'Let's not talk. I thought you wanted to dance.'
His voice was warm, persuasive. A little too persuasive for Perrie's taste. 'Did you and Milt meet up here or did you know each other back in Seattle?'
'Were you born a reporter, Kincaid?'
'Actually, I was. From the time I was a little kid, I wanted my own newspaper. In fact, I used to publish a little neighborhood journal called the
'You are quite a woman, Kincaid.' He chuckled, then pulled her closer. At first, the feel of his long, lean body pressed against hers was too much to take. Her pulse quickened and her mind whirled. But then, as they danced, she realized that she enjoyed the crazy sensations racing through her body.
'I'm not going to answer your questions. If you want to write yourself a story, why don't you write the one Milt gave you? About the brides.'
She rolled her eyes. 'The brides are easy. I need a challenge and I think I've found one. You're going to be sorry you didn't fly me back to Seattle, Brennan, especially if you're keeping any secrets.'
He yanked her closer, his arm tightening around her waist until she could do nothing but allow her body to mold itself against his. Every thought in her head took flight again as her hips rubbed against his, as her hand skimmed along his muscular arm and her fingers folded against his palm. A flood of warmth seeped into her cheeks as her mind wandered to other aspects of Joe Brennan's anatomy.
But her speculation was cut short when Paddy Doyle appeared beside them. 'Sorry to interrupt,' he said, wiping his hands on his apron, 'but Louise Weller just called here looking for you, Joe. She says little Wally was shoveling snow off the roof and he fell. She thinks he may have broken his leg.'
Joe loosened his grip and she took the opportunity to step back a bit. As she did, his hands slipped from her body and a sliver of regret shot through her. She fought the temptation to step closer again, to place his hands where they'd once been. Instead, she risked a glance up at Joe, but he seemed unaffected by the break in their physical contact.
His jaw tightened, then he ran his fingers through his hair. 'I swear, that boy has broken more bones than he's got in his body. His dad's insurance company's damn near paid for my plane.'
Paddy nodded. 'She's put a splint on it and said she'll meet you out at the airstrip.'
'We've got weather and it's getting dark. I don't know if I'm going to be able to get him out.' He turned and walked off the dance floor, his thoughts now occupied with more important matters.
Perrie followed after him, stumbling in the oversize boots. She snatched up her jacket from the chair across from Burdy, then grabbed the cold cheeseburger. 'I'm going with you, Brennan.'
He spun around, almost as if he'd forgotten she was there. He sighed and shook his head. 'Give it up, Kincaid. You're staying right here. You're safe and I intend to keep you that way.' He looked at Burdy. 'Keep an eye on her, will you?'
Burdy nodded. With that, Joe grabbed his jacket and his cap and stalked out the door. Perrie watched him leave, his words echoing in her head. Her heart skipped and a smile twitched at her lips. It was kind of nice having someone care about her safety, especially a man as sexy and compelling as Joe Brennan. The notion made her feel all warm and gooey inside.
Perrie blinked, her silly fantasies grinding to a halt. Scowling, she shoved her hands into her jean pockets then turned back to the table where Burdy and her dinner waited.
'Get a grip, Kincaid,' she muttered to herself. 'Going soft in the head for Joe Brennan is not going to get you out of Muleshoe and back to Seattle.' She pulled out her chair and sat down, tossing her jacket on the floor.
As she silently munched on the cold cheeseburger, she let her mind wander back to Joe Brennan. An idea slowly formed in her mind, and as it crystalized, a laugh bubbled out of her throat. Why hadn't she thought of it before? It was all so simple.
She knew exactly how to get back to civilization! And as soon as Joe Brennan returned from Fairbanks, she'd put her new plan into action.
'I'm pretty sure it's broke,' Burdy said, scampering ahead of Joe on the snow-packed path to Perrie's cabin, his movements quick and nervous.
'What the hell happened? She was fine when I left last night.'
'She says she slipped on a patch of ice and fell walkin' to the outhouse in the dark. I shoulda been there. A lady like Miz Kincaid ain't used to the weather here. They don't have ice in Seattle. And them boots I gave her are a couple sizes too big.'
Joe frowned, a slow suspicion growing in his mind. 'You weren't there when she fell?'
Burdy shook his head. 'I'm sorry, Joe. I know you tol' me to watch her, but a man cain't stay with a gal like that twenty-four hours. It wouldn't be seemly.' The old man gave Joe a solemn look. 'People might talk.'
A smile quirked Joe's lips as an image of Burdy and Perrie, caught in a romantic tryst, flashed in his mind. 'I'm not blaming you, Burdy. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that Perrie Kincaid is up to something. She'd do just about anything to get out of Muleshoe.'
'You mean to say that little gal broke her wrist on purpose?'
Joe took the front steps of Perrie's cabin two at a time. 'No, I don't think her wrist is broken at all. I think she's faking, Burdy, and I'm about to prove it.'
Gathering his resolve, he knocked at the front door, then pushed it open. He caught a brief glimpse of Perrie before she scrambled back into bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. Burdy waited on the porch, carrying on a low dialogue with Strike. By the time Joe closed the door behind him, she was beneath the quilts, her right arm clutched to her chest.
She looked so small and frail, tucked into the huge iron bed. Her auburn hair was mussed, falling in disarray around her face. For an instant, he felt a small measure of delight in seeing her again. But then he quickly smothered the feeling as he realized that it would have meant he had actually missed her. Hell, he barely knew her.
He crossed the room in three long strides, composing an expression of deep concern on his face. When Joe reached the bed, he slowly sat down on the edge. Her wince at the movement told him that either Perrie really had hurt herself-or she was a consummate actress. He was willing to wager on the latter.
Reaching out, he gently brushed her hair from her forehead, ignoring the flood of heat that seeped into his fingertips and set his nerves on fire. 'What happened?' he asked, his voice soft with feigned worry. 'Burdy says you hurt your wrist.'
'I-I think it's just sprained. Nothing to worry about. It-it'll be fine in a few days.'
Joe hid a smile. So she was trying to turn the tables on him. 'But it could be broken.' He reached out and took her forearm in his hands. Her wrist was limp and he wove his fingers through hers to test the joint. His mind instantly focused on her hand, so smooth and soft in his. A lady's hand. Long, delicate fingers that might drive him mad with-Joe cleared his throat and blinked hard.
'Do you really think it could be broken?' Her words were soft and breathy and he glanced up to meet her wide green eyes.
The intensity of her gaze rocked him, yet he couldn't draw his eyes from hers. 'I'm not sure,' he said, leaning closer. 'What do you think?'
He could feel her breath soft on his face, quick and shallow, as if his nearness made her uneasy. 'It really does hurt,' she offered. She added another wince for good measure.
Joe let his gaze drift down to her mouth. Suddenly all thought of catching her in her lie slipped from his mind. He found himself transfixed by her lips and he leaned forward and brushed his mouth against hers.
A tiny moan escaped her and he deepened his kiss, savoring the taste of her. He'd thought a lot about kissing her in the hours since he'd left Muleshoe, many more times than he'd care to admit. But he'd never imagined it would be as good as it was.
Perrie Kincaid knew just how to kiss a man, how to tease and tantalize with barely an effort. Her mouth moved
