Boone was glad to let her go for the moment.

Things were heating up between them far too fast. When he’d invited her swimming, it hadn’t been to seduce her.

At least, he didn’t think so. Not consciously.

But he hadn’t foreseen this, had he? When he’d decided he was done with Lucy, he’d been serious.

His mother had told him to forgive her. He hadn’t thought he’d be able too, but one disarming conversation later and he couldn’t get enough of her.

Besides, she wasn’t the only one at fault. He was starting to feel sort of guilty about the fact that he was lying about who he was.

But he didn’t want to give up the pretense. Didn’t want her to know who he was yet. He was having fun. She was fun. And if he could forgive her, then hopefully, she could forgive him later.

He couldn’t get enough of her. She was beautiful and far too tempting.

He might end up married to the girl.

He waited for the thought of it to shock him, but it didn’t. What settled within him was the rightness of it.

With the thought of marrying her in mind, he wondered if actually seducing her would be such a bad thing.

Beyond the morality of it, someone could walk in on them and it would ruin her reputation.

He would never do that to her so he needed to keep his distance.

Speaking of which, the mayor was going to kill him when he snatched yet another school teacher away.

That was a problem for another day.

He glanced over to see Lucy floating on the other side of the pool.

Wet, clothes clinging, she was far too alluring. He sucked in a breath.

Right now, the problem was letting Lucy out of this pool.

Somehow, he needed to find the will power to let her go.

He let himself sink to the bottom of the pool, hoping the water, lack of oxygen, or even the inability to see would cool his ardor.

One thing was for certain. Swimming was definitely out for the rest of their courtship.

* * *

Boone was acting strange.

She still wasn’t sure why he rushed her out of the swimming pool so fast. When he’d decided that he was done swimming, that was it. He’d jumped out of the pool, told her to get some clothes on, and rushed into the men’s dressing room.

She’d slowly followed, confused by his abrupt manner.

And now he’d stopped a couple of houses away from her boarding house.

He wasn’t going to drive her all the way? Why not? With the way he was acting she wouldn’t have been surprised if he dropped her at the end of the road and let her make her way the rest of the way home on her own.

Her hair was still damp, and she wondered how she would explain that to Mrs. Collier.

Perhaps she could sneak inside.

She faced Boone when he lowered her beside the wagon. She didn’t want to let him go. She didn’t want to be parted from him. But the man was obviously in a hurry for some reason. “Would you like to come to church with me tomorrow?”

“I can’t.”

That sort of hurt, but after the way he kissed her, she wasn’t going to just let it go. “Why not? I hope you’re not the sort of man who doesn’t attend church?”

“Of course, I go to church. I am definitely a man of faith.” He seemed to stress the words. “It’s just that I have something going on tomorrow.”

She glanced up the road toward the boardinghouse, and then back at him again. She didn’t know what was going on. The man seemed to blow hot, and then cold where she was concerned.

She stood there, wondering if he would kiss her again, wondering if that’s why he’d stopped here, hoping he would.

Was it her imagination, or did he look guilty for some reason?

He turned away. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“You will?”

“I’ll come by and pick you up after church.” He rubbed the back of his neck. I need to talk to you about something.”

Why was he acting so strange?

“We could talk now.” She looked up the road toward the boarding house. “Mrs. Collier has a swing on her front porch.”

“No. Not here.”

He was really acting strange.

“All right. Where then? Perhaps I could see your house tomorrow? I’d like that.”

“No, that is definitely not a good idea.”

A lady wouldn’t push. But after the way he’d kissed her earlier, she was of the impression that he wanted more from her. If she was wrong, he’d have to tell her so outright.

“If you have a humble home, Boone, it’s not going to bother me, I promise.”

He was looking slightly agonized now. “We’ll talk tomorrow, all right?”

As he was climbing into the wagon, she guessed it would have to be.

“All right. Tomorrow then.”

* * *

Boone needed some advice.

He headed down to his favorite saloon, and found just the man he was looking for.

Samuel Davenport.

Granted, the man was his business rival, but he also considered him a friend. Some of the time, anyway.

“Davenport.”

Samuel turned and looked glad to see him, which wasn’t always the case. “Boone! Where have you been lately?”

“Around.”

“I hear you’ve been seen with the new girl.”

No surprise there. Though the town was booming, and new people arrived every day, they somehow all kept tabs on each other.

“Yep.”

“I hear she’s a looker.”

“She is.”

Something in his tone sharpened Samuel’s gaze. “Is it serious?”

“Maybe.”

The bartender set his usual drink down in front of him and Boone knocked it back. No doubt if Lucy saw him doing that she’d peg him for the town drunk.

Samuel grinned. “Do tell.”

Boone hesitated.

“Come on, spill it.”

And so, Boone did. He told Samuel his predicament, told him how Lucy didn’t know who he was, and also told him he didn’t want to do anything about it yet.

Samuel whistled. “So, she doesn’t know you’re rich?”

Boone shook his head.

Samuel laughed. “And she likes you? You lucky son-of-a-gun.”

Boone shrugged. “I thought someone would tell her by now. As of today, I’m actually lying to her.”

Samuel laughed harder. “If this is a problem for you, maybe I should court her?”

“Stay away from her!”

“What are you going to tell her?”

“I’m thinking about telling her tomorrow. I want to do it on my own terms, before someone else spills the beans.”

Samuel lifted a shoulder. “Just apologize, and then beg. In my experience, women seem to fall for that.”

Boone wasn’t so sure. He didn’t want to risk losing her.

“It will probably be good news that your rich, you know. Ever think of that?”

“Maybe.”

Samuel slapped him on the back. “Don’t worry so much about it. When the time is right, you’ll know it.”

“So, how’s business?”

They caught up, and as things were going well for them both, and they shared some investments, the rest of the conversation took the better part of an hour.

“I’m serious about the copper,” Samuel said. “It’s going to be big. You’re gonna want to be in on it.”

“She is a looker! I’d like to get me some of that!”

“She teaches over at the school?”

That caught Boone’s attention. And he slowly turned in his seat. They did not just say that! Boone exploded out of his seat and grabbed the other guy by his shirt front. “Are you talking about my girl?”

“Your girl? She just got to town!”

Boone drew back his fist, and the fight exploded.

Boone got hit square in the face, and his first thought was he was worried he’d end up with bruises on his face.

That was a new one.

The barkeeper and a couple of his hired men quickly threw Boone and the others out into the street.

Samuel followed behind. “Did you win?”

“Of course, I did!”

Just then he got hit over the back of the head with something hard, and dropped to his knees.

He could hear Samuel yelling, and could feel himself fading from consciousness.

He hoped that Lucy didn’t hear about this. He didn’t want her to add brawler to the womanizing and drinking she was worried about.

Maybe she wouldn’t notice a few extra bruises?

The last thing he saw, was Samuel laughing down at him.