Page 124 of The Enchanted Land

After breakfast, Morgan tried again to persuade him to let Adam and her go with him.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be back shortly, and Dave is here to take care of Adam and you.”

“Adam, yes—but not me.”

Gordon looked weary. “If I didn’t trust Dave as much as I do, I wouldn’t leave him here alone with you. When you get over your hostility, you’ll trust him, too. I have to leave now or I’ll never make the stage. Kiss me goodbye?”

“Gladly.” She happily slid into Gordon’s arms and lifted her lips for his kiss. Gordon was the man she wanted to love.

With great effort, he resisted her lips and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead. “Now, get Adam so I can say goodbye.”

Morgan held her son and they both waved to Gordon. When she turned back to the house, it seemed empty already. Adam squirmed out of her arms. He ran to the kitchen and she followed him. Tonight she would be alone with Seth. Without Gordon’s presence, he could talk to her about anything. She began planning the night’s meal, remembering Seth’s favorite dishes without realizing she was doing so.

She worked all day on the meal, glad to be too busy to think. Roselle put Adam to bed for his nap. Morgan rested for a while when the house was quiet. She worked again in the kitchen until it was time to bathe and dress for dinner. Roselle took charge of Adam.

From the back of the wardrobe, she took a dress that she had rarely ever worn before. It was simply cut, a deep golden yellow, embroidered with tiny sienna rose-buds around the neckline. The neckline was the reason she seldom wore the dress. It fell across her shoulders and the top of her breasts, stopping just above the rosy peaks. When she stood in front of the mirror, she remembered the last time she’d worn the dress. Charley Farrell had gaped at the enticing sight and she had been embarrassed at the open-mouthed stare he’d worn all evening.

She briefly asked herself why she was wearing this now when she and Seth were to be alone. She’d never worn it for Gordon. She told herself that she was wearing this only because she hadn’t worn it in such a long time. She dabbed perfume on her wrists, behind her ears, and in the deep shadow between her breasts.

Carol came to tidy the room. “You look especially lovely, Mrs. Colter,” the girl remarked shyly. “Mr. Blake will be very pleased.”

“Mr. Blake—!” She cut short her remark.

“Will there be anything else tonight, ma’am?”

“No, Carol. You may go home. Be sure and say hello to your parents for me, and take them some gingerbread.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” She turned to leave, but saw Seth in the open doorway. He put his finger to his lips, conspiratorily. Carol did like Mr. Blake so much. He was always teasing—like Adam, except grown up. She left and closed the door behind her.

Morgan, at the mirror, heard footsteps behind her. “I don’t need anything else—” She stopped when she felt his lips on the back of her neck, sending little shivers throughout her body. She closed her eyes, but opened them quickly when he moved away.

She whirled toward him. “What are you doing here?”

Seth smiled lazily at her and stretched out on her bed, his big, handsome figure nearly dwarfing the lacy, crochet-covered bed. “I live here, too, remember?”

“I just hopeyouremember that this is not your room. And may I remind you that this is my ranch, not yours.”

“Mi querida, stop fighting me. I am looking forward to dinner. Roselle says you spent all day cooking, that you prepared a very special meal.” His eyes were teasing.

“I did not! I like to cook and today I wanted to, so I just made a few things.” She turned her face away, took a deep breath, and turned back. “Kindly get off my bed and out of my room.”

He moved his hips slightly, as if testing the bed. “Do you sleep well on it, or do you find it too large for one person?”

“Seth Colter! Get out of here!” She started toward him. Seth opened his arms to her and she backed away.

He sat up on the bed, feet over the side. “That another dress Theron bought for you?”

Morgan saw a slight frown crease his brow, and she felt momentarily triumphant. “Yes. Do you like it?” She bent over just slightly so her breasts swelled even more precariously over the top. “It’s strange that you are just now noticing this dress. Most men notice it immediately.”

The little imp is trying to make me jealous, Seth thought. He smiled at her. His eyes raked her body, devouring her. “When I look at you, my little wife, I see you as I always remember you—wearing nothing but your hair ribbon. So it takes me longer to notice your clothes.”

“You—”

“If you try to throw something, I will have to restrain you.” He held out his arm. “Let’s go to dinner.”

Seth sat across from Morgan. She refused to speak to him. They were into the second course, and Martin had left the room.

“Martin will know something is wrong if you keep your silence. He’ll think we’ve had a lovers’ quarrel.” He raised his voice. “Tell, me, Mrs. Colter, about your travels in San Francisco.”

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