Wildstar

"Mind if I smoke?"

"No, go ahead."

He fished in his saddlebag for papers and tobacco, then rolled a cigarette. When he flicked a match on his boot heel, the golden flame lit up his handsome face for a mo­ment. No. she wasn't immune to him, Jess thought with consternation. Nor was she unaware of the danger of spending the night alone with him, even if it was on the trail, out in the open.

The night closed in around them, bringing with it a soft breeze redolent with the sharp scents of wood smoke and wildflowers and pine. A full moon hung over the shoulder of a majestic peak in a radiant sphere, while overhead stars blazed in a cool, deep sky. Jess was trying to discipline her thoughts when Devlin quietly spoke.

"Why is Burke so determined to destroy your mining operation?"

"He wants to ruin my father," Jess said simply. "He's always hated Riley, ever since my mother . . ." She hesi­tated, embarrassed to be dredging up the vicious stories about something that had happened before she was born.

"Since your mother married another man," Devlin fin­ished for her. At her discomfited look, he explained. "I've heard the rumors. I also heard that Burke named the Lady J mine after your mother."

Jess nodded. "I expect it's true. He never forgave her for choosing Riley over him."

"She wasn't interested in Burke?"

"No. Oh, maybe he turned her head for a little while. She was flattered that a man of Burke's consequence paid her attention. But he wasn't willing to marry her. Besides, my father is ten times the man Ashton Burke is."

"She could have pursued a relationship with Burke af­terward. Marriage isn't synonymous with fidelity."

Jess flashed Devlin a startled look. "That's a disgusting thing to say! My mother would never have even thought of betraying my father that way."

Devlin tossed the stub of his cigarette into the fire. Few women in his experience would have been concerned over betraying their husbands if it meant getting something they wanted. "Not even for all Burke's wealth?" he said skep­tically, not bothering to keep the sardonic edge from his tone.

Jess's amber eyes narrowed. "Especially not for that. She never put much store in wealth."

"She sounds like a paragon."

"She was!" Jess shot back, not liking his tone.

"Climb down, hellcat. I didn't mean to ruffle your fur."

When Devlin held her gaze levelly, Jess forced herself to relax, realizing she'd sounded a bit too defensive.

"What happened to her?"

"She died of pneumonia five years ago."

"And you still miss her

," Devlin said softly, hearing the pain in Jess's voice.

"Very much. And I'm not the only one. All the miners around here just about worshiped the ground she walked on. Riley, especially. He took it awfully hard when she died." Jess sighed heavily. "I could never fill her shoes."

"I don't know about that. I think you do a pretty good job of it."

"That's because you didn't know her."

Restlessly Jess sat up and wrapped her arms around her knees, looking out at the distant peak.

"Why do you call your father 'Riley'?" Devlin asked fi­nally.

The question surprised her. "I don't know, I just always have. What do you call your father?"

"I guess if I call him anything, I use his initials like ev­eryone else does. But then he and I never have been close, not the way you are with Riley." He paused. "It must be satisfying, having such a special relationship with a par­ent."

Wondering if she'd actually heard a hint of wistfulness in Devlin's tone, Jess smiled softly. "It is."