Page 36

D elvin awoke to the sound of birdsong and bright sunlight shining in his face. It took all of two minutes to realize he wasn’t in his own bed and to remember why.

He’d made love to Tresia Morgan.

Not once or twice, but three times.

Tresia was a wonderful, loving, generous woman. And more.

He smiled as he stretched out his hand, fully expecting her to still be there. He touched an empty pillow. He opened his eyes as he turned his head and stared at the place she should have been. He ran his hand over the empty space. Still warm. She hadn’t been gone long.

He rose and dressed quickly, picking up his clothes from the floor where he’d dropped them. Barefoot, he wandered to the kitchen then stopped in the doorway and leaned against the door jamb just to watch her, the smell of freshly brewed coffee drifting to his nose.

She’d twisted her long auburn hair into a tight bun at the back of her head again.

He’d rather see it as he did last night, the silky tresses flowing over her shoulders, covering her breasts, the sweet fragrance of honeysuckle subtle yet still staying with him.

His gaze shifted from her hair to the white blouse she wore, which was slightly wrinkled, probably from lying crumpled on the floor.

His focus lowered to her backside and hips, which swayed as she bustled about, preparing breakfast. His smile widened.

Her hips may be swaying gently now, but last night, they’d been bucking to meet him stroke for stroke. “Good morning.”

She jumped, startled, the egg in her hand dropping to the floor, then she turned around quickly to face him. Spots of color adorned her cheeks, but her eyes sparkled, the violet color deeper, richer, more vibrant. “Oh, Devlin!” And quickly on the heels of that, she apologized. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?” He gestured to the shattered egg on the floor. “Breaking an egg?”

“No, for…for last night.” Her voice was much more strained than usual, as if she fought tears, though why she should, he couldn’t begin to fathom.

“Why? Because you offered me comfort? Because I took what you offered?”

She nodded, those eyes of hers growing darker still.

“I’m not sorry, Tresia. You knew what I needed. What we both needed. What I think we both wanted.” His voice softened as he approached her, then caressed her cheek with his thumb. “Are you really sorry?”

She leaned into his caress and let out a sigh. “No. I just—” Her mouth opened and closed several times before she inhaled deeply. “I don’t normally…there hasn’t been anyone since Brett.”

“I didn’t think there had been.” He didn’t say that there had been no one since Hannah.

Surely, she must know that. He wasn’t a man given to visiting bawdy houses unless it was for official purposes.

The act of making love was to be revered and shared with someone special.

Like she was. He tilted his head to the side. “Are you embarrassed by what we did?”

“A little.” The pink glow on her face deepened, and she hesitated before she spoke. “More so by what I did. I’m not a wanton woman, Devlin. I’m afraid my behavior was not appropriate.”

He laughed. Actually couldn’t help himself, before he cradled her face in both his hands and lowered his head to brush his lips against hers.

“Appropriate or not, I don’t think you’re wanton, Tresia.

I think you’re passionate and giving and much too generous.

” And to prove his words, he settled his mouth on hers again, kissing her deeply this time.

She didn’t resist at all. Indeed, her hands came up to rest against his chest as she leaned into him, the egg on the floor forgotten for the moment.

“Oooh! You’re kissing again!” A small voice, one filled with unbridled happiness and just a touch of wonder, interrupted the kiss.

Devlin released her immediately and backed up a step or two, his face now warm.

He turned quickly to cover his embarrassment that he’d been caught, once again, kissing Tresia and eyed his daughter standing in the doorway.

She looked adorable in her frilly cotton nightgown, her curls twisted up in rags, Cecily in her arms with rags in her hair, too, before he took a few steps in her direction.

She didn’t seem upset in the least that he had been kissing Tresia. In fact, she was grinning.

“I’m gonna kiss you, too!” He laughed, and lifted Avery up high, smothering her face with little kisses, making her giggle.

“Stop it, Daddy!” she squealed.

“Are you sure?”

She giggled a little more and presented her face to him, upon which he promptly blew raspberries against her chubby cheek then eased her down to the chair. “I think we’re having flapjacks this morning.” He poured milk into her glass, then grabbed the syrup from the pantry.

