Chapter 11

Christina frowned at the burnt pile of biscuits before her.

“What the hell happened to those?” Digger asked as the kitchen door swung closed behind him.

She turned to him and shrugged. “I may have been a little distracted and forgot they were in the oven.”

He picked up one blackened roll and turned it in his hands. “A little distracted?”

She snatched it from him and threw it and its brothers in her trash. “It’s not my fault.”

“Let me guess, Mitch?”

Chrissy bit her lip and nodded quickly. “I think I may be losing him, Digger.”

The young man frowned as he leaned his forearms against the small island in the middle of her kitchen. “What do you mean?”

“Well it started last week. He seems … I don’t know … distant.” Christina’s gaze narrowed. “He hasn’t … that is to say, we haven’t … well you know and I thought that was the whole point of being together.”

“Really?” Diego didn’t have to feign surprise, he truly was.

“He flirts with all the women in the bar, but completely ignores me … except when he thinks I’m sleeping, and then he holds me really tightly. There’s nothing between us anymore, Digger. Sometimes I can feel him looking at me, but when I turn around he’s looking somewhere else. I don’t understand it.” She moved to the opposite side of the island and mimicked her cousin’s stance. She didn’t meet his gaze though. tracing shapes on the thick wood instead. “He made such a big deal about spending our mornings together, but he’s gone by the time I wake up.”

“I’m sure there’s a good reason. Have you asked him?”

“I caught him sneaking out this morning. He said he had to go home so his mother wouldn’t get suspicious about where he’s spending his nights.”

“Well there you have it.” Diego was not about to laugh at the fact that Mitch made it seem as if he were still tied to his mother’s apron strings, especially since Digger himself was deathly afraid of his own Mamí.

“I guess.”

Diego tilted her face up. “Chrissy, have you thought about not waiting for him to make the first move? Maybe you should pursue him a little? Give the man a sign that you want him … good lord I can’t believe I just aid that.” He shuddered.

She bit her lip. “Why would I do that?”

“Because you like him?”

“But he doesn’t like me … or he did, but doesn’t anymore.”

“Maybe he’s waiting for you to make a move, to show him you care. You know men are just as insecure as women are.”

“None of the men I know are. And that included Mitch. I just wish I knew what changed. Besides, why should I make any moves, I was the one who initiated our agreement and said that I would be here whenever he wanted me … so I’ll just wait until he wants me again, I guess.”

Diego grimaced. “Forget the deal. You love him, Chrissy, you always have.”

“So?”

“So maybe it’s time you showed him that you love him.”

“For what? There’s no future for us, he wants a good woman, a chaste woman.”

Diego snorted softly. “Seems to me he wants you. Anyone can see that if they looked hard enough.”

Christina thought a moment about that and twisted her lips into a wry smile. “He implied he loved me.”

“He did? When?”

“Just before he became so distant.”

“And what did you say?”

“I didn’t say anything, Digger, I was stunned. He couldn’t have meant it, I mean he said it right after we’d … and …He never actually said the words though.” She groaned and put her head down on the counter.

Diego smiled broadly, this was working perfectly. He wiped the grin from his face before she caught him and put on his most serious expression. “Well then there’s only one thing you can do, Chrissy.”

“What’s that?” She asked. the question muffled through the table.

He lifted her face. “You have to pursue him a bit. Anything worth having is definitely worth fighting for and if he implied that he loved you then isn’t he worth pursuing? Even if it’s just to find out if he really has feelings for you?”

“Claire’s been here almost every night this last week. he hasn’t discouraged her from flirting with him. I think he may want to pursue a relationship with her again.”

Digger couldn’t let her believe that and blurted out the first thing that came to him. “So you flirt with him.”

“I can’t. What if I’m not what he really wants, if I flirted I could ruin his future, people would talk.”

“Or you could play it off as being the sister of his best friend having a little fun with a man who is helping her. Everyone in town thinks you flirt for fun anyway, you do it to every man who is not related to you that walks into the bar, by not flirting with Mitch, you’re drawing attention to yourself.”

Chrissy placed her head in her hand and frowned in thought. “Okay I see what you’re saying.”

“The only people who would know that the teasing has more meaning behind it would be you and Mitch. Try it, what’s the worst that could happen?”

“You could be wrong and I could lose him forever.”

“But I haven’t been so far and you won’t lose him … ever.”

She stood up straight and walked around to Diego’s side. Hugging him tightly she exhaled. “Thanks, Digger. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

He kissed the top of her head and pulled back. “Hey, maybe one day I’ll need your expertise about women.”

She smiled sadly. “I hope not. I want love to come easy to you.”

That evening Mitch watched from a corner table as the woman who’d been haunting his every waking moment wiped down the bar. This past week had been hell, damn Diego and his ideas. Having her so close yet unable to follow his instincts or give in to his body’s needs was pure torture, not to mention the fact that he hated seeing her look so wary whenever they were together. Add this to the fact that James had pulled him aside today and asked him to convince her to go home because of a dream his pregnant wife had, well it just wasn’t a good night.

He watched her work her magic, smiling at the patrons that remained seated and gently reminding them that they had families waiting for them. The band was already gone and these men never realized she was effectively booting them out of the tavern. Her smile was disarming, the twinkle in her eyes charming. Of course the low-cut, tight fitting bodice she always wore didn’t hurt either. most men’s gazes never went past the lace trim that framed her perfect cleavage.

Mitch shifted in his chair and frowned down at the whiskey he gotten into the habit of ordering when the bar was closing, but he never drank it. He needed his wits about him when it came time to bed down and although he could use a nice stiff drink just about now, he wasn’t going to indulge in that particular desire. thanks to Digger’s idea, he couldn’t indulge in any desires.

Chrissy’s soft laughter echoed in the almost empty room and had his head snapping up. Her face was flushed with delight, her smile wide, anyone who looked at her saw a pretty young woman who didn’t seem to have a care in the world … but Mitch knew different. The search for Beaumont had hit a wall. No one knew where the man was and each night he had to tell her that the man who’d attacked her was still out there.

She always put up a brave façade, trying to hide what her true emotions were, but Mitch had seen through her mask to the woman beneath. She couldn’t hide her feelings from him, not anymore. He thought a moment and realized that all he had to do was look closely and he could always see what she was feeling. He’d seen the unshed tears in her eyes as her sister walked down the aisle towards the man she would marry, he’d watched her at the town’s many dances as she tucked herself into the shadows so no one would notice how she’d been ignored by all the boys who had broken her heart at one time or another … there had been many and he could easily kill them all.

“Well it seems like it’s just you and me, Deputy Rios. I guess you can drink that whiskey now so I can wash the glass and we can lock up.”

Mitch’s head snapped up so quickly he felt something in his neck twist. He hadn’t heard her approach. Looking around, he noticed they were indeed alone. Frowning, he turned his attention back to the woman before him. She was wearing a deep burgundy gown that made her skin glow like his mother’s prized porcelain. Her silky black hair was pulled back at the sides, and it swung like a short ebony curtain whenever she moved.

One perfectly arched brow shot up. “Are you all right, Mitch?”

He nodded quickly then shrugged. “Sorry, I was just thinking.”

“Must’ve been some thought. You looked as if you were a thousand miles away.” She gave him a sweet smile and he turned his gaze away.

“Anyone give you trouble before I came in tonight?”

Chrissy sat down but didn’t look at him. She shook her head. “Nope, I really don’t think he’s coming back. I mean you can’t find any trace of him so maybe he’s really gone.”

Mitch saw the shudder she tried to conceal and fisted his hands on the table. It was time to tell her what James had suggested this afternoon. James didn’t hide the fact that he thought they were spending too much time together and that coupled with the dream Mari had sealed his decision to try a different tactic. The other woman had told her husband that she was sure Chrissy would be attacked. It seemed her anxiety had concerned James so much he had no choice but to tell Mitch to convince her to go back to her parents’ house. Now he had to at least try to convince her. “I think you should go home, Christina, just for a little while … until we know for sure that he’s gone.”

“This is my home,” She replied fervently, her angry gaze meeting his. “I won’t have that man scaring me away.”

“That man could have hurt you …” Mitch ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “If I hadn’t come in … If I hadn’t heard you …”

“But you did.” She replied quietly.

He bit back a curse and pushed away from the table, he wanted to hit something … or more likely someone. Now that he wasn’t distracted by thoughts of them together, Mitch’s attention was drawn to the man who’d attacked her and the night that it happened. Every time he thought back to the moment he’d come in and seen Luc Beaumont groping her, he became livid. Mitch could still hear her cries, the way she’d begged for Luc to stop. He knew that even now, weeks later, she couldn’t turn out the lights in her bedroom. He’d seen lamplight as he walked the streets, doing his rounds. He didn’t have to confront her about it he knew that she was now afraid of the dark and the evils that lurked in the shadows.

