Salvation in the Sheriff's Kiss(39)

The hum of conversation and occasional laughter drifted around her. Mr. Beckett should be here by now. Meredith had yet to meet the man, but Rachel had given her a lengthy description of her new husband in the note she’d sent to make arrangements. Given Rachel’s praise, Meredith was certain she should expect the most handsome man in four counties. As it was, that is exactly who arrived. Unfortunately, the most handsome man in four counties was Hunter Donovan, and not Mr. Beckett.

Her heart leaped inside her chest. She scolded it mercilessly to no avail. There had to be some mistake. He had to be here for some other reason.

The wagon he drove stopped in front of the church. He pulled the brake and jumped down. Her heart pounded harder with each step he took in her direction until she feared it would shake the ground beneath her.

She had hoped to avoid him, at least as much as possible. The more time she spent near him, the more his warmth and kindness charmed her all over again. It was foolish on her part to allow such things. She didn’t want to fall for him. Yet, with each moment she spent in his company, he became harder to resist and the only weapon she had to use against it was to conjure up the pain of his rejection. Not something she cared to relive, but the only defense she had.

“Mornin’.” He leaned against the balustrade at the bottom of the steps and took off his hat. The cold November sunlight silhouetted his lean frame and highlighted shades of chocolate and mahogany in his dark hair.

“Good morning.” Her fingers gripped around the prayer book she’d brought with her. It had been her mother’s. “I didn’t see you in church.”

“Nope. Had the morning watch.” He’d told her the other day the jailhouse was being manned around the clock to prevent Bill from escaping as he had seven years ago.

“I see.” An awkward silence dipped between them.

Her gaze drifted back to the wagon. Not his usual mode of transportation. She scanned the crowd once again, looking for a man who fit Caleb’s description. She came up empty. “You’re not—?”

“I have some business at the Circle S,” he said. “I told Caleb I’d give you a ride out. Save him the trouble. Hope that’s okay.”

Her nerves tightened. It was a two-hour ride to the Circle S Ranch, but what choice did she have? It would be impolite to Rachel, who expected her, and she had looked forward to catching up with her old friend all week.

“I suppose so.” She drew the words out, doubt dancing around them.

“Try not to sound too excited. I might start thinking you like me if you keep that up.” His wry tone was offset by the hint of a smile. A smile that let loose a barrage of fluttering in her stomach as if she’d eaten an entire nest of butterflies for breakfast.

He walked up the few steps and offered her his hand to assist her down.

She hesitated before taking it. Even the smallest contact with him had the ability to set her insides ablaze. The kid leather gloves she wore provided little protection against the strength in his hand as his fingers curled around hers.

It was going to be a long two hours.





Chapter Ten

If he hadn’t needed to speak with Foster, Hunter would seriously question his motives in agreeing to this charade. All morning he’d kept eyeing the pocket watch he kept in the top drawer of his desk, counting the minutes until he had to fetch Meredith from church.

It was flat-out ridiculous how much he had missed her yesterday. What was even more ridiculous was the unmitigated thrill that had rushed through him as he’d pulled up in front of the church and seen her standing on the steps in all her Sunday finery. She was a beautiful woman, always had been, though her edges had been refined in Boston, smoothed down and tucked into the seams of her fancy dress. But as the days passed, he realized the sparkling, youthful woman wasn’t gone. Now and again, he caught a glimpse of her in the flash of her blue eyes, the determined set of her mouth. She had simply matured, going from the brash, spirited young woman who had once run unbidden into his arms, into the strong, confident woman he saw now.

Meredith arched one eyebrow skyward, her tone dry. “Can I assume Rachel had a hand in this?”

“In part.” He offered his hand and assisted her down the steps, slipping it through his arm when she reached the ground. To his surprise, she didn’t pull away. Her closeness sent a riot of pleasure through him and he slowed his pace as they walked to the wagon.

“People are staring,” she whispered and when he glanced down he could see a soft blush that had nothing to do with the cool air, coloring her cheeks.

“Let them. It’ll give them something to talk about other than the trial for a change.” Part of him wondered what would happen if the folks in this town rallied behind the idea of the two of them renewing their courtship. Would she consider it, as well? It was crazy, and a long shot, but as each day wore on the idea of living without her became harder and harder to reconcile. The idea of her being with anyone else utterly impossible.