Castillo's Fiery Texas Rose - By Tessa Berkley Page 0,89

that could only belong to her marshal.

At the landing, she glanced over her shoulder to see how her friend was making out. Her hand on the rail, Penny seemed to be managing the climb on her own. Mary Rose noted her husband didn’t bother to offer her a hand in assistance.

Trace would have. The statement flashed into her mind and, without another thought, she knew it would be true. She felt a bit sorry that Penny hadn’t found that. “Nearly there,” she told Penny, catching her glance. Moving toward the doorway to Daniel’s room, a sobering thought bubbled up, and she knew Trace was a different kind of man than most. His actions were always chivalrous. He took into account her feelings as a woman.

Her thumb brushed the back of the ring he’d given her last night. She looked down and stared at the heart. Her thoughts focused on everything he’d done for her since finding her. Her hand pressed against the doorknob, and she looked back. Trace stood off to the side. His blue eyes grew dark and smoldered with anger, so unlike the concerned and sympathetic ones he’d shown to her when he found her hiding in the brush. Suddenly, she wanted those eyes back.

Her brow puckered. Was she ready to bend her tough Irish pride?

“Mary Rose, are you all right?” Penny’s voice brought her back to reality.

“Yes, I was just thinking.” She smiled. “Here we are.” She turned the knob and pushed the door back. “It’s right across from mine, if you need anything.”

Penny swept past her. “Oh, it’s just fine,” she said brightly.

Mary Rose smiled again and turned her head to see Trace come through the door—and any other thought scattered. His elbow brushed her sleeve. She held her breath. Her nerves stretched and twisted in knots as if she expected him to make some sort of caustic remark. Instead, he ignored her. She realized that hurt worse.

“A very nice room,” the captain remarked. “I’m sure we’ll enjoy it during our stay.”

“I’ll leave you two to get settled,” she said, and, not wanting to be in the room with the man, she hurried toward the door. The captain’s words stopped her.

“Actually, since my wife is going to rest, perhaps this would be a good time for me to discuss the case with you over at the sheriff’s office, Marshal.”

She glanced at Trace. A pleasant enough smile for those who didn’t know him, yet she could sense the wary lion beneath. Her heart hammered in her chest. She didn’t want a scene to mar Penny’s visit or to cause any more problems than she already could have with the government.

Trace cast a look at her that made her shiver. “I want to make sure Sheriff Weston will be there to talk to you, Captain Wallace. I know you’d like to be fully informed.”

Her eyes narrowed. Trace’s smile widened. He reminded her of a cat toying with a mouse.

“I’ll wait for you downstairs, with Mary Rose.” He stepped quickly to her side and propelled her from the room.

“What are you up to?” she hissed as soon as they were out of earshot.

“I’m getting a viper from your midst,” he replied, his eyes focused ahead and not giving her a glance as they moved down the hallway at breakneck speed. Mary Rose pulled to a stop and wrested her arm from his grasp.

“I’ll have you know Penny is my good friend,” she snipped, glaring at him.

His brow rose over his right eye. “She may be, but something tells me her husband is not an admirer.”

She opened her mouth to complain, but his grasp tightened again on her elbow, and she lifted her skirts to maneuver the stairs. Once down them, he let her go as if her skin was on fire, and she swirled to meet him.

“Penny and her husband are my guests,” she said. “They are here in my home, and I expect if you come around that you will remember that fact.”

“If I come around?” He moved closer. She could see the anger shimmering in the depths of his brown eyes. “Oh, I will come around, my Irish Rose. And, when I do, I will have a smile on my face. But, while I’m gone, you think on this. If Captain Wallace is here to do an investigation, by all rights he needs to keep it impartial.”

She should tell him about those boots. Yet, as she watched, his eyes warmed as he stepped closer, and her thoughts