Mitch paced in front of the table, a thousand and one warring thoughts racing through his mind. He had faced enemy gunfire overseas, had put his life on the line more than once, but the thought of this petite woman in danger … any kind of danger, scared the living hell out of him.

Christina watched him pace and worried her bottom lip, something was definitely wrong with Mitch. She’d worn this new dress and flirted just as Digger had suggested, and at first he seemed surprised, but then he’d begun to flirt back and she thought that maybe they were getting back to the place they’d been before he suddenly changed. But then Pete had announced last call and the bar began to empty and Mitch seemed to close himself off as he’d done every night for the last week. Perhaps Digger was wrong and Mitch wasn’t waiting for her to give him a sign that she cared, maybe he was just trying to figure out a way to end their relationship. That seemed the best guess, especially since he was asking her to go back home, something he’d hadn’t even hinted at since they’d made their bargain. Or maybe he was right, she’d never know until she tried.

She’d tried flirting and it wasn’t working, what did she know about purposely attracting men? Nothing. She was losing Mitch and the realization tore at her heart. She’d tried to tell herself that it didn’t matter, but it did. She didn’t want to let him go, not yet, she wasn’t ready. She had to do something more. Maybe it was time to pull out all the stops and make a move, just as Diego suggested.

Mitch growled in frustration.

“Mitch? What’s wrong?”

The worry in her voice stopped him in his tracks. He turned to her. “What’s wrong? Dammit, Chrissy, you were attacked and you just want to forget it. Well I can’t.” He stormed up to the table and leaned over her, crowding her into the back of the chair and took some solace in seeing the fear in her eyes. It meant she could be persuaded to go home and then maybe he could take the opportunity to forget Diego’s plan and try courting her properly. “If your family knew–”

Her eyes widened. “No! You swore you wouldn’t say anything.”

“And I won’t.” He promised again. “But I don’t like it, Chrissy. Billy is my best friend. I’ve never kept anything from him before. You know that JD can be very intimidating at times and if you really want frightening we can’t forget that I work for James and your father trusts me like a son. If they found out …”

“They won’t. I won’t tell them anything. I already have you in here hovering over me. The last thing I need is for all the men in my family to begin sitting here and watching me every minute of every day instead of the one night a week they come in already … and let’s not forget their wives. Those women are even more frightening than my brothers.” She reached out and cupped his cheek. “Please, Mitch, let’s just put this behind us. Please keep my secret.”

Mitch’s breath caught in his chest, she hadn’t touched him at all in the last week except deep in the night when she was fast asleep. The hand on his cheek now was gentle and her fingers flexed slightly as if she were caressing him. He felt his body spring to life and it took all of his strength to pull away from her. Diego said he had to keep his distance. He eyed her once more and felt his pants grow uncomfortable. Straightening quickly, he muttered. “I should go home.”

“Home?”

“Yeah. I don’t think I should stay tonight.” It would kill him if he had to spend one more night in her bed without being able to touch her.

She turned her face away, hiding her expressive eyes from him and nodded. “I see. Well, get home safely.”

He shoved his hands in his pockets to keep them from reaching out to her. “Don’t forget to close up after me.” She nodded silently. Mitch waited a moment then turned and left.

Outside, he grabbed onto the railing of the small porch surrounding the China Rose and gulped in a breath. Following Diego’s advice was killing him slowly and other than Chrissy doing little flirting tonight as she had every night for the past week it didn’t seem to be working. He fisted his hands as he turned back to the door, the lights within were still on, almost as if they were beckoning him to enter. He loved her. he had to show her that he cared because keeping his distance was punishing them both. She must’ve felt something for him, after all, she’d obviously kept the lights on hoping that he’d come back.

The lights went out.

He pushed the door open and stepped back into the bar with the intent to see her once more before she went upstairs to her small suite of rooms. The sound of glass shattering jolted him as Chrissy jumped with a surprised squeak and Mitch found himself staring at the business end of a revolver. She stood behind the bar, her hands shaking with fear.

“What-” She asked in a bewildered choke, then cleared her throat and released the hammer of the gun. “I could have shot you, what are you doing here?”

He motioned to the table where they’d been sitting. “I never finished my whiskey.” Chrissy glanced at the glass on the floor as he cursed himself for his asinine comment. “Christina, why are you crying?”

“I wasn’t.” She replied quickly as she turned to switch on the lights behind the counter then grabbed a hold of the broom she kept propped in the corner and began to sweep up the shards of glass. “I thought you were going home.”

He locked the door then came around the bar and took the broom from her. he placed it to the side before gently clasping her shoulders and holding her steady. Sure enough, her skin was pink and tears were just beginning to dry on her cheeks. “I never made it past the porch.”

Her eyes widened in surprise. “Why?”

He wiped the tears from her soft skin with his thumbs and gave her a crooked smile. “I couldn’t … I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

Christina stepped back, putting space between them and reached for the dustpan. “Well I am. You can go now.”

“You forgot to lock the door when I left … and where did you get that gun?”

“I was going to lock it before I went upstairs.”

“You should’ve locked it right after I left. what if someone had come in while you were in the back room? You turned off the lights, you would’ve never known.”

“You’re right and I’m sorry, I promise to lock it when you leave from now on.”

“That’s all I ask. Christina, if something ever happened to you I’d never forgive myself.” He said almost to himself. “Now, where did the gun come from?”

“I’ve been keeping it under the bar since …”

Her voice trailed off and she wrapped her arms around her waist for comfort. Mitch closed the distance between them and wrapped his own arms around her waist.

As the seconds ticked by, Christina began to relax and slid her arms around him. Mitch closed his eyes as she pressed against his body, burying her head against his heart. He felt her shudder and held her more securely. “Are you going to be all right?”

“As long as I leave a light on, I’ll be fine. I was just going to turn on the lights in the back room when you came in. All I could see was your silhouette in the moonlight and I thought …”

Mitch kissed the top of her head and rubbed his hands down her back soothingly. “He won’t come back to hurt you, Chrissy, I promised that I’d keep you safe.”

“I feel like such a baby … needing a light. I’ve never been afraid of the dark before and now, now I can barely stand to close my eyes.”

“The dark isn’t so scary.”

“Easy for you to say, you’re a war hero, I bet you didn’t even think twice about putting your life on the line for the men in your unit.”

“I’ve only been more terrified once in my life.”

“When?”

“The moment I heard you scream.”

Christina pulled back and stared up at him with a puzzled frown. She reached up and traced the slight arch of his brows before sliding her fingertips down to his lips. Mitch felt his breath catch in his throat as solemn brown eyes stared intently into his uncertain blue ones.

“Chrissy-”

“Shh,” she whispered then stood on her toes and kissed him.

The feel of her lips on his melted his reserve. he gave up trying to be aloof. For tonight he would indulge in his desires. He pulled her in closer to him, reveling in the feel of her soft form against his and took over the kiss. Christina moaned softly and opened herself to him. her hands buried themselves in his hair and held him to her. Mitch groaned at the desperation of her touch and felt his body tighten in response.

Several minutes later, with a hiss of regret he pushed her away. Christina tried to catch her breath, her face was flushed, lips swollen and her eyes shone with passion. She was the most breathtaking woman he’d ever seen.

“Stay with me tonight, Mitch. Please don’t go home.”

His eyes widened. For the first time since suggesting that she become his lover, she’d taken the initiative, maybe Diego was right. “I shouldn’t.”

“Please Mitch, if you don’t want to share my bed then just stay until I fall asleep.”

“If I go upstairs with you there’s no way you’ll get any sleep tonight.” Her eyes widened at the rough tone of his voice and Mitch knew that she understood.

Her eyes darted around his face before coming to a rest on his lips. “Is that a promise?”

“Don’t say things like that.” Mitch felt all the air escape his lungs as he tried to hold on to his sanity.

Her hands began to slide down his chest and she caressed him over the soft cotton of his shirt. “Why not?”

He grasped her hands lightly, limiting her movement and leaned his forehead against hers. “I’m trying to be a gentleman.”

“Didn’t you know? My track record with men clearly shows that I don’t particularly like gentlemen. I prefer men who are a little rough around the edges … like war heroes or deputies, and if I could find a combination, well I’d be happy.”

Mitch’s head snapped up only to find her staring at him with a teasing grin. The coy seductress was back and he didn’t seem to care. He reached up and cupped her cheek, her walls were slowly resurrecting and she was beginning to hide behind the façade everyone knew. He recognized it for what it was, she was afraid, but he wasn’t about to let her hide. “You deserve a gentleman.”

“Can’t I have both?” She asked softly then leaned in to kiss him again. “Come upstairs, Mitch, be with me. I miss your touch, but most of all I miss you.”

