Wildfire in His Arms

He tapped the document with his finger. “This is just another means of getting you under their control. What needs to happen is for Bingham to stop coveting whatever prize it is that you can bring him. The prize needs to become unavailable to him.”

  “So if I’m already married, that ends it?”

  “It should.”

  “Or it makes you a target instead,” she couldn’t help pointing out.

  But she was incredulous to see him actually smile at that prediction. “I’ve been a target for a number of years now. I’m used to it.”

  But she wasn’t used to him being one. But the temporary marriage could work, she supposed. Until now she would have been easy to manipulate if either of Carl’s schemes had worked. But he’d have to deal with Degan now, and men dealt with each other differently from how they dealt with women. Carl would have to be more cautious.

  The water arrived. Degan suggested she bathe first behind the screen while he shaved. He also told her to open his food sack. No food was in it, but she was happy to find her belongings that she’d left at the cabin, including the floral-patterned skirt and white blouse that Degan had bought for her, which she could wear to the church that afternoon.

  They had lunch at a restaurant nearby, where Grady and Saul sat down at another table. Those two weren’t even trying to hide their surveillance. Degan didn’t appear to mind. Max felt he was even amused by it when he said, “Maybe I should invite them to join us.”

  He didn’t, but he extended their lunch another hour with coffee and a second helping of dessert to see if the lawmen would leave first. They didn’t.

  After the long lunch they stopped at the telegraph office. Degan explained about having to keep Marshal Hayes apprised of the outlaws who could be removed from his list, including her, now that the charges had been dropped. He’d sent John news about Kid Cade before they’d left for Dakota, but he hadn’t had time until now to let him know that Willie Nolan and his gang wouldn’t be robbing any more trains. Then Max was delighted when Degan took her to the stable to visit Noble.

  The gelding appeared to have weathered the trip fine. So had Degan. She’d asked about his wound when he was ­bathing—and she was trying to keep her mind off it. He’d assured her it caused him barely a twinge now, but she doubted that he would tell her if he was still in pain.

  When it was nearing five o’clock, they continued on to the church. Max started having doubts about what they were about to do, and those doubts grew stronger when the church came into view.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” she asked Degan.

  “I told you, it’s just a temporary measure—and it avoids bloodshed.”

  He’d shoot Grady for her? Well, not shoot to kill, but he probably wouldn’t hesitate to disable him.

  This certainly wasn’t the way Max had pictured getting hitched, with no family present and a gun on the groom’s hip. But it wasn’t real—well, it was, just not real enough to last. She had to keep that uppermost in her mind—and forget how much this felt like a shotgun wedding.

  They couldn’t miss the crowd of people outside the church, but didn’t understand what was going on until they got closer and heard someone shout, “There he is! There’s the famous gunfighter who’s getting married today!”

  People in the crowd were craning their necks to get a look at Degan and his bride. Max realized Degan was a celebrity to these people after his recent gunfight with Jacob Reed in this town. Even Deputy Barnes was there. Max was stunned by the turnout. Degan seemed annoyed by it and forged ahead, trying to get them inside the church.

  But then the reason why they were there stepped forward with his sidekick. “Hold up,” Grady said to Degan. “It’s occurred to me that you probably need her guardian’s permission for this.”

  Degan turned and drew his gun. “No, I don’t.”

  The crowd gasped and stepped back in unison, but no one left, every eye avidly on Degan. Grady didn’t back down. Saul, white-faced, tried to drag him away, but Grady seemed rooted in place.

  Which might be why Degan added, “I’m doing exactly what you requested, Sheriff Pike, marrying Max before sunset. And it’s going to happen right now—one way or another.”

  The threat was implicit. It looked as if Grady wanted to say more, but the crowd was suddenly applauding Degan. Max almost laughed. Grady had been a sheriff for so long; he wasn’t used to having his dictates, or suggestions, for that matter, ignored. But Bingham Hills was a peaceful town. No one like Degan had ever passed through it. Grady was simply out of his depth in dealing with a gunfighter of this caliber. And he’d certainly never experienced a crowd swayed against him like this, either.

