Jan Springer - The Pleasure Girl

“How did you manage to get rid of that guy who came snooping around this afternoon? Logan mentioned he was a cop or something? What did he want?”

Logan watched Teyla for her reaction. Her easygoing attitude changed immediately, and she suddenly looked wary. He even caught a glimpse of that fear he’d seen slice across her face earlier when she first entered the bathroom after getting rid of their unwanted visitor.

Dammit. He’d forgotten that reaction. Why had the sheriff dropped in? Logan had assumed he’d wanted servicing, but now with Teyla’s sudden nervous attitude and the other two picking up on it, both of them frowning and glancing with puzzlement at Logan, he knew his next course of action. He gave them a quick nod of his head, signaling them to clear out so he could be alone with Teyla.

“I’m up for a walk. How about you, Cass? You want to tag along?” Spencer asked.

“Yep, right behind you,” Cassidy answered as he quickly followed Spencer to the door where they grabbed their jackets. The slam of the door behind them made Teyla visibly tense.

“Okay, so why was he here, if not for you?”

Her eyes widened at his question and she stood and began clearing the dishes.

“He was just checking in on me. That’s all.”

She was now worrying her lower lip, and he came to the conclusion she wasn’t telling him the truth.

“You’re lying.” He may as well confront her on it right up front.

“That’s awfully nice of you, calling me a liar,” she snapped, and she slammed the dinner dishes into the sink. Whirling around, her eyes sparkled with irritation and anger.

“Why the sudden interest in what he wanted? It’s not like you’re the outlaws he’s looking for, is it?”

Shit, he had been looking for them. Son of a bitch. He needed to tell the guys. Hell, he should tell her the truth, too. Tell her what he and the others did. Why they were constantly on the run. Why they paid for their women instead of settling down with a nice chick like her.

Oh, come on, Logan. You’re getting too sappy on this one. She’s a hooker. She sleeps with guys for living. That’s her job. That’s her only interest in you. Now get the answer out of her and start thinking of an exit strategy. If he was smart, he’d get the hell out tonight. Just in case this self-proclaimed law guy dropped in again, this time with a freaking posse.

He saw the indecision flare in her eyes. The hesitation. That inkling of fear again. Maybe even distrust? He took a step toward her. Didn’t like the way she frowned at him for doing so.

“I need to know, sweetheart.” Oh, man, that was a first. Calling one of the women who’d serviced him sweetheart.

“He said the Durango gang was around. He said they did a railroad robbery a few days ago. That the posse discovered the gang had split into three groups and one group was trailed to the next town over. He also picked up horse tracks which disappeared into the river that comes through my property, so he came over to warn me to be careful.”

“And you didn’t mention we were here?”

“I told him I was waiting for my next customer and that customer wouldn’t appreciate him being here. He wants me, but he gets turned off whenever I mention other men.”

“I bet,” he growled in agreement as irritation slammed through him at the idea of other men being here with her.

He noticed a wisp of a smile reach her lips, and it seemed like she was pleased at what he’d said. Pleased that he was jealous. Suddenly the sweet rush of wanting to fuck her again took hold. He wanted to bury himself deep inside her and possess her. Brand her as his. Wanted to make sure she never forgot him and make sure she never fell into any other man’s arms again.

Oh, yeah, he was drowning in her sparkling eyes here. His cock was getting way too hard for comfort. He needed to get away from her before he splayed her out on the kitchen table and fucked her again.

“I need to check on the guys.”

“Want company?” she asked, a little shyly. So cute. Too cute.

He sighed softly as indecision gripped him. He needed to make plans with the guys. Needed to keep a guard out so the other two could take her.

Oh, man, he needed to stop thinking about sex. About her.

Take her for a walk, you idiot. Treat her like a woman. Not a hooker.

Oh, hell, she was a woman. Fine and delicate as lace. Sweet as sin. He relaxed his roiling emotions and forced himself to smile. Yeah, he wanted her company. Didn’t want to be away from her.

Reaching out his hand, he took hers, loving the warmth and strength of her fingers as they intertwined with his.

Oh, yeah, this feels too good.

“He won’t be back, if that’s what has you worried. He said he was getting a posse together and heading out to pick up their trail,” she said. There was quietness in her tone, and he could read the truth in her eyes. He knew she wasn’t lying.

Their trail, she’d said. Not, “your trail.” Hell, yeah, he really should tell her the truth. He could trust her, especially if Dr. Elizabeth had sent him here. They wouldn’t be coming this way again. He’d covered his trail, and he knew Cassidy and Spencer would have covered theirs, too. They made it a habit of always hiding their tracks by heading to a river or a creek, and when they came out, they took immense time making sure there was no sign of where they exited. They would be safe. For now.

“Let’s go and check out what they did with your greenhouse door.”

She nodded and before they left the farmhouse, he grabbed her cardigan and helped her into it. Evenings were cold, and he wanted her to stay warm and safe. The safe part he couldn’t guarantee, but he could keep her warm while he was here.

Taking her hand again, they stepped outside. From the porch, they had a great vantage point of the setting sun perched on top of one of the nearby snow-capped mountains. It was a gold ball, and as it descended behind the mountain, it cast an eerie golden hue over the buildings and the yellow grasslands. He knew he’d make an excellent target standing out on the porch if someone was aiming at him. But hell, he wanted to be here with her and watch the sunset. It just felt so normal.

“Are you and guys the ones they’re looking for?” she asked in a quiet whisper, as if not wanting to disturb the beautiful scenery as they stood at the railing. With the blazing glow of setting sun splashing gold against her face, he could see the highlights of auburn flickers in her eyes and streaking her short bangs. She looked so damn pretty he just couldn’t get over it. How some guy hadn’t snatched her up before now was a mystery. It pretty much said guys around these parts were nuts.

“And if I said that we are running from vigilantes and the law, would it change anything?” he asked.

She lowered her gaze and he caught a split-second of disappointment, maybe even devastation, but then she lifted her chin with defiance and her eyes fixed on him with a smoky look that told him it didn’t really matter.

“I just need to know one thing,” she said with a delicate softness. “What’s that?”

“Why are you running with the Durango gang?”

Why? Good question. He winced as a multitude of emotions shot through him. Anger. Loss. Despair. Fighting the people who lined their pockets on the misery and desperation of others really wasn’t his business. But after losing his daughters, his wife, and his life, he’d needed a reason to stay alive. How did he explain that to her?

“Let’s just say it’s something I need to do.”

She smiled, seemingly satisfied with his vague answer.

“Come on, let’s go see what they did.” He tugged her hand and was pleased she easily followed.