in her neck and cheeks but wasn’t going to make matters worse by trying to dress in front of him. “Thank you.” She snatched the garments from his hand and refused to turn and run, though that was her first impulse.
He gave her one of his devastating smiles. “My pleasure.”
44
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Lawless
“Turn your back, please.”
“Now, I’m sorry, but that happens to be something I never do. Too many people would like to put a bullet in it.”
“Including me right now. Why were you watching me?”
His handsome face was enigmatic. “I think you can figure that one out on your own, Miss Daniels. This isn’t the safest country for a woman by herself, much less a naked one.”
At least with her dress and petticoats held in front of her he couldn’t see as much exposed skin. His refusal to use her first name was also symbolic of something, but she wasn’t sure what. “Why didn’t you tell me you were lurking around?”
He shrugged, his wide shoulders lifting the plain material of his shirt. “It would have made you uncomfortable, for one. Now, why don’t you just get dressed?”
“Not with you watching me.” Her cheeks felt on fire.
“Well, I’m not leaving you here alone, so maybe you’d better face the fact you’re going to lose this argument.” His tone was infuriatingly nonchalant, his well-shaped mouth just slightly tilted at one corner in indication of his amusement over her discomfort. Tall and lean, his muscular body reminded her of the power of his strength as compared to hers, and she couldn’t decide if she felt hunted or protected.
Well, maybe both.
“I’ve already seen it all,” he informed her in a mild tone. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about, believe me. My compliments, ma’am.”
Speechless, Laurel stared at him, part of her wanting to slap his face for that audacious comment, another part of her traitorously pleased he found her attractive.
Pleased a wild outlaw wanted her? The notion was just insane.
Worse than that, she was afraid maybe she felt just the same way about him. It didn’t make sense, but it just…was.
With effort, she gathered her scattered wits. “It’s different knowing you’re standing right here.”
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Emma Wildes
His crystalline eyes narrowed and he shook his head. In the dappled sunlight, his thick hair shone with amber streaks, just curling over his collar. “I warned you, Miss Daniels. I don’t do well with debate if there’s a faster way.”
“Warn me all you like, but I’m not going to dress in front of you, Mister Riker. ”
“Fine with me, I like you naked better. But I’m not interested in a big standoff either, so…”
A gasp escaped her lips as he stepped forward and leaned down, grabbing her and suddenly tossing her facedown over his shoulder. One arm wrapped around her thighs, the other holding his rifle, he started to walk back toward the cabin with calm measured steps.
Appalled, her bare backside in the air, Laurel squirmed in furious protest, still clutching her precious clothing. “Put me down, damn you.”
He clucked his tongue. “You’re a lady, Miss Daniels. Your mother would faint to hear you talk like that.”
One brawny shoulder was pressed against her diaphragm and made it hard to retort, but she managed to croak, “You lowdown, despicable, highhanded desperado. Put me down right now.”
“Can you be lowdown and highhanded at the same time?” He walked across the small clearing. “Despicable might fit, and I’m not going to argue the desperado label, but you might want to keep that in mind before you keep slinging more names my direction. I can be patient, but I don’t like it.”
“I’m…not…a…sack of flour.”
She couldn’t see it, but she had the feeling he turned his head to look at her exposed bottom. “No, ma’am, you sure are not.”
“You…you…”
“Careful what you decide to come up with. I might just want to live up
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