  Despite Grady’s sour expression, Degan considered the matter settled and escorted Max into the church. Grady and Saul still followed them and pushed their way into a front pew between two women already seated there. One of the women was dabbing at her eyes, exclaiming to everyone around her, “I just love weddings!”

  The church quickly filled with people eager to watch the ceremony. Degan shook hands with the preacher, who introduced himself, and then asked, “Why the sudden rush for a wedding, Mr. Grant?”

  “My bride has been tied up for the past week; now she’s free.”

  Degan glanced back at Grady as he said that. Max had to bite back a laugh when she saw Grady turn red with fury.

  The preacher, unaware of the byplay, began the ceremony. “We’re here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. If anyone objects, speak now or forever hold your peace.”

  Max held her breath, refusing to look at Grady. If he said anything now, she might shoot him herself. But she heard the tussle behind them and glanced back. Grady had stood up, but the two women sitting next to him had yanked him back down.

  The preacher didn’t notice this and continued, “You have the rings?”

  Degan didn’t reply. Max groaned to herself, catching Grady’s smirk because the wedding was going to stop right now. Of course Degan didn’t have rings for them. She hadn’t thought of it either!

  But then an elderly man stood up. “My wife and I are happy to lend you ours for the ceremony. There’s fifty years of good luck in these rings.”

  A collective sigh of relief was released from the crowd, Max’s included. While this marriage might not be real, she found herself wanting it to happen more than anything. To put an end to Carl’s plans, she assured herself. Then why was she so thrilled when she heard Degan saying his vows?

  “I, Degan Grant, take you, Maxine Dawson, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until death do us part.”

  After she repeated those vows to Degan, they were pronounced man and wife, and Degan quickly kissed her. Goodness, she could hear all the old ladies gushing over that! Then they got another surprise.

  “My wife and her friends would like you to come out back if you would,” the preacher said. “Please don’t disappoint her or I’ll never hear the end of it. Follow me.”

  The last was said quite loudly, an invitation extended to the whole gathering. Degan and Max saw why when they stepped out of the church’s back door. Tables laden with food had been set up in the yard and fiddlers were starting to play. The church ladies had made a party for them!

  Max was touched by these strangers’ thoughtfulness and generosity, and delighted, too. She’d thought her wedding was going to feel as fake as it was intended to be, but it certainly didn’t now. Everyone was talking and laughing, and having fun—well, everyone except Grady. Max even caught him getting his hand slapped by one of the women when he reached for a plate of food. Because he’d been set on obstructing the union of the happy couple, no one there was pleased by his presence.

  That’s when he came over to her and Degan. Max hoped it was to say good-bye, since he obviously wasn’t welcome there and knew it, but she should have known better. With no congratulations, no surprise that they??
?d actually gone through with it, and still looking extremely disgruntled, he just asked if they would be on the train in the morning.

  “Usually I take offense when someone calls me a liar, Sheriff Pike.”

  Grady started to assure him, “I didn’t—”

  “But it’s my wedding day, so I’ll make an exception. I already told you we were going to Texas. Your doubting me is the same thing as calling me a liar.”

  “You didn’t say when you were going,” Grady grumbled in his defense.

  “Because it’s irrelevant, and in point of fact it stopped being any concern of yours the moment Max was pronounced my wife. However, I assume she would rather visit her family than go on a honeymoon right away, so in all likelihood we will start south in the morning. But do us both a favor and don’t question me again.”

  Max thought that watching Grady get his hands tied like that was such a nice wedding gift. It was a wonder she didn’t laugh out loud. But she didn’t doubt that Grady and Saul would still follow them all the way to Texas, despite what Degan had said to Grady. He was too devoted to Carl Bingham and his interests not to.

  The merriment continued. Max was sure everyone there had already come forward to congratulate them, but then someone else did. And she heard Degan say, “Well, I’ll be damned.”

