To Love a Stranger by Connie Mason

charms to the best advantage, baiting him, goading him. He’d learned long ago that women were teases, and Zoey was an expert. She pretended she didn’t want him sexually, but her body told him otherwise.
    Suddenly aware that Zoey was pounding on his chest, Pierce broke off the kiss.
    “What was that for?” Zoey asked, still shaking from Pierce’s unprovoked attack.
    “That’s just a prelude to what you’re asking for.”
    “I’m not asking for a darn thing.”
    “You could have fooled me. You have only to ask and I’ll gladly accommodate you. No need to be coy about it. Virgins can want it as badly as their more experienced sisters.”
    “Don’t be crude. Let me go.”
    Pierce’s arms dropped away. Zoey felt so natural in his embrace, he’d forgotten she was there. She was a distraction that was quickly becoming an obsession. He’d been in full possession of his strength for days now and still hadn’t relieved Zoey of her virginity or satisfied his lust. He must be slipping.
    “It won’t be long now, love,” he predicted. “I’ll be waiting. All you have to do is ask and I’ll teach you all about passion.”
    “When hell freezes over. Excuse me, I’m tired and dirty from the trail. Supper will be late tonight.”
    Pierce watched her walk away, admiring the way her tight little bottom swayed when she walked. His hands itched to caress those sweet mounds, to strip her naked and teach her body to enjoy all the things he’d do to her.
    Soon, he promised himself. Very soon. He remembered the purchase he’d made on his last trip to town and smiled.

Chapter 6
     
    S upper that night was a quiet affair, until Pierce said with amazing calm, “I’m going to break into Willoughby’s office tomorrow night.”
    Zoey’s fork clattered into her plate. “You’re what!”
    “I said I’m going to—”
    Zoey made an impatient gesture with her hand. “I know what you said. What do you hope to gain by placing your life in danger?”
    “There won’t be any danger if it’s done right.”
    Cully said nothing, merely continued eating.
    Zoey sent Pierce a scathing glance. “How many banks have you broken into?”
    “It’s not the same. I’m going to break into Willoughby’s office, not rob a bank. He keeps the mortgages in a filing cabinet in his office. You need to take a good look at your father’s signature. If it’s a forgery as you claim, you should be able to compare it with your father’s writing. Do you have a sample of his writing in the house?”
    “There are papers in Pa’s desk bearing his signature. Unfortunately none of them is the deed tothe ranch. That’s been missing since shortly after his death. I’ve turned the house upside down and can’t find it.”
    “What do you think happened to it?”
    “I’ve given it a lot of thought. I’m convinced it was stolen when the house was broken into shortly after Pa’s death, but at the time I thought nothing of it because nothing appeared to be missing.”
    Pierce stared at Zoey, his expression pensive. “If Willoughby holds the mortgage on the land, it would be natural for him to hold the deed as security. If he has it, I’d bet my bottom dollar your father never gave it to him.”
    “You think Willoughby broke into the house?” Zoey asked.
    “He wouldn’t do it himself. He’d hire someone else to do the dirty work. A man like Willoughby would find it easy to cheat a woman. While your father was alive, Willoughby had no hope of obtaining either you or your land. Your father’s death worked in Willoughby’s favor.” Pierce grew thoughtful. “How did your father die?”
    “He was killed by a band of renegade Sioux. No one even knew Indians were in the area. He was riding in the foothills collecting strays. It was a strange thing. They killed Pa and never struck again. They just disappeared. Pa was in his prime. His health was good, he had everything to live for.”
    “How do you know it was Indians?”
    “We found Sioux