Page 11 of The Bastard Heir (The Gilded West #2)

Castillo felt the first stirring of panic and his shoulders tensed.

He’d been too soft with her, letting her think this was her choice instead of his demand.

He kept his voice calm, and didn’t move at all.

He’d played enough poker to know not to show his hand.

“I could play the role of suitor. Would that help?” He had no right offering to associate his name with hers in any way, but he felt compelled to offer some compromise.

It wasn’t right that she wouldn’t be able to continue her education.

Her widened gaze jerked back to his. She was clearly as surprised by the offer as he was.

She began to shake her head, but then stopped and a smile spread across her face.

It nearly stole his breath away. “Yes! Yes, that’s perfect.

I don’t know why I didn’t think of that before. It’s even better than compromise.”

She rose to her feet to pace the length of her room as if she was working out all the details in her head.

She practically glowed with excitement, and Castillo shifted in his chair, uneasy with the direction of her thoughts.

He’d meant to only discourage other suitors with his attention while she was at the wedding.

It had been a paltry compromise, but the only one he could think up.

He was actually worried about what wild scheme she’d come up with.

Finally she turned to face him, her eyes bright with enthusiasm.

“I have the most wonderful idea. This is what we’ll do.

” The smile on her face was so enchanting that he didn’t bother to interrupt her.

“You become my suitor for the week. We’ll convince my father that we’ve fallen madly in love.

He may disapprove at first, because you’re not from Boston, but I know he’ll come around.

Then, after Hunter and Emmy’s wedding, you’ll propose. ”

Castillo shook his head emphatically at that, but she kept on talking.

“I’ll accept and we’ll put on the charade of a gloriously happy couple.

You’ll voice your support that I be allowed to go to school.

We won’t be able to wed until the autumn in Boston—it’ll take weeks and weeks to plan such an affair.

By that point, my parents will have to let me attend classes or I’ll risk losing my place.

Then, once the semester is under way, we break off the engagement.

We’ll have to come up with a compelling reason for that.

Something that doesn’t reflect too unfavorably on either of us. ”

She adjusted her glasses and resumed her pacing. “I’m sure by that time I can convince them that I must continue my studies. I may have to concede to searching for a suitable husband while I attend, but that’s preferable to not going at all.”

She’d walked all the way to the corner of the room, but she turned then, beaming at him. “Thank you so much for suggesting this, Mr. Jameson. It’s absolutely the perfect solution.”

She looked so hopeful that he hated to disappoint her, but there was no way he was agreeing to this farce. “That is not what I suggested. I’d be willing to agree for the week, up until the wedding, but after that I’m afraid I have to go.”

Depending on the leads Zane found in Helena, Castillo might even need to leave before the wedding to follow up on Derringer’s location.

He’d make sure to be back for the wedding, but the possibility that the man was nearby was something that couldn’t be ignored.

He didn’t have time for what she wanted.

She walked back toward him, her hands steepled under her chin in thought. “That’s the perfect reason to put off the wedding until autumn. You have to leave…business we can say?”

He laughed. Hunting down his grandfather’s killer was a business, of sorts. “Yes, business.”

“There. So you see. It’s all coming together.”

He rose to his feet and noted that her eyes widened a bit.

She took a step back. At least she didn’t trust him completely.

“Except it’s not. I’m willing to bet Derringer’s put in a lot of time, effort and money into making sure I don’t find him.

If your name is connected to mine—and it will be if an engagement is announced—then I can’t be certain he won’t come after you.

He doesn’t want to be found, and I don’t think he’d hesitate to use you in some way.

” Just a few short weeks ago Hunter had almost lost Emmy to a shootout in the barn outside with a band of outlaws.

Castillo wouldn’t be responsible for something similar happening to Caroline, especially not over a sham of an engagement.

“That seems a bit dramatic,” Caroline said, crossing her arms. “I’ve seen the men outside, riding in the distance. They’re all armed. They’re sentries, aren’t they? They’re keeping an eye out and making sure we’re safe?”

He inclined his head in acknowledgement. “You’re observant, Miss Hartford. I’ll give you that.”

“Then I’ll be safe here on Jameson Ranch. After the wedding, you’ll go off on your search, and I’ll return home to Boston. I don’t think what I’m asking is all that risky. Besides, it’s a small risk I’m willing to take.”

Castillo sighed and raked his hands through his hair.

If she only knew the real risk. If she knew about all the things he’d done on his search for Derringer and the fact that Reyes was a wanted man, she wouldn’t be so cavalier.

It wasn’t information he could share, however, so he just stared her down.

“The answer is still no. I’m sorry. But you’ll still have to keep my secret.

I’ve never threatened a woman—” He paused, because that wasn’t precisely true.

“I’ll remove you as a threat if it comes to it, Miss Hartford.

You don’t know me or what I’m capable of. ”

Her eyes widened, but she looked more angry than afraid.

He’d half expected her to go pale or tremble, like the men on whom he’d used that tone.

But not her. He wasn’t certain if it was because she didn’t believe him or because she was too angry to care.

Her eyes blazed and an ember of attraction flickered through him.

She was magnificent when she said, “Then I’ll scream now.

” And she opened her mouth to do just that.

Castillo lunged at her and covered her mouth, jerking her against him to keep her from struggling.

“Fine, damn you, but we’ll keep it quiet.

Nothing will be published in the paper. This is strictly between us and your parents.

” But that wouldn’t stop people from talking and word getting out to Derringer. This could be a mess.

She stilled against him, and he cautiously removed his hand from her mouth, doing his best to ignore how soft and warm she felt in his arms and how her lavender scent enveloped him like an embrace.

When she turned to face him, she smiled and he had the sinking feeling that she’d manipulated him into accepting her plan.

He felt compelled to offer one last argument. “Has it occurred to you that your parents may not be happy with your choice?”

Her expression blanked and he realized that not only had that not occurred to her, but that she had no idea what he was talking about. “I’m not from Boston Society,” he explained with a wry grin.

She touched his hand, which was resting on her arm, and her gaze did one quick sweep of his face in a way that made him think she liked what she saw. “You’re not flawed from what I can see,” she whispered.