Avery’s eyes lit up. “I love flapjacks!”

“They’ll be ready in a few minutes.” Tresia hummed as she worked, happy it seemed. She flipped the flapjacks like an expert after a few moments then placed two on a plate for Avery, four for him, and brought them to the table.

“Thank you.” He accepted both plates.

She smiled at him then went back to the stove and spooned more batter into the skillet.

When she finally took her seat, two flapjacks on her plate, he looked across the table at her.

There was still a telltale blush on her cheeks, but she seemed to have gotten over her earlier embarrassment.

There was nothing wrong with what she had given him when he needed it most and maybe she was beginning to realize that.

She caught him looking at her and smiled and a realization dawned. This is what he wanted to see, every day, for the rest of his life. It seeped into his head, not with a jolt but with a gentle, peaceful flow that filled his heart.

He should ask her to marry him.

The thought didn’t startle him despite the fact he’d never thought to marry again.

Instead, it made his heart beat a little harder in his chest and happiness, that elusive emotion he never thought he’d experience again, rippled through him.

Yes, he would ask her to marry him. He only hoped she would say yes.

He finished his flapjacks, swallowed the last of his coffee, and placed his napkin on the table then hesitated. Duty called though he’d much rather spend the day here with Avery…and his future wife, if she’d have him.

“As much as I don’t want to, I have to go to work,” he announced as he pushed his plate away and rose from his seat then strolled out of the kitchen.

He returned shortly, buckling his gun belt low around his hips. “What are your plans for today?”

Tresia stopped with her coffee cup halfway to her mouth.

“I thought Avery and I would go over to the town hall and look at the rooms Mayor Tisdale said we could have for the lending library, then stop at Goldwater’s for some fresh vegetables, and Mr. Crandall’s to get a roast for dinner.

Maybe we’ll pick up some apple tarts from Sweet Somethings.

” She lowered her voice even as she lowered her coffee cup.

“If you think it’s all right, I’d like to see Alfonso and Damita at Doctor Ben’s. ”

“That would be very nice. I’m sure they would appreciate seeing you.

” He shifted his weight from one leg to the other then broached a subject he’d been hesitant about.

“People will have a lot of questions for you today, Tresia. They’ll assume—” He didn’t finish his sentence, seeing the color on her cheeks spread to encompass her entire face.

Even the tips of her ears turned red and he assumed she thought he was referring to them sharing a bed.

He quickly eased her mind. “No, Tresia. I’m not talking about that.

” He smiled, hoping to ease her anxiety though his worries were just beginning.

“I’m quite certain word of Ned Delany’s death has already spread.

People, those you know well and those you don’t, including the publisher of the Serenity Times, will assume you know the details of what happened yesterday.

” His words drifted off, remembering that Avery was still at the table, though she seemed more interested in pretending to feed her doll than what the adults were talking about.

Tresia nodded, though her face remained red. “Yes, of course. I understand.”

“I would prefer it if you didn’t talk to anyone, especially Mr. Wagner, or any other reporter who comes here, and they will come.

Maybe not today or tomorrow, but eventually, they will.

Don’t speak to them at all if you can help it.

They’ll try everything to get you to say something you don’t want to.

” He paused, his gaze roaming over her face.

He wanted to protect her from invasive questions.

She’d never had to deal with that before, but he had.

“I hadn’t planned to. I would never betray a confidence, Devlin.”

“I know you wouldn’t, but some people won’t take no for an answer. They’ll be persistent.”

She stiffened as her gaze rose to his. “You’re frightening me, Devlin.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to.” He paused again, and his voice gentled. “Just be careful.”

“I will.”

He nodded in her direction then held his arms wide toward Avery. “Come give Daddy a kiss.”

Avery climbed up on the chair then jumped into his open arms.

“You be a good girl for Miss Tresia.”

“Okay, Daddy.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Be safe.”

“Always am.” He gave her another kiss, this time on her forehead, then lowered her back to her chair. He turned toward Tresia still at the kitchen table, then strolled in her direction, a swagger in his step. “I’ll see you tonight,” he said, then dropped a quick kiss on her utterly kissable mouth.