The Gunslinger’s Untamed Bride (24 page)

“I almost believe you.”

Her green eyes widened, as though his doubt of her intentions shocked her. “I dropped it when you brought in the hot chocolate. See?” She held up the white bar. “Should I get the rinse cup or are you going under?”

Juniper couldn’t fight his laughter, mostly because she delighted him like nothing ever had, and partly because there was no way in hell he’d withstand a scrubbing. “Darlin’, I don’t—”

“The cup,” she said, rising up as though she intended to get out of the tub.

“Get back in here,” he said, his hands closing over her waist, the sight of her slick skin making him groan against a lash of raw desire. “I can do my own scrubbing. Move back,” he said, then leaned forward to dunk his head into the water between them.

Lily’s hands slid into his wet hair the moment he sat back. Then she turned and shifted her knees over his thighs as she sat up, working her fingers across his scalp.

His breath burning holes through his lungs, Juniper stared at the pink water-beaded tips of her breasts just inches from his lips.

“You’re torturing me,” he whispered, his hand moving up the soft curves of her body.

“Am I?” she asked, her husky tone, the smile in her voice telling him she wanted his caress as deeply as he wanted to caress her. Unable to resist, he dipped his head and drew the firm pink tip into his mouth. Her fingers flexed in his hair. Her soft moan echoed his own.

“Lie back,” she said in a ragged breath. “So you can rinse.”

Releasing her, he leaned back into the water and furiously scrubbed the suds from his hair, resenting every second he wasn’t holding her. When he rose up, Lily was over him, reaching for him, joining their bodies.

Juniper’s groan vibrated through both of them. Her hips shifted, her body demanding, relentless,
so damn alive.

At the first silken tug of her body closing around him, release ripped through him like a bolt of lightning searching across a dark sky. He grabbed her hips, halting the maddening movements, but he couldn’t slow his own hot, searing pulses. With a shout that was her name, he spent himself inside her.

Catching his breath, he slumped back against the tub, annoyed by his startling lack of control. “Damn.”

Lily followed him back, soothing him with gentle kisses. “I love watching you,” she said in a breathless whisper, the tender core of her body caressing him, “and feeling your pleasure.”

That quickly, a new charge of passion stirred. The fire in his blood exceeding the temperature of the water, Juniper lifted her off him and into his arms as he stood.

“June!”

“If I don’t get you out of this tub, we’re going to flood the cabin.”

A while later they were cuddled up in bed and Lily was sighing with utter contentment.

“I never thought I’d find something I enjoyed more than my chocolate.”

Juniper’s low chuckle churned the wonderful swirls of sensation still shimmering inside her. “Should I take that as a compliment?”

“Of the greatest accord,” she said, smiling, hugging him. “You, Juniper Barns, are decadence personified.”

His lips grazed the shell of her ear. “I should feed you,” he said.

She shifted against the warmth of his skin, her cheek nuzzling into the hollow beneath his shoulders. “Later. Right now I have everything I need.”

H
e had to admit he didn’t mind the coziness of his cabin. The tight space made it convenient to do just about everything in bed. They’d eaten breakfast, read through some files Günter had brought over for Lily and made love a couple of times in between. The one time they’d gotten dressed and sat at the table, Lily had done her best to give him a statement of all that had happened on the mountain, a task that was as hard on Juniper as it had been on Lily. She’d been tearful and shivering by the time they’d finished. He’d dropped his pencil and hadn’t stopped kissing her until neither one of them could think beyond the passion rising between them.

Lily, currently snuggled against his side, was warm and sated. She’d been quiet for a long while, her head against his shoulder, her fingers brushing lightly over his chest as her toes rubbed against his calf.

Sweet mercy. A man could get used to this.

In another hour her carriage would be waiting to cart her down to The Grove. He hadn’t told her yet that he wouldn’t be going along. He had prisoners and dead scattered in all directions and enough reports to write to keep him busy for several weeks. His first priority was to get Lily home. Kyle would go along with the other hired escorts, staying with her until they reached San Francisco. June would have the peace of mind of knowing she was well protected.

“June?”

“Hmm?”

“What’s to keep the men from locating their homes closer to the mill so they can see their families more often? Why can’t we have a place where husbands can stay with their wives?”

He had a notion her mind had been steeped in business rather than daydreams. “Company land. Company policy.”

“That’s what I thought. The one complaint I keep hearing is that the men are so isolated from their families. Don’t you think they’d be more content if they had the option to stay with their wives?”

“Having you in my bed makes me believe it would.”

Lily smiled. This was the reaction she’d hoped for. She certainly enjoyed being in his bed.

“But there are valid safety issues to consider. You allow wives, you’ll have children. Logging sites are hazardous, even for the workers.”

“Couldn’t we establish housing beyond the foresting, but close enough for the men to go home at night?”

“Jim has made that suggestion over the years. You’d have to designate some land and be willing to parcel it out.”

“What do
you
think?”

He lifted onto his elbow, easing her head onto the pillow as he smiled down at her. “That you sure are pretty when you’re talking business.” His gaze trailed down her body. “Makes it hard not to get distracted.”