A man could only take so much, Mitch reasoned as she pressed against him once more. With a soft growl he lifted her into his arms and raced upstairs, tomorrow he would be her gentleman.

The next morning, Christina reached over and found the other half of the bed cold and empty. She sighed softly in disappointment and rolled onto her back. The sun was just beginning to lighten the room. She never thought that waking up alone in her bed would make her feel so badly or so alone, but after sharing an incredible night with Mitch, that’s just how she felt. She had to do something, Chrissy told herself that she would be able to let him go when the time came, but she couldn’t. She wanted to keep him forever and she had to figure out a way to be certain that he wanted her forever.

She thought back to their talks, the way he’d described the woman he wanted to marry. She remembered the women he’d courted and compared them to his description. Rising from her prone position, Chrissy walked over to her mirror and examined her reflection. She tilted her head and bit her lip. Changes had to take place. big changes and damn her pride. She could do it for Mitch because Diego was right, he was worth fighting for.

Chapter 12

Mitch paused as he entered the China Rose and looked around. He wasn’t sure how he’d be received. he hadn’t been treating Chrissy in any way that could be considered even remotely romantic. He’d initiated Diego’s plan close to three weeks ago and it seemed to be working, she seemed to touch him more often, she initiated their long good-night kisses and she turned to him in the dark of the night, so he supposed that Diego’s plan was working. Still in the bright day of morning, Christina seemed to pull away, of course it didn’t help that he hadn’t shared a morning with her since Diego hatched his plan. It didn’t sit well with him, hadn’t in the last few weeks, and especially not after the nights they shared so he decided he would close the gap a bit and stop in to see her, maybe share a private lunch to make up for the mornings he wasn’t there.

She was nowhere to be found among the varied lunch crowd. Sofie was manning the bar area, now filled with eager ranch hands and townspeople eating and relaxing for an hour while they were on break. She spied him standing there and waved him over, it was then he saw that Billy was one of the men sitting at the bar.

He smiled at his best friend as if he hadn’t a care in the world, as if he hadn’t left the man’s little sister naked, sated and asleep just that morning in the bedroom just above their heads.

Billy slapped Mitch on the shoulder. “Well, long time no see.”

“How you doing, Billy?” Mitch leaned over the bar and kissed Sofie’s cheek. “Hello, sweetheart.”

“What brings you here?” Sofie asked with a knowing smile. “Lunch? Or were you looking for someone special?”

Mitch shrugged. “A little of both. I was on my way home and I wanted to check up on Chrissy and maybe get something warm to eat too.”

“Thanks again for keeping an eye on her.” Billy said as he dug into the food before him. “If it weren’t for you I think the rest of us would have smothered her by now.”

Sofie giggled. “They still do, just on a much smaller level. I’m sure she’ll be sorry she missed you though. I know she enjoys seeing you.”

Mitch glanced at Billy to see if he’d caught the sparkle in his wife’s eyes, but his friend’s attention was firmly planted on his food. Mitch shook his head and hoped his voice held none of the interest he was harboring. “So where is she?”

Billy swallowed audibly. “School.”

“Excuse me?”

Sofie poured her husband another glass of tea and handed another and a menu to Mitch. “Whenever Chrissy has some free time, she likes to go over to the schoolhouse.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“No one but the family does, this is the first time since the bar has opened that she’s had some time to go. I think being around the kids gives her some solace. She really enjoys her time there.”

“It’s because the kids don’t judge her.” Billy added and looked at his friend. “She can be herself with them.”

“I can see how she likes that.”

“And Emma loves when she comes down because she can sneak off and spend an hour with Jack.” Sofie said with a wiggle of her brows. “Rumor is that they want to have a baby.”

Billy pushed his plate away. “That is my sister you’re talking about and just the thought made me lose my appetite.” He shuddered and Mitch laughed.

“Well I’m sure Em, will make a wonderful mother.” He paused to think how Christina would look with her belly full and round, their child nestled safely inside. He wondered what their daughter would look like, hopefully a beauty like their momma and their son would definitely have her no nonsense attitude.

“Hello?” Sofie waved her hand in front of his face. “Are you all right?”

Mitch’s eyes widened and he chased away all thoughts of having children with Chrissy. He had to get her to admit her feelings for him first and convince her of his before he could consider their future. He cleared his throat and nodded. “I was just thinking about lunch.” He ordered his meal and chatted with Billy until it arrived. He then made a hasty exit and decided to take the scenic route home, the one that passed the school.

Mitch heard the sound of the children’s laughter well before he turned towards yard. He quickened his step and then stopped dead in his tracks as shock washed over him. The children were sitting in a semi-circle around a lone figure who was dressed as a pirate. From the plumed hat down to the blood-red scarf that encircled her waist and black breeches and even an eye patch, Christina seemed to embrace the character she was portraying. Her voice drew him closer and he found that he was just as entranced by her as the children were.

“Arr me mateys who will sail with me off to the island of … uhh …” Christina frowned as she tried to think up a suitable name.

“Los Muertos!” Danny supplied.

She looked at her nephew and smiled broadly. “Arr that be the one. Who will sail off with me to Los Muertos?”

A chorus of voices rose up as well as hands and Mitch laughed, here was a side of Christina he never thought he’d see. She was smiling, her face full of joy and peace. She looked each child in the eyes and laughed along with them as she gave them pirate names.

“Miss Christina!” A young girl’s voice rose above the clatter and Christina turned to her. “What about the deputy? Is he a pirate too?”

Christina stiffened and looked up, the one eye he could see going wide and embarrassment colored her cheeks. She bit her lip and shrugged helplessly and Mitch stepped forward.

“Are you here to play with us, Mitch?” Jules asked.

He looked down at James’s daughter and then back up at Christina. He would leave it to her. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Chrissy nervously toyed with the scarf at her waist then after several moments turned back to the children. “That there be no pirate … that be the evil constable looking to take me to jail.”

Almost as one, the children turned to him. Mitch dropped the bag that held his lunch and took a step back. His gaze snapped to Chrissy’s and found her smiling wickedly. “Now Chrissy-”

“Me name’s not Chrissy, Constable, tell the man who I be, mateys.”

The kids all jumped up and down. “The Heartbreaker.”

“And what am I?”

“The Pirate Queen.”

Mitch would have laughed if she hadn’t bowed with a smile and ordered the kids to attack. He managed to dodge some but not all of them and he was surprised when Jules was the one to take him down by tackling his knees. He went down with a thud and all the breath seemed to squeeze out of his lungs. He looked up into the clear blue sky but the view was obscured by the woman who’d stolen his heart. Christina stood over him her hands on her hips and a wide smile across her beautiful face.

“Do ye give up, Constable?”

The kids surrounded him each either laughing or grinning at him, waiting to hear that they’d won the small battle.

“I give up.”

They shouted a victory cry as Christina helped him to his feet. “Thanks for playing along.”

“It was fun, it’s been a while since I played pirates. Of course back then I was always co-captaining a ship with Billy, and James and JD were the law.” He stroked his backside. “Boy, Jules packs a wallop.”

“You can thank James for that. He’s been teaching her to defend herself.”

“Yeah well she’s learning.” Christina laughed and he brought his gaze back to her face. “Nice outfit.”

“Do you recognize it? Most of it belonged to Billy, Momma made it for one Halloween.”

“I remember. I have a matching one in a trunk at home, though I don’t think it’d fit me anymore. You, however, look good, piracy suits you.”

She blushed. “You must think I’m a fool.”

“No, I think it’s great. I’d like to join you again sometime. Maybe then I’ll be more prepared and can maybe hire a few of your men to be on my side. We can have ourselves a real skirmish.”

“Really?”

Mitch bent close and kissed her tenderly. “Really.”

The soft chorus of “oohs” reminded him that they were not alone. Christina looked around and focused on the four children that were related to her. “You did not just see that.”

“Yes we did.” Danny said with a wide smile. “Are you going to marry my Tía, Mitch?”

“Maybe, Danny.”

Christina turned to him in shock. “Mitch, don’t say that. You know it’ll be repeated.” She turned back to her nephew and nieces. “We’re not getting married.”

“Then you shouldn’t be kissing.” Jules stated firmly.

“We weren’t kissing.”

“Yes you were.” All the children said simultaneously.

“No we weren’t.” She turned to Mitch. “A little help please?”

“You’re on your own.”

She frowned at him then muttered a curse as her gaze was drawn over his shoulder. He turned and saw Emma walking up to the school with a wide smile on her face.

“Looks like I’m missing out on some fun.”

“Mrs. McCann, Deputy Rios was kissing Miss Christina.” A little blonde girl said.

Emma’s eyes widened as she looked up at the couple. “Is that so?”

“No.”

“Yes.”

