CHAPTER 4
MORGAN STARED at Misty, knowing that despite her outraged frown, there was no way he could let her go, not now. Her shoulders felt narrow and frail beneath his big hands, and he wished like hell she looked pregnant, so she’d be easier to resist. But she didn’t. She looked soft and sexy, even with a red nose and those hideous glasses. He wanted her more than ever, but that was beside the point.
At least she wasn’t planning on getting married. Though it wasn’t any of his damn business, the very idea had set his teeth on edge. She could certainly do better than settling for some clown who didn’t want his own child. He swore to himself that was the only reason it bothered him. Then he called himself a fool.
“You can’t be off on your own right now. You said it yourself, you don’t have a job, and you’re sick.”
She gave him a blank stare, as if he was a stranger.
“Damn it, Misty, you know I’m right!”
“I know you’re nuts, that’s what I know.” He made a grumbling sound, and she said in exasperation, “It’s morning sickness, Morgan, that’s all. I’m fine the rest of the time. I’m perfectly capable of finding and working a job. Pregnant woman do it all the time, you know.”
Actually, his mind was buzzing with possibilities. If she stayed—and she would because he didn’t intend to give her a choice—he could give her a job. He’d long since figured they needed someone to answer the phones at the office, but more often than not folks just called him directly. It was a small county, and the crime level was amazingly low, so he’d been in no rush to hire a new deputy. But a secretary of sorts, someone to keep track of his schedule and forward calls and take notes, that’d be a blessing.
He’d put off the hiring for some time now. He hadn’t really wanted anyone else mucking around his offices. But now…
He eyed her belligerent expression and winced. Better to tell her about the job later, when she wasn’t so annoyed with him. He gave her a slight shake. “So what do you intend to do?”
“I intend to punch you in the nose if you don’t stop manhandling me!”
His fingers flexed on her shoulders, very gently, and he saw her eyes darken. He hadn’t hurt her, would never deliberately hurt her. No, her complaint was for an entirely different reason. “Manhandling, huh?” he asked softly. “And here I thought I was being all that was considerate and caring.”
She bit her lip in indecision, then resolutely shook her head. “Not likely, Morgan. You’re up to something, I just haven’t figured out what yet.”
Her opinion of him was far from flattering, with good reason, he supposed. He dropped his hands and turned to think, only to hear her stomping away. He caught the back of her robe and drew her up short. “Whoa. Now where are you off to? We have to finish discussing this.”
Through gritted teeth, she said, “There’s no we to it, and there’s nothing to discuss.” She swatted his hands away and jutted her chin toward him. “I’m going in to shower and dress, and then I’m leaving. You won’t have to worry about me at all, and your precious brothers will be safe from my lascivious tendencies.”
Damn it, she was trying to make him feel guilty—and succeeding. “You let me think the worst about that, Malone. Admit it.”
“You always assume the worst,” she argued. “I’m not responsible for the way your mind works.”
“No, you’re not. But in a way, it is your fault.” She looked ready to erupt, so he added, “I get around you, Malone, and I can barely think at all, much less with any logic. In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve got the hots for you in a really bad way.”
Her face went blank for a split second, and he braced himself for an attack. Then suddenly her mouth twitched, and she burst out laughing. “Is that your way of saying you’re sorry?”
Hearing her laugh was nice, even if she was laughing at him. “I suppose you think I owe you that much?”
“Nope.” Her glasses slid down her nose and more hair escaped the rubber band. She looked disheveled and vulnerable and so damn female he felt rigid from his neck all the way down to his toes. “I don’t think you owe me a darn thing, Morgan, except to butt out of my business.”
Shrugging in apology, he whispered, “I can’t do that.”
“You,” she said with emphasis, “have no choice in the matter.”
“I can help you, Malone.”
“You want to help?” She turned away from him, then said over her shoulder, “Leave me be.”
Why, Morgan wondered as she stalked away, would she steal money from an employer, but not take money from him when it was freely offered? Especially considering the situation she was in. And not only had she refused the money, she’d been downright livid over the idea. Somehow it didn’t fit, and he damn well intended to find out what was going on.
Later. Right now he was busy plotting. She had turned down the money, but maybe she’d accept his help in other ways once he talked her into staying. He wasn’t raised to turn his back on a woman in her predicament, especially considering that she was part of the family. Whether she liked it or not, that excuse was good enough for him.
He picked up the coffee mugs and her empty juice glass, then headed into the kitchen. He had a few things to take care of before she finished showering, so he might as well get to them. First was that ragtag little car of hers. Removing a few spark plugs ought to do the trick. Getting his brothers out of bed would be a little harder, considering the night they’d all had, but they would rally together for a good cause, and he definitely considered Misty Malone a good cause. Given how all his brothers had doted on her the past couple of weeks, he had no doubt they’d feel the same.
Twenty minutes later, Morgan was sitting at the kitchen table with a bleary-eyed Casey when Misty walked in. The others hadn’t quite made it that far yet, but Morgan knew they’d present themselves shortly.
Casey, with his head propped in his hand, glanced at her and yawned. “Morning, Misty. What’re you doing up so early?”
