Would he be here now, pumping Belle for information, if he didn’t? “Of course I do. Why do you ask?”
“If you love your brother half as much as I love Tommy you’d know why I can’t give him up to his grandfather.”
“I can certainly understand your misgivings but—”
“No buts. That’s the end of it. Tommy stays with me. Do you still want the job of protecting him or have you decided not to become involved?”
Damn! Casey already wished he hadn’t become involved. But there was no turning back now. “I won’t abandon you or Tommy. I’ll be around should either of you need me.”
Belle rose somewhat stiffly. “There’s still work to be done in the kitchen. Dolores will be here soon to lend a hand.”
“Belle.” She looked at him, her eyebrows raised askance. “I wish …” He couldn’t say what he was thinking, he had no right. “Christ, get out of here before I lose control.”
Belle knew exactly to what Casey was referring. She had learned more than she wanted about men from her years with Naomi. When she married Tom,she went to him a virgin and had experienced passion for the first time. She could read desire in Casey’s eyes, could smell his arousal, and after a year of celibacy she realized that her own eyes must reflect those same feelings.
Had she finally met a men who could take Tom’s place in her heart? Could she trust Casey enough to place her safety and that of her beloved son into his keeping?
Chapter 4
W an Yo was up and about now, hobbling around on crutches provided by the doctor. A perceptive man, Wan Yo was suspicious of Casey and voiced his suspicions to Belle one evening after she returned home from a hectic day at the diner.
“Wan Yo afraid hiring Mr. Walker not a good thing, Missy Belle,” Wan Yo said. “He big mystery man. Missy Naomi tell Wan Yo to protect Missy Belle and Tommy.”
“I know, Wan Yo,” Belle said with a weary sigh. “I’ve considered that same thing. But I desperately needed someone, with you injured and Tommy getting to be such a rambunctious little scamp. And Mr. Walker was there when I needed him. If not for him … well, I won’t go into that right now. Suffice it to say, Mr. Walker has proven to be trustworthy.”
“Mr. McAllister velly shrewd man, Missy Belle must be careful,” Wan Yo warned. “When Wan Yo’s leg heals you no need bodyguard.”
Belle didn’t want to tell Wan Yo that the incident resulting in his injuries made it impossible to relyon a frail old man for protection. Especially in a town like Placerville, inhabited by miners, drifters, and unscrupulous men. Though she knew precious little about Casey Walker, she did know that he’d been helpful when she’d needed him.
“We will discuss this again when you’re completely well,” Belle temporized. “Meanwhile, we will both keep an eye on Mr. Walker.”
Keeping an eye on Casey Walker was something Belle had done a lot of lately. He was dangerously and subtly intoxicating, and too attractive for her peace of mind. The quicksilver blaze of his hazel eyes consumed her, and the sound of his voice caressed her like sunlight. The way he had kissed her had sent hot blood pounding through her veins, and God only knew she had little information. Yet she trusted him, and that bothered her. She really should learn more about the enigmatic Casey Walker before giving him her trust.
Casey wallowed in indecision, and guilt was no little part of his dilemma. The more he learned about Belle the more he regretted taking this case. He should have dug deeper into Belle’s background before accepting McAllister’s word that she was a whore and an unfit mother. God, what was he going to do? like it or not, he had become deeply enmeshed in the lives of Belle and Tommy. Hell, he admired the woman for her gumption to stand up to McAllister. If he hadn’t already wired the advance to Simon Levy, he’d return the money and tell McAllister to find another man to do his dirty
“If you love your brother half as much as I love Tommy you’d know why I can’t give him up to his grandfather.”
“I can certainly understand your misgivings but—”
“No buts. That’s the end of it. Tommy stays with me. Do you still want the job of protecting him or have you decided not to become involved?”
Damn! Casey already wished he hadn’t become involved. But there was no turning back now. “I won’t abandon you or Tommy. I’ll be around should either of you need me.”
Belle rose somewhat stiffly. “There’s still work to be done in the kitchen. Dolores will be here soon to lend a hand.”
“Belle.” She looked at him, her eyebrows raised askance. “I wish …” He couldn’t say what he was thinking, he had no right. “Christ, get out of here before I lose control.”
Belle knew exactly to what Casey was referring. She had learned more than she wanted about men from her years with Naomi. When she married Tom,she went to him a virgin and had experienced passion for the first time. She could read desire in Casey’s eyes, could smell his arousal, and after a year of celibacy she realized that her own eyes must reflect those same feelings.
Had she finally met a men who could take Tom’s place in her heart? Could she trust Casey enough to place her safety and that of her beloved son into his keeping?
Chapter 4
W an Yo was up and about now, hobbling around on crutches provided by the doctor. A perceptive man, Wan Yo was suspicious of Casey and voiced his suspicions to Belle one evening after she returned home from a hectic day at the diner.
“Wan Yo afraid hiring Mr. Walker not a good thing, Missy Belle,” Wan Yo said. “He big mystery man. Missy Naomi tell Wan Yo to protect Missy Belle and Tommy.”
“I know, Wan Yo,” Belle said with a weary sigh. “I’ve considered that same thing. But I desperately needed someone, with you injured and Tommy getting to be such a rambunctious little scamp. And Mr. Walker was there when I needed him. If not for him … well, I won’t go into that right now. Suffice it to say, Mr. Walker has proven to be trustworthy.”
“Mr. McAllister velly shrewd man, Missy Belle must be careful,” Wan Yo warned. “When Wan Yo’s leg heals you no need bodyguard.”
Belle didn’t want to tell Wan Yo that the incident resulting in his injuries made it impossible to relyon a frail old man for protection. Especially in a town like Placerville, inhabited by miners, drifters, and unscrupulous men. Though she knew precious little about Casey Walker, she did know that he’d been helpful when she’d needed him.
“We will discuss this again when you’re completely well,” Belle temporized. “Meanwhile, we will both keep an eye on Mr. Walker.”
Keeping an eye on Casey Walker was something Belle had done a lot of lately. He was dangerously and subtly intoxicating, and too attractive for her peace of mind. The quicksilver blaze of his hazel eyes consumed her, and the sound of his voice caressed her like sunlight. The way he had kissed her had sent hot blood pounding through her veins, and God only knew she had little information. Yet she trusted him, and that bothered her. She really should learn more about the enigmatic Casey Walker before giving him her trust.
Casey wallowed in indecision, and guilt was no little part of his dilemma. The more he learned about Belle the more he regretted taking this case. He should have dug deeper into Belle’s background before accepting McAllister’s word that she was a whore and an unfit mother. God, what was he going to do? like it or not, he had become deeply enmeshed in the lives of Belle and Tommy. Hell, he admired the woman for her gumption to stand up to McAllister. If he hadn’t already wired the advance to Simon Levy, he’d return the money and tell McAllister to find another man to do his dirty
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