Christina glared at Mitch. He put his palms up and backed away. “I’ll wait for you over by the swing and walk you back to the China Rose.”

Christina waited until he was on the far end of the yard before she turned to her sister. She had sent the kids away to play for a few minutes more giving them a little privacy.

Emma crossed her arms over her chest and arched a brow. “So?”

“He didn’t kiss me. They misunderstood what they saw.”

“All of them?”

“Fine, he kissed me, but it didn’t mean anything, Em, so please don’t read into this and please don’t say anything.”

“But it might mean something.”

“Maybe.” Christina grudgingly admitted.

“So what are you going to do?”

“I’m not quite sure, but I have an idea and I’m going to need your help with it.”

Emma grabbed her sister’s hand and squeezed it gently. “Of course. What do you need me to do?”

Chrissy looked over at Mitch quickly. “I can’t talk now, but I’ll come see you tomorrow after school, for now I need you to convince the little ones, especially our lot, that Mitch did not kiss me. If the boys found out-”

“Don’t worry I’ll take care of it and I’ll wait for you tomorrow.”

“Thanks.” Christina kissed her sister’s cheek quickly then ran off towards Mitch. He was waiting with a wide smile that had her nerves on edge. She smacked his arm. “What the hell was that about?”

He rubbed his injured appendage and looked at her as if she’d grown another head. “What?”

“What? How about kissing me in front of my family? Especially the members of the family that can’t keep secrets. When my brothers find out you kissed me they are either going to kill you or call you a fool.”

“I didn’t think about that.”

“No, you didn’t. Luckily I asked Emma to take care of it.”

“I appreciate it, Chrissy.”

“What has gotten into you?” She asked as she took off her eye patch and hat.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean one minute you can’t stand to be around me and the next you’re telling children you intend to marry me. What’s going on, Mitch?”

He reached out and cupped her cheek. “I don’t know. I care about you Chrissy, but you’re not ready to believe me so I’m just trying to give you some space, but it’s hell for me too because I like spending time with you.”

“So much so, that you’re not there in the mornings, Mitch.”

“I want to be, do you?”

She nodded. “I miss you.”

He smiled and she thought it was a tad triumphant looking. She watched him look around before bending to kiss her lips. “I miss you too.”

She sighed softly as he pulled back then eyed him nervously, now she was going to do what Diego said she should. She’d made her plans and now it was time to execute them. She was going to put her heart on the line and make the first move. “Did you mean what you said?”

“About what?”

“About having feelings for me?” She looked away from him, unable to meet his eyes. “Do you?”

He tilted her head up and gazed directly into her eyes. “Yes, Chrissy, I meant it.”

She searched his face for the truth. “Be honest with me Mitch, do you want to pursue a relationship with me? A real one?”

“God, yes.”

“Why?”

“Why not? You’re just as good as any woman in town.”

“I’m not. Not yet, but I will be, Mitch. You’ll see.”

He frowned in confusion at her statement but said nothing. instead he took her hand in his and drew her to his side. “Why don’t I walk you home?”

“Umm … thanks, but I’ve got to go to the Rosas Cruz. I need to see Digger.”

“Why?”

She looked up and caught the emotion he was trying to hide. “Mitch, are you jealous?”

“Of Digger? Hell no.” He gave her a crooked smile. “I know there’s nothing between you two.”

“Then what’s that look about?”

“What look?”

She twisted her lips at him. “Mitch Rios, do not play innocent.”

“Okay, maybe I’m a little jealous that you’d rather go see him than be with me.”

“You didn’t seem to want my company these last few weeks.”

“And I’m sorry for that, but I was punished too. Come on, Chrissy, if you don’t want to go back to the bar then come home with me.”

“What?”

He gave her a smile that made him look like the boy he’d once been. “I mean to my parent’s house. For lunch.”

“You want to take me to your parent’s house for lunch?”

“Isn’t that what I just said?”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m not dressed for it. I may not have been introduced to someone’s parents before, but I do know that you don’t do it dressed as a pirate.”

“You already know my parents.”

Christina bit her lip, he was suggesting a friendly lunch and here she’d thought that he’d meant to tell his parents he was courting her. Just because he had feelings for her didn’t mean he was going to marry her, no matter what he’d told the kids. “Right.”

Mitch tilted his face down to meet her gaze. “You okay?”

“Sure.”

“Will you come home with me?”

“No, I promised Diego I would come over for a bit.”

The hope in his eyes faded and his shoulders seemed to drop a bit. “All right, how about tomorrow then?”

He seemed so insistent that she was immediately suspicious. “Why do you want to take me home so badly?”

“I want to tell my parents that I intend to court you.”

Her jaw dropped open in shock. “Are you sure? I mean, Mitch we don’t have to tell anyone. We can just sort of let them figure it out.”

“That might be best when dealing with your brothers, but when dealing with our parents I want to be up front and honest. This means, I intend to talk to your father.”

Christina felt her knees give out and she sank onto the soft grass beneath her. Mitch was serious. He wanted to court her … for real. She looked up at him. the man she’d loved for so long—the man she thought deserved so much better than her—and decided that she had to go through with her plan. Emma was the best one to help her with one aspect, but now more than ever she needed to talk to Digger.

Mitch dropped to his knees beside her, a worried frown marring his handsome features. “Are you all right?”

She smiled broadly and kissed him, confident that she could make her plan work. “Never better.”

Chrissy ran onto her Uncle’s ranch and searched the area for Diego. He hadn’t been in any of the pastures she’d passed so she assumed that he was in the barn, probably checking on animals, so it came as no surprise to see him just outside the corral, what did surprise her was that he towered over a shaking Dakota. Christina approached silently, wincing when she heard the venom in her cousin’s voice. She’d never known him to be this angry.

“What the hell did you think you were doing?!” Diego threw his Stetson to the ground and ran a frustrated hand through his curly hair. “I left specific instructions for the care of that foal, and you ignored it.”

“I-I-I’m sorry.” Dakota’s head hung so low, Christina was surprised his chin didn’t scrape the ground as he spoke.

“She could have died dammit, and that foal is worth thousands of dollars. Dollars my parents would have been responsible for!”

“I didn’t know.” Was the soft response.

Diego ripped the hat off the ranch hand’s head and Christina flinched at the disarray of his hair. It looked as if it had been cut with a hacksaw and the sight brought back memories of Christina’s own bout with a scissor. She stepped forward and the motion caught both their attentions.

“Stay out of this, Chrissy.” Diego growled.

She put her hands up to ward his temper off, but kept her gaze on the younger man. Dakota’s eyes met hers and pleaded for help. Christina recognized that wounded look, had seen it on her own face the night Luc attacked her. It was the look of a woman who thought she was being trapped into a corner.

Christina’s eyes widened as she realized what Dakota was trying to keep hidden from everyone at the ranch. She took a closer look at Dakota’s posture and realized she was slouched over, was it to hide curves … curves boys certainly didn’t have. The delicate features she usually kept impassive or in a scowl was now quite obvious to Christina’s eyes. She stepped forward, her mind whirling and unsure of what she was going to do or say, but the one thing she was certain of was that Dakota’s secret was going to be kept safe. Maybe one day she’d confide in her, but until then, Christina would do whatever she could to help.

“Digger calm down.” Christina bent and picked up his hat and handed it to him. She then turned and did the same for the other woman making sure that her body stood between her and Diego.

“I told you to stay out if it.”

“And since when do I listen to you?”

Chrissy heard her cousin growl and she took a step back, but she didn’t move from between him and Dakota. “He could have killed an animal today.”

“So I heard, by the way, so did half the town. Maybe you should lower your voice a bit?”

“If I want to yell then dammit I will!” He turned away and began to pace, talking to himself as he did.

With Digger preoccupied with his muttering, Christina took the opportunity to face Dakota. “I know your secret.” She whispered and gave her an encouraging smile then winked. The other woman started slightly then nodded that she understood. “What happened?”

Digger heard the soft spoken question and turned on them. “He ignored a direct order, that’s what happened.”

Christina ignored him and concentrated on Dakota. “What happened?”

“Cain’t read.” She whispered. “I asked Harold to tell me what the note said, he told me it wasn’t important and he threw it away.” Dakota looked up at Diego. “I didn’t mean to make the foal sick, honest. Please, Mr. Cross, don’t fire me I need this job I got a brother and sister to take care of.”

Chrissy turned to look over her shoulder. Diego was staring at Dakota in stunned silence. “You can’t read?” He asked.

“No, sir.”

“And Harold told you that my note wasn’t important?”

“Yes, sir.” Dakota twisted her hat in her hands nervously. “Are you going to fire me?”

“If he does you can work for me.” Christina said quickly.

“I’m not going to fire him.” Digger growled. “When I get my hands on Harold… did you say you have a family?”

