Renegade Read Online Free

decisions.”
    “One of your better decisions ?”
    “I decided to walk away then, but I’ve been doing some thinking about it in the time since. I made a mistake. I’m here to correct it.”
    “I’ve also been doing some thinking. I figure it might be time to change some things, too.”
    “It’s always dangerous for a woman to think.”
    “Is that so?” Silently outraged, Samantha replied with tenuous control, “I’ve done a lot of thinking most of my life. I hate to believe I’ve been wasting my time.”
    “All I can say to that is…” Matt paused to revise his intended response. “If thinking brought you to me right now, I have to figure it wasn’t wasted.”
    Oh, he was too smooth!
    Samantha gritted her teeth and smiled forcibly. She didn’t like Matt’s attitude or the way the conversation between them was progressing. As a matter of fact, she didn’t like Matt.
    Realizing that last acknowledgment could cause her a problem, Samantha said, “Look, things got a little out of control that day for both of us. I think we should start again and get to know each other a little better.”
    Matt leaned closer to trail his mouth against her cheek. He whispered, “I think we know each other well enough already.”
    “I don’t.” Aware that Matt was about to cover her mouth with his, Samantha ordered coldly, “Not so fast.”
    Matt did not reply.
    “I have some pride, you know.”
    “If you had pride, you wouldn’t be working here.”
    Samantha bristled. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re going to have to make up for that fiasco in the alleyway a week ago.”
    “I was only joking with my last remark,” Matt replied belatedly.
    “You weren’t funny.”
    “Maybe not. I’m sorry.”
    Somehow even angrier, Samantha said, “I don’t want to end up like I did last week. I need to know what to expect from you. We need to talk.”
    Matt drew back, his light eyes hardening. “Talking isn’t exactly what I had in mind.”
    “Maybe so, but I didn’t have a deserted alleyway as my ultimate goal when I first saw you, either. Just so you know,” Samantha continued, “there are plenty of fellas willing to take your place right now, so I need to make something clear. I expect some conversation first.”
    “Conversation.”
    “Considering what happened, I need to know a little about you…about the way you think.”
    “You know all you need to know.”
    “But not all that I intend to know, especially why you left me that day.”
    “I told you—”
    “You said you made a bad decision, but you didn’t say why.”
    Samantha realized the risk she was taking when Matt drew himself up angrily and said, “I guess it’s time for me to think some things over, too. You’re obviously not the woman I believed you were.”
    “Is that good or bad?”
    “I’ll let you know.”
    Turning away from her without another word, he strode back across the saloon and out through the swinging doors.
    Once again left abandoned and seething, Samantha was determined not to show anger when a voice at her elbow said, “It’s not like I didn’t warn you.”
    Samantha turned toward Toby and replied automatically, “He’s a bastard, but I’ll figure him out.”
    “If you’ll take off those blinders you’re wearing, I think it’ll be pretty obvious what Matt is thinking.”
    Samantha looked at the old man’s sober expression. She knew what his reply would be before she asked, “And what is that?”
    “Matt figures it’s worth spending some time with you, but not his whole future.”
    “What if I’m not interested in the future, either?” Samantha replied deliberately.
    “If you’re not, you’re doing a damned good imitation of wanting more than Matt’s willing to offer.”
    “I only asked for some conversation.”
    “He don’t want it.”
    “I don’t care what he wants. It’s what I want that counts.”
    “Then look for another fella.”
    “What if I don’t want to?”
    “Well, then…”