Brazen (28 page)

"Soon," Anne assured her.

"I don't envy Casey tonight," Marjorie sympathized.
"Why, I can't believe that Philadelphia woman and her
mother are still in town. If it had been me, I would have
been so humiliated I would have left right after seeing
Michael"

They had already noticed the two strangers mingling in
the crowd.

"1 would have, too, but I'll bet she thinks she still has a
chance with him. Why else would she stay? She doesn't
seem to be the kind of woman who would enjoy our kind
of life."

"It should make for an interesting night."

"I'm not sure `interesting' is the right word to describe
what might happen."

"Let's just hope things go smoothly. I'd hate for there
to be trouble. This will be the first time Michael and Casey
have attended a social function as a couple, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is."

"Then let's say a little prayer for them."

"I already did, the minute I heard Karen Whittington
was still in town."

Richard Perkins approached Anne for a dance, and she
kept smiling as she allowed him to lead her out onto the
dance floor. Richard was a nice enough man. Anne had
known him all her life, and though he was gainfully employed as the telegraph operator in town, he just didn't
excite her. In truth, even as she circled the dance floor
in Richard's arms, she kept watching for Nick to arrive.
She had her heart set on seeing him tonight, and she
hoped he was making the trip into town from the Circle
D to attend.

The hall was crowded when Michael and Casey reached
town. They were forced to park the carriage a short distance away and walk over.

"Are you nervous?" Michael asked as he helped her
descend.

"No," Casey answered quickly, then gave him a weak
smile. "Actually yes, a little."

"Don't be. Everything is going to be fine. You'll see."
"So I'm supposed to trust you?" Casey asked, wariness
obvious in her voice.

"That's right. I'm your fiance. If you can't trust me, who
can you trust?" he countered.

"That's a scary thought."

"You'd better start getting used to it. This time next
week, you'll be my wife."

"That's even scarier."

He chuckled and, always the gentleman, offered her
his arm again.

Casey took it. She could feel his hard-muscled strength
beneath the fine cloth of his jacket. She found it reassuring and clung to him as they started off toward the hall.
They looked every bit the devoted, loving couple.

"Anne, may I have this dance?" John McQueen asked,
approaching her.

"Why, thank you, John."

Anne allowed John to lead her out onto the dance
floor.

"Are you having a good time tonight?" he asked, just
making small talk. He'd been watching and waiting for
Casey's arrival, and had decided to dance with Anne to
find out if she knew when Casey would be showing up.

"Oh, yes, these dances are always enjoyable. It's fun to
get to see everyone. It's not that often we get the chance
to visit this way."

"Is Casey coming? I haven't seen her yet tonight."

"She'll be here. I talked to her just the other day, and
she was looking forward to it."

Anne glanced toward the main door to the hall as she
was speaking. Just at that moment Nick came in.

Excitement rushed through her at the sight of him looking so handsome and debonair.

Nick is here!

At last!

Anne wanted to break away from John and go straight
to Nick, but she knew that might cause trouble since they were in the middle of a dance. She controlled her desire
with an effort, continuing to smile up at John and make
small talk.

Nick stood at the edge of the dance floor with Harry.
He was looking around to see if Michael had shown up
yet with Casey, but saw no sign of them. He did catch
sight of Anne, dancing with another man. She looked as
lovely as ever. He was tempted to cut in, but then he
spotted Karen standing with her mother on the opposite
side of the room.

After what Michael had told him about his ugly encounter with her, Nick had thought Karen and her mother
would have packed up and taken the next stage out of
Hard Luck heading back East. He was shocked that she
was still in town, and he knew Michael would not be
happy when he showed up and laid eyes on her.

It was at that moment Karen spied Nick. She quickly
made her way through the crowd to him.

"Nick, darling," Karen greeted him, pressing a kiss on
his cheek.

"Hello, Karen."

"Surprised to see me?" she asked archly.

"I'd heard from Michael that you were in town."

Karen gave a laugh as the music stopped. "I bet you
did. Where is Michael? He is coming tonight, isn't he?"

"He should be showing up anytime now."

"Good. I can't wait to see him again," she purred. Another tune began, and she put Nick on the spot. "Dance
with me?"

Ever the gentleman, Nick swept Karen out onto the
dance floor.

Anne was delighted when the music finally ended. She
kept her true emotions hidden as she thanked John for
the dance, and immediately started looking for Nick. She
spotted him just as the next dance began, looking on
helplessly while he took the sophisticated, elegant
woman from back East into his arms and out onto the
dance floor.

Disappointment filled Anne. She started to make her
way to the refreshment table to get a cup of punch. She
hadn't gone far when she heard a murmur going through
the crowd.

"Can you believe it?" one older woman was saying.

"No. What happened?"

"I don't know, but it's wonderful-"

"Maybe she did it to keep Michael from straying. I
mean, if he's got women chasing him here from all the
way back East--"

Anne realized they were talking about Casey and Michael, and that they must have just arrived. Heads were
turning toward the main entrance, so she looked that
way, too.

And there they were.

Michael was standing just inside the main door with
Casey on his arm. Anne was mesmerized by the change
in her friend. She had always known Casey was a natural
beauty, but she'd never realized how lovely she truly was
until now.

Tonight Casey looked every bit the lady. From her perfectly coiffed hair to her necklace and earrings and gown,
Casey was stunning. And Michael looked proud to be
standing by her side.

Anne went to join them.

"It's about time you got here," Anne scolded with a
teasing smile. "You look marvelous!"