Dakota nodded quickly. “Tennessee, my younger brother, and my baby sister, Savannah.”

“You’re kidding?” Christina’s shock was written all over her face.

The ranch hand shrugged self-consciously. “We moved around a lot and my Ma she named us proper but she was always too drunk to remember them so she started calling us by the places we was born.”

Chrissy glanced at Diego. If he was surprised he kept it hidden well. The fury that had colored his face just a few minutes ago was replaced by something slightly calmer, almost tender. Dakota didn’t know it, but she’d just gotten under his skin. If Digger had a soft spot, it was for family.

“Where’s your Ma now?”

“Dead.”

“And your Pa?” Digger asked.

“Which one?”

One brow shot up and Chrissy saw a flush of embarrassment color his cheeks. “The one that fathered you?”

“I don’t know who my daddy was. Tenn’s pa left us when he was four and Savannah’s daddy could be any number of men. My ma wasn’t real particular about her friends.” Dakota’s voice was strong when she spoke, daring either of them to lay judgment. Christina wasn’t about to say anything, she had no reason to be judgmental, not with her reputation.

Digger nodded as he took in the new information. He remained silent so long that even Christina was beginning to get nervous. Finally he slapped his hat back on his head and motioned towards the barn. “Go muck out the stalls.”

Dakota exhaled loudly and nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Cross, I won’t let you down again.”

“No you won’t, cause I’m going to make sure you learn to read so this misunderstanding doesn’t happen again.”

The ranch hand stared up at him then smiled broadly. “I’d appreciate that.” Without another word she ran into the barn leaving the two cousins alone.

“There’s something about that boy that strikes me as strange.” Diego murmured softly. “I just can’t put my finger on what it is.”

Chrissy bit back her smile. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

He turned to her. “What do you know?”

“Nothing. So what are you going to do about the foal?”

“It’s going to take some time but I can nurse her back to health.”

“And Harold?”

“I’m going to let my parents handle him. Despite what Dakota thinks, I don’t have the power to fire anyone.”

“You could if you really wanted to, you are heir to the Cross throne you know.”

He snorted. “This will all go to Izzy before it comes to me and that’s just fine with me. She’s the rancher.”

“So what’s so important about this foal?”

“She’s a racer. The first of a new breed here at the Rosas Cruz.”

“You’re breeding racehorses?”

“And training them too. We may even enter a few races this year if our stock looks good.”

“I had no idea.”

“Well it’s sort of a secret. My sisters don’t even know yet, so hush up.”

“My lips are sealed.”

Digger smiled and hauled her into his arms. He squeezed her tightly. “So, Miss Pirate, what brings you ashore?”

Christina had forgotten her costume and blushed. “I was at the school.”

“I should hope so. I’d hate to think you’ve decided to dress like that from now on,” he glanced at her bottom and smiled. “Though I’m sure Mitch wouldn’t mind. However, I meant, what are you doing here?”

“Oh!” She inhaled deeply and prayed he wouldn’t laugh. “Digger I need your help.”

His teasing grin immediately fell. “Of course, is it Mitch? Did he hurt you?”

The smile she gave him was reassuring. “No he didn’t, but yes in a way it’s about Mitch.”

“What is it?” His straight brows were low over his eyes as he waited for her to speak.

“I need you to tell me what men want in a woman.”

Chapter 13

“What did you just say?”

Christina looked down at her shoes. “You heard me. I want you to tell me what it is that men like.”

“Christina I think you have a little experience with what men like.”

“No I don’t, my experience runs more towards rats, I have no idea what good, decent men want in a woman. Men like you.”

“And Mitch?”

She looked up into his knowing gaze and nodded quickly. “Yes.”

“What is this about?”

Christina shrugged as she leaned back against the corral. she kept her gaze away from her cousin’s face. “You said that anything worth having is worth fighting for. consider this my way of gearing up for battle.” She looked into his brown eyes. “Digger, help me.”

“Chrissy, Mitch wants you. I’ve told you that.”

“No … yes ... I know, but I just want to make sure that I’m perfect for him.”

“You are perfect.”

“Not yet, but I will be. Daddy always said that in order to catch his man he had to know him. What he liked and disliked, how he thought. That’s all I’m doing Digger. Please, help me. I can’t go to my brothers for help.”

“You’re kidding right?”

“No.” She pushed away from the corral and placed her hands on her hips. “Now will you help me or not?”

The glint in his eyes should have worried her, but Chrissy knew that most of the time that sparkle meant nothing, especially when it concerned her and something that she thought was important. “All right, do you want to know men in general or just Mitch?”

The smile she gave him lit her entire face. “I think I know what Mitch wants, but other than that, what is it that good men in general look for in a woman?”

Digger’s brows furrowed as he thought. He placed his arms over the top railing and looked into the ring as he gathered his thoughts. “Men like their women to be sweet and kind.”

“Diego, you’re describing a pet.”

He looked at her from the corner of his eyes and sighed. “Fine. They want someone they’re not going to be ashamed of. Not in front of their friends, but especially not in front of their family.”

Her shoulders slumped slightly. “I see. What else?”

“She should be perfect in every way, never disagree with him, and never ever give an opinion on anything.”

“What if he asks for one?”

“Never.” Digger waited to see if she would say anything, but she merely nodded for him to go on. He seemed surprised but turned to look back out at the corral and continued. “Let’s see … well, men want their women to cook, all the time.”

“I can cook.”

“They’ll want them to be a good role model for their children, and of course we want sons … lots of sons.”

Christina bit her lip. “Okay.”

“They don’t want to share their women in any way. So clothing is important. They don’t want other men seeing what belongs to them.”

“Got that covered.”

Diego eyed her outfit and arched a brow.

“Well, I will.”

Again he seemed astonished at her answer. “All in all they want a young version of their mother.”

“They do?”

“Well we do when we’re in public. In private we want-.” He caught himself before saying anything more.

“They want a mistress.”

“Well … yeah.”

“I’m aware of that part.”

“I know.” He replied with a hint of disgust.

“Is that it then?”

“For the most part, yeah. You have to be perfect, above reproach. Be happy to raise a family and make him feel like the king of the castle. You do whatever he asks of you no questions asked. If you can do all that, he’ll be one very happy man.”

Christina nodded as she took it all in, it didn’t seem too hard to do, but it was so different from who she was. “Thanks Digger.” She kissed his cheek.

“Wait, Christina.”

He reached out to take her hand but she stepped away from him. “I’ve got to go back to the bar. I’ve been gone too long. I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Wait!”

Whatever he was going to say had to wait because she turned on her heel and ran. He would have chased after her, if his parents didn’t choose that moment to reappear.

“Diego, was that Christina?” Buck asked.

He turned and nodded. “She’s acting strangely.”

Tina’s gaze followed the young woman. “Why do you say that?”

“She asked me for advice and I gave her the most ridiculous answers I could think of and she just accepted it.” He gave both his parents a perplexed look. “Usually she can tell when I’m kidding, but not today.”

“What kind of advice?” Buck asked.

Digger smiled brightly hoping to change the subject. his parents would kill him if they knew what he was up to. “It’s not important.”

“I think it is.” Tina’s voice was haughty. “What are you up to?”

“Nothing.” Diego waved the questions away. “Oh, we have to talk about Dakota. He can’t read and it caused a big problem with the new foal.”

Buck paled. “Is everything all right now?”

“Yeah, I took care of it, but I’m going to ask Emma to come in and teach him to read, we also have a problem with Harold.”

“What?”

“He didn’t give Dakota any help when he asked for it.” Digger exhaled loudly. “That foal could have died.”

Buck’s features hardened. “I’ll handle it.”

Christina sighed softly as the butterfly touch of lips skimmed her bare shoulder. She smiled slightly and turned to look, Mitch was smiling as he leaned over her a wicked glimmer in his eyes. After the night they’d had she was surprised that he looked so well rested.

“Good morning.”

She looked past him and was shocked to see that the sun had indeed begun to rise. Her eyes were wide as she looked back at him. “You’re still here.”

He bent and kissed her lips tenderly. “I told you I would be.”

Christina wrapped her arms around his neck and sifted her fingers through the hair on his nape. “I know, but I wasn’t sure. I’m glad you are though.”

Mitch rubbed his scalp against her fingertips. “I’m sorry for making you doubt me, Chrissy, it won’t happen again.”

She raised her head and kissed him, it wasn’t long before he responded to her innocent touch. His tongue slid against hers erotically, deepening the kiss. Christina moaned softly, but just when she thought Mitch would take the next step, he pulled back.

“I can’t stay.”

“What?”

“I have to be at the jailhouse in about ten minutes. I didn’t want to leave without saying good morning to you though.”

“You can’t even have breakfast?”