Misty stopped dead in her tracks. Her hair was freshly brushed and twisted into a tidy knot on the top of her head that Morgan thought made her look romantic and amazingly innocent. Her glasses were gone—thank God—and she no longer had a red nose. She wore a yellow cotton camisole with cutoff shorts and strappy little sandals and she looked good enough to eat.
Morgan drew in a shuddering breath with that image and steered his wayward thoughts off the erotic and onto the essential.
Rather than answer Casey, her accusing gaze swung toward Morgan and there was murder in her eyes. He grinned. He’d rather have her fighting mad than looking morose any day. Leaning against the counter with his arms crossed over his chest, Morgan said, “What’s with the suitcase, Malone?”
Casey, who hadn’t noticed the luggage yet, sat up straight. His gaze bounced back and forth several times between the suitcase and Misty’s face, and he looked more alert than he had only five seconds ago. “You’re not leaving, are you?”
Misty ground her teeth, then whipped around to face Casey with a falsely bright smile plastered in place. “’Fraid so, kiddo. I have things to do. But I did enjoy my visit. Tell your dad thanks for me, okay?”
She started to move, but Casey jumped up, looking panicked, and all but blocked her way. “But Dad’ll kill me if you leave without saying goodbye! I mean, Honey will be upset and that’ll upset Dad. Just hang around for breakfast, okay?” He glanced at Morgan for backup. “Tell her, Uncle Morgan. Shouldn’t she stay and have breakfast?”
Morgan nodded slowly. “I do believe you’re right, Casey.”
“Ah, no…It’s better if I—”
The kitchen door swung open and Jordan dragged himself in. He was wearing a pair of unsnapped jeans and scratching his belly while yawning hugely. His hair was still mussed and he looked like he could have used another six hours of sleep, at least. The last Morgan had seen him last night, three of the local women were trying to talk him into taking each of them home. It was a hell of a predicament for his most reserved brother.
Morgan had not one whit of sympathy for him.
Because Jordan had taken the path from the garage—where he kept his apartment—to the kitchen, the bottoms of his feet were wet. When he saw Misty packed up and ready to go, he nearly slipped on the linoleum floor in his surprise.
Morgan caught him, then pushed him upright. If Jordan knocked himself out, he’d be no help at all.
In his usual mellow tones, Jordan asked, “What’s going on here?” He dried his feet on a throw rug while quietly studying everyone in turn.
Morgan feigned a casual shrug. “Misty says she’s leaving.”
Casey crossed his arms, ready to add his two cents’ worth. “She’s not even going to tell anyone goodbye.”
Looking from Casey’s disapproving face to Misty’s red cheeks before finally meeting Morgan’s gaze, Jordan frowned. Not a threatening frown, as Morgan favored, but rather a contemplative one. Jordan was no dummy and caught on quickly that this was the reason he’d been summoned from his bed. He fastened his jeans now that he knew there was a lady present, then took several cautious steps forward, making certain not to slip again. Holding Misty’s shoulders, he asked softly, “What’s wrong, sweetheart? Why are you sneaking off like this?”
Morgan didn’t like his brother’s intimate tone at all. And he sure as hell didn’t like Jordan touching her. He glowered at Misty as he said, “I don’t think she wanted anyone to know she was going.”
Jordan glanced at Morgan, then crossed his arms over his chest and regarded Misty with quiet speculation. “Is that true?”
After a long, drawn out sigh, Misty dropped her heavy bag and propped her hands on her hips. “I’m not sneaking, exactly. You all knew I was going to be leaving today.”
Gabe spoke from the doorway where he’d negligently propped himself, unnoticed. “Not true.” He gave Morgan a look, then came into the kitchen and dropped into a chair with a theatrical yawn. He, too, was bare-chested, but he wore loose cotton pull-on pants. “You said you couldn’t stay, Misty, but you didn’t say a damn thing about taking off today at six-thirty in the morning. Hell, the birds aren’t even awake yet, so I’d definitely call that sneaking. What’s up, sweetheart?”
Misty looked ready to expire. Morgan took pity on her and pulled out a chair. “Why don’t you at least sit down, Malone, while you do your explaining?” He reached for her arm, but she sidestepped him. Breathing hard, she glared at them all, then said, “I’m leaving, that’s all there is to it. I’m already packed and I want to get an early start. I’m not good at long goodbyes, so…if you’ll excuse me?”
She picked up her bag and headed for the door. Her car was parked at the side of the house, close to the back door. There was a flurry of arguments from Casey, Jordan and Gabe, but Morgan had expected no less of them. It was why he’d so rudely dragged them out of their warm, comfortable beds. Unfortunately, Misty wasn’t going to be swayed by them.
She stormed out of the house in righteous fury, and they all trailed behind, talking at once. Morgan listened to their arguments for why she should stay and even commended his brothers for making some good points.
Misty did an admirable job of ignoring them.
When Jordan realized how serious she was, he took the suitcase from her hand while stabbing Morgan with curious looks, as if waiting for him to stop her somehow.
Morgan almost laughed. He’d known there was no way he’d be able to bring her around. If he wasn’t missing his guess, he was the biggest reason she was so set on going. That was why he’d pulled the spark plugs, as insurance until he got her over her pique and could make her see reason.
