He scraped his hand along his jaw, startled when skin met skin. He’d decided to shave his substantial beard for this case. He’d also traded his usual attire for a formal three-piece suit, complete with bolo tie and a pair of bona fide cowboy boots. Adam Draper, Missouri cattleman, had pockets that were well-lined. And he wouldn’t allow an opportunity to flirt with a beautiful woman pass him by.
He affixed a teasing smile on his face and, reaching across the table, brushed a stray crumb from the corner of her mouth. “If I were able to secure a room here, would I be required to sample more desserts?”
Surprise lit her eyes. She pressed trembling fingers to her cheek. “Well, I suppose I could use someone to assist me in that manner. If you wouldn’t mind...”
Adam straightened. She wasn’t accustomed to flirtation, then. Why the notion should please him, he couldn’t say. Steady, old boy. Remember, the best criminals are sometimes the most accomplished actors.
The door in the far corner that led to the rear stoop opened and closed. A woman he guessed to be in her sixties bustled in. She took one glance at the pair of them and, plopping her sacks on the counter, jammed one fist against her ample hip.
“And who might you be?”
* * *
Deborah watched as the handsome stranger softened Aunt Mae’s bristling attitude with a dazzling smile and earnest manner. He indicated that he was in town to scout out potential locations for his expansive ranching operation and would need a room indefinitely. The promise of steady income pleased the businesswoman, of course.
As the pair made to exit the kitchen, the look Adam Draper shot over his shoulder at Deborah remained seared in her mind the rest of the afternoon. There’d been a flicker of something so dark and forbidding, it struck fear in her heart and sent her thoughts scattering to St. Louis and the arranged marriage she’d escaped with hours to spare. Her father was still furious, according to her sister’s telegrams, and still scouring the state for her. But Cowboy Creek was so new it wasn’t on the map. Surely, he wouldn’t think to look in Kansas.
By the time the evening meal had been placed on the table, she was convinced she’d misinterpreted things. Mr. Draper was the first of the guests to arrive. He entered the wide, airy dining room and greeted her with an easy grin. His deep brown eyes hadn’t lost their intensity or intelligence, but they weren’t locked on her in suspicion, either.
Her stomach dipped. Yep, still devastating. Her mind hadn’t mistaken that fact. He was tall, tanned and in excellent physical condition. The pressed navy suit he wore fit his rip-cord-lean frame to perfection. His straight, nearly black hair was brushed off his face, the better to savor his sculpted features. He had an aristocratic nose, defined cheekbones and unyielding jaw. That stubborn set to his jaw made her question if his charm was just an act.
“Good evening, Miss Frazier.” He strolled around the square-shaped room taking its measure, peering through the window glass at the street traffic, running his fingers along the fireplace mantel, admiring the landscape paintings on three of the four walls.
“Good evening, Mr. Draper.” She shifted the salt and pepper containers closer to the ceramic candleholders and fiddled with the folded napkins. “Did you find your room agreeable?”
He took up position behind a nearby chair, his hands curled around the topmost wooden slat. There was no gold ring, nor a line to evidence he’d ever worn one.
“I did, indeed. Aunt Mae put me on the second floor. I’ve a corner room overlooking the main thoroughfare, which means I’ll have a bird’s-eye view of events.” He winked.
He was in the room opposite hers, then. While Aunt Mae preferred to keep the men and women in separate areas, the house wasn’t large enough to do so. Deborah wasn’t sure how she felt about his continued presence in what had become more than a temporary hideout. The memory of his thumb sweeping over the edges of her lips caused her skin to prickle with awareness. He’d already caught her in an unusual situation...how long he’d observed her unawares was anyone’s guess. She didn’t wish to imagine all the different ways she could embarrass herself in front of him.
He indicated the various platters boasting roasted beef and potatoes, sautéed cabbage and other assorted vegetables. “This looks tempting. Are there any unusual ingredients I need to be concerned about?”
“Aunt Mae does the majority of the cooking. I assist her sometimes, but mostly I’m responsible for the desserts.”
She was thankful for the chance to earn her keep while doing something she enjoyed. That meant she could save the funds she brought with her for other necessities.
His eyes twinkled. “And are we having chocolate cake this evening?”
“Not tonight.” She didn’t serve a new dessert until the recipe was perfected. Following their strange exchange, she hadn’t had the fortitude to experiment with icing.
The arrival of another boarder, Sadie Shriver, brought a sense of relief. Having the cattleman’s intense focus directed at her amplified her self-consciousness. There was a reason she’d chosen to slip out of her father’s grand parties and spend the evenings in the kitchens with the staff. She was prone to say or do the wrong thing and embarrass both herself and her father.
Adam Draper had the same effect on Sadie as he’d had on Aunt Mae. Except, the telegraph office clerk didn’t need softening. She was a kind, sincere young woman, sensitive to others’ feelings and always putting others’ comfort above her own. She’d become a particular friend. They’d met on the infamous bride train. During the arduous journey, Sadie had noticed Deborah’s disquiet and, believing it was associated with the prospect of potential grooms, had set out to distract her. While Deborah hadn’t confessed her true reason for being on the train—that would have to remain a guarded secret—she had appreciated her efforts. It had been nice to have a friend, even if she couldn’t be completely open about herself or her past.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Draper,” Sadie said when the gentleman introduced himself. “I see you’ve already made Deborah’s acquaintance.” Sadie shot her a significant glance. “She and I arrived on the bride train together. She’s established quite a reputation for herself. Folks clamor for a taste of her baked creations.”
His startled gaze shifted between them. “Bride train?”
Sadie chuckled. “It’s exactly what it sounds like. Each of us came here in search of a fresh start, at the behest of the town officials. Cowboy Creek has an abundance of marriage-minded men and not enough ladies to choose from, so they advertised in other states and offered to pay our train fare.”
Deborah clamped her lips together. She wasn’t here to snare a groom. She was here to evade one!
“So neither of you have found your perfect match yet,” Adam said.
Soft color brushed Sadie’s apple cheeks. “On the contrary. I’ve entered a courtship with a wonderful man.”
“Much to the local bachelors’ dismay,” Deborah inserted. “Walter Kerr is a professional photographer who was invited to visit by his friend Will Canfield.”
“One of the original town founders, correct?” Adam supplied.
Deborah nodded. “And our current mayor, though he’s set his sights on Washington. Sadie has become Walter’s favorite subject. I’ve lost count how many times she’s posed for him.”
The buxom brunette’s smile radiated happiness. “If only you would give some young man the time of day, Deborah, you too could have your share of romance.” To Adam, she said, “She’s refused no less than ten men’s invitations. Two of them offered marriage proposals upon sight.”
“Is that so?”
Adam’s expression revealed nothing of his thoughts. Even