Mitch rolled back and onto his feet. He went to her closet and pulled out some clothes. “Sorry, I don’t have the time, I would have woken you up sooner, but I thought you needed your rest.”

She smiled as she watched him dress. She’d been nervous when he first brought clothes to her home, but now, seeing him dress here as if it were his home as well, seemed right. “Thank you for that, I was exhausted … but it was worth it. Maybe I could bring you some breakfast in a bit.”

Mitch grinned seductively then finished buttoning his shirt and sat beside her once more. He placed his arms on either side of her prone form and leaned over her. “If you do, bring something for James too.”

“And an excuse I presume.”

“That’d be wise.” He replied with a wink then bent and kissed her sweetly. “I’ll see you for lunch.”

She grabbed his forearm as he turned to leave. “I can’t.”

“Why not?”

The expression on his face was a mixture of wariness and disappointment and she bit her lip. “I don’t have anyone to cover me this afternoon.”

“I could cover you.” He replied with a wiggle of his brows.

“I meant to cover the lunch crowd.”

He smiled and kissed her nose. “Tomorrow then?”

“Well I was hoping we could do dinner, but if you don’t want to …”

“You’d want to come to dinner?” He was genuinely surprised and the bewildered expression on his face made him even more endearing to her.

“If you want me to.”

“Do you have someone to cover the bar?”

“Yeah, Emma will.”

“Are you sure?”

She giggled. “Yes, I’m sure. Now go before James gets curious.”

He kissed her once more. “I’ll be here at six to take you home.”

“You’re sure you want to do this.”

“Yes. I care for you, Christina, and I can’t wait to tell my parents about us.”

Her heart skipped a beat but she refused to let her nervousness show. “Then I’ll see you at six.”

Christina waited until she heard him close her office door before she put the pillow over her head and squealed in delight. Her plans just had to work.

Mitch locked the front door of the China Rose and turned towards the jailhouse. He hadn’t gone halfway down the street before he heard someone running towards him. He turned ready to defend himself then rolled his eyes as Diego stopped before him.

“How’s Chrissy?”

“The abruptness of the question put Mitch on edge. “Why?”

Diego looked decidedly uncomfortable. “She was acting strange yesterday afternoon. I just want to know if she’s okay now.”

Mitch thought back to the previous night and he remembered that Christina had seemed different as she worked the bar. she was friendly with the patrons but not quite as flirty. She seemed quieter around him as well, letting him do all the talking whenever there was a lull in the work, but he’d attributed her quietness to the fact that she’d been tired from playing with the children, especially since she seemed to come alive when he took her in his arms in her bedroom.

“Mitch?”

He was drawn back to Diego. “She seemed all right. What do you mean by strange?”

“She was asking questions and she wanted me to give her advice.”

“Please tell me you didn’t give her any.”

“Nothing serious. Which if what you’re saying is right then she didn’t take me seriously.”

“Digger?”

“Yeah?”

“Do me a favor.”

“What’s that?”

“Don’t give her any more advice … Ever. I don’t want to have to undo whatever problems your mouth causes.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. So is my plan working?”

“Yup. I think she’s almost ready for the next step.”

“Which is?”

“I’m taking her home.”

Diego’s eyes widened. “That’s a big step. Mitch be careful and please make sure you know what you’re doing. Christina may act like she has a hard shell-”

“But she doesn’t, I know, Digger, the last thing I want is to hurt her.”

“You may not want to, but you might all the same.”

Mitch entered his parents’ house whistling. He followed the delicious scent of fried chicken straight into the kitchen and leaned against the doorjamb as he watched his mother flit around the small room while his father sat back and tried to stay out of her way. It didn’t escape Mitch’s notice that Pedro reached out for his wife and caressed her every time she passed him or that Siobhan giggled with each touch. It seemed to him that they were just as much in love now as they’d ever been, if not more.

Siobhan was the first to notice him and she squealed in happiness as she hugged him. “Mitch, what a surprise, what brings you home so early?”

“I came to see how you two were doing.”

“Well that’s all good and dandy, we could have died since you saw us last. What have you been doing in town all these nights?”

Mitch eyed his father who smiled in reply. “Working.”

“I bet.” Pedro muttered.

Siobhan eyed her husband suspiciously. “And what is that supposed to mean?”

“Ask the boy.”

She turned to her son. Mitch shrugged and kissed the top of her head. “What’s for lunch?”

“As if you couldn’t smell it.” She immediately moved to set a place for him at the small scarred table. “Now talk to me boy-o. Tell your Mum, what the old coot here seems to know.”

“Sit down, Mum, let me serve you for once.”

She stared at Mitch as if he’d just told her she’d inherited a million dollars then turned to Pedro. “Oh this is going to be good.”

Mitch pushed her gently into the chair beside her husband and made quick work of putting their meal on the table then sat down. Both his parents were watching him warily, waiting for him to begin. Mitch sighed softly and sat back. “I’ve been working at the China Rose.”

Siobhan’s brows drew together. “I didn’t know you needed another job.”

“I don’t. I’ve sort of been doing a favor for the Hickok boys.”

“Christina’s found herself some more trouble has she? And now you’ve been dragged into it?”

“It’s not like that, Mum.”

“No? It seems to me that she always needs someone to watch over her.”

“Not always.” Mitch bit his lip. “Besides I like watching over her, this isn’t too hard to do.”

Siobhan heard the wistful note of his voice and looked over at her husband, her eyes full of panic. “Did you hear what he just said?”

Pedro smiled broadly. “I did. I think our boy has found someone to give his heart to.”

She turned to Mitch. “Christina Hickok?”

Mitch nodded. “I’m falling … no, I’ve already fallen in love with her.” He eyed both his parents. “I’ve asked her to come over for dinner with you.”

“When?” Siobhan’s voice was full of shock.

“Tonight.”

“Oh, Mitch, this is all so sudden. Why her? Why not someone else? There are so many other women, good women.”

Pedro reached out, took his wife’s hand in his and squeezed it gently. “He’s a big boy, hell he’s a man, be happy for him.”

“I can’t.”

The words so quietly whispered tore at Mitch’s heart. “Why?”

“I want the best for you and she is not it. She’ll break your heart.”

Mitch stood up and quietly moved the chair back under the table. “You don’t know her the way I do.”

“But we’re both willing to get to know her.” Pedro stated firmly. “Aren’t we, Siobhan?”

She looked cornered and she shook her head helplessly. “I don’t know.”

Pedro took her chin in his hand and turned her face to him. “This is Mai’s daughter, we’ve seen her grow up, and we know that there’s more to her than what the women in town say. Mitch cares for her and he’s a good judge of character, how bad can she truly be?”

“I don’t want to find out.” She turned to her son. “Please understand, Mitch.”

“I know you love me and I love you too. But I also love her, more than anything in the world, Momma, and all I want is for you to have a chance to meet the woman that I know.” Mitch waited for her to reply, his heart in his throat. He knew his mother might fight the idea, but he never thought she would flat out refuse to accept Christina as a part of his life.

Siobhan looked down at the table then at the hand holding hers so firmly and nodded. “I will see you both at dinner tonight.”

The two men in the room both exhaled in relief. Mitch approached his mother and hugged her tightly. “Thank you.”

“If she breaks your heart, she will have to deal with me and I promise you I will take on her whole family if I need to.”

“It’s her Irish temper.” Pedro said with a wink for his son.

“And her love for me.” He kissed the top of her head and jumped back when the seat he’d vacated suddenly slid back.

Siobhan pointed to it. “Eat your lunch.”

“You want to what?!”

Christina looked around the deserted schoolroom and shushed her sister. “Keep your voice down.”

“Christina Hickok, you have had some dumb ideas, but this is the dumbest.”

“It’s not a dumb idea. It’s what I should have done a long time ago.”

Emma moved around her desk and went to the small desk where her sister sat. She knelt down before her and took her hands. “Christina, you shouldn’t change yourself for anyone.”

“I’m not changing myself for him, it’s just clothes. The truth is, Em, believe it or not, this is the real me. I’ve never been the girl everyone thought I was. I’ve never given myself to anyone before Mitch.”

“You and Mitch? You’ve shared a bed with … Wait, Mitch was your first?”

“Isn’t that the way it should be? You give yourself, the very special part of yourself to the man you love?” Christina looked her sister in the eyes. “I need to do this, Emma. I lost him once, I can’t lose him again.”

“And you think changing the way you dress will help you keep him?”

Christina shrugged helplessly. “I just want to do everything in my power to make it easier for him. He says he cares for me, but I know that what happens in the privacy of the bar or my bedroom is so different in public. I know what everyone says about me and I do know how it affects all of you. I don’t want people in town to look down on him because he’s chosen to be with me. That, above everything else, would kill me. Mitch deserves their respect, he’s earned it.”