After Jordan stowed her suitcase in the back seat, he reached for Misty and pulled her into a fierce hug. To Morgan, seething at the sight of Misty snuggled up against Jordan’s bare chest, the embrace didn’t look at all familial. He was just about to tear them apart when Jordan leaned back the tiniest bit to look at her.
“Where will you be staying?” Jordan asked. “Is there a number where we can call you?”
Misty appeared stumped for just a moment, which made Morgan very suspicious, then she brightened. “I’m sort of moving around at the moment. But I’ll let you know when I get settled, okay?”
Morgan continued to study her. It was amazing, even to him, but he could read her like a book, and he knew without a doubt she didn’t have any place to stay. He wanted to throttle her, and he wanted to hold her tight.
Gabe stepped up next for his own hug, and he even dared to kiss her on the cheek, lingering for what Morgan considered an inappropriate amount of time. Morgan gave serious thought to throwing Gabe back into the basement. “If you change your mind,” Gabe said, “promise you’ll come back.”
“I promise. And thank you.”
Casey shook his head. “My death will be on your hands, because Dad is still going to kill me.”
Morgan silently applauded Casey’s forlorn expression, but Misty didn’t buy it. She actually grinned. “Your father wouldn’t hurt a hair on your head, and you know it! Now give me a hug.” With a crooked smile, Casey obeyed.
And even that made Morgan grind his teeth. Casey was a good head taller than Misty with shoulders much wider. Morgan didn’t like it at all. Hell, so far they’d all touched her more than he had!
Misty didn’t even bother looking at Morgan. He crossed his arms and waited until she’d gotten behind the wheel and pulled her door shut, then he leaned back against a tall oak tree. He considered himself patience personified.
Jordan stepped up to him with an intent frown. It was unlike Jordan to be so disgruntled, and Morgan raised a taunting brow. “Sorry to see her go?”
Jordan didn’t rile easily. “You got me out of bed just to tell her goodbye? I figured you’d stop her somehow. Honey’s going to be damn upset when she finds out we let her leave.”
Morgan eyed his brother a moment longer, decided he didn’t see any signs of lovesickness, and turned to stare at Misty. “She’s not going anywhere.”
Misty gave one final cheery wave to them all and turned the key. The engine ground roughly, whined, but didn’t quite turn over. Frowning, she tried again. The car still wouldn’t start.
Satisfied, Morgan watched Gabe saunter over to him, Casey at his side. “You tinkered with her car?” He sounded faintly approving. Gabe was the mechanic and handyman in the family. If he’d thought of it or had had time, he likely would have done the same.
Morgan gave him a wounded look. “Now, would I do a thing like that? I’m the law around here, Gabe, you know that. Tampering with a car is illegal.” He looked at Misty with a smile. “I’m sure of it.”
Grinning, Gabe went to the driver’s window and tapped on it. When Misty rolled down her window, he said, “Doesn’t sound like she’s going to start, hon.”
Misty dropped her head onto the steering wheel and ignored Gabe, ruthlessly twisting the key once again. She looked so forlorn that Morgan almost couldn’t stand it. He wanted to lift her out of the car, hold her, tell her everything would be okay. He wanted, damn it, to take care of her. To protect her.
Because she was family.
Because she was a woman in need.
Because it was the right thing to do.
Not because he cared for her personally. Wanting a woman and caring for her were two different things, and he was never one to confuse the issues. Yes, he wanted her, more so now than ever, which seemed odd in the extreme. But he could deal with that. What he couldn’t deal with was the idea of her running off with no place to go, and the fact that she’d be alone at a time when she needed family most.
So maybe she’d gotten into some trouble? He wasn’t completely convinced yet. But even if it was true, everyone made mistakes, and being a pregnant, unmarried woman was as good a reason for theft as any he’d ever heard. He didn’t approve, but he did understand. She was still young, only twenty-four, and she’d found herself in a hell of a predicament.
From the sound of it, she’d more than paid for the crime, not only financially, but emotionally, as well. He didn’t blame her for not wanting to own up to it if she was guilty. Few people tended to brag about their bad judgment.
Convinced that he was still in control of things, including his own tumultuous emotions, Morgan walked over to the car and opened the back door. He lifted out her bag then nudged Gabe aside. He pulled her door open and cupped his free hand around her upper arm. Gabe stood there grinning at him, while Jordan and Casey watched with satisfaction.
“C’mon, Malone,” Morgan said. “Sitting out here moping isn’t going to solve anything.”
She smacked her head onto the steering wheel again. “I can’t be this unlucky.”
Morgan hesitated, but he knew damn good and well he’d done the right thing. He’d needed to buy some time to undo the damage he’d inflicted with his insistence that she should leave. Later, she’d thank him. “Rattling your brains won’t help. Come inside and we’ll figure something out.”
She leaned back in the seat and stared at him. “I hope you’re happy now.”
His smile was only fleeting before he wiped it away. “I’m getting there.” He urged her out of the car and kept hold of her arm even as they walked back in. He was pleased that she didn’t pull away from him. That surely showed some small measure of trust, didn’t it?
Unfortunately, something he hadn’t figured on happened: they found Sawyer and Honey smooching in the kitchen, wrapped up together in no more than a sheet.
Morgan halted abruptly when he saw them, which caused Misty to stumble into his side and Jordan to bump into his back. Like dominoes toppling one another, they all ended up crammed into the tiny doorway, gawking.