"Thanks," Michael answered, grinning at her.

"Not you! You!" she laughed as she gave Casey a hug.

"You really think so?" Casey was more than a bit nervous about making this grand entrance.

"1 know so," Anne told her. "Come on. My mother and
father are over by the refreshment table. I want to show
you off."

Anne led them to her parents.

Nick had also seen Michael and Casey come in. He had
always known Casey was attractive, but he'd never realized she could be this gorgeous. He forced himself not to
smile as he thought of the eruption that was about to
happen once Karen got a glimpse of her.

"Michael just got here," Nick told Karen as he continued to dance her about the floor.

"Where?" Karen twisted about, wanting to get a look at
him.

Nick felt her stiffen in his arms the moment she spotted
him.

"Who's that woman with him?" she asked, puzzled.

"That's Casey."

"No. That's not Casey. I've seen Casey. That can't be
her. Casey Turner looks like a boy."

"You're wrong, Karen," Nick insisted. "That's Casey.
And she definitely doesn't look like a boy tonight, does
she?"

"But..."

"But what?" he asked

It wasn't often that it happened, but Karen found herself unnerved for a moment. The difference in Casey's
appearance was astounding. Now she knew she had
some truly serious competition for Michael's affections.
Winning him back wasn't going to be as easy as she'd
thought.. .but she was Karen Whittington of the Philadelphia Whittingtons.

"Nothing," she said, smiling up at Nick as if nothing
unusual had happened. She changed the topic. "So tell
me, how are you enjoying your time here in Hard Luck?"

"It's been interesting," Nick answered. "I just wish our
reason for coming here in the first place had been different."

"Your uncle's getting better, though, isn't he?" She still
held on to the hope that Michael would be returning back
East.

"He's paralyzed, Karen. He's never going to walk
again."

"I told Michael to bring him back to Philadelphia so
some of our fine doctors could examine him, but he refused."

"Uncle Frank won't leave the Circle D.He loves it here."

"But that's so stupid," she said hotly.

Nick glared down at her. "Not to Uncle Frank, it's not."

The music ended and he put her from him.

Thank you, Karen. If you'll excuse me-"

Casey stood at Michael's side talking with Anne.

"Is Nick here?" Casey asked her.

"Oh, yes. He's here," Anne answered. "In fact, he's right
over there."

Casey glanced in the direction she'd indicated and saw
Nick dancing with a woman she'd never seen before.
"Who's she?"

"That's Karen Whittington," Michael put in. He realized
there was no avoiding the topic.

"The woman who-"

"Yes. Karen is the woman I was seeing in Philadelphia,"
he answered, annoyed. "I'd expected her to be gone by
now. I hadn't realized she was staying on."

"I think Karen likes to surprise you," Casey said, an unexpected surge of possessiveness coming over her. She
knew there was only one reason Karen would have
stayed, and that was to try to steal Michael away from her.

"It looks that way," Michael said.

"Do you like her surprises?" Casey asked, still feeling a
bit unsure of herself.

"No," he answered as he looked down at her. He
smiled, wanting to set her mind at ease. "Would you care
to dance?"

"I'd love to," she answered.

"If you'll excuse us, Anne?"

"Of course, but you owe me a dance later, Michael,"
Anne teased.

"If my fiancee lets me."

"I might let you dance with Anne, but only Anne,"
Casey told him as he took her out onto the dance floor
and swept her into his arms.

The moment proved magical for Casey.

She'd never danced with Michael before. As he led her
around the room, she found herself caught up in the pure
bliss of the moment. She was in his arms, moving in
rhythm with him to a beautiful melody. Michael's strength
and his smooth, practiced lead made her feel delicate
and protected. Casey had never felt so feminine in her
life.

She lifted her gaze to find Michael staring down at her,
and she actually blushed.

"You're blushing," he observed with a rakish grin. "I've
never seen you blush before."

"I don't think I ever have."

"Why now?"

She frowned a bit. "I'm not sure, but 1 think I like dancing with you."

"You think?"

"Well, you're very good at it, and somehow it feels
right."

It feels right.

At her words, Michael fell silent for a moment. He concentrated on the dance, allowing himself to appreciate
having her in his arms. They were moving together as one
to the music, and he realized, almost as an epiphany, that
it really did feel right.

"You're beautiful, Casey," Michael told her in a soft,
seductive voice.

"I am?" She looked up at him, startled. Her gaze met
his, and she saw an intensity in his dark-eyed regard.

"Yes, you are."

His confirmation sent a completely unexpected shiver
of desire coursing through her. She nervously wet her lips
and forced a small smile.

Michael suddenly knew a driving need to kiss her. He
wanted to pull her close and taste of her sweetness right
then and there in front of everybody, but he couldn't.
Instead he kept dancing and tried to think of a way to get
her alone, outside under the stars.

John was talking with Allen Foster from the bank when
Allen saw Michael come in with Casey on his arm.

"Take a look at that," Allen said in casual conversation,
nodding their way. "It's hard to believe it's the same
woman."

John turned and went still as he stared at the smiling
couple. Allen was right. The woman on Michael's arm was gorgeous. John had always figured if Casey cleaned
herself up, she would be good-looking, but he'd had no
idea the change in her would be this dramatic. His shock
was followed by instant anger.

"I can't believe she showed up with him," John snarled.

"I know. 1 heard the talk, too. Isn't the woman from
Philadelphia still here?"

"Yes." John looked around the hall and caught sight of
Karen standing on the opposite side of the dance floor.
"1 believe that's her right over there."