Emma took a deep breath and stood up. She paced silently as she took in everything her sister had said. Christina watched her just as silently and prayed that Emma would agree, if she didn’t she had no where else to turn to. Finally after several minutes, Emma turned back to Chrissy.

“All right, I’ll help-”

Christina squealed in delight and jumped to her feet, but Emma held up a finger and stalled her celebration.

“On two conditions.”

“Fine. Anything.”

“First, you cut my hair. I like it and Jackson thinks it’s sexy.” Her mouth twisted into a grimace. “Though I hate that he thought it because he saw you.”

Christina smiled sadly. “I’m sure it wasn’t me he saw, he pictured you with the hair. He loves you so much, Em, I’m nothing to him.”

“I know, I was kidding and I’m sorry that you feel like you have to explain it away to me.” Her eyes filled with tears. “Chrissy, I’m your sister, your twin and I hate that we’re not as close as we used to be and I hate that you had to tell me that you weren’t the woman that we all thought you were. I should have known that without a doubt.”

“Emma, I know you’re sorry and I’m sorry too, and I think that we’re finally getting back to where we were. My defending myself is habit, a habit I hope to break from. So tell me, what’s the second condition?”

The smile Emma gave her seemed to light up the room. “I have to go see Doctor Drake tomorrow morning and I want you to come with me.”

“Doctor Drake? Are you all right?”

“I think I’m pregnant.”

“You’re not sure? I mean, how can you not know?”

“Chrissy, you and I haven’t always been … regular and I just want to know if I’m late or not.”

“Oh, okay then, I’ll go with you.”

“You can’t tell.”

“I’ll keep your secret if you keep mine.”

“Deal. So, where do we start?”

“Grab a scissor. I’ll cut while you tell me what a woman wears to meet the parents of the man who is courting her.”

Emma’s eyes widened. “This is going to be so hard to keep secret, Chrissy.”

“You can tell Jack, but that’s it. Oh, and Diego knows, but if the boys found out about us, they’d kill Mitch.”

“No. I won’t tell anyone. We’re sisters and sisters keep secrets.”

“Even the juicy ones?”

“Especially the juicy ones.”

Chapter 14

“So, how do I look?” Christina spun in a circle as she turned to face her sister, the dress she wore was ivory in color, its high collar and long sleeves accentuated Chrissy’s exotic features and lithe limbs and the hem just brushed her calves drawing the eye to her firm legs and further to the sensible shoes on her small feet.

Emma smiled as she nodded in appreciation. “Beautiful. You know I never thought I’d be the one dressing you.”

Chrissy looked down at herself. “Are you sure this is good?”

“It’s perfect.” Emma hugged her sister tightly. “They are not going to be able to find fault with you at all.”

“Thanks for all your help, Em. I would have been lost shopping this afternoon. You know, I’d never get through this if it weren’t for you.”

“After all the help you gave me with Jack, this is the least I could do.” She replied with a wink. “Now, is Mitch coming here to pick you up?”

“He’s meeting me in the kitchen, we didn’t want to chance running into anyone in the bar. Are you sure you’re going to be all right here?”

“Just fine, I can run this place almost as well as you, besides Jack is coming to help after work and you’re not going to be gone all night, right?”

“Just a couple of hours.” Christina placed a hand over her churning stomach and grimaced. “I feel like I’m going to be sick.”

“Again? Chrissy, you haven’t eaten anything. I’m surprised you have something left in your stomach to come up.”

“I’m nervous, I don’t deal well with pressure.”

“Then don’t put any on yourself. Relax. you’re going to dinner at the Rios’s. We’ve done that a hundred times.”

“As a family, now I’m going as Mitch’s … I don’t know what I am.”

“His sweetheart.” Emma replied with a wide grin. “You are too cute when you’re nervous. Now just suck in a deep breath and get out of here. Have a nice time too.”

Christina took one last look in the mirror then turned and left the room. Emma giggled softly as she thanked fate for bringing Mitch and Chrissy together. Now if she could just help them to the altar everything would be perfect.

For the first time in his life, Mitch Rios was speechless. Christina stood before him, out of the way in a corner of the bustling kitchen, her eyes wide with uncertainty as she waited for him to say something, anything about her dress.

“You hate it.”

“No! It’s just so …” He reached out and touched the soft fabric. “Different.” He smiled as he looked down into her face. He gently cupped her cheeks in his hand and brought his mouth down to hers. “You look beautiful, Christina.”

She exhaled in relief and kissed him quickly. “Let’s go, I don’t want to be late.”

When she went to pull away, he held her tightly. “Let them wait, give me a kiss first. I worked hard today and let me tell you it wasn’t easy concentrating on crime when all I could think about was you in that big bed upstairs.”

She blushed then wrapped her arms around his neck and played with his hair. “I had a very eventful day. Emma and I went shopping and discussed us.”

“So she knows?”

“Yes.”

“And this is wise? What with her penchant for not keeping secrets?”

“She’ll keep it. We have an agreement.”

He arched a brow. “What kind of agreement?”

“I can’t say.”

Mitch laughed softly and leaned his forehead on hers. “I missed you today, Chrissy.”

“I missed you too.”

He kissed her then, slowly, thoroughly, deepening it in gradual degrees until they were both breathless. He then pulled away and searched her features, once again cursing himself for not seeing what had been before him for so long. She was his soul mate, his other half.

“We really should go.”

“All right, if we have to.” He took her hand and led her outside.

She was quiet on their way to his home and the silence gave him a chance to really look her over. Her hair was combed until the ebony locks shone almost blue in the street light. The small hat she wore drew attention to the cut of her hair and her dainty features. She looked like a doll he’d seen James buy for Jules and Mitch was almost as scared to touch her as he had been to hold the porcelain toy.

As soon as they’d stepped foot onto his property, he felt her stiffen slightly. Christina’s entire demeanor changed, her expression was tight and the hand in his began to tremble.

He stopped short and drew her around to face him. “Hey, you okay?”

“I’m nervous.”

“About what? Chrissy, these are my parents, you know them.” He tried to make his voice reassuring although he had no idea what kind of reception she would get. He trusted his father to make sure his mother was kept in line, the last thing he wanted was for Christina to feel even a hint of the animosity his mother had doled out this afternoon.

“You’re right, they’ve watched me grow up …” Her smile trembled slightly but he was proud to see that she was trying to calm herself. “I just want to make a good impression.”

“You will.” He replied and kissed her.

Before the kiss could become too heated, the front door opened and his parents stepped onto the porch. He groaned softly hoping to make her laugh but she jumped away from him as if she’d been burned instead. Her face was beet red as she faced his parents, her hands clasped demurely before her and Mitch realized she wasn’t merely nervous, she was petrified.

Christina wanted to die. She couldn’t believe his parents had caught them kissing, well truth was it wasn’t much of a kiss but he still had his lips on hers and his hands on her bottom. She closed her eyes and prayed that the ground would swallow her up. No one said anything for several seconds then Mitch saved the situation by turning to his mother as if he’d done nothing scandalous and hugged her tightly.

As they greeted each other, Mitch’s father jogged down the steps and approached her. “Christina?”

She pasted on a wide smile, she could do this. she was an excellent actress. “Evening, Mr. Rios.”

“My goodness I thought you were your sister for a second there.” He took her hands in his and spread them wide. “Let me get a good look at you. Well you’re as pretty as a picture. That son of mine sure can pick them.”

“And he did it twice with the same face.” Siobhan said with a too wide smile as she came to stand beside her husband. Christina glanced at Mitch whose face showed the exact shock that his father’s did. Chrissy didn’t know what to make of their expressions so she laughed at the obvious joke.

“Well you know what they say, if at first you don’t succeed try it with the twin.” As soon as the words left her mouth she wanted to die. The two men turned their shock to her then both began to laugh. Mitch’s mother was also obviously taken aback by her statement. Christina didn’t fail to realize she did not laugh. Dinner was going to be a long affair.

No sooner had they entered the house than Pedro turned to Christina. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“Umm … milk?”

Everyone in the room looked at her as if she’d sprouted wings and had begun to fly around. Pedro smiled broadly and clapped his son on the back. “She’s funny, Mi’jo.” He winked at her. “How about some lemonade?”

“That’d be good too”

He nodded and turned to leave. “No need to bring that in here. Dinner’s ready.” Siobhan said brightly.

Mitch frowned. “I was kind of hoping we’d all have some time to talk before we ate.”

“We can talk around the dinner table, like we always do.”

“That’s fine with me,” Christina added. “It’s been a long time since I sat down to a family dinner.”

“Too busy?” Siobhan asked.

“Unfortunately, yes.”

The older woman turned away. “It’s a sad day when a girl has too little time for her own family.”

