The purr of Anita Devine’s voice broke the awkward silence between Isabel and Jake. Caught in the moment of suspended tension, Isabel jumped at the sound, jerking around toward the doorway.
Anita posed there, her dark eyes roving over Jake with slow deliberation. Raven tresses spilled over her bare shoulders, a few spiral curls catching in the lace at her low-cut bodice. As her gaze slid over Jake’s body, a satisfied smile curved the edges of her painted mouth.
She sauntered into the room, petticoats swishing at her ankles, brushing past Isabel as though she didn’t exist, heading straight to the edge of the bed. Bending down far enough for her ample bosom to spill over the black lace at the scooped neckline of her dress, she smoothed a heavy wave from Jake’s brow.
“Elish told me about your dilemma, Mr. Coulter. And I’ve come to offer a solution. I’d be quite happy to make room so you can stay with me while you recover.”
Isabel stood to the side, caught off guard by Anita’s brazen proposition, though she didn’t know why she should be. Anita’s reputation was well-known all over the high country towns surrounding Whispering Creek. Women around town called her the Black Widow because she had a way of seducing a handsome man and using him up, leaving him with little more than his boots when she sent him walking.
Isabel tried to judge Jake’s response, but his expression gave nothing away. Only his eyes showed any reaction and the coldness there almost forced her back a step.
“What a generous offer,” he drawled, raking Anita with a dismissing glance that was far from flattering.
Anita’s eyes narrowed, but her smile stayed in place. “I’m part owner in this place, so my offer is sincere, I assure you.”
“Oh, I’m sure it is.” Jake shifted and looked directly at Isabel.
The moment his eyes settled on her, Isabel itched to turn her back on both of them and leave them to haggle over the living arrangements without her witness.
What did he want? For her to make him a better offer? Did he expect her to beg for his company?
Perversely, part of her wanted to insist he return home with her. She supposed the ridiculous urge was nothing more than instinctive feminine competition though normally she wasn’t at all given to that sort of nonsense.
Especially when Jake Coulter was the last man she should want sleeping under her roof.
Still, he looked at her with that faintly challenging glint in his eyes and she felt herself responding even while common sense called her a fool. He’d done nothing to indicate he needed or wanted her help, in fact he’d practically thrown her out when she offered.
Then again, she did have a vacant room and heaven only knew how long she might have to wait to find a new boarder. And she could ill afford a long spell with no rent on that room. Even with her shop, she barely made ends meet.
Aware both Jake and Anita now stared at her, Isabel drew herself up. “Well, Mr. Coulter, I was going to tell you I did have a room open up yesterday, but it sounds as though you have a fine offer for a very comfortable room right here—”
“I’ll take it.”
“What?” Isabel and Anita blurted out in unison.
Anita slapped her hands to her tightly cinched-in waist. “Are you sayin’ you’d rather go and stay with the witch and her brats than here with me? I’ll have you know I don’t make a habit of offerin’ to share my room with just anyone!”
“Oh, I don’t doubt it,” Jake said. “A man’s got to be willing to pay the price and I’m sure your price is high.”
“I’ll make an exception for you, darlin’.”
“No, thanks.”
“No—!”
“I want someplace private, where I can find a little peace and quiet.” He looked back to Isabel. “You can promise that much, Mrs. Bradshaw, can’t you?”
“Not particularly,” Isabel said lightly. “I can offer you a measure of privacy. As for peace and quiet, once my boys get home from their lessons, the noise in my house could easily rival with a raucous crowd on a good night at the Silver Rose.”
“See there.” Anita leaned a little farther over, maneuvering closer to give Jake the best view of her voluptuous body. “Now is that what you call peace and quiet?”
Jake scowled at Isabel. “Can you give me a room or not?”
“I’ll rent you a room.”
“Then it’s settled. I’ll move in today.”
Anita stood up straight and squared her shoulders. “Suit yourself, but don’t come back here knocking on my door when you find out you’ve moved into a hornet’s nest.” Her eyes narrowed to catlike slits. “I won’t forget this insult, Mr. Coulter.”
Isabel couldn’t suppress a small grin as Anita flounced out of the room in a snit.
“You look pleased with yourself. Did you want me that bad?”
Jake nearly regretted the jibe when her smile upended and she frowned. He’d surprised himself in flatly turning down Anita Devine. He’d done it not because of the obvious services she offered in his recovery, or because Isabel could get him on his feet faster than anyone, but out of some instinctive reaction to protect Isabel Bradshaw.
Why she provoked that reaction he couldn’t say. She didn’t seem the type to want or need a man’s shelter. Yet he sensed some unseen vulnerability in her. Despite himself, she’d inspired a response even he didn’t expect.
Now he found himself enjoying the fire he’d sparked in her.
“Want you?” she sputtered. “Don’t flatter yourself, Mr. Coulter. You were practically begging me to rent you that room.”
“Dodd says you have the only place in town that takes wounded strays.”
“I’m sure Anita would have given you her undivided attention.”
“I don’t want her attention. I want yours.”
“Really? I can’t imagine why. You haven’t missed an opportunity to insult me. And I can hardly offer you the same amenities as Anita.”
Jake let his eyes rove over her in deliberate suggestion. To her credit, she didn’t flinch away, but gave his bold appraisal back in full measure. “Oh, I wouldn’t say that. You’ve got those wonderful weeds.”
“I’m tempted to give you a double dose of them and have you hauled off to my house, with or without your blessing,” Isabel said, not really understanding his sudden faith in her healing ability and not certain whether she should be flattered or good and riled at him.
“You’re the only one in this town who can tell if this wound’s getting better or worse,” he reasoned. “And I’ll be helping you out by keeping your room rented until a more permanent border comes along.”
“So you’re doing me a favor now. I see. How kind of you, sir.”
“Let’s just say we can help each other out for the time being, okay? I have business here and I don’t want to get it done from a saloon.”
Isabel immediately stiffened. She’d been afraid of this. Still it was better to face the truth about Jake Coulter now. “Business? What business, may I ask?”
The look he gave her might have daunted a strong man, let alone a woman armed only with her wits and a single knife. Isabel, though, refused to back down. If she planned on taking Jake Coulter into her house, she needed to know who might come looking for him, guns drawn.
“You can ask,” Jake said. “I don’t have any answers for you right now. Don’t worry though, in this condition,