Misty groaned at the sight of her sister, then turned her face into Morgan’s side. “I’m cursed.”
At her softly spoken words, Honey jerked away from her husband, looked up, then blushed furiously. “Oh, Lord.” She clutched at the sheet, pulling it up to her throat and all but leaving Sawyer buck naked. “It’s barely six-thirty! We thought everyone was still in bed!”
Sawyer grabbed for an edge of the sheet to retain his modesty in front of Misty, then turned to frown at his brothers. “What the hell is going on?” He noticed the suitcase Morgan held, and his expression altered. “You going somewhere, Morgan?”
Standing on tiptoe, Casey attempted to see over Morgan’s shoulder, then stated, “Misty was going to leave, but Morgan stopped her.”
Sawyer glanced at his wife, then blinked at his son. His confusion was amusing, if unfortunate. “Leave where?”
“I don’t know.” Casey gave an elaborate shrug. “Home, I guess, though she said she’s in the middle of moving somewhere and she’d have to tell us where exactly after she got settled. I tried to stop her, Dad, honest, but she was determined—”
Morgan felt Misty tremble and said, “That’s enough, Case.” Then to Sawyer: “Just a misunderstanding. What are you two doing out here? We thought you’d…sleep in…till at least noon.”
Grinning like a rogue, Sawyer announced, “We needed nourishment.”
Honey turned bright pink and elbowed her husband, who grabbed her and kissed her hard on the mouth. Morgan couldn’t help but smile at them. Though Sawyer had fought it hard, he was so crazy in love with Honey, it was fun to watch them.
Morgan wanted a relationship like that. Then he thought of Misty beside him, the exact opposite of her sister, and he scowled.
Jordan shoved his way past the others. “If you two newlyweds want to go back to bed, I’ll bring you a tray in just a few minutes. Coffee and bagels?”
“Perfect.” Sawyer tried to turn Honey around, but she wasn’t budging.
“Misty?” Honey looked oblivious to Sawyer’s efforts. “You were going to leave without telling me?”
There was no mistaking her hurt, and although Morgan wouldn’t have put Misty through such an ordeal, he decided it was probably best to get it all out in the open at once. The sooner Misty got through it, the sooner she could understand that she didn’t need to leave.
He was surprised and pleased when he felt Misty’s hand slip into his, and he squeezed her fingers tight, then answered for her. “Well, she’s not going anywhere right now because her car won’t start. You don’t have to worry.”
Honey’s brows shot up. “Her car won’t start?” She sent a suspicious look at Gabe. “Did you tamper with her car like you did mine?”
Gabe straightened from his sleepy, slouched position and crossed his heart with dramatic flair. “Never touched it. Hell, I just got up. I’m not awake enough to be playing with engines.”
Jordan spoke before Honey could turn her cannons on him. “Same here. I didn’t even know she was planning to leave until I saw her with her suitcase.”
Misty stared at her sister, and Morgan could feel her tensing. “They tampered with your car?”
Honey shrugged. “I wanted to leave, because I thought I was intruding and putting them all in danger. But they weren’t worried, and they thought it’d be better if I stayed here with them. They knew I couldn’t very well leave without transportation, so they kept my car disabled. I thought Gabe was fixing it for me, but instead he was making sure it wouldn’t run if I tried to sneak off.” Honey smiled at her husband, then added, “Their intentions were good, so I forgave them.”
Misty pulled her hand away and slowly turned to glare at Morgan. Her eyes were dark with accusation and anger. “Did you..?”
Shrugging, he said, “You didn’t exactly leave me a lot of choice.”
Her gasp was so loud she sounded as if someone had pinched her. She drew back her arm and slugged him in the stomach, gasped again, then shook her hand and glared at him. “How dare you!”
He tried to rub the sting out of her hand, but she held it protectively away from him. Morgan frowned at that. “You wouldn’t listen,” he said by way of explanation. He was more than a little aware of their rapt audience, but saw no way around it. Damn it, she was Honey’s sister, and she’d been preparing to slip off without a job, without money….
He’d never heard a woman growl so ferociously before. Everyone was frozen, silent. Misty looked as if she might hit him again, then thought better of it. Her expression was angry but resolute. “Fine. I’m calling a cab. He can take me to the bus station.”
Morgan glared at her. “Don’t push me, Malone.”
“You’ve done all the pushing, you—you…!”
“Bastard?” he supplied helpfully.
She growled again. “Fix my car!”
“No.” He crossed his arms over his chest.
Sawyer, ever the diplomat, cleared his throat. “Uh, Morgan…”
Still matching Misty glare for glare, Morgan shook his head. “She can’t leave, Sawyer, all right?”
“Why?”
Gabe spoke. “If she’s that set on going—”
“I’d prefer she stay, too,” Jordan added, “but—”
Morgan closed his eyes, trying to think of some way around the problems. Nothing too promising presented itself. When he met Misty’s gaze this time, he knew she could read his purpose.
“Don’t you do it, Morgan,” she warned.
He touched her cheek and gave her a small, regretful smile. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.” Then he turned to everyone else and announced, “I don’t want her to go, because she’s pregnant.”
