Well, hell. He was having fun. Maybe he should have taken Hannah’s temper into account before proposing, but the die was cast and he didn’t really care. A woman needed some sass to get by in Alaska. “I’m just trying to be convincing.”
“Ha.”
She squirmed some more and Ross winced as her bottom pressed against the most vulnerable part of his anatomy.
“You planning on a long engagement?” called one of the ladies in the corner.
“Not very long.” Ross answered before Hannah could say something different. He looked around and saw his son curled up asleep on a chair—at the moment Jamie looked a lot more peaceful than his father. “We’re thinking about flying down to Nevada,” he said with sudden inspiration. “You can get married in a hour in Reno. There’s no waiting period.”
Hannah gasped and dug an elbow into his ribs.
No pain, no gain.
“We’re going tomorrow,” he continued, gritting his teeth. “I don’t want to give Hannah a chance to change her mind. Isn’t that right, Honeycomb?”
“You, you…” she stuttered, plainly searching for something potent enough to fling at him.
He’d gone too far and he knew it, but he was truly a desperate man. Releasing his hold on Hannah’s hip, Ross cupped the back of her head and pulled her into a kiss. Whatever expletive she’d been planning got smothered by his mouth.
“If that don’t beat all,” Ten Penny crowed. “I always knowed that boy had a fire in his belly. It’s them quiet ones you gotta watch out for.”
“Mmmrmph” was all Hannah could manage through the assault on her lips. She should have said something suitably scathing, but her thoughts were getting mushy. But it wasn’t her fault; this was practically her first kiss, and none of the others had been so…intimate.
Ross’s expertise was obvious; even in her muddled state she recognized it. His lips moved with supple, mobile strength across her mouth, coaxing and asking for something she didn’t understand. The depth of her own inexperience cut unhappily through her mind and she froze.
Did Ross know? Did he realize how little she knew about men? Life in Quicksilver might have been sheltered from a romantic standpoint, but Hannah knew a lot of men wanted a woman with a certain level of experience.
Ross shifted, pulling her into full contact with his body, and she sucked in a breath. Her breasts ached and her nipples tightened like they did when she jumped into the shower and the water was too cold.
So, that’s what it feels like, Hannah thought in wonderment…and some annoyance. Ross was playing dirty, and he shouldn’t be allowed to get away with such a sneaky tactic. If she decided to marry him, it wouldn’t be because of some fake seduction scene, staged for everyone’s benefit. Threading her fingers through his hair, Hannah pulled. Hard.
His kiss turned into a growl, but he released her.
Hannah took advantage of the moment and scooted from Ross’s lap. She wondered at the pained expression in his face, but only for a second.
“Did you get enough to eat?” she asked brightly…and to no one in particular. The small discomfort from her ankle erased any lingering mental fog. It served her right for not watching where she stepped.
“Mighty tasty chili,” said Joe, who belched and patted his stomach. “Me an’ the missus better be headin’ home, though. Gotta break in that new mattress.”
“Oh, Joe.”
His bride let out a playful giggle and flipped the end of her feather boa at him. For an instant the years peeled away and Hannah glimpsed the audacious woman she must have been, braving the Alaska frontier with nothing but her personal attributes to support her. It wasn’t the choice Hannah would have made, but Ten Penny was a law unto herself.
Though they’d been temporarily distracted, everyone began grinning and nudging one another. A marriage proposal was one thing, but they had a real live chivaree to attend. After more than seventy years of staying single in a territory where men outnumbered women, nobody was going to cheat Ten Penny out of a traditional wedding night.
In short order the occupants of the restaurant found the door and disappeared. The only ones left were Ross, her father and Jamie, who was beginning to wake up.
“Well,” said her father, slapping his hands together. “It’s all worked out nicely, hasn’t it, Hannah?”
She smiled…showing a lot of teeth. “You knew about this, didn’t you, Dad?”
The two men exchanged glances and her eyes narrowed.
“Ross called a few days ago and asked if you were seeing anyone else,” Edgar admitted. “He mentioned he might fly over here for a visit. And I must say, I always thought he had a special fondness for you.”
Amazing. Hannah could see her father almost believed his convenient fantasy. “You did, huh?”
“Yes, I—”
“Papa?” Jamie said, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. “My tummy hurts.”
“I’m here, tiger.” Ross sat next to the boy and patted his back. His expression told her everything—fierce, protective and totally lost. He didn’t have a clue what to do next. “Hannah, what’s wrong? Should we call the doctor?”
Oh, dear.
How could she resist a man like that? Strong and capable…yet totally inexperienced when it came to children. Without even trying, he was enticing her into his marriage scheme. She sighed and squared her shoulders. “Kids get a lot of tummy aches, Ross. Especially after a party.”
“Yeah, but—”
“Don’t worry, you’re overreacting,” Hannah said, limping across the room and kneeling next to Jamie. “Hey, kiddo. I’m sorry you don’t feel so good. Do you want to come back to my house for a while?”
Jamie nodded and crawled down from the chair and into her arms. His compact body snuggled close…and right into her heart, she feared. She stroked the hair back from his forehead. It was warm, but nothing to worry about; boys being boys, she suspected he’d charmed his way into a lot more cake and ice cream than he should have eaten.
“Okay, let’s go. It’s not far. We can walk.”
“What about your ankle?” Ross murmured.
Honestly. Her ankle was barely sprained. Walking wouldn’t hurt it any, but she was tired of arguing with the man.
“Dad?” Hannah called over her shoulder. “We need to borrow the truck. I think Ross and Jamie will have to spend the night with us. They can sleep in Deke’s old bedroom.”
A loud harumph came from behind them. “I don’t think that’s such a fine idea,” said her father.
“Why?” she asked dryly. “You thought it was a fine idea to arrange a marriage behind my back. What difference can it make if Ross sleeps at the house?”
“That’s different.”
“It always is. To think I told Ross you weren’t the protective sort.”
“Why…how could you think that?” Edgar said, obviously shocked. “You’re my little girl. And I didn’t arrange any marriage,” he asserted as he handed the keys to Ross. “Nobody does that any more.”
Hannah rolled her eyes.
“Except in Alaska,” she muttered. Yet she was touched that he’d worry about her virtue. Until now there hadn’t been much cause for him to worry, so no wonder it was a surprise to find he had the same huffy puffy bluster of every other father on the planet.
“I’ll