The Outlaw's Angel (Daughters of the Prairie 1)

And she wanted it with an outlaw.

She splashed her face once again, the fire still burning deep within her.

“Angel?” Bobby’s voice had deepened.

Tingles raced across the back of Naomi’s neck. Slick perspiration beaded on her forehead despite the coolness of the water. Her pulse raced.

“Angel,” he said again, “are you all right?”

All right? She choked back a laugh that had seemingly come from nowhere. She doubted she’d ever be all right again. Heat scalded her face, and she couldn’t turn to look at him. She was afraid of what she’d see in his eyes.

Of what he’d see in hers.

Within a few seconds he was next to her, his canvas-clad knees indenting the soft mud. He reached tentatively toward her and stroked her cheek. Such a tiny touch, barely palpable, yet it scorched a path of fire in its wake. What was wrong with her?

She brushed his hand away and reached for more water.

“It won’t help,” he said.

“Wh-What?”

“Trying to cool off.” He chuckled and reached toward her again. She backed away.

“I know how you’re feelin’, darlin’. I’m feelin’ the same. And I can guarantee you an ice bath wouldn’t help me right now.”

Naomi shivered at the thought of an ice bath, but then heated again as she gazed into his darkened amber eyes. She had to say something. But what? She’d never felt anything like this.

“I...”

“Don’t worry, angel. I understand.” He cupped his hands and took a long slow drink from the creek. Then he took her arm and helped her up. “We’ve made a mess of ourselves.”

Naomi glanced at the muddy knees of his duckins and looked down at her brown work dress streaked with the same wet clay. Now what? They had nothing else to wear.

“Mr. Morgan—”

“Back to Mr. Morgan now, are we?”

“Well, I...I think it’s only appropriate.”

“Angel, my tongue was just in your mouth. I think we know each other well enough to be on a first name basis.”

His bold words, though highly personal and improper, flashed across her hot body and landed between her legs. He caught her before she could drop down to the water again.

“We need to sleep now, darlin’. I want to get an early start tomorrow. By noon we’ll hit the railroad camp, and you can be on your way home.”

Home. Thank goodness. Home was where she could get back to her life. Back to life before Bobby Morgan. Had it only been a few hours ago? It seemed she’d spent a lifetime with this man. Wanted to spend another.

“I...Mr. Morgan, I’m so very sorry for...” For what? For letting him kiss her? The good Lord knew that was a lie. That kiss had been the most powerful experience of her life.

He smiled, and that adorable dimple twinkled at her. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I promised I wouldn’t harm you, and I’ll keep that promise. I’ve learned how to control my actions. Trust in that, if nothing else.”

Harm her? Is that what he thought he’d done? Her mouth dropped open but she shut it quickly. He was thinking about what came next between a man and a woman. After a kiss. Her married friends had told her how difficult, even painful, it could be for a man to stop. Had she caused him pain? The thought saddened her. She shouldn’t have let the kiss happen. It definitely couldn’t happen again.

“I don’t think we need to find the cavern,” he said. “It’s a beautiful night. We can sleep under the stars. The ground’s pretty flat over by those boulders.” He pointed. “God knows I’ve slep

t on a lot worse, though I reckon this’ll be pretty uncomfortable for a lady like you.”

“I’m certain I’ll be fine.” Naomi stalked past him to the area he’d gestured to and lay down in her soiled dress.