Lone Star Lover by Debbi Rawlins Page B

wasn’t pressed close enough to feel his arousal. She was being careful keeping adequate distance not to hurt him so he didn’t think she could. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her off.
    She stared up at him, her fathomless blue-green eyes fixed on his mouth, and then she raised herself on tiptoe. He lowered his head to meet her part way, but waited for her to make the final move. The decision clearly didn’t come easy for her, but she touched her lips to his, the slight tremor that shook her body getting to him in a way he didn’t understand, rousing emotions that he refused to examine.
    The sweet taste of her was all he wanted or needed. It didn’t even matter that the kiss was brief. He still didn’t know if she completely trusted him, but Rebecca steadfastly didn’t want to see him hurt. And for now, that was enough.

    “C APTAIN W ADE WILL be returning in time for supper,” Kitty told the girls as she set up trays at the end of the bar. “So make sure y’all have had at least two customers by then and everyone else in the place is drinking steady.”
    Lola rolled her dark kohl-lined eyes. “Two customers.” She snorted and patted her black upswept hair. She wore two red feathers that matched her dress. Rebecca thought they looked silly but she would never say so, especially not to Lola, who sometimes threw glasses and bottles when she was in a temper. “By supper I will have five customers begging for seconds.”
    Trixie laughed. With a look of disgust, Ruby pulled a slim cigar from her bodice and walked toward the porch for a smoke. Lola went in the other direction, toward the only two customers in the saloon. The men had been drinking for most of the afternoon and were slumped over their table.
    Rebecca knew Ruby and Lola didn’t always get along. Both women had mostly ignored her since she’d arrived, and she was happy to stay out of their way. Trixie had been more friendly, but right now, Rebecca wanted to talk to Kitty alone. In another hour she wouldn’t have a chance. The saloon would be too crowded.
    Almost as if Kitty sensed Rebecca’s need to talk, she asked Trixie to check with Cook about having Captain Wade’s supper ready before he arrived. Rebecca waited until Trixie was out of sight, and then said, “Jake says he’s coming downstairs after he cleans up. He wants to work for the Rangers.”
    “Good.”
    Rebecca reared her head back. “How can you say such a thing?”
    Kitty sniffed the clean glasses the bartender had set near the trays, and then nodded her approval. “The man needs a horse and gun, and he needs to make money. Better to be Wade’s friend than his enemy.”
    “Jake can find work on a ranch away from town.” Rebecca didn’t try to hide her disappointment in Kitty. The woman had been her friend from the beginning. When Rebecca had tried to steal a horse and knife the day after she’d been brought to town, it was Kitty who convinced her the timing was wrong to try and escape.
    “Look, honey.” Kitty glanced around and pulled Rebecca away from the bar and the bartender’s big ears. “You’d have to be blind to miss seein’ that Jake isn’t an average fella. He’s too smart and quick. He’s no cowhand, that’s for sure. Besides, you really think he’ll go hole up on some ranch and leave you here in town with these miserable coyotes?”
    Rebecca felt the heat climb her throat, and wondered what Kitty had seen or heard to make her think Jake would care that much about her.
    Kitty chuckled. “Don’t go getting embarrassed. It’s plain as day that he cares for you. I wish I had a man like that to run to.” Kitty sobered, and lowered her voice. “Does he know?”
    She drew in a deep breath. No need to ask if Kitty was talking about the past five years. Rebecca’s captivity was no secret around here. At least not among the Rangers. She suspected that Cook and Lloyd, the bartender, also knew. But they wouldn’t say anything for fear of Captain Wade.