Dalton, Tymber - Hernando Heat (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Read Online Free PDF Page A

proud of her would he be if she caved in and let his father scare her like this?
    Yet she couldn’t bring herself to say no.
    “That’s a very fair offer, but may I have some time to consider it?”
    He nodded. “Of course.” He hesitated. “My cousin, Joe, wants to come with me to the dinner tonight. Would you mind if he accompanies us? Then you could meet him and talk to him about it.”
    She felt a little relief at that. While she’d love to be alone with Mason, on top of this fright, spending time alone with the handsome deputy was too much excitement for her nerves. Not to mention that two large men were better than one to help protect her after dark. “That would be fine. I would enjoy that very much.”
    Katie insisted on making Mason breakfast while they waited for news from the posse, and he found her to be an excellent cook, raving about it.
    “My cousin gets a taste of your cooking, I might find myself fighting him for your attention.” He winked.
    She blushed. It’d been so long since she’d had anyone to cook for. Paul had loved her cooking. “It’s just scrambled eggs and ham, Mason. Nothing special.”
    He shook his head. “You’re wrong. You are very special. Not many women would do what you did, stand up for themselves. That takes a lot of strength.”
    She was saved a response by the return of Carl Daily and the posse. They hadn’t tracked the guy down. Carl pulled his pocket watch out and wound it. “I’ll stay here for a while this morning, just to make sure he doesn’t come back,” he assured Mason. Carl and his wife lived in town, only a few blocks away.
    Despite Katie getting the distinct impression that Mason didn’t want to leave, he finally stood and nodded to her. “I’ll be checking on you throughout the day. You keep that gun loaded with buckshot, you hear?”
    She finally laughed. “Don’t worry. It won’t leave my side, even when I go to the privy.” She blushed as she realized what she said, but the men laughed.
    “Good girl,” Mason said. “That’s exactly what you should do.” He tipped his hat to her as he left.
    Carl smiled. “I think he’s sweet on you, Katie.” His wife was one of the few people in town that she had more than a passing relationship with.
    She blushed. “Oh, I doubt that.” But she certainly hoped it.
    “I hear right that he’s taking you to the church dinner tonight?”
    Her blush deepened, but she nodded.
    His smile turned into a full grin. “Good! I was going to ask if you wanted me to come walk you over so you didn’t have to be alone, but if Mason’s taking care of it, I’m sure you’ll be safe.” He tipped his hat. “From intruders. Not so sure how safe you’ll be from Mason if he’s determined to make you his, though.” He laughed. “He strikes me as a right determined man. And only a fool would miss how sweet he is on you.”
    On that amused note, he stepped out the back door to help supervise getting her screen replaced.
    Huffing in frustration, she busied herself with opening her shop. As she expected, she practically overflowed with customers that morning, some with mending and some without, all wanting to hear her story and see her shotgun. Mason Carlisle stopped by several times, never setting foot inside but smiling every time he spotted her nearly full shop and caught her eye through the door. She supposed he figured if people kept her that busy, she must not be in any peril.
    By the time she closed her shop at four o’clock, she felt bone weary and considered not going to the dinner after all. Ben Ainsley had fixed her screen door as well as nailed an additional piece of wood on the outside, over the center portion, to make it harder for someone to break in and unhook the latch. Despite the warm night, she’d also closed and secured her shutters for extra peace of mind.
    Another thing that didn’t escape her notice—now that word had spread Mason Carlisle was taking her to the dinner, none of the