Pedro glanced at Christina with an apologetic smile. “I’ll get you that lemonade.”

As soon as he left, Chrissy turned to Mitch. “I’m making a mess of this.”

“No it’s not you.” He brought her into his arms and hugged her tightly. “Just relax, okay?”

“I can’t do this, Mitch.”

“You can. My dad loves you.”

“And your momma doesn’t.”

“She does … in her own way.”

Chrissy shot a look at him. “C’mon Mitch.”

“She does.” He insisted. “How could she not?”

She was about to tell him exactly why not when Pedro walked back into the room. He stopped in his tracks and Christina swore she could see a blush darken his cheeks. “Sorry to interrupt.”

Chrissy pushed Mitch away and took a few steps to the side just for good measure. “You weren’t.”

Pedro chuckled and hugged her. He kissed her temple lightly. “I was young once too, you know. There is nothing wrong with hugging your sweetheart. Now, come, let’s eat.”

Christina followed the family into the small but cozy dining room, Siobhan lead her to a seat then motioned for Mitch to sit across from her. She took a deep breath as she tried to calm her nerves and looked across the small table to find Mitch watching her. She gave him a bright smile and was relieved when he returned the grin.

Pedro said grace and as soon as he was finished picked up the potatoes from the table and began serving himself. “So, Christina, Mitch tells me that your business is doing well.”

“It’s a bar.” Siobhan stated.

Mitch glared at his mother and Christina knew that he was upset because she didn’t accept what Christina had chosen to do with her life. Chrissy knew that most people didn’t and Siobhan’s poorly hidden disdain didn’t bother her much. She turned her attention to Pedro instead. “Yes, I’m just as surprised as everyone else is by how well the townspeople have taken to it.”

“It’s a beautiful place, Pop, you should bring Momma for dinner one night. Enjoy the music.”

“I just might do that.”

Christina went on. “And you could see Mitch in action. I don’t think I would do nearly as well if it weren’t for his help.”

Siobhan snorted. “Fine job that he has waiting on people, the same people he gets paid more money to protect.”

“Momma.” Mitch’s voice was tight with anger.

“Ignore her, Christina.” Pedro said with a small smile.

Christina turned to Mitch’s mother and nodded. “I agree with her.”

Siobhan looked up at her in surprise. “What?”

“I think that it is a waste of Mitch’s talents to be working behind the bar. That said I still thank him for demeaning himself to do it. Hopefully within the next month or two I can afford to actually hire someone to help and Mitch won’t have to.”

“I don’t have to now. I do it because I like helping you, Chrissy.”

She shook her head. “You do it because James asked you to.” She turned to Pedro and shrugged her shoulders as if she hadn’t a care in the world. “Once again I found myself in a tight spot and my brothers have come to the rescue.”

When she looked around the table she saw that Mitch was not amused with her change in attitude. Well, she thought, she was just giving his parents exactly what they expected from her.

Pedro cleared his throat and smiled. “It’s good of your family to look out for you, especially when you’re there alone at night.”

“Once again I thank goodness that Mitch is there.”

“And where do you stay, Mitch, when you don’t come home?” Siobhan asked.

Mitch eyed his mother, his gaze never wavering. “I stay in the bar.”

Christina paled and jumped in. “He stays in a spare room I had made up for my brothers.” She bit her lip and knew from the other woman’s expression that she didn’t really believe it. Once again Christina’s reputation prevented her from getting the benefit of the doubt.

The rest of the meal went by in almost complete silence. Christina only spoke when someone addressed her. She noticed that Siobhan was also quiet. The men filled in the silences well and she was almost certain that the casual onlooker wouldn’t have noticed anything amiss.

“So who’s ready for dessert?” Siobhan asked as she rose from her chair and began to clear the table. “It’s peach cobbler.”

“Oh yes, Ma’am, please.” Mitch replied with a wide grin.

She patted him on his head and turned to her husband who nodded his response. Christina stood as well. “I’ll help you clear.”

“You don’t have to do that.” Pedro said and motioned for her to sit. “You’re a guest here.”

Chrissy smiled. “I’m no guest. Billy practically grew up in this house and my family has been over more than once for meals. Besides, I’m used to clearing, I’d like to help.” The last she directed to Siobhan.

The older woman’s features softened a bit and she nodded. “Thank you, I’d appreciate the help.”

Christina saw a worried look pass between the father and son, but she ignored it, she’d rather she had a one on one talk with Siobhan in private. Better to allow the woman a chance to say what she needed to Christina’s face.

She followed her into the kitchen, but the older woman remained silent as she placed the dishes in the sink and moved to get the dessert plates and pie. Christina finally decided to break the silence. “The meal was delicious, Mrs. Rios.”

“My bangers and mash is Mitch’s favorite meal. The woman he marries will have to learn to cook it.”

“I’m sure she won’t make it quite as good.”

Siobhan turned to her. “No. She won’t.”

So there it was. Christina guessed from all her comments and that one emphasized word that Siobhan didn’t approve of Mitch courting her and she believed it wouldn’t last. Well she knew that most mothers wouldn’t have approved, she had just held hope that Siobhan would have been the exception, after all, she had watched her grow up. She knew her family, they had spent dozens of holidays together, and Siobhan had even consoled her once, when Billy and Mitch were particularly cruel with their teasing.

“Why don’t you approve of me?” Christina cringed as she heard the hurt in her voice and she couldn’t believe she’d opened the conversation for her.

The older woman exhaled softly and crossed her arms over her chest. “Come now, Christina, surely you don’t need me to spell it out.”

“I think I do.”

“You’re not good enough for him. Nor will you ever be good enough for him.” She stated in a matter-of-fact voice. “You’ve cleaned yourself up, but you’re still the same woman beneath the frilly dress. You can dress like Emma, but you will never be Emma.”

“You don’t think I know that? Mitch doesn’t care.”

“He should and if he doesn’t than you should. He’s a hero, people respect him they look up to him, but if he took you as his wife he would be the town’s laughingstock. Why half the men at your wedding could boast that you’ve warmed their bed.”

Christina paled as Siobhan’s words ripped at her heart. “They’d be lying.”

“Would they now? Christina, be truthful. You have never made it any secret that you enjoyed the company of men. You’re no better than the women who worked in that bar before you prettied it up. You take what men offered and when it didn’t suit you any longer you let them go.”

“You’re wrong.”

“You’ll break his heart.” Siobhan said softly and her voice quivered with emotion. “When you get tired of having him in your bed you will toss him out like the rest and you will break his heart.”

Chrissy shook her head. “I love him.”

Siobhan seemed taken aback by the soft words she spoke and reached out to touch Christina’s shoulders. “Then let him go. Let him find a nice girl to marry. Someone he can be proud to have as his wife.”

The young woman met Siobhan’s gaze. Chrissy was surprised that she hadn’t shed a tear, hearing all of her fears brought to the front by this woman hurt her like nothing else could. Still, she wasn’t about to give up.

“Mrs. Rios, I respect your opinion, but you’re wrong and I’m going to prove it to you and everyone else in this town. I love Mitch, I have since I was fifteen and I will do everything in my power not to hurt him. He cares for me too, it doesn’t matter to him what my reputation was. He’s looked beyond that and yes I know he’s a hero and not just because he went off to war or was shot saving the life of a fellow soldier, but because he’s always been there when someone has needed him and he’s never asked for anything in return. Mitch is the first good thing to have happened to me in a very long time and I am not ready to let him go. So you may not wish for Mitch and me to be together, but the fact is we are. Who knows how long it will last, but I’m going to enjoy every second of it.” She kept her chin up throughout her small speech and was relieved when she didn’t shed a single tear. Then, without another word, Christina turned and walked out of the kitchen.

Christina reentered the dining room and the expression on her face had Mitch jumping to his feet. She was pale, her eyes wide and tear-filled, he could only guess what had happened in the kitchen. Siobhan entered the room just behind her, her expression tight, but her eyes were sad. Mitch heard his father mutter a curse and agreed.

She stumbled slightly and he stepped around the table and took Chrissy’s arms in his hands, he didn’t like that she was unsteady. “Are you okay?”

She nodded quickly. “I’m fine. I just don’t feel well. Do you think we could go home now?”

Mitch nodded and turned to his mother. The fury he was feeling must have showed on his face because she took a step back. “Now, Mitch-”

“Mum, what did you say?”

Siobhan opened her mouth to speak, but Christina grabbed his arm and drew his attention. He wondered briefly if his eyes were playing tricks on him or had she indeed become paler. A fine sheen of sweat had dotted her forehead and upper lip and Mitch could feel the blood drain from his own face. “Chrissy?”

“Mitch … I don’t …” She never got to finish. Her eyes rolled back in her head and she fainted in his arms.

to be continued...

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