Toren looked her in the eyes, making sure not to look anywhere else. He didn’t know how to respond to that and the way she stared back, chewing her food, felt like a test. But how to pass?
“I think…”
She held up a hand. “Don’t. Don’t bullshit me. I like you and if you bullshit me I won’t. I’ve come to terms with what I am and have no problems with it. It’s the opposite sex that needs to get a notion.”
“A notion?” Toren sincerely didn’t understand where she was going with her logic.
Her gaze turned nearly flinty as she leveled it on him. “Please. Pretending ignorance is so not becoming for you.” She took another bite and mumbled around her food, flicking her finger at him, eyes on his body, “You got a big man’s body, I have a small one. But cross me and see just what I can do with this small body. I assure you it isn’t feminine.”
He grinned at her spunk. He loved that about her. “Are you trying to tempt me?”
She raised her brows. “Tempt you? Honey,” she patted along her chest, “there isn’t a thing to tempt with. You don’t believe me? Here, feel, I’m not kidding.”
Toren’s grin faded and he went stand by the stove, his back to her. Rage roared through him like a freight train, demanding he punish those responsible for her feelings of hurt and inadequacy. Knowing her father lay at the beginnings of all that pain made him anxious to meet the man. And stake him out in a desert for predators, as the TV westerns sometimes showed the Injuns—no, Native Americans—doing.
“Sorry to disappoint you bubba, but—“
Toren took a breath to get a handle on his anger so it wouldn't come out in his voice. “I’m not disappointed, quit pretending like you know me.”
She snorted. “Whatever, Mr. Get Any Woman You Want. You men are all alike, you want the voluptuous bodies that come with the legs on loose hinges that flop right open with only a breath. That isn’t me and never will be, on every level. And I’m glad.”
Toren turned around and faced her halfway through her adorable rant, captivated by the anger and passion that animated her features. She paused for a breath and the rise of her chest caught his attention. Before he knew it, he found himself trying to measure her breasts. Sure they weren’t voluptuous, but they were damn well there, no doubt perfect. He nodded at her body. “Sorry to say but…you definitely do not have a man’s chest.”
He raised his eyes to her glare but now he saw more than anger there. A spark of…damn he itched to let his mercury power loose on her and name that look. Maybe doubt. That she might be wrong and he might be telling the truth. Why else would he say it? What would lying accomplish?
Her gaze turned guarded as though she thought the exact same thing. What was his angle? Rather than saying anything, she straightened his shirt and pulled it on, bunching it over her chest as if to form a barrier against his gaze and speculation.
He put a hand over his heart. “It’s just the God’s honest truth. I’d bet you look nothing like a man. Anywhere.”
A look of incredulous disbelief contorted her beautiful features, making her look…somehow edible. “Well wouldn’t you be the only man in Montana to say that, which—“
“Means nothing?” he suggested with raised brows.
Her eyes flashed, high emotion intensifying the color. “Just because I’m the only living heir to this place doesn’t mean I have a lot of money. Any man stupid enough to marry me—“
“Is one blessed son-of-a-bitch.”
Her jaw hung open then snapped shut. “Stop interrupting me dammit. Whoever marries me is likely inheriting a huge financial headache and one pissed off heiress.”
He couldn't hold his grin back any longer, despite the risk of turning her general anti-man anger toward him specifically.
“Wipe that smug smile off your face. I swear if you turn out to be anything like that arrogant ass Joe, I’ll shoot you between the eyes with a cow pie loaded sling shot.” She took a bite of her pastry and closed her eyes. The dark shadows under her lashes reminded Toren she was ill.
“I promise you, I’m nothing like him. From what you’ve said at least.” He forced himself to leave it at that in the interest of conserving her strength.
“Huh.” She finished her food in silence, studying him over her water bottle.
Toren took an experimental bite of his own little bread-wrapped meal, unsure what to expect. To his surprise, the blend of textures and flavors was extremely pleasant. He finished it quickly, impressed with the sense of warmth and well-being it created.