The reaction wasn’t quite what he’d expected. Honey’s mouth fell open, Gabe and Jordan both became mute, Casey’s neck turned red, and Sawyer leaned on the counter with a sigh, holding tight to his share of the sheet.
Misty went ahead and hit him again. He took hold of her hands before she hurt herself. This time she didn’t pull away, but chose instead to stare at him with evil intent. He supposed she’d rather look at him than face everyone else. If he could have thought of a way to spare her, he would have.
Then Morgan realized no one was looking at Misty. They were all staring at him—with accusation. It was almost too funny for words.
“I’m not the father,” he said dryly. “Hell, I’ve only known her a couple of weeks, if you’ll recall.”
Sawyer coughed. “That’s actually quite long enough.”
“In this case, it wasn’t!”
Everyone relaxed visibly. Honey said to Morgan, “Well, of course she can’t leave, you’re right about that. Hang on to her until I get back, okay?” Then she took off like a shot, dragging Sawyer along with her, given that they shared the sheet and he didn’t want to be left bare-assed.
Gabe sat down at the table and relaxed, at his leisure. “All this excitement has made me hungry. Jordan, if you’re fixing breakfast, make some for me, too.”
Jordan nodded and began pulling out pans. “Might as well skip the bagels and go for pancakes. Casey, Misty? Either of you hungry?”
Casey glanced at Misty, then pulled out his chair. “I’m always hungry. You know that.”
Misty’s eyes were wide, as if she’d been prepared for an entirely different response to his statement, maybe something more dramatic than an offer of breakfast. Did she think he and his brothers were ogres? Morgan almost smiled at her. Had she expected to be stoned? To receive a good dose of condemnation? He chucked her chin, then said gently, “Didn’t I tell you it’d be all right?”
Misty didn’t bother answering. She looked like she’d turned to stone. Morgan held her gaze, trying to think of some way to smooth things over with her. “I don’t suppose you’ll believe me when I tell you that wasn’t intentional?”
Her eyes darkened to navy and her lips firmed.
“Okay, the car part was,” he admitted, just to rile her. He couldn’t bear seeing her look so lost. “And I admit I got Jordan and Gabe and Casey out of bed.”
She mumbled under her breath, no doubt something insulting, but he just pretended he hadn’t heard her. “I swear, I had no idea our newlyweds would be up. And I didn’t plan to let the cat out of the bag about your pregnancy, either.”
Her expression remained murderous.
Leaning close, crowding her against the cabinets so his brothers couldn’t see her or hear him, Morgan whispered, “I have no intention of sharing your other secrets, so you can rest easy on that score, okay?” They were so close, her scent filled him with every breath he took. He braced his hands beside her hips on the counter; she braced her hands on his chest. She didn’t quite push him away, and he saw her lips part. It amazed him the effect they had on each other. Even when she was likely thinking of ways to bring him low, she still responded to him. When they did finally come together—and he was certain it would happen sooner or later—he could only imagine how explosive it would be.
His heart thundered. “Misty?” She slowly looked up and met his gaze. “There’s no reason for anyone to know about the rest unless you want to tell them, okay?”
Misty shivered, but before she could answer Honey came whipping into the room in her robe and skidded to a halt when she saw Morgan’s nose practically in Misty’s ear. “Hey, now, none of that. Get away from her, Morgan. I want to talk to my sister without you trying to intimidate either of us.”
Morgan slowly straightened, wondering what Misty was thinking, if she’d believed him. “I’ve never intimidated you, Honey.”
“Not for lack of trying.” She caught Misty’s arm and pulled her aside.
Morgan lifted the suitcase. “I’ll just take this back to her room.”
Misty shook her head to refuse him, while Honey gave him her sweetest smile. “Thank you, Morgan. Misty and I will be in the family room, talking.”
“I’ll call you when breakfast is ready,” Jordan said, and Misty seemed unaware of the concern in his tone.
After the sisters left, Morgan felt both his brothers watching him. He turned to glare at them. “What?”
“Not a thing.”
“Didn’t say a word.”
Casey made a show of studying a bird outside the kitchen window.
“Damn irritants,” Morgan muttered. He lifted the suitcase and carried it out of the room. He knew his brothers each had at least a dozen questions, wondering what he was doing mixed up in the middle of Misty Malone’s affairs, and why he was the only one privy to her startling news. But he wasn’t about to betray her trust any more than he already had. They could just go on wondering.
When Morgan got to the room Misty had been using, he found the bed neatly made and everything very tidy. He pictured her sleeping in that bed last night, or rather, not sleeping. Just worrying. He’d told her she should leave, and this morning she’d been crying.
His stomach cramped and he idly rubbed his hand over it, but the ache continued. He could easily imagine what she’d been thinking, how she’d felt—how he’d made her feel—and he hated it. She probably hadn’t slept at all last night, worrying about what she’d do, worrying about finding a job and about the baby.
A baby, a little person that would look like Misty, with dark hair and big blue eyes…He smiled at the thought, then caught himself and scowled.
What kind of job could a woman with a record get? He didn’t know the terms of her probation—he’d have to ask her about that—but he knew it wouldn’t sit well with an employer, especially not when she’d supposedly stolen from the last guy who’d hired her. Would she be able to earn enough to take care of herself and a baby?
