Read Running Wild for Free Online Page B

the
collar so much it was hopelessly wrinkled. Yet he seemed unaware of his
disheveled state as he squatted down next to her. He touched her arm briefly
and looked into her eyes as if he had every right to care for her, as if he
were one of her beaus. Or a knight in shining armor, come to rescue a damsel in
distress. Any other man would have irritated her with such a gesture, for she
was perfectly capable of taking care of herself. She despised the wisdom of
male superiority that subscribed women as too delicate to stand on their own.
From Nicholas, however, the rescue felt . . . different. He’d put himself at
eye level and his creased brow told of genuine concern. It wriggled its way
into her chest, and then flowed like warm honey over her nerves, vanquishing
guilt, easing the shaking.
    “Isabella Kingston,” she answered him. “A friend of mine.
Del says she died in a coach accident.”
    His lovely blue eyes, long lashed and compassionate, held
hers without a trace of arrogance. “I’m sorry,” he said, simply. “Can I fetch
you a glass of water? Maybe take you outside for some fresh air?”
    She managed a smile. “I have some champagne, but something
stronger would be more fortifying.”
    He nodded and straightened. “Brandy it is, ma’am. Back in a
jiff.” He turned and walked through the crowd like Moses parting the Red Sea.
Her eyes followed him, enjoying the way he moved—confidence without pretension.
    “Brandy?” Del said. “A trifle excessive, isn’t it, Star?”
    Nicholas was the only man she’d ever met who thought her
strong enough to consume hard liquor. Too strong, perhaps? For all this
attention, since they’d returned from Texas his response to her attempts at
flirtation had been muted at best. Perhaps her strength and too-tall body
repelled him.
    What did that matter when Bella was dead?
    “Better than whisky, I suppose,” Lee said with a sigh.
    It didn’t, not much at any rate, but too much thought in
Bella’s direction would bring about sadness and rage, emotions that good
manners forbade expressing in public. With a deep breath, she buried the fear,
pain and guilt, and focused instead on Nicholas. Flirtation was not only
acceptable in social situations, it was expected.
     “Ah, he’s returning,” Del said. “If you don’t mind, I
should like to join my wife.” The last came our harshly and Star switched her
regard from Nicholas to catch Jane, across the room, smiling too brightly at
one of Jess’s former acting troupe. “And you, Lee,” Del continued, “might wish
to see to your own wife.”
    Lee scowled. “She seems well occupied,” he said, his eyes
moving from Nicholas, who’d dragged a chair over to Star, to Jess standing next
to Jane and laughing with the improbably-blond Michelle Dubois.
    “Trust me, old man,” Del said, his voice traced with anger
and long-suppressed suffering. “It’s folly to leave your bride alone for too
long. Come.”
    Nicholas nodded at Lee as he sat down. “Waiter’ll bring back
a snifter in just a few minutes. She’s looking a little less peaked now, tho’.
Go see to Jess.”
    Flashing a warning at Star, Lee joined Del, striding
purposefully across the room toward Jane, Jess and her troupe.
    ***
    What the devil was he doing? Nick wondered, as he kept an
eye out for the waiter. He barely knew Star— Miz Montgomery . He had no
right to come roaring to her rescue. That was Lee and Ward’s duty. Besides, of
all the women he’d ever known, Miz Montgomery was the last one who’d ever need
rescuing. She could likely take better care of herself than most men could. And
to fetch her brandy ? What kind of a fool gave a woman brandy?
    What kind of a woman drank it?
    He did. She did. They’d danced this waltz together at the
Bar M. This, though, was in public, not in the privacy of his home. Women ought
not to drink hard liquor in public. . .
    Too late. The waiter was walking toward them with a full
snifter of brandy on a silver tray.