Hunter turned to place his shirt on a chair. His hand was trembling with the excitement of being near such a flawless wonder. He really didn't care that she was a prostitute; he had dreamed of her since he'd been injured. He realized now he must have seen her sometime before, and her image had become his model for perfection.
When he turned back to the bed, she was gone. For an instant he thought she still might have been only a dream.
Glancing around, he saw her standing by the windows beside a large dresser. Relief was evident in his face as he watched her draw something from a desk. She turned to face him, her huge brown eyes filled with pain, a small gun in her hand.
She didn't know what kind of game Hunter was playing, but she wanted no part of it. "I'm not Molly. I nursed you when I found you during the war. I lay beside you in the barn loft to give you my body's heat. I fought death with you. Last month I had to leave my home and you helped me." Her words were coming in gulps now as she backed away from him like a frightened animal. "You are the only man who has ever touched me. I thought I was bound to you-that we were forever a part of each other. I cannot believe I almost made love with you when I mean nothing more to you than a paid attraction."
Hunter's mind spun. The whiskey, the bump on his head, Jennifer's unfaithfulness, and now this. He tried to think of what to say. "Does it matter? You're here and I've dreamed of you for so long. I want you like I've never wanted another woman. I ache now from wanting you."
Hunter moved toward her. He watched her clutch her nightgown tightly together with one hand as she held the small pistol in the other. Her beauty intoxicated him, drawing him to her. The danger mattered little. He could still taste her kiss on his tongue, and he knew he was drunk on her loveliness.
"Stay back, Hunter," she said. He could see the hurt in her eyes, the fear, and something else… determination. The pain in her eyes shot through his very heart, hurting him far more than any bullet she might fire at him.
"I'll shoot you if you come any closer," she said as she lifted her chin and blinked the tears from her eyes. His hard chest glowed in the firelight and she longed to run her fingers over the soft hair covering his body. But she could not, would not, give herself so cheaply.
"What do you want from me?" Hunter asked, frustrated. The muscle rippled over his jawline, reminding her of his strong will.
"I wanted your love, but now I only want your absence," she ordered as they heard voices from Molly's room.
In an instant she vanished from Hunter's sight. In complete darkness she ran through the connecting door to the small office, across the office, and into the hall.
Hunter heard Abram calling him as he darted after her.
"I'm here, Abram!" he shouted as he grabbed his clothes and began dressing. Abram and Luke appeared in the doorway. They were both rain-soaked and muddy.
"Where's Miss Perry?" Luke demanded as his eyes searched the room.
Hunter nodded at Abram, noticing Abram did not return his greeting. Stone-faced, both men stood in the doorway watching Hunter dress.
"Sir, I asked you a question. Where is Miss Perry?" Luke drew himself up and clenched his fists. "If you've harmed her, I'll break you into so many pieces, they'll not find enough to bury."
"Slow down, Luke," Abram said as he placed his arm across the other man's chest. Luke's anger vibrated from his huge frame. "We'll get the answers."
"Is this man a madman? Need you hold him back, Abram?" Hunter asked as he buttoned his shirt. "Surely he can't be seriously thinking to do me harm."
"No, Hunter." Abram's words slapped Hunter. "I'll not hold him back unless you answer his question. If you've hurt Miss Perry, I'm planning to help him. I know you well, but it looks very bad with you standin' here in her room putting your clothes on."
"Now I know you're mad!" Hunter backed up until he sat on the bed. He lowered his head and thought for a long minute. What a crazy night this had been, and now his best friend was about to turn against him. As Hunter realized how badly he had misjudged Perry, he couldn't blame Luke and Abram for reacting so violently. He raised his gray eyes to the two men before him and spoke honestly. "I wish you both would knock some sense into me. I won't even fight back. I mistook Perry for another kind of woman. I hurt her very deeply. She ran out of here crying. Before you beat me to a pulp, can I find her and at least say I'm sorry?"
Luke and Abram looked at each other. A part of each man wanted to slam a fist into Hunter, but both saw the pain he already felt. Abram saw just how much Hunter cared for Perry, knowing his friend was the kind of man not given to hurting anyone. He'd help him talk to her, but Hunter had better make it right.
"We'll help you find the little lady, but if she doesn't forgive you, I'll have my turn with you," Luke said.
Hunter stared at Abram. "Why didn't you tell me Perry was here?"
Before Abram could answer, Molly stormed between the two pillars of muscle blocking the door. "Where's Perry?" Molly's keen eyes surveyed the room, but it was Hunter's face that told her all she needed to know. Stomping her bulk to within inches of him, Molly waved her chubby finger in his face. "You be either a filthy swine like your cousin, or a fool for sure. Perry made you out to be a god, and here you sit showin' what an ass you be. You're no better than any other man. Perry's an innocent lady who needed a slow, loving awakening. From the looks of it, you stormed in, threw the curtain back and started yellin'. Blast your hide, I'd like to-"
Hunter caught Molly's flying hand. "You'll have to stand in line. There's two ahead of you." He moved his head toward the two still blocking the door.
Molly glanced at Luke and Abram. Hunter lowered her hand to her side. He stood up, tucking his shirt into his pants. "You must be Molly," he stated, rubbing his forehead. "I wish I'd met you half an hour ago. But right now we've got to find Perry. I've got to talk with her."
"I saw the front door ajar when I came up," Molly lied. She had heard the attic door close but had no intention of giving Perry's hiding place away. "I'll stay here in case she comes back."
Hunter grabbed his cape, bolting through the door and disappearing before Abram and Luke could even move to follow. For a moment the two giants struggled for the same space in the door frame.
"Hey, leave me my door, boys!" Molly laughed at the comic pair. Despite her ranting of a few minutes ago, she was in a jolly mood. Molly had seen the passion burning behind Hunter's eyes. She knew he had looked at Perry as a woman. Call it lust or love-he would burn for Perry until the fire was quenched. Judging from the depth of his flame, it might take a lifetime to quench.
Chapter 25
Perry silently tiptoed up the dusty attic steps. Reaching the top, she jerked Hunter's necklace from around her neck as though it were burning her flesh. She threw the shining disc as far into the dark attic as it would sail and had the satisfaction of hearing it hit a wall and fall to the floor. Feeling her way to two large trunks, she slid between them like a frightened child hiding from the world.
She waited, listening for footsteps. Slowly, as the moments ticked by silently, Perry relaxed. Curling her knees to her chin, she wrapped her slender arms around her legs and buried her face in her lap. Emotions churned within her like beans in a coffee grinder, colliding into one another until all were split open and raw. Love and hate ground together with a newfound feeling: passion.
Nothing had felt more wonderful than being in Hunter's arms. The warmth of his mouth exploring hers had been explosive, as were his strong fingers moving over her body, setting a fire wherever they touched. Yet how could she forget the pain that shot through her when he thought he could buy her love?
Ten minutes passed before Perry heard a sound. She lifted her head to listen to the familiar sound of Molly's steps. After pausing to catch her breath, the woman emerged carrying a chubby candle and two steaming mugs.