She was certainly stubborn enough to make it work somehow, but she had a hard road ahead of her. And that route wasn’t even necessary.
Morgan considered things for a moment, then came to some decisions. He opened her suitcase, emptied it on the bed, took the case to his room and shoved it under his bed. If she wanted to try sneaking out again, he wouldn’t make it easy for her. At least until he knew she had a decent plan. Then, he told himself, he’d let her go.
He also intended to do a little investigating. Getting the details of the theft wouldn’t be hard, and then he’d make his own conclusions.
He felt like a warlord, holding her against her will, but damn it, it was only stubborn pride that had her wanting to leave in the first place. That and his big mouth. He had the feeling if he hadn’t asked her about leaving, if he hadn’t pushed her, she’d have stayed on for a while, using the time to make new plans. She had a lot to deal with, and until he’d started harassing her, she’d probably seen this as an ideal situation, a place to regroup and be with her sister without anyone knowing what had happened.
Except that she’d told him everything. He took immense satisfaction in that small success, discarding the fact that he’d bullied the information out of her. Misty wouldn’t have told him if she hadn’t trusted him at least a little.
He remembered stories of her father that Honey had shared. That man wasn’t one to coddle or offer comfort, so Morgan had no doubt she hadn’t even tried going to him for help. According to Honey, neither of them was overly close to the man, and with good reason.
Everything would work out, he was certain of it.
On his way to the kitchen Morgan passed the family room and was brought up short by a disgruntled, “He hates me.”
Morgan stalled, his heart jumping, his muscles pulled tight. He waited, eavesdropping like a maiden aunt to hear what Honey would say in reply.
Her soft voice was soothing, just as Morgan had known it would be. “Morgan doesn’t hate you, Misty. He kept you here because that’s just how they all are. They’re a little on the gallant side, and Morgan wants to protect you.”
There was a rough, disbelieving laugh. “Right. If you say so.”
Morgan could tell she didn’t believe her sister and he pulled his hands into fists. Even his toes cramped. Hate her? Hell, no. What he felt was as far from hatred as it could get, and a whole lot steamier than that cold emotion. He wanted to devour her, to make love to her for a week so he could get her out of his system.
He hated the effect she had on him, but he didn’t hate her.
“I do say so,” Honey insisted. “I know them all better than you do.”
“It doesn’t matter what Morgan thinks or how he feels about me, Honey. The point is, I didn’t mean to intrude on you. The last thing you need right now is to start worrying about me.”
“There, you see? I won’t worry as long as you’re around so I can see you’re doing okay. Morgan probably knew that, too.”
Morgan lifted his brows. Sounded good enough to him, though thoughts of Honey hadn’t much entered into his mind while he was trying to think of ways to keep Misty around.
“But…” Misty floundered, then insisted, “I need to get back to work. I can’t just stay here indefinitely.”
Morgan hustled through the doorway before Misty could convince Honey that she should leave. He surveyed both women cozied up on the couch, and Misty’s eyes widened in alarm.
There was no way for him to reassure her right now, so he didn’t bother trying. He’d already given her his word that he wouldn’t tell about her stint with the law. It wouldn’t hurt her to trust him just a bit.
He got right to the point. “I heard you mention your job.”
“Morgan.” Her tone said she’d kill him if he said one more word.
The threat didn’t worry him. After all, the woman had hurt her hand just smacking him in the stomach. And she had shared her secrets with him, which he chose to see as a sign of trust whether she realized it or not. “I have a solution.”
Misty moaned again. He noticed she’d been doing a lot of that lately.
Undaunted, he held up his hands and pronounced, “You’re going to come to work for me.”
* * *
MISTY STARED at Morgan, wondering what he was up to now. Somehow, in the short time it had taken her to shower, he’d done something to her car so it wouldn’t start, shaved so that he looked refreshed and ready to take on the day instead of looking like a dark savage, and he’d pulled on more clothes.
She was eternally grateful for the clothes part.
Even when he made her so mad she wanted to club him on top of his handsome head, she couldn’t seem to ignore him. The man filled up the space around her with his size, his scent, his pushy presence. When he was there, he was really there, and she doubted any sane woman would be oblivious to him, especially not when he was flaunting his bare, muscled chest.
Morgan had the type of body that had always secretly appealed to her. He was tall and powerful and immeasurably strong—but he could be so gentle.
She shook her head. Just because he distracted her didn’t mean she’d let him off the hook. What she’d most wanted not to happen he’d made sure had happened. Never mind that she was now in the situation she’d originally wanted, with a safe place to stay, close to her sister.
How the circumstance had come about was totally unfair—and all Morgan’s fault. Honey deserved some carefree time, but now she’d worry endlessly. Honey had a horrible tendency to mother her, a habit she’d gotten into because their mother had died long ago and their father was so cold and undemonstrative. Though Honey was only slightly older, she’d taken the big-sister role to heart.
She’d have told Honey the whole story eventually, of course, because they didn’t keep secrets from each other. But not now, not when Honey had just gotten married and found so much happiness. It wasn’t fair to drop such a burden in her lap.
She should have choked Morgan instead of punching him in his rock-hard middle, she thought, surveying his dark frown. But judging by his thick neck, that wouldn’t have done him much damage, either. The man was built like a pile of bricks and was just as immovable.
