Microsoft Word - Jenny dreamed Read Online Free Page A

undefined.The lines of his high cheekbones and firm, strong chin were inherently aristocratic, his forehead high and well-formed above a long, Roman nose. An upper lip that curved like a gull's wings in flight served to emphasize the full, sensual shape of his lower lip. Most appealing,' though, to women were Dev Cantrell's eyes. They were arresting. Their odd, gold-flecked color was ever-changing -at times a pale brown, at others, a leonine golden glare that intimidated those who had drawn him to anger. Full, straight brows framed the commanding eyes, in a shade slightly darker than his sun-burnished hair. Amber-brown lashes, as thick and long as any woman might covet, seemed at times to make his gaze inscrutable.
    At the moment, Sally was not concerned with the attractiveness of the man sharing her bed.
    Already, as the intense feelings of pleasure faded, she was considering the consequences of her surrender. Dear Lord, she thought, taken with a sudden fit of trembling, what would Pa do to her? Only once before had she given in to the temptation of sin. Somehow her Pa had found out and whipped her for the indiscretion. Since then she had maintained a firm grip on her sinful nature, but now she had slipped, and Pa would only have to take one look at her guilty face to know it!
    "Dev?" In the half-light of the darkened room, Sally poked at his ribs. This was as much his fault as hers, maybe more, 'cause he was so blasted good-looking! "Dev, my Pa ain't gonna take kindly to this. I don't think you've ever seen him when he's all riled." Her voice shook a little, revealing her apprehension.
    Dev sighed heavily, sitting up and shoving a pillow behind his back to soften the hard surface of the wooden headboard. "Unless you feel like confessing, girl, how will he ever know?" His tone was reasonable, soothing, as though he were explaining a simple fact to a child. "He'll know!"
    "Believe me, honey, you aren't wearing a brand just because you did what comes natural."
    He leaned over, reaching for his shirt on the floor. A second later his face was illuminated briefly as he lit a long, thin cigar. "Besides, your Pa won't be back from the mines for another six weeks. And who knows when your houseguest'll show?" A warm hand touched the edge of her breast and Sally shivered involuntarily at the intimate caress. "There's plenty of time to indulge a bit, and no one'Il ever be the wiser." His voice was as persuasive as the fingers that now traced light circles over her belly.
    "Damn you, Dev Cantrell!" Sally felt wanton and immoral and she loved it, despite the fact that his teasing had drawn a rare cirss word from 'her. "Sometimes I think you got the devil guidin' you!" She heard a deep chuckle from his side of the bed and a brief sizzle as he tossed his cigar into the glass of water on the nightstand. A moment later she found herself drawn against his warm, naked body and as her fingers curved together behind his head, she added with a soft, resigned sigh, "Course they say he was a handsome one, too damn good-lookin', just like you!"
    Later that same day, Dev rode reluctantly into town to meet the stage from Helena. He'd been expecting the "houseguest" for over a week now, and his temper had grown more testy with each hour-long ride into Langdon and each stage that failed to deliver Jennifer Bryant. He could have made the sixty-mile trip south to Helena, met the girl there, and escorted her back to her parents' home, but it had also been left to him to find a housekeeper and oversee the arrangements for this visit.
    What had started as a simple request from his old friend Jared Bryant had become an irritating and disagreeable task. He had a brief rebellious notion simply to stay at the house and let the tardy Miss Bryant make her own arrangements, but he dismissed it immediately.

    He owed Jared more loyalty than that and was determined to see this through until the girl was off his hands.
    On his ride, he let his mount take the lead,