limp back to where he’d left Kelly. “An that’s just what yer gonna git. Then I may just turn ya over to the law.”
Behind him, Micah could hear laughter from the taverns, but no one pursued him and his prisoners. Around the last corner, he found Kelly holding the door to the carriage open. Micah heaved up the first bundle, then the second. Two loud humphs escaped as they landed on top of each other.
“Get us out of here, Kelly,” Micah instructed his man as he jumped in and closed the door. He settled in his seat, waiting for the forms across from him to untangle themselves and sit in the opposite seat.
“Hello, Claudia.”
“Hello, Micah.” She pulled the black hat off of her head, shaking out the thick waves of her dark-red hair. Then she turned a grinning face to her partner. “Well done, Adam.”
Lamplight flashed through the cab’s interior as they raced through the city streets. Micah never took his gaze off the creature in front of him. The pleasure of her adventure was written all over her face, which was smudged with dirt. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and her hair framed her face for the first time. Now he knew the woman before him. This woman touched him to the core.
She was the woman in his dreams.
“What the hell were you doing in that warehouse?” he nearly growled at her.
Claudia took out her handkerchief and began wiping the dirt off of her face. “If you really must know, we were following up on a clue, sir. Weren’t we, Adam?” She grinned at her accomplice.
“How could you take this boy into such a dangerous situation?”
She had the audacity to give him a disdainful look. “We were very careful, there is no need to make more out of it than necessary.”
Micah sat back, fighting the anger that surged through him. “I have been considering this situation from your point of view, madam. You obviously don’t want to give up your participation in this investigation. I thought to humor you.” He nailed her to the carriage with his gaze. “But after your escapade tonight, I don’t see how I can allow you to take such chances.”
“Allow me? Humor me?” Claudia’s sat straighter. “How dare you act as if you have any control over me, Mr. Turner. You are neither my legal guardian, nor a relative to decide for me in what I may or may not be involved. I have been taking care of myself for quite some time, and do not require your assistance in any form.”
“Lady, I don’t believe you know exactly what you’re involved in.” Micah’s voice was deadly cold. “There is more at stake here than your precious independence.”
“I believe I know what is at stake here. Laura is my closest friend. I want to be sure this evil is stopped before it can hurt her anymore.”
The carriage pulled up at the back of her town house. Micah opened the door, jumping down to help his passengers.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Kelly.” He dismissed his driver, then turned to follow Claudia and Adam into the house.
Claudia stood in the doorway, trying to block his admittance. “I thank you for the lift home, but I must insist that you not come in tonight.”
“You and I have a few things to discuss.” Micah grabbed her by the waist, setting her out of his way. He entered the house, only to be soundly attacked by both boys.
“You can’t treat Miss Claudia that way.”
“We don’t let no crums in here.”
He lifted a boy under each arm, trapping their flailing arms with one of his own. He motioned Claudia to follow him, marching past Henderson to the front parlor. He set each boy on the settee.
“You will both sit there quietly while I talk with Claudia and Henderson.” The threatening look he gave the boys brooked no disobedience on their part. Joey and Adam exchanged looks, but clamped their lips together.
Micah sat in the large, wingback chair he’d sat in on the previous night. Regarding the room’s other occupants from under veiled lids, he locked his gaze on each,
Behind him, Micah could hear laughter from the taverns, but no one pursued him and his prisoners. Around the last corner, he found Kelly holding the door to the carriage open. Micah heaved up the first bundle, then the second. Two loud humphs escaped as they landed on top of each other.
“Get us out of here, Kelly,” Micah instructed his man as he jumped in and closed the door. He settled in his seat, waiting for the forms across from him to untangle themselves and sit in the opposite seat.
“Hello, Claudia.”
“Hello, Micah.” She pulled the black hat off of her head, shaking out the thick waves of her dark-red hair. Then she turned a grinning face to her partner. “Well done, Adam.”
Lamplight flashed through the cab’s interior as they raced through the city streets. Micah never took his gaze off the creature in front of him. The pleasure of her adventure was written all over her face, which was smudged with dirt. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and her hair framed her face for the first time. Now he knew the woman before him. This woman touched him to the core.
She was the woman in his dreams.
“What the hell were you doing in that warehouse?” he nearly growled at her.
Claudia took out her handkerchief and began wiping the dirt off of her face. “If you really must know, we were following up on a clue, sir. Weren’t we, Adam?” She grinned at her accomplice.
“How could you take this boy into such a dangerous situation?”
She had the audacity to give him a disdainful look. “We were very careful, there is no need to make more out of it than necessary.”
Micah sat back, fighting the anger that surged through him. “I have been considering this situation from your point of view, madam. You obviously don’t want to give up your participation in this investigation. I thought to humor you.” He nailed her to the carriage with his gaze. “But after your escapade tonight, I don’t see how I can allow you to take such chances.”
“Allow me? Humor me?” Claudia’s sat straighter. “How dare you act as if you have any control over me, Mr. Turner. You are neither my legal guardian, nor a relative to decide for me in what I may or may not be involved. I have been taking care of myself for quite some time, and do not require your assistance in any form.”
“Lady, I don’t believe you know exactly what you’re involved in.” Micah’s voice was deadly cold. “There is more at stake here than your precious independence.”
“I believe I know what is at stake here. Laura is my closest friend. I want to be sure this evil is stopped before it can hurt her anymore.”
The carriage pulled up at the back of her town house. Micah opened the door, jumping down to help his passengers.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Kelly.” He dismissed his driver, then turned to follow Claudia and Adam into the house.
Claudia stood in the doorway, trying to block his admittance. “I thank you for the lift home, but I must insist that you not come in tonight.”
“You and I have a few things to discuss.” Micah grabbed her by the waist, setting her out of his way. He entered the house, only to be soundly attacked by both boys.
“You can’t treat Miss Claudia that way.”
“We don’t let no crums in here.”
He lifted a boy under each arm, trapping their flailing arms with one of his own. He motioned Claudia to follow him, marching past Henderson to the front parlor. He set each boy on the settee.
“You will both sit there quietly while I talk with Claudia and Henderson.” The threatening look he gave the boys brooked no disobedience on their part. Joey and Adam exchanged looks, but clamped their lips together.
Micah sat in the large, wingback chair he’d sat in on the previous night. Regarding the room’s other occupants from under veiled lids, he locked his gaze on each,
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