The Naughty List Bundle - Kylie Adams [112]
“You mean he manipulated events like you’re trying to do with me?”
“Whatever works, Malone.” When she growled, he gave her a small smile. His mother had supposedly been as against involvement as Misty, but she’d gotten turned around by the right man. He liked to think the same could be true of Misty. “I’ll have you know, they’ve been married for some time now. You’d have met them at the wedding except Brett had a few health problems and couldn’t travel, and my mom wouldn’t leave him. He’s okay now, nothing serious, but the doc still wants him to rest and Sawyer seconded that, so they missed the wedding. As soon as they can, though, they’ll come for a visit.”
“She sounds…incredible.”
“She’s as stubborn as a pit bull when you get her nettled, which luckily doesn’t happen often. But for the most part, she’s a woman who likes to laugh and isn’t afraid to show how much she cares. She’s going to love Honey. She’s been waiting for one of us to give her a daughter by marriage. I think she’s hoping for lots of granddaughters, too.” He grinned. “She says I was such a trial, she’s ready for something easier—like girls.”
“I can believe that!”
Morgan leaned forward and caught her hand. “Do you see the point, Malone? You aren’t the first person to make a mistake, but in time, you’ll forget your reservations about men.”
She started to speak, but he cut her off, already knowing what she would say. Her insistence that she wanted nothing to do with men was almost more than he could take. “So what do you say we join the others?”
She closed her eyes and groaned. “I don’t know. The thought of facing your brothers again is enough to make my stomach jumpy.”
Morgan considered that, then shrugged. “So don’t face them. At least, not for long, and not today. Tell me you’ll take the job, then we can go into town and get things set up for you. It’s a good excuse and you can have a few hours to get used to the idea before sitting down with them all at dinner tonight. I can show you around town, and all in all, we can waste most of the day.”
She bit her lip while scrutinizing him. “You don’t have anything else you need to do?”
“Nope. Sunday is my day off. If anything comes up, someone will call, otherwise I’m free.”
She still hesitated. “I don’t know. It seems pretty fishy to me that this job just suddenly came available.”
He still held her hand, and now he smoothed her knuckles with his thumb, marveling at how such a stubborn and defensive woman could feel so soft and delicate. He could just imagine those small hands on his body, and it made him crazy. He cleared his throat. “The job was always there, only I didn’t want to hire anyone for it.”
“Why?”
“Too many women were applying just to get close to me.” She laughed hilariously and he waited, pretending to be affronted. When she finally quieted, he cocked a brow. “It’s true. I’m considered something of a catch, only I’d rather do the catching for myself.”
“That’s right. You said you’re looking for a wife.”
Her bald statement gave him pause. She didn’t seem particularly bothered by the idea. “Not actively,” he muttered, “just giving it some thought.” The idea of a wife wasn’t something he wanted to discuss with Misty, especially since he’d all but forgotten that plan since meeting her. She kept him far too preoccupied for rational contemplation of the future. “And the last thing I need while I’m trying to work is a woman who’s set on seducing me.”
“I suppose if she breathes, you’d consider it a come-on?”
“Ah, you have no faith in me, Malone. I told you, the effect you have is totally unique. Contrary to your dirty little mind, I don’t run around jumping every woman in the area. Hell, I have to live here, and I’m the sheriff—a respected position, you know. I have