She laughed and pulled the sheet up to her chin. “Pay attention.”

“All right.” He pulled her close and brushed his lips lightly over hers. “Tell me what’s brewing in that mind of yours. I promise to pay attention.”

When they finally emerged from the cabin, a clear, blue sky shone bright overhead as giant redwoods chased early afternoon shadows over the grounds. Walking through the camp beneath the weight of Juniper’s protective arm, Lily buzzed with energy. Her mind was a flurry of ideas, and Juniper had listened to every one of them and offered suggestions. There was so much to do.

“Well, don’t you look refreshed?” Regi stood on the stoop of their cabin.

“Miss Carrington,” Juniper said with formal politeness as he stepped away from her.

“Sheriff Barns,” she replied.

“I’m going to leave you to pack while I go check on a few things. She’s in your care,” he said to Regi.

“Oh, I do believe we’re all well guarded,” Regi said in a droll tone.

Lily didn’t know what he meant until she watched Juniper walk toward two tall carriages and teams of horses waiting farther out. A group of large men stood near them, all wearing long dusters, each with a star pinned to his chest. Kyle stood among them and clapped Juniper on the shoulder.

“Who are they?” asked Lily.

“That,”
said Regi, shuffling down the steps, “is our escort.”

“
Six
lawmen?”

“Seven armed guards including the one called Marshal Darby. I don’t know if they’re all lawmen or if some were deputized just for the occasion. Your sheriff isn’t taking any chances of you getting away again. Marshal Darby has been put in charge of our journey home.”

“Juniper isn’t going with us to The Grove?”

“According to Marshal Darby he still has prisoners on the mountain and fallen men to attend to today. Your sheriff’s first priority is to see you sent off safely, of which I’m entirely grateful. I don’t think I’ve seen a more frightening sight than your sheriff out of his mind with worry.”

Lily couldn’t pull her gaze away from Juniper. He wasn’t going with them? Why hadn’t he told her?

Regi’s arm came around her. “Having fretted over you so much yesterday, I appreciate the extra precautions.”

Did he even intend to tell her goodbye?

“I trust your bath and sleeping accommodations were agreeable?” Regi asked.

“Very much.” Juniper had given her everything she’d asked for—and more.

“And your sheriff, was he agreeable, as well?”

“Nothing short of a gentleman.”

“Uh-huh,” Regi said.

She watched Juniper talk to the other men, his expression relaxed, as though he couldn’t care less that he was about to send her off. Dear God, surely he knew how she felt about him.

“Well we might as well head to the coach. The last of our luggage was just loaded. After yesterday, I imagine you’ll be wanting to rid yourself of this place once we return.”

“Certainly not,” she said, startled by Regi’s assumption. “I’m not about to turn my back on them now. In fact, I’m certain we can greatly improve the conditions of our workers. I want to help them.”

“Good God, Lil. Some of those men tried to kill you.”

“And others died trying to help me.” Just as Juniper had told her, the men who’d been shot in that ramshackle cabin had only wanted to provide for their families—they’d been misled, and died with intentions to set it right. “Carrington Industries is going to help this camp.”

Regi held her gaze for a moment. “Are you sure your fondness for the sheriff isn’t influencing this decision?”

“Of course not. I was interested in this company before I knew about Juniper. Being here has given me a new respect for my employees and what they do for our company.”

“Developing a fondness for smelly beasts of labor, are we?”

She flushed at the memory of how callous she’d been toward employees she’d never met. “They’re
men,
Reginald, with lives and families.”

“You don’t say? What a novel concept.”

“I’m being serious.”

“You’re being human, love. And I have to say, it agrees with you. If you’re going to improve efficiency around here, you may want to start with hiring a new mill manager.”

“Replace Mr. Grimshaw? Why?”

“There’s a good reason why he was of no help to our staff. He’s completely illiterate.”

Lily gaped at him. “How can that be? Are you sure?”

“Quite.”

She glanced again at Juniper. He must know. What else hadn’t he told her? She lifted her skirt and hurried toward the group of men.

“Excuse me,” she said, looking past a cluster of broad shoulders.
“Sheriff Barns?”

Surprised by Lily’s sharp tone, Juniper looked away from the high perch of the driver and met her poignant stare. Her green eyes snapped with anger. “Are you all packed up?” he asked, glancing quickly at Reg, who didn’t seem to share her distress.

“The luggage has been taken care of. Can I speak with you?”

Aw, hell.
She’d obviously figured out he wouldn’t be joining her in The Grove. Here it came…the accusations of unfulfilled expectations and unspoken promises. He knew he couldn’t avoid this—but he sure as hell wished he could.

“Certainly.” He held his arm out to her. She snatched his elbow with a grip that said she wasn’t letting go until she’d said her piece. He started for the side of a cabin, away from onlookers.

“Five minutes,” Kyle called after them. “We need to get moving.”

Juniper ignored him and led Lily to the back of a cabin.