And now he’d offered her a job. Or more precisely, he’d demanded she take a job. With him.
He hadn’t precisely told Honey that Misty didn’t have a job anymore. No, he’d made it sound as if he was only offering her an alternative so she could stick around. Did that mean he’d been sincere when he’d promised not to tell anyone about the rest of her troubles? God, she hoped so. It was all too humiliating, and though she knew Honey would believe her innocent, she had no idea how the others would feel.
Being pregnant was one thing; she wanted the baby and couldn’t really regret its existence. And the brothers had been very accepting about the whole thing—almost cavalier, in fact. But surely they wouldn’t want a jailbird in their home. She felt sick at the idea of them finding out.
“I already have a job,” she stated forcefully, when Honey gave her a nudge for sitting there and staring.
Morgan lifted one brow and proceeded to settle himself into the stuffed chair adjacent to the couch. Contrary to how Misty felt, he looked at his ease and without a care in the world. His dark blue eyes were direct, unflinching.
“Now Malone,” he said easily, “you were just telling me that you hate that job, that you planned to look for something else. Why not look here, so you can be close to your…family?”
“I never—” Misty bit her lip, stopping her automatic protest in mid-sentence. How could she dispute his enormous lie without telling the actual truth? He’d cornered her, and he knew it.
After clearing her throat, she smiled sweetly. It always worked for Honey. “I never meant to imply you should give me a job.”
Morgan waved his hand in dismissal. Apparently the big ape was immune to her smile. “Of course you didn’t. I know that. You’d never hint around that way. You’re much too…up-front and honest for that.” His eyes glittered at her and he added, “But I want you to take the job.”
She glanced at Honey, saw no help there and resolutely shook her head. “No.”
“How can you refuse when you don’t even know what the job is yet?”
Through set teeth, she growled, “What is the job?”
Morgan actually smiled, which put her even more on edge. “I need an assistant. Someone to act as sort of a secretary and a dispatcher, when necessary. No, don’t look like that. You won’t need special training. Buckhorn is a small county and we do things just a bit differently. You’d need to take calls, keep track of where I am and forward on the important ones, but make notes for the ones that can wait. Mostly just for mornings and afternoons. Your evenings will be free, and just think, you can spend more time with Honey.”
Honey leaned forward in her seat, already excited by the prospect. “Morgan, that’s a great idea!” To Misty, she said, “It only makes sense, Misty, for you to be with family now. This is no time to let your pride get in the way.”
“Of course it isn’t,” Morgan agreed.
Honey sighed. “Didn’t I tell you he was wonderful?”
Misty almost choked, especially when she glanced at Morgan and saw his amusement. She thought she might throw up again. She drew a deep breath and tried to sound reasonable. “I don’t know anything about working for a sheriff…”
“I’ll tell you everything you need to know, sweetheart.”
There was only so much she could take and remain composed. “I am not,” she said in lethal tones, “your sweetheart.”
Honey patted her hand. “They all use endearments, so you might as well get used to it. I swear, at first I thought they knew my name before I’d even given it to them. Then I realized everything female is a sweetheart or a honey to these guys, even the hodgepodge of animals Jordan keeps around.” Honey gave Morgan a fond smile. “They’re very old-fashioned in a lot of ways.”
Under her breath, Misty muttered, “You mean they’re overbearing, macho, autocratic—”
“What’s that, Malone? I couldn’t quite hear you.” Morgan looked ready to laugh.
“Not a thing.” She stood, and both Honey and Morgan came to their feet, too, as if they thought she might topple over at any moment. Good grief, she wasn’t even showing yet. “I’ll think about the job, Morgan.”
He gave her a slow nod, looking at her from his superior height in a way that made her feel downright tiny. “That’s fine. But make it quick, okay? I need you to start tomorrow.”
Her eyes widened. She didn’t want to start tomorrow! She didn’t want to start at all. If anything, she hoped to make some solid plans tomorrow that would appease everyone so she could be on her way. “But…”
“Will you, Misty? Please?” Honey hugged her close, and Misty had no choice but to return the embrace. Since meeting Sawyer, her sister was deliriously happy and she wanted everyone else to feel the same. Over Honey’s shoulder, Misty glared at Morgan. He winked at her, the obnoxious brute.
Misty pushed her sister away slightly and drummed up a reassuring smile. “Why don’t you go have breakfast with that new husband of yours? I want to discuss this…job, with Morgan.”
“But you haven’t even told me about the baby yet, or how far along you are, or anything!”
Misty thought about moaning again, but with Morgan watching her so closely, she held it in. To her surprise, he took Honey’s arm and said, “One thing at a time, hon, okay? If she takes the job and sticks around, you’ll have all the time in the world to chat.”
It was obvious Honey didn’t want to, but she finally agreed to leave. She gave Morgan a warning look on her way out that had Morgan chuckling in a deep rumble.
Misty saw nothing funny in the situation, but he didn’t give her a chance to light into him. No sooner was Honey gone from the room than he walked to her and said, “I told you I won’t say a word about the job or the conviction. You have my word on that.”
It was as if he’d deliberately taken away her steam. But Misty had more than one grievance and she was nowhere near ready to give up her anger. “Why should I believe you?”
