respectable distance at all times.
But Rafe treated Karissa like…well, she didn’t know what. It didn’t bother him in the least to toss her a glare, jump down her throat or latch on to her arm, as if he wanted to give her a good shaking when she dared to turn her back on him while he was talking—which she had done on several occasions, just to irritate him.
“She’s very attractive,” Karissa admitted begrudgingly.
“Yes, she is,” Rafe agreed. “She’s changed considerably since I saw her while I was on leave last year.”
“Last year?” Karissa blinked in disbelief. “You are marrying a woman you haven’t seen in a year? Surely you correspond with her regularly then.”
“She’s written twice and I have written once since my father announced our engagement,” he informed her. “But that is beside the point. I came in here to discuss your—”
“Beside the point?” Karissa scoffed. “Damn goodthing I’m not the one marrying you. I’m afraid I would have to insist on more than an impersonal letter once a year—”
She clamped her mouth shut so fast she nearly clipped off the end of her tongue. Up to this point she had successfully managed to use her defense mechanism of flinging barbed remarks to disguise deeper feelings for him. The last thing she wanted to do was imply that she had given so much as a passing thought to what it would be like to be married to Rafe. They were as different as paupers and princes and that was never going to change, even if she had developed this ridiculous, ill-fated fascination for Rafe.
He lifted a brow, crossed his arms over his broad chest and smiled in amusement. “You don’t approve of my method of courtship? Why am I not surprised? You disapprove of most everything I do.”
“That’s because you’re an annoying man who delights in bossing people around. Hence your position as post commandant,” she sniped. “You wouldn’t make it ten minutes as a flunky around this fort.”
He puffed up with indignation and stared her down. But it didn’t stop Karissa. She was on a roll to vent the envious frustration that had welled up inside her when Vanessa had made her spectacular entrance to the mess hall.
“I think you revel in the fact that everyone knows who you are and that they are aware of the power you wield,” she went on. “This territory is presently under military rule and you’re it. You’re called upon to settle civil, Indian and military disputes and you like knowing your word is law.”
“If that’s true then why do I have such a devil of a time shutting you up?” he questioned with a snort. “Ifyou continue to harangue me I’ll double the time of your captivity and no one will dispute my decision.”
Karissa stamped up to him and tilted up her head to stare him squarely in the eye. She was all set to let him have it with both barrels blazing, but he beat her to the draw.
“And do not offer me your body again in exchange for freedom,” he said, glaring at her. “I’m sure you have used that trick before to maneuver other men, but it won’t work with me.”
Karissa reared back as if he’d slapped her. She knew she had given him the wrong impression that first night. But then, she had completely misunderstood his intentions. “Think what you will, General, I couldn’t care less. All I want is to return to the settlers’ encampment to check on my brother.”
“Right,” he said sardonically. “As if there isn’t a hundred and sixty acres of fertile prairie, spring-fed pool and winding creeks that isn’t calling home to you.”
Impulsively, Karissa cocked her arm to slap him for taking what she’d told him in confidence and using it to antagonize her. Unfortunately, Rafe caught her forearm before her palm could connect with his cheek.
When she stared up into those silver-gray eyes she could see the storm building, could feel the lightning-quick sizzle of attraction when he touched her. God forgive this maddening
But Rafe treated Karissa like…well, she didn’t know what. It didn’t bother him in the least to toss her a glare, jump down her throat or latch on to her arm, as if he wanted to give her a good shaking when she dared to turn her back on him while he was talking—which she had done on several occasions, just to irritate him.
“She’s very attractive,” Karissa admitted begrudgingly.
“Yes, she is,” Rafe agreed. “She’s changed considerably since I saw her while I was on leave last year.”
“Last year?” Karissa blinked in disbelief. “You are marrying a woman you haven’t seen in a year? Surely you correspond with her regularly then.”
“She’s written twice and I have written once since my father announced our engagement,” he informed her. “But that is beside the point. I came in here to discuss your—”
“Beside the point?” Karissa scoffed. “Damn goodthing I’m not the one marrying you. I’m afraid I would have to insist on more than an impersonal letter once a year—”
She clamped her mouth shut so fast she nearly clipped off the end of her tongue. Up to this point she had successfully managed to use her defense mechanism of flinging barbed remarks to disguise deeper feelings for him. The last thing she wanted to do was imply that she had given so much as a passing thought to what it would be like to be married to Rafe. They were as different as paupers and princes and that was never going to change, even if she had developed this ridiculous, ill-fated fascination for Rafe.
He lifted a brow, crossed his arms over his broad chest and smiled in amusement. “You don’t approve of my method of courtship? Why am I not surprised? You disapprove of most everything I do.”
“That’s because you’re an annoying man who delights in bossing people around. Hence your position as post commandant,” she sniped. “You wouldn’t make it ten minutes as a flunky around this fort.”
He puffed up with indignation and stared her down. But it didn’t stop Karissa. She was on a roll to vent the envious frustration that had welled up inside her when Vanessa had made her spectacular entrance to the mess hall.
“I think you revel in the fact that everyone knows who you are and that they are aware of the power you wield,” she went on. “This territory is presently under military rule and you’re it. You’re called upon to settle civil, Indian and military disputes and you like knowing your word is law.”
“If that’s true then why do I have such a devil of a time shutting you up?” he questioned with a snort. “Ifyou continue to harangue me I’ll double the time of your captivity and no one will dispute my decision.”
Karissa stamped up to him and tilted up her head to stare him squarely in the eye. She was all set to let him have it with both barrels blazing, but he beat her to the draw.
“And do not offer me your body again in exchange for freedom,” he said, glaring at her. “I’m sure you have used that trick before to maneuver other men, but it won’t work with me.”
Karissa reared back as if he’d slapped her. She knew she had given him the wrong impression that first night. But then, she had completely misunderstood his intentions. “Think what you will, General, I couldn’t care less. All I want is to return to the settlers’ encampment to check on my brother.”
“Right,” he said sardonically. “As if there isn’t a hundred and sixty acres of fertile prairie, spring-fed pool and winding creeks that isn’t calling home to you.”
Impulsively, Karissa cocked her arm to slap him for taking what she’d told him in confidence and using it to antagonize her. Unfortunately, Rafe caught her forearm before her palm could connect with his cheek.
When she stared up into those silver-gray eyes she could see the storm building, could feel the lightning-quick sizzle of attraction when he touched her. God forgive this maddening
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