Her arms were crossed stiffly over the bodice of her gray dress as he turned to face her.

“Jim Grimshaw can’t read?”

That hadn’t been what he was expecting. “No,” he said. “He can’t.”

“Then how can he be in control of this mill?”

“Because he knows this forest and this mill better than most men know the back of their own hand.”

“There’s more to running a mill than knowing the trees and equipment. All the correspondence—”

“Has been done through me or one of the other mill workers.”

“So that’s why he seemed so lost without the sheriff on the day we arrived. This won’t do, not when—”

“Don’t get the wrong impression. Jim runs this place. All I did was read his mail and take some notes.”

“This camp lacks proper documentation. We can’t improve our filing and—”

“That’s got nothing to do with Jim. Honestly, Lily, Jim does a brilliant job. You won’t find a man better suited for organizing your workers and workloads. What he needs is office help. We’re understaffed. And Jim does the work of three foremen.”

“So you’re saying we need to hire an
office
manager, to take care of the necessary paperwork?”

“That would be my suggestion. Leave Jim to do what he does best—manage the crews and the work.”

Her brow nettled, and Juniper grinned. He wanted to touch, to kiss. Hell, he wanted to lock her up in his cabin and never let her go. He wanted too much, more than he could ever give her.

“Couldn’t he learn to read?” she asked.

Juniper shrugged. “Only if he can find the time. He already works around the clock for this camp. When would he have time for studies? Especially when his free time should go to his family, who don’t see him but once a month or so.”

“But with a new community—”

“Which at the moment is nothing more than an idea you have yet to fully research. Even if it’s a go, the development will likely be a good year away.”

“I know,”
she said defensively.

He knew she did. The lady didn’t need anyone to tell her her business. He could just imagine the poor defeated saps who’d tried. God, he was crazy about her.

Her eyes widened, and he realized he wasn’t exactly hiding his open amusement.

“What?” she demanded.

“Nothin’.”

“You’re laughing at me,” she accused.

“I’m not making a sound,” he argued, even as a chuckle began to rise from his chest.

Her expression fell. “Juniper?”

He tucked his fingers into his pant pockets to keep from pulling her into the kiss he sorely wanted. “Sorry. I just love watching you think.”

Her stricken expression crumbled into something far more somber.
Hell.
He thought she might cry, and figured it might be easier to watch her leave with anger in her eyes rather than tears.

Nothing’s going to make this easier.
And he’d hate himself if she left in anger.

“If you have any problems or concerns after you get home, you can always send me a wire. I’ll get it from either location.”

Lily could only nod, her thoughts suddenly not having a thing to do with the company. He was pulling away from her—she sensed it in his tone, his rigid stance. He had filled every empty space in her heart, and he was going to just…send her away? With nothing?

“Why didn’t you tell me you weren’t going with us to The Grove?”

“I wish I could, but I’m needed here. I have men to bring in, families to contact. I’ll be tied up with reports for a good long while.”

She nodded her understanding. He had his job to do. But that didn’t excuse his lack of courtesy by sending her off with no word of his feelings for her. She couldn’t be the only one who’d fallen—he had to feel for her just as deeply. The way he’d made love to her, it was more than just physical desire.

“Will you come to see me in San Francisco?”

He lowered his gaze, and Lily’s breath stalled, pain stealing into her chest.

“Juniper?”

He glanced up and she saw the truth in his eyes—he didn’t intend to see her again. His breath expelled in a hard sigh.

“I suppose that’s my answer.”

“I’ve got nothing to offer you, Lily. After watching you in action, it’s plain to see that you belong in San Francisco.”

“I see. In other words, you’ve caught a glimpse of my business side and are running for safety.”

“No.”

“What else am I to think?”

“That I have your best interests at heart.”

“Not if you believe that includes a future without you in my life.”

“You deserve better.”

“I deserve to be with the man I love. But only if he loves me in return.”

“Lily. I’m just…
you know what I am.
”

“Yes,” she said, stepping closer. “A good man.”

He shook his head. “The violence of my past follows me.”

“I’m already a part of your past, Juniper. It’s your future I care about. You wouldn’t have to live in the city. I’d go anywhere, the hills, these mountains. I could—”

“No.”

“I love you.”

Sheer anguish filled his expression.

“You don’t feel the same,” she said, stunned by his reaction.

“Jeez, Lily. Not everything in life is so cut-and-dried!”

“This is. You’re shutting me out, and I won’t have it! Either you care for me or—”

“
I do!
You know I do. It’s killing me to send you off, to not be the one to—”

“I’ll be fine, as long as I know you’re not shutting me out completely.”

“I can’t see any other way.”

“Because you’re looking back and not forward! Perhaps you need to put down your guns and stop living through your past, waiting for it to resurface! We could do anything, go anywhere.”

He shook his head, fighting the alluring images of a life he’d sell his soul to have. But his soul had already been bartered, violence and bloodshed becoming a part of the life he couldn’t escape. No good woman deserved to be bound to such a life, past or present. It was his past that had brought her here, exposing her to a violence that had nearly gotten her killed.