Castillo's Fiery Texas Rose - By Tessa Berkley Page 0,64

do.” Placing a finger beneath her chin, he tilted her head up to look into her eyes. “What troubles you?”

The color in her cheeks faded, and Trace watched her chin tremble. “I need to know that you, when we—” She halted her thoughts and took a deep breath.

“It’s for the right reasons,” he said, and let his hands fall to his side. His joy in asking her was replaced with anger and hurt. “It is right. I will get Father Tomas, and we will seal our vows. You will see it is right,” he said with an emotional detachment.

“Right? Right for you or right for me?”

He turned and unleashed his anger on his clothes, yanking them onto his body. “We must do what is right before God. I realize you have not had time to think. Take this afternoon, and we will talk tonight. I will pick you up at five for dinner at the hotel.”

“An afternoon. How generous of you, Marshal. You want to marry me because I was a virgin.” She stood quietly in the room, her arms folded about her body.

“I will marry you because it is the right thing to do.” Trace knew he sounded sharp. He wished he could take the bitter edge from his words. He sighed and walked over to her. His hands on her arms, he moved his palms up and down, hoping to bring warmth back to her body. “I am doing this, my Irish Rose, not because I took your virtue, but because I wish it.”

She glanced up. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

Softening, he smiled. “I told you the other day we would come together. Nothing can stop us, and nothing can keep us apart. You will be my wife.” He kissed her gently. “Now hurry, for Rand will be returning. I will wait for you downstairs.” Leaving her with a smile, he went down the stairs to unlock the front door.

****

The thrill, the glow of romance, faded in an instant. Mary Rose turned and picked up her blouse, drawing it across her arms. He was offering her marriage because of his blasted honor. She knew it, even though he didn’t admit it. She sat down heavily on the bed and ran her hands over the rumpled sheets.

She might have believed him if he’d said he loved her. The words “let me make love to you” didn’t have the same ring. She sighed and slid a slipper onto her foot. It had been so easy to give her heart. Why didn’t he? What had that woman done to so crush his heart that he could not say those simple words, I love you? Lying back across the bed, she closed her eyes and crushed his pillow to her chest.

She wanted to breathe in the scent of him. Could she marry without his words of commitment? Her breasts prickled against her blouse, and she knew the truth. Yes, I could marry him, and every night I could lie with him, making love, holding on to whatever happiness I could find, and praying one day he would feel the same.

Below her, the door opened, and she heard the sound of Trace’s voice speaking to Rand. Mary Rose stood and brushed the wrinkles from her skirt, then tucked her blouse in at the waistline. There was no doubt in her mind that her face would tell Rand what they had been doing. She ran her fingers through her hair and did her best to push it back into place. With one last look in the small mirror on the wall, she moved quietly down the stairs.

Halfway down the stairs, she paused. The voices were louder, and she pushed her hair behind her ears as if that would allow her to better hear what was said.

“So, did you get things worked out?” Rand’s voice drifted up to her.

“We will marry,” Trace answered. “No one will dare confront a marshal’s wife.”

Her throat tightened. Oh, yes, things worked out the only way you saw them. She sighed quietly, putting aside the rankled feelings that made her shoulders grow tense.

“Any sign of the army?”

“Tomorrow,” the sheriff replied. “I expect him here on the stage sometime around noon.” She heard the sound of papers being shuffled and smelled coffee. “Do you think the army might put up some fuss if those rifles aren’t found?”

“Don’t know.” Trace’s voice carried around the corner of the hallway. “The government in Austin is pretty messed up with all the reconstruction heads.