Mallory Rush - [Outlawsand Heroes 02] (26 page)

"Even if it's gone, at least we have the acreage we really wanted. I'm sure your parents would be pleased to know that our foundation is where theirs used to be."

"In more ways than one." Noble linked his hand with hers. "Love, the strongest foundation of all. Neither time nor death can weaken its hold." And then he whispered something against her belly. No doubt a word of love and a gentle warning to their unborn child to stay quiet, just as he would in future years when he recounted the adventures of his ancestor whose name and likeness on a wanted poster he was given the honor to inherit.

Eyeing the stack of papers between them, Lori smiled suggestively. "I thought you had a bar exam to study for."

Noble tapped his lips. "Never mind that now," he said briskly. "After all, if I could secure a birth certificate and recent diploma in exchange for my contribution to science, if I could father a child despite the primitive freezing and thawing of my seed, if I could demand and get an order prohibiting any future contact with me, my wife, and any number of children we might have... Ah well, given all that, passing the bar, almost prepared, should prove an easy enough task."

"Why Noble Zhivago, barrister, I daresay you're a pistol," she quipped, imitating his most proper British accent.

He chuckled and tossed his legal pads and law books to the floor. After a soft kiss, he carefully settled himself on top of her and proudly said, "And you, my lady, have me in your pocket."

The End

Want more from Mallory Rush?

Page forward for an excerpt from

DANGER AND DESIRE

Outlaws and Heroes

Book Three

Excerpt from

Danger and Desire

Outlaws and Heroes

Book Three

by

Mallory Rush

Bestselling, Award-winning Author

His thumb stroked her jugular. "You're not afraid of me, are you, Mel?"

She was afraid of him like she'd never been afraid before. Scared senseless that this damaged man could damage her heart—and destroy her career in the process.

"Should I be?" she whispered haltingly.

"Oh, yeah," he murmured. "You most definitely should be fearful of a man who's as needy as I am." He smiled then. With about as much warmth as a Canadian winter.

Melissa shivered. "And just what do you charge for your services?"

"Depends on what you can afford. Seein' that money's no object to me and I like to consider my organization as a nonprofit social service, I prefer to barter. Nice suit I was wearing today, wasn't it?"

"Brooks Brothers, eat your heart out."

"Yep. Even retired tailors can fall on hard times and find out it's not what they know but who they know that calls the shots. I call 'em as I see them. Oh, which reminds me. That envelope you gave me had a phone number where you could be reached and—"

"Did you call there?" she asked anxiously.

"Why do you sound like you're worried that I might've?"

Where was her training when she needed it? Top of her class and she'd been reduced to weighing the price of her failure against the possible miscarriage of justice she'd been given to carry out.

"Of course I'm worried about you calling me. If you're being bugged, then there could be a tap on your phone."

"There is," he assured her with a dry chuckle. "And that's why I didn't call but let my fingers do the walking." He walked his down her arm and rubbed her inner wrist. "Your pulse is beating awfully fast. So's mine. Now, about that motel where you're staying..."

"Yes?" she whispered, grateful for the wall's support.

"It's not exactly a Motel 6, but I'd rather you be staying somewhere with a style more suitable to you."

"I'm afraid that's not within my means." Not only that, she was staying where the Bureau had put her up.

"My means are plenty ample," he assured her. "And I'd very much like to expend some on a worthy cause. Let me put you up, Mel. No strings, I swear. I just want you staying in the best place possible for as long as you're here. Given my current situation, it could take a little while to deal with yours. By the time I can manage it, who knows? Maybe you'll decide Dallas has enough fatal appeal to stay for more than a visit."

Clay Barker was fatal appeal incarnate, and she was ready to take up residence in this alley in exchange for the kiss she was longing for. If only he wasn't who he was. If only she wasn't who she was....

"Melissa? You're awful quiet. Hope you didn't take offense. I just want to help you. It'd make me feel real good." He leaned in, brushed his hips lightly against hers. "C'mon darlin'," he murmured, "make me feel good."

Danger and Desire

Outlaws and Heroes

Book Three

by

Mallory Rush

~

To purchase

Danger and Desire

from your favorite eBook Retailer,

visit Mallory Rush's eBook Discovery Author Page

www.ebookdiscovery.com/MalloryRush

~

Discover more with

eBookDiscovery.com

Page forward and continue your journey

with an excerpt from

HURTS SO GOOD