Sagebrush Bride Read Online Free PDF Page A

she asked before she could stop herself, “how is it that you
think you are able to help me, Mr. McKenzie?”
     
    Cutter’s gaze swept down, studying the long, lean
fingers spread so boldly upon the desk, taking in the swatch of material she
held pinned beneath her right hand, and then back up to her tawny eyes.
    It took all of his resolve to keep from bustin’
his guts. Most folks didn’t like to meet his gaze a’tall, much less stare him
in the eye, yet here this little filly was giving him equal measure, challenging
him. For that matter, she looked as though she were wishing him an early tour
into the Happy Hunting Grounds.
    Brows uplifted, he motioned for her to sit. She
gave him a doubtful look, then did, reluctantly, moving her hand to the edge of
the desk as though she were prepared to shove its weight at him the instant he
made a wrong move. A move she obviously expected him to make any moment.
    He raised his glass to his lips, holding her gaze
as he tipped another swallow. “You have no cause to be frightened of me, Doc.”
    “Frightened?”
     
    That wasn’t quite the word for what she was
feeling just now.
    Taking great pains to at least seem composed,
Elizabeth took a deep, calming breath, then reached out for her
tumbler—not to drink, of course, but to occupy her hands because they
were quaking traitorously.
    “I don’t bite,” he assured with an odd glitter to
his eyes. “Not usually anyway... and not too hard, when I do.”
    Elizabeth blinked.
    Why did she
think those words held a double meaning?
    Mercy, she was feeling warm again, though not from
embarrassment. Truth to tell, she was feeling quite unusual. Long minutes
passed without a word uttered between them.
    The rat wouldn’t even take pity on her and look
away! she thought testily. Most men would have been properly chastised and
would have looked the other way. Well, she was made of sterner stuff, he would
soon see!
    Years of watching her father deal with people gave
her an advantage. She tried for a slightly bored tone, along with a
long-suffering sigh. “Perhaps you’d like to explain sometime this century, Mr.
McKenzie? How is it you think you can help?”
    His answering grin unnerved her, and she promptly
lifted the glass she held in her hands to her lips. Without thinking, she
gulped deeply of the firewater, all the while eyeing Cutter over the rim. It
burned viciously, choking her, the shock nearly heaving her out of the chair.
Holding her throat in desperation, she coughed and sputtered.
    In no time, Cutter was at the desk, reaching out
to pat her gently upon the back. “Takes a bit of getting used to,” he
reassured, his tone a little strangled. “Next sip should be a mite easier.”
    He sounded as though he were laughing at her, but
Elizabeth didn’t dare look at him to see if it was so. Clearing her throat
inelegantly, she nodded and peered down through her lashes at the glass that
seemed suddenly bonded with her hands.
    Cutter’s hand remained upon her back, rubbing
soothingly. Unreasonably, Elizabeth didn’t even think to protest that intimacy.
It seemed perfectly natural. In fact, as the warmth of his palm lent her silent
sympathy, she had to fight the urge to jump into his arms and cry her pain
away.
    “Better?”
    Elizabeth nodded jerkily. “Fine,” she replied,
much too quickly, glancing up.
    “Never thought otherwise,” he assured with a wink.
    Elizabeth could swear he was fondling her hair.
    Or was he?
    It was hard to tell, but it felt as though he’d
left off the comforting to run his fingers along the length of her braid. And
then suddenly the sensation stopped. She glanced up to gauge his thoughts, but
his expression was shuttered.
    How was it that he seemed so completely unaffected
by their proximity, while she, on the other hand, had never felt so agitated?
What was wrong with her that she would stare at him so brazenly?
    “Tell me something, Doc.”
    That voice. So deep. So masculine. It sent