Kate's Outlaw (Steam! Romance and Rails) by E.E. Burke Page B

kissed me?”
    “No.” He would never be sorry for that.
    “Neither am I.” She hugged her arms like she was trying to comfort herself. Was that something she’d learned as a child? She’d grown up virtually alone. He understood loneliness, even with family around, but that didn’t mean he could fill the emptiness her life, any more than she could shed light into his. They were from worlds as far apart as the sun was from the moon.
    She stared off at some point over his shoulder, seemingly oblivious to the tears streaking down her cheeks.
    The ache in his chest got worse. “Why are you crying?”
    Her gaze shifted, meeting his with uncomfortable directness. “Why are you taking me back?”
    Did he need to elaborate? “You know why. It’s not safe for you here.”
    “That’s not the only reason.”
    That was the only reason he was going to give her. He searched for his hat and picked it up from the ground where she’d dropped it. “We need to get moving before we run out of daylight.”
    “I’m not going back to the worksite,” she announced.
    He drew the reins over his horse’s neck. “We’ve been through this. I’m not taking you to the council.”
    “I know. You’ve made that crystal clear.” She stomped over to a low-hanging limb and picked another peach, then stuffed it into the sack holding the rest of their food. “I want to go to Ladore.”
    “Ladore?” he exclaimed. “That’s another two days’ ride.”
    “Not if we catch the workers’ train.”
    “We?” He circled his finger beside her head. “Has something jarred loose? Why do you think I’d get on that train with you?”
    “Because it’s the quickest way to get to Ladore.”
    “I don’t want to go to Ladore.”
    She acted like she hadn’t heard him. “I have a room at the hotel, and I want to get fresh clothes and clean up. I’ll send a telegram to my father to meet us there. You can explain to him in person what you want.”
    “Your father?” The heat had to be getting to her. “He won’t talk to me.”
    “He will, if you make it worth his while. You can suggest an alternate route and since you know the council members, you can serve as a go-between for the negotiations.”
    Jake’s head was spinning. “ What negotiations?”’
    “The ones where we’ll work out a compromise. One that will be satisfactory to both sides.” She spoke slowly and clearly, as if she were speaking to a half-wit. Then she turned and lifted her foot. It was a moment before he realized she wanted him to help her into the saddle, not kiss her boot.
    Once they were mounted, he kicked the horse into a brisk trot. She circled her arms around his waist and smashed her breasts against his back. Did she think because she rubbed her sweet body against him he would grant her wishes?
    “I’m not going to Ladore,” he rasped. God, he wanted her in the worse way, and she was using his weakness against him. 
    “You’d rather go to jail?”
    He flushed with anger. “Are you threatening me?”
    “I’m negotiating.”
    “It’s called blackmail. Maybe your father calls it negotiation, and that’s why you’re confused.”
    “ Call it what you will. I didn't want it to come to this. If you’d just be reasonable about our idea—”
    “ Our idea? Since when did it—?”
    “All you have to do is tell my father you’re sure the council will approve. Once he’s signed off, you and I can take the proposal to them. In return, I’ll make sure the railroad doesn’t come anywhere near your aunt’s farm.”
    “And if I refuse, you turn me in to the sheriff for stealing?”
    “No, I tell them you abducted and molested me.”
    “Thunderation!” he roared. “That’s a lie.”
    “No, it isn’t. You did abduct me, and you kissed me. Three times.” She waved three fingers in front of his face.
    “That’s not molesting you.”
    “It is in polite circles.”
    Jake retreated into sullen silence. He had no one but himself to blame for mess.