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

Naomi choked back a sob. “You left without saying goodbye.”

“I’m sorry for that. I was weak. I thought if I saw you I wouldn’t be able to leave you. Turns out it didn’t matter. I had to come back.”

Naomi warmed, slightly, as she nestled back into his rock-hard chest. “I’m glad you came back. If you hadn’t...”

“But I did. And in time, though I wish I’d been soon enough to stop him from tryin’...” He brushed his lips against her neck. “I won’t leave you again. I promise. I’ll personally take you home.”

She shivered. “But what about you? They’ll arrest you.”

“I’ll make them understand.”

Battered and fatigued, she let herself believe the soothing words from this outlaw who’d kidnapped her. He’d come back for her. In this moment, that’s all that mattered. She leaned back and closed her eyes as he nudged the horse into a gallop.

Chapter Seven

“I need two rooms, please,” Bobby said to the clerk at the hotel in a small town Naomi had never heard of. Bobby laid some bills on the counter and took the two keys. “The lady’ll need a bath sent up,” he said over his shoulder as he led Naomi up the stairs. “And we’ll both need supper.”

“The kitchen’s closed, sir,” the clerk said.

Bobby dug into his pocket, turned, and tossed the clerk some coins. “Wake the cook. I’ll expect a decent meal within the hour.”

At any other time, Naomi would wince at the way Bobby literally threw money around. But right now her bones ached, and all she wanted was to erase the afternoon’s events. Since that was impossible, she’d settle for a warm bed.

Bobby led her to her room and unlocked the door. “I’ll be right down the hall if you need me,” he said. “Your bath’ll be up soon. I want you to relax.”

Icy fingers of fear slithered across her skin. “Don’t leave me alone. Please.”

“Angel, I’ll be right down the hall. I’ll come eat supper with you if you like, but a hot bath is what you need right now.”

Naomi launched herself into his arms. “What I need right now is you, Bobby Morgan. I...” She couldn’t explain the fear she was feeling. She was safe. Safe behind a locked door with Bobby only a few feet down the hall. Why was she shivering at the thought of being left alone?

“You don’t want me here while you bathe,” he said.

“I don’t need a bath. I don’t need food. I need to be with you. I...I’m scared.”

“Darlin’, I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise. Trust me.”

“But you left me.”

“I won’t make that mistake again.” He disengaged himself from her embrace and paced into the room, raking his fingers through his chestnut locks. He turned, and Naomi sighed at the sight of him. He was truly beautiful.

And troubled. The thin lines on his forehead gave him away.

“I’ll never forgive myself for leaving you there. I wish I could change the last few days for you, angel.”

“But then we wouldn’t have met.”

“That would have been better for you.”

“No.” Despite what had happened, the thought of being without Bobby felt all wrong, like a part of her would be missing. Naomi ran to his arms again, thunking her head into his chest so hard he let out an “oof.”

“You promised you’d take care of me.”

“All right.” He sighed. “I won’t leave you. But there’s only one bed in here, darlin’. I guess I’ll sleep on the floor.”

“You don’t have to. I trust you. We slept close last night, and you were a perfect gentleman.”

“You have no idea how hard that was for me.”