Devlin didn't misunderstand her insinuation. "Meaning that gambling isn't?"
"Well . . . I . . ."
Her stammer and the delicate flush on her face told him clearly that she wanted to be tactful, but that she included him in her low opinion of gamblers. Absurdly, her characterization of him stung his pride. Yet he didn't press the issue when she hurriedly returned to the subject of his possible employment.
"You would only have to work at night—stay up at the mine and make sure no one came around. You could still do . . . whatever it is you do during the day. And it wouldn't be for long. Only till my father gets back on his feet. You weren't planning on leaving town just yet, were you?"
"Not just yet. no."
She hesitated, looking up at him with pleading amber eyes. "I could maybe go up to two-fifty a month. I'm afraid that's all I can afford."
Ah, darlin', don't look at me that way, unless you want to get more than you're bargaining for. "The salary isn't what concerns me," Devlin said.
"Well, if it's Burke you're worried about, working for me won't make a difference to him. There'll be hard feelings in any case, if you mean to stay in town. Burke won't forgive you for what you did tonight, and there's no telling what he might do in retaliation for your defying him. And Hank Purcell will no doubt try to cause trouble for you. But you're good enough with a gun to make him think twice about— You are good with a gun, aren't you?"
The anxious note in her voice almost made him smile. "Good enough for what you want.
"
"I thought so. Nobody would draw on a man the way you did unless he knew what he was doing. So you see, there's really no reason not to accept the job. That is . . . unless, like the marshal, you're afraid to stand up to Burke."
Jess knew right then that she had pushed Mr. Devlin too far. Something bright and alive flashed in his eyes, something very much like anger, although when he spoke it was with hard-edged amusement. "Don't try to manipulate me, Miss Sommers. Better schemers than you have tried and failed."
She flushed again, dropping her gaze. "I'm sorry. There was no call for me to say that. Whatever you are, you aren't a coward."
Whatever I am? You really know how to stroke a man's ego, don't you, love?
When he remained silent, she sighed. "Maybe it wasn't such a good idea after all. I'll find someone else, if I try hard enough. Thank you again for helping me in there, Mr. Devlin. Good night."
She started to turn away, but his hand on her arm forestalled her. "All right, Miss Sommers, I can spare a couple of weeks. I accept your offer. You've got yourself an armed guard."
Apparently not believing his answer, she stared up at him.
You don't trust me, do you, angel? That's good. I'm a dangerous man for an innocent like you. For your sake, keep away from me.
But Devlin didn't voice the thought aloud. Instead, he smiled. "Come on, Miss Sommers." He took hold of her elbow, turning her toward his hotel. "Let's go get my gear."
Chapter 3
"Wait a minute!" Jessica came to an abrupt halt and eyed him warily. "Just where are we going?"
With a casual pressure of his fingers on her elbow, Devlin urged her forward again, directing her along the wooden boardwalk. "Next door, to my hotel room."
"You're taking me to your hotel room?" The memory of seeing this man standing bare-chested at the window of his room only that morning assaulted Jess with disturbing force—and it wasn't helped by the masculine scent of sandlewood soap that emanated from Devlin. Both did strange things to her insides. In fact, she felt unnerved with him this close. "I'm afraid that wouldn't be at all proper," Jess said weakly, only to hear him give a quiet chuckle.
"No, I expect not, but it wouldn't be gentlemanly to leave you out here alone on the street at night, either."
"No one in this town would accost a lady. Mr. Devlin. And I am a lady, I assure you."
"I never doubted it, Miss Sommers." The grin he flashed her was sensual and mischievous and had all the power of a lightning bolt. Jess swallowed hard, scarcely hearing when he went on. "You'll be perfectly safe, I swear it. Especially armed the way you are."
When her expression remained uncertain, Devlin raised a black eyebrow. "You're not afraid of me, are you?"
She was a little, at that. But she was more afraid that if she let him out of her sight he might change his mind about coming to work for her. And she had her shotgun, after all. "Very well, Mr. Devlin. I'll go with you."
"Call me Devlin. Or Garrett. 'Mister' is too formal if we're to have a relationship."
His choice of words didn't particularly reassure her, but it would be silly to argue with him over such a point. There was no harm in reminding him just what that relationship would entail, though. "All right . . . Devlin. And most of the men who work for me call me Miss Jess." She saw him raise one eyebrow, but he didn't reply.