His hesitation was plain before he lifted a hand and smoothed her cheek. He was so gentle, so warm, she couldn’t get her feet to step out of his reach. “I didn’t want to hurt you, Malone. You must know that.”
She managed a rude laugh. “You couldn’t hurt me.”
Her disdainful tone never fazed him. His mouth tilted in a wry, regretful smile. “I think you’re wrong about that. I think you’ve been through a hell of a lot and you’re vulnerable right now.”
Because he was right, she felt twice as determined to deny it. “Don’t get all mushy on me, Morgan. My stomach can’t take it.”
He lifted his other hand so that he framed her face. “You’re so tough, aren’t you, Malone? Ready to take on the world all alone. I admire that kind of courage, you know.”
“So my insults aren’t having the desired effect, huh? You must have a thicker skull than I figured.”
Morgan whistled. “You really are ticked, aren’t you?”
“Ticked? I’m a whole lot more than ticked. What you did was reprehensible.”
“What I did,” he said, his thumbs gently smoothing her cheeks, “was try to keep you here since I was the one who had run you off.”
Misty blinked at him. He felt guilty? Is that what this was all about? Caught between disbelief and annoyance, she struggled with her fading anger. She really hadn’t wanted to go, but neither had she wanted her personal business sallied about for the entire family to hear. Facing them again was going to be incredibly tough. She already knew there’d be dozens of questions, most importantly about the absent father.
As if he’d read her mind, Morgan made a tsking sound. “Come on, Malone, stop beating yourself up. There’s no reason to be embarrassed, you know. My brothers won’t judge you. If anything, they’ll rightfully blame the guy who got you pregnant and then walked away. Like Honey said, we’re old-fashioned about things like that. A guy should take responsibility for his actions.”
She appreciated the sentiment, if not the interference. “Yeah, well, this guy didn’t. And believe me, things are better with him out of the picture.”
Morgan laughed. “I’m not disputing that. If he was around, I’d be tempted to beat him into the ground.”
“Really?” That wasn’t an altogether unpleasant thought. She’d felt the same many times after the way Kent had reacted to her news.
Morgan nodded, then said gruffly, “He hurt you. The least he deserves is a good beating.”
Misty was speechless. Morgan had sounded almost like he cared, like he didn’t despise her, after all. She said facetiously, “How…sweet of you.”
Morgan’s look was stern. “Look, Malone. The last thing you’d want is to be married to a loser.”
“The last thing I want is to be married, period.” Misty stared at his chest and muttered, “I’ve had my fill of dealing with men, thank you very much.”
“I think you’ve just been dealing with the wrong men.”
“Such an obvious truth.” She looked at him pointedly.
He let her implication pass without comment, then leaned down until his forehead touched hers. She could feel his warm breath on her lips, his body heat seeping into her, his gentleness flowing over her. She sighed.
“It’s also obvious,” he said very softly, “that Honey loves you to death. Nothing will change that.”
Oh, how could he make her feel like this when she was rightfully angry? “I know my sister loves me, Morgan. But telling her wasn’t your decision to make.”
“Maybe, but it was the right decision. You were just being stubborn, admit it.”
“No, never.”
He laughed. “At least this way you’re with family, and I’m talking about all of us. We are family now, Malone, whether you like it or not. You don’t have a job, you don’t even have a place to stay.”
Alarmed, she finally managed to dodge his soothing hands and move out of reach. She tried for a credible laugh, but it sounded more like a weak snicker. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
His eyes narrowed. “It’s no good, Malone. I know you too well.”
“You hardly know me at all!”
“But we’re getting there.” Then in a softer tone, “Just where the hell did you think you were going to go?”
The best she could come up with was a shrug.
“That’s what I figured. So why not stay here?”
Misty felt like screaming in frustration. “For crying out loud, Morgan, you told me to leave!”
He shook his head. “Damn it, that was before.”
“Oh, I see. A pregnant woman isn’t so risky. You’re no longer worried that I’ll seduce your brothers? After all, I thought that was your overriding concern.”
Morgan leaned against the wall by the fireplace and crossed his arms over his chest. Misty recognized that stance and the accompanying expression all too well.
“No, my overriding concern was the chemistry between us. And your pregnancy doesn’t change that much. You’re still too damn sexy, and only a dead man wouldn’t be tempted.”
She wished she hadn’t brought it up. “That’s ridiculous.”
He very slowly shook his head. “It’s true. You have to know how gorgeous you are, how you make a man feel. But I have an idea on how to handle that.”
The words, along with the way he’d looked at her as he spoke, made her skin flush and her belly tingle.
She didn’t want to be attracted to him! He was arrogant and stubborn, but he was also very dedicated to his family, protective and so incredibly good-looking she imagined women had been chasing him for most of his life.
She mustered up a bored look to hide her reaction to him and asked, “So what’s it going to be? Bundle me up in burlap? Paint a big red A on my forehead to ward off the innocent? What?”
“Nothing so drastic as that.” He paused for a long moment, as if measuring his words, then he met her gaze and his eyes were hard…determined. “I’ll just tell everyone that we’re involved, so you’re off-limits.”
“What?”
He smiled at her reaction. “Believe me, Malone, that’ll be enough to keep all other men away, which is what you wanted, right?”