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probably spreading the gossip over at the saloon right now, gave her the strength to pull back. "No," she whispered.
    Brett lowered his hand, but continued to watch the e motions that played over her beautiful face. She wanted him as badly as he wanted her. "Why not?" he asked.
    "It isn't right. I won't . . . I can't . . ." she stammered, not sure how to turn him down. "I won't be the subject of gossip." She paused a moment, realizing how ridiculous that sounded, when she'd just killed a man in a gunfight in the middle of the main street. "I won't have people talking about who I . . . or when . . . like that," she lowered her eyes, blushing at the reference to their sexual behavior.
    Brett saw her redden as she spoke and was surprised she could act so demure when the way she'd responded to him proved she was no innocent. And the fact the lady was a gunfighter made her pretense of modesty nearly laughable. One didn't search out and kill four murderers without learning a few facts of life along the way. Brett's mouth turned up into a slow smile of, amusement. "Then when and where can we continue this? You've started a fire in me that needs to be put out, and soon. I'm pretty uncomfortable right now," he said, allowing his glance to fall briefly to the bulge in his trousers before fixing her with a purposeful stare.
    Cass' s eyes opened wide. Responding to a man's unexpected kiss was one thing; arranging a time and place to have sex was quite another. "Never!" she burst out. "How dare you!"
    "How dare I?" Brett asked incredulously.
    "Yes. How dare you assume I'd be willing to plan . . . it," she finished.
    “ lt'?" Brett almost laughed out loud at her. "Who do you think you're going to fool with this shocked-virgin routine?"
    Cass's mouth opened, but no sound came out. She was shocked. She was mortified. "I'm not trying to fool anyone," she finally managed.
    "Good." Brett's voice became seductive. "Because you took to me like cream on fresh milk. I'd hate to think all that passion was going to go to waste."
    "You pompous ass," Cass hissed, backing away from him. "You think just because you kissed me that I'm ready to fall into bed with you?"
    Brett shook his head. "You're one confusing lady, Cass. I wasn't the only one doing the kissing. It takes two, you know. And since you seem to have forgotten, you responded to me with more heat than an August brushfire."
    Had she? Cass did n't know what a man expected from a woman.
    Brett continued. "If that character hadn't blundered in here we'd be on the floor right now, and I promise you, you'd be forgetting all the men who came before me.”
    Cass just stood in stunned silence, blood staining her face with embarrassed shock. All the men who came before him, he'd said? Did he think she was a slut? Obviously. Clenching her jaw tightly, she breathed through her nose in deep, self-righteous puffs.
    "Come on, honey, ” Brett urged, ignoring her indignant stare. Maybe he shouldn't have been so blunt. He knew most women couldn't handle the truth unless it was sugar coated, but damn it, she'd participated in their kiss like a cat in heat, and for her to pretend such innocence now just rubbed him the wrong way. "You know I’m telling the truth. Next time I'll plan things better so we won't be interrupted."
    "Marshal Ryder, ponies will fly before you touch me again," she spat between clenched teeth as she turned abruptly and headed for the door. As she jerked it open, she turned back toward him briefly, ready to sling a foul insult in his direction, only to be caught short by the steel gray of his eyes as he returned her glare. "I . . never mind," she finished. Turning her back on him, she stepped outside and slammed the door behind her. "What a conceited jerk," she breathed as she stood in the brilliant sunlight that beat unmercifully on the wooden sidewalk. Pausing there a moment while she decided which way to go, she welcomed the sun's heat as a much-needed poultice to her wounded