A Moment in Time by Deb Stover Page B

chest.   His eyes darkened and his nostrils flared slightly.
           What a man.
           He shook his finger in her face.   "You can only stay at my place if you make a solemn vow."
           "What?" she repeated.   "Do you think I'm going to compromise your virtue or something?"
           Merriweather guffawed.
           Cole leaned even closer, his eyes glittering dangerously.   "No singing."
           Jackie couldn't prevent her laughter, but Cole was the only one wearing a deadly serious expression.   "Okay, no singing."   She held her hands up in surrender.   She'd agree to almost anything to gain more time to charm Cole into taking her back to Devil's Gulch.
           Merriweather mopped his eyes dry and stopped laughing.   "Then it's settled.   I'll see you both back here in three weeks."   He pointed a finger at Cole.   "And if you deliver her safe and sound then, the gold is yours."
           "Not so fast, Merriweather.   What about what you already owe me?"   Cole towered over the saloon owner, his expression stern.  
           "Wouldn't you rather have a lot more later than a little now?" Merriweather asked in a patronizing tone.
           Cole leaned closer.   "I'd rather have both ."  
           Merriweather gave a snort and nodded.   "Very well, I'll get the first installment."
           " And a shirt."
           "And a shirt."   Merriweather rolled his eyes.   "Oh, there's the tailor now, Miss Belle, to take your measurements.   Wilson, you can use my office."
           A small man carrying a case followed Merriweather, and Jackie gathered she was expected to join them.   With a shrug, she obeyed, figuring it best to cooperate now and savor her freedom later.   Silently, she was grateful that Cole followed close behind.   For some reason she trusted him.   Strange emotion for a woman to feel toward her kidnapper.
           Dark and gaudily carved mahogany furnishings occupied Merriweather's office.   The seat cushions and drapes were the same red velvet with silver trim as the stage curtain.   At least the rotund man was consistent with his horrible taste.
           Cole pulled on a stiffly starched shirt more than a few   sizes too large and tucked it into the waistband of his jeans, then slipped his suspenders back in place.   Jackie stifled her sigh of regret that his muscular chest was no longer on display.
           But she had the next three weeks alone with Cole.   A tiny shiver of excitement raced through her, and she silenced Aunt Pearl's voice in the back of her mind.  
           I don't have to listen to you while I'm here.   She'd deal with Aunt Pearl later, after she returned to her own time.   Now, she was a free agent with only her own conscience to guide her.
           Scary thought.
           Seriously, her own conscience was more than enough to keep her in line.   Besides, hadn't she learned her lesson with Blade?   No more men for Jackie Clarke.   Too much trouble .
           Then why couldn't she convince her hormones of that?
           The fitting wasn't nearly as humiliating as she'd expected, though the tailor did grumble about how much he'd have to alter to make the gowns fit her more modest bust and hips.   Jackie amazed herself by keeping her comments to herself, though she grew increasingly aware of Cole's approving gaze aimed in her direction.
           The man made her hot.   Get a grip, Clarke.   Forcibly quelling her rampant libido, she endured the fitting in stony silence.   Finally, she and Cole were making their way back through the front room of the Silver Spur.   Long shadows stretched across the room as they maneuvered their way through the crowd of gawking miners.   These guys were worse than the Brothers Grime back at the Gold Mine Saloon.   Almost.
           Only a few yards from the swinging front doors, a chill washed over her and