Wilder Than the Rest: MacLarens of Fire Mountain by Shirleen Davies Page A

the glass of sherry between her palms, remembering the last time the two of them had worked together. She’d been married to Lee and incredibly in love. Owen had been the one to introduce them. Lee, a wealthy and very eligible bachelor, had proposed within weeks. They’d married and Eva had thought they were happy. The truth had been devastating, but at least they’d divorced sooner rather than later.
    “What should we expect?” Pierce had watched the expression on Eva’s face change from wistful to emotionless within the span of a few seconds. He wondered what she was thinking.
    “Owen is a professional, from a well-established family in Boston and is associated with some of the biggest names in East Coast society. He can be somewhat hot headed, but then all of us can be at times. He’ll do a good job.” At least, that’s what Eva hoped. She’d heard he’d changed over the last few years, growing more and more distant from the other agents and taking jobs where he was the only person involved. She hoped she’d made the right decision in requesting an additional agent.
    She set down her empty glass and stood. “I’ll be in touch.”
     

Chapter Six
    “Mollie? Are you ready?” Pierce stood outside her bedroom door, already dressed and waiting to leave for their supper engagement with the Bensteads. He wore a long tailcoat with a white shirt and white tie. He thought he looked good, if somewhat uncomfortable. Then Mollie pulled her door open and smiled, the first genuine smile she’d given him in weeks.
    Pierce’s eyes widened and he sucked in a slow breath at the sight of her. He knew she was a pretty woman—her beauty had been all too apparent the first day he’d met her months ago. She’d been working as a barmaid at the Desert Dove, a saloon in Fire Mountain owned by his cousin, Niall MacLaren. At the time, Pierce hadn’t known she was undercover, trying to find the source of counterfeit bills being circulated in the territorial capital and taking orders from Noah.
    He ignored the blood thrumming through his temples and the tightening of his body. Pierce couldn’t allow himself to think of her as anything other than a colleague, even though it took all of his self-control to stop from reaching for her and drawing her to him.
    “We should be leaving. Are you ready?” His words were clipped, hard. He could see her face fall, her smile vanish, and wished he could pull the words back.
    She didn’t say a word, simply grabbed her wrap and walked into the hall, passing him on her way to the stairs.
    The ride to the Benstead’s was short, taking them to a large home a few blocks away. Both were silent, already knowing what needed to be accomplished and how they’d approach the guests.
    “Ah, Mr. and Mrs. MacLaren,” Carlton Benstead greeted as his butler escorted them into the moderate-sized parlor. Three other couples were already present. Mollie recognized Mrs. Benstead, who sat alone on a small settee.
    “Mrs. MacLaren, I believe you’ve already met my wife, Henrietta.” At Mollie’s nod, he went on to introduce them to Thomas and Virginia Traxton, and Gerald and Viola Black, both prominent couples. A third couple, Harold and Lottie Goss, had been added to the guest list. Pierce had met Harold Goss when he’d had lunch with Carlton a few days before.
    Supper was served in a well-appointed dining room. Rather than sitting side-by-side, Henrietta Benstead distanced each couple, placing Mollie between Thomas Traxton and Carlton, who sat at one end of the table. Pierce was on the opposite side, between Virginia Traxton and Henrietta, who sat at the other end.
    “Pierce, tell us of your experience working with Louis Dunnigan. Have you known the man long?” Harold Goss asked while enjoying both the food and wine offered by the Bensteads. He was a large man, both in height and girth, and offered an easy smile. Pierce came to learn he also possessed a quick mind.
    “I’ve worked for Dunnigan long