  She stared at the man approaching Degan with his hand extended. He was tall and handsome with black hair and powder-blue eyes. She whispered, “You know him?”

  The question got answered when the man reached them and introduced himself, “I’m Morgan Callahan.”

  “I guessed as much.” Degan shook the man’s hand.

  “Yeah, Hunter and I hear that a lot, how much we look alike. Congratulations on your wedding, but please tell me you’re not here because of me.”

  “I’m not, but why would you think so?”

  “I heard from some miners here that you were working for my father. I know he hates that I prefer mining to working with my family on the ranch.”

  “That’s between you and Zachary—and it’s not why he hired me.”

  “So it’s true? You actually brought about my brother’s marriage to the Warren girl?”

  “I’d say Hunter managed that on his own.”

  “I’m surprised. He really hated having that arranged marriage hanging over his head. I figured it wasn’t going to happen unless he was dragged kicking and screaming to the altar.”

  “Believe me, nothing would have kept Hunter away from that wedding. You’ll understand why when you meet his wife.”

  Morgan smiled. “I’m sorry I missed all the fun, but I struck it rich and will be going home for a visit as soon as I settle a dispute with a rival lady miner. And, no, I’m not asking if I can hire you! But maybe I can kiss this bride since I missed kissing my brother’s new wife?”

  “Not a chance.” Degan put his arm around Max’s waist.

  Max wasn’t sure if Degan was serious or if this was just his way of joking, but Morgan laughed, insisting, “I’m not like Hunter, who charms every woman in sight! But I’m not going to argue with the notorious Degan Grant, either. Have a happy marriage, you two.”

  As Morgan sauntered off, one of the ladies was bold enough to come over and tell Degan to dance with his wife. Wide-eyed, Max was afraid of his reaction to that. But he surprised her by leading her to join the other couples dancing next to the musicians. A Western rendition of a waltz was being played. It was faster than a traditional waltz but not as boisterous as most of the fiddlers’ music had been. The tempo slowed a little as they started dancing, and Degan pulled Max close enough that she could rest her head on his shoulder. Her smile turned dreamy. And then she yawned—and laughed at herself.

  “You’re tired,” he said, having heard it.

  She’d been through a lot this last week as Grady’s prisoner and experiencing the emotional roller coaster of being reunited with Degan and becoming his wife, even if in name only. “A little,” she admitted.

  “Let’s go.”

  For once she didn’t object to those two words. Amid lots of good wishes and happy tears from the ladies who loved weddings and a comment from the preacher’s wife about how this celebrity wedding had tripled the size of the church’s congregation, Degan led a sleepy Max back to the hotel.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  “YOUR SHERIFF IS ALREADY suspicious, and with everyone in town knowing we got hitched, we can’t risk having a cot delivered to our room.”

  Max had assumed that Degan had already arranged for one as he’d done at the other hotels they stayed at after Bozeman. But she couldn’t fault him for forgetting after everything that had happened today.

  “I can sleep on the floor,” she offered.

  “We can share the bed—as long as you stay on your side of it.”

  She recalled what had happened that morning in Bozeman when she’d awakened to find him bare chested and watching her. And the kiss . . . She wished now she hadn’t remembered that. She’d probably think of nothing else now.

  Yet he’d pretty much just implied it might happen again, so she reassured him it wouldn’t by teasing, “You think Grady will break in here in the morning to inspect the sheets?”

  “I don’t think he has a death wish, no.”

  “I don’t know, Grady can be damn determined, especially if he gets it into his head that our marriage is only a legal convenience.” Max yawned, but continued to tease, “I’ll guard the sheets with my life. I’ll even take them with me in the morning. But I should probably strip down a little more than I usually do, just in case he does have that death wish—or climbs up to peek through the window in the middle of the night, which we probably wouldn’t hear.”

  “Are you trying to make me laugh?”

  She grinned. “It’s not working, huh?”

  “Stripping down sounds interesting.”

  Was he teasing her now? Or had the same thing that had occurred to her occurred to him—that no one except them would know if they did actually make love? The marriage could still be annulled. They’d just have to lie a little. . . .

  Yet he was walking toward her and looked a bit more determined than usual. Not at all sure what he was about to do, she took a few steps back until she ran out of space and her back was pressed to the wall.

  “You know you’re not afraid of me, Maxie, so what are you doing?”

  Did he really just sound amused? “You don’t usually want to get this close to me.”

  “There’s a good reason for that.”

  “Then what are you doing?”

  “Making an exception to give you what you missed at the church—a wedding kiss.”

  “But you did kiss me.”

  “I wasn’t sure you even noticed, it was so quick. And that one didn’t count with that unfriendly witness present. I thought you might like a real one for this first marriage of yours.”

  Reminding her that this wouldn’t be her only marriage in the same breath that he wanted to seal it with a real kiss? Was he kidding? He probably was. She should know better than to tease him. He got even.

  She put a hand up to his chest. “We can leave it the way it’s supposed to be—a fake marriage.”

  “It’s as fake as you want it to be, Maxie,” he said quietly as he leaned in a little closer. “But you’re still getting this kiss. Consider it a memento.”

  As if she could ever forget anything having to do with him. But she couldn’t dodge his mouth. She didn’t try very hard. And quickly, she found out that this kiss wasn’t the kind he could have given her in a church. Not even close.

  He lifted one of her legs and wrapped it around his hip as he leaned in even closer. His tongue was in play immediately, swirling around hers, tempting a response from her. No coaxing was necessary. Her body responded to him as it always did with the sensual stirring that flipped around as if it were trying to find him but couldn’t. Her hands could. She put one behind his neck and quickly moved it up into his hair. The other she slipped unde
r his jacket, but his vest was still in the way. Would he stop long enough to let her get rid of it?

  He stopped longer than that. He stepped back so fast she almost stumbled.

  Heat was in his eyes, and yet his voice was as toneless as it usually was when he said, “There. In case they’re up on the roof across the street looking this way.”

  Max blinked. “That was just for show?”

  “Of course.”

  She felt like hitting him. “I’m too tired to play any more games today!”

  She pushed away from the wall and pulled her blouse off over her head and threw it on a chair. She yanked her boots and socks off next. That took some hopping, but she was too frustrated to sit down to do it. She unfastened her skirt and just let it pool at her feet before she marched to the bed and yanked the covers down. Then she crawled to the center of the bed and stretched out as if she were waiting for him to join her. But she sure as hell wasn’t—until a bare-chested Degan lay down beside her.

  “That was for Grady,” he said softly. “This is for us.”

  Max sputtered, “What—what do you think you’re doing?”

  He kissed her before he said, “Relax and turn over so I can rub your back.”

  As tired as she was, that sounded too nice to refuse. She rolled over for the massage, but it felt so divine she got more and more drowsy until he turned her onto her back and started kissing her again. His mouth moved lower and he nibbled at her neck, sending pleasant tingles rippling through her body. He kissed her shoulder as he touched her breast, running his finger around her nipple ever so lightly until she gasped. But he didn’t stop. He kept stroking her as his mouth moved lower again, leaving a trail of kisses until his tongue was flicking at the tip of her other breast. She groaned as heat rushed through her, running her fingers through his hair, rubbing the back of his neck. Degan was kissing both of her breasts now, directing his attention to first one and then the other, his hands caressing her, too.

  His mouth kept moving lower, kissing her midriff as he stroked her hips and thighs. What was he doing? Was he going to kiss her all the way down to her toes? She couldn’t think beyond that, all she could do was luxuriate in the pleasure his hands and mouth were giving her. The sensations got so intense she had to take deep breaths and close her eyes. But when he gently pushed her legs apart and kissed her thigh, her eyes flew open. And when he reached the most sensitive spot on her body, she climaxed.