assistant froze. Her head snapped up. Her gaze panned the room.

Mari took half a step forward.

Kat saw her and gasped. She dropped her partner’s hand and brought both of hers up to her mouth. Mari could see her lips move, but it wasn’t until the applause died that she was able to hear Kat say “Maribeth?” Then, louder, “Maribeth?” After that, a squeal. “Maribeth!”

Kat leaped off the makeshift stage and rushed toward Mari, who darted forward to meet her sister in the middle. Both women had tears streaming down their faces by the time they wrapped their arms around each other. Mari clutched her sister against her, breathed in her familiar cinnamon-and-sunshine scent, and sent up a quick, heartfelt prayer of thanksgiving. She was only vaguely aware of Luke as he brushed past her, headed for the stage.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” Kat said. “Why are you here? How did you find us? Or is this just a wonderful coincidence? And what in the world are you doing with Luke Garrett?”

Mari glanced around. The audience’s attention was divided equally between her and Kat, and the stage where Luke was holding a quiet discussion with Magnifico the Magnificent. “Let’s go somewhere private to talk.”

“All right. In a few minutes, though. I need to finish the show.” But as she turned around, the masked man on the stage spoke in a heavily Spanish-accented voice.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Rory Callahan said with a flourish. “This man, this infidel, has dared to question Magnifico’s magic. Watch now as I demonstrate to him the true extent of my powers.”

Kat took a step toward the stage, saying, “What in the world?”

Luke made a show of scoffing. “Powers? Ha. This ‘magic’ of yours is nothing more than cow patties. Just a bunch of smoke and mirrors hoo-ha.”

A crusty old cowboy in the audience stood up and said, “Yeah!”

A chorus of others joined in. On stage, Luke folded his arms. Magnifico flourished his cape, then smiled magnificently at the crowd. “My friends, prepare to be amazed.”

“What is he doing?” Kat murmured.

Shaking his head, Luke turned his back on Rory and began to leave the stage. A puff of smoke exploded at his feet. He stopped, his eyes going round with shock, then narrowing with disdain. “Smoke and mirrors,” he repeated.

The masked magician held out his hands, an offer of innocence, and Luke gave him a dismissive wave, then took another step. Smoke puffed from the floor at his feet. He shot the magician a suspicious look but took another step. More smoke. Now alone on stage, Rory folded his arms. Puffs of smoke followed Luke all the way down the aisle as he moved toward Mari and Kat.

“My,” Kat breathed. “I’ve never seen him do something like that. How is he doing it?”

“He’s not,” Mari said flatly, quietly. The audience’s attention was back on the stage. “Luke is. Come on, let’s go.”

“Luke? How does he—”

“Hush, Kat.” Mari grabbed hold of her sister’s arm and tugged her toward the door.

Kat dragged her feet. “But…the show…”

“Luke will finish it. He’s giving us the chance to talk. Let’s take advantage of it.”

“Luke Garrett? What does he know about magic?”

Mari thought about that morning on the trail, when she’d awoken to the dance of his fingers across the bare expanse of her flesh. “You’d be surprised, sister.”

Outside on the street, Mari looked around for a place for them to talk. She wanted privacy. Now that the first exultant rush of joy was fading, the anger she’d nursed for so long had begun nipping at the edges of her consciousness. If their discussion took a turn toward the ugly, she’d just as soon it not happen out on the street. “Do you have a hotel room?”

“Well, sort of.”

“Let’s go there to talk. Which way is it?”

“I’m not sure that’s such a good idea,” Kat said, grimacing. “It’s…um…upstairs.”

Upstairs? Above the saloon? “You’re sleeping in a whorehouse?”

Her sister shrugged and smiled sheepishly. “It’s cheap.”

Another woman might have been horrified, but not Mari. The McBride sisters weren’t strangers to such places, although it wasn’t their practice to spend the night in one. At least, not ordinarily. “Remember that time we sneaked into Rachel’